All about the drug that Prince used - Page 2

mimilucy · ‎10-31-2015

Please please please contact a personal injury lawyer. As you probably know , there is no fee for services unless they/you win. Also , please contact the media! Your local newspaper and/or the nearest "big city" newspaper. They will often publish stories like yours and people rally around. Contact a local TV station , too. Maybe someone can do this for you if you are too sick. You need publicity! When many people are aware of your situation it can open up the possibility of assistance you have never thought of. I am praying fervently for you. Please don't give up.

fortune · ‎03-14-2010

@Noel7 wrote:
@Stormygirl wrote:
I have had one of the most painful illnesses known to mankind for over 20 years. In early 2000's was given Fentanyl and such high doses I can remember having my head fall in a bowl of soup. I now have anoxic brain damage and I begged a good pain doc to get me off of it.....was the hardest withdrawal I can tell you. I was in Pallative Care and do not understand how these celebrities get ahold of such meds as Fentanyl and others like it are usually reserved for us who are terminally ill. I am going through hell right now after having survived Hospice Care in 2009 I let them implant an interthcal spinal pain pump. Yea it allowed me to temporarily get off all oral meds but am on such high concentration I fear I may never get this monkey off my back. When the pain center found out how dangerous these pumps can be they suddenly closed their pump clinic leaving me without anyone to manage the meds, the pump they are responsible for. This isnt going to end well for me and I expect to soon be the next victim of a messed up healthcare system who has basically abondoned the care they installed. sorry spent most of the day crying about this. very thing.
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@Stormygirl

Two ideas come to mind.

Am I remembering correctly that you were in the military? I don't know why they wouldn't provide some medical care to start with.

Secondly, I'd say you have more than enough evidence for a lawsuit. The pain clinic abandoned you, knowing about the defect in the pump. The failed pump should be enough for legal action.

There are numerous law firms that would take a case like that for free. They share part of the settlement.

Good luck.

If you decide to sue, be sure to get a reputable attorney. I sued a doctor and pathologist for diagnosing me as having bladder cancer and performing the resultant surgery. I didn't have cancer.

It may be hard for you to handle a law suit while you're in so much pain, but maybe a relative or friend can help.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Stormygirl - Something I don't understand from your post is why you can't be weaned from the drug you are getting in your spinal pump and be weaned up on an oral drug or a pain patch drug instead. Then either just leave the pump in or have it removed whichever your doctor suggests. There are many drugs/ many delivery systems now a days. This is not the only drug out there that will help you. When your pain clinic D/C the pain pump clinic I am 100% certain they gave you some other options as to what to do, be it going elsewhere for the pump drugs or doing a different drug with a different delivery mode.

It also sounds like you are in need of some mental health care as you sound like you are anxious and depressed. Are you seeing anyone for that?

Stormygirl · ‎08-01-2015

Actually we were given no options (pump patients) when they closed the clinic.......a hand shake,a letter and good luck. No other docs or clinics within 150 miles are taking pump patients..They have tried to wean ......begged them for years to turn down see what happens but was refused......my input poo pooed as they were making money. Now no oral medication will cover me..........is a feeling of betrayal all of us who went there are having.. . the lucky ones moved away. 20 years is alot of time on a pump...........too long and the body on such high doses will no longer produce endorphins in the brain. This diease RSD is called The Suicide Disease as most (over 75% will do that at some point) The ONLY doc in the state who does this only accepts private insurance. This may soon not be an option. Seems the pumps had a recall in 2011......noone told us and we had to find out for ourselves. The excuse for closing the clinic was that the pumsp were dangerous. Really? Seems they are liable for thier own equipment legally. Sure this all would be depressing and I dont think there is anyone who would do anything mentally but validate the angst I am already feeling.....for a price of course. I am involving a Politician as he said this may be a governors problem. I have seen pain clinics close all over due to those who abuse meds. The pump was a good option for some as one has no control over dosage but one is also a victim of those who control the dosage.......when they will not value a patients input. I have a back up pain doc who doesnt do pumps but says there is no way he could cover me with patches, oral meds at this point. He says I have a legal case and he is outraged of the way this was handled..........is all I will say thank You.

