Pregnant & tapering off Methadone

[cnoel623]

Hi. I am new & terrified all at once. I've been reading thru the posts & have decided I need support. I am 33yrs old and have been on Methadone for 4yrs. I have been prescribed it by a pain specialist from the beginning. I have a beautiful 4 yrea old daughter. I started taking it the month after she as was born. Methadone changed my life. Before it I was prescribed loratabs, then on to percs, and right b4 I got on the dones I started going overboard. Got prescribed them and was able to 'function'. In late December I learned I was pregnant again. I was scared for the baby from the vey beginning. The baby doc told me to stay on methadone, and talked to my pain doc. He moved me from 5 10mgs a day to 10mgs 8times a day. And sd at 31 weeks we'd start tapering off. ok, I thought, they are the docs and know what they r doing. Well, I went back to him monday & am 33wks preg. He gave me a clonidine patch .1mg and cut me down to 4 a day for a week. And tomorrow I go to 2 a day for a week, then 1 a day for a week.

[cnoel623]

Now I am starting to withdrawl so violently! I am scared, for me, my husband, my daughter, & most importantly my unborn son!! I dont know if I can do this!! I know it is for my son, but I feel so weak & helplesss. If there werent any withdrawls I could handle the pain. I just dont know what t do. In the am it isnt as bad. It seems to be worse at night! I know I am new here & I am sorry to talk ur alls ears off! I am just looking for a little hope, and maybe some peace. Take care & thank you!!

[atthebeach]

hi and welcome to MH. your ob and your pain doc are both in agreement with this taper? it seems quick. the clonidine will help with your blood pressure.
you need to stayed hydrated, drink lots of fluids, eat bananas for the rls, take hot showers for the aches,please try to relax and breathe, getting yourself upset is not good.
there have definitely been women on here who have tapered  metahdone while pregnant.
i will look for their posts and get back to you.
sending hugs and prayers
debbie

[cnoel623]

Thank you so much for responding!! I go back to my baby doc Tuesday. I really dont think she'll be in agreement with it. But then again I never know. She is a great doc! And very supportive. She told me all along to get down as low as I can, but that doesnt mean I necesarily have to be all the way off. I dont mind being off of them, its getting to that point that seems impossible! I am going to be upfront with her. I know that nobody wants to withdrawl. I'm afraid of the desperate measures of what I could do not to!! xoxo

[gnarly_1]

ALL I can say is WOW .....thats no kind of taper especially for someone pregnant I would question the doctor at the speed of bringing you down right now about all you can do is damage control lots of hot baths have your hubby message you take alive for pain theres an all natural tea you can get itat health stores call around its called yogi kava stress releving tea it really works....I have helped numinous people off methadone and never head of a doctor bringing someone off this fast b/4 call another doctor monday if it gets bad go into the e/r something dosent sound right here doubble check for your sake as well as your babys the withdrawals from a 50%reduction will be horrendous and over the next 3 days get worst please go to the er just for another opinion we are not aloud to give taper seceduals out but that is 5 times as fast as I recamend I canoot over efasise getting a second oppion good luck my God be with you I will pray for you and your unborn baby boy........Gnarly

[cnoel623]

Thanks Gnarly!! It's now 4am, and its pretty bad right now. I feel like vomiting. Lol! sorry, just trying to work thru it. When the baby doc & I discussed tapering last time, she said she didnt want anything too drastic as it can cause preterm labor. Since Friday I have been real achy & feeling like I'm gonna start my period types of cramps. Or the 1st day of that cycle. I dont recall that being normal. I am gonna try to hold on til Tuesday when I see baby doc again. But if it gets even an iota worse I'm going to the er. I really dont see it getting any better. I keep going thru my mind with all these what ifs...what if I started going down sooner, what if it gets worse...etc....my husband is trying to be supportive & hes worried. We cant afford him to take off work, & I feel so bad for my 4 year old. She deserves to see her mommy healthy & whole, not sitting/lying constantly. And the flipping mood swings are just horendous! I would NOT wish this on anyone!!!

