How do I get my energy back?

[lemaroo]

I see its been quite a while since anyone posted to this page so I may be typing to myself but here goes. I quit a pain pill habit on mothers day this year, cold turkey. I was up to 480 mgs every morning before coffee. It's now been nine days and I keep waiting to feel better. I'm not throwing up and spending all day in the tub anymore, but my knees still ache annoyingly and I feel like I have to make a conscious effort just to get off the couch and let the dog out. My family has absolutely no idea that I even have this addiction, they think I have the flu right now, but if I don't get better soon the questions are gonna start coming hard and fast. In all honesty, if I have to feel like this the rest of my life I don't think it's worth it. I live in a teenie-tiny farming town in SW MO so running to a health food store is not an option. The closest Wal-Mart is 30 miles and I wouldn't trust myself to drive right now anyway, my knees are still like jello. If anyone has any advise please throw it at me cause I sure am about at wits end. Thanks

[laurel453]

Lady, hope you've beaten the cancer forever now ( el bicho as we call it here in spain colloquially). You're being very brave and you can feel proud of yourself, true :)

you're also doing great reading as much posts as you can, knowledge is power here.

[ladyrhea4]

Hello and I just started here. I have to say we have allot in common. Few things different. My husband knows but Only one of my Children knows but the others don't. I am today 10 days Off methadone. I got down to 10Mg was taking 80 Mgs and did that alone. Now I'm doing this alone. You see 8 years ago I was told I had cancer and was put on pain meds and then 2 years after being on it they said no more,,...well I got it any way and took it for 6 years and No One knew like I said.. I do smoke Weed and that has helped me some, but I have children and I can't let them know any of the above.
I'm pretty laying it out there for everyone..I will be eating better after reading this and all the things People have been nice enough to share.
And Hey If I can do it you can do it..Oh I just got done with my 2nd time with Cancer and off Chemo that I was on for a Year...Hard to know what is Real Pain and what is just withdraws so I just keep staying off  the pain meds.
Thanks for letting me talk
Ladyrhea4

[laurel453]

hahah..chicken ( turkey...) is also a source to get  tryptophan ( a precursor of serotonin, so you are helping to stabilize your mood , something important after drugs ). I've learned a lot of how good a healthier diet and about aminos from worried. Google about when you can...:)

to me is a big truth that the healthier we start eating and living ( exercising and so ) the better our bodie's and brains recover. It's not an instant solution, of course, but the best way short/medium/long term approach.

a B's complex is almost a "must" for me too plus a multi. I took ltyrosine and 5htp suplemments ( do not mix serotonin suplemments with antidepressants ) for the first months and i really believe they helped me, now i tried to eat as healthy as i can ...


good luck to you too, banana :)

[banana911]

After reading all the above:  I just took all my moms multis & ate chicken.  I will make a protien shake later...  thank god all in the house.  I have barely been able to do more than water & a little cereal until today...  

[laurel453]

yeah, i know about not going because of fear of being caught ..:) we make our lies and "big secret" bigger and bigger with each day of using and meanwhile we become our worst enemies  not caring about ourselves or our healths. What a feeling of freedom gives living clean !

[refusingbondage]

Hello there.  I just want to re assure you that you will NOT feel like this forever... Each day will get more and more better... one of these days you are going to feel a LOT better..please dont forget that ok.  Each bad day you make it through brings you one day closer to that good/great day.  9 days is great!  Give yourself some credit and stay strong.. it will certainly get better.

The best thing I did for energy and to get my muscles and body back in order was exercise. I know it sounds crazy with how fatitgued and achy you feel but believe me, it will help tremendously.  Start slow..simple stretching.  Take some walks.. try for at least a half hour walk each day.. slowly build up.. soon you will find yourself really looking forward to those walks.  If you cant get to a vitamin store, make sure you eat very healthy - lots of fruit and veggies and lean proteins.  We tend to neglect our bodies when we use and we totally wreck havoc on our bodies during detox.. vitamins and healthy foods and exercise are essential to start feeling better.. Love your body, it loves you back!  Good luck and God bless.

