Hi to all. I am new here and have been reading a lot of your posts especially about the pain factor and having such a terrible time finding a doctor who will really work with you, listen to you, and take your pain as seriously as it is. Well I have literally been thru hell and I mean hell for the last year. I have every doctor horror story to tell. Saw every type, neuro, rheumy, pain spec, physiatrist, etc. and basically became totally disabled at the age of 34! Not one of these dr's would help me and I literally could no longer walk, move, eat, sleep, work or function in any way. I was slowly dying, getting sicker and sicker and no one would give me anything for the pain. I became so depressed that it was just about as serious as one can imagine. Then last week I finally met a new doctor here in Florida who gave me methadone and within one night I was virtually pain free, able to walk, etc.

I am really just so grateful to have finally found someone who took me seriously and believed in my pain. I am like a new person and I feel that he really saved my life. Well, like I said, it's only been a week and of course there are many many issues I have regarding taking this substance, such as addiction which I am very concerned about but he seems totally confident that I will be fine and he assures me he will worry about that for me. It has been intense: I am about 100 lbs at this point so it really takes its toll on me and makes me very very itchy and totally nauceous but I take it, lay down, fall asleep like a normal person, sleep soundly for about five hrs then wake up and feel just fine, like I used to!

I had tried everything and nothing worked; neurontin, elavil, provigil, etc etc etc. Well, sorry to have written such a long first post! I would love to chat with you all about this more and hear if any of you have taken methadone and what your thoughts are. Additionally, if I am allowed to I can pass this lovely man's name onto you all.

Best to you all.
asfirefly

Welcome! I'm sorry that it took you so long to get relief. But, I'm glad you finally found someone who is willing to work with you. Hang in there! :wave:

I have typed up reports on few fibro patients who were on methadone, but not one doctor I have seen in this area has even suggested this. Of course, that is really no big deal as doctors I have seen have been so narrow-minded that they only are limited to using couple of drugs and when they do not work they push you out the door to another doctor. I am glad that you found something that works. Addiction would never be a worry for me as I just want anything that will allow me to become a functioning person without becoming a zombie rather than a useless painful lump in life. (TT)

I was on Methadone before for FM pain. And it did help me to a point. Pain meds keep me from getting sleep no matter how much sleeping meds I take.

I'm in FL also, and got mine from a pain management specialist. If it is making you sick, ask for Phegran (sp?) to go with it, it will kill the nausea. That's the only way my doctor would give it to me.

Hi--

It's nice to know you found the help you needed right in time.
I was in the same shape you were in and even went to a local nursing home and said 'Check me in'. I saw no hope of ever getting better.

Like you, I took a chance on a doctor who was on staff of a very pretigious hospital. He took me seriously and is helping me to stay out of severe pain, able to walk and hopefully sleep. It's a day to day thing,but he pulled me out of that dark space you were in.

I don't know much about methadone, but it was good to hear it's another treatment option for pain.

Ed