Pain meds to methadone and back

[Ldytaz]

Hi, I have been reading these posts and would like to ask for some help.I have tapered from 100 mgs - 30.The last couple weeks have been hard.Tomorrow I go to 25 mgs.My plan is to keep going for at least 2 more months.I'm going to go get the cal/magn,protein drinks and other stuff I have read about here.When I first went to the clinic 2 years ago I was convinced by them it was to be a slice of heaven.I havent been on anything but methadone since I started going.My Family convinced me that my pain was all in my head.I decided that I didnt need pain meds anymore,so off I went,joined the program and started paying 98.00 a week.Now,my counselor at clinic tells me I am a perfect candidate for pain meds.lol.I repeat.lol...So I am supposed to forget about the last 2 years and go back.This is my problem ,I am in so much pain,sometimes I dont want to get up at all.I have been fighting for disability to have 3 surgeries.Im scared to go back to meds.I have made 2 appts that I canceled. Please give me some feedback.I dont know what to do.Oh yeah,Im 53 have worked my butt off til 4 years ago,when I got injured.

[ricart70]

Hi and welcome. The forum is kind of empty right now but people will be on soon with methadone and clinic experience. I have no experience with it but just want to lend my support and bump this post back up to the top. It sounds like you are moving in the right direction though. Sorry You are having to go through this right now but things can get better ;)  Hang in there friend

[BanMethadone]

Hi and welcome:

I did post an answer on K's thread, but here it is again just in case:i really want to give you a thorough answer right now, and I will come back to it. I just want to tell you atm, that you are not alone. I am going through the same thing you are as the taper. I can tell you that I began feeling waves of intense w/d even at 40mg! I am down to 9 now and the light is at the end of the tunnel. I will say that banishing negative thoughts and keeping a positive attitude is a huge weapon. I realize this sounds crazy to think it can help when you are in so much pain, but you are feeling more pain that a normal person would feel as a result of circumventing your body's own natural pain reliving systems for that long. I have been on methadone for 14 years, so I am speaking from having been there.

There are some things that you need to do at whatever level you can. You have to have something to look forward to once you're off. Try to look at each decrease as one step closer to your goal, and not as less methadone. Change negatives to positives in your mind and repeat that to yourself over and over. Things that are repeated, are not only liked more, but they are also seen as true (validity effect in action). Essentially you have to retrain your entire way of thinking and it's damn hard.

You think of yourself as strong stuff. You use everything at your disposal to fight this beast, and realize that you ARE tougher than methadone. Weapons in your arsenal are going to include heating pads, hot baths, music, EXERCISE to whatever extent you can manage, and I can't stress that part enough, some creative outlet if you have anything you're passionate about, proper nutrition is so much more important than people realize, and you can try various supplements to help that along like protein powder, potassium for RLS, vitamins ofc, adrenal plus, and L-tyrosine have helped me a lot.

I wish I could say more but i must go... I will check back with you.

Oh one more thing... enlist EVERYONE in your life to help. This is positive support and it's so key. This is why N/A works if you work it. Rarely can people do it alone.

The physical and emotional pain you feel is something we all go through when in W/D to some degree. I get that injured people have it worse, and I think you just have to take non-opiate pain options like NSAIDS. You also have to strengthen yourself so that the pain is not as bad. Your body does repair in time, but it's a process.

We can definitely do this

[Ldytaz]

