Have a technical question

[qpatty]

Day 8 almost in the books! Yeah! Really turning a corner and starting to feel a little better. Now want to prepare myself for the long haul. Going to counseling Thursday so I am trying to take care of that part of it. Here is my question:

I took a high dose for a lot of years and spent a total of fifteen years on opioids. Realistically how long before my brain even begins to use its own neurotransmitters and makes its own proper chemicals and all that technical stuff? And is there something I can do to help it along? Naturally of course!

Generally speaking, 3 months, 6 months, a year? Just trying to keep myself in the right place and be prepared for whatever fight I need to fight. I feel like information is power so nothing sneaks up on me. Thanks for any help with this, I tried researching it myself but got lost in it all.

[qpatty]

Thank you and yes I'm staying strong.

And my prayers will now go to you as you face your biggest challenge yet. They have come a long way and you can beat this too. I am a 2 time cancer survivor myself and know it can be done. If ever there was a time to be as strong as you are able mentally-it is now my friend. I am a firm believer:

"Where the mind goes-the body will follow"

Love and prayers
Patty

[refills]

Congrats to you Patty. Sounds like you're well on the way. Yeah we have to watch out for the bumps in the road. Keeping it steady and straight will get you there...ike

[qpatty]

My chicken stew was amazing1 Took me hours to get it done, but that's ok. I had to give up and allow myself to crash on couch all day today because my fever is almost 102, my throat and ear are killing me. Antibiotics should have me on my feet by tomorrow. Kind of ironic that I could force myself to keep moving while kicking a 15 year drug habit to the curb but strep throat has knocked me on my ***. Oh well I picked a good day to snooze on the couch-it is snowing like crazy where I live. We heat mostly with wood and I do not have the energy to keep the woodstove going so I am just curled up under the blankets with my dog.

[clean_in_ks]

Congrats on your sleep, Patty!!  Hope your infections are a little better today.  Making yourself that chicken stew STILL amazes me!  You are doing SO well in spite of getting sick too.  I had more trouble with my sleep "schedules" than "no sleep", but with time....and healing.....we do balance back out.  
You are right....your attitude is making a HUGE difference this time and it is already paying dividends.  It reminded me of this saying I have up on my fridge.....
"The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it."  Chuck Swindoll

Rock on girl....stay warm....better weather is on it's way to you♥

[qpatty]

Slept all night! holy cow. musta been the chicken stew. lol That's what is different this time from all the other times. I get up and keep moving and refuse to allow myself to lay there and dwell on things. At least for me constantly thinking about how crappy I feel does not help. I have forced myself to focus on things other than myself as much as I can every day.

Hope you have a wonderful day. We are suppose to get 3 inches of snow here in lovely upstate NY-of course we are, tomorrow is first day of spring!

[clean_in_ks]

Anybody as sick as you and on Day 9 or 10 that can make homemade chicken stew w/dumplings from scratch is GONNA make it baby!!!!  
Now you can nestle in and nuture YOU......

[qpatty]

What I found odd is that I don't even have a cough. Why in the h*** did that dr. think I even needed it? I'm drinking green tea with honey and lemon and I had already started extra vit C a week ago. I just made myself homemade chicken stew with dumplings from scratch. Took me 5 hours but I didn't care. Made enough to eat for 2 or 3 days. That will cure anything.

[clean_in_ks]

Oh girl.....I'm SO sorry you are sick!  Good job on turning down the codeine cough syrup....other non-narcotic cough syrups work, too.  If you can add some extra Vit C (preferably Ester C), it will help a lot!  Vit C is mentioned in multiple places in those addiction recovery articles....even in the Thomas Recipe if I remember right.  Increase the dose gradually each day as a huge dose at first will give you the runs..ugh!!  Drinking some Emergen-C is a grand idea as it has vitamins, minerals and amino acids and helps with electrolytes.  Lots of flavors to choose from, too.

Very proud of you......take care of yourself......Day 10 here ya come!!!!

[qpatty]

Well no therapy for me till next week. Woke up this morning feeling like I got hit by a truck. Went to the Walk-In and I have strep throat and a double ear infection! Started my antibiotic, said NO to the codeine cough syrup and just gonna rest for a few days. Day 10 almost in the books!

[qpatty]

Thank you so much! Your response was exactly what I was looking for. I wasn't looking to know when I would "feel" better. Just wanted to know where to learn all the technical stuff. I, too, am an information geek. Just want to arm myself with all the knowledge I can. Feeling a little yucky today but I think I may have caught strep throat from one of my grandbabies. Small price to pay for the joy they bring me. Got an appointment with my family doc for that in the morning.

Decided on counseling for now instead of na because I have some serious issues to come to terms with. I was told ten years ago that I had PTSD but chose to ignore and medicate it. I do believe it may be time to deal with some of these underlying issues. Pretty sure that after some serious counseling, na will be in my future.

Thanks for all your good info and support.
Patty

[clean_in_ks]

Hey Patty!  DAY 9 YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really related to this question you posted.  When I first got clean, I was like a dang SPONGE!!  I couldn't soak up enough information and wanted to read all I could.  Back in 2012 when I found MedHelp, we had a widget at the bottom of our forum with Health Pages available to read.  I read, and read and read them.  I learned A LOT...and from what I read, it then led me to even more research (that's how I'm wired...lol)  For some unexplained (to us) reason, MedHelp removed that widget almost a year ago (I think) and we have no clue if they EVER intend to bring it back (and it's NOT for lack of asking...lol)  But the good news is.....I can give you a link to GET to those Health Pages regarding addiction topics and then you can click on whatever article you want to read, ok?  There are SO many articles...you can read yourself silly..lol  Here's the link to get you there:

http://www.medhelp.org/search/expanded?cat=health_pages&query=Addiction

As far as your neurotransmitters healing and working on their own again, each day you aren't putting ANY kind of opioid on those receptors....you are healing.  I think if I understood you correctly you weren't asking for a time frame of when you would "feel good or better" but when your own natural brain chemistry would being working/or heal...??  You already are, babe!  But I personally really noticed changes at 3 mos, 6 mos and 9 mos.  

