Hi Megan, I am so very sorry you are hurting like this. I struggled with endometriosis for many, many years. I finally had a hysterectomy about 6 years ago. I can also relate to people not believing the pain and symptoms are as bad as they really are. That makes it so much worse-just remember-there are many people here that know exactly how you feel, and know that the pain is excruciating!!! If your doctor doesn't call you back or won't help you regarding your patches and pain meds-you probably should go to the ER so they can help with the pain. When I was dealing with the endo pain and symptoms, I went to the ER a number of times because it was so bad. Hopefully they will prescribe something to get you through the next week. Then I would talk to your doctor about how easily the patches are coming off-I have never had fentanyl patches, but I believe that with any kind of trans-dermal patch, once they come off, I don't think they work anymore. I wish I could be of more help, I really hope you start feeling better soon!!

Are you even allowed to wear such patches in the pool? I would have thought they would not be water proof enough. The water would dilute the meds or something...
Is this pain from your period? I have problems with pain during that time, and have found that an over the counter heating patch can give some relief. I honestly do not know what else to suggest...

I have had numerous drs suggest that I have endo one even did an MRI which proved I had some about the size of a small orange behind my uterus and I also have pelvic neuropathy. After stapth infected my nerves which all took six months to diagnose. Many hugs you guys for your suggestions thank you so much it means a bunch to know that soemone believes me. The ER does from my MRI's and my dr does but hubby is blah not gonna say lol. I took a very very lo9ng bath to try and help. The warming patches help a little but not a whole lot. I was told I could go in the pool, bath shower with them since you wear them for 3 days at a time but the other day at the gym was such a joke. First my patches kept falling off then I cut my finger pretty good trying to put my noodle and weights back on the shelf. Go me. uugh it keeps up definatly ER I have been so sick from the pain this afternoon having a hard time keeping things down. Im scared my hubby went out with a friend. Im gonna go jump back in the bath only thing that kinda helps and laying down. I just want to rip it all out I really do the ER dr last time I told him this said he would do it for me to reduce my pain but they were not specially trained to do it so he wouldnt said I needed a diffrent dr. hugs guys I cannot sit here anymore thank you again hugs

I'm sorry for your pain but thought I'd offer a suggestion for the patch. My husband has found that when and if the patch falls off or the adhesive isn't working using a heating pad briefly on the patch will help it reattach and will reactivate it. Those patches are to valuable and far too full of powerful medication to just thow out in the garbage. I hope you feel better soon, xoxoLyn

I know what it's like to lose a patch.
If they aren't stuck on right then they fall off anywhere anytime.
So far i have had 3 patches fall off and each time saw the doctor and he said it happens a lot even with band aids sticking them down.
Your doctor should understand that the patches do fall off like my doctor understands.

Megan,
So sorry for what you're feeling - the pain's bad enough without having to worry about extra challenges. Your pain may be more severe than what I remember from my endometriosis, but I spent several years buckled over in pain before a doctor found something that worked.

I use to have such bad pain during my period that I would have to pull off the road if driving. After a couple years a doctor tried Naprosyn, (now over the counter) and it would zap my pain mostly gone within a couple hours. I kept back-up prescriptions all over the place until age 46 when a tumor forced them to due a hysterectomy. Results were a completely blue uterus and tubes. Taking it out was the best thing I ever had happen.
Patches stay on sometimes, but overall I've found them to be undependable, especially in the summer when they get moist.
I'll be thinking of you.

