Day 28 - off opiates

[Crybaby2006]

Dear Community,  I am happy to be off opiates but continue to have many health issues.  It is so difficult for me to live each day from my bed or chair.  I continue to be very depressed.  Am seeking any/all medical advice from my doctors in considering other illnesses.  I still have the runs 3-4 daily but keep up my electrolytes, eat BRAT diet.

When detoxing off opiates, did anyone experience a month of runs, depression, lethargy, and anxiety?

Thank you all for thoughts and advice in advance.

❤

[weaver71]

I totally agree with Gnarly, get a Big Book today. They will have one for you at a meeting. I like AA, but that's because there are only a few people in NA locally. Either one is a great place to get the info you are craving and friends to talk about it with. Cog/Beh therapy is good too. Church's are also helpful to many. I did all of it, until I found what works for me. But 12 step meetings are great and usually 7 days a week. Google AA meetings, No time better than the present.

[EvolverU]

HI! Me again. Yes, they do absorb better. They're more bio-available. Here's a link re: 'Total Parenteral' Drips:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601166.html

Hope this helps a little.

[gnarly_1]

Aftercare is what you do to stay  clean and help you change the verry way you think addiction  does not go away after you stop using it lays in waiting for the  next time your tempted I personally recommend the rooms of N/A you will be welcome with a hug ...nothing replace human interaction and nothing compare's to one addict helping another please give this a chance just google meeting in your aera getting clean is the ez part staying that way takes work i to had to detox off clonipne it is a ruff detox and took me a good 8 weeks to get back to normal please have your doctor help you with this  go as slow as possible but just as this is it can be done good luck and God bless......Gnarly................

[Crybaby2006]

Aftercare?  Please tell all?  It seems I just can't get enough information!  With another detox luming over my head (2mg klonopin for sleep-taking for 2 years now)........I need to prepare by getting through this first.  From what I read, maybe another month or so?? I know it's indivual.  What are your thoughts?  Thank you for your support and blessings.❤

[gnarly_1]

Great job your approaching 30 days witch is a mile stone right now your experiencing a typical detox as far as the symptom go what are you doing about aftercare /?  anny was great job keep pushing forward good luck and God bless......Gnarly  

[Crybaby2006]

Detoxing off Norcos and Fliornal/codeine/aspirin/caffeine.  I am happy they are out of my life!  Do the liquid vitamins absorb better?  I have magnesium infusions for migraine abatement; am trying to get my Doctor to authorize B-12 to be added in pic-line.  Vitamin drip??? Via pic-line or do you mean something else; sounds interesting.

Thank you for all your support and well wishes.  Have a great day!

[EvolverU]

Hi there! I'm not sure what opiate you're detoxing from but I just wanted to chime in & congratulate you on your HUGE accomplishment! Welcome to day 29 (!)

I, too, had gut issues for a quite some time (about two mos.) As Jimmy, above, says, everyone is different. (I, also, became an Imodium fan. [smile])

Have you tried liquid, plant-based vitamins/minerals? (Garden of Life makes a good one.) They're much more bio-available & have the co-factors that are missing from 'fractionated' vitamins/minerals. The other option is a vitamin drip. (If you ask, they might do this for you.)

Wishing you Strength, Health & Comfort this Sunday Morning!

[Crybaby2006]

You surely chose the perfect name!  I am using the Imonium but can only used once a week; 30ml, if persists, 15 ml more, and if persist even still 15 ml more.  For about one day I am constipated then next day kind of normal then it starts all over again with the runs.  I will keep trying; thank you for your constant encouragement.  I can't wait for my brain to kick start.  I feel real depression but find that the more I move, eat well, hydrate, and keep the faith!❤

[Crybaby2006]

