Thanks guys! Y'all have really helped me decide what to do. I'm going to go ahead & finish up the hydros(which will be today) then I figured I would take one 5 mg methadone pill for just a day or 2 just to help w/ the w/d from the hydros. That'll be the end of the methadone though, I can tell that's not a drug I want to screw around w/ or take long term. I've gone through w/ds so many times its not funny. The physical part isn't what destroys me it's the depression that follows that makes me want to start using again. Any thoughts on this plan? This sight has helped me sooo much. I'm going to continue to post & seek encouragement here. Thanks!
Also wanted to add about the methadone, as onthefence mentioned , the withdrawal period for methadone is soooo much longer than for other opiates. So the symptoms and misery last 3-4x longer.
Also, because you are so young, you really want to think about the hormone issue. Most women on methadone stop menstruating. It pretty much stops hormone production and puts your body into artificial menopause. Just something to think about.
I know we are trying to push you away from the methadone but it's only because we care ;o )
Phoenix
This site had been a godsend for me . The amount of support the love and angels on MH is amazing! We all understand!
Hmm your pain origin is unique. I wish I had some great ideas but I don't . Have you tried neurontin ? It is for nerve pain but used off label for other types of pain. I really don't know.
I am like you, young. (38) and we can't spend the next 50 years on opiates. I've spent 15 years already and it has brought my tolerance through the roof and my quality of life has plummeted. I also can't take any OTC pain meds which is why I got dosed so high on the opiates.
No matter what you decide, know that you have our complete support. If you want to taper off let me know and we can help support each other and I know lots of tips to help make WD not quite as miserable.
Keep posting!!
Phoenix
fresh fruits , legumes , lots of salad with different green leafy vegatables , raw broccoli , alot, food without perservatives, no precooked stuff, lots of 7 grain, whole grain cereal, and lots of different fish, .
my wife and i detoxed together, cold turkey, in beginning hot bath every hour, and music, to distract us (soft jazz, )we layed in bed for few days and was on here, talkin with very compassionate helpful souls.then later when sleep would not happen i took calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement,
reaserched how melatonin worked with body and took that combined with very dark quiet enviroment.
also forced myself to walk , just short distances at first (i have screws plate in leg)but exercise creates endorphins needed to feel good, also spent lots time reseachin effects of opiates and how they bind to mu rceptor and how to close extra receptors created during addiction, how endorphins work nuerotransmiiters etc. this helped to use time and distract me from thinking how krappy i felt.
i think it took a ouple weeks to feel better, but i had to go in hospital as the opiates caused me stomach problems so it took me a while, i had to have procedure , then we had to hit the road and relocate so alot going on back then, but i know i started feelig better within 2 months cuz i began drinking which was a mistake.
I know the longer the half life the longer the w/d, and methadone has a lot longer half life than hydo or oxy and is alt stronger, methadone is a whole different animal compared to oxy, i would really look into it, first, the detox is like 30 dau acute , compared to 7 day acute for oxy, but thats just a baseline there are lot of variables becuase we are all different.
Thank u Phoenix! My leg pain is due to a bunch of blood clots that have severely damaged my femerl vein. I have bn told by multiple Drs that there is nothing I can do for it. I really appreciate ur advice on the methadone. I really want advice on it. I don't know if it's right for me at all. LOL. I know that I MUST figure out a way to live w/ this pain. It is not fixable & it is permanent & I'm only 31, I can't live the rest of my life in opiates. I don't want to anymore. I think this is my way of reaching out for help- atleast to people that have a clue what I'm talking ab & what I'm going through. This is not a secret from those in my life- they all know & do any & every thing they can to help & be supportive but NOONE understands.
Onthefence, what kinds of things do u eat? When u came off opiates, how did u do it? CT? How long was it till u felt better? Do u have any experience w/d from opiates like hydro or oxy vs methadone? Does anyone?
Hello . Just wanted yo lend my support . I have been on chronic pain meds for 15 years (Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and primary immune deficiency) and am trying to taper off if massive doses of fentanyl and oxycodone . The way that our bodies build up tolerance to opiates amazes me. We take them through the years to feel better than at some point they turn on us and ruin our lives. It happens to everyone unfortunately !
Any away, my dr. Wanted to put me in methadone for the WD and I really researched it. I found out that it really affects hormones, far more do that any other opiate. It also does not have the same pain relief properties that other opiates have which is why it Is not prescribed often for pain but rather withdrawal. If you think methadone is best for you I don't want to talk you out of it but I do want you to really look into the pros and cons.
I agree with you that the depression and fatigue are the absolute worst. Have you tried tyrosine with Emergen c in the morning? I have found some help in this.
I know what it is like to manage chronic pain. What is the origin of your leg pain? Muscular , nerve, joint? Depending on the origin there may be some non opiate pain options.
Please keep posting. I would be happy to support you in any way I can...
Phoenix
Thank you so much for responding! My medical issues are somewhat complicated. I have a blood clotting disorder & have had multiple blood clots in my left leg- hence the chronic pain & prescriptions. B/c of that I am on a drug called warfarin to keep me from getting blood clots. This drug interacts w/ a lot of medications but in particular, NSAIDS. The only OTC pain killer I can take is Tylenol, which is not at all helpful for the type of pain I'm in. I don't want to spend the rest of my life on drugs, I just can't seem to get away from them. In the past when I get in the frame if mind to stop & then do it w/ in wks I'm in the hospital w/ another blood clot. It has been a vicious cycle. I'm w/ a new Dr now though that is monitoring me very closely, so I feel more confident ab not ending up in the hospital. I've just bn dealing w/ this for so long w/ no end in sight. The methadone seems like it could really be a good way to get me off opiates, I'm just afraid I won't be able to get off that & that I'm almost screwing myself more b/c I keep reading that methadone is the absolute worst drug to come off of & if takes the longest. Any thoughts on that? The good news for me is my husband & fam are aware of everything & are very supportive. Especially my husband, he's bn better then I deserve. Again, I so appreciate ur thoughts. All advice is welcome.
I haven't taken any kind of opiate's since march 2012, .I feel the best i have ever felt in my life, i was on a pain contract through clinic for 8 years, in the end my scripts lasted 1 week, i would supplement with heroin or methadone to not be sick, and i liked the high.So to answer your question Yes that crappy mental feeling does go away,do i have pain , yes ,i deal with it by exercise,stretching, and very important,, Diet, i think what i choose to eat has alot to do with how i feel ,along with positive attitude,(which can be diffecult),lots of positive self talk, faith, spirituality,etc.
i was told recently, fake it till i make it and i did,it helped i find i am faking it less and less.
now how long does it take to feel good, everyone is different, lots of variables,enviroment, genetic predisposition to addiction etc.for instance me i chose to keep drinking and smoking marijuana, and recently went to prison facility treatment, but now 6 months later, i am working a strong recovery program, i believe it is all a process, that begins with detox from all substances, then the healing begins, it takes courage , effort , persistance., and persaverance, but is worth it .....
I think you may need to make this decision wether or not you really need this medication for pain or as a maintenance drug to keep yourself from taking other opiates, you are right about methadone being highly addictive, usually you don't abruptly stop taking this medication, if you can deal with your pain using over the counter medications you may then eliminate withdrawal symptoms. In the end you will have to make the call what you should do.