Help with Methadone and Xanax W/D

[needsubhelp]

My wife went into an inpatient rehab facility the first of July to stop her usage of 130mg of Methadone and 3 bars of Xanax/day. We researched this place and it was the best out there for Methadone detox. They stopped it cold turkey and swapped her to Valium for 2-3 weeks before stopping that. She stayed in rehab for a month. It's been nearly 3 months and she still feels pretty bad. The muscle aches, cold sweats, and all that are long gone but she's had a bad headache everyday and says she just fills cloudy headed and like everything is fuzzy. We have 2 kids that she's trying to take care of but she doesn't feel like she can do hardly anything. The House has become a wreck which is making her depressed feeling and because she doesn't feel well she's not getting out and doing anything. She's just sitting around in a dark house. I'm not sure what to tell her. From my experience staying active is a big help but she says she feels too bad. Also she's scared this is going to continue for many more months and that she might not ever feel normal. I feel horrible for her. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? How long should this last? We were both on methadone for 6 years. I swapped to Suboxone and am about to come off it. I've been through w/d before and know it sucks but I would have thought after 3 months she'd be getting back to her normal self. I just want to help but don't know what to do. I work all the time so she's at home a lot by herself. Thanks!

 

[JohnJohnsonthe3rd]

Hey needsubhelp, first of all I just want to say, I promise that things WILL get better! It may be hard to see that now, but there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. That is a pretty large amount of methadone that she was taking as well as Xanax so the body needs time to heal. Tell your wife to rest easy because the hard part is over. Every day WILL be better, I promise you that. I think after the real w/d is over, it is largely mental. I know it's tough for her, but being active or finding some sort of hobby will make a world of difference. Even just getting up and cleaning up a little around the house will mentally make you feel very accomplished and this can do wonders for your symptoms! I think the hardest part after the w/d symptoms is the general crummy feeling that she is experiencing now, but I promise that this will go away. She will feel like herself again, it just takes a little time and a very positive attitude. I think one of the best things she can do right now is exercise, even if it's just a walk around the neighborhood with the kids, she will be shocked at how much of a difference this makes for her morale. Most of all, be as supportive as you can, pick up the slack, clean the house even if you are exhausted from work. Clean the house spotless for her this weekend and watch her attitude change. I think that when I was going through the same sort of thing, sitting in my messy room was the worst, most depressing part of the whole thing. The days that I got up and cleaned were always the best days and always encouraged me and told me I CAN do this! I know it's tough for you, but you have to help her as much as you can and never make her feel guilty for not keeping the house clean and doing her duties with the children because she will get better and will be back to her normal self, I can't stress that enough. I hope this helps, keep as positive as possible for her, it will make a world of difference and everyone at BL has your back. Let me know if you need anything--even just some positive words of encouragement.

 

[pasha]

homeless -> sober living

 

[bcfly7x7]

Needsubs,

First welcome, second, I agree with john. Exercise and doing something helps. With that being said, I was on opiates and benzodiazepines for 7 years.

In contrary I used methadone to get off the oxy and morphine. I was given 25mg to 5mg over 5 days. 130mg of methadone is crazy. With the incredible Half-Life of methadone, thats way she feels like this, it will be a while, no lies.

If I can make a suggestion, have her take regular detox baths, one every day. Why, because methadone is stored in fat cells. A detox bath will relax her and clear the fogginess, while making her sweat (most important in getting methadone out) without much physical activity.

Here is a simple detox bath recipe: 2C Epson salts, 1C baking powder, 1/8C ground ginger, and EO lavender 5 drops for aromatherapy to clear the head. First 20 minutes it removes toxins in the fat cells, second 20 minutes it replenishes it with magnesium. Makes the skin soft and adds much needed magnesium. NO SOAP for the first 40 minutes, she will start sweating in minutes. Make sure she has 24oz of cold water or Gatorade is better. The body will be taxed. You can continue to sweat after the bath if you wrap up in a blanket. Skin might turn red for a short time because of the ginger, but that will go away in 5 minutes. Again no soap if treatment is wanted after the soak. Once done, soap up and rinse off. This has helped me in ways I cant even begin to explain. Do this for her and she'll feel much better. This detox for her is gonna take a long time, but once she gets through PAWS, she'll be fine, im guessing 6 months, for PAWS, another year and a half until she is back to even. This can help speed things up, and each step is a victory. Don't let her turn back now, she's been through the worst. My best to you both, im here to lean on if needed.

Bob