Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:00 AM
Today is the dayLast edited Thu Feb 7, 2019, 05:32 PM - Edit history (3)
After 11 long years, today is my last dose of methadone.
I'm so excited and proud and nervous. It's only a small 2.5 mg. drop to nothing(!), my very last dose of a long, gradual tapering. I'm sure I'll feel a little crappy for a week or so, just like with every other incremental decrease ... it just feels so weird that I'll be completely done. FINALLY!! Methadone absolutely saved my life, I have zero doubts about that. I just can't believe it's been 11 goddamn years. Edit: Thank you all so much! I certainly wasn't expecting this large of a response! (and I didn't realize the post would show up outside of the Addiction section, lol!) It's overwhelming to have so much support. I truly appreciate all the kind words, thoughts, and encouragement. It means a lot to me, especially today. Whenever I'm feeling a little rough on this last taper, I'm going to come back here to reread all these lovely comments. Thank you. 
Medication assisted treatment WORKS! I cannot wait until the stigma and misinformation surrounding it are gone and it's finally easy for anyone who wants help to get it, that day.
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59 replies, 7390 views
 59 replies |
Author | Time | Post |
 Today is the day (Original post) |
happybird | Feb 2019 | OP |
| Squinch | Feb 2019 | #1 | |
| Lefta Dissenter | Feb 2019 | #2 | |
| Dead_Parrot | Feb 2019 | #3 | |
| Scarsdale | Feb 2019 | #4 | |
| bluecollar2 | Feb 2019 | #5 | |
| knightmaar | Feb 2019 | #6 | |
| happybird | Feb 2019 | #38 | |
| PWPippinesq | Feb 2019 | #7 | |
| FailureToCommunicate | Feb 2019 | #8 | |
| Freddie | Feb 2019 | #9 | |
| Soxfan58 | Feb 2019 | #10 | |
| safeinOhio | Feb 2019 | #11 | |
| SaveOurDemocracy | Feb 2019 | #12 | |
| handmade34 | Feb 2019 | #13 | |
| Lonestarblue | Feb 2019 | #14 | |
| ProfessorPlum | Feb 2019 | #15 | |
| Callalily | Feb 2019 | #16 | |
| volstork | Feb 2019 | #17 | |
| deek | Feb 2019 | #18 | |
| dlk | Feb 2019 | #19 | |
| Fuzzpope | Feb 2019 | #20 | |
| Moostache | Feb 2019 | #21 | |
| ET Awful | Feb 2019 | #22 | |
| FakeNoose | Feb 2019 | #23 | |
| Ponietz | Feb 2019 | #24 | |
| KY_EnviroGuy | Feb 2019 | #25 | |
| thinkingagain | Feb 2019 | #26 | |
| lillypaddle | Feb 2019 | #27 | |
| vlyons | Feb 2019 | #28 | |
| chia | Feb 2019 | #29 | |
| panader0 | Feb 2019 | #30 | |
| TygrBright | Feb 2019 | #31 | |
| Fatemah2774 | Feb 2019 | #32 | |
| happybird | Feb 2019 | #37 | |
| Blue Owl | Feb 2019 | #33 | |
| BigmanPigman | Feb 2019 | #34 | |
| rurallib | Feb 2019 | #35 | |
| happybird | Feb 2019 | #36 | |
| Dem2theMax | Feb 2019 | #39 | |
| chowder66 | Feb 2019 | #40 | |
| jls4561 | Feb 2019 | #41 | |
| lunatica | Feb 2019 | #42 | |
| Honeycombe8 | Feb 2019 | #43 | |
| Daddy J | Feb 2019 | #44 | |
| littlemissmartypants | Feb 2019 | #45 | |
| sellitman | Feb 2019 | #46 | |
| akraven | Feb 2019 | #47 | |
| yonder | Feb 2019 | #48 | |
| Karadeniz | Feb 2019 | #49 | |
| Fla Dem | Feb 2019 | #50 | |
| stevil | Feb 2019 | #51 | |
| Generic Brad | Feb 2019 | #52 | |
| proud patriot | Feb 2019 | #53 | |
| RainCaster | Feb 2019 | #54 | |
| Nitram | Feb 2019 | #55 | |
| Blue_playwright | Feb 2019 | #56 | |
| Stonepounder | Feb 2019 | #57 | |
| pnwmom | Feb 2019 | #58 | |
| Stuart G | Feb 2019 | #59 |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:03 AM
1. Well done! That is wonderful. All the best to you!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:04 AM
Lefta Dissenter (6,013 posts)
2. Wow!
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Congratulations!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:22 AM
bluecollar2 (1,628 posts)
5. Well done!!!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:23 AM
6. It takes eleven years to bring it down to zero?
Response to knightmaar (Reply #6)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 04:30 PM
38. Everyone is different
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Some can do it much faster, but I needed the long road. It took me 5 or 6 years on a consistent, high dose (a blocking dose) to lose the desire to use heroin and to get my life sorted out. After that, I tapered down by about half and then stopped to re-stabilize at the lower dose for a couple years. Did that process twice, and have been on 20 mg. for the last 2-3 years. I finally bit the bullet in August and began my final charge. The last 20 mg. have been the hardest- which has been super annoying because it's such a (relatively) piddly amount.
