MED HELP NEEDS YOUR HELP!

[CGTMHI]

Hi Everyone,

We need your help!  We are working with Georgetown University's Communication, Culture & Technology class to create a better Med Help website.  

We would very much appreciate your taking a few minutes to fill in the questionnaire which can be reached by clicking on the "PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK!" button above, or at the following URL:

http://medhelp.org/Questionnaires/GUsurvey.htm

Georgetown University has been kind enough to lend their expertise to helping us build a better website.  We need to hear from you, since your ideas and opinions are critical to our success.  Please note that the questionnaire/survey is completely annonymous.

Thanks for your support!!

Cindy & Phil
Founders, Med Help International

[MethMan]

Done.  It took no more than 2 or 3 minutes.
Mike

[taeme]

Did it as well.

[suzieneedshelp]

Ditto done.

Thx Phil and Cindy for your efforts to improve the site!
Take care!
Suzie

[puma]

Thank you!!! (Cindy and Phil) for your efforts to keep this
forum running smoothly and cleanly for the most part. I made a suggestion for the surveyors to check a particular forum which knows very well how to weed out the pranksters and remove them permanently.

It is a shame you had to go to all this trouble but I won't let it stop me from coming back, as the scroll button is a good tool that we all might need to start using instead of feeding the pranksters thirst for negative attention.

Good luck and God Bless you for keeping this important wealth of information flow going.

Chatahan......wildcat

[gem1angel]

Done as well, no problem,

Gem xx

[MethMan]

Sorry for the off-topic, but thought I'd post here instead of the other threads where folks are getting some info they need.

Is ANYONE else's posts disappearing?  Or their screen names not showing in the response lists?  I've had 2 posts vaporize.  There was no profanity, insults or discourteous comments in either of them.

Maybe the forum software only lists "X" number of posts per thread or something.  I don't know.

The only reason I bring this up is not because I want to read my own BS, It's because if it is happening to my posts, who's posts have I missed?  OK.  I'm through whining.

Thanks,
Mike

[bmac]

Don't worry about the posts disappearing.It happens all the time.Some times the name goes but if you look in that thread it will be there.I think space is limited also.
You seem alot better.Good for you.
                       Bill

[MethMan]

Thanks Bill.  It feels like some days are going better, then when you feel like it's about over, BLAMMO!  Another fairly rough one, like today.
I don't know if it makes any sense, but this is the 11th day off methadone for me and my body is tingling all over with a good share of fatigue to go with it.  Also, the skin (especially the face) feels pretty flush.  Funky.
Anyway, I am taking clonidine. .1mg 3X a day and was told I can go to 4 if needed.  For helping me sleep the doc gave me Ambien 10mg, 1X at night for sleep.  The clonidine helps for about 2 hours, then it's benefit is gone.  So, I just veg out and wait for noon to take the next one.  As for the Ambien, is 10mg a lightweight dose?  Because it sure seems like it.  I have never had a problem with any benzos and have very old scripts of em that go unused.  It just ain't my bag.  I am assuming Ambien is kind of like a benzo, right?  Think it's safe to call the doc and ask for something a skosh stronger (like 15mg instead of 10mg of Ambien) or since it's Day 11, just hang tight?
All I've been doing is just sitting here, taking 2 30 min walks a day, hot showers and typing on the keyboard.  I thought about making a run to San Antonio to get an Ibanez Axe and Amp to get back to how I use to play and I'd have something to take my mind off this bs, but when I got in the car and started heading that way, the damn highway department narrowed the lanes on me and I couldn't keep from riding the edge of the bar ditch, so I turned around and came back. :)

Not jonesing or anything, just a little pissed that today is worse than yesterday.  Guess that's the ride though.  Who signed me up for this ride? Oh... I remember, I did.
Thanks for the help bud.

