Day four off oxy - can't sleep at ALL

Well, it's day four for me off of oxy's and it's been living hell.  The first two days I though I might actually die.  But day three did get better and today at day 4 I seem to be almost symptom free - except for the insomnia!  I feel like I haven't slept since I stopped taking my last 40mg oxy on Friday.  I do have a bit of the restless legs and dry throat, sneezing still and headache.  All that is liveable, but the insomnia is driving me nuts!!

I've tried otc sleep aids and they did not help at all.  I drift off for about a minute and then my eyes just snap open and I'm up again.  Thank God I decided to take this week off of work to do this right cause it sure looks like I'm going to need it just to catch up on my sleep!  I have a business trip to go on next Monday for four days.  I will be a wreck if I can't sleep when out of town etc.  This is turning out to be even worse trouble to kick than I thought - and I really DID know what to expect - but didn't think the insomnia would last so long.  Anybody have any ideas out there?  I've tried going for walks, otc sleep aids but nothing seems to help.  When will this stop???

[shadow740]

Day four is the worst.  ((hugs))

You're not going to sleep well until your body drops from exhaustion.  Try taking the herbal supplement holy basil and just exhausting yourself.

I saw someone try to detox themselves off oxy and took 6 sleeping pills and still couldn't sleep.  It's rough.  :(

Get tons of videos and fresh fruit.

[chico1969]

Thanks Shadow,

By the way, I was just reading your post in another thread about someone wanting to use methadone to taper off of oxy's - I like your advice.  I know someone who started methadone treatments for percocet addiction 20 years ago.  Guess what?  She is STILL on the methadone - tapering now at 1mg per month!  It's going to take her a long long time to get off that stuff.  I'm more afraid of that stuff than the oxy's!

By the way, you also mentioned that you are 13 years sober.  Wow, congratulations to you.  Are you here just to offer support to other?  You are an inspiration to us all here and we value your experience and knowledge.

I'm glad I decided to quit this junk before I did real irreversable damange - the woman I spoke of before - she is a complete mess.  She is convinced that there are bugs crawling over her body and she sctatches herself to bits.  And even though I watched her do this to herself I STILL took those damn pills.  Makes me wonder if there was a stronger power leading me then - it IS pure evil.

[jstntime]

Hey Toronto!!!

Hang in there.  The sleep thing for me is ALWAYS the worst part of wd.

Yes there are some things you can take that might help but you really need to adjust your thinking on this.   You need to understand it is COMPLETELY normal and expected.  You have to be OK with being awake for a little while.

Don't let it drive you crazy.  Don't toss and turn and get frustrated........frustrated NEVER sleeps.  Get up when sleep doesn't come.  Come here and read, get a good book, do some work.  Make yourself comfortable, if while reading etc. you feel sleepy, close your eyes and take what you can get.

It will return slowly......hang in there.....short-term pain for long-term gain!!!!!

bob

[shadow740]

You aren't in the doctor's office with your friend so you don't really know why she's still on it.  She might actually tell her doctor that she needs it and tells you something different.  I know they started weaning me as soon as I asked them to.

I am on here because my boyfriend is quitting oxy and honestly...I feel helpless.  I guess sometimes the only people that understand you are other addicts, so...you are all helping me.

You just said something that...I believe...and I'm not kidding.  I OD'd on heroin and still didn't quit because...well...if any of you ever did it you will know why.  WHY I quit and had the courage to go to a doctor and beg for help was that I walked into my bfs apartment and as I came through the door, everyone looked up.  Three out of four of them looked like demons.  Black eyes--no, not heroin eyes, like...out of a horror film, demons.

I heard a voice behind him (I wasn't high) say: Get out of here now and go!  I turned to see who was there and no one was.

I believe...you invite in evil when you do these drugs.

**hair is standing up on my arm**

I believe this.

Another reason it keeps my *** off drugs and playing hide and go seek.

[chico1969]

Yeah, I don't know why she has been on meth for so long - but the thing is that I have heard other similar stories that mimic how difficult it is to get off of.  I'm just afraid of it, glad I didn't choose that as my method to kick.  I really do hope I can stay clean after all this.

How is your boyfried quitting - ct?  How is he doing?  He is lucky to have you for support.  I am lucky to have my boyfried as support.  He is sleeping beside me right now (cause he was nice enough to stay up all night long with me because I can't sleep - how cute is that?) Wish I could sleep along with him - but as you've all mentioned sleep will come.

