Pain mgmt question

Hi everyone!  Haven't been on the forum in forever, good to be back!  I'm a little nervous and had a question for you veterans out there.  I had RNY in 2.2012, lost 187lbs - without too much detail, I've now got an ulcer, a herniated disc along with arthritis and bone spurs on my spine, degenerated discs (L4 and L5), endometriosis and fibroids. Needless to say, I had to seek a pain mgmt. specialist to help manage pain.  His policy is to prescribe methadone only.  I've started it at 5mg 3x a day, nothing else. 

My question is - how long would this stay in my system?  Oxycodone dosage of 4-6 hours lasted only 2 hours max for me.  I wanted to have a martini but I'm worried that the methadone will still be in my system.  Anyone have experience with this?  How about the amount of time to take the dosage - for example, I've been told to only take during pain episodes (10-14 days per month).  Should I worry about addiction?  How long should I wait after stopping before taking something like Zzquil?

Thanks a ton guys!  You are all the best.  :)

Those sound like good questions for your doctor.

Thanks for the reply!  Unfortunately, he is not familiar with gastric bypass patients...and my bypass surgeon & spine doc are not familiar with methadone!  Sheesh.  :)

Surely he can consult with other physicians to find out the information.

I used to be a probation officer.  Methadone is scary stuff.  Methadone is a synthetic form of Heroin.  Be very careful with the Methadone and follow your doc's instructions exactly. The withdrawals from Methadone are fairly horrific from what I observed with my clients.  

thanks!  yeah, it really freaked me out at first...  I am following my doc's instructions to the letter!  :)  I just wish there was another way.  i'm doing yoga, meditation, prayer, etc. to deal with the pain but I wish there was a less scary medication option.  sigh....

thanks for the help!

Find a better pain management doctor. He should be more informed.  Methadone is a pretty serious medication.  I have degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis,  and scoliosis so I am very familiar with pain. My doctor prescribes me liquid hydrocet or liquid narco. Which I only take when I herniate my lower back. Most days I can tolerate the pain. He prescribes me 15 ml of 7.50/320. I only need 3 ml to control my pain when it is at it's worst. I really mostly on lidocaine patches or icy hot. I wish you luck.  Please be careful not to get addicted.  I keep that in the for front of my mind always.

Yeah, I think I'd find another doctor too.  If he is only willing to prescribe methadone, but is so uninformed about how it will affect you, he is being pretty irresponsible.

I have been through many pain meds with arthritis etc. methadone is very addictive drug if they only use that one drug find another pain management clinic. I have used everything from vicodin to morphine and now that you can get pain killers with out the aspirin part its easier to use. I also find a hot tub very beneficial it relieves alot of the pain and relaxes the muscles.I use it many times a week when the weather is crazy. I have also found tanning beds helpful also to relieve pain,although i worry about skin cancer i go occassionally anyway but i use a sun blocker its the heat that help.I hope this helps a litttle. if you ever need to talk please contact me sometimes its nice to talk to someone who has been where you are.

Thank you all so much for the replies!  I signed up with him already...  Has anyone broken a pain mgmt. contract?  If I do find someone else, I want to be certain I don't violate any agreement.