Welcome Kay S

Subject: Welcome Kay S Sun 11 Apr 2010, 12:22 pm

Hello Kay and welcome to the Light At The End of The Tunnel.
It is good to have you hear with us. My name is Dee and I am one of the moderators of the forum.
There is one thing that I like to tell new members right from the beginning and that is;
"As long as you are a member of this forum no one here will judge, ridicule or make fun of you for anything that you may have done in the past or anything that you may say."
We are a support forum for Medicated Assisted Treatment.
What that means is that we do understand that not everyone is the same, we are all different and yet the same in so many ways. For those of us who choose to take a medication to help us manage our addictions, this is The Light At The End of The Tunnel. A very long dark tunnel.

For many, many years there wasn't a choice. You either chose abstinence or you chose using. There was no middle, no in between. Now we have options, and life can be good. Many of us tried to stop, but even when we could stop taking drugs, we still suffered from awful cravings. With Suboxone there are no cravings, only hope.
If you have any questions about Suboxone or concerns about your recovery let us know and we will do what we can do help guide you to the answers you are looking for.
You are not alone. We care about you Kay.
I am sure that our other members will be along at some point to welcome you, Barbara Rue is another moderator on the forum and then we have Cathy who is probably one of the most supportive people you will ever meet.
I want to encourage you to post as often as you can. Once you start typing the rest will follow.
I am looking forward to talking with you Kay.
Yours in Recovery,
Dee

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Sun 11 Apr 2010, 1:04 pm

Hi Kay, My name is Cathy. I just wanted to welcome you! If you are looking for support and information you are in the right place! I am along time member here and I been on Suboxone since August of 2008. This is the best forum I been on concerning Medical Mant. Treatment. Nobody will bash you here for your choices we only support. So feel free to have a look around. Post if you want to or if you have any questions.

I see Dee already welcomed you and Barbara will welcome you once she see that you are here. Dee and Barbara are full of kindness and support and will help you anyway they can!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Cathy Welcome Kay S Icon_biggrin

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Sun 11 Apr 2010, 1:51 pm

Hello Kay,
I'm Barbara, one of the moderators along with Dee. We would like to warmly welcome you in to our forum. We have about 300 members and there's about ten of us that post regularly. I would like to hear from you so we can share aspects of our lives. Things don't seem so huge when we share with others. All of the weight seems to be lifted so we can really look at what's going on. I know I've wrote something out and right away I realize whatever it was seemed silly for me to be so upset. So, make yourself at home, make some new friends and know whatever it is, it's just temporary. Have a lovely day.

Yours in the struggle,
Barbara

Number of posts : 9 Age : 61 Registration date : 2010-04-11

Thank you Barbara... I'm a returning patient to Suboxone, and right now I'm trying to determine if it's "time" to take it or if I should wait a little bit longer. First, let me tell you about the situation right now. On Friday evening at about 6 PM I removed my 12 mcg Fentanyl (Mylan) patch... I had tapered down from 2 years of using a 25 mcg to fight chronic nerve pain in my back due to herniated disks in 2006. I have talked with my pain management specialist, and we've agreed to try this route of removal to see if the pain is indeed still present or if I'm still using pain meds without the nerves still being damaged and painful.

Up until about 2:30 PM (Sunday) I was only experiencing very mild body aches and movement and little ability to sleep. After that time the inability to keep my body still and the crampy feeling has greatly increased. DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME I START THE SUBOXONE OR WAIT IT OUT A BIT? I do not want precipated withdrawals, I had that once in 2007 when I "slipped up". If someone could advise me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Since I was only on a 12 mcg patch every 2 days I wonder if the w/ds will be as bad this time as it was in 2007 when I went this route to get off the Percocets (60 mg daily).

I am waiting to hear! Thank you...

Kay

Number of posts : 9 Age : 61 Registration date : 2010-04-11

Hi Dee and Cathy! I didn't see your posts, only Barbara's, that's why I addressed her directly... thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, this world of chronic pain, need for meds, WANT for meds, is a strange one indeed.

In February of 2006 I herniated two disks in the T-section of my back, around the area of the bra strap. I did this, believe it or not, simply exercising. My mother has had a bad back and I have been a constant chiropractic patient since I was 20 and went skiing to come home with 13 dislocations of my vertebrae. Life has been pretty much fine until this herniation. I was 43 years old.

After many failed attempts to relieve the burning sensation in my back, I began to use Percocet, first 5 mg when I had an adjustment, then through 8 months up to 60 mg daily. I could plainly see at that point that it had a hold on me, and I asked my pain management specialist to help me get off the drugs. We did this through Suboxone. I took my last 10 mg Percocet on Saturday morning and when I went in to see him on Monday AM I was in full withdrawal. I can tell you that I didn't enjoy the experience, but I don't remember it being too too awful. We started on the 16 mg a day taper and I successfully was able to come off the Suboxone.

When I got done, alas I still had this awful burning sensation in the mid-back, particularly at work. We tried spinal epidurals, nerve risotomies, etc. to no avail. I asked my PMS if I could use a tiny bit of Suboxone as it tended to help the pain. I was using 2 mg daily for a year after that.

