Seeing Suboxone dr on July 20th

[dottieb35]

I have been taking "pain killers" for quite sometime now. I started taking too much of them over the last few years to the point that my tolerance level is thru the roof.
I FINALLY took the step and called a subxone doctor.
I was told that I have to bring $240.00 with me for my 1st visit..2 wks later I go back for a check up to see how they are working...after that it is once a month and will cost me $120.00 a month to see the doc and get the script. I am NOT complaining about the cost as this is nothing compared to what I spend to just obtain some pills. What I am wondering is how effective this is going to be for me and will it really...really...REALLY help me to stop and lead a "normal" life again? Is it immediate? I had surgery yrs ago and got addicted. I was also just recently diagnosed w Arnold Chiari Malformation and the headaches and the pain I have from the Chiari are pretty bad some days but I just don't want to live like this anymore and I am hoping that the Suboxone will help w pain control also?
It was SO hard for me to get to this point in my life...like calling the dr and even posting here on this board. I've known for a long time now that I have a problem but was SO scared to admit to it as I didn't know how people would react or treat me.
Does anyone know the success rate w/ Suboxone?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.
I can't wait until July 20th..I am hoping that it is the 1st day of the rest of my NEW life!

[IBKleen]

Dottie, I can hear you laughing from here. I haven't heard anyone as excited as you in a long time. Make the most of it lady and get the job done. Go forward with a positive attitude and MAKE it work!!

And listen to Henry...he is a wise man!!

[dottieb35]

Hi Henry!!

I just HAVE to tell you that I can't believe everything that is gong thru my head..LMAO..It's really like a new life..I am SO excited about so many different things and I can't keep up w/ myself. LOL

I can't wait to go and do things..anything..doesn't matter what..just as long as I am doing SOMETHING! Does that make sense?
I feel like I was just born and there is so much to see and do...that's the only way I can explain it!!!

I'm just going to think positive...because for now that's all I have...

Thanks SO much, Henry for your notes...they are so inspiring and make me feel great whenever I read them!!!

Love...

[HenryS354]

Congrats girl!!!!  I told you it would go smoothly! ;-)

You are now enjoying what suboxone treatment was actually designed for- A reprieve from the thoughts and behaviors of active addiction.

Do you sense that feeling of liberation? The joy of not obsessing and compulsing over finding your DOC? This is what your life can feel like all the time, once you finish your sub treatment!

Take advantage of it!  Now is the time to begin your real recovery! Get used to getting out of the house. Doing new things, and fixing Dottie!  I love that your sub doc requires you to do some form of recovery care while in sub treatment!!!  You will be amazed at how far that takes you in itself!!!  All of the successful sub stories that I have encountered, the patient has partaken in a dual approach to recovery. Pharmacologic, and psychologic! You too can and will be another success story!

Heres some tips regarding suboxone use that helped me.

1-Dont obsess over your dose!!! Whether you are on 32mgs, or 2mgs... as long as it subdues your wd's and cravings, and you are feeling ok. Focus on your recovery!

2-Dont focus on the suboxone itself.  For those that primarily focus on taking the sub every day, they lose sight of the common goal. The sub is just one thing in your toolbox of recovery. Make sure to grab other tools at times to get the job done.

3-Those of us on suboxone tend to obsess over lengths of time on this med, and tapering.  Trust me, you will know when its time to come off of it for you!  After a certain period of time, the wd's are no worse regarding the time spent on sub.

I wish you much luck and success! You are going to do great!
Henry

[dottieb35]

I know that this may not work or it just might...I can only hope and pray for the best. I have tried and tried to stop this on my own only to fail over and over again so I am hoping that this is MY turn!!

I will DEF stay on top of things and the dr said it may take me a yr because of the length of time I used and my tolerance but then again it may take me a month..it's all up to me. Ideally I would LOVE this to be a very short temp thing but I just don't know what the future holds.
So for now I am thrilled that it's helping and I am going to do everything

I have to do to make this work for me.

Thanks so much for the link...Off to check it out ;)

Love..

[IBKleen]

That's great! As everyone suggested, and I do as well, stick with the aftercare. If you stay on the program a year you WILL have withdrawal from the Suboxone so you had better have a recovery plan in effect when you do that. I have seen thousands, upon thousands of people go from their drug to Sub, back to their drug and back to Sub. Not one of those people engaged in aftercare. Each of them took the Sub to ward off the withdrawal, and while that works well, it is not what the pill is designed for.

I wish you the best and am glad to see you happy.I have provided the link for the meeting locator. All you need to do is provide your zip code and it will give you a list of meetings in your area since you mentioned you wanted to try that.

http://portaltools.na.org/portaltools/MeetingLoc/

[dottieb35]

I had to sign paperwork saying I would go to counseling. He said that his pt's are usually on this for up to a year..that is probably what I am looking at..and then he will start tapering me.
I also want to attend some NA meetings..I have never been so focused on anything in my life and I have been given a 2nd chance..so I am taking this bull by it's horns ;)

It's just been WAY too long since I've been "normal" so to speak and I am NOT going to screw this up!!

[dottieb35]

ps..
I am due for my refill from my primary doc today. I get 120 Percocet 10's a month. I was diagnosed recently with Arnold Chiari Malformation so I do have legit pain. But I am going to treat it with my Motrin 800's that I have...
And about that refill...
I just called my doctor and canceled my appointment!!!! I have to go to my appt in order to get my script.
I rescheduled it for 2 weeks...I will NOT get them at that appt..but I needed to know in my heart that I could do this and I am SO proud of myself...
I never thought I would say this...but I canceled a dr's appt that would have gotten me my pain meds!!
I'm SO excited and can't wait to see what my future holds..
I will keep u all updated!!