Mike

[LizzyM]

Filled out the survey..only takes about 2 mins.  Thanks Med Help

[bmac]

What you are feeling is very normal.I remember it well.
I have taken Ambien before but it didn't really make me sleepy at all.Playing took my mind off of it for awhile also.But I play in a band so I had others to jam with.I play bass and playing alone sux.I used clonidine and phenobarb for withdrawals
for 8 days.I still felt like hell after that but no creepies at all.It sounds like brainfog has set in.Do you toke at all?If so That helped me some.It gets better.
                         Bill

[MethMan]

Bill, thanks for the feedback.  Knowing that it's a common thing makes a big difference to me.  I'm just gonna keep going.
You asked if I toke.  Well, I did about 25 years ago, but when I did, I didn't mellow out like my wife does.  I freaked.  Maybe it was dusted, I don't know. Odd thing it was.  It sort of pissed me off that I couldn't feel the same things my buds were.  Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know.  Hell.. I haven't even had any alcohol in years.  Mainly because Methadone and alcohol don't make for a good combo.  Least for me they didn't.  Seemed like the alcohol sucked the Methadone outta my system and I start DTing by 3pm.
No... I just took Methadone for years trying to hide from the withdrawals. Thing is, you can't hide from something riding on your back.  But in another couple weeks (hopefully), I'm gonna yank that monkey off my back and pound him into the pavement.
Like you said, Jamming by yourself does kind of suck, but I want to get back to playing like I use to, which wasn't too bad.  So, when I can make it, I'm opting for the Satriani Ibanez with a little 60 Watt amp and start trying to get my speed back up to an unembarrassing level again. I'm not going to expect too much success until the WD's ease up a little, but at least I'm working toward the goal on both points and it will help keep my mind off this day to day thing.
Thanks for all your insight and help.  Rock on brother.
Mike

[CGTMHI]

THANKS EVERYONE!!!  We received an e-mail early this morning from the Georgetown University group saying they had received more than 48 replies overnight!!!

We truly appreciate your help with this!  Hopefully by early January we'll be rolling out a new and vastly improved website, thanks to the help of Georgetown University.

Wishing you all the best,
Cindy & Phil

[MrsRat]

I'm starting into day 4 (but still need to sleep for the 'day'as we are 3rd shifters so don't keep a normal schedule here.) I was taking 80 mg a day of methadone.  I've been on my normal 'drugs' I take for various other health problems .. Crohns, Fibro, etc. I have been fine all my life on Vicodin ES.. never abused.  Then I has no insurance and the state funded docs put me on MS Contin 100 mg 4 times a day 3 1/2 yrs. ago after they cut out a foot long section of my bad small colon.  They didn't tell me it was Morphine, just told me it would be better for me to take and keep me on the Vic for my breakthru pain.  Then I got married and got insurance.. bye bye to those docs.   I didn't know what to do at that point, not knowing who to go to.  They suggested I try Methadone.  I think you can figure out the rest.  I've been on 'done for the past 1 1/2 to 2 years.  I have found a very helpful G.P. doctor who is gonna help me get thru this somehow and I am set for a colonoscopy on Dec. 2nd with a G.I. doc, who will then finally put me on the Crohn's drugs I should have been put on, instead of the painkillers, many many years ago.

Methadone was the only painkiller that worked well for me.  Got me out of a wheelchair and onto a bicycle in 2 weeks when I started it.  Back then I was up to 100 mg a day at one point, then dropped to the 80 mg I was currently at for the past few months.  The clinic, of course, doesn't take my insurance.  We were paying out of pocket the $140.00 a month it cost.  Now we just had a drastic cut in pay and cannot afford it.  I do still have the insurance though that will pay for other drugs to help me thru this stage.  (Not that they seem to be helping much.)

I'm upping the dose later today when I wake up (my daughter is going to go pick up and fill the script for me) of what the doc put me on for my pain, drug I don't know much about called Duragesic and I'm going up from 50 mg patch to 75 mg.  I tried using 2 50 mg. patches the other day, but then when I used the Vicodin ES for the Crohn's pain, it's too much and I felt like I was going to O.D.  My husband was an LPN for 13 yrs. when he was younger and he also thought it best I take it off.  The doc agreed when I called him that evening to discuss what I was feeling.  It's probably just fear he said, but he doesn't want me on more than I feel I can handle as the mental stress is hard enough coming off this damned (hope I can use that word here) Methadone.

