Author: jonathanm1978

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:51 am

I think a LOT of people who would prefer long-term treatment are under the impression that their doctor is aligned with their thoughts on it, without directly having a discussion regarding it. While it would be ideal for every doctor to be on the same page with Suboxone treatment, most aren’t…and most have this ‘take it for XXX period, and you’ll be cured’ mindset. I’m not sure where that comes from…maybe they should be more clear when doctors take the class on it in regards to longevity…and the likelihood of relapse if a person is treated with Suboxone in the manner one would treat a cold or fever… I doubt VERY seriously that I’ll wake up one morning and say "wow, today I’m cured of my addiction and no longer need anything…in fact, I can probably take some opiates for pain during dental work….." <—-famous last words before falling into a horrible relapse of epic proportions.

I haven’t spoken with my current doctor about long-term treatment, mostly because I just had my first appointment with this particular doctor in May…and this month (the 10th), I didn’t mention anything either because I had to change my appt from the 11th at 10am, to the 10th at 5pm because of our vacation plans that we couldn’t alter. Seeing a different doctor means it would’ve been almost pointless to mention it…but the little discussion that I DID have with the "fill-in" doctor wasn’t along the lines of my thinking… When I said something about Suboxone saving my life, and how well I had been doing with it the last couple of years, he said "well, the ideal thing would be to get you to a point where you come off of it completely.."

When he told me that, I was like "eh well…not discussing anything with him if he feels that way."
That’s the same exact thing as thinking that I’ll get up one day and suddenly won’t be an addict anymore. I believe long-term, that I would be better off with Suboxone permanently helping me than to be subjected to inevitably taking an opiate down the line in the future, and dragging my health and my family into a downward spiral.

I will eventually discuss this with my assigned physician…since I was seeing one of the 4 doctors in the facility that I am in, I prob won’t see this doctor, and will see the one that I should’ve seen Tuesday had I not needed to move my appointment back 1 day..
I think I can probably talk to my doctor and get her to understand my feelings..if not, then I’ll stay with thiem a