Welcome to Addiction Survivors - How to use this forum best

[shotgunshell67]

From the experience. I've had,the doctor keeps you on it a year then you taper off.I am commenting only on my experience,the suboxone treatment has helped me alot

[nanook01]

I started taking pain meds because i have a really bad back and my Doctor sugessted Vicodin and then after a period of time he changed my meds to Oxycontin, That helped with the pain but surely was addicting. After a period of time mu Doctor refused to give them to me. Wow crazy huh? Then i heard of a clinic in my hometown that offered Suboxone and it saved my life. Thank u to the girls and my Doctor.

[SteveV74]

Hello, I just found this site, I have been in treatment successfully for 8 years now, I live in KS near the Wichita area, glad to be here.

[Eliza12]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on 8 years of successful treatment. There is good group
of people here, if you have any questions or just need to talk.

Best,
Elizabeth

[SteveV74]

Thank u Eliza, this forum is very similar to Talkbass, oh yeah I also play bass,lol, musician,drug habit, kinda goes together, seriously though I enjoy my sobriety.

[subsavedme73]

hello, I am on 14 mgs. and tapering

I started using heroin at age 22.Needless to say it ruined my life I've been in detox 9 times since then, 3 28 day rehabs, 2 long term residential treatment facilities, and many trips in and out of jail. I am on subs and believe it is a miracle drug for the treatment of opiate addiction! I came to this board out of curiosity. I am interested in others thoughts and feelings about sub treatment. I look forward to corresponding with each of you!

[Eliza12]

Hi subsavedme,

Welcome to the forum! So glad for you that you found suboxone and are on the road to recovery. If you'd like to say, how long have you been on it and at what dose? I also found it to be a great help in getting off opiates. You've been to a lot of rehab, so I'm sure you know that there is work to be done besides taking the sub. The sub will keep you from having withdrawals and cravings, but it will not teach you to live sober. So be it counseling, meetings, this forum or group therapy, a person needs support and guidance to really get healthy-minded.

Hope to hear more from you.
Elizabeth

[subsavedme73]

eliza, Ive been on for 112 days. I started at 16 mgs, now down to 14. I also have been attending a/a meetings 3 to 4 x per week, coupled by IOP.

[steamer]

Hello my name is STEAMER and forgot to takemy oxys-20-20s a dayandhad a siezureand Iguess didnt take again and had another sezure and in coma for 2 weeks-woke up on18 methdaonea day and sick-starting cutting downtoseewhere my pain levelwas andthen really sickeverydayfor 3 and a half years.I haad adoctor that never had a withdrawel patient and I paid forit.Got downto6 after 3 yearsand finnally putmy selfin nutt ward grossmont hospitalfor 3 days and then went to different doc andputon suboxon.It was ok at first but same side effectsfor me no sleepand hard toeat and that ugly over welming feeling.I cut down realslow 3 and a half years and didnt cut down for 6 months -side effects the same-for years-maybe 7 I walked in church parking lot starting at 4-6 am in summer and winter-freezing cold felt better than warm.I came dwn every night for many many years.I cut down slow and still kicked my but. finnally couldnt get of last >25-1 quater of 1 mg was just the same murder to me.never did work for pain.clonidine helps and trying cymbalta with no feeling of help.I went on butran pachtes and left 2 on-1 atatime and after 2 weeks just finnally quit-2 weeks ago and stillfellugly at times but after 10-12 years of methadone andsub I am finnally headed a different direction and looking for a doctor with a heart. good luck to all. Steamer-san diegoca.

[Eliza12]

Hi steamer,

Welcome to the forum. Good for you for finishing your taper off suboxone. Are you still having pain issues? If you are looking for support to stay off opiates, or help in dealing with withdrawal symptoms, this forum is a good place to find that. Good luck finding a compassionate doctor, and hope to hear from you again.

Best,
Elizabeth

[larry]

I'm glad that I found this forum- it was totally by accident, that I found a reference to it, by someone on another website. I have been struggling with pain and addiction issues for a long time (18 years), and I hope that I can get some good advice- and support, as well. I will be spending some time exploring the website, and finding out which of my questions have already been addressed. Thank you for providing me with this service.

[Eliza12]

Hi Larry,

Welcome to the forum! I posted to your other thread about headaches in Welcome Room - Starting Treatment. There's a lot of information and support on this forum and a good group of people. Glad you are here.