Besides the Duragesic I am also taking the Vicodin ES every 6 hrs as needed (never had a prob getting off that even after years of being on it in the past so have no fear of it when I will start to detox from it later), Donnatal 2 tabs a day to keep my IBS under control, Lorazepam 1 mg I am allowed 3 a day but I take 2 at bedtime instead of what I am allowed to take, Trazodone 100 mg. at bedtime to help me sleep (LOL, I took all that and slept 2 hours then again later and made it a whole 6). I do have an older script for Elavil 25 mg which used to knock me out like a light when I tried it so I never took it again, dug it out tonight and took one a few hours ago, not sleepy yet.

Besides the WD I am also now into a full Crohn's flare .. such fun when I can't walk and the insurance company is going to take up to 4 weeks to get me a wheelchair.  At least this time it will be mine to keep forever, not a rental like the state got me.  If I ever feel warm again I may be able to move a little better, but not until that point.  Oh yeah, I do have prednisone here if I get bad enough with the flare that I need to take some.  It has nasty withdrawls too and I really do NOT wanna go thru those again.

We are between pays and out of money, our last 20 is going to fill this last script for me for the patches.  I sure hope they do help me some.  To those who would suggest in-patient, I have already tried that and the place my insurance company uses could NOT help me.  They told me to stay on the Methadone, but that is no longer an option due to finances.  So here I sit starting into day 4 of this pure HELL.  I am mentally and physically exhausted and I've always been the strong one all my life.  Methadone got the better of me.  OOOOhhhh how I wish the doctors had *never* suggested it to me.  If anyone is thinking of going on Methadone, PLEASE re-consider your options.  Wean off the drug you are taking, don't start on the 'done, it will take ahold of you and getting off of it is almost impossible.  I think the only reason I will make it is because I do want off of it so badly and I know also we do not have the money to get me more.  

I'm mentally too tired to write more.  I'm sorry I posted back on this thread as I did, but I wanted to post to both of you as you came off the 'done too and you maybe can give me an idea what I am facing from here on out.  It wouldn't let me start a new thread, said there were too many already today.  Thanks for hearing me out.  I will check back here later today. I have no idea how long I will sleep, I am hoping when I go out it will be for 10 to 12 hours, which is my norm.

MrsRat

[MethMan]

