help if u can

[lollie]

Hi again,  i've not been well thats my reason's for not posting since the last one i made,  i'll tell u all what happened.
to cut the story short as i am in pain just now.

I was on hep c treatment for 1 yr, went thru all the stuff that comes with it,  was hell, cleared it at end but go back in november to double check its still the same, clear that is, anyway while i was on treatment and before i was on methadone for 12 years, i cut to 10ml/mg and then went onto lofexidine- britlofex they are a blocker to block withdrawels meant to be dont get me wrong i was strong minded to get off and i'm not turning back now,  after say 4 or 6 weeks after treatment i started the withdrawels of methadone and that'll be 9 weeks this sunday i'll have been off the methadone,  but for the near enuff 9 weeks i've been in agony with my withdrawels,  the worst of them is my stomach i've been like this for the whole time and its really taking its toll i am sitting here now with a migraine and i had to take 2 imodium (immodium) plus to stop the diarrhoea and to stop the pains but i'm worried cos it says u cant take these longer than 2 days, forgot to add i was at my doctor's for the 1st time since i started withdrawing his attidute was go back on the methadone i took that as cheek and demanded some valium to calm me down,  so i left that day got thru 1 week on them nothing changed i went back to see him he gave me merbentyl 20mg to take once three times @day he also said they may not work, thats like 3 weeks ago now, any advice?
i go back to dr's on wed.
lollie

[lollie]

couldn't finish... also i've searched the net on this and can't find anything about the liver and methadone withdrawels so soon after treatment,  if indeed it does affect the liver,  but in saying that i feel every twinge and pain where i got my biopsy and feel pain in my liver like before when it was inflammed,  i had chronic hep c type 1 they told me it was the hardest type to treat and now i'm worried incase i've not gave my body enuff time to get over treatment and going straight into withdrawel,  even tho they said i was clear,  any advice would be helpful thanks
Lollie

[bunkywoo]

I'm an oldtimer to the board. Post-tx over a year now and still clear. I commend you for doing detox and tx at the same time. Talk about sides - whew! I commend you though for your will to get off the meth. Went through that several times and always found the withdrawls from meth worse than what I used to use. I've gone cold turkey & self-detoxed because I didn't like the clinic's plan for me. That was over 15 years ago now, but the memory of the agony of withdrawal is clear as a bell, which is a good deterent!

I would continue to drink alot of water for one thing. The thing that always helped me through withdrawal was the thought that by this time next week I'll be done (that was cold turkey). I don't know how old you are, but aging and all the good things that come with it could be part of your aches and pains. Also, there are alot of other things near the liver that could be causing your pain (gas is a big trouble maker!)

Sorry I don't have any answers for you, but I did want to take a moment to offer you some encouragement and let you know that you will get alot of support on this board anytime you ask for it.

Laurie

[unico]

Dear Lollie,
I am glad to here you are off the methadone, I am even happier to hear you made the decision to stay off and not turn back. I’m 46 with hepc 2b. Lollie, I have withdrawn from many, many drugs. All the hard way. You are going to feel pain in your liver, your head, you are going to feel pain everywhere, I did. And I felt the pain for weeks and weeks. I have been in a cell in prison for six months in solitary confinement withdrawing cold turkey from alcohol and opiates. Migraines, seizures, vomit, all of it. I have gone without food and water for days, I never thought I would survive at times. I have been shackled in chains for weeks at in 120 degrees, and much, much more. What I have learned is this: When I have no choice, I can endure ANYTHING. That may sound simplistic, but I know it to be true. No matter what happens in my life, I know I can endure it, because if I had no choice, I would and I could. I never question the “if I can” anymore. I now just snicker and wonder how much pain I will have to endure. I can laugh because I know it can not possibly compare to what I have gone through. I am not sure if this is quite the advice you were looking for, but it is what I got. You can get through this. If in your mind you exclude all choices and just accept that fact that it eventually pass, it can make it easier because you’re not fighting it, trying to get away from it. It is what is. It sucks, it hurts and it is hard. But when you accept it for what it is and realize it is a time based situation, you can endure it. I am not telling you not to see the doctor. Take what he gives you. Whatever makes it easier. But this will pass, and on the other end you will be so strong you will laugh at other adversities when they come your way. Let’s face it, where you are is the worst it’s ever going to be. It all gets easier from here. Hang in there and stay strong. Grit your teeth and scream if you feel like it, beat the **** out of a chair, do what you have to do, but never give up, EVER. We are all right here with you. I am right here with you. If you want I will give you my e-mail address and you can talk to me directly. I wish you the best.
LOU

[mythoughts]

I am on MMT now & I know for a fact that the long term detox will screw w/ your liver. It will screw w/ all of your organs. However, I don't think it'll bring the virus back, but I just don't know. Your w/ds from M won't even start until 2wks after stopping MMT, but they will last a month or two.

