Methadone and weight loss surgery

[emmapat14 12]

Hi everyone. I am new to this site. I am in the beginning stages of starting my weight loss surgery journey. I have my first appointment on the 12/29. I am 31 years old. 5'3 and have a bmi of 52 i qualify under all the areas for my insurance. I do have one big concern, and I haven't found much research or answers on this topic.. i am on a methadone maintenence program. I have been on 105mg/daily. I have been on methadone and clean from any illegal drugs for over a year now. Every aspect of my life has improved except for my weight. I feel like im in my 60s. I have horrible constant back pain, my knees are hurting. Im slow in walking, standing up, and I live in constant pain all due to my weight.

Does anyone know or have any experience around weight loss surgery and being prescribed methadone? Will i be denied by the doctor when i go? Weight loss is the final piece to finally get myself feeling happy, healthy, and myself. But my biggest fear is i will get turned away because of the methadone. Ill just keep praying that it all works out. Thank you for your help and advice

-Emma

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[Treadmillwalker 486]

I'm not familiar with methadone; however I would assume the doctor who prescribes it can help guide you and your surgeon. People on this site are taking a wide variety of medications and have successful WLS. Good luck and congratulations on turning your life around in a positive direction.

Banded 10/12/16

[lmart133 68]

U will be required to stop all pills for first 2 weeks but after that u should be able to go back on your regime...talk to your surgeon and your pain doctor..they should be communicating anyway..I've taken morphine for many yrs for my constant back pain and I continue with them now but my dr required pain patch in place of pill form for the 1st 2 weeks post op

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[emmapat14 12]

U will be required to stop all pills for first 2 weeks but after that u should be able to go back on your regime...talk to your surgeon and your pain doctor..they should be communicating anyway..I've taken morphine for many yrs for my constant back pain and I continue with them now but my dr required pain patch in place of pill form for the 1st 2 weeks post op

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I take the liquid form of methadone, so will that be a problem? It's not a medication I can just stop, that's why I'm concerned!

Thank you for your reply!!

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[emmapat14 12]

I'm not familiar with methadone; however I would assume the doctor who prescribes it can help guide you and your surgeon. People on this site are taking a wide variety of medications and have successful WLS. Good luck and congratulations on turning your life around in a positive direction.

Banded 10/12/16

Thank you very much for your reply! I am meeting the 23rd with my prescribing doctor, and first appointment with surgeon is the only 29th. So i should have some answers then. But you know how minds wander until you have answers! Lol, and i thought what better way to find out then going directly to the experienced!

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[lmart133 68]

You sould be good to go since its already in liquid form since they normally won't allow you to swallow pills for the first 2 weeks....you will need to report to your surgeon what meds u r on but I think u will be okay.

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[RoachBug 233]

Every doctor is different as far as their requirements. I myself am on several meds (all pill form) for heart failure and also a couple for diabetes/along with insulin. Last time I used insulin was the day prior to surgery. Took my reg meds before surgery and commenced taking them the day after. A couple of the larger pills were ground down the first couple days but that was it. Was in the cardiac wing after surgery for 3 days while they monitored my meds, ect. Stopped all diabetes meds within first week. As I have lost weight (down 112lbs too date) my heart failure specialist has had to adjust the dosages off most of my meds.

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[Joules007 26]

Well done for staying clean off drugs! ???? I'm sure it will be sorted out and your successful journey will continue!

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[creatingthenewme 91]

My mother is on methadone for her restless leg syndrome. She was able to take it up until surgery that she had last month (we took the journey together) and only had to stop the day of surgery. The doctor approved it beginning the day after surgery and the nurses would bring her a daily pill. All surgeons are different though so just make sure to ask.

[emmapat14 12]

My mother is on methadone for her restless leg syndrome. She was able to take it up until surgery that she had last month (we took the journey together) and only had to stop the day of surgery. The doctor approved it beginning the day after surgery and the nurses would bring her a daily pill. All surgeons are different though so just make sure to ask.

Thank you very much. I do take the methadone daily, but it is in liquid form, not a pill. I also suffer from restless leg syndrome (not the reason I'm on methadone) but it has done wonders! I will of course be up front and honest with all Doctors, and hope that they will communicate with eachother, so I csn have the best, and healthiest, possible outcome! That's great that you've had your mom through the whole journey. My mom had gastric bypass in 2002. And it has changed and improved so much since then! Thank you for your response

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[HottmommaJudy 1]

Wondering how your surgery and methadone therapy went ? Did you have take homes when you had surgery? Did you go down on mgs after with weightloss?

[Dyna 1]

I was wondering well I be able to get bariatric surgery pain on the low dose of methadone would that be a problem

[colormehappy 124]

On 12/19/2016 at 9:46 PM, lmart133 said:

U will be required to stop all pills for first 2 weeks but after that u should be able to go back on your regime...talk to your surgeon and your pain doctor..they should be communicating anyway..I've taken morphine for many yrs for my constant back pain and I continue with them now but my dr required pain patch in place of pill form for the 1st 2 weeks post op

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I think this is highly dependent on your surgeon. I woke up from surgery and was given my thyroid medication, antidepressants plus an acid reducer to swallow within the first couple of hours.

ETA: Gah, sorry. I just noticed this was a super old thread that was bumped.

Edited September 23, 2020 by colormehappy

[The Greater Fool 2,054]

On 12/19/2016 at 9:46 PM, lmart133 said:

U will be required to stop all pills for first 2 weeks but after that u should be able to go back on your regime...talk to your surgeon and your pain doctor..they should be communicating anyway..I've taken morphine for many yrs for my constant back pain and I continue with them now but my dr required pain patch in place of pill form for the 1st 2 weeks post op

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Stopping pills varies by surgeon. Certainly, I continued taking my meds uninterrupted.

So OP, you will work all this out with your surgeon.

Good luck,

Tek

[Dyna 1]

Thank you for this information ☺️