Going for it, soon: Second Attempt

[Meridius]

Long post. Sorry. Getting it all out there in one fell swoop.

Hi, I am a veteran of 15 years in the military. I started my career as a paratrooper and then after 3 years moved into the special ops community. I spent 9 years there before having a bad parachute malfunction that left me with crushed/dead discs in my lower back. I spent 3 more years in the military, 2 working with combat units, helping critique them at a Joint Training Center, and then a last year riding a desk. I had 4 surgeries, the last was a spinal fusion that was considered a failure. After a year off and on various pain meds, the docs tried methadone. It worked. I was able to go back to college and start a new career as a civilian. I have been on Methadone, no more than 30mg a day, usually 20mg, for nine years. My back is better, and I know I do not need these for pain.

I tried quitting (had about 25 10mg pills, tapered them off, then split the pills in half, then in 3's. (This was the ONLY advice the VA pain management doc gave me. Take the rest of my pills, tapering off to nothing, and call if I needed to get my prescription refilled)

I tried it. The first week after tapering to nothing, was not too bad. Then my body went insane. I had restless leg, insomnia, weird pain throughout my body, sweats, sneezing, nausea...the whole works. I was not prepared. My 9 year marriage was almost ended in 2 weeks time...and I was unable to work for over a week. The VA doc was not surprised nor caring when I failed to get off of it and had to call in for a renewal of the scrip.

I have been through a lot...combat, the roughest schools the military has to offer including Ranger and SERE, and I have to tell you, in all my days and nights freezing, wet, covered head to to in sand and grit, shaking so hard I could barely hold a weapon...or in the desert, baking by day and freezing by night...or rucking 80lbs on my back for 30k's I was never this WHOLLY, UNIVERSALLY miserable. Ever. Want to test someone's ability under pressure? Want to test their stamina? Put them on these meds for a few years and then have them just stop taking them. That's a test I failed miserably...

So, I am about to go into my second attempt, after consulting with a new (Civilian) doctor (he is not a detox doc, but he seemed to know a lot about how to deal with the tremors/restless leg, the sweats, etc, and understood all about the withdrawls and their varying symptoms) and I have a four month supply of pills. He has already prescribed meds for the restless leg and I have hydrocodone, which is not too bad, for any serious pains. (In my first attempt, the actual 'pains' I had were not worth taking anything, but this time I will not ignore it.)

I have already tapered from 20 mg a day to 10mg (30 days now) and am about to slowly taper that down over the next 3 months.

Damn the half-life of Methdaone!

I know I am 3 months out from Time on Target, so to speak, but I am trying to prepare myself NOW. This time I will have my spouse involved and might try counseling during the process. I found this forum and liked what I read, knowing my experience was pretty typical and that I am not alone.

ANY advice will be heard.

1. Tell me again about the vitamins if someone has the time
2. Any advice on the sleeplessness? (Last attempt, the sleeping tabs I had failed to even make me drowsy)
3. Any advice beyond the 'known' restless leg prescrips? Over the counter, or self-administered relief?
4. Any advice on relieving the sweats and the sneezing?

Thanks for any help offered,

Merid

[Meridius]

I meant to reply to you but let it slip by. I was in 20th in the Guard and 7th at Ft Davis, Panama for a few years before becoming a liaison to foreign combat units training in the US. Also spent some time with the 82d prior to going to selection. We likely didn't trudge in the same mud, mission-wise, but we definitely pounded the same ground at FT Bragg - /McCall/and SWC.

Cheers! and hang in there!

[n8tiv_ndn]

Glad to see you back......press on my friend a lot of help here....you will make it.....peace brother...

n8tiv_ndn

[Meridius]

Thanks for all the replies. They have been great. As I noted in my first post, I have just hit the 30-day mark at 10MG down from 20-30MG and I have to say even now I am feeling it. No restless legs yet, but the sneezing and yawning and general restlessness and uneasiness reared their ugly heads yesterday afternoon and got worse this morning. it's 55 outside this morning and I was in shirt-sleeves and began sweating like a dog...and then the sneezing, yawning, stretching constantly, restlessness. Unbelievable that these should start so forcefully while I am still keeping 10MG in my system each day. Wow.

I will take the advice I have been given. I'll keep posting as I move forward. Strange how that helps, isn't it? No faces behind names, the anonymity a must for many of us (or perhaps we just feel that way) and yet a few posted words of 'hang in there' or 'I have been where you are' or 'try THIS'...amazing how it helps.

I am glad I posted here. Good stuff. Now, off to more sneezing, stretching, yawning, sweating, and all around restlessness as I try to sit in one spot and finish this working day.

Cheers to all,

Merid

[onthefence]

i thought i should clarify about potassium , i meant thru digestion of bannanas, cuz as you are probably aware potassium can be dangerous if too much were consumed.According to the Linus Pauling Institute, a daily potassium intake of 4,700 mg is recommended for healthy adults. Your blood potassium levels should range from 3.7 to 5.2 milliequivalents per liter...