[merrymaria]

hi there...laurel and gnarly have some great advise for you....i thought i would never get motivated again without pills....but it does happen....it took me about 8 weeks to really feel pretty well as far as sleep and energy...it does come...we just have to be patient...things that helped me were...vit B 12 (the kind that dissolve in your mouth)  a multi vit...trying to do some kind of work out in the early morning to get you going...i used melatonin and neurontin for sleep and i tried to eat healthy...don t get discouraged...you are going to come alive again i promise....congrats on your clean time...hang in there...maria

[lemaroo]

Thank you to all you guys for helping me right now. This has been a monkey on my back for over ten years. I was stuck on Vicoden (spelling?) but now the drug of choice is called Avenza another name for morphine I've recently found out. I think I'll give the exercise a try until I can trust myself to drive again. I guess I'm lucky in a way, I live out in the boonies and have horses and chickens and a couple cows that could probably use some attention. Mostly I've just been throwin food in the pens, not cleaning stalls or riding or anything else. I can't believe how much better I feel just having somebody to talk to about all this, I haven't been to a doc in years just because I was afraid of being found out. Literally, absolutely nobody on the face of the earth knows about my addiction. This feels like a lifeline.....Thank you everybody......Cindy

[gnarly_1]

HI welcome to the forum....what your experiencing is not uncommon for many of us post withdrawals can be as difficult as the first week...your just now starting to walk in sobrity
it can go one of 2 ways for some there is the "pink cloud effect" where everything feels and looks great...its usually short lived for others like me getting clean was a grind I felt completely incapacitated by the energy drain the lingering aches and pains and just the emotional deadness that was apon me...try not to get discouraged with time you will start to feel better...try to get outside and go for a walk even if it just a short one getting out in the sun helps...you need to try and stay bizzy again it takes your mind off how miserable you feel ...start out small with things that take 10min or so and build up to bigger projects as you move around and get back into your routeen things will start to come around...as soon as your able get to walmart and pick up some supplements liquid B-complex helps with the energy and its only 6 bucks also I started drinking whey protein shakes 2 a day there loaded with vitamins and amino acids as well as the protein all of witch the brain needs to heal they really seam to help a lot the chocolate flavor is good and you just mix it with milk again at walmart for 12bucks for a 2lb can ...other then that just hang in there God and time heals you...I also think aftercare is vital weather it be N/A  A/A or a substance abuse conslor even a church pastor can be helpful but you need to plug into something it will help you thew the ruff spots... days like today that you question is this really worth it...the main thing is to try to stay positive...your no longer chained to a pill bottle you now are starting to get some clean time ...place a high value on it..this is truly a battle one or lost in ones own mind... YOU CAN DO THIS its just going to take a little bit more perseverance
but in the end once you start to feel better and you will....it is so so worth it good luck and God bless.....Gnarly .              

[laurel453]

hey, and congrats for your clean time !!!!

[laurel453]

hi, so you mean there is no chance of any vitamins suplemments or stuff like this, right ?....then i can only think of a good and healthy  diet with as much protein as you can...cause protein food is a good source of ltyrosine ( dairy products, meat, wheat, oats )  and ltyrosine will help u to increase the energy levels. And plenty of oranges, bananas ( potassium ) nuts, beans, broccoli ( good sources of magnesium ) . Both will help your muscles to feel better ( i advise you to google about this basics and find more products ...)

also ...a long hot bath will make you feel better...and even if you think like the last thing to do...keep walking with your dog as much as you can, it will benefit you tons.

good luck, lemaroo :)

[banana911]

hey there :)  I am only on day 4 here - - so I am gonna let someone more qualified answer you in detail....  but I have been miserable for 4 days & this is not the first time I have been through this at all...  Actually I used this form 2 1/2 years ago to quit pills - - and was clean from pills for a good 1+ years..  then here and there...  back and forth...  now here I am again.   Don't do that.  I am kicking myself in the *** that I am here again.  And I read many of my old posts & can't believe I would put myself through that again.  
BUT MORE TO YOUR POINT:  The energy does come back.  What were you taking?  That might help the more qualified people answer you better.   Last time my aches went away around your time (7-9 days)  but lack of sleep was my biggest enemy (took weeks and just gradual) - - I had to drive Monday (my day 2) and couldn't focus at all - I don't recomend it.  More info to come from others I am sure....