213 days off methadone and lungs are still weak

[weaver71]

I have had mucus in my lungs since I quit methadone. I went to the doctor and even had x-rays of my chest. There's no reason, according to the doctor, that my lungs are filling with mucus. He said it's likely an over-reaction of my immune system. I did have respiratory arrest and chronic breathing issues while using methadone. I used an inhaler for a couple weeks and my lungs cleared up, but once the inhaler was gone, my issues continue. Any suggestions on what I could do to strengthen my lungs? Has anyone heard of these symptoms being caused by methadone after 7 months clean time?

[HelloFriends1]

So I am not alone. I am 5 weeks out from quitting methadone. On it for several years but only  10mg a day. My lungs have been a mess ever since. I am regularly  short of breath with tightness /pressure in my chest. I get a tiny amount of mucus  sensation  sometimes but not anything significant comes up. I get extremely worried when I feel like I can't breathe.. No health insurance  but went to a clinic, dr says my lungs sound fine and my xray wss normal. That's  it, no further testing, just written off like this isn't  serious. I am guessing at this point since the onset of symptoms  was immediately  after I quit, that this is definitely  related to the methadone use. Perhaps inflammation, or my lungs getting used to functioning normally without the respiratory  depression associated with methadone. Also my throat gets sore from being outside. I too originally thought I had walking pneumonia. I know this is an old thread but it's  the only one I've  found  addressing my concerns.  Any further  info. Or similar  experience  please reply asap. No health insurance  so going to a specialist is pretty moot point. Thanks guys!

[weaver71]

I forgot about this post, bigger fish to fry, but thought I should follow up. My lungs are better now. I have come to find out that I have formed allergies to certain spores and resins. I was exposed to black mold back in 2002. I have spent a lot of time in fully ripe marijuana plantation harvests. If I am around heavy spore or resin loads in the air I start to get the mucous reaction. I remember harvesting white sage on the mountain slopes east of San Diego. It took a week to recover my natural breathing. I think the methadone played a major role in amplifying the immune response to contaminates in the air and reduced my ability to be aware of the root cause. I never could afford a pulmonary specialist, but am able to recognize respiratory issues and change my situation. So far, it's working. It took about 10 months to figure it out and heal from the methadone influence on my lungs.

[jstbelieve]

Weird but I think there are two of us jstbelieve people this can be confusing.

[jstbelieve]

Greetings
I joined this site as I can relate and have been through most everything I have read. Trust me I'm 50years old grew up in a heavy drug culture. I'm now because I have to be due to chonic pain on Butrans patch 20mcg. One huge bit of advice.  StAY FAR FAR AWAY FOR METHADONE CLINICS...DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO BUT THAT TO GET CLEAN.
Being a hardcore heroin addict in California I know about methadone. I'd rather die then ever try an get off methadone again.

[jonboi76]

@Weaver71 I just want to say well done you for getting off the meth & can I ask how u did it ie taper subs?

[jstbelieve]

I am going to my Doc. Thank You because you gave  me that push i


I needed....be well  

[jstbelieve]

Greetings
I have had one kind or another pill for chonic pain, I am glad I did read this I was getting concerned about my breathing an weezing...

[selfinduced]

Hey Weaver, Just sending you big hugs and a solution to this issue. I don't have answers, but know you'll get them. Keep digging. Don't settle for a diagnosis that you don't feel solid in. Your lung may have very well taken a hit with all your past use, but doesn't mean it is not irreparable . Question authority and keep at it. xx

[weaver71]

I took an OTC decongestant/expectorant for 2 days and it helped for now, I'll have to wait for some money for the doctor. It's weird, I feel okay, I just can't get my lungs clear. I think gnarly is right, it takes a long time for methadone effects to fade completely. I've heard of people not feeling 100% for up to 2 yrs. I was taking a lot and not on a regular basis. I'm not freaked out or anything, I just want to be as healthy as I can. It's about time I took better care of myself.