Hello!  You're in the right place for help.  Not because I am a know it all, but because there are truly wonderful people here that helped me to Day 12 off Methadone.
I'm not gonna sugar coat it.  You are in for about 10 days of rough DT, "BUT", I can promise you that Day 12 is much better than the first week.  I don't feel "Good", but after being on a methadone clinic's idea of helping for over 10 years, I am not sure what good is.  All I know, is that the further I get from that ****, the better I feel.  There is NO WAY I would ever go back.  You're gonna need to hang strong for a week.  I'm walking a tightrope here in telling you that, because I don't want to freak you out, nor do I want to lie to you.  Since you've dealt with Chrons, then I figured you don't like people sugar coating anyway.  So here was what happened to me over the last 10 days.  It is different for all people, but there is a common ground it seems from those of us that have had to beat this particular monkey.
Day 1 through 3, is a total Steven King Mind Bender.  This is the point that I came here and found GREAT people providing advice that I feel compelled to provide here.
  a. Look in earlier posts for the "Thomas Recipe"
  b. Eat 1 banana twice a day (Potassium load helps with Legs)
  c. 1000 Mg of Vitamin C
  d. B- Complex
  e. Multi Vitamin
  f. Anti Oxidant
  g. 3 HOT showers a day. (REALLY helps for crawling skin)
     (This gem was generously provided by hippie and it WORKS)
  h. You need to keep moving if you can.  Laying there will
     drive you up the wall.  Do ANYTHING to keep busy.
Day 4 - 7, My doc gave me Clonidine and 10mg of Ambien for sleep and it was enough to get 4 hours.  Felt absent minded, weak and fatigued heavily.  Forced myself to get up and walk for 30 min.
Day 8 - 10, I felt a little rougher but knew it would pass thanks to the wonderful help that bmac provided me.  Fatigue was the main problem, plus I was stupid and abruptly stopped Clonidine on day 5 thinking it wasn't doing anything.  MY Screwup.
Day 11 & 12 - My wife was too busy, so I went to the grocery store without freaking the people out too much. :)  Also had enough energy to get to the doc's office.  I still feel very weak and fatigued along with a new feeling of what they call "Brain Fog".  You can't concentrate, you're forgetful and it's a real task to just think.  But, Day 12 is better than Day 11 for me.  At this point, my Doc is tapering me off clonidine.  DO NOT STOP the Clonidine abruptly if you are started on it.  I did and found out it is not good.  Your skin will crawl again and you get this metal taste in your mouth.  It's wierd stuff, but used for Blood pressure.  Happens to really help initial withdrawals as a byproduct too.
You may get to a point of not thinking it is possible to get off Methadone like you mentioned in your post, but it is possible.  I am doing it just like many others before me did.  But you have to want it, BAD.
The above has been working well for me.  The vitamins are very important as is keeping busy as these are the things that rebuild your receptors and endorphin levels back to decent levels.
You may not have too much of a problem since you're taking the patch and other things.  I pray that you have minimal effects.
All that said, I want you to know that I am a recovering addict like most of us here, not a doctor.  I STRONGLY suggest especially under your circumstances that you see a doc for help.  If money is tight, there are some people on this board that can tell you how to get the help you need.  Really.  See... unlike a doctor, addicts have been there and done that.  And better than that, a RECOVERING addict is a person that freely provides a fellow brother or sister with help, encouragement & kindness that no one else knows to give.
I will pray for you and your road ahead.
God Bless,
Mike

P.S.  If you want to say something, you can post it in this thread OR if it is a new thing you want to say, I suggest posting near the top no matter what the thread happens to be.  In my early days, i was posting to others that were MONTHS old. :)  I ususally scan for dates all the way down the list because I don't want to miss anything.  But if you post at the top question, you are sure to get a LOT of responses to your need for help.
Later,
Mike

[bmac]

MethMan is so right.It is hell to come off but if you do it right it will be OK.Take his advice about the recipe.It helps regardless if you cold turkey or taper.With all the other medical problems you have I can't imagine a doctor not helping you thru this.I used clonidine and phenobarb for withdrawals.
Listen to others here and you will make it thru this,believe me.
                         Bmac

[suzieneedshelp]

another suggestion for the board. If there is a way to block a person from sending a post to a specific individual. Like on yahoo u can block a person and do not see wut they post to you or to anyone.
I dont know if it is possible here..but just an idea.
thx,
Suzie

[MethMan]

IMHO, I'd personally deal with the occassional irritating individual rather than blocking him.  As an example, maybe the first or second time someone comes in here, they may be as bad off as I was.  Then once they find out that they're getting helpful info, if the aren't an addict, then they'll get bored and leave.  If they ARE an addict, to disregard a single post could have serious consequences for the person.  I won't use the feature if it is available because if I could't return the hope I've received here by others to someone new, I'd have a hard time feeling good about that.

That's just my idea, I could be wrong.  Besides, I'm 12 days clean now and shouldn't be considered all together... yet.

Also, I'D probably be the one being ignored :)

Thank you for everything that you all do.

God Bless,
Mike

[suzieneedshelp]

i would never do that to a new person.  Its only that one individual could block another if they feel they are abusing or personally offensive.  Everyone else can see wut the blocked person is saying, only those who wish to block them do not see!
Thx,
Suzie

[bmac]

Could you email me.I need to speak to you in private.
    ***@****

[puma]

Suzie,

I know a couple of people hurt you but that will go away with time. Plus the negative people usually end up getting pushed away anyhow because everyone ignores them, scrolls as soon as they see their name, or say things back that the individual doesn't like so much either and they eventually leave.