Thank u so much for your response.I woke up feeling better today and as every Monday went down another 5mgs.I am about to go cook dinner for husbands lunch at work.I will be back on later after I take him.I was thinking only of the methadone last night and didnt get to any background.I am 53.A recovered Meth(as in speed) user for over 20 years.I have been off for 17 years this month.still know down to year,month,day and time I last used.It was very hard for me to take pain meds at first but,I was so tired of hurting all the time.I also have a few mental disorders including ptsd,anxiety and borderline agoraphobic.The only thing I would ever take for it is prozac because I was so afraid of my addictions and never wanted to feel "high" form anything ever again.fast forward to now.I have a great support system.I married my best friend 4 years ago and my boys are wonderful. I am going to get some things this week.I havent been eating and need to get the protein drinks and something for rls.I have been taking pepdo when my stomach gets to upset and it seems to help.I will beat this too but,so afraid of the sickness,tired of the pain and just wish I was young and strong like I was to just stop.I cant though so this is where I have been coming to read and see I am not the only one feeling this way.Finally,have written and happy that u have responded and look forward to talking with others on here.Well,better get to cooking.Thank u again.

[VICourageous]

Hi & Welcome. I was just wondering if this drop is by the DR. It does take time for the Brain/Body to adjust to each drop. I was on the other opiates for pain which lead me to a 12 year ride on the Methadone. I was snorting them with another drug for the crank like buzz I got..Oh yea it was dumb but I too used to do a lot of crank in the 80s. I did get down to 30mgs and was going back up again, so I just jumped the ship. Being that I also doing illegal adderral with it and taking a klon at night to come down made it no cake walk to come off of. If you can I would try to take it nice and slow on this taper. You will have w/ds no matter what but at least they might not be as intense as just going c/t. I did this back in Sept 2012 and I was 56. It does get harder when we age. I am glad you are getting the right things..Just make sure you drink plenty of water..Even while you taper. Try adding some electrolyte powder to it..There is so much more we can say but we will help you as you process. I am happy that you do not want to get to hooked on this drug. It does not like to let go at all. It stays in the Body longer then other pain meds because it is so synthetic. Well there are a few more synthetic ones that are just as bad. I am glad you have Support..We can not walk this road to recovery alone. Well just stick around and we will sure be here holding you up. Just know that the detox is over in no time, it is staying clean that takes the cake..Which it sounds like you are aware of. I wish you the best and good job for wanting your life back.
Bless

[gnarly_1]

HI so  I see you messaged me from another thread so I thought I would post back to you here so you have been coming down by 5s that is a good way to start but you must go a lot slower from 25 to 0 it is all about maintaining a  serum level that will cary you threw the day you have to watch how much strenuous exorcise you do you can matblize all your methadone and go into full blown withdrawals the trick is to find the right balance get on the calicim /magnesium/zinc vitamins from walmart take 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner in a few days it will really start to help keep in mind it is ezer to go from 100 to 30 then it is to go from 30 to 0 this is a race wone by the tortus not the hare always let your body be the final judge if your feeling the withdrawal stop tapering for a week or so if you dont the withdrawal only gets worst also remember the drop on Monday wont really hit till Wednesday  just keep posting for support there are several of us here that have gon threw all of this  try your best to keep a positive attitude and dont get discouraged if this takes a little longer then you think just keep your eyes on the prize I will touch bases with you as long as you keep your post up and to date good luck and God bless..............Gnarly

[Ldytaz]

I am going to methadone clinic still.I have to sign a release every Friday so they will drop me on Monday.I have been there since Sept 6,2012.I do pretty good til Thursday and then feel sick for a couple days.By Monday ready to drop again.It seemed pretty easy when I was at a higher dose,now I just feel bad all the time.it is getting harder and harder to go through it.I am determined though.Thank u and I will be coming back here.

[Ldytaz]

I am getting all the things u say today,hoping it will help.Yes I am finding it harder now that I am down.Went to 25mg yesterday.When I first started my taper it was a lot easier.I would go down on Monday,Thursday wake up feeling a little off for a couple days and after weekend felt ok.It was never bad enough to stop or slow down.Now,I feel bad all the time.I cant sleep,eat and getting very emotional.I am going to make an appt today with my mental heath counselor and talk to her about getting back on prozac.Maybe that will help the crying.I took a dose of nyquil at midnight tonight and slept til 4am.it was the longest I have slept in over a year.Well,I have to go get ready to pick Hubby up from work.he works night shift at Walmart.I am going to go in and get some cal/magn/zinc and some of the rls over the counter.Thank u for answering me and I will be posting as I go.

