Hello to all suboxone useres, new and succesfully tapered. I am having surgery tomorrow on both my feet. I am having two major bunions and a bunionette removed and tightening up of some tissues. I started suboxone on April 27, this year. I November, I started my taper down from 8mg. At first it was easy. Then I got to the 1/2 mg and it was so difficult. I really wanted to be off the suboxone before my surgery. From reading previous posts of those who have successfully tapered, I was again to gain some ideas and insight into what I needed to do. I used many of the supplements listed on this board and one that I am not alowed to say although it is quite legal and usued world wide for withdrawal. Anyway, my addicitionoligist prescribed me some trazadone, seroquel and very small amounts of klonipin to help with the night time heebie jeebies. It has worked.
My addicitionolist and my OS have been constant touch regarding the pain med I will be using, how long I might need it and when to taper off and if need be go back on suboxone short term.
Anyway, I guess I want to thank all those members that successfully tapered off and also to thank those of you who are still struggling. There is so much strength and love on this board. You've helped me make it to this point and all I want to do is you all a big {{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} and a thank you.
Peace minx

Good luck with your surgery! :)

Hi Minxie,

I just want to wish you luck with your surgery and I hope that everything works out okay. You've already appeared to have done a lot of hard work to get your body healed, so I hope this will also alleviate some of your foot problems. You've already come such a long way it seems. :)

Best of luck and thinking of you. Please let us know how you make out.

Hugs and prayers,
Nellie
:)

Well, I had my surgery this morning. I did have to taper completely off my suboxone. I had been taking 1/2 mg every other day but three days ago I tried jumping off c/t and it was not fun. I had the restless leg/body symptons on Tuesday and ended up taking 1/2 mg that night. I called my addictionologist the following morning and he gave me some klonpin to help for the next two days and that helped so that I was completely off my suboxone for two complete days before surgery. The only symptom I had those two nights were the 'hot flashes'. Sometimes, it felt more hormonal than w/d. I was wondering if any other women had that feeling/thought. I am post menopausal, but think that perhaps, it might feel like PMS or something related to that.
Anyway, hope everyone manages to have a merry christmas and happy holidays. I realize this can be a very rough time for many people. But, this is the first holiday season that I can sing christmas carols at the top of my lungs in the car and am actually looking forward to christmas. My step sons birthday is today and I'm enjoying that and my birthday is christmas eve :D But I'm just loving it. I always dreaded the holiday. but being clean and sober with the help of suboxone, I'm looking forward to it. So, I wish peace and good will to you all. If anyone has any questions, I will be more than happy to answer to the best of my ability. Peace to you Minx

I'm so happy that the surgery went well for you. What meds did they give you for the post-op pain? Did your doctor tell you how long you will have to take whatever it is? How is the pain level so far? You mentioned that you might have to go back on the sub after taking the pain meds after surgery... Do you think you will have to? Either if you do, I'm sure it won't be for long! And then you will be completely clean and sober! Wow. That must be such a great feeling... Congrats! - Tina

p.s. As for the hot flashes. I get them too and I am only 29. It was probably the w/d or a side effect of the meds period. When I was back on oxycodone I had horrible night sweats every night of the week. It was just awful. And it wasn't mild sweating. It was soak the sheets, dripping down my face, sweating. I got no sleep at all and was going broke paying for laundry detergent!!! When I went back to my doctor a couple of weeks ago I told her about it. She said it could be a side effect of the pain meds, it could by w/d since the oxycodone wasn't strong enough (I was just on it until I could get back on methadone), etc... She put me on a mild dose of estrogen. I've been on that for two weeks tomorrow. Right away that night it actually felt a little better. But I also went back on methadone three days after that and my night sweats are completely gone. So I don't know if it is because of the estrogen... or if it is because I'm back on the methadone and am not having ANY w/d anymore? Talk to your doctor, they might have some ideas or at least be able to give you something to help it get better!

Hi Tina, my addictionologist and my OS have a plan for me to be on the 7.5 percoset and toradol for three weeks. Probably tapering down in the third week and if I feel it necessary, I wil do a short course on suboxone. When I had my PLIF of l3-4, I was only on pain meds for 4 weeks. I felt like I was still in severe pain but once I stopped, I realized that I was having 'rebound' affect from the pain meds. I no longer coming off the meds. I have an excellent relationship with my addiction dr. and he is constant touch with my OS. And my husband and daughter are very helpful in regard to my meds and with the surgery of course. I hope this answers any questions and allays any fears that one might regarding haveing surgery as an addict.
Peace Minx

That is great. I'm glad that they were able to help you and set up a plan that you were comfortable with! I am currently on methadone for pain (I have a problem managing the pills myself because of my addictive nature which is why my brother holds them) and one thing I do worry about is if I ever have surgery...what will they do for post op? My tolerance is so darn high. Oh well... hope it is nothing I have to worry about anytime soon! I am very happy for you that you are doing so well...in both you surgery recovery and you addiction recovery!