Learning to deal with the insults will eventually stengthen you personally as well. I used to take things way to personally myself and now just scroll if the need arises.

A.A. you may get feedback not always positive either, but you cannot kick the person out for criticizing so long as it is not plain ole flaming etc.

(Phil and Cindy) have been great at erasing silly, insignificant, or flaming posts. I am glad they got rid of a couple of mine from yesterday when I was really off the wall after seizing. I was glad I didn't have to see it here today. Talk about babbling! LOL.

You take care, and keep up those meetings, they really helped me stay sober for nearly two years. I think I need to get my butt back there again too. I may not have relapsed had I continued the program. Water under the bridge now though. Good luck.

Chatahan.......wildcat

[Sugarbeens]

I don't know where you live, but, if you are low income(and it sounds like it) why do you not have Medicaid.  If you don't have it to help with your meds, than you should apply. If you live outside the U.S. than I don't know what insurances they have.  If you are perscribed this medication for Chrohns, why can't you get it?  There are many options, but, if you are addicted to Methadone than you should get off of it and try the drugs specifically for Chrohns.  It just sounds like you have managed for many years not to get addicted to your pain meds, and I know from what I know about Chrohn's, it is very painful.  You sound like a very strong person, so don't be hard on yourself.  you did great for how many years without addiction being a problem?? May I ask how old you were at initial diagnosis and how old you are now?  If you are in a state that has Medicaid, and most in U.S. do, than apply.  Do you work?  If you do than you probably won't be able to get Medicaid, but, your insurance through work should pay for meds.  Take care and Love to all!

[MrsRat]

I just woke up so am not all the way here yet mentally, but I will try to answer your questions as I remember them.

LOL.  3 showers a day ?  With hair that I sit on and legs that I can't stand on .. that one won't happen.  I probably won't get a shower or a bath until I am thru this or when I can't stand the smell of myself any longer and somehow find the strength to get in there, tear out half my not much left hair cause it's so tangled trying to wash it and me.

I will ask my hubby to pick up a banana from the store when he is there next and eat that.  I will sit and look at it and try to force myself to eat it before it goes bad.  Being a Crohnie I am used to going days without food, so this really isn't bothering much yet that I haven't eaten.  If I eat, it will hurt and right now I need as less pain as I can get.

My daughter got my script for the stronger 75 mg Duragesic patch from my doctor today, but the pharmacy can't get it in for me till Tuesday.  *sigh*  I put on the 50 mg I had here that I was due to put on today.  Will have to just tough it out over the weekend till they can get the drug in for me, or I can have the doc call them and change it to 100 mg. which they have in stock.  I think I'll wait.

As for me.  I'm 45 and possibly can get some social security since I have never been able to work in my life due to the crohns. I have held small jobs for a month at a time when I was much younger, but I'd always get sick from the stress and have to quit or I'd get 'laid off' LOL, same as fired if you ask me.  I need to look up the forms online and fill them out.  I hear it takes up to 2 years to get your first denial from the Government, then they say to get a lawyer and file the papers again with him and then in another year or so I should get accepted.  

Income as I mentioned has dropped, but we are still over the 'line' to be considered poor.  The owner here only took away the extra cash really that we had each pay to buy 'whatever' stuff with that we wanted.  We just won't be able to do that any longer.  All money now will go to rent, food, smokes, and cable for the internet.

While I am still unable to walk on my own without the aid of my trusty stick, today (4) does seem a little less 'crazy' than the last 3 have been.

[bmac]

With your condition I can't see why you can't get soc sec disabilty.I have a bad spine due to surgeries and I got on it in 1992.I did have to fight to get it though.Took 2 years to get approved.They also gave me Medicare which covers the docs and the hospital time.No meds though.But from what I understand the new congress is going to change the medicare coverage to include meds.Just a thought.If I am able to be found disabled you sure are.I have a friend with Chrons(spelling)and I see how painful it can be.But to tell you the truth he gets around better than me.Good luck!!
                   Bmac