Dear Forum,
8 years ago I sought help from my primary care physician to kick an addiction to Tylenol with Codeine. I can't remember the details of what he gave me but I remember that I received some shots and a lot of presciptions for potential side effects. The detox was fairly painless (I was taking btw 20-30 Tylenol #4's daily) and I had no need for the prescription meds he gave me for potential side effects. I do remember that I got bronchitis shortly thereafter and lost a lot of weight. Since then I've done a lot of reading and understand that I probably was injected with Buprenorphine and got sick because I was detoxing. I also attribute the weight loss to the detox, and I got very thin, too thin for me.
About 10 months ago I was having constant migraines that would not respond to any medication. I went to a neurologist who sent me to a pain specialist who recommended opiates for pain. Since my experience 8 years ago I have steered clear of all opiates. It's not that I don't remember liking them, it's just that I remember liking them too much. I told the doctor I did not want to take any opiates but I didn't tell him why. I merely said I was 'allergic' to them and they made my skin itch. He then suggested I take methadone which, he explained, was what they gave heroin addicts who couldn't take opiates. What he didn't tell me is that they'd be a million times more addictive, and only after I found out that I was suffering from hormone-related migraines and started taking birth control to level off my hormones did I find out what I had done to my body. I had stopped taking the methadone and about 48 hrs, since my last dosage I felt like I was going to die. My husband and I were terrified and went on-line to get some information. That was 2 months ago and I have read the horrible truth about methadone. I called this doctor who told me I could taper off until I am weaned completely but I tried that and had really bad side-effects. I am only taking 10 mgs a day, but my symptoms are pretty painful.
Here's my dilemma: I am embarrassed to go back to my primary care physician and seek his help. He has become a dear friend of the family, and I am afraid he will judge me. I know that is silly, but I am close to him and don't want to feel ashamed. I also know that it is dangerous to detox without a physician's help. So what can I do?
I have read about others self-detoxing with the help of clonodine and benadryl but I am scared. My husband is 100% supportive and will be here for me, but not during the day. I welcome any advice, thoughts, stories, etc. I also have some questions:
Is 10mg easier to kick than a higher dosage? I am a small person, about 100 lbs. at 5'1"
I am healthy and strong, but will I lose a lot of weight no matter what I do? Is there anything I can take or eat to help with this?
Will I be 'out of it' on buprenorphine?
What is the typical Dr. assisted detox? My doctor does not bill insurance for this, he just charges a fee.
Thank you,
Momocnr