[vicki595]

Hi-  I agree with Mark(Gnarly).  That's a very rapid taper!  We don't like to get between the doctor/patient relationship but I think you need to get in to see the OB today. At least speak by phone. Your symptoms and the cramping are of concern;to me anyway...

Keep in touch with us!

[cnoel623]

I also would like to say, out of the meds I have left, i wanna get into them and stop the wd. The hard part too, is if I do that then in afew days I'll  be at square one, Ugh!!! This is insanity!! I do not want my baby to have wd's....but I want him to have a chance!! Lord give me stregnth!!

[vicki595]

Honey, I'm worried about you,okay?  Just call and speak with the doctor about this. That's what he's there for. He needs to know how you're feeling. If you don't call,he'll just think everything is cool and it isn't.

[cnoel623]

Vicki, just being on here & 'talking' is helping. And I can honestly say, hearing others are worried, people I dont even know, has 1.made me cry, & 2.given me such hope. I still havent called the doc today. And the ONLY reason is outta fear! I think the biggest fear is they will say there is nothing they can do. And to tough it out.  I know my pain doc is hell bent on it to be this way. I should be more afraid of what is happening to me & baby then what thy'll say but right now I think I am just lost in this. I have taken 30mgs today, sposed to be 20, and am ok. No I'm not doing backflips, but as of this moment, I am alive & the baby is a kickin'. Just to think, this time A week and half ago I was on 80mg. WOW! Again, I say thank you!!! Any & all comments are so welcome!!!xoxo......I thank God he directed the search engine here!!

[vicki595]

Honestly,there's nothing to be afraid of here. He really needs to know how you're feeling.
The pain doctor is one thing but the OB has a huge resonsibility in all of this. Just let him know. That was a huge drop in Methadone so tell the OB and don't be scared!!  They see this more often than you can imagine. I promise.

You'll always get support here Sweetie,anytime...

[cnoel623]

Well, I just now got home from the baby doc. I was there for 4 hours. She agrees with all of you all. But,,,,she cant write the prescription. She wants me to call my pain   doc asap. IF he doesnt wanna taper slower she sd for me to find another doc, which how easy will that be, what doc wants to start seeing a woman who is 34wks pregnant? or she said I'll need to start going to the clinic!!! That is an hr and half away!!! So, calling pain doc now, leaving a message, and will call him back 1st thing in am. If I ever am off of these I will NEVER do this again!! Thank you all so much for the advice & support. I will let ya'll know whats up tomorrow. Just hoping to get thru all this in one piece!!xoxo

[atthebeach]

hun how are you feeling? are you still having withdrawal or have you leveled out?
what dose are you taking? this all started friday right?
praying for you and your baby boy
debbie

[cnoel623]

I am as of two days ago taking 10mg 3 times a day. Today hasnt been as bad. It still ***** and I just started getting 'runs of buns' today. But, the stomach cramps are the worst! Iam gonna say Friday was the 1st trying day. And I was feeling awful but could handle it. Then Sunday went dow more & it all started over again. If I can stay at these 3 I think I just might be ok, and so will baby. Like I told baby doc, a lot of it has been mental anguish. She is in complete agreement, ad now I just gotta wait for pain docs input. I dont think its gonna go the way we need it to, but we'll see. As for how I am....I am taking it minute by minute. I'm used to bopping round the house like flipping suzie homemaker, but she has dissapeared & cranky crazy has replaced her......but I am alive. Me & my daughter are gonna go for a walk for the 1st time since this has all started, and I actually want to!!

[cnoel623]

Man, last night I got little to no sleep.. I have read some of the posts and seen that was one of the major probs from this.. since i 1st started taking em all i had to do was think bout sleep & would be OUT! Today round 5 I put a movie in for the girlie and we laid in my bed, I napped, she watched her movie. A nurse from my pain doc called at 9am & asked what was happenin & I told him. At 1st he was saying the doc wouldnt do anything, and I politely asked him to just talk to the doc b4 he makes assumptions. At noon he called back & sd they talked to baby doc and I could pick up my prescription 1st thing in the A.M. I am not rejoicing, we are gonna stay low on dose as possible. Ad for that I'm happy. It truely is a no win situation. I would rather be off all together, but at this point its not possible. Thank each of u for the advice & support!!! No amount of words can say how much you have helped!!xoxo

[cnoel623]

Hi.....I just wanted to update u all...I am now 2 days away from 36weeks. I have been down to 20mgs a day now for 5 days. And last night I got a big dose of RLS!!!! it is awful!!! Eeeek!!! Other then that I am doing ok....and baby is doing wonderful!! We spent last weekend in the hospital due to dehydration and was starting labor. But after 28hrs....all was good & got sent home. But, thank u all again for being there thru those days of HELL!!