Hey guys Im feeling a little better I made it to the er but now my hubby is livid wtf he wasnt home supposibly Im supposed to call him....??? I got a hold of my drs office and the er they said to go they backed me up but my hubby being a paramedic I wasted there time with my non emergency. Even worse I had to have a ride home. I used the phone in the er room dr and nurse present when he screamed in the phone that I wasted their time. They tried to tell me that I hadnt and I needed to come in because of the vomitting but he doesnt see it that way because I have my pain meds here but with the narcotic agreement I dare not use what I shouldnt and Im just so embarrassed and more upset. A talk when he gets home like he is my dad Im actually scared of him when he is like this. but i have no where to go. I did what my dr said I sorry Im crying because I can never win. I didnt have enough pain medication to last me unitl next sunday and my dr is out of town.There was no one here to help me. I dont want to be here anymore. He has never even been to a dr appt he just knows that I wasted the drs time by going to the ER for pain releief that is even what the dr called it. I was so bad I threw up there and the drs couldnt even touch where I hurt. They gave me two shots in my arms according to my husband that means I wasted there time and they wont say I did because they get paid. Thank you guys for youer support I wish you all the best many hugs

Megan,
The first thing that I want to say to you and please do not take it too badly is.... why are you married to this man again???!!!! He is not supportive of you, he things he is God and he screams at you and shows you no respect??!!!! What is wrong with you???!!!!
As an ARNP that works has worked in ER's, I can tell you that you did NOT waisted anyone's time in there! You needed help and that is what we are trained to do, we help people that are in pain and need help.

Second, I wear Fentanyl patches 100Mg's every 73 hours. The first thing that I did when I got them was buy some water proof surgical tape to put around the patch so it will not come out when I shower. I will NOT use my patch on a pool.... that is not using common sense. So when your Doctor comes back or even before, go to the pharmacy and buy some water proof surgical tape, and whan you place a patch in your body, tape it all around with this waterproof tape. If you must go to a pool or a beach do it on day 3 and then remove your patch, swim, do the breath stroke, dance, do whatever you want in the water and then after you are fully dry,put the next patch on, and remember..... the water proof tape.

I wore the patches briefly when I began medication management, for a month or two, but I just could NOT get the dang things to stay on me. They'd peel off if I looked at them wrong. We did get one box once that was smaller patches and those stayed on, but I think that was a fluke and we never could remember which pharmacy they came from (it was a Walgreens). Thankfully, my doctor was understanding and replaced the patches with MS Contin 3x day. Maybe you can get something else?

I had a hysterectomy Sept. 2007 due to heavy, prolonged periods that usually ended up feeling like more like a miscarriage than a period. My gyn. was open to doing the hysterectomy and even though yes its a major surgery, I've never once regretted it. Just to be sure, your pain is due to the girlie parts not working properly, right? I You are so young, so I don't want to say "Hey go have this surgery, blahblahblah" but I do feel that there are surely other options.

I am so sorry that your husband isn't very supportive in this area. I do want to encourage you to keep your chin up when he acts like that. I KNOW that's so much easier said than done, I really do. But maybe it'll be a bit easier knowing you have a stranger in Texas behind you :)

I hope today is a much better day for you.

Morning guys today is about the same as yesterday pain wise I really just want this period to end. But I have no idea why I am still with him..... just really between the scared of being alone because all my family lives over 1000 miles away and I just dont know some days are better than others I guess. Thank you guys for your support its more than I can ask for. I was up most of the night tossing and turning and today we are going to go fill the script the ER gave me. Was one of the most understanding drs I have ever had in the ER even my nurse was a cancer survivor and she understood what it felt like to have pain that was wayyyy out of control. Im keeping my fingers crossed about my dr the ER doc told me he shouldt just cut me off but oh goodness am praying he tends to be grouchy. Hubby reallt isnt talking to me and rolls his eyes when I say im hurting leave me alone. He tried to give me a hug but sorry. I will definatly get some surgical tape for my patches thank you so much for the suggestion I have been looking high a nd low and looked so silly at the gym just going back and fourth using weight lifters big orange tape lol. Im in some better spirits today so Im hoping that everyone is doing ok I miss you guys its just hard to sit here soIm going to go i have been working on a new scarf managed to go and buy some new yarn the other day some alpaca wool it is soooo pretty but it keeps my mind off of the pain didnt help at all yesteray neither did walle or my dog who looked at me and followed me all the way to the door. HUbby doesnt understand I was so sick last night from the pain it took me 20 minutes to even get to my truck!!!! but Im not going to think of it Im going to try and overlook the pain today and try to get my truck from the hospital hopefully today is better and this period goes away soon and Arizona comes faster because there is no way I can do this this is tooo toooo much pain for me. MY sister in law picked me up and said the nicest thing too Im starting to lose the ner5ve block weight and starting to look like my old self so yay : )