[gnarly_1]

HI well the good news is you found your way here the next thing you should do is take a look at N/a I cannot overefasise this enough the only way to do this wrong is to try and do it alone you will be welcome in with a hug and you will here and see other people going thew the same thing as you it really helped me and still does right now your in the grips of it you just have to surrender to the fact that you just have to be ''ok without being ok for a wile'' all this will pass once you get threw it start on the vitamins take 4 with breakfast and 45 with dinner in 3 days you will notice a substantial difference methadone absulity drains your body of those minerals it is part of the addictive property's of this hanus drug we can help you here but in the end it is you that have to reach deep inside yourself to get threw this no mater what it throws at you for me 20 mg took me 6 weeks to get past it if I even droped 1mg off it I went into horable withdrawals my wife was very suportive and I remember screaming at her  ''im going to be a f/ing junky the rest of my life'' when I finly surrender and let time heal me I got around it and droped to 10mg without any trouble I say this to you not to scare you but onlt to let you know if you have trouble it does not mean you will continue to it is a up and down ride  go to fast and you feel it go to slow and it takes forever and as addicts we want it and we want it now  that kind of thinking will get you no where in detoxing I will walk tihs out with anyone willing to try I will try my best to give you comfort but I will not paint a rosy pitcher of something that is not IA tell it like it is  like it was given to me when I went threw it just know this it is so so worth it it is one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my 51ys on earth but it also is now one of the most satisfying things I can do helping people beat this auful drug keep posting for support and be blessed by a God of your understanding..................Gnarly

[gnarly_1]

ooooops 4 with dinner.....

[Ldytaz]

Thank u so much.I'm having a hard time tonight.I dont really know y Im feeling so bad.I took my Husband to and cried all the way home.since then I have been sitting up in bed watching tv.trying to talk myself into laying down and sleeping.now I'm up again.I had to wait on the vitamins and stuff til Thursday.that is my Husbands payday.I really need something for my rls.I have it and with the wd it gets worse as u know.I have tried things for it before I got on tabs,but either it did not work or it made me feel off.So I haven't taken anything for it since I went to program 2 years ago.ready to try some OTC stuff now.I know it will only get worse.Well,anyway,Thank u again for checking on me.Gonna try and go back to bed.Probably be on.I also came out to den to get my Ipad.now if I cant sleep I can go on it.lol.I always try to a least get a couple hours before going to pick up Hubby .I wish he had a license right now so he could drive to work.But,I guess that gets me up and movin around .

[gnarly_1]

HI hows it going ? this stuff is really cyclic it come on you in waves first you seam alright the WAM your down again...im glad you are getting on the vitamins that really helped me a lot as for the emotions there all over the place  im a mans man and found myself crying when a sad song played on the radio.....if you can swing it they sell
whey protein shake mix....I usually wait till your detoxing b/4 I recommend it it is 15.00 bucks at walmrt for a 2lb can the chocolate flavor is good when mixed with milk  I think it will help you your already experiencing the energy crash so give it a shot ..if money in tight get the vitamins instead keep posting for support we all want to see you get better...........Gnarly..................

[Ldytaz]

Just checking in.I had a rough night but,couldn't get myself on.So,I'm getting ready to pick my Hubby up from work right now.We are going to get the stuff gnarly_1 suggested and hope I can get some relief tonight.I will try and get on later.Going to clinic today.I talked to Husband yesterday and we decided that with me going down every week I have to dose everyday.About a month ago,to save money I stopped going on Thursday.I would skip Wed since I had my take home and take it on Thurs.So I only had to go Mon and Fri and get take homes.Well,I think that since I am getting lower it is affecting me more.So,I am putting that day back in and try and give myself a chance to level off before going down on Monday again.I will let u know if it helps.Thank you again for checking on me.Gotta go.

