16th May 2008
Hello fellow boardmembers!
I will start out by telling you a little about my history. I am a long time abuser of opiates, since 1986 or so. I had started opiate abuse at a young age, just to experiment. I soon had a small dependence and then, later came a very long roller coaster of on and off and etc. Most of us knows of this same old routine. Fast forward>>>>after 12 years of constant abuse and in an out of impatient treatment>>to 1998, I was truley lost and was open to just about anything that would help me just get a small grip, just to allow me to make a right decision, for once.
In 1998 I was in a business meeting where I met a woman that later, told me of the addiction she once had and proceeded to tell me how she got help with addiction. Now here comes the laugh>>>She told me that she worked a stricted program, where methadone was involved. I was already turned off by what Information I knew about methadone, until she had said that she was only on it for a week. Now, I was all ears and wanted to hear what she had to say. In short form: With a after care program, already in place, this doctor or clinic used methadone to stablize her on her heavy use of pills and after 3 days, brought her down on the next 2. She told me she did not feel uncomfortable, but didn't sleep for a while. She worked through a aftercare program and then NA. She showed me her six year chip. Needless to say I wanted what she had. That happinest on her face, in her heart (you could just tell, it stood out naked) and the freedom from bondage, she explained. She wanted to tell more about it but I was such a inpatient person, making important decisions, at the blink of an eye(an addicts way for sure) Blink forward>>>>>> three weeks later I was on 85mgs methodone maint. and was ashamed what I had done. This clinic, as many do, lets you choose what mgs. you want to work your way up to (gosh! what has the world come to?) Anyhow, I was more strung out than before. Forward>>>>>>>>to six years later(2004) still on methadone, with many failed attempts to detox from such a high dose and other complications. Forward>>>>>3 months later>>>Had a high risk procedure, in Michigan (ultra rapid detox) So horriable, I would not wish this on a 2 leg stray dog, with cancer about to get run over and then ask him to pay 8,000 to get hit. Another bad decision and more to come. However, I still had thought that methadone would have gave me a chance if I had done it right, like she did. Forward >>>>a month later I was right back on the pills again, which took me all the way May 11, 2008(Sunday) with a nasty pill habit (consistency and large amounts of norco and Soma).
Now here comes another(somewhat of a revolving mistake!) On Monday I started a detox(not maint.) on a different Methadone clinic, then the one before. I was started on 20 mgs. and throughout the week have been taken up only to 25 mgs. Currently>>>>on 25mgs. and feel stable, but I really am scared of the potentual, of this drug. Because of the half-life of this drug I want to come down to 20 mgs. for Sat and Sun. and 15 on Monday and Tuesday and 10 on wend., then JUMP! With excellent Aftercare program.
In Conclusion, I would like to hear from anyone, especially the people that have been through a methadone detox. Please share some of your experiences with me. Also, be honest and let me know what you think of my plan. Pro's, Con's and why? or Whatever you think that may help. Please don't hold back because of feelings, as for what I have been through, so far, I have had to be tough to take the torchure, I've endured.
Makinit
I will start out by telling you a little about my history. I am a long time abuser of opiates, since 1986 or so. I had started opiate abuse at a young age, just to experiment. I soon had a small dependence and then, later came a very long roller coaster of on and off and etc. Most of us knows of this same old routine. Fast forward>>>>after 12 years of constant abuse and in an out of impatient treatment>>to 1998, I was truley lost and was open to just about anything that would help me just get a small grip, just to allow me to make a right decision, for once.
In 1998 I was in a business meeting where I met a woman that later, told me of the addiction she once had and proceeded to tell me how she got help with addiction. Now here comes the laugh>>>She told me that she worked a stricted program, where methadone was involved. I was already turned off by what Information I knew about methadone, until she had said that she was only on it for a week. Now, I was all ears and wanted to hear what she had to say. In short form: With a after care program, already in place, this doctor or clinic used methadone to stablize her on her heavy use of pills and after 3 days, brought her down on the next 2. She told me she did not feel uncomfortable, but didn't sleep for a while. She worked through a aftercare program and then NA. She showed me her six year chip. Needless to say I wanted what she had. That happinest on her face, in her heart (you could just tell, it stood out naked) and the freedom from bondage, she explained. She wanted to tell more about it but I was such a inpatient person, making important decisions, at the blink of an eye(an addicts way for sure) Blink forward>>>>>> three weeks later I was on 85mgs methodone maint. and was ashamed what I had done. This clinic, as many do, lets you choose what mgs. you want to work your way up to (gosh! what has the world come to?) Anyhow, I was more strung out than before. Forward>>>>>>>>to six years later(2004) still on methadone, with many failed attempts to detox from such a high dose and other complications. Forward>>>>>3 months later>>>Had a high risk procedure, in Michigan (ultra rapid detox) So horriable, I would not wish this on a 2 leg stray dog, with cancer about to get run over and then ask him to pay 8,000 to get hit. Another bad decision and more to come. However, I still had thought that methadone would have gave me a chance if I had done it right, like she did. Forward >>>>a month later I was right back on the pills again, which took me all the way May 11, 2008(Sunday) with a nasty pill habit (consistency and large amounts of norco and Soma).
Now here comes another(somewhat of a revolving mistake!) On Monday I started a detox(not maint.) on a different Methadone clinic, then the one before. I was started on 20 mgs. and throughout the week have been taken up only to 25 mgs. Currently>>>>on 25mgs. and feel stable, but I really am scared of the potentual, of this drug. Because of the half-life of this drug I want to come down to 20 mgs. for Sat and Sun. and 15 on Monday and Tuesday and 10 on wend., then JUMP! With excellent Aftercare program.
In Conclusion, I would like to hear from anyone, especially the people that have been through a methadone detox. Please share some of your experiences with me. Also, be honest and let me know what you think of my plan. Pro's, Con's and why? or Whatever you think that may help. Please don't hold back because of feelings, as for what I have been through, so far, I have had to be tough to take the torchure, I've endured.
Makinit