Thanks for asking Connie, I'll keep you all posted. I'm realizing that a lot of people suffer lung issues for a long time after detox. Another thing I'm learning about to be even more of service in the future. Always something to look forward to.

[conhall]

How are you feeling? Any Improvements?
Any luck with a doctors appt?
All these questions I know :)
Just wanted to check on you and let you know I am thinking of you and always Pulling for you!
:)

[killerzoey]

Hi Weaver

Let us know what happens, please. I was just sitting down to Google respiratory issues with Tramadol, as before I quit I spent most of a month very sick with pneumonia and bronchitis and "reactive airways" (asthma). I've never been prone to respiratory problems, and never had asthma, though sadly my daughter does.

After I didn't sound clear at my first or second follow up visit, my doctor scheduled yet another a follow-up visit in a few weeks, where he's hoping to give me a clean bill of health. It worried me that he is worried. He said "You shouldn't be getting pneumonia at your age." I have wondered if the Tramadol had anything to do with it. Since I quit two weeks ago (though I have taken a low amount of hydro to stagger the withdrawals) my lungs have totally cleared up, I believe. I can no longer make them crackle by breathing out all the way, and they just feel so much better. It could be unrelated, but reading your post makes me all the more suspicious.

For what it's worth, I remember learning that if you are hospitalized with pneumonia sometimes they come around and make you do lung tricks to try to clear them. One is having you take a deep breath and blow hard and fast into a mouth piece (like the one they use to measure lung function) to try to get you to blow a certain percent. I think that's called "incentive spirometry". So while you wait to get seen you might try recreating that exercise at home? My dr also told me that hot, steamy showers where you breathe deeply, with lung percussion (patting back or chest hard over and over) will help break up the secretions so that you can try to cough them up.

Also I started taking Mucinex to thin the secretions.

Good luck to you getting your lungs clear. Please share what the doctor says :)

[weaver71]

Thanks again everyone, I'll go see another doctor. I have to drive out of the mountains to get to any kind of specialist, so it's always a last thought. I think it's probably just the high dose, long term methadone use, but I would feel better if I knew for sure. I haven't been able to overcome it with herbs and nutrition, so it's time I look deeper into this.

[dominosarah]

Please get yourself to a doctor who deals with this sort of thing.  It may be something really easy to treat.

[conhall]

Hi my Friend I am going to agree with above post see another Doctor a specialist Pulmonary Doctor would be a good start.
Listen to your body , I have an example to share After I had my last baby she is 8 now I Had a C section and afterwards about two days later, I had hard time catching my breath and shortness of breath and coughing alot, I went to ER they ran a few test and nothing and they were going to release me and then  one doctor said I want a Cat scan to rule out something that is probably not an issue but I have a feeling, The other Doctor had missed it he was checking me out to leave and he did the scan and sure enough I had a Clot in my Lung, Pulmonary embolism very rare I never had any issues before but because I had the csection I was in bed over a long period of time and If I hadnt had that doctor and the Cat scan I would not be here today. It would of traveled to my heart and killed me. So My Point is not that you have this a pulmonary embolism,  But its That you should listen to your body something isnt right and one doctor could of missed it and another doctor will find it. The doctor that had released me found out what I had from other doctor  that ordered scan and he turned white as a ghost. He apologized and told me that he was sorry. :O.I was a new mother and he thought I was just being whiny,

Doctors make mistakes and you have been through alot these past months get another opinion and get to the bottom of this. Feel better Tony and I am praying for you and sending you positive energy :)

[clean_in_ks]

Hey guy.....once again, I can relate to you. I know our recovery times and  almost identical time on subs are very similar; even tho methadone wasn't the drug I w/drew from, my 200-300 mg/hydros did a number on my respiratory system. Even had a wasted trip to the ER early on for CNS and respiratory issues.