Had been on Nortriptyline 50 mg. for migraines.  I took this medicine for 10 years.  It didn't work well as an anti depression med prabably due to the low dosage.  I came off this medication last year.  I also took Lexapro for over 15 years for mood.  I also came off that as I was becoming toxic with all the medication I was given.  My goal is to find my baseline.  I couldn't know if any of these pills were working for me or not.  I think your method of getting moving is close to what I need as a guide.  I should try everyday to do alittle more and push alittle, then collapse if necessary.  Everyone knows here what I need to do.  I so appreciate your advice, as well, the advice of above friends.  I have never been this sick and hurt in my life.  With all of you on my side, I can believe in recovery.  Your all my inspiration! ❤

[Crybaby2006]

Sorry but confused your names; my letter to Jimmy was for you and he both.  The reply addresses your situation and addresses Jimmy's response.  I find it difficult to have to move through replys and answer any questions anyone has.  I appreciate so much your disclosure of health issues, you have first hand experience that I, myself, find very helpful.  Thank you. ❤

[Crybaby2006]

Omgosh Jimmy, my cousin has IBS and she suffers so.  I am sorry for you both.  I see doctor next week for this diarrhea.  I also have GERD and take 20 mg Prilosec nightly.  Before I started detoxing all opiate meds I was taking 4-6 pills a day.  Either Norco's or Flornial/codeine/aspirin/caffeine tabs.  I guess that would be about double your usage so I expect some problems.  I still take klonopin for sleep; my next project!  Thank you for your support; I feel better head wise but the body is taking it hard.  ❤

[Crybaby2006]

You memory serves you well.  I have been feeling pretty badly lately and have not tried to reduce the klonopin at night.  I just don't feel my body can take it right now.  It is surely one of my goals for the near future but need a lot of strength for w/d symptoms.  I have a plan to titrate off using liquid form of klonopin detoxing 10% every two weeks.  This will take 40 weeks to get off 2 mg. with the fewest side effects possible.  Hopefully, doctor will be able to order the liquid and allow me (trust) to do this at home.  As you read my posts to our other friends, I will be going in and getting checked out again by PCP.  Thanks for your friendship and support.  I will let you know how it turns out. ❤

[Crybaby2006]

After Urgent Care visit last week, as most of you advised, I am on a constant rehydration schudule, Imonium is my best friend and as of yesterday will need to be seen again.  I need to have mineral difencencies checked out.  Just taking the Vits/Minerals isn't enough for this lack of absorption that occurs with diarrhea this long.  I will let you know how it turns out.  Thank you Deb for your constant support. ❤

[Crybaby2006]

I have serious injuries to feet, both knees, and neck.  Plantar Faciitis, meniscus surgery, cervical disc impingement on C-7 sensory nerve, 2-3 mm bulges in C-6 and C-5.  My feet have lost most of the plantar facia and have pain when walking or standing.  My legs were casted off and on for four years.  Now this may sound pathetic but it does not stop me from moving.  Yes, I have a lot of atrophy and have been trying to get out more.  I do Pilates stretching and use a recumbent bike.  I go to the beach a lot to cool off and walk in the sand; it feels great to walk barefoot on sand.  The best thing for me will be the pool.  I swim at my kids house but really need my own.  A lap pool would be great.  Started saving for it already.  It is the most beneficial way to make my body strong again without the stress on injuries.  Plus the weightlessness is awesome.  Thank you for your support.

[debsgotcurves]

Hi hon, so awesome to see your post. Congrats on your time, you are doing incredible.  I have no med training at all, so this is just my opinion/concern, but the runs that often still every day seems like a lot. I would def talk to your doc. With that much runs even if you are doing your best to hydrate, you can still get dehydrated.  If it were me I would be callin my doc.  It may just be the wd's still like others said. But I always prefer the better safe than sorry approach.  Better to check and it be nothing than not check and it be something you could have stopped.  Mostly just wanted to say hello and give you big congrats!!  God Bless.
^,^ DD

[VICourageous]