Thanks again to all of you for your support and kind and encouraging words. This is a great place to be when you are going thru what I've been going thru!!!

Love...

[IBKleen]

Did the doctor set you up for some sort of counseling? Aftercare of any kind? Did he plan the Suboxone program with you as the length of time you will be on it?

[dottieb35]

Well I did it!!
I am now on day FOUR of my recovery and I am actually doing GREAT! On Sat nite a friend of mine who is taking Suboxone gave me one. So Sunday I took half...which was my 1st full day w/out any pain meds. It SO helped w/ the with-drawls and I managed thru the day. Monday I took the other half and although I was achy and cranky and tired and awake and hot and cold...well u know the rest...it helped me make it thru the day. Tuesday morning I got up early, got dressed, spent a few hrs w/ my dad..which btw is where I was from Sun-Tues..spending time w/ my parents...I got in my car and drove to the Suboxone dr. It was a short but sweet visit. He asked what I was using and how much..I never realized just how bad I was until I heard it come out of my own mouth. He gave me a script of the 8mg Subs to be taken twice daily. I left his office and drove to my hometown and filled the script. I came home and read the printout that u get from the pharmacy as I waited for the pill to dissolve under my tongue. I can't believe the way this medicine works and how quickly. I actually got up and drove to watch my fiance play pool. Now I know that doesn't sound too exciting but for me it was. I rarely left the house unless it was to go to work. I was always too consumed w/ wondering if I had enough meds...could I get more and where was I going to get the money. After watching his team play for a bit I drove to a gf's house and spent time w/ her and then I came home, watched TV and fell asleep.
I woke up this morning and took my morning dose. I am SO full of energy and life. I can't emphasize enough just how great I am feeling. My fiance and I are also looking online for a motel to go away for a long...much deserved...weekend by ourselves to the beach.
I am also excited about the prospect of having money again..not spending everything I make in tips (I'm a bartender) on a flippin' pill. Lastly I am pretty excited about going to work..Not for the reasons u may think...but because that is where I would get a lot of my pills...and I can't wait for that one person to approach me and ask me if I am "all set"...This time I can say YES..I AM all set...and hopefully I am all set for the rest of my life!!!!

[dottieb35]

Henry..Thank you So much for your encouraging words...I haven't stopped crying since reading them..Because just knowing that I'm not alone..that this may help me after all and that life as I know it now may finally change for the better...is more than I have had to look forward to in many, many years!

My only concern w the doc is that I have heard he is really just about the money. U pay him..he gives u the script n ur on ur way BUT I will take full advantage of it and just do the rest on my own..meaning seeking out meetings and finally being honest with everyone about my addiction. I've been VERY good at hiding it for a long time!

I was recently diagnosed w what's called Arnold Chiari Malformation..basically my brain is too large for my skull and the spinal fluid gets trapped in my skull causing painful migraines and lots of other pain...so pain meds do help but I run out way TOO fast. That's y I asked if the Subs help w pain.
I really want off of everything but I know I can't do it cold turkey.
I've tired and failed numerous times.
If I have to deal w pain from the Chiari then so be it..it will be SO much better than getting pain pills...running out too soon and then going and buying them and spending WAY too much money...

Again...thank you from the bottom of my heart for your message to me...
And YES..it's been a long time since I have been able to even utter these words but I really am proud of myself.

[avisg]

****henry****

[avisg]

hery great post

[HenryS354]

Congrats on your decision to change your life!

The thing about suboxone treatment is... you only get out of it what you put into it!  

Just taking the medication will change things for you.  It will take away the wd's that you would normally feel if you didnt take pills, it will minimize and often reduce most cravings, and halt the addictive behavior of obsessing over pills.

BUT- All these benefits will stop when you stop taking the pills, unless you work an active recovery plan while taking the sub that is.  Some type of counseling, or recovery program is essential for effective sub treatment. Just taking the sub without any other form of treatment simply puts things on hold... only to resume once you come off the sub. Getting to the root of why you use, what are your triggers, and how to manage them, how to effectively make the life changes you need to in order to stay clean are the real things that will make coming off sub easier, as well as keep you clean once you finish sub treatment.

I was on sub for 2 years after a 12 year battle with IV opiate addiction.  I am almost at 60 days off the sub, and I have had no cravings.  I see a counselor, and attend NA meetings, and will continue doing so.... I cant ever let my guard down.  

You will find that the people that were successful with suboxone, and had a relatively easy time coming off, and that stay clean all worked a strong recovery program while in sub treatment!

As far as pain control.  At higher doses (The doses usually prescribed for addiction) suboxone acts more as an opiate antagonist. This does not mean it will put you into withdrawals, it just means in regards to pain control, less is more.  Suboxone is unique in the sense that at low doses, it has a higher effect to recude pain perception than it does at higher doses. When you do your intake appointment, be sure to talk with your doc about these concerns, they will be able to help you develop an effective treatment to address your pain issues.

You have made a huge step coming here and posting.  You are taking control back of your life. You should be proud of yourself for that alone!

Henry

[dottieb35]

I don't know how long I will be on it..Like I said...I've been taking the pills for a long time and my tolerance level is up there so i am assuming it will be for awhile tho I would like it not to be forever.
I guess I will have to see what the Dr says...
I would LOVE to think about attending some meetings also but have yet to ck into anything like that...
I was just wondering what others that have tried the Subs have thought about it...

Thanks so much for the response!

[avisg]

I really dont know succes rates i do know its important to be getting conceling along with being on the sub The sub can be a great tool be it needs to be part of an over all recovery program .For some sub does help with pain for others it does not you wont know until you go on it .How long are you planning on being on it?Have you looked into aa/na meetings ?