Do bananas really work? HELP!!!

Im on my 3rd day going cold turkey with no Vicodin. I've been reading on here a lot of people raving about banana's. Do they really help? I dont have much of the w/d symptoms except upset stomach in the morning and then it goes away, but the anxiety is whats the worst. I can barely make it through work, constantly sobbing and feeling like Im gonna explode. The nights arent bad, but I've been taking half a xanax these past 2 nights. Only have half of one left for tonight, so the real test will be tommorow night. Please help with any advice to get past the anxiety, its driving me insane. I feel like Im not strong enough to get past this. And the banana's too, are they that great in helping? Any advice/encouragment would be GREATLY appreaciated. Thanks!

[KirstenHere]

I don't know about anyone else...but bananas really did help me. Not so much with anxiety but my stomach and maybe my legs. I ate them like there was no tomorrow and they felt really good on my stomach. I hadn't eaten in days though. So, to answer your question, they helped me a bit....but I'm not sure if everyone is like that. Good luck to you! I'm on day 4 with vics

[mimi1313]

The anxiety was bad for me as well. I actually went on Lexparo and it really helped.. Bananas help with the RLS and stomach but not really anxiety. Look at the Amino acids pages. There are things there for anxiety.

[puranx]

goto a vitamin store and get l-theanine now...take about 200mg first time and try to get used to taking 300mg , 100mg 3 times daily. You can go up to 600mg daily even more safely as there is no known side effect to it but im always better safe then sorry. Im trying the banana thing right now and it does seem to help my stomach and legs. Good luck and please...stay the course

[MartiniGirl]

I actually got the L-Theanine yesterday, but wasnt sure if it would make me sleepy or anything. I havent taken any, just the 5-HTP, but I dont feel that really helps at all. I will start taking the L-Theanine as soon as I get home. I just need to get past the anxiety and I'll be fine. I know right now its more of a mental issue than anything else.

[puranx]

i used a few seratonin aids and i think they hurt me more then helped. I have stopped them today and my anxiety is half of what it was. Im also using the l-theanine since yesterday so that could be doing it as well. Stay the course

[MartiniGirl]

is 5-HTP a setanin aid? I've heard a lot of people say that once they've stoped those, the feel a lot better. Thanks so much for the advice. Its helped just calm me down for a bit.

[puranx]

yes it is, like st johns, sam-e etc...they all can have adverse effects and when taken together can cause seratonin syndrome. I used it for a crutch for 4 days and then said wtf am i doing...my brain needs to find itself not some otc herb and im weening off all sorts a things right now. I think the l-theanine is great though and has a great history along with passion flower and skull cap..

[MartiniGirl]

Ok, then I will definetly stop them immediatly. I've taken 150 mg already, so maybe thats why its worse, and I took the same amount yesterday. You'd think that since they are natural they would work, but I guess not. Did the L-Theanine make you sleepy, or did it just help relax you with the anxiety?

[puranx]

just relaxed really...not completely but more then enough to get by

[liscamdave]

They can help. Bananas have potassium in them, the potassium will help with the restless leg feeling, or restless arm...they will help. Maybe not as much as you think, but they help. Good Luck..

Lisa

[GoingToMakeIt]

Many have been helped with Natural Calm with calcium for RLS. Bananas do help too. I have good success with melatonin for sleep. You can take up to 10 mg safely.

[puranx]

i used natural calm the whole way and cal/mag pills They are legit and help

[MartiniGirl]

Oh really? Man, theres a lot of stuff out there, natural stuff that one can use. You'd think Dr's would encourage that instead of all of this addicting balogne! Thanks for the advice guys, it really helps! I will give the melatonin a try as well. Im nervouse about going to sleep tommorow without the help of the xanax, not sure if i've just put off the worst or not. Oh well, only time will tell. Thanks again!

[virgo1969]

Congrats on day 3! The bananas really helped me for the RLS with the legs. The 1st time around c/t I would have loved to have known that as I went through hell. The 2nd time around c/t the bananas were a lifesaver. I take 2 L-theanine and 2 melatonins before bed and I am out like a light. The L-theanine by iteself if I take it during the day doen not make me sleepy. It just takes the edge off.

Keep up the great work!

[MartiniGirl]

Ok, so it does help to relax you and make you sleepy along with the melatonin. Thanks for that advice. I went to our Starbucks to get a bagel and although it was only a 2 minute walk each way, I found that it really helped with the anxiety. I hope to get through this soon, as this is the only w/d symptom that I've really had. But its enough to drive you insane. Thanks again to you and everyone else!

[virgo1969]

Yes, exercise, no matter how short the walk, can make a lot of difference. Also, take multi -vitamins and drink lots of fluids ( non caffiene).  I also took xanax to help with the w/d's and I had no problem stopping those once I started the l-theanine. I tried the ST. John's Wort with 5-HTP but I didn't feel that it did much.

