Can You Be Approved For Weight Loss Surgery While Being Prescribed Methadone Opiate Addiction?
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I am being prescribed methadone for opiate addiction been of all other drugs for 4 years I'm in the process of trying to have weight loss surgery and trying to find out if they will let me have it done since I'm on methadone?

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Re: Methadoneuser (# 4)

It is not the methodone causing weight gain. That is a myth. Behavior change causes weight gain after opiods are stopped. Once stable, weight gain ceases.

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Re: Methadoneuser (# 4)

I definitely agree with this. I’ve now been on mm for 6yrs from what was initially supposed to be temporary 2yrs. I was 38yrs old (female) when I started on the program and after never in my life once ever having struggled with weight issues, either over or under, I literally gained 20kg in the first two months (I am 150cm, about 5ft, and went from 54kg, to 75kg in about 6weeks). All this, even though I was actually more physically active than I’d been in years. I’m so frustrated and sick of medical professionals acting like this is nonexistent because this is so common for many others, especially females, struggling with the same situation. I’m glad I’m no longer struggling with addiction, but it’s come at a huge cost to my confidence and I am totally depressed and I suffer from weight-related issues now. But I’m in Australia, and unless you have private health insurance, you don’t qualify for gastric bypass surgery to be covered under our regular healthcare system.

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Re: Sierra (# 38)

That is 100% incorrect.. I have been on 213 mg of methadone for 20 years okay plus I am a chronic pain patient from a motorcycle accident at age 19 and nearly died. It left me with a multitude of serious injuries I had to learn to walk again, I had 3rd and 4th degree burns (Road Rash) and was in the burn unit heavily sedated because everyday they would “Bre-Braid” scrape the pavement off of my legs with a very sharp instrument and the pain was so bad I fainted once or twice and then they sedated me even more.. I was left with a myriad of different ongoing pain issues in a multitude of different places, and back then (1989) I was prescribed dilaudid Fentanyl lollipops, Percocet for break thru pain and a few more. The problem with that is I was so hammered that I couldn’t cook because I might burn down the house. Can’t drive because I was impaired.. My entire quality of life was deeply affected and I told my doctor about what it’s like for me and he recommended Methadone.. At that point I was willing to try anything and it was the best decision I’ve ever made…
I am having surgery in two weeks lfrom today to have an entire left hip replacement and they are going too have to give me a myriad of different heavy duty schedule to narcotics opiates to be able to control my pain because I have such tolerance levels and for people that have any sort of injury that’s causing l acute it’s going to hurt more than somebody who doesn’t have methadone baseline in their system and whatever else they may or may not be taking..
My surgeon Dr. Moore referred me to a pain management specialist for my “Pre-Op as well as Post Op” Pain Medications.
he’s also an anesthesiologist and I went and saw him because my fear was that there there they’re not gonna be able to control my pain immediately for the first couple weeks after surgery and I had already been to one or two different pain people and they were useless and my primary care physician was giving me #60 (Only giving me #2 a day. 10 mg Norco‘s which for someone like me is nothing (my bones are grinding bone on bone every step I take is enormously painful ) and so I went to see this guy and he is on it OK there are so many ways For them new routes and you know inventions or whatever of how to deliver pain medication to people like us and the only thing he said regarding my methadone was that he wants to break it up into three times a day only while I’m an inpatient at the hospital, so that way it will also have more lasting pain relief or whatever I can say with confidence that I am very optimistic (cautiously) optimistic that this is going to go well…
I have never ever never seen a surgeon or anesthesiologist doctor is going to tell you that have to stop taking methadone because you’re having gastric bypass or bariatric surgery or hell any kinda surgery OK it has nothing to do with whatever type of operation you’re going to be having.. I know this for a 100% fact in 2016 I checked into the hospital to have a routine gallbladder removal and I already spoken to my surgeon advance and he said yeah I’m gonna give you the pain pump every 10 minutes you hit the button and I would get Dilaudid coming in and I was only supposed to be there for two days for straight up pain control but I had severe severe complications and wound up staying there for 27 days and even then nobody they didn’t stop or change or do anything with my methadone they can’t make you abruptly stop if you were realistically going to stop you would have to taper in and detox so I wouldn’t be afraid it’s not gonna happen or affect anything … it has not affected anything for me and I had boy I had my thyroid removed they sliced me here to ear I had my right shoulder shattered rebuilt I had because it gal bladder with all the complications now I’m having an in complete hip replacement in two weeks not once was I told you can’t take methadone while you’re having this so whoever’s giving you that information it is totally incorrect.. I hope that your surgery goes well and that you have a full recovery!! Best regards Lori