Good GOD woman! That man sounds like someone who might explode when you least expect it... I really suggest you get away from him! To get mad because you needed medical attention? WTF! I had a brother in law that was that way, and he nearly resulted in my sisters death from lack of medical attention from a head injury. Phone your family and see if there is not a way for you to go live with one of them. 1000 miles is half a days drive these days on a bus. I suggest you go that way if you can't by plane. At least on a bus, you can get up and move... and many have toilets on them... My parents live over 2000 miles away, and if things got real bad for me, I'd be moving back there in a heartbeat!

Megan,
One thing to get you through till your next refill would be to wear each patch a little longer to stretch it out for the 2 your missing. As for keeping patches on you can be tegaderm patch covers at any pharmacy, like rite aid or walgreens, to cover the patch so that the don't come off.

good luck

Hi katlyn I tried so hard to keep the last one on we pretty much took weight lifters tape and wrpped and taped as much as we could . I ddidnt even get back into the pool. But I did go to the ER last night and they gave me dilaudud to get me through to next sunday as well as until my follow up which I doubt will be any fun. I can swear to my dr I feel a different pain other than the neuropathy and he wont do any of the MRIs right nnow he would rather just do a nerve block and they havent been helping just add some weight on. Im 40 pounds more than what I was last year. I feel awful about myself people actually ask me if Im preggo.

Although on a better note hubby and I had a talk tonight I was the one to initiate it because it scares me when he is mad. He said that he just doesnt understand what is going on with me nerve wise and whatever else and it worries him that he cannot always be here. He said that he would like to talk to my dr to see if he could keep some injectable phenergan and pain meds for home when it gets to the point that I would need the ER. I havent been in a year but to him that doesnt matter I guess those kind of calls are called BS and the nurse and dr had to say I didnt waste their time because it is courtsy they want your business. Im still hurting pretty bad tonight and my hubby said that he is starting back on the ambulance full time on wednesday which we are bummed about I wont see him as much but he doesnt want it going out through dispatch for everyone to hear that his wife was sent by ambulance to the hospital. It happened when I first started the fentanly I wasnt thinking and I used to use my laptop to help with pain ultimate heating pad lol but I ended up falling asleep on the couch that night not with the computer on me but when I woke up a few hours later I had no idea of what was going on I was spinning so muchI couldnt stand and was sooooo sick I think I said find my fing husband and kept saying oh god oh god all the way to the ER that night wasnt fun and hubby thinks of that everytime he said everyone in his station was worried about me and wanted to know what happend. To him I guess it is embarrassing. I just do what my dr tells me to do. He said he wondered if I went because my dr was out of town and he blew me off for his bestest friend to go 60 miles away to the lake. He told me I should have called him and he would have turned around and gave me enough phenergan so that I could keep down my pain meds. Mostly why I use the patch I have a hard time with pills. He gave me a big hug said he could understand how scary it might be to be alone and in that much pain. Mostly cause I told him if he really wanted to know what it felt like I would grab his junk and stab and drag it all down to his toes and around his stomach see how he likes it lmao that was a hell no lol We are in counseling and lol he just told me he doesnt see me as an addict but then there came tonight I went for pain meds because he was gone and so was my dr. UUugh Im still praying hard that my dr doesnt drop me for going to the ER that is what scares me the most that contract states the ER is for emergencies only and I can only get pain meds through himand also only go to one pharmacy oh god I didnt do any one of those. Just a horrible weekend I woke up this morning and thought it was saturday, I have work in the morning and I have no idea of how I will get through it with this much pain. I do summer school assistant we have 12 kids and its me and the teacher monday, wednesday, friday just four hours thank goodness but I dont want to go I cant sleep right now Ive been trying since 9. Hubby is out doesnt take much.

