What damage have I done?

[asmithharry]

I have got a tingling pins and needles sensation wherever I stretch my body or move in a particular way. I have had this problem for at least ten years and it seems to be happening when the weather is colder than summer. I have not suffered with this every year but rather more intermitently. I have abused amphetamines for the past fifteen years or so and for the last five of them on a daily basis. Is this going to be a relevant factor in all this?

[tom to asmithharry]

why wait for the doc's answer (if it ever comes)? Go get checked out by a neurologist. Of course, you'll have to tell him about the speed. So, you can  wait til Dr Whatever replies or just make the appts. You know that's what he's going to say. You want him to say there's nothing to worry about, but, when it comes to neuro symptoms especially, the doc is always going to want to see you. I wouldn't waste too much time waiting for a reply from Steve. He rarely participates anymore. It's strictly patient and addict self-serve around here.

[Dirk's update after Doctor's visit.]

I really wasn't expecting to get to hear from the doctor here.  If he does, then that would be great.  I was hoping more to hear from other people who have been in this situation or know someone close to them who has and they know about this problem. I totally agree that I need to go see a Specialist.  I wish I could do that right now, but my insurance doesn't kick in until Feb 1, so I'm hoping to learn something until then.  

Thanks

[Dirk's update after Doctor's visit.]

Sorry, I somehow responded to the wrong forum.

[Marryanne]

Today I woke up with a pounding headache and proceeded to the point of vomiting.  Threw up so hard that I started to loose consciousness and would panic/take some deep breaths and slowly return to feeling somewhat normal.  For anyone who's reading this and doesn't know me, I am going through Lorcet withdrawal with the help of the med dox buprenorphine/clonidine/baclofen.  Anyway, I called Dr. Goob's office and they said it might be happening because I skipped a dose of the buprenorphine on Wednesday and that I have to go back in tomorrow morning to get more (I only had 3 injections and am now out). I did take one this morning and I'm not sure it helped.  The headache is gone and now I feel like I just want to keep throwing up and that I could just fall asleep at the blink of an eye.  I am not achy or anything else.  Is this "normal" for opiate detox? Please, someone write back right away as I am very scared.  I heard some people say they puke alot during cold turkey and since I am out of medication and won't get anymore bup until tomorrow am so anything you can tell me will be helpful.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Maryanne

[Marryanne]

am very sick, sponsor is taking me to inpatient detox.  Talk to you guys in 10 days

[saphireblue39]

MaryAnn,  Read your post,   Yes, it is normal to puke during opiate withdrawal,  you are getting more BUP tomorrow?  I would think if yiu have been on it for awhile that you should be done?  I don't know much about it.  I do know about opiates tho and yep  ouking, cramping, chills, shakes etc.   are all the fun part of it,    take care and good luck   keep us posted on things      saph

[cin91860]

To MaryAnn,


Hi Mary Ann,  I have been through opiate withdrawal and yes, puking does go along with it.  How long have you been on this stuff?  Since last Friday?  how long did your doc tell you this would take    let me know what's going on   Cindi

[tom to Maryanne]

go as you said, and let us know when you can about how you're doing. Here's another slant though:

Have you ever had migraines? Intense headaches, from causes as simple as sinusitus to hangover to plain old caffeine withdrawal headache, can result in violent nausea and vomiting, after which you usually experience some pain relief.

I have had terrible caffeine withdrawal headaches when i tried to abruptly stop taking caffeine or caffeine-containing pain killers (like Excedrin) which led to INTENSE headaches leading to violent vomiting. Could you have a caffeine or migraine factor in all of this? Might be worth considering.

Get well.

tom

[Brighty to Maryanne-- lots of questions]

I am praying for you... sounds awful... but the replies are reassuring. Can you please answer a few questions when you come home from detox ? I think I am confused and maybe others want to know.... did the doc give you the ampules to take home and inject yourself or did you have to go to his office daily ? Or does one injection last for a couple of days. I am curious about the mechanics of this treatment and how it is handled. Why did you not get the Wednesday injection ?? Did you run out or did you forget to take it ? How does the doctor handle weekend treatments ? Is the office closed or did he send you with take homes ? I think you said you are a nurse... so you would know how to inject yourself... but what about patients who could not handle this ?? I hope you will be able to reply when you get home so those here who are thinking of this treatment will have a better understanding of what to expect. In the meantime.... stay close to God and hang tough. Love, Brighty

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

Tom,
How did you finally get off of the caffeine?  I drink 6 cokes sometimes more a day.  I would like to know how you finally stopped drinking them without having headaches.
Thank You.
Shelly

[tom to Shelley]

of course, anything I say here reflects my experience and your reaction might differ (I'm not a doctor), but here it is:

everyone thinks you should be doing some kind of taper, where you start with your usuall, say, two-cup coffee dose, then slowly taper the doses down to 1 1/2 cups, 1 cup, etc. Or you may be talking about excedrin or no-doze, etc.