[gnarly_1]

HI well it is probably a good idea to dose every day now when you in the single digits many people do skip days as there detoxing...personally I think you should dose every day it is all about serum level and keeping it stable as for the vitamins I suggested it take a couple of days to work the protein shakes will help they have amino acids in them and the protein well help with the energy I would also tell you this if your experiencing withdrawals now dont go down again till your stable it will only make the symptoms worst  I did it way to fast many times  like most addicts I wanted off but I always would up going threw a lot of cRa p I diedent have to remember the tortus wins this race not the hare keep posting we all want to see you get better....Gnarly

[Ldytaz]

I posted and didnt hit the post button.lol I am doing a lot better today.ready to drop on Monday.I dont know if I said this before but my clinic only does 5mg drops.They want u to wait at least 2 weeks til next one.I am just so tired and the money is getting so tight that i am trying to do it faster.But,I will wait an extra week now if we feel I need to.I started on vitamins and all today.I dont know if I can keep taking the rls stuff.I had a bad feeling(like on speed) in my belly and didnt like it.I remember when the Dr.put me on Nerontin I hated the feeling it gave me also. I am going to give it all 2 weeks and see.My Husband has also started taking his vitamins.That way we r doing it together.I am more confident that I can do this now.Of course we both know I will still have some down days.20 mgs on Monday makes me so happy.Im hoping that some of the otc stuff I got will help my pain also.I will be back with update.Thank u for your encouragement.    

[gnarly_1]

hI  well im happy to her your feeling better all it takes is some time  when I got into the lower doses it was like being in a detox cycle I would drop then 2 days later would feel it then bade for the 3 day then start to feel better on the forth day then drop again on day five and start it all over as for droping you only 5mg at a time most clinics will slow down to 2mg for the last 20 so just take it slow the last 20 is the hardest but if you go slow you will be fine the vitamins will be working on your next drop you will notice that the withdrawal wont be as strong or last as long those vitmins made it possible for me to taper keep posting we all want to see you get threw this........................................Gnarly...................................

[Ldytaz]

I asked and my clinic only drops 5 at a time.they want u to stay on that for 2-3 weeks while your body gets used to it.I think that is crazy.My counselor is great and suggested I split it in 2.You know how hard it is to split 25mg.lol i did drop to 20today and hoping this week will be better.I have only been on the vitamins for 5 days and already have more energy.I wish I would have thought about the splitting a lot earlier.I may have taken the drops out myself and saved some money at the end.Oh well,I just have to keep going.I now am waiting to see how bad I feel in a couple days.Hopefully it will be better.Thank u so much for checking on me.It gives me hope seeing what u went through and where u r now.I will get on later.Husband has to work tonight so I get lonely and bored.take care,Dena

[Ldytaz]

So,today is Wed. and I dont feel to bad.Maybe it is all the vitamins.I slept pretty good and now ready to get up and go pick my Husband up from work.I am down to 20 and getting excited to be on the back side of this,I hope.I know I will still have some bad days but,right now,today,I feel ok.I guess that goes with our old saying..Take it one day at a time...Well,I have to go.I will check in later.Thank u for writing to me and checking on me.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Girl good to see you post and im happy for you  the vitamins came from a dr website about methadone and they helped me a  lot they are protacall here on the forum for any body detoxing off of methadone and you got it right you take it 1 day at a time and just know there will be good days and bad it is great your sleeping it get tuff around 20 mg you just have to to make due on cat naps are you going down once a week or every 2 weeks?? Any ways I got to run I have mt 2 mo old grand daughter over talk to you soon......Gnarly

[Ldytaz]

