On Methadone & feeling like something is off with my hormones.

Question

I've been on methadone for 10 years now. Makes me sick that I've been on it so long but the fear of withdrawal is what has kept me on it so long. For the longest time now I have felt like something is seriously off with me. I'm extremely tired & fatigued all the time, I swear like crazy, I'm having so many problems with my teeth now & really do feel like my bones are brittle. I was in a very minor accident a couple years ago & I hit the steering wheel & broke my collarbone. It didn't heal right so I had to get surgery. But anyway, I'm just really sick of feeling this way so I've been doing a lot of research cuz I really believe it's methadone related since I never felt like this before. I've also gained a ton of weight which I hate as I've never ever had issues with it before. And all a sudden I just stopped having a period a year ago. So I went to the doctor & had her do blood tests to check my thyroid & hormones but was told they all came back fine. So I'm wondering if we aren't looking hard enough & other tests are possibly needed...I'm just not sure. Was hoping one of you guys might know. During my research I found something called Opiate-induced Endocrinology. I swear I think that's what's up but my doctor doesn't know I'm on methadone & I'm afraid to tell her because I'm worried about being judged or treated badly. Anytime someone even heard methadone they think your the worst of the worst & a total junkie. But they don't get that I could be them so very easily. I was given pain pills by a dentist cuz I have tmj & it was horribly bad back then. He gave me Percocet 10's so after taking them for just a couple weeks I was hooked & after that it was more taking them so I wouldn't be sick. My own family doesn't even know. I guess I shouldn't worry about what others think so much but I just can't help it. Anyway, if anyone knows of a test I'm missing that'll help figure this all out, please let me know. I really want to fix this & feel better. Been years now feeling like this & I'm just sick of it. Thanks a lot! :-)

gnarly_1 · Answer

Hi and welcome to the forum....well 10yrs is a long time but you can recover....I was on the crap for 7ys at 150mg I did a slow taper over 8 1/2 months....it was a hard kick but it is so so worth it to not be chained to the liquid hand cuffs...as for your symptoms with long term use what your going threw is common....long term it seeps into the fatty tissues and bones...I had great teeth but over time they became brittle and would just crack off wile eating...if you want to kick we can help...try not to let fear into the equasin....it is not so much the intency of the withdrawal but the long recovery time that makes it such a beast to get off of....right now get up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin calcium magnesum zinc....methadone robs your body of these critical minerals take 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner in a few days it will cut down on the withdrawals your going to feel...I have worked with a lot of our members getting off this crap and am kinda the go to guy for this drug....the real key here is to take your time this is a race one buy to tortus not the hair....you cant get past the withdrawal but it can be managed....always let your body be the final judge in when to reduce dosage it is not uncommon to taper a year or longer...I did it fast for the dose I was on....you sort of go in and out of withdrawals as you taper off just know with some support you can do this and where here to help...your no longer in this alone just stick to the forum we have several members who have gotten off this drug and we all will lend support keep posting and ask all the questions you have I look forward to helping you...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

atthebeach · Answer

Hello Laura and welcome. How many mgs of methadone are you taking?
You can get off methadone with a slow steady taper. 
Ask the clinic to stop tapering you.
Do you exercise? Eat right? Do you attend counseling or substance abuse support groups?
Yes 10 years is a long time to be on methadone I am sure that is way longer than how long you took the percocets.
There is freedom from the chains and bondage of addiction.

jifmoc · Answer

Hi, Laura. Well first of all, you have a lot of secrets. That's not helping you feel better. You've been on M for a decade but what are you doing for aftercare? Have you done anything to treat the addict brain? 

I'm not an M expert, but we have one on here, and hopefully he will be around to comment soon. But the symptoms you described are what every person on M has described. Especially the weight gain. If you want answers, start being honest...w/ everyone. And I always say, so what if someone judges you or gives you a look. You'll live. You're preventing yourself finding out medical info because you are scared of what someone thinks of you for 2 seconds. Makes no sense, right? 

Do you want to get off it now? You know what to do, have the clinic taper you down. There is no escaping withdrawls. For any of us. If you are so sick and tired of this that you can't stand it another minute, you'll accept that the withdrawls are the necessary evil to a new life. We can walk you through that, too.