Best,
Elizabeth

[nanook01]

This is my second time on this site and its nice to read all the posts people write. Its helpful and nice to kmow that im not the only one. The girls at my doctors office are very helpful and the doctors a wonderful. (its a suboxone clinic) , I have been on the Suboxone for quite sometime now and never wanna go back. I hope each and every one of you are as successful at this as i have been without going back. Good luck.

I just want to say that the only reason why i and probably most of you are having trouble with Opiates is because you had pain ....went to the Dr and they just started prescribing pain meds instead of actually trying to fix the problem. I had really bad headaches and back pain but now i just learn to deal with it with eating better and lots of Vitamin d. It really helps. Again best of luck to you all.

[dregulatesubs]

I am a new member. I have been on suboxone the 4mg/1mg films once a day for 3 months. suboxone works for me for the cravings. At the beginning I would abuse it and take a double or even triple dose. Now that I realize my pain was mostly withdraw related I moved myself back down to the 4mg a day I'm suppose to take. I never told my doctor about how I abused it because he would surely kick me off the program. Either way I havn't used any heroin or pain pills since I've been on it(with the exception of a 50mg tramadol here or there) I feel better and people tell me I look a lot better. I guess suboxone is magic

[bransyn.love]

Originally Posted by nanook01

I just want to say that the only reason why i and probably most of you are having trouble with Opiates is because you had pain ....went to the Dr and they just started prescribing pain meds instead of actually trying to fix the problem. I had really bad headaches and back pain but now i just learn to deal with it with eating better and lots of Vitamin d. It really helps. Again best of luck to you all.

Originally Posted by Juliebug45

I am so glad to have something like this right at my finger tips, I have not been a part of yet, but, I am going to be more active!!! Can not wait to talk to some other people who are on his journey!!!!

It has most definitely changed my life. Some consider it clean, some do not. But in my eyes I have been clean from all other drugs so I consider myself clean because I take them properly and I do not abuse them.. I'm very happy that this medication works && is not only changing my life, but a lot of people's lives.

[dope67]

I am new to this page but lord knows not to dope, I came back from Viet Nam addicted to Heroin and got on Methadone back in 1975 and was on it for 30 years with the VA out west, when my company moved us to another state far away their was no methadone clinics other than 75 miles away so I had to detox before with left and had to do it in 3 months not enough time for as long as I was on it, got very sick, so I got on Suboxone that was just a 20 mile drive away. Now I'm trying to come off it and was told my a specialist since I've been on it 9 years it would take me at least 2 years to come off without going trough bad withdraws I know one thing it did do coming off methadone so fast I don't sleep good any more and get panic attacks at times. So I say to all you new people out their on either of these drugs do not stay on them to long because you will have physical problems the rest of your life. And by all means if you are on for a long time come off as slow as you can.

[NPA706]

new...not doing good...anybody wanna talk?

[bjh86]

i love that there is a substance that can help u to deal with addiction. ive been back and forth with subs for a long time and i must say that ive developed a love for them, u can feel like urself with out being high out ur mind. it has balanced me in so many ways with money, realtionships with family and friends are better. So many things have been improved by getting off all the other stuff. just hope all the good lasts

[bluebirdsoul]

Wow how do posts get moved around I just came back to the page and saw your post and felt really bad for you and toke a quick look at when you posted wondering if you were still around, noticed that it was last month ?!? hope things worked out for you I wasnt even a member then. I see no replies to your post then again I may not know quite well how to navigate these pages yet. Pray things are better for you , wanted to help if I could .

[jimbolee]

I am glad someone else feels the same way that i do thanks for that post.

[ilovedogs]

I have been on suboxone for a year now, i was taking any where from 20 to 30 vicodone a day. Went to rehab then got on the sub it saved my life now iam moving to danville illionis and i can not find a doctor,they either do not do suboxone and dont know how they got on list or they are full. I work in oil camp so iam working 6 weeks straight 84 hours a week. Then have two weeks off. My doc in north dakota is quiting. Iam affraid iam going to have to go back on pain meds. I have arthritist and the subs help with my pain plus nice not popping pills all day. Dose any one know of any dr.? Plus my schedule isnt helping at all. Thanks julie

[jimbolee]

not the ones without the blocker eric

[Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by NPA706

new...not doing good...anybody wanna talk?

