I need help; I need support from you, help me?

Question

Many of you know me well just through answers. Now, I'm in a desperate situation that I'm trying to do on my own. Oh, I have my children's support and husband, but they've not been through this one. About 4 weeks ago I had a ct of my brain and an EEG, my Dr was concerned of brain cancer because of my brother and sister. I had been blacking out, falling down stairs with no memories of the events. When I got my results, thankfully, no cancer, but EEG showed abnormal brain waves. My Dr has me on medications that I feel are a contributing factor. They are mind altering drugs. It doesn't take a medical person to know, these can do damage. I was born with a rare pancreas disease and the pain is to much to bear. So I was put on first Duragesic patch. It's used in anesthesia, That's how strong it is. I started out with 25 Mcg. and by the time I asked to get off, I was on 200. I was sent to a doc. who was supposed to help me. He thought I should take Methadone. I refused, From the pot to the fire I thought. Long story short, I eventually weaned myself off. Something I'm told cannot be done by oneself because it so addictive. I felt like I was going through the fires of hell but I wouldn't give in and I made it on my own. Then I was put on a drug that I knew nothing about. It's called Suboxone. I was put one 24 Mg. a day with 3 Ativan. Something else I never took. I called my Dr after the results and told him. "No more mind altering drugs. This is it, I refuse to take any more and again, I will wean myself off." I got a letter from him saying I shouldn't do this and I needed them. I won't. I have to wait and see if this is the cause of the brain waves abnormalities. He doesn't want me off. Let me tell you, weaning myself off Duragesic was a picnic compared to this. I hate myself, my skin feels like it's crawling and I want to crawl out. Every nerve in my body is shaking. In 3 weeks, I went from 3 Suboxone a day, down to a half. and 1 Ativan a day. I thought by now it would be better. I'm still feeling it. I don't know what to do and I will not go back to square 1. I know it's withdrawal, It's horrible. Why to Dr's put people with chronic illnesses on such hard core drugs. I've never done street drugs and now I feel like I need rehab. I'm just talking nonsense, I know. but I need advice. Help, support, just kind words of encouragement because I'm going to loose it soon and I will not give in no matter how bad it gets. Has anyone been through anything like this. What did you do and what can I do. I'm taking tons of herbal substances, Valerian root which is supposed to calm you. I won't be another statistic. That's stupid, I am. Never again will any Dr do this to me. I was lied to about Suboxone when the Dr told me it was not habit forming. What a rotten lie. My body is so damn dependent on them I can't explain it. It's torture. I don't know how a drug addict goes through it, well yes I do, I guess I'm one. Just because it's a prescription, doesn't make it any different. Don't worry, I have no intentions of doing myself in. Oh hell no, I'm going to fight and fight until I'm off completely but I don't know if I'm doing it right. Please help me, someone.

Answer 1

Oh Memere! You know I love ya lady and I'm hurting for you now. I can't believe dr put you on suboxone!

He should only put you on something like that if you are addicted to opiates...about the same as methadone! I know next to nothing about addictions and withdrawal, but you know I'm here for you. The ativan may calm you while you wean yourself off ; just don't decide to go cold turkey! That could actually do much harm to you. If you would tell the disease you have, I would like to research it and the available treatments.

My mom, older than you of course, has been having the blacking out and falling, wrecking cars...for several years. She was diagnosed, basically, with hardening of the arteries in the brain, causing tiny strokes and even speak problems...can't remember to name of that. You email me if you don't want to make more info public, ok? I'm thinking of you...

Answer 2

You poor thing. I went through withdrawal from Morphine after 9 weeks and it was horrid, but it sounds like yours is a lot worse. Mine lasted 5 days, but it seemed endless.



I agree with the other poster that Accupuncture could be very helpful for its calming effect. To enhance it, do deep yogic breathing at the same time. And, if you can find anyone who does Qi Gong, that is very powerful for clearing. Try to get a recommendation for a practitioner.



Also, try a hot bath with epsom salts. This may help any skin sensations, and if you're experiencing extremes of temperature.



Another thing that is very calming is what I call a head pat. Lie with your head in your husband's lap and have him gently drag his palm from the sides of your face back into your hair. If he is relaxed and gentle and you have a good connection, you should feel some of his calm pass to you.



I wish you a light-speed recovery and I'll keep you in my thoughts.



EDIT: Accupuncture is a picnic. Mostly I didn't even feel the needles (which are very fine), but when I did it was only mild discomfort. You just need to find a good practitioner. I think it would give you a lot of relief.