There are things we can do to help our brains heal and also help produce natural endorphins (endogenous morphine).  Of course the older we are and the longer we used opiates, usually the longer it takes for our nervous systems/brain chemistry to heal.  There's an article in those Health Pages titled something like "Foods that Increase Dopamine Naturally".  I really like that one and eat a lot of those foods.  Here's one more link to a short article about natural ways to replenish the pain receptors:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5919457_natural-receptors-lost-opiate-addiction.html

You're doing REALLY good, Patty.  Glad to hear you are going to counseling tomorrow and that you realize you feel better when you keep moving.  Hope I didn't put you on "overload"....I have a tenency to do that!
Keep on keepin on~
Connie

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well 15yr is a long time  .....every detox is different  for me I seen gains every month  I started to turn the corner in around 90 days  but even 6mo out I noticed a difference I have spoke to other members and agree with them  even a year feels better it will be what it will be  thank God you took action when you did  as long as your breathing there is hope  keep exorcizing eat right and get to meetings will all play a pivotal role in your recovery..........Gnarly

[qpatty]

I actually have forced myself to keep moving every day since day 1 except for one day and that day was the hardest on me. I just told myself "You are not going to die, keep moving" I find the more active I am the better I feel. And I have been trying real hard to eat well. I find I am still not very hungry so when I do eat I try to make it count and be as nutritious as possible. When I have no appetite I eat an apple with peanut butter on it.

[vicki595]

There's a potassium/magnesium supplement you can buy that would help that RLS. Don't suffer with it! If you have some tonic water at home just sip on that, as well. It has quinine in it.

You're doing really well-

[Krissy_123]

YES!! That is so so true! That first I couldn't get off the sofa,but once I hit 8-10 days I was just like you. I forced myself to get up and do something. Anything. Clean the house bit by bit. Have a little walk. Cook a meal for the family. Also the more you do the better chance you'll have at falling asleep at night. :)) you got this!!

[qpatty]

I have noticed that when I get up and get moving I feel soo much better. If I sit around too much I feel physically worse and mentally awful. I am lucky, I have a 120-lb dog that is willing to go for a walk any time of the day or night. Of course he has also spent the last week trying to lay on my legs at night and since I still have pretty bad rls it is torture. I know he is just trying to help in his own way-I think he thinks if he lays on me I will lay still and sleep. Funny how in tune animals can be. Anyway I'm rambling. I guess it's just been a long time since I really WANTED to look into the future.

[Krissy_123]

You're doing great sweetie!! 8 days is amazing. Everyday that goes by you will feel a little better. You're on the right track to freedom! I'm very proud of you! xox

[qpatty]

I realize that and I am taking it day by day. Just looking for a very general idea of how long for my brain to repair itself. Not my mind-lol, but the actual brain. And I asked here because my family doc has no clue about any of this. Actually neither did the pain center that prescribed it-isn't that crazy-they put clueless people on this stuff and have no exit plan and no idea how it affects people. I find that crazy!

And BTW-if someone had come on here and told me a few days ago that I wouldn't feel better for 9 months, 6 days, 3 hours, and 11 minutes I never would be where I am cause I would have fallen apart! The important thing is that I feel better today than I did yesterday and that is all that is important.

I'm just one of those weird people that find strength in learning all I can about all of it. The mental, emotional and physical aspects. I also know it is different for each and every person.

I like your advice about not waiting for a magic number and I'm def not doing that. Every day that I am able to get up and do anything is a day I am thankful for.

[vicki595]

Hi there- I would say around 6 months, give or take, you should feel the way you're going to feel into the future. But. There are so many things that influence this that are individual to you only...

Foods rich in amino acids are helpful and give your brain a boost. Lean meat, eggs, dairy, soy beans, etc...anything with protein in other words.

Then there's exercise which I think is the singular most beneficial thing you can do for both your brain and body. It doesn't have to be crazy work outs, which I don't like at all, just walk everyday as Krissy talked about. Or swim if you can do that easily.  

Good luck and 8 days is terrific!

[Krissy_123]

Just an example: if someone came on here and happened to tell you "you won't be better for exactly 9 months 6 days 3 hours and 11 minutes." You're going to spend that next 9 months etc... Waiting and waiting for that magic number. When in actual fact it may be happening and you won't feel it because someone told you,no you won't be better till this day! You'll know,and feel it. Time time time. That's what it takes,but nobody has that magic number ;)

[Krissy_123]

You'll always get a differnt answer. Especially from a doctor, a lot of them have no clue and will tell you you'll be all better in a week. That's just not realistic. It's different with everyone. I'm almost at 4 months and still don't sleep a full night and my energy could be better. I find walking to be a great mood lifter and it makes me feel great. Join a gym if you're able and go to as many meetings as you can. Especially in the beginning. It's going to take awhile. Like you said you used for 15 years straight,it's going to take a bit to repair them 15 years of damage. Don't stress about that,you really need to live life in the very minute. Not day to day,just minute to minute. Whatever you find makes you feel good,put it on the list of things to keep doing. You deff want to cut crappy foods out of your diet,get your body and mind as healthy as possible