Posted by Chuckie on May 3, 2004, at 13:06:36
In reply to Home Opiate Detox - GHB/benzos, posted by bupe_fan on May 3, 2004, at 2:11:44
Sorry for insisting, and so emphatically, but this is my life in the balance.
I admitted myself to the hospital a few weeks ago for detox. I was there for four days; they gave me decreasing dosage of methadone and then said well there you are. I spent the following week sick, in a spiral *much* more destructive than the drugs. After a week i should have been better but the fact was i was worse and on my way out. Couldn't take the torture anymore and now i'm back on the poppy and approaching my old dosage.
You say these things, and they raise questions which i hope you're kind enough to answer after i shouted at you:
>>The doctor said no way would he let me continue on buprenorphine for any longer than 10 days,<<
>>If the doctor ever tries to taper me I will raise hell about how much better I am doing now...<<What sort of doc did you see? And why is he reluctant? I thought bupe was a maintenance medication.
I want to avoid your sort of situation. It doesn't sound much more workable than the old go-to-the-doctor-and-be-in-pain strategy for obtaining Vicodin or whatever. IOW, it can and likely will be taken away from you before you're ready to have it taken.
I ask, because tomorrow i have an appointment with a certified buprenorphine type doc. I'm nervous as hell because my only other options are continuation of the poppy, or methadone. The flower is illegal and makes me ill at the dosages i take. The nearest methadone clinic is a 45 minute drive from here, and i'd have to go every day until they decide i don't. And i don't want to be addicted to methadone.
This geographical area of the U.S. has only two buprenorphine docs listed in the gov't directory; the one i'm going to see, and the one i can't get hold of.
Of course i'll do whatever needs done, but the buprenorphine sounds like the thing that *should* be done. I want to get my body back in balance... start eating right again and get back into the gym, etc. And my wife is taking me to see a holistic practitioner; dietary plans and acupuncture and whatnot. I'm skeptical because it's my nature but i'm also open because that's my nature too. But i need a *somewhat* balanced place to start from.
Sorry. I'm likely rambling because of my nervousness. Bleh. Want my life back.
One of my more important questions: What is the bupe costing you? The receptionist told me that their visits start at $95 and go up, but that Medicare would pay "some portion." I have no idea what the medication costs around here but i've read official estimates of around $250/mo. This sucks, but the poppies were getting to be about $150/mo. and my ultimate purpose is to get de-drugged eventually so the cost is somewhat of a motivator. I just don't want to be priced out of treatment entirely.
Thanks for the info about GHB. I had sorta figured it out, i just hadn't figured "no way in hell." Oh well. Thanks to my government for protecting me so well.
>>I think you put the Doc which you saw into a situation where he only had one thing to reccommend.<<
Dangit, which thread am i on? I forgot what i said, and where. If you're talking about the intake person who tried to shanghai me, then no, she had no right nor justification for that whatsoever. You might be correct about the kickback but i think it had more to do with her bad day, her need for control, and the approaching 5:00 hour.
I'm still angry about that episode, can you tell? ;)
*cough*
Erm anyway like i said, thanks for ANY further info, comfort, advice, etc. you can provide. I get all worked up. Really feels like tomorrow's appointment is life or death in the balance. I'll not give up if it turns out badly, but it gets so very hard not to give up when things *keep* turning out badly. Ya know?
- Chuckie
poster:Chuckie
thread:333744
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040409/msgs/342854.html