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Recovering Methadone, Heroin, and Xanax user
Hello I am 28 y/o male and I am new here, I would like to find out if what I am feeling is still withdrawal or if I am sick. I shot dope from december of 2005 - november of 2006, got on the methadone program and was on 120 mgs + 2mg of xanax 3 times a day until dec of 2007. before all this I have done every drug in the book. In december of 2007, my life was spinning out of control, So I moved to California to start over. I am living with my mother and one of her conditions of me moving in was "get off the meth" so I had to get off 120 mgs of methadone in 1 week. and the xanax cold turkey. I suffered terribly and thought I was going to die. in a month in a half I felt totally normal again. started jogging. exercising, and one morning I woke up and had numbness in my chin and chest, next day insane palpitations that would skip beats, body pain, and after two months now I just feel my heart flip flopping in my chest all day, I have no insurance and here in la they send you to point a to point b to point c. I still don't know whats wrong with me, every day i feel like am dying. Could this still be withdrawal after 4 months causing the flipflops and pain or what I am worried about is it is heart failure or heart infection. Thanx, god bless.
sad: they checked all the levels in my blood and they seem to be fine. its just the liver enzymes and high white blood cell count. I never really beleived in God but now I have been talking to God every day, because I don't want to die. When I was high I didn't care but now I really do. Thanks for the reply and god bless.
lilyput: I try to get out as much as possible but I have a tough time getting around, if I make a wrong move my heart starts flip flopping, along with numbness in my head. I don't know with the way things are going I have to become really close to God and hope he will guide me wherever it is I am fated to go. Thanks for the reply and godbless.
lilyput: I try to get out as much as possible but I have a tough time getting around, if I make a wrong move my heart starts flip flopping, along with numbness in my head. I don't know with the way things are going I have to become really close to God and hope he will guide me wherever it is I am fated to go. Thanks for the reply and godbless.
i really feel for you. this B.S. about having to qualify to see a cardiologist is sooooo indicative of our broken health care system. it just makes me sick to my stomach to hear that they are treating you like that.
a couple of ideas:
1. since you worked, you payed-into the social security system. you could possibly qualify for social security disability and medicare. i'd get the ball rolling by applying for it as soon as possible. that way you'd at least have medicare insurance until you are on your feet and well enough to work again. remember: it's not welfare. it's an entitlement program that you are entitled to because you've contributed to it through the medicare taxes they took out of your pay. that's what it is for.
2. have someone take you to a different county, or even out of state to a different ER. sounds drastic, but hey...drastic times call for drastic measures. have you tried arizona or nevada?
you are prob having SEVERE anxiety attacks due to going c/t from methadone and xanax. obsessing about it will make it worse. i know it's difficult not to worry, but worrying isn't going to cure you no matter what your health status. just keep going back to the ER until you get an answer. be sure to tell them you want copies of all your lab tests, EKGs, and all other records from each previous ER visit, etc, to keep in your own file. that way at least they will know you have everything you need to sue their butts if anything happens. if they suspect this is what you are doing then the hospital's risk management dept may suggest they go ahead and treat you to a cardiologist consult pro bono to minimize their liability risk :) sometimes you just have to play the litigation card....sad, but true.
quitting both of those meds cold turkey was very dangerous. i forgot to take xanax for 36 hours once and had a seizure. i was only taking 3mgs a day...
in the meantime, eat very healthy, get a lot of rest, go to NA meetings, go to a church and talk to a priest....anything to get a support system to help you through this.
good luck. my thoughts and prayers are with you.
a couple of ideas:
1. since you worked, you payed-into the social security system. you could possibly qualify for social security disability and medicare. i'd get the ball rolling by applying for it as soon as possible. that way you'd at least have medicare insurance until you are on your feet and well enough to work again. remember: it's not welfare. it's an entitlement program that you are entitled to because you've contributed to it through the medicare taxes they took out of your pay. that's what it is for.
2. have someone take you to a different county, or even out of state to a different ER. sounds drastic, but hey...drastic times call for drastic measures. have you tried arizona or nevada?
you are prob having SEVERE anxiety attacks due to going c/t from methadone and xanax. obsessing about it will make it worse. i know it's difficult not to worry, but worrying isn't going to cure you no matter what your health status. just keep going back to the ER until you get an answer. be sure to tell them you want copies of all your lab tests, EKGs, and all other records from each previous ER visit, etc, to keep in your own file. that way at least they will know you have everything you need to sue their butts if anything happens. if they suspect this is what you are doing then the hospital's risk management dept may suggest they go ahead and treat you to a cardiologist consult pro bono to minimize their liability risk :) sometimes you just have to play the litigation card....sad, but true.
quitting both of those meds cold turkey was very dangerous. i forgot to take xanax for 36 hours once and had a seizure. i was only taking 3mgs a day...
in the meantime, eat very healthy, get a lot of rest, go to NA meetings, go to a church and talk to a priest....anything to get a support system to help you through this.
good luck. my thoughts and prayers are with you.
try...i know it's hard to not think the very worst..I know you did major damage..as did i to our bodies..but even the stress of thinking your going to die is playing havoc with you..i will be praying for you..You very well could be suffering from PAWS as well..i definately would sit in that e.r. until they do something else..have they checked calcium levels in your blood?