Hi Girl, I am concerned that you have had the Bathroom issue this long now. Make sure you Talk to the DR for sure. Have you been tapering down from the Klons Yet?? As I said before I came off them and the Dones & adderall (add-was not prescribed) This time was a whole other type of w/ds. I  do know now a lot was due to the Benzo. The High Anxiety and no Sleep goes with Any detox. And then it seems that we/I dropped to a very weak state and had no-motivation or interest in anything. Almost putting 10m behind me and it did or still is taking some time for all these Nero-Transmitter to balance back.A lot of the Meds hit different receptors which takes even longer to heal. I also agree with trying to push yourself to get some kind of exercise. It also helps you to re-direct your self from your thinking. For me the Magnz, Cal, & Ds helped wonders with the anxiety and sleep. There is some powered called "Calm" that works great too. You just have to figure what works for you and try it. Just keep Hydrated and keep the Electrolytes going and try to Replenish the Vit/Min we lost during our Med use. I think you are doing a wonderful Job and keep on Stepping up those Steps and do not fall backwards..OCH!! That can hurt!
Bless

[Jimmy1975]

We are all different in that respect as far as withdrawal symptoms . It also depends on how much you were taking and how long . I only had like a few days of diarrhea but I was only averaging 30 mg a day . The anxiety was the worst part for me , that was rough ! Congratulations on all that clean time . Jimmy

[OxyTired]

I totally sympathize with how you are feeling. I am 10 days into my Oxy detox and some of those days were pure hell mental wise. I agree with Jethro733 above about The Paleo diet. I have followed it for  the last year for weight loss, but when I really started studying it in depth I began to realize the implications for total health. (I am 100% compliant, sort of crazy in that regard)
Several days ago I was having panic attacks, low energy, dark thoughts etc.  So I read about amino acids, and began to use them. By accident I found one of the recommended ones to help me tremendously!
Please don't be afraid to discuss with your doctor an antidepressant.  I take Elavil (amyltriptaline-an older triclyclic antidepressant). I am not recommending that in particular, I am not a doctor, but my family doctor and I have found it helps me with mood, and sleeplessness.
I like the above advice by Atthebeach above about getting moving, for me anything to get me off the couch: short walk, go to store for one or two items, then cook a special meal for myself. Even if I don't feel like doing it. Each day I can do a little more. Today I made it to 3 PM before collapsing on the couch with the heating pad on my sore back. Just a week ago I was totally couch bound by 10am.
What everybody says here is true, it gets better. And keeping your doctor informed of everything is also wise.
Congratulations on all of your clean time!

[jjswartz_1]

Your symptoms are completely normal.  Try valerian root extract from your local pharmacy which actually work pretty well for anxiety.  The lenght of your symtoms will depend alot on how long and how much narcotics you were taking.

I have not read any of your other posts so i don't know your whole story.  The depression, lethargy and anxiety in my opinion may be from the opiate detox, but the runs may be something the doctors should look into further. Chronic Diarrhea however can lead to serious electrolyte imbalances and a SMA7 blood test to check your sodium, potassium, ect levels

Why are you chair and bed ridden?

[jethro733]

What are your other health issues?

I suffer from ulcers and IBS so I know what the endless runs feels like, and if it's not running it's blocked up for me.

It can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you actually have a genuine health issue.  I'm just telling myself here it's going to be rough, but there's no way around withdrawals THEN having to deal with the original problem.  Frustrating yes, incredibly.  Just taking it day by day here,

As far as diet goes, I'd recommend maybe trying the paleo diet (minus the nuts).  It's a diet that is easy on your system.  Have a look at FODmaps too,  Those help my IBS immensely, not sure what you suffer from though.

Good luck, and congratulations with with your clean time.  It will get better, it took me 35-40 days to feel like I had energy again, then after a week slip i'm at day 30ish again and only just starting to feeling like a candle with a base to sit on.

[atthebeach]

congrats on your clean time. you are doing awesome.
are you taking immodium also? that will help.
eating bananas will help too.
it is important to move around as much as possible. take walks, do chores, go to the store, get outside in the sunshine, being sedentary is not helping you.
your symptoms are very normal for opiate withdrawal.
the exercise will help to kick start your natural brain chemistry.
add some protein, fruits and veggies to your diet.
keep on keepin on, you will continue to heal.
keep the faith,
Debbie