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Avatar universal

Lethargy for weeks or months?

Mostly I think I need some reassurance.  Still sorting through issues of depression and withdrawal.  Day 19 w/o cough syrup.  The histussin was just enough to give me a boost.  I really didn't think I was taking that much, but my usage escalated over the past 6 months.  Now I'm off and still struggling with having any energy.  Just getting through the minimum of caring for family is wiping me out. Wonder if I'll laugh again sometimes.  I still cry at the drop of a hat.  THe shrink says some feelings surfacing from past trauma etc.  If that's the case-- I liked them a lot better numbed. I felt way better than this when I was taking the cough syrup.  I miss my energy and humor and feeling like I can handle things.
The docs are still insisting I take xanax, clonidine along with my Lexapro.  I'm trying to follow directions, but I get frustrated and don't take it sometimes because it seems to make me feel even slower and other times have tried taking more than they prescribed--trying to "medicate" like I did with the cough syrup.
Forced myselfe to go walking yesterday-- I got the worse case of "itchy legs" I've ever had.  I thought I was going to have to drop my trousers and scratch in front of the whole neighborhood.  
I've read so much on the internet that sounds so discouraging and dramatic.  I would love to hear from someone who could give me some hope that this isn't going to last for months and months.Does the lethary ever "melt away"?  Can I realistically hope to be feeling lots better by say, February
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Avatar universal
Hi--I just posted a question kinda similar--SIMPATICO. :) Want to make sure you have a doc experienced with addiction and withdrawal. I am a psychologist by profession (and a struggleing recently qit addict, sadly) and am not doling out any professional advice but would caution against attributing too many 'bad feelings' to anything BUT w/d. It all depends upon what feels right for YOU, to be sure, but, also, if you are not happyw itht he way your w/d is going, maybe it time to, also, think about a second opinion? Drs are not all the same.Just random thoughts from the 'peanut gallery' .. HUGS!!
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Avatar universal
Forced myselfe to go walking yesterday-- I got the worse case of "itchy legs" I've ever had. I thought I was going to have to drop my trousers and scratch in front of the whole neighborhood.
------------------------------------
mamabear....I was having a really crappy day today..not cuz of pill withdrawals, I was over those a while ago....but just the messy house, the kids making me nuts...etc...ya know, just a BAD DAY.
When I read what you posted....LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
I know it wasnt meant to be funny..but I couldn't help it..all I could picture was looking out my window and seeing someone outside with their pants dropped to their ankles just scratching away...ROFL I STILL can't get over the giggles on that one.
I really hope things start getting better for you..and I can tell you they will, I know they will cuz I went through that hell of w/d last year and HELL it sure was.
But, I wanted to thank you for that post.......I am still laughing at the thought........:):):):)


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Avatar universal
Everyone is different.  No one can predict when you are going to feel "normal".

Know what.. this is a freaking deprssing time of year to start with ... YANNO!

I'm going to tell you this is my 5th week anni... of being off Vicodins... know when I feel better?

When I decide I have to feel better... if that makes any sense.  When I decide that I'm going to sit around and ponder my withdrawl and start to feel sorry for myself.. I feel worse.

Since I can't get away with letting anyone I work with that I am "clean" or different... I have to go into and "I'm ok pretend mode" and ususally after a bit ... I wind up truly being OK.

What you are going through happens to most of us .. w/drawing from our drug of choice.  For some reason one way or the other it just does... we are missing our "kick"... only thing NOW THAT I do notice is.. yea.. I still have bad moments...but I really am seeing and feeling 'bouts of feeling normal.  Which three weeks ago were eluding me.

It will all work out

Gip
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Avatar universal
Just one more little note.

Xanax does releive anxiety.   However, It is noted to be the KING OF BENZOS.... If you can manage to read about it... it is horrible to get off of after any long term use.

If you have a choice don't take the Xanax for anything.

It has a very short half life.... if you happen to smoke it's effacy (seplling to but lazy to check) is about 50%... and after a week or two of using it, you will need to wean yourself off of it.  IT IS EXTREMELY physcially addicting and could do quite a bit of harm stopping to take it cold turkey.

If you really need something to calm you down... Talk to the Dr. and start with a really low dose of something like Librium...it has a much longer half life- meaning it last more line 6 - 10 hours rather than three hours...and it's way not as powerful.

Gip

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Avatar universal
So glad to make you laugh!  Maybe my humor isn't completely gone!  
I have some sick little ones.I took one to the doctor and lunch.  By the time we got home, we were so wiped out.  We "vegged out" on the couch with blankies and watched  the "Barnyard" DVD. It even made me laugh out loud a little! Hope!
And just to add to the excitement, the pediatrician suggested that we get our house checked for carbon monoxide poisening.  We have a big family (6 kids).  We've been having a lot of headaches, nausea, low energy.  Probably the time of year in the Pacific Northwest, but we had a big power outage last month.  He said with this many people having symptoms, we need to get our house checked. So the power company is coming sometime tonight. They said if we are not home, they will have the fire department come break down the door--seriously!
Never a dull moment at our house.  
I still don't know a lot about rehab--but it's starting to sound more like a vacation!
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