However, I found this didn't work. Instead, do this:

If you're used to taking two excedrin or two cups of coffee, do this: go as long as you can between doses of caffeine, that is, until your headache returnes, then take YOUR USUAL DOSE of caffeine, not a tapered dose. Then, you simply try to go longer each time between regular doses. After about 4 days or so, you will probably be able to go indefinately between doses. But, each time you feel a headache return, take the normal dose (the amount that takes your headache away. Usually, you'll go from, say, 2 tablets of caffeine every 6 hrs., then two tablets every 8 hrs, 2 tablets every 12, etc.

Let us know how it works for you!

[Marryanne]

Hi, I am back.  I went to the emergency room on Friday afternoon and they did a CT Scan.  They told me my sinuses are all infected (sinusitis) and on top of the withdraw, that's why I was so sick.  I am taking an antibiotic.  The people came to the ER from Princeton House to talk to me about inpatient.  But my insurance company would not pay because I had already been off opiates a few days.  Gotta love these insurance companies.  Anyway, the rep from Princeton House said it sounds like I'm already ahead - having a sponsor and a good support at home and all (plus attending meetings) so she felt I just need outpatient counseling (I'll be going 3 times a week for 2 hours each night after work).  I've been SO sick since Friday that I could not post here.  Just laid in bed in misery.  I am still sick but not as bad.  I NEVER WANT TO FEEL THAT WAY AGAIN! and my sponsor told me I never have to if I stay clean one day at a time.  To answer some questions from the above posts:  The doctor gave me 3 injects of Buprenex to take subcutaneosly and clonidine and baclofen pills to take.  I was supposed to take one inject a day but was not feeling sick Wed so I didn't take the inject (the doctor had told me that I might not need all the medication since my habit wasn't that bad)  Later I found out that he meant the pills - not the injects!  Also, alot of heroin addicts take this detox so you can guess that they know how to inject (the ones that inject it).  The doc knew I was a nurse so he didn't teach me but I'm sure he gives instructions to those who don't know how.  I don't know if I would have been so sick if I didn't have sinusitis. Doc is open Saturdays but I didn't go back because I got compazine suppositories in the ER (they are for nausea) and I decided to just "tough it out".  I am still not well but much better than Friday.  I am clean now 6 days - i can't believe I did it!!!!  I am never touching that stuff again - I NEVER want to go through this again.  So I'm going to meetings, meetings, meetings.  Today I will stay clean.  Thank you all for your continued support, my friends.               God Bless, Maryanne

[CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!]

Glad to see you are still here. I just posted above. Hope you can help me out. I know this sound stupid but I am having trouble finding an AA or NA meeting in my area. Could you please help me out with this. Chad

[tom to Chad]

good to hear from you, too, Chad.

try this site:

http://www.soberspace.com/region.htm

I'm looking for a confidential detox and will be using the same site to find  my meetings.

Good luck.

[To Tom and rest of forum from Maryanne]

to find meetings in your area type in "Alcoholics Anonymous" and then your state.  I found my meeting lists for NJ by typing (in the address bar) "Alcoholics Anonymous NJ" and bam - there they were.  Then you've got your choice of counties, etc.  Good luck Chad.  They will save your life.

[CHAD FROM PHILLY!!!]

Tom, I went to that site and e-mailed them a question to see if a NA meeting would be better than a AA meeting as I don't drink. What is your opionon?

[tom to Chad]

even though my addiction puts me in the NA club, I always got more from AA meetings. My experience with NA was that there was not as much sobriety in any given room (lots of NA-ers are going to flame me for that, but it was MY experience only). I just felt more comfortable in the AA meetings I chose and got more from them. Without trying to figure out why, I say try both and go to the meetings that help you stay sober the best. In the end, we're all drug addicts. It's a waste of time to worry about details like N vs. A.