That is truly a creepy story about what you described as the defining moment that lead you to quit H.  I have only tried heroin snorting it many years ago.  Glad I never got into that - although Oxy's don't seem to be any different.  The story made the hair on MY neck/arms stand up too - and I already have goosebumps from the wd's! lol

Good luck to you in staying sober and to your boyfriend - support from loved ones is everything.

[shadow740]

My boyfriend is having troubles because he is now facing the anger from his family for being an addict, for not having money to pay them back, etc.  That's why this is difficult for him.  I wish I could tell them to hold off and slam him a month from now :(

But luckily he's in a good methadone program that forces a small group (<6), daily doses, weekly drug tests, and bi monthly physicals.

It's just hard because I would love to shake his family and say: why can't you postpone the anger to save his life?????

But I can't.  You can't treat people like **** and expect them to take it, I guess.

[dominosarah]

Our families have gotten the brunt of our addiction.  They have had many promises broken.  Our actions speak louder than words and hopefully in time they will see that he is serious about his recovery.

[shadow740]

I know, I know...they do not deserve it.  My mother is a saint.  The thing is everyone in the world has a right to stand up and say that they deserve better treatment when they do, so in that regard...I can't blame them.

I just wish they would hold off a little bit longer as to not give him any excuses.  This is someone who has battled this on and off for ten years and this is the first time in all ten that he was cognizant enough to take himself into a medical program for help.

BTW, I think I push medical programs so much because I see all the backsliders and it seems every time someone falls back they fall back hard.  It is so sad to watch and I get so angry for them.  :(

I'm inches from calling the cops on his old drug dealer--in fact, if i had hard evidence...I'd probably do it in a heartbeat.

[really_trying]

Day four is definately the worst and sleep was my worst sympton but it does come back. I had to take a few sleeping pills from my doctor and that worked for me. I took them for a week and then when I stopped I was able to sleep on my own. I don't suggest you take sleeping pills I'm just saying I did and I knew that I would stop them as soon as I got a couple days of good sleep. I'm on day 60 now and sleep every night. Someone once said that it takes 6 months for your sleep to get back to normal...thank goodness not for me as I don't think I could of handled that long without sleeping well. Good luck and keep it up.

[chico1969]

hey Toronto!

thanks for the suggestions.  I have tried otc sleep aids but not working.  the problem is that I am soooo yired I dont know how much more I can take.  The lack of sleep is bringing on the depression.  and as i recently posted in other thread the depression is leading me to think about sneaking out and scoring just one 40 pill,  how pathetic am I?

[curlygirl2]

wow...just think you are on Day 4.....that is an accomplishment in itself.....My goal is to be off percocets by the end of Fall time.....slowly but surely......I remember one time when I forgot my meds when I was up north and it was hell, gagging, vomitting, yawning, diarrhea......The only thing that helped was melotonin for me to get some rest....
I have a pain problem with a disease there is no cure for but I think craving these pills is even a worse disease.....so I might need your advice when you are done detoxing.....
Congratulations on your progress so far......you have gotten through the intensity stuff....hang in there, we are all rooting for you!

[teira39]

i feel ur pain... havent slept in 15 straight days!! im detoxing from methadone and oxy 80s. the w/d i can handle the sleepin i cant!! one way or another we will get through this girl!! i wish u the best

[teira39]

omg u just sent chills all over my body!!! ur right about the evil in herion ive felt it tooo many times to count and yes it is a a demon and each time we go back we invite 7 more demons to fight off so to say the leaset!!!! im fighting for my life!! thank u for ur true and sound words

[gnarly_1]

HI sleep can be allusive with methadone it took me 2 mo to get any normal sleep at first it comes back in like 2hr stints then as time goes by you build up a little at a time...it different for everybody some get there sleep back in a couple of weeks but methadone is particularly ruff when you detox off of it...if your habit wasn't to long or hard you may get some sleep in a month if it was like mine 10yrs on the pills 6 1/2rys on the methadone expect to be up for a couple of months...you do get some sleep but its real spotty.....methadone is cyclic just when you think your done it comes back to mess with you....congrats on 15 days clean
you might want to start your own post for support they get lost posting on someone elses
good luck and God bless......Gnarly