I alluded to my "slip up" in 2007. I wasn't getting the satisfaction I wanted to from the 2 mg Suboxone, so I convinced my family practitioner to give me "just a little bit of Percocet" which he did. I know... VERY BAD THING TO DO! I learned that lesson. Over 2 days I took 12 tables of Percocet 5 mg and on Sunday evening I had a HORRENDOUS withdrawal! I called the PMS before he even left home for the office, confessing what I'd done. I met him in the office ASAP, but it seemed the worst of it was over, and I went back to the 2 mg of Suboxone without incident. I did that for close to a year before he suggested trying the 25 mcg Fentanyl patch. That was two years ago...

THAT is why I don't want to start the Suboxone treatment too early with this patch situation. I know it's different because it is absorbed and released through the skin and fatty tissue. I will have to read everyone's story... I know that sometimes we are long term users of this newer miracle drug... and if it helps control pain issues like it did me, I don't see why not. It sure beats these other meds!

I will be waiting to hear from any of you, and yes, you're right. ABSOLUTELY no judgment! It's a brain chemical alteration, not something we actively control!

Thanks again...

Kay

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Sun 11 Apr 2010, 8:28 pm

Hi Kay,

Sorry it's been a while since you last wrote. I was told when I first started Suboxone to wait twelve hours before I started the treatment. The only time Suboxone helped with pain, (for me) was when I was taking a high dosage (24) a day. When I got down to 2 milligrams, it did nothing for pain. Since then after about three years I have successfully stopped it. I still am in pain, but it's something I will have to live with. I do get some relief from Advil, but only take them a few times a week. I have ulcers, and enlarged bile ducks...so, I have to be careful with my stomach. Pain and me have become old time friends. It's like a relative you have to put up with and ACCEPT.

Kay honey, you have to go back to your doctor and tell him all of the truth and let him judge if you are ready to take the Suboxone. He sounds like an understanding doctor and willing to work with you. He's really sticking his neck out for you and I hope you stick it out with him. You have been on the drug and you know it works. I know how it is to be in pain and want it to stop even just for a little while. I have that burning pain in my hips. One side is an old injury when I fell and the other one is messed up from me limping from my hip and problems with my feet. I know you hurt and maybe you can do some accupuncture or even aroma therapy.
If you are a bit over weight, maybe you could lose a few pounds to lighten what you are carrying around.

I want to hurry and get this to you. I don't want you to think we don't get to our people, but we do. Dee has some serious health issues and taking treatments for it. I'm either working or resting. I will come on everyday and see you through this. You are not alone and I care very much about what happens to you. Hang in there. You have come to the right place and you are going to be fine.

So glad you posted to us.
Yours in the struggle,
Barbara

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Mon 12 Apr 2010, 12:06 am

Hi Kay, I really don't have anything else to add to Barbara's advice. I don't know alot about the patch or how long it takes to withdrawal from it. But I know what you are talking about when it comes to pain. The Suboxone does work for my pain issues and I hope it will do the same for you. I hope you are getting threw this ok. It shouldn't be much longer before you can take your first dose of Suboxone.

Talk to you soon.

Cathy

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Mon 12 Apr 2010, 1:51 am

Hi Kay,
At one time a long time ago I was on the same patch. It lasted longer than anything I ever took for pain. When I stopped it, I didn't feel any withdrawals for three days. You are right about the way it is absorbed through the body.
When you start your Suboxone the proper protocol is to wait until you are in mild to moderate withdrawal. I would wait for the moderate withdrawal if you can stand it. The longer you wait the better.
When people are switching from Methadone to Suboxone for example the protocol is to wait at least 72 hours due to the length of time the Methadone stays in the body.
When are you due to see your doctor again? If you are in doubt you should call him.

About your pain, some people do well on Suboxone for pain but those who do usually do take a higher dose than 2mg. I have chronic back pain due to three failed back surgeries, my Suboxone provider prescribes 16 to 20 mg a day for me.
But that doesn't mean what is right for me will be right for you. We are all different. Some people don't get any relief from Suboxone at all. And those people usually end up either gong back to using or they switch over to Methadone.
Whatever you do, as Barbara said, you are not alone and we will be here to see you though this.
Keep in touch and don't give up. Success is only a step away.
Yours in recovery,
Dee

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Mon 12 Apr 2010, 6:47 am

Good morning Kay,

Just a quick hello and let you know you are being thought of. Give your mind a rest today and clear your mind of unnessesary worries.
Got to run,
Love,
Barbara

Subject: Re: Welcome Kay S Thu 15 Apr 2010, 6:23 am

Good day to you Kay. I'm on my way to work and wanted to touch base with you. I'm in hopes you are doing well. As I said before, if you share what's going on whether it be bad or good, we would love to hear from you. You have settled in with us and would like to have you as a member of our family.

I'm gone for now, but will be back some time today. Till then, I wish you everything you need to make another day.

Yours,
Barbara