u/plathafteramigraine

Hi,

I had a recent appt with my GP who is prescribing my dilaudid. She abruptly discontinued a script she’s been providing for 6 years. The pain specialist I work with said he did not advise her to do that and that he just believes a change in dosing and pharmacy pick up schedule makes sense. She was prescribing only 1-2 weeks at time for the last year with only 1 refill and I was needing to run around all the time trying to either see her for a new script for get it filled. It caused a lot of frustration with the pharmacy and for me. And it made it look like I was “spending a lot of time trying to get opioids”. He wants her to switch to monthly scripts with at least 4 refills, so there are less issues. In Ontario, pain management advises GPs; so he can’t prescribe. He said he will speak to her but may not before my next appointment Tuesday.

In the meantime I’m struggling and really hoping to get the medication back Tuesday at my next appointment with my GP. I have very few leftover from my last prescription that I am really rationing for pain and withdrawal management.

How should I approach the appointment? She didn’t explain why she was making the decision except that the pharmacy was calling her recently asking questions and she was concerned. She told me I would see the pain specialist and “make a plan” but she doesn’t know I was able to get an appointment this week (it eas scheduled originally for Oct 23)

How to handle tuesdays appointment?

Do I need to wean off pregablin if I’ve been on it for only a week? On 200mg 3x/day.

:)

I have a chronic condition that sometimes requires EMS (seizure disorder). And I also have two young kids (4 and 2 years old). Is there a way to get them acquainted with paramedics and ambulances so in the event I require support and they see the paramedics they won’t be scared/ they’d be familiar with them? Like the way people visit fire halls etc?

Thanks!

TLDR get to know EMS/first responders for kids who’s parents have illnesses that may require paramedic support / reduce kids fear in an emergency

Will I get the same pain relief from 10mg oxycodone as I do from 8mg hydromorphone (dilaudid)? Both oral. When I convert to mme it looks like the dilaudid is much stronger but I know that the bioavailability is much less. So just wondering what people’s experiences with the two medications have been.

If you’ve been on both, did you need a much higher dose of oxycodone to get the same effect as you did from a lower dose of hydromorphone, or was it relatively the same? Did you find any difference in how long one would last compared to the other (looking at immediate release for both, not extended release like OxyContin)?

TLDR; do you need a much higher dose of oxycodone than hydromorphone for the same relief?