Stormygirl · ‎08-01-2015

An interthecal pump is like a pacemaker and the device runs out of juice so you have to change it. Would have been prudent to have about the needed years notice of a clinic closing to a careful weaning process, if even possible after many years could be attempted. I had a few weeks notice, had no choice but to have the pump replaced. Found out I am on such a high dosage nothing will cover me. Is a safety issue, a legal one that i live now over 2 hours from any help in case of malfunction. WHen one signs a pain contract (Princes of the world dont have to do that they buy docs) you have to abide by that and thier obligation is continuity of care. That obviously didnt happen. Is a shock to all who had pumps put in there. I know one lady flys to another state to get hers filled now. Is nice if one can afford that but is no place to live if one has this device..

AnotherView2 · ‎06-19-2011

Fentanyl was initially reserved for end stage cancer patients and other terminal hospice patients ONLY. The thinking was to make them comfortable since they will be gone soon. It was only used in hospital settings, especially when a pump was involved.

Then somehow doctors started prescribing patches, etc. to patients

Who are still out driving cars, etc.

Fentanyl is the highest level of pain relief available in the US. It used to be restricted to hospital settings only and my personal opinion is that it should have stayed that way.

I have a relative by marriage that is currently addicted to fentanyl that is prescribed by her doctor. She was no where near needing that level of relief yet she was prescribed it.

Now, she is completely addicted and unable to stop using it. She didn't even realize when she was prescribed it that it was so dangerous. She is a shell of her former self.

You can OD on Fentanyl by simply getting a release patch too warm in the shower...

Stormy, your have my sympathy and prayers. I've seen what the drug can do

Ms X · ‎09-13-2012

@Stormygirl You seem very intelligent. I wish I had specific advice for your problem. Since I don't, I'd ask whether you've asked your primary care physician to help you with this. Suing does not solve your problem short term. Had I served in the military and then been unable to get care, I would contact my representatives in Congress or in my state legislature. Perhaps their staff can help you. One other suggestion: Is there a major medical center, such as one associated with a prestigious medical school, in your state? Your primary care might refer you to that hospital to see a pain specialist. Even if it's a bit of a trek to get there, you might visit a specialist who could evaluate you and then work with local doctors to improve your care. DON'T GIVE UP. Good luck and thank you for serving your country.

pitdakota · ‎03-16-2010

Stormygirl123, I agree with Mrs. X. All of this takes time and energy, so I would concentrate on finding a physician, albiet it will be one you will have to travel to, that can manage your pain pump. There certainly should be pain specialists in the Richmond or Charolettesville area that you could see. There are contingency plans that docs put in place to account for distance when patients don't live close. There are many people with pain pumps that live in very rural areas in Montana, Wyoming, etc. that also have the challenge of not being close in distance to the pain specialist.

Living with chronic pain is a serious challenge no doubt. Have you tried meditation, biofeedback, or other pain control adjuncts along with the pump? If not, you might talk to someone about adding those measures to you pain control plan. It would not eliminate the need for meds, but could help with control.

You mention CRPS/RSD and Suicide, so I hope you are also getting some help in that regard as well. Anyone living with chronic pain certainly needs to think of keeping their mental health status to the highest level possible under the circumstances.

Those activities certainly will be taxing to someone in your position living with chronic pain. Best wishes to you.

* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *

Stormygirl · ‎08-01-2015

Oh dear AnotherView2... yes I have seen the ravages of Fentanyl first hand when I was up to 150 ugm. Took 2 patches to make that dose. Weaned off and was the hardest month I ever lived. They put that drug in pumps now too. I thought it was a horrific drug.......lost over 100 pounds and was a shell of my former self. Wasnt till I ended up in Hospice during a pallaltive care hospitalization they put in this pump....I wasnt supposed to live this long. I survived hospice and now noone knows what to do......when the only other option is back on those poison patches or a pump that I cant find local care. Hard decision those 2...and can back one in an impossible corner to get out of intact. I cant imagine what would happen if the catheter kinked off or the device malfunctioned. That University Hospital Clinic closing was a kick in the head. I dont feel safe anymore with a pump but feel less safe on the patches.....oh dear no decision is right. Makes one feel really bad when it is apparent I outlived my prognosis.