Guess what.....

[PoochieRachetToe]

36 days off percs, hydro's and demerol and life couldn't be better. I spent the entire day outside providing myself with after-care. I don't give myself time to think about them. I have energy to burn! I started my garden, installed and wired up a pole light, new exterior lights, planted flowers, trimmed the bushes and shreded the clippings. All was done between 9am and 3:30pm and included a trip to Lowes. The wife and lil man helped with some of the flowers.  My wife is quite pleased and impressed with my 180 degree turn. Our life couldn't be much better. I still get ridiculous, painful headaches. However, I've learned new and safer ways to deal. Hint. . . full body massage does wonders. I really feel for everyone out there trying to quit. It's terrible to go through withdrawals, but oh so worth it.

It's great to be back to me. I wish everyone power to conquer your personal demons. I've been reborn. To come back from where I was, I now see beauty in everything and life is more wonderful than before.

[PoochieRachetToe]

JonJon, I have seen that movie many a times and now that you mention it, my weekend fit the description. Good for you as well! Excellent job on your 17 days! I'm glad you were able to make that commitment when you did as I'm sure the trip with you being energetic and happy really made your family happy as well. I love me some comedies! My wife says the ones I enjoy are stupid male humor. I don't care what it is when I'm laughing. Role Models, Couples Retreat, Year One....... I have Netflix on my PS3 and mail delivery, so I'm always watching something hilarious.
Rich, I think it takes success stories to create success stories. Knowing someone else did it helps you realize that its possible yourself. Also, finding a good place mentally is key.
Here is a lil story for everyone. I like to read biographies of people with checkered lives. I read Nikki Sixxs' Heroin Diaries. Wow! Great read. I often wondered what it would be like to live that life and to come back. I wondered how he couldn't stop. I wondered if I could do something of that caliber and not let it own me. Well, I forgot about that book as I took the pills. I didn't want to stop at first, I told myself I didn't need to stop and I would quit when I wanted. After everything I went through, everything I wondered while reading that book came back into my thoughts when I was in my third week of withdrawals. I had fallen prey and though not as long, lived that life. I'm sure if I hadn't gone to the ER that day, I would still be in that downward spiral. Through the strength of the love for and from my wife and son along with the light hearted warning from the nurse that day, I made the decision to end that life, that very day. I have only looked back to see how far I've come.
Congratulations to everyone that has started this journey. May you continue to be successful.

[Rich99]

Congrats to you and glad you are spreading the word that life will once again will be normal.    I just came off six months of benzos some of it heavy and am now clean for the past month.    I feel so much better.     I realize some reading who are battling the demons and withdrawls will scoff at hearing this and will say,  well thats easy for you to do.   But it CAN be done,  follow a withdrawl that works for you and you'll make it to the other side of addiction.

[jonjon79]

Hahaha... I gotta say PoochieRachetToe, I read your post again, and it reminded me of Will Ferrell in the movie Old School...

"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."

Please say you saw that movie. lol

[jonjon79]

Hey Pooch,

I just got back from Disneyland tonight with the fam, and I gotta say, you're totally right about about being back to me. I've been working out alot and eating extremely healthy lately compared to how I was before (even at Disneyland I only had a $alad lol, water and an apple!). I like to think that if I can overcome this addiction, I can basically do anything else, I mean what else can be harder than getting off the pills? Right?

I think I'm on day 17, I'm gonna check after this. I changed my work schedule this week to get off earlier to squeeze in room for NA meetings at a church near here. We'll see how it goes. But keep up with the positive posts my man!

[taperme]

Good for you! You have an amazingly positive attitude and have since you started posting. I think you will continue to do well with that positive attitude! Congrats.

[cleanmom]

This is all wonderful news!! Congrats to you and your family!! It sounds like you have some great plans for yourself and are really putting your all into it. It really is beautiful over here on the other side isn't it!?

Luv, Jacky

[PoochieRachetToe]

Thanks and I will continue to do well. My first day here was my sixth day of cold turkey. Pretty rough day! Gnarly, you will earn no nickels from me. I am in search mode for a Psychiatrist per request of my GP. Doc says he believes I will benefit greatly and refuses to treat me again until I'm seeing one. I trust him so, I was waiting for a reference from my network of friends. If no names are dropped by the end of this week, I know of one near my house that I will call and see if I like.

[gnarly_1]

hey great to here...congrads on your clean time the first 30 or so days can go ether way you can go thew he11 or you can get set free of your plight...im happy for you it always good to here about peoples success storys....you need to hook up with some sort of aftercare weather it be N/A or one on one consoling...it will help you stay clean and sober
if I had a nickel for every person I seen that relapsed because of the lack of aftercare Id be a rich man...dont put your clean time in jeopardy hook up with aftercare right away..it will be like money in the bank...you hope you dont ever need it but its good to know its there if you do....good luck and God bless....Gnarly  

[vicki595]

So proud of you "Poster Boy"  !!!!   I remember the first day you came on the forum...
You had tons of resolve and I had a good feeling that you would do well.  
I wish the best of everything to you and your family~

Vicki  xo