Hi,rollercoaster here..I had a rough night.It always seems to be Thursday.I though as good as I felt yesterday I would be ok tonight.I am still dropping once a week.I'm afraid that if I dont keep going that we will run out of money so,I plunge forward every week. We tried talking to them again about giving me a break since I am so low.The clinic I go to charges 14.00 a day.if u r on unemployment or disability u can go down from 7-9.00 .it is a sliding scale.i have to see counselor every friday and sign that I want to go down.They always want me to go up.lol well, I got a new counselor and he is very in tune to the wds of this.he suggested (against rules)that I split it and maybe because I am so low it will help longer.Well,yesterday(Wed) I forgot to take second dose.I guess with the drop and missing the dose last night,it made me feel pretty bad.I got up cause I couldnt sleep,took some pepdo,remembered the dose and finally fell asleep for 2 hours.So,I think I will be alright to go pickup my Husband this morning.he will be off and home with me til Saturday,so at least I wont be alone.The lower I get,all my ptsd stuff is starting to bug me.the nigtmares are back in vivid hd color.I hate being alone at night.until recently I had my youngest son and 8 year old Grandson living here.My other son was an over the road truck driver and his boy lived with us for 4 years.Now he is with his Dad so omes here on weekends (like it should be).My younger actually spent the night here a couple times the last couple weeks.I tell them I am ok but,they know me well. Im gonna try a get another nap in before I have to run.Gotta go to clinic this morning also.I get take homes so only have to go 3 times a week.Thank u again for checking up on me.Taking it slow and trying to be positive.

[kuku4kokopuffs]

"I have been fighting for disability to have 3 surgeries.Im scared to go back to meds.I have made 2 appts that I canceled. Please give me some feedback.I dont know what to do.Oh yeah,Im 53 have worked my butt off til 4 years ago,when I got injured."


If you don't already have a lawyer to handle your case, get one that will take it on a contingency basis. Now. That way they only get paid if you win.

I filed and was denied twice before I got a lawyer. He showed me the report from the SSA doctor they sent me to the second time I filed. Their doctor  had stated I was so sick he didn't see how I could possibly work, but they still denied me.

He got my case approved the third time I filed with a check for back pay going back to when I had first filed 2 years before that. He got a percentage of that money, but it was well worth it and over the years I have recouped what he got a hundredfold.

If you're denied 3 times you have to wait a certain period of time before you can file again, so this is of the utmost importance to you in getting your case approved..

Along with getting off Methadone. You want to give your body plenty of time to acclimate to the drop before you make another one, or you will be miserable. If the clinic is telling you 2 weeks between drops, go with that. I know you want to get off as quickly as possible, but by dropping too quickly you're only making it hard on yourself when it could go a lot easier on you.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Girl great to see you post....well your still winning this thing I think you threw yourself off by skipping that dose it doesent take much at 20mg to throw yourself in a loop keep pushing forward and as you go down the symptoms usually start to get more noticeable the vitamins will help but nothing take all the symptoms away it kinda a balancing act to know just how much to go down and how long it will take to go threw the ''minor withdrawal '' and how long it will take to stabilize it is different for everybody it all boils down to the serum level witch is hard to stabilize in the lower doses  if they will split your dose up you can try that it does help some people it did not help me but again everybody is  different so fare your doing great just keep pushing forward take your time when your body says to and you will make it out of this............I will be in touch...Gnarly

[Ldytaz]

Though I'd drop in and post one progress.I am down to 15mgs and getting excited to see the end.It is finally in my future.I wont lie it is getting tough.dropping so much every week I am feeling it a lot more.Just taking it one day at a time.i started on the Thomas menu stuff and it seems to help.If anyone else is needing a boost of vitamins check it out.Well I'm making dinner for hubby so I will write again soon.good and bad days this place is a good outlet.Thank u all

[gnarly_1]

Hey Girl good to see you post I dont think the clinic will keep bringing you down by 5s any more they usually go to 1mg a week if not know when you hit 10 foreshore  keep pushing forward  try some sleepy time tea b/4 bed your doing great for such a large drop remember the tortus wins the race here slow is good I rushed it and suffered for it keep posting good luck and God bless.........Gnarly