Absolutely, I'm brand new myself, on subs, was taking several 30mg roxy's and 80mg OP's together for a long time. I'm also battling alcoholism which makes the cravings for any form of intoxication seem more intense when I'm craving not just one form of a mood-altering depressant, but multiple chemicals, any chemicals in fact, that can just help me feel different than the way I do right now. That feeling is the true deep, and dark hole of addiction, that feeling of craving that so intense, that nothing else in life matters, or seems as though nothing could ever even be enjoyable again without that drug. That's what I feel every hour of every day sometimes. Some days I'll go a few hours without thinking about using or without craving, but that's about the most amount of time I seem to get. When I do find those moments those, I feel a great sense of peace, like a thousand monkeys are finally off my back (even if I know it's just momentary). Don't know if anyone else feels that way, but addiction has really shown me through the gates of hell and pain that I never thought I'd experience in my life so intensely.

[Perdurabo]

Sure, same here

[Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by dregulatesubs

I am a new member. I have been on suboxone the 4mg/1mg films once a day for 3 months. suboxone works for me for the cravings. At the beginning I would abuse it and take a double or even triple dose. Now that I realize my pain was mostly withdraw related I moved myself back down to the 4mg a day I'm suppose to take. I never told my doctor about how I abused it because he would surely kick me off the program. Either way I havn't used any heroin or pain pills since I've been on it(with the exception of a 50mg tramadol here or there) I feel better and people tell me I look a lot better. I guess suboxone is magic

I've made the mistake of taking too much of my subs because I felt that I needed it and it only prolongs the inevitable pain that I'll surely feel at a later time. Doctor's are pretty strict about how often they dispense it, and they usually only dispense it when you are pretty close to running out (if you are taking every dose the way that you have been prescribed). Don't beat yourself up over it though. Just like relapses, they're lessons that we can learn from or choose to harbor more feelings of pain and guilt from. I have learned from my mistakes of taking too much when I first get a prescription filled, and now I can proudly say that I don't need to live that way anymore.

[MissScarlett]

Please help me. I value the wisdom I've seen here. I'm very new to this forum and very scared. I apologize in advance that I don't know where to put this post and that it is so long.

This is my question: Is there any science that says a 73 year old woman on Suboxone can’t take a Xanax before very heavy dental work? I was on opiates for chronic pain for 12 years and now I'm on 15mg of Suboxone, tapered down from 24mg in June. In my experience stress plus pain equals poor recovery and impaired healing but I followed my Suboxone doc's advice and took "Atarax" instead of Xanax this time. It never took effect and now I'm stuck with a mouth full of ulcers from the stress and pain of 3 hours in the dentist's chair with no relief. It's been 5 days and I've been in constant pain with only aspirin and mouthwash for relief.

Last month she did give me Xanax (2 small pills) for my dental work and it was fine. I only use it for this very limited purpose. This month she insisted on Atarax and now everything is off schedule and I'm in a lot of pain from the ulcers. I feel like I trusted her and bad things happened. When I asked her why she didn't stick to the Xanax that worked last time, she at first said it was because of the Suboxone. When I presented proof that it was not a problem, using information from a reknowned Suboxone specialist, she then said it was because of my age, that she feared "respiratory depression". I found out that this is only an issue with seniors who have respiratory impairment. I don't. I breathe just fine, don't smoke, never had a problem.

She then threatened to drug test me and suggested I look for another Suboxone provider because I questioned her about it. I'm losing faith in her because she says things that aren't true about Suboxone (I research everything) and because she seems to have a hard time with my age. I am quite youthful for my age, I'm active and have a good life, I take very good care of myself. I'm afraid I'll have to find another sub doc and I'm scared. I'm facing surgery and I need to trust my doctors, especially including my Suboxone provider.

Another alternative is to just ignore her, go ahead and take the Xanax and not tell her and run the risk of being tested, fired and finding a new doc. bringing with me a bad record. I'm sorry I was ever honest with her in the first place but I'm used to having honest and trusting relationships with my medical providers (after 30 years of "rigorous honesty" in AA I find it's a good concept) and having them respond in positive ways. She doesn't seem very experienced and I don't think it's a good match. She is acting from things she reads, not things she knows. I need someone I can trust and who will trust me. But I'm scared that a new sub doc will see me as "drug seeking" and fired for asking for benzos. She thinks I'm too old for pain relief and I think she's too young and inexperienced to evaluate my situation and my health appropriately.