[cnoel623]

Oh, and I just wanted to add.....if anyone reads this that is going thru wd's from methadone or heck anything, and they are wanting to get their life back YOU CAN DO IT!! If I had a choice I wouldn't choose the taper. I would go CT in a facility that can watch and make sure I'm safe. My reasoning is, everytime I go down on the taper I start wd's again, where if I could c/t it would be a one time thing. That wasnt a choice for me this go around. The jump from 80mg to 30mgs was hard but I survived. Believe it or not, going from 30 to 20 has been the hardest as of yet. The 1st couple days I couldnt tell a difference then last night I was thinking, heck I'll go to 10mg today....WRONG!! As soon as I thought it my legs acted like they no longer were part of my body, they ached, they JUMPED, as soon as I fell asleep they'd jump so bad I'd kick the dang wall & wake myself up!!

[el_em_en_oh]

I've been following your story, but haven't posted anything, but I feel like now's a good time.

I just want to say how PROUD I AM of you;-) Coming here and communicating with all of us, asking for advice, and following advice that's been given... awesome.

You are truly an inspiration, and I wish you the best of luck with your newborn, and your quest for sobriety.

After you birth that baby... get yourself clean, Sister! YOU CAN DO THIS. We're all here for you, and will continue to be here for you and support you.

Good luck!

LMNO

[Sad_Woman]

Wanted to chime in and say WAY TO GO!! Your doing amazing, you really are :) I'm 9 wks along and also tapered pretty quick too. I'm down to less then a mg of subutex. It's no easy task but were doing it!! :)

[cnoel623]

GUYS....I am struggling something feirce today!!!! OMG....its awful!! I keep coming back and reading posts over & over!! I went as far as to call a clinic and set up an appt monday.....but GOSH I dont wanna go!! I told my husband all this, & I think he thinks I've flipped my lid! LOL! He is off work this weekend and he has been a big help with the Girly!! Just needed to vent for a moment!

[vicki595]

What's going on now?  Still struggling?  What are your symptoms?

[cnoel623]

It has been rough, it seems to be getting worse!!! I dont know what the deal is....but I am at 36wks...yay.....and I know a lot of it has to do with pregnancy. Just real achy, crampy, and just feelin crappy and low! My house is in total chaos, I feel like a failure as a wife, and mother!!!! Ugh!!!! Back hurts something awful...the usual! TRying to be positive....

[gnarly_1]

HI cnoel.....soory to here your struggling but it just goes that way some times getting below 30 can be a ruff road and your right about it being withdrawals that stuff will make you feel like someone has been beating you with a pipe.....hang in there and  try to taper slower
if your doctor know anything about methadone they know you have to taper it slow ...
especially in the lower doses call your doctor and let me know what he said...will compare notes .....hang in there good luck with the new baby .....if we dont hear from you I will figured you went to have your baby good luck and God bless.....Gnarly

[cnoel623]

Hey Gnarly.....I am in awe at what a difference the 30 to 20 jump is!! I am really nervous about going to 10. Last night thought I was gonna have to go to the hospital, but we made it thru. Around 9pm started getting real bad stomach cramps & then dirreah followed suit. The baby moved & laid in a spot that had my sciatic nerve hurt, and it stayed that way til bout 6am.....after all that(we survived...yay!!!) i got a few hrs sleep, and feel like I havent eaten in a month....spirits are up 2day, I go to doc tomorrow so..once again I will tell all, & see how it goes. Thank you so much, just having someone listen helps more then one could know!!!

[dominosarah]

You sound like you are feeling better today.  Keep us posted!       sara