 I've definitely felt each little decrease this time. |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:26 AM
FailureToCommunicate (10,438 posts)
8. Congratulations! Crank up some Dead and be grateful...
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Last edited Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:02 AM - Edit history (1) |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:47 AM
10. Good job!
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You should be very proud!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:51 AM
safeinOhio (17,046 posts)
11. Congrats..Not easy, but
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:00 AM
SaveOurDemocracy (3,587 posts)
12. Welcome to the rest of your life.
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:21 AM
handmade34 (17,216 posts)
13. congratulations!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:31 AM
14. Congratulations on a battle well fought!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:35 AM
ProfessorPlum (10,745 posts)
15. so happy for you
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:45 AM
Callalily (11,667 posts)
16. What an amazing accomplishment!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:51 AM
volstork (3,786 posts)
17. Kudos to you!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:53 AM
deek (3,339 posts)
18. congratulations
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 09:58 AM
19. Congratulations-This is an Epic Accomplishment!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:00 AM
21. Congratulations! Stay strong and with your supporters.
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:00 AM
ET Awful (24,594 posts)
22. I'll get up and fly away. . . .
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:01 AM
FakeNoose (12,743 posts)
23. Good job, now the rest is up to you
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We're all rooting for you Happybird!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:13 AM
Ponietz (934 posts)
24. Slaying the dragon...
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:21 AM
KY_EnviroGuy (6,551 posts)
25. ODAT and Congratulations, Happybird.
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From a friend in recovery.....a lifetime journey!.........
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:38 AM
lillypaddle (7,017 posts)
27. Congrats to you
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What a long, hard row it has been for you.
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:49 AM
vlyons (6,608 posts)
28. Patience is a virtue
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:53 AM
29. Congratulations - I am in awe of your accomplishment
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 11:00 AM
panader0 (19,011 posts)
30. Recommended.
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 11:14 AM
TygrBright (17,535 posts)
31. Wow! Well done, you. Hang in there.
Response to Fatemah2774 (Reply #32)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 04:11 PM
37. Thinking of you
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and sending positive vibes. Deciding to make a change and making the first appointment is such an enormous, scary step. Be proud of yourself, it's a big deal! Well done! Once you and the doc get your correct dosage figured out and you stabilize, it's like the world reopens to you. You get your life back. Day by day, it will get little better- you just have to hang in there until they get your dosage right. It's so worth it, I promise.
You can do it!  |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 01:58 PM
33. You put the "done" in "methadone"
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 03:26 PM
BigmanPigman (30,072 posts)
34. Great!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 03:29 PM
rurallib (52,254 posts)
35. Quite an accomplishment, mr. bird. Huge congratulations
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 04:35 PM
Dem2theMax (5,140 posts)
39. Congratulations! That is an amazing accomplishment.
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I can't even comprehend having to do that for 11 years, but you did it! You have every reason to be extremely proud of yourself.
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 04:46 PM
chowder66 (3,319 posts)
40. Tomorrow is a new birthday for you! : ) nt
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 06:13 PM
lunatica (44,189 posts)
42. Big hugs to you!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 06:27 PM
Honeycombe8 (37,648 posts)
43. So if you go berserko and start cussing people out....
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we will understand. If it's someone else you cuss out.
Congratulations for getting that monkey off your back. I can only imagine how tough that was, and will be, now. But I bet your life is a lot better these days. |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 06:48 PM
littlemissmartypants (11,172 posts)
45. Congratulations!
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So happy that you made it to the other side! Well done!
I take an extended release opioid twice a day and hope that if I can no longer get it, for whatever reason, my physician will compassionately wean me off the drug. It has changed my life and I am miserable without pain management. But the prospect of not having it is frightening. All the best to you! |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 07:07 PM
sellitman (10,673 posts)
46. A great accomplishment.
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 07:12 PM
akraven (1,975 posts)
47. Major congratulations!
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A very good friend also went through this - so I know peripherally how hard it is. WAY TO GO!!!
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 07:46 PM
48. Congratulations, happybird. Good on ya!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 08:07 PM
Fla Dem (12,031 posts)
50. Congratulations! A truly remarkable accomplishment!👏👏👏🎉
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 10:54 PM
Generic Brad (11,630 posts)
52. Congratulations!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 11:03 PM
53. this post brings a smile to me face
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I've lost too many friends to this , am and so proud of you .. you have no idea <3
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Response to happybird (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2019, 11:57 PM
RainCaster (3,659 posts)
54. Excellent! Bravo! You win the post of the day, IMHO.
Response to happybird (Original post)
Fri Feb 8, 2019, 12:11 AM
Nitram (13,451 posts)
55. Good on you, mate!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Fri Feb 8, 2019, 02:16 AM
56. So excited for the next phase of your journey!
Response to happybird (Original post)
Fri Feb 8, 2019, 02:25 AM
Stonepounder (3,827 posts)
57. Congratulations and hugs!
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Give yourself a really BIG pat on the back!
And for damn sure, you now know that we all are here for you. |
Response to happybird (Original post)
Fri Feb 8, 2019, 02:41 AM
pnwmom (100,545 posts)
58. Thanks for sharing this happy news, happybird! And welcome to DU! n/t
Response to happybird (Original post)
Sun Feb 10, 2019, 02:06 PM
Stuart G (23,592 posts)
59. Congratulations and Best Wishes...Today and Everyday !!!!