I have an appointment with her on Wednesday and I expect to pay $150 be tested (I'm clean), fired for asking questions, and without enough Suboxone to allow me time to find a better doctor for my Suboxone recovery. I want a Suboxone doctor who can steer me through the anticipated surgeries and maintain my recovery, to which I am wholly committed. But it has to be easier than this. I don't want to have to fight the addiction AND the doctor!

[morphing]

MissScarlet,

An Admin may move this to another thread, we will see. I'm sorry this has happened to you. I do understand, especially for younger, less established doctors the dilemma they face. There are SO MANY warnings about the use of benzos while on Suboxone that it makes doctors paranoid. Even if you only took 1/2 of a mg., she's probably afraid she would be liable if anything happened to you. Doctors have to protect themselves from too many lawsuits, and add to that the tightrope they have to walk with the DEA and pharmacies for prescribing Suboxone, and it's a wonder sometimes that they even want to be in the business.

I do agree that a much more experienced doctor, if you can find one, would be better and would be more willing to give you Xanax for occasional use. Mine gives me 6-8 1mg. tablets whenever I have long flights because of panic attacks when flying.

I would suggest you begin the process of looking now. I would be surprised if your current doctor "fires" you, though, for simply asking a question and disagreeing with them.

Morphing

[Wrl78]

Hello,
I'm new here and not sure how to get started. I have been looking around all of the great threads on here. There's a ton of info on here as well.

[nan]

Hello Wrl78, Welcome! If you want you can start a thread of your own and tell us more about you. That way folks will have a specific place to respond to your posts. You are right there is a ton of info on here, as well as good people to listen and talk to.

nan

[jennifer]

I have no idea why they would tell you that except for there own selfish reasons. I have been on suboxone for about 5 years and let me tell you, i have to have it everyday just to feel normal and not feeling lilke crap so i know exactly where your coming from. and as for the doctor i would just try to get something in writing maybe stating thats what they told you at the beginning when you first started, you know. just try to keep like a paper trail.

[Izzy1982]

I am new to this forum, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to use it. Where to post, etc. I would really appreciate any help. I am excited to be a part of a group of ppl who I can relatetto. Thanks in advance.

[NancyB]

Hi Izzy1982, here's a link to your thread from the other day:
http://www.addictionsurvivors.org/vb...ad.php?t=30258

This link is a basic explanation of the workings of the forum itself:
http://addictionsurvivors.org/vbulle..._threads_posts

If you see a thread you'd like to respond to, just do as you did with your post here. Keeping a thread for yourself is usually easier - for you to find and for people to find you. We can use the first link for that.

The other thread you started in the My Thread forum is yours alone - no one else can reply to that thread since it's your journal thread.

I hope that helps! If not, please let me know.

Nancy

[Thor1982]

Originally Posted by nan

Hello Wrl78, Welcome! If you want you can start a thread of your own and tell us more about you. That way folks will have a specific place to respond to your posts. You are right there is a ton of info on here, as well as good people to listen and talk to.

nan

Hello Nan. I am new here, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to post a new thread. I shared my story in My Thread, but I didn't realize noone could respond there. I'm looking forward to sharing support with people who understand what it's like to be a recovering addict. Thank you in advance.

[NancyB]

Originally Posted by Thor1982

Hello Nan. I am new here, and I'm having trouble figuring out how to post a new thread. I shared my story in My Thread, but I didn't realize noone could respond there. I'm looking forward to sharing support with people who understand what it's like to be a recovering addict. Thank you in advance.

Hi Thor1982, I copied your post from the My Thread forum to here:
http://www.addictionsurvivors.org/vb...splay.php?f=81

Now people can respond to it.

I just posted this to Izzy1982:

Originally Posted by NancyB

....
This link is a basic explanation of the workings of the forum itself:
http://addictionsurvivors.org/vbulle..._threads_posts

If you see a thread you'd like to respond to, just do as you did with your post here. Keeping a thread for yourself is usually easier - for you to find and for people to find you. We can use the first link for that...

I hope that helps! If not, please let me know.

Nancy

[jw]

thanks everyone for this forum.

[cat.sim]

Originally Posted by steven6970

my insurance covered my treatment and it is a life changing expierience. So to all who are addicted and having trouble with the paying for it part of this treatment think of how hard that we worked on coming up with the money for are addiction and remember we did things that were impossible to do something bad for us.So always know that you can do this I have referred some of my friends that were also addicted they too did not have insurance my doctor worked with the ones who were serious.Sorry if it is not offered in your area(CAUSE IT IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPIERIENCE).ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU CAN DO THIS.

im so greatful for my insurance also but even with out it I would still be seeing my doctor. my medicine helps me so much I cant imagine going back to the way it was!!!

