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Been through Inpatient detox - need help

I just completed 5 days of Hospital opiate inpatient detox. I was released 1 week ago with instructions to take 4mg of Suboxone film 3 times a day. Two days after I was released I started to have all the symptoms of withdrawal. I went back to the doctor that administrates the hospital detox program (who I have to see to receive suboxone refills) and he insisted that I was not in withdrawal and there must be something else wrong with me. He took X-rays of my stomach and said if I'm not better in a couple days to come back to see him; otherwise he gave me a script for 8mg suboxone twice a day and in answer to my question as to whether I needed more or less suboxone, he said he didn't know, but if I changed dosage to say on the changed dose 3 days. He then sent me on my way. Logically I thought maybe I needed more suboxone and started the 8mg last night. I planned to wait 12 hours before taking more, but woke up sick after only 10 hours. So I took another 8mg. It took about 6 hours to feel better. The same thing happened during the day and had to take another after only 10.75 hours after I had taken the last one. I had ask the doctor if I could just stop taking the Suboxone all together and he said I would go into terrible withdrawal. Is this true even after I did the in patient Detox? I DO NOT want to take any habit forming drugs and no matter what, I eventually want off Suboxone even if I can't just stop NOW! I got started on pain meds for chronic back pain, but I would trade the meds for the pain. Please help me with some good advice. Thanks much.
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1235186 tn?1656987798
i am so happy to read this. i was overjoyed to receive your message as well. you are more than welcome. so glad to be able to be here for you.
congratulations on 18 days clean from the subs. i am so proud of you for taking the plunge.
so happy you got the surgery.
yes now that you have had the surgery your real healing will begin.
you are on a low dose of opiates so you will do just fine in your taper.

the subs take 21 days to leave your system so you are very close to that day. they will no longer be a concern.
continued healing and prayers,
Deibble
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had back surgery 7/23 and am doing very good so far. Haven't had any subs since ½ mg 3 days before surgery. They put me on 5mg ms cont twice a day and 5 mg oxy for break through pain. I am progressing good from the surgery and see the surgeon on 8/18. I am trying not to take the oxy unless the pain is pretty bad. I plan to start to tapper off the opiates in the next few days. Don't want to get hooked again! I hope that as I tapper from the opiates that the subs don't rear their ugly head! I think soon I will be free of it all. The surgery went well and am healing really good considering 5 hours surgery and my age. Thanks for all your support for many months. I hope I'm done with this.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
hey JB nice to see you.
you are taking 1/2 mg a day of the subs?
or did you recently stop?
Helpful - 0
1926359 tn?1331588139
Hi there-

Holy man you've been through one heck of a journey.  I've been following you- haven't chimed in because you were getting excellent support and I don't know much about subs.  From what i DO know from this forum is this- If I were in your position I would continue the taper and then just go back to straight up opiates for surgery and afterwards.  Tapering off opiates seems to be much easier and they are also easier to c/t.  However, I'm not in a position of knowledge to advise you so I just want to give you my support.
The good news about hitting bottom is that the only way to go is up (:
I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you WILL get through this and at the end you will feel so much better.  You will have gained much wisdom and strength from the ordeal that you have endured.
My best piece of advice is this-
Treat yourself as kindly and gently as possible.  Do not be hard on yourself about the drugs.  You have a surgery and serious things happening and you deserve to have it go as smoothly and easily as possible.  You can deal with getting off the drugs later.  You can come up with a good plan with your doctor and loved ones, and I would suggest some counselling.
I sought addictions counselling but also CBT and EMDR for PTSD after I got clean.  I had a great deal of trauma both from the abusive marriage I'd left that started me abusing my pills, and the medical trauma I'd endured over a 6 year period with 3 surgeries and crazy drug treatments for my chronic illness that caused me two near death experiences.

I wish you well, send my support and cyber hugs...
Lu
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had hernia surgery in Nov 2013 and I told the drs upfront about the subs and they did not tell me I had to be off of them for a week before the surgery? In fact, they told me to take my normal piece in the a.m. before the surgery???? Then used the Subs as pain reliever afterwards? Did your Dr tell u this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

I'm scheduled for lower back surgery July 23 at U of M in Ann Arbor. Their pain clinic does not dispense suboxone so they referred me to a local Pain Mgmt outfit. U of M doctor wanted me off before surgery. Then they were going to use Opiates temporarily and then back on the subs. Not what I want. I suggested that just taper me of the Opiates after surgery. Hopefully by then I would be off subs long enough to not go through withdrawal. When went to the Pain Clinic they wanted me to start taking 2mg 3 times a day right away. I didn't do it at first and the I thought maybe I should follow their instructions even though it didn't make sense to me. Dummy me, I tried 2mg 2 X 1 day and 1 X the next and decided this crazy when I want off completely. I went back to ½mg a day and now after going back for about a week I am going through mild withdrawal. I read you should stop subs at least 3 days before surgery and immediately start true Opiates, which will have to be stronger because of the subs in your system. I'm running out of time. I am calling the doctors office tomorrow. We have to establish the strategy they want to follow or I am going to postpone the surgery until I can get off subs without any withdrawal no matter how long it takes or just cancel it all together and handle slowly tapering further down on the subs myself.

I think I should have the surgery and deal with tapering of the opiates myself and not go back on subs. I'm just afraid I'll end up hooked on BOTH!

This has been awful for months and I don't think sub doctors want you to get off! None of them will help. It seems as though all the major hospitals want nothing to do with subs. I really screwed up going through Opiate
Detox at st Marys hospital. The surgeon said they have made advances in the surgery I need making it less invasive, faster recovery and much greater success. My primary care doctor gave a script for 10/325 hydrocodone which I took at the same time I took ½mg sub and the hydro seem not to help my pain at all. I only took it twice since it didn't seem to help.