Since our histamine levels are majorly affected while using, this has an inflammatory effect on our bodies.  And as you may already know, our bodies produce extra mucus as a way to flush out and rid our bodies of anything foreign or inflammatory.  I've been bothered by excess mucus and rapid heart rate off and on here of late and have been really researching for some possible answers.  I'm learning specifics about opiates and histamine levels, Vit C, muscarinic receptors, more neurons and more neurotransmitters (lol) that once again make a whole lot of sense to me in this area. (I kinda thought I had exhausted understanding neurotransmitters....and then there's MORE yet to learn LOL)  The extent of healing necessary from our abuse continues to astound me!

I'm gonna send you a PM with a little more I've been learning on this "sticky" subject (ooh gross)....just to add to the mix of feedback you're getting.  Funny, but I just told my hubby today.....man I'm sick of all this extra phlegm and mucus!!  And then I got home and saw this post!!

My personal belief is that I don't need to panic or rush to a specialist.....but learn more, heal more, and then make a decision. (course I have no job, no health to get a job right now, no insurance and no money...ha, so that is why I'm researching more and more b4 heading to a specialist or something)  Whatever you decide to do, just know you've got a friend in recovery doing the same thing.....and I'm feeling more positive about trying some things now to assist my worn out nervous system and all these crazy receptors and neurotransmitters I didn't even know how to pronounce before June of 2012!!  Bless you big time from the Sunflower State~    

[Sweetness91]

I agree also...you should seek medical treatment ASAP! But I will say, until I was on methadone, I was completely healthy. After I was on it a few years I started with being told I had asthma, which was at 32 yrs old and had never had breathing issues, then went to chronic bronchitis, and ended up with pneumonia almost once a year also. It never dawned on me that it could be the methadone until reading your post!! Wow!! Unbelievable what that crap can do to your body.

Please follow everyone's advice here and seek treatment, as Gnarly said, it just may save your life!

[gnarly_1]

hey dude....I wouldent be so quick to make this a lung problem methadone has a bad habit of sending your heart into arithmea it then pushes the blood back into your lungs causing them to feel full
If I where you I would go to a heart doctor also it may ver well save your life...I will keep you in my prayers.....Gnarly

[weaver71]

I've never had allergies and I live in one of the most beautiful clean places in America. Fresh air and spring water from the tap. I have breathed a lot of dust over the years. I run heavy equipment and am a landscape contractor. I'm not around smoke, but I chew tobacco. I eat organic and raise fresh eggs and veggies. I snow board, hike, and especially like being above 12,000 feet. Never had altitude sickness or any problems with my respiratory system. I haven't heard of anyone having problems this long after detox.

As far as symptoms go, i started having shallow breaths and a chronic wet cough about the last year to 6 months of using methadone. When I detoxed, I thought I had walking pnuemonia. That's why went to a doctor. When I would take a lot of methadone, I had to force myself to breath. My lungs stopped a couple of times. Now, I feel like I have a chest cold, no other symptoms really. I can't seem to clear my lungs.

[ricart70]

Do you work in an area with contaminated air or alot of second hand smoke or anything like that that would aggravate your lung tissue?

[atthebeach]

have you ever had problems with allergies?
are your breathing issues better in the seven months?
do you snore?
what kinds of symptoms are you having?

[BarbRTR]

I want to add there are meds and exercises to decrease mucus, so if you find a pulmonary specialist you like, you won't have to keep suffering with this.

213 days. Wow. Amazing!

[Jenelle2020]

Hi weaver, I am sorry this is happening to you, you don't deserve it for all you have gone through and all the hard work  you did to help yourself. You have always responded to my posts and I really appreciate that. I agree with the advice above, get to a pulmonary specialist, I can't believe your doctor just said he doesn't know why that is happening to you, you would think he would at least send you to a specialist. Please get to one and let us know what happens.

[weaver71]

Thanks, I never even think of going to a doctor. My wife pushed me to go last time. I've got a lot of trust issues around the medical field, but I'm working it.

[YesLife4Me]

Definitely seek out a specialist and don't take no for an answer.  You have been through so much, so tackle this the way you did your addiction.