I would love to move back home but my sister is a newly high school grad on her own starting college and has roommates and my dad lives with his current girlfriend other sister is out with her Air force hubby and my moms side is more screwed up. Ive wanted to go home more times than I can count on one hand this year but it doesnt happen. My dad todl me to call the Arizona place and he would go with me I did I have my appt so looking forward to it will have to tqall yal how it goes but now no one is going with me not even hubby unless he suprises me. But that would be scary because what would he tell them??? Wish me luck for this week Im so scared and stressed and hurting so bad and I have a feeling it is going to get worse one area that hurts the most turns purple when I have my period I dont even have to touch it. Just really scared I want the pain to go away so I can sleep and not be a total grouch to my kids tomorrow just want to bang my head into the desk I hate my pain I want my life and husbad back. He didnt act like this until I got sick. :( Night guys I cant sit anymore turn on tv or something and try to sleep thank you guys for your support I really needed it I couldnt do this alone evne if we have never really met I know Im not alone in this and thats what counts because I would be nuts by now and would have had a hysterectomy at 23 lol night

I've said it one, I've said it twice, I've said it a million times! But I'm going to say it again: YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP!!! HE ONLY MAKES UP WITH YOU FOR A SHORT TIME TO KEEP YOU WITH HIM; THIS IS HOW ALL ABUSERS WORK. Don't let him come to the Arizona appointment and screw everything up. Don't do that to yourself. You don't do anything to deserve the way he treats you. If he was mean 100% of the time you would leave, but since he is nice 5% of the time, you stay hoping that he will be nice more if only you are "good" or "pain-free" or "listen to him" or "not make him mad." These are all signs of abuse. Do you still have that website I gave you with the signs of an abusive relationship? If you do, read it, if not, I'll give it to you again! You are making your situation worse by staying. Your family might not be perfect, but they are far better than your husband. You NEED to be ok without your husband. No one likes being alone, but you will not be alone because of friends and family. You can date, have fun, and take care of your pain the right ways, without all the drama and abuse from your "husband." He is not a real husband, real husbands look out for their wives and give them the respect and nurturing they deserve. They treat their wives how their wives treat them! Only YOU can decide you are worth more and deserve to be treated right. Until then, the cycle will continue, and you will continue to be ABUSED.

I hope you find a solution for your pain soon! I'm not sure how your doctor will react to getting pain meds from the ER, but be completely honest, say you were in terrible pain, vomitting due to pain, that they gave you shots and meds for home, and that you couldn't make it to your regular pharmacy to get the meds due to pain. Tell him you're sorry, but didn't know what else to do since he was out of town and you got really scared due to the severe pain. If he is a good doctor, there shouldn't be a problem. I hope your period goes away soon and that you are able to rest and have great pain relief! Have you considered going on extended-cycle birth control? I'm on it because I had bleeding ovarian cysts and endo that required an emergency surgery. I haven't gained any weight or anything from it. I take Desogen birth control, it works great, and since it's pretty strong, I've never had spotting. After a few cycles (you take it for 3 months and then have a period) my periods have gotten much lighter and I only have endo cramps for a day. You can basically take almost any birth control safely for 3 months at a time, according to Planned Parenthood. I hope you can find relief!

Much love,
Lisa

I'm sorry for what you are going through... But I have to agree with Lisa on this. What he is doing is manipulative, and controlling. To yell at you for going to the hospital?... That is just wrong in so many ways, I just can't count... Please listen to LisaNeeds... He sounds exactly like my ex brother in law, my older sisters ex. He abused her in the same way... by forbidding or withholding medical treatment...