I think that any doctor that recommends you to taper while going through tx for Heo is a nut job. You usually need to raise your dose. And, every study there is tells you to taper over a 1 or 2 year period, OR, switch to bupe when you're lower than 30mg. The hardest part is going from anything to nothing.
In all honestly, you should feel better soon, but if I WERE YOU, I's resume my 10m dose asap & lower slowly to 1mg or switch to bupe. Not what you want to hear, but studies show that the majority of people who remain clean do it VERY slowly & do not go from 10mg to 0.

A huge support system is available to you w/ a ton of educated, experienced info at atwatchdog.org. My name there (& here) is mythoughts, so you can private message me if you'd like. Good luck!

[Showboat]

I just want to let you know that I am thinking about you, and have got you in my prayers.  I cannot imagine what you are going through....but you are doing it....you can be very proud of yourself....it can't be easy.   Good luck to you...  Unico, Justmythoughts and Bunkywoo are like Angels.....you guys are great for holding out your arms and offering encouragement and experience....Bless you all.

[Showboat]

oops! Sorry...I wrote your name wrong...sorry

[jevs2]

I was on Methadone for 12 years and have been off it for 18 months now.
I reduced by 1mg a week down to 1mg and then took 1mg every other day and then every third day and then stopped.
I am convinced that reducing slowly is the best way to succeed permanently.
If you have to go back onto a small dose I wouldn't see it as a faliure just a temporary measure for the sake of your sanity.
Good luck and best wishes
Joanna

[jg2001]

I have to agree with the rest on tapering down.  The clinic I was on took me down 2 a week and then pretty much did the "21-day detox" routine toward the end. However, I also was forced into a "vacation" while detoxing...that was at 12mg.  I thought I was gonna die. Like was said above, I would grit my teeth and just do it.  You've gotten this far.  It's gonna hurt like hell...my legs and back were the worst.  The "crawls"!!!  

Hang in there.

Jamie

[cindee]

Hi and Boy did you bring back some awful PAIN that I too suffered. I was on Methadone for 3 different tmes...and YES it was worse than getting of the heroin I used and detoxed 4 or 5 times off of and then after 10 days of "cold turkey" detox..(I would lay @ my parents) for those 10 days to rid my body of the heroin...and then just run right back to it!

I then went to a Methadone tx center. It was an out-patient deal. I did it 3X's...well really 2, and then I would try to drive to the clinic and end up stopping on the side of the road and "throwing" up. Mine was mixed in kool-aid...still can't drink kool-aid till this day! I finally ended up quitting the treatment and I detoxed "cold turkey".

It was awful...I would sweat so badly..it was like somebody took a huge bucket of water and poured it on my head! I went 15 days w/o any sleep! I was "seeing" things...like out of the corner of my eye...I would "think" I saw something run across the floor...like a mouse.

I begged my Mother for some valium, and she gave it to me...but it didn't help at all...I had the worst "ringing" in my ears and my whole body HURT!!!!! It was HELL on earth! And yes the "crawling" feeling too!

But I did it 11 yrs ago and now it makes me "feel" sick to my stomach to talk about it! I cannot stand the smell of a candle when it's first put out...that comes from cooking the heroin.

I promise I will lift you up to GOD and YOU can make it! I did..and I have never looked back! I thought I might have a problem w/ my shot nite...just using a needle again...but as soon as I finished tx..I had a lot of syringes left and I immediately took them to my neighbor to use. She has to use insulin many times a day.

I want to wish you the best and YOU CAN DO IT...if you have your mind made up to quit!!!! This is something you have to do on your own.....been there....done that!

My e-mail is southern   34   belle   98  at yahooooo! You e-mail me any time! I'm with ya girl.....I understand! I was an addict for 17 yrs. I was always told for every year you are an addict, it takes that many months to really get over it. Like I was an addict for 17 yrs...so it would take me 17 months to really get it behind me!

I now have to take 135mg of morphine a day for tissue damage and fibromyalgia....I hate taking morphine now...and years ago I would have loved it!!!!! E-mail me anytime...and I mean that! You will be in my thoughts and in my SPECIAL PRAYERS! I will go in my bedroom where it is quiet right now and pray a special prayer for you. Hang in there...it will be hard, but it will be over soon!!!!!! Love, Cindee