[freetobe]

that's great for you...I'm new to this site but am hopeful i will figure out my way around...any input would be appreciated
Keep up the good work

[NancyB]

Originally Posted by freetobe

that's great for you...I'm new to this site but am hopeful i will figure out my way around...any input would be appreciated
Keep up the good work

Hi freetobe, welcome. If you want, start a new thread and tell us a little about yourself. Of course, no pressure at all!

Nancy

[saltrot]

Thank-you!

[robbdawg30]

I was referred by my consler and my doctor. I've never filled this part out didn't know. I've been using this site for while now and it abosultly helps.

[BodMods]

I am having navigation issues as well, I've never used a forum like this before, my tech knowdlage lies on Facebook and Google, that's about all I've used, i'm not even sure if I can view their original thread everybody is thinking for all I see is the replies LOL

[NancyB]

This is the basic workings of the forum. If you're ever looking for a post you made, click on your username, click on stats and you can find your posts and threads that way.

http://addictionsurvivors.org/vbulle..._threads_posts

Hope that's helpful.

Nancy

[LongTermBupLegal?wtf]

Ex pill to H guy w sprinkle in yo n menth pot for a TWIST. Ivebeen on subs for 8 yrS. I honestly wouldve never started them if I put in the work n research before. No way. If u hate the h withdrawal your gona HATE subs ETC wdrawl.
anyway Im saying hello and hopeful about the new drug thats suboxone w OUT the opiates In there. so -THEIR IS HOPE if the research pans out and the drug companies lobby it. Which scares me because THEY dont want you to quit!!!! They r LEGAL DRUG DEALERS charging 10$ for an 8mg film w out insurance Why would they want it to change. ??? Idk .. hello n i pray for EVERYONE going thru the same struggles. god bless

[freetobe]

the subs have saved my life hi ive read your post and ive been on subs for almost 3 years now and it scares me to think i will have to withdraw from this drug like the pills i took for over a period of 5 years ...i dont know what else to do but quit cold turkey not sure how my body would hold up to the abuse of withdrawal now. stay strong and pray for a better way

[NancyB]

Originally Posted by freetobe

the subs have saved my life hi ive read your post and ive been on subs for almost 3 years now and it scares me to think i will have to withdraw from this drug like the pills i took for over a period of 5 years ...i dont know what else to do but quit cold turkey not sure how my body would hold up to the abuse of withdrawal now. stay strong and pray for a better way

Hi freetobe, when you get a chance take a look at the first two threads in the taper section:
http://www.addictionsurvivors.org/vb...splay.php?f=80

When it comes time for you to think about stopping, please taper down and off. Many many people have done it that way successfully with very little in the way of withdrawals. Just make sure you are ready to stop and have enough medication to do a proper taper. Some people here have also stopped cold turkey, jenm is one who was forced to stop because she no longer had a doctor and couldn't find a new one. She made the best of a bad situation and got through it. Here's her thread:
http://www.addictionsurvivors.org/vb...ad.php?t=29780

Hope that helps you and feel free to start a thread in the taper section for support when it comes time.

Nancy

[MattC42286]

Hi all! I honestly think that you should remain on the meds as long as you feel you need to. Nonody knows you or your situation as good as you do. Hope you all have a blessed one!! Thanks! -Matt

[juanman]

I do agree that people should stay on there meds until they feel they are really ready to take the next step

[wrkingtowardslight]

Hi! Does anyone know how to tag an individual in a general reply/post (for example, when you want to comment on their post to you and make sure they receive it)..I have no idea, and checked the getting started link provided but either didn't see how to do it or completely didn't understand. Thanks all and good to see so many kind peeps on here!

[NancyB]

Originally Posted by wrkingtowardslight

Hi! Does anyone know how to tag an individual in a general reply/post (for example, when you want to comment on their post to you and make sure they receive it)..I have no idea, and checked the getting started link provided but either didn't see how to do it or completely didn't understand. Thanks all and good to see so many kind peeps on here!

Hi wrkingtowardslight, there isn't a way to tag people on the forum. Maybe posting in a thread they started might work. It depends on how often they visit the forum or if they have alerts set on the thread would be major factors on if they'd see it.

Nancy

[LS]

Looking for a good Doctor in ashland ky. That will take humana insurance Thanks