You are doing great!

[corey411]

If you buy a bunch of banannas and eat 1 then put the rest on your head and walk around your house singing the Bananna Boat song it will help with the anxiety. Try it, I guarentee it works. Corey

[MartiniGirl]

well..i just bought a bunch of bananas, so im gonna have to try later. We;ll see how it goes. ha, lol! Thanks!

[JDRMinSD]

I just had one...is it all in my head or my first crave-free moment on day #3 have anything to do with the banana I ate right beforehand?  I don't know...but the timing is there...I'm still eating them...they are good for you too, right?

[MartiniGirl]

I had really bad anxiety again when i got home, so I went for a walk with my husband and although its wiped me out, it felt so good to get rid of it by something as good as walking, instead of just popping a couple vic's to get my high. Im glad that you had a crave-free moment. Im gonna eat a banana in a bit, see how that goes. And like you said, they are good for you, so it cant hurt any. Going on to 72 hours without them. Its been rough, but I hope it gets better soon! Gotta stay strong!

[jamie03]

WOW- IT IS SUCH A RELIEF TO HAVE READ THESE COMMENTS! I'VE BEEN ON VIC'S FOR 2 YEARS AND AM ON MY 2ND DAY OF COLD TURKEY!! I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I'M 6 WEEKS PREGNANT AND I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THESE PILLS ANYMORE! THIS IS REAL HARD- SO I FEEL YOU!! I I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND CRAZY- BUT I'M SO EXCITED TO KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE FEELING THIS ****!! I HAVE LUMBAR SPONDILOSIS AND THAT IS WHAT THE PAIN MEDS ARE FOR- SO MY BACK IS KILLING ME ALONG WITH THE ANXIETY!! I'M ON MY WAY TO BUY BANANNAS- BUT BECAUSE I'M PREGNANT I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE IS REALLY SAFE TO TAKE. DOES ANYONE KNOW? CONGRATS ON YOUR COLD TURKEY TIME- YOU CAN DO IT GIRL!!!

[MartiniGirl]

well first on all congrats on being prego and for going cold turkey as well. What a better time than now. It is very tough, and I've found that everyones experience is different. And your right, its great to know that other people are going through the same thing as you. Im not really sure what to tell you to take, considering your pregnant. I have to take them for legit pain, but that pain only comes one or twice a month cause of my fibroid, so I dont know what Im gonna do next month. I've spoken with my husband about him hiding them and regulating them and dispensing them to me, but I dont know if that will put me back to where I've started. Does anyone know? You  hang in there, its rough, and it probably will be for a bit, but it will eventually get better. Congrats to you as well!

[puranx]

well one or two days a month ? How much do you use in those two days..honestly i think thats 100% comtrollable as long as your not in control of the pills and use them for pain only.

[MartiniGirl]

yeah, about one or two days a month. And i would probably need about 2 a day, give or take, maybe up to 3 or 4 each day if the pain is really bad. Do you think that would be manageable? Or should I not even risk it?

[jamie03]

THANKS FOR ALL!!! I THINK IF YOU HAVE YOUR HUSBAND DISPENSE THE PILLS TO YOU AS NEEDED FOR PAIN ONLY- THEN YOU WILL BE FINE. ESPECIALLY IF ITS ONLY A COUPLE DAYS A MONTH. I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO HAVE THEM FOR REAL PAIN- BUT TAKE THEM EVEN WITHOUT THAT SPICIFIC PAIN. I THINK ITS TOO EARLY TO BE MAKING ANY DECISIONS ABOUT NEXT MONTH. MAYBE YOU SHOULD WAIT AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL THEN AND IF YOU FEEL SURE OF YOURSELF TO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE THE USE EVERYDAY! I THINK ITS WONDERFUL THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND!!

[MartiniGirl]

I completely agree with you. I know Im thinking way ahead, I just know how horrible my pain can get, but Im gonna try to at least make it 30 days without any. My anxiety has kinda gone away as of now, so im feeling pretty good. Have a bad headache, but probably just cause I havent had caffeeine in about 3 days. Thanks for the comment and the support, it means a lot!

[johndo520]

Wow! Glad to find you all here.I am a former competitive athlete and found myself using vicodin for post-surgery and sports related injuries. Like everyone else I suppose I became increasingly dependent on this drug and felt it could even help me perform better.I have been using vicodin for 2 - 3 years and my dosage has steadily increased. I have been known to take up to 30 pills @ 10 / 325 a day! Now the good news. I am on my 6th day of "cold turkey" from this crap and I will stay strong to the end. My life is worth more than this junk can provide.

[feelingblue222]

Hey johndo,you posted to a really old thread and will probobably not get much action on it.  Start a new thread in the forum and keep posting.  This forum is made up of people in the same boat as you and you will get lots of support and help.  great job on 6 days.