kim: yeah La county is bankrupt and someone like me who worked his whole life and had insurance doesn't have insurance anymore. what a jib. thanks for writing god bless you
worried: thanx for the advice, We'll see what happens tomorrow, god bless you
sad: my heart doesn't really race, it just flip flops and my feet swell up in the evening. if i move too fast my heart begins flip flopping and I can't enjoy anything. All day long i think about my heart, and always think that this day is my last. in the last 3 months, my goatee has started growing white hairs from the stress. I had such plans, I wanted to be a director, I went to institute of audio research and graduated honors, and now unless something gives I will not get to be what I wanted to be. Thanx so much for the advice and god bless you
sad: my heart doesn't really race, it just flip flops and my feet swell up in the evening. if i move too fast my heart begins flip flopping and I can't enjoy anything. All day long i think about my heart, and always think that this day is my last. in the last 3 months, my goatee has started growing white hairs from the stress. I had such plans, I wanted to be a director, I went to institute of audio research and graduated honors, and now unless something gives I will not get to be what I wanted to be. Thanx so much for the advice and god bless you
I'm not a doctor or a nurse but I was an EMT for many years and to my knowledge your wbc has nothing to due with stress rather with infection.To be honest I don't know if your elevated liver enzymes would explain your high wbc.Perhaps someone will come along who has more knowledge who can help to explain this to both of us.Thats terrible about having to qualify to see the cardiologist,it's all about the money.
our healthcare systems sux!! i wish i could give you my insurance..I just am at a loss of what to say...does your heart just start to race when your at rest?
Get a copy of your lab report...it belongs to you...u can then do some research on the topic yourself as i do know doctors can blow u off...if u say chest pain...they will scream cardiologist everytime...i have a rib that pops out of place..the first time it happened i went to the dr and they put me thru the whole 9 yards...i can walk on a treadmill for hours and i took the stress test and passed easily...i kept telling them it is not my heart but i did say my chest hurt...but it hurt to touch, not a heart attack type pain....and I am a medical professional and still did no good...could be your heart..who knows but get it checked...if your liver enzymes were elevated only slightly, there is no reason for concern...it is just the overall picture...stress can cause all kinds of abnormalities but it would not hurt like you said to go in tomorrow and be safe
Thank you all for replying, I feel so much better knowing that there are people who understand what i agoing throuh
Sad: I told them everything from beginning to end, they say that since there is no current emergency to go see an md. I saw 3 mds who told me to see a cardiologist, But here in LA you have to qualify to see a cardiologist with no insurance, and since my EKG is borderline and my chest x-ray is fine. I don't qualify. for the first time in my life i am absolutely hopeless. being sick in a city where you have no friends, don't know anything.
worried: I am a 28 y/o m, and I am planning to go back to the er tomorrow to see if anything changed
kim: The doctors offered me no plan of action, they told me that the wbc count is due to stress, i doubt it, if a normal range is 5-10, i am at 18. they blow off the liver enzymes, but all tell me to see a cardiologist who i do not qualify for
Sad: I told them everything from beginning to end, they say that since there is no current emergency to go see an md. I saw 3 mds who told me to see a cardiologist, But here in LA you have to qualify to see a cardiologist with no insurance, and since my EKG is borderline and my chest x-ray is fine. I don't qualify. for the first time in my life i am absolutely hopeless. being sick in a city where you have no friends, don't know anything.
worried: I am a 28 y/o m, and I am planning to go back to the er tomorrow to see if anything changed
kim: The doctors offered me no plan of action, they told me that the wbc count is due to stress, i doubt it, if a normal range is 5-10, i am at 18. they blow off the liver enzymes, but all tell me to see a cardiologist who i do not qualify for
Did the doctors offer you any plan of action for the high white blood cell count or elevated liver enzymes?Have they ever kept you for 24 hours on the EKG or had you wear a holster monitor?
You really do need to get checked...elevated liver enzymes may settle down...with the high wbcs along with the leveated liver enzymes can be indicative of some liver problems tho...I am assuming you used IV with the heroin...get checked as soon as you can...panic attacks can cause some really weird symptoms as well...that was alot to get off of so quickly...but glad u did...i dont know your age either...just get checked again to be sure all is well
I am so sorry..that sux. I wish i knew what to say..did you tell them (drs) what you had to do with stopping all the meds?
Thank you all for replying it really means a a lot to me. My name is Jeff. I have been in the ER 5 times, they do an EKG, and chest x ray and tell me that its normal. I got my labs back and got a high white blood cell count and elevated liver enzymes. So now I am looking for any job that offers insurance, because getting medical in LA is basically impossible. Its crazy, I feel like its a twilightt zone. Wake up in the morning and wonder if I am going to die today, can't see a cardiologist becuase I have no insurance so my plan is to suffer through another 4-5 months to save up 3-4 grand and move back to brooklyn, where even dog can get free medical insurance. If it is unemployed.
I agree with Mike and sad you really need to be seen by a doctor.My prayers are with you.Peace.
omg..how horrible for you!! You are lucky to be here..i went c/t off 65 mg of methadone and ended up in the e.r. when i tried to c/t xanax..that is very very dangerous to do..I would go to the e.r if your still feeling like this..
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