As you can tell, I'm hitting bottom!

Thanks again of r all you input. My computer is still not functioning very well but my mind is not functioning very well either and I can't seem to fix it. Right now that is secondary.   .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just my two cents worth to the suboxone questions/issues. I had an allergic reaction to that stuff years ago. Extreme nausea, migraine, vomiting. It was a nightmare.
So if you get very ill from it, it is possible that you are allergic or cannot tolerate it. I couldn't handle the tiniest doses.
Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I got your message. Don't know if you got my response. My computer is all screwed up with password  problems. Not sure, but my mind is not working to help myself get this all corrected. I can't believe what's happened to me in the last 5 or 6 months. Life has become very difficult and I don't know how to help myself or get reliable help from someone else that I could trust.

Thanks your past help. J.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would like to get off the subs altogether, but don't know how. After 6 days I gave in to the horrible discomfort. I've actually thought of going back on opiates and taper very slowly, even if it takes several years.

I was so week and unstable that I went to a major hospital ER. They did blood and urine analysis and said everything was fine except I was a little low in potassium. I gave them accurate records of my daily intake since beginning Detox. They sent me home with a script for potassium.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
hey jb we can see your post. i am happy for you that you can get surgery.

do you plan to still be on it leading up to your surgery?


if so, you will need to let your doctor know that you are on suboxone?
there is a protocol that needs to be in place so you can get relief from
the opiates given to you after surgery.

how are you feeling? have you tried to wean down anymore on the subs?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have screwed up something which won't let me post.
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Avatar universal
Do you know anything good or bad about Henry Ford's Maple Grove detox facility?
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Avatar universal
Do you know anything good or bad about Henry Ford's Maple Grove detox facility?

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Avatar universal
Do you know anything good or bad about Henry Ford's Maple Grove detox facility?

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Avatar universal
Have you heard anything good or bad about Maple Grove which is associated with Henry Ford.
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Avatar universal
Hello again,

Well it has been a while. I went to see my neurosurgeon. It has been 7 years since I saw him last. He had very good news. The procedure I need has been significantly improved. Less invasive, much higher success rate (80 - 90%), and a much shorter recovery period! This is a very large and highly regarded university hospital. The neurosurgeon is also very highly regarded.

I have agreed to the surgery in july and have been promised that they will only keep me on opiates not long enough to become dependent.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well it has been a while. I went to see my neurosurgeon. It has been 7 years since I saw him last. He had very good news. The procedure I need has been significantly improved. Less invasive, much higher success rate (80 - 90%), and a much shorter recovery period! This is a very large and highly regarded university hospital. The neurosurgeon is also very highly regarded.

I have agreed to the surgery in july and have been promised that they will only keep me on opiates not long enough to become dependent.
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
Any word from him/her? I know he was feeling like garbage! I really hope he comes back...
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Hey D what's going on? Please don't isolate. Talk to us. We care and
Want to see you heal.
You are in my thoughts and prayers
Debbie
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
hey D, yes it is going to take time. you are going to have to endure the detox. if you continue to take the subs it is going to get even harder to get off of them. instead of a Norco and perc addiction now it is subs.
much longer and harder detox as you are finding out.

once again I am so sorry the detox center put you on the subs when you came home.

please, please stop the subs. get to some meetings, counseling something to help you locally during the initial month it will take. you need constant
encouragment.
at 7 days you were 1/3 of the way there.
don't let subs be an option. please stick it out. move forward instead of
backwards. you can do this. hard? yes, but you need to break the chains and bondage of this addiction.
praying for you
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
Glad to see u post again. Man, it is hard! This is definatly not a cake walk. This might sound stupid butttt, u have to dig real deep and find the strength that we all have, we just don't think we do. This was one of the hardest things I've ever done. About 8 days in my husband was wanting to take me to the ER and there was no way I was going t here, for what, w/d off of drugs.??? I had to yell at myself, scream at myself, I'm strong, I am bad ***, I can do this! I know u can so do this. Get all if the vitamins listed, stock up on that gatorade, I used protein shakes otherwise I wouldn't have eaten at all, get the immodium, and get up and do it again!
Don't take these subs any longer, b/c it will only get harder and then you'll be right back where you started, addicted! Keep posting, I know u can do this!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hate to admit it, but after 6 days I gave in, Taking ½ mg in morning & night. I am planning to try again. I think I know a lot more now thanks to you all!

I now know why so many people fail. I t is really tough. I bought some strips to test my urine and at day 6 no opiate, but still showing subs even after 6 days at 0!

I am getting my head ready to try again, Will taper slower and see what happens.

Thanks for everyones help!
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
10 days out. Praying & hoping you are feeling some what better.
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.
Keep the faith.
Hugs
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
Listen to these people, they know what they're talking about.  The above posters have told you the truth! I was so grateful to these people for telling me truth while going through this crap b/c I thought I was going crazy....I was like, WTF?????  They are absolutely right when they say 3/4 weeks with the subs, they are stronger and stay in our systems longer! One thing I did find that helped tremendously was the Epsom Salt baths, when my body temp was going up and down and I had gone to the "toilet" so many freakin times, it was in the tub for a soak. I would put in my earbuds, put on Pandora, soak and try like hell to get out of my head, and it did help!  Remember, nothing to try and substitute the missing energy for now, b/c that will only make the "anxiety", or "waves" as I liked to call them worse!  AuNatural....the way to go and you will start to feel better soon.   High protein foods (even though I had NO APPETITE) you must eat!  Hang in there, it will start getting better before you know it.  When I couldn't think I could go one more step, I would go into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror and tell myself, I can do this! I am strong!  We are all strong....you know you are stronger than the subs!  :)
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