I need to get back to these meetings myself. It's been a long time, though, and I'll be doing what you're doing -- searching for the meetings that help the most. Good luck. Good to hear from you again.

[Gene to Joanne]

Hello Chad and everyone else here.   I have been reading your posts ever since you first came to this forum & am very familiar with your battles with opiates.  I am glad to see you posting again.  I don't know what has happened to make you feel not totally welcome here but it does not matter.  Anyone with addiction problems are welcome here.

I first started posting here last June, 2000.  I just noticed that they cleaned out all of the posts before a few months ago & I haven't looked for the older posts yet.  Like you, I am addicted to Oxycontin.  I have been for over 2 years now.  I went to detox last July (inpatient) and got sober.  I was OK for a few months but daily nasty headaches pushed me back towards Percocets and eventually, Oxycontin again.

I did stay sober after detox for about 3 months and I credit Alcoholics Anonymous for that miracle!  I DO NOT DRINK and never have!  But I only went to AA meetings & have NEVER been to a NA one.  Why?  Because AA meetings  seem to be a much better place to get sober & stay sober.  The people there are really dedicated to staying sober at any cost.  I need to see that.  I went to daily meetings for 90 days & I loved everyone of them!

I learned so much from the people in the rooms about how to be happy with myself.  I learned that I do have a higher power & that there is spirituality in my life after all.  I am not an Atheist like I thought I was.

There is so much that I want to say right now but I have to get to bed so I will end this post here.  I will be checking back here daily so everyone, please write back.

There are ways to get & stay sober so don't lose hope!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

It's good to see that you are doing so well, Gene.  I've been hanging around this forum for several months and read most of your posts.  It's great to hear some success stories once in a while!

Not to defame NA but I also found that AA worked better for me.  The group I go to is basically AA but also drug oriented as well. It's so important to find a meeting that clicks with you.  You have to want to be there and feel secure in order to keep coming back.  That's the only way you can make it through the critical ninety day or ninety meeting period.  Anyway, I can relate to your excitement about the program!  It's hard to put into words, isn't it?  Yes, there is a better life for us, and all it costs us is one hour of our time a day!

[Gene to Joanne]

Hi JB, glad to finally talk to you after reading so many of your posts here!  AA is a very exciting tool to have for dealing with life as well as addiction.  I have been to many different types o fmeetings as well as different groups. I found the ones that I really click with.  Yes, there are a lot of drug addicts in AA, that's for sure.  If I could drink, I would definitely be an Alkie. Fortunately for me, my body has an intolerance for alcohol.

For me, AA is the best type of group therapy meeting you can go to & it only costs $1 a session!!  If you reread my last post carefully, you will realize that I have relapsed big time.  I have been using Oxy for about 3 months now.  I could not stand the daily headaches I had ever since detox.  I went to different doctors & tried various non addictive drugs to no avail.  I finally got a few perc's from a friend & when I took some, my headache was gone, vanished.  I started buying them & eventually got some Oxy's when there were no perc's available.  As you can guess, my use has increased steadily since that time.

I know a lot more about detoxing & have the necessary meds here to do so but it's sooo hard to pick a day & just start the process.  While I am taking my regular doses of Oxy, I feel fine.  But if I skip just one dose, then WHAM!, the withdrawal starts!

I have spent every penny I had saved up since my last bout with Oxy & even masnaged to get into more debt with credit lines & credit cards.  So I have a big job ahead of me, a very difficult one.

Thanks for listening & any help or advice would be appreciated.

Gene

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I believe that you are going to be alright in the future.  At least you know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and all is not hopeless.  I found myself slipping backwards and had a relapse during the holidays.  I was away visiting family out of town and away from my "home base".  When I got home, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and got back with the program again.  Sure, a few people blasted me for my slip but they really do care about me and want the best for me.  

God, going through withdrawal sucks.  Doesn't it?  Then on top of it all we end up emotionally, morally and financially bankrupt!   We also know that there is a better way to go in life that can restore our sanity and allow us to live life to it's fullest.  Why then do we lose our way at times a choose the wrong way?  The old timers in AA say it's because we have a "weak" progam.  But even a weak program is better than no program at all.  Keep trying my friend!