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I am on 80 mg of methadone from the clinic and I am having the weight-loss surgery done I’m on the fourth visit you only have six and I’m wonder if anyone could tell me if they’re gonna tell me I can’t I have the surgery done because of the met no can someone please let me know something thank you

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I need to find a doctor that will do lap band surgery if im on methadone in the inland empire. My Kaiser insurance won't do it

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Re: Denise (# 37)

If I replied more than that once I apologize. But my surgeon that's doing my bariatric surgery even though I'm on methadone is Dr abunnaja from WVU bariatrics in Morgantown West Virginia

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Re: Jennifer (# 14)

Hi hope up see this did you have your surgery and can I ask with who coz I'm been told no for. A few places I've gotten onto because of methadone

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Re: Kip (# 3)

Hi how did your surgery go I'm In same position were did you get yours done

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Re: Zsa zsa (# 24)

My Dr is doing mine next month. His name is Doctor Abunnaja and he is at WVU bariatrics in Morgantown West Virginia.

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Yes ma'am. I've been taking prescription liquid methadone for over 3 years and next month (July 2022) I will be having gastric bypass surgery. They will have to lower my dose at first to see how my "new stomach" will tolerate it. Also as I'm sure you know.... When you go to a methadone or Suboxone clinic you sign papers saying you will not get any narcotics from other doctors for any reason. So you won't be able to have pain meds to help with pain after your surgery. You will have to request a non narcotic.

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Re: Zsa zsa (# 24)

Do you know a m.d that will do weight loss surgery while being prescribed methadone

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Re: DeeDee (# 10)

I'm on methadone and my Kaiser insurance won't do lap band surgery. I keep reading about people that have been able to do the surgery with methadone but no one says what doctors did it

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Re: Methadoneuser (# 4)

I don’t know where you’re getting your information from but you are 100% incorrect.. methadone does not make people gain weight OK there are three basic factors why people gain weight..
they are the following: #1) the type of food you eat.. #2) the amount of food that you eat and lastly #3) The frequently of exactly how often you are eating…An adults normal balanced dietary needs consist of meals that are high in protein like eggs, lean meats and poultry with little too no carbs.. Also no sugary beverages like soda, juices, basically anything that’s sweetened a great deal..
I have been on methadone 213mgs for over 16 years now and my weight fluctuates between 159 thru 167. And I’ll be the first to admit my eating habits aren’t that good; although I do only drink bottled water and unsweetened Lemon Tea.
But I do love my sweets.. I do intermittent fasting meaning there is a five hour time span out of the day or I can eat and the other 19 hours of the day I do not eat it’s called intermittent fasting and it works excellently.. Which yet again has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Methadone at any milligrams taken..

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Re: Tara (# 13)

I'm having gastric bypass in July and I'm on 85mgs and have been on methadone two and a half years. I was afraid they would refuse bc on the original paperwork they sent me it had a list of reasons they could refuse you and being a methadone or Suboxone patient was on that list. I told my doctor that I was debating on whether to tell him and he said it's good that I did bc if they would have found it in my blood work after I didn't write it on my medication list they could have kicked me out of the program. They have been really kind and considerate and surprisingly treat me as well as the other patients ??

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Re: Casey (# 17)

I have gained around a hundred pounds since starting methadone and almost every at the clinic I go to has said they have gained ridiculous amounts of weight as well

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Re: Sierra (# 23)

I'm the same person who posted the question I'm responding to. Just wanted to let everyone know that they still excepted me and I'll be having surgery in July

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Re: Zsa zsa (# 25)

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to have weight loss surgery bc I'm on methadone but I've been approved and will be having my surgery in July. Dr. Abunnaja in Morgantown WV

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Re: Duhh (# 11)

100 percent correct and also it's not being an addict anymore and peoples appetites are normal again

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Re: Methadoneuser (# 4)

That is not true it doesn't cause weight gain.its because you are not an addict and your appetite is normalized

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Re: Tara (# 13)

How did it go? Did u end up getting the weight loss surgery? Why r u on methadone?

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