[onthefence]

Hi, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your service to our country also.
I only used methadone when I could not obtain anything else in order to not be sick, in the 8 years I used daily. I think because of research and especially this forum , as there is so much knowledge here.so I count myself lucky in that respect.
I am going in to day 13, and my desire to be clean is finally stronger than to use,
my brain is still scattered but i wanted to give you my support, your tapering is great and you seem so organized about it, very determined and intelligent about it, that's really good.

what i have seen in the years on this forum is everbody is different when it comes to w/d alot of factors, how active (endorphins) you are ,how focused,how long for use, etc,
restless legs: quinnine , potasium, hot baths (i personally layed in bed and rocked and shook my legs , and hot bath every few hours, for two nights, but methadone as you know is a whole different animal, (my brother & law has detoxed in jail off 120 mgs.methadone cold turkey , he is active and good shape, said it took 40 days, and was hell but he did it.)
so i know its possible. You should have a better time i would think & hope.)

the only thing that i want to add is what really helped me was watching concerts off YouTube of music i haven't felt in Years, It actually made me forget symptoms and get a lil relief for brief periods.
good luck I feel you will make it.

Onthefence-no more

[gnarly_1]

HI getting off methadone can be a chalange get the vitamins sugjested at walmart it will cut your symptoms in 1/2 I detoxed off 150 and couldn't nave done it without the vitamins take it slow it all about blood serum levle and letting your body get use to it as for toy foinal withdrawal it will be what ir will be if your doctor has meds that work im interested in them please forward them to me but the vitamins should take care of most of that keep posting for support this is a rece one buy the tortus not the hare so slow and steady wind the race if you want to take more or in detail just message me  good luck and God blesds.......Gnarly  

[n8tiv_ndn]

bump to Gnarly.....

[n8tiv_ndn]

Meridius.....I can not really add much if any advice.....I was only on Methadone very briefly after one of my fusion surgeries.....came off it before it could really get it's claws in too deep....I thank the Creator each day for that.......I really just wanted to say THANK YOU for your service as I have lost many of my Lakota family in service to this country.....we honor them at each Pow Wow.....and lend my words of encouragement and support as we here are all fighting the toughest,longest battle we will ever endure.....peace brother........

He mani zuyayapi....wowahwa miksukala.....Aho!!
(Peace my Brother as you walk the Warpath...!!!)

pilamaya kola,
n8tiv_ndn
Mark

[LostNoMore]

Hello Meridius. First, thank you for risking your life to defend this country. I have a deep appreciation for our military and the freedom you help to protect. Second, you may or may not be an addict. It sounds to me like you have a drug-dependency issue. I'm confident you can get off the methadone, and you now know it's not easy, it *****. What you said about kicking the  meth being harder than some of the hardcore training you've had made me smile. most people have no idea what it's like to go through detox from opiates. People say things like "aren't you over all that by now?" Only we know how truly difficult this is. Here's something Gnarly shared with us for dealing with the spastic nerves, RLS and sleep issues. Get a 3in1 calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement ($6 at walmart) taek 4 in the morning and 4 at night. it has wiped out my RLS, for the most part. It took a couple of days to work, but I highly recommend it. Take care and stick around.

[Teri9498]

   Hi Meridius,  your story sounds soooo much like my husbands!!  We were reading your post together.  He was a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group as a medical sergeant.  He also saw a lot of people get hurt from jump school and various other things.  Anyway, we both take methadone too, and we are currently tapering he is at 5mg a day and I'm at 2.5mg a day, and it S**CKS!!!!!  Remember u have to taper the methadone real slow, give your body time to adjust to each dose before u drop again.  Make sure u go to Wal-Mart and pick up the calcium/magnesium/zinc, take 4 at breakfast and 4 in the evening.  It will really help with rls.  Also pick up the protein powder, it has all the amino acids in it, mix it with milk or water and have 2 a day.  Lots of hot baths with epsom salt, it has magnesium in it that will help with the muscle cramps.  Exercise will help too, I know u probably don't feel like it, but it will help to get the endorphin's going in your brain, when u take opiates your brain stops producing them.  As far as sleep, u can try alteril.  They have it at Wal-Mart.  My husband and i haven't slept but maybe an hour here and there for about a week now.  If u need anything u can PM us, my husband knows exactly what u r going through!!  Hope this helps u!!!!......Teri  :)

[Addicted2long]

First I would like to say thank you for serving out country. My best friend is in Ranger school right now and I know just how hard your life was. And you are damn right when you say that the miserable feeling you get from coming off methadone is worse than anything one can imagine. Its the closest to hell you can get without actually dieing and going there. However I wouldnt imagine there would be a difference between the two. Neways, I Would look into the thomas recipe you can google it its a combination of vitamins and supplements that will help you very much. You need to get a calcium magnesium supplement that will be the most important. THis will help you with the body calm and also with the soreness. For restlest legs you can take Hylands RSL which is aval. OTC and helps a ton. However I found that clonodine which is a prescribed med is much more beneficial and you could get this from a doctor if you told them your situation. This medicine is used for people with high blood pressure but when you are in WD your BP is elevated so this helps a ton. THis will also when a bit with the chills and sweats. For the sneazing you can take any anihistimine I would use benedryl. This will help with watery eyes, sneezing, and any other symptom of that nature. As far as sleep methadone is very veyr powerful narcotic and there wont be much that will help you with sleep. At least for awhile. Its best just to try and wear yourself out in the day as much as possible. Nights are the worst time for WD because the anxiety builds and the lack of sleep is the killer. If you cant sleep dont sit there and toss and turn get up and watch tv or go for a walk. Its more painful to struggle to sleep then to just not sleep. As you prob know from your military experience the body can handle a long as s time without sleep. It will be a very hard next few months as you come through the finish line. Its important to take this as slow as possible and there is no rush. I wish you the best of luck and hopefully others will post as well. Take care