If you are prepared to try something very different and "out there", try this short video on youtube. I have been using this for healing and pain very successfully:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUnMV_QR2Gs



Not sure from your post if you are continuing with some form of painkiller. If you are, then oxycontin (slow release) sounds much better than suboxone - maybe you can transfer to that if necessary. As for Tramadol, my doctor has a remedy for the addictive effects - take tramadol and alternate with panadol and I had no withdrawal.



If you haven't tried it, MSM has some mild painkiller effect.



Whatever you do, make sure you do as much deep breathing as possible. In panic and painfull times, we all tend to shallow breathe and the body functions and heals best with deep breathing. If you want to meditate and haven't tried before, e-mail me and I'll describe some basic techniques you can try.



Hugs, Theresa.



EDIT: "Lone", we have recommended accupuncture not as a substitute for the drug, but to help relieve the discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms. The calming effect on the nervous system could be very beneficial.

Answer 3

Wow...first off, suboxone should never ever be prescribed with a benzo like Ativan. Normally the ONLY time it is, is if the person is already dependent on benzos...the two can and has caused many a death.



suboxone is very similar to methadone, in the fact it is a long acting opioid. sub has a half life of about 37 hours. 1 mg of sub is equal to 50 mg's of morphine, so your starting dose was the equiv. of 1,200 mg's of morphine. Enough to kill a large horse.



suboxone is become more popular as a pain med, but not b/c it is effective. it's because doctors know it is less likely to be abused and their liability is much less. It is not a good pain med though, and any use as a pain med is strictly off label.



Sub is one of, if not THE hardest opioid to withdrawal from.



Your journey off this poison has just only begun. tapering down to 4 mg's is the easy part...now it gets harder, especially when you get below 2 mg's. you need to slow down now and get stabilized before you reduce any further.



It took me 3 months to wean from 4 mg's to 0.5 mg's, and what I am about to tell you is not meant to scare, but to inform you. The weaning is tough, but the jump off is even harder. You can count on 30 days of severe withdrawal, followed by months of PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome).



You should not try to come off the Ativan and the sub together. The benzo will be a great comfort when you detox.



here's a great little site that can help you and educate you...it helped me. They have been having a little technical difficulty the past few days so if the site is down, try again. It's www.subsux.com a fitting name, don't you think?



And watch this pod cast from a Suboxone doctor that knows his stuff.



http://afflictedandaffected.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=248:steven-scanlan&catid=40:shows2008



I'm a chronic pain patient too, and basically the same thing happened to me that happened to you...and it is happening to hundreds of thousands of other Americans, while the manufacturer and the doctors prescribing this poison get rich.



The good news is you can do this, with support and guidance. I hope to see you at www.subsux.com





Edited to say, accupuncture and herbs won't touch this drug. I spent thousands on accupuncture by a highly rated doctor the first time I attempted to detox off sub...I do believe it can help with many things, but unfortunately this isn't one of them.

Answer 4

I didn't start supporting them, not that I remember anyway, it was just something that was always in my life, also they were my local team when I was a kid LOL not really, I lived closer to Ibrox if I'm honest but why would my family bring me up supporting a sectarian team whos fans hated us just because we were Irish?, I liked the strip, my family and friends all supported the same team and no, I never supported another team other than Celtic, although I have went to Derry City and Cliftonville matches with friends that support them!

Answer 5

hello again. remember me im the one with the aunt going round saying she has cancer when she is out partying. I was like this after stopping tramadol. Tramadol is a striped down version of codeine, but i did not know this. I to went through hell coming off them going through the same withdrawals as you. Ill explain mine, i was confused i did not know weather to sit or stand my nerves were raw, endless sweating the shakes, very jumpy,could not sleep etc. Hang in their you are nearly there. Also about methadone good on you for not taking it. I lost my mam on that, we found her on the settee after she died. My daughter has abnormal brain waves and they put that down to epilepsy even though she has never had a fit and she does not take anything for it. So hang in there ill pray for you x also take extra vitamine c this is good for withdrawels as it releases endorphines the happy chemical in your brain x

Answer 6

I commend you on your attempts to clean out you body.



The issue is it is stressing your body by all the things going on physically and now mentally and you know this. .



Please consider going to either a Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncturist, a Natropath or an OD. They usually come from a more healing and alternative methodology to treating issues. Drugs have a place but not in all situations. Biofeedback may help you learn to control your own brain chemicals to a certain extent w/o drugs to blunt you. It can also help you recognize what the body needs and wants so you can help it get that in more natural ways.



Macrobiotics or Raw diets have been shown to do many good things to ppl in attempts to heal themselves and food is the most natural healers there is..

Full body fasts and Cleansings can help flush all of these drugs out faster and get you more stable.



Best wishes on your healing journey