please read need imput asap..appt tommrow

[jimgreg]

i been on methadone off and on 5 yrs for cronic to sevre pain..my 1st doc got me as high as 160 mgs daily..then DEA suspended him..then went to another pain m...i weened myself down to 40 mgs held this till last December..i went ct cuz of agorphobia home bound..couldnt leave..dropped 38.5 mgs yes pure hell 3 weeks..well let me add im bipolar 1 and 2 and ocd, sad, gad....anyways im stuck at 2.5 mgs aday is were i ended up..so my pains gotten way out there..im also on 4mgs aday of xanax 5 yrs also prior to 11 yrs on 4mgs klonpin..

i have a pain m appt tommrow at 2pm....after detoxing myself i had to sign back up as a new paient...so since im already taking 2.5mgs aday since last dec...he may or may not prescribe this..

MY CONCERN IS I WAS ON AT 1 TIME 160 MGS ADAY OF THE METH,,BUT ONLY 1MG XANAX THEN..NOW ON 4 MGS DAILY XANAX AND 2.5MGS METHDONE...I DONT NEED ANYMORE THAN 10 MGS TO CONTROL MY PAIN LEVELS.....HERE IN OHIO THEY GIVE METHADONE,.,,PERKS AND OTHERS JUST THEY WONT FOOL WITH..

MY WORRY IS THE COMBO METHADONE AND XANAX...IM SURE ADDDICTED TO XANAX DUE TO PANITIC..AND IN NEED OF A NARCOTIC PAIN KILLER..ALSO HAVE SLEEP APNEA WITH 5LPM O2 AT NIGHTES ONLY ON BIPAP

NEED IMPUT THANKS..

[Tuckamore]

Hi Jimgreg,

Sounds like you have been through the mill. I am sorry to hear that. You have come a long way. You should be proud of yourself. Bravo!

Your concerns are founded with methadone and xanax. It's not a combination that need to be taken seriously. You have to be cautious. Apparently a physician is prescribing them for up. Please voice your concerns and have a long and detailed discussion with your physician.

If I understand you correctly the appointment with the PMP is a first on. So apparently this PMP will be taking over your prescriptions. As Sherry suggested this will be a good time to bring your concerns up with the new PMP.

We well know the challenges that chronic pain brings to our lives and we can empathize. I hope your appointment goes well. We will be waiting to here from you.
Best of luck.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

Hi Jim,

I see that you've been a member on MH for quite a long time!! I don't know if this is the first time that you've been on the PM Forum or not but I do want to remind you that there are no Doctors on here.

I want to tell you that you are to be COMMENDED on being able to detox yourself off of the 160 mgs of Methadone Daily!!  What a remarkable job you did.  Congratulations!!

I'm definitely not qualified to tell you what meds to take and we try hard NOT to do that. You need to go tomorrow to your Doctor's appointment and be PERFECTLY up-front with him about ALL that you have been through with your meds and let HIM tell you what meds he will put you on.  It's VERY important that you let him know the "high" levels of Methadone that your other Doctor had put you on. I had never heard that they didn't prescribe Percocets and other short acting drugs in Ohio.  I'm sure that several of our Ohio members are taking them.  You might be surprised what this Doctor will put you on.  

The most important thing is for you to let HIM lead the way or he might hesitate in your treatment. As I said, YOU need to be HONEST with him about EVERYTHING. You need to put your trust in him and hopefully everything will work out for you.

Be sure you let him know that you are Bi-polar and tell him about your addiction to the Xanax.  Include everything even the sleep apnea.  Are you taking all of your records with you?  

I wish you the very best and I hope that you will update us tomorrow after your appointment as we will be anxiously waiting to hear how it went......Sherry  :)