Will I ever get any sleep!!

I have just joined this site at nearly 5.00a.m due to RLS,I am on 19 mls of methadone and very slowly reducing,coping with that but not with the lack of sleep and pains,which I get in my legs,but also in my arms and more recently ankle and wrist joints,is this usual????Doc has put me on diclofenac and codipar,but they dont really help,Anyone else getting pains in arms as well as legs??????Would love to hear from anyone who has a similar story,Thanks.

[cleanmom]

Everyone on here who has detoxed, and most of us have, have felt similar symptoms. There are some over the counter remedies you can use. I use Magnesium for the RLS at 1,000 mgs in the evening. For the cramping you can check your local vitamin store and they have remedies for that. For lack of sleep you can try Valerian Root or Melatonin. All can be found at a vitamin store. Try taking some Vitamin C. Up to 3,000 mgs a day. It will help flush your system out. Vitamin B12 will heal your body and give you some energy back. I have been through all of this and am 56 days clean of everything today. You can do it to. Get to some meetings if you arent already and see a substance abuse counselor if you can. This will help prevent relapse. We are here for you so keep posting. All of us here is going through or has gone through something very hard and we can offer you support, no matter the situation. Best of luck to you and keep posting. God Bless.

Jacky

[cleanmom]

Oh yes and to answer the title of your post. Yes, your natural sleep cycle will return, for me it was about 10 days. For you, you may have to wait until you are entirely detoxed from the Methadone. In the meantime, try some of things i suggested and if all else fails just take a few benadryl, thats what i did and the only thing that worked.

Jacky

[jstntime]

Hello!!

Everything you describe is normal.  I always thought that if someone would have put me in one of those midievel racks that stretch you and cranked it up good that I could get some relief from the surging legs and arms :)

Sleep will return, you need to be patient.  Being patient about lack of sleep is a VERY difficult task, however sleep does eventually return and the arms and legs get better too.

Keep pushing through it and keep your eyes on the prize.  It WILL improve.

Goodluck!!!!

bob

[les05]

Thanks for all ur comments,will certainly try all vitamins etc u mentioned,i have just started magnesium and calcium,and have good keyworker but seem to be able to address pain issues!!!I wiil try anything,cos I am not going to give up,I have come too far.Congratulations on your 56 days!!
Lesley

[les05]

Thanks for your support,a rack sounds like Heaven,if only!!!!I know I will get there in the end,just need a bit of re assurance,
Lesley

[stilltrying1965]

Hi  Lesley a regular sleep pattern only just came back to me after 21 days or so. So sleep does come back. I think its up to the indiviual when ?
I would like to say to you . GREAT JOB so far, keep it going. Lesley you can do it my friend
,,,,,James

[les05]

Does me good to know I will get there in the end,just want to get off meth asap but keyworker will only let me reduce 2/3 mls evry 4 weeks,just want it over with,the pain is driving me crazy,but like I said I wont give up,I have too much to lose
Lesley

[crashed]

Hey there,and yes I can relate,just as everyone else on here can. I went nearly 5 straight days and nights with less than 2 hrs. of sleep the total time. Last night was the first night that I actually got sleep and got 4-5 hrs I think.It takes a while for your body's natural chemicals that put you to sleep at night,to come back from the opiate use. The lack of sleep thing is the hardest part to get past. Try not to stress out about not getting to sleep every night because I assure you that worrying about it only compounds the problem.

don't go to bed until you feel sleepy and when you do go to bed turn off all the lights,no t.v. no drinks no eats and make it as quiet and relaxing as possible. When you lay down,try not to watch the clock,that only makes it worse and if you don't go to sleep within atleast an hour,get back up and do something to occupy your mind. I know it's hard to think about anything else but your lack of sleep,but trust me on this one....it only makes it worse.

Hang in there,I am pulling for you and thinking about you.

michael

[gnarly_1]

HI Lesley....my how I feel your pain....I detoxed off 150ml..6 1/2yr methadone habit 165 days ago....when you get around 20ml it can start to get pretty ruff with the withdrawals
your doing good to be getting down low on your dose just hang in there.....20 ml for me was miserable and it took 6 weeks to get past it but don't fret it does get eazer from time to time its just certain doses your body will find hard I went from 20 to 10ml in 2 weeks with little withdrawal when I got to 10ml I went 1 ml a week but felt every drop
for 4 days....go to walmart and pick up some calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement
it only 6 bucks for 250...I would pop 4 in the morning and then 4 at dinner it cut the withdrawals in 1/2..as for the speed of your taper you should be able to tell the clinic to speed it up...you will have to sigh some papers that say I want off "medically supervised withdrawal " it safe to go at 10% every 72hr thats the rate I went at
sometimes I would have to wait a week to drop doses to give my body a chance to adjust but for the most part the 10% every 72hr thing worked well....no reason to prolong the agony ...hang in there the end is getting near for you...the last 20ml are the hardest but it is doable...".you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile" this to shall pass in time the aches and pains are part of detoxing off methadone...I dont think they can be avoided but you only have to get to 5ml to jump off so the end is near but I would speed up your taper if at all possible to get it over with once you get to 10ml then slow down to 1ml a week tilll you hit 5ml then jump....tapering below 5ml is miserable and I don't recamend it my final withdrawal was no wost then tapering below 5ml so just jump off at 5ml...if I can answer any questions for you feel free to ask here in the forum or P/M me and I will get back to you ...good luck and God bless......Gnarly      

[les05]

Thanks for your comments,all this support is so good,especially at times like this(4.20 a.m!!)when I cant sleep and pain in  my arms is almost unbearable,managed 1 hour,then like u suggested got up,and have been on computer for last 2 hours,it helps take my mind off it,but as soon as I lay down all I can think about is the pain,thank God I have found this site and people like you
Lesley

[les05]

Thank you so much for all that info,really is useful,I am in UK so we dont have Walmart,but have similar,after doing a bit of research a few days ago I did buy calcium/magnesium/zinc tablets but only taking 1  three times a day,I will certainly up the dosage now.Also I will contact my clinic and try and get my reduction speeded up,seems pointless to me prolonging the pain especially when the Methadone is holding me,otherwise its is going to be at least 6 months before the end is in sight,I would rather get it done quicker,at the end of the day pain is pain ,why put up with it longer than necessary.Cant believe how well u have done in such a short time,it is always a fight here to get a reduction and it really makes me mad,I know how my body is feeling and they dont want to listen,but after reading your post I will be giving them hell!!!Just to confirm,you reckon that when I get down to 5mls stop taking the methadone??Makes sense to me!Reading your post has made me feel so much more positive now I know I can get off sooner rather than later,before I couldnt imagine carrying on like this for at least 6 months, i know its not going to be easy but I feel much more positive now!!Can I ask how long u have been off the methadone????Thanks again, you are an angel !
lesley

[violet29]

I too am fighting for a good nights sleep!! I find the anxiety as well as pain makes it nearly impossible... I've taken melatonin but I need ALOT, and this causes nightmares.

A bit of excercise and some vitamins should help...

Vi

[les05]

Managed 2/3 hours last night,did wake up pain free for about an hour,took 4 calcium/magnesium/zinc tablets,1 codipar and 1 diclofenac,felt a bit sick,but that soon passed,i am not feeling too bad at the moment although pain is constant in my arms,but bearable if I keep busy,not always possible when u r so tired and have no motivation.Are u in us or uk because have looked up melatonin and it doesnt seem readily available in uk.Are the nightmares worth the sleep you do get through taking the melatonin???I walk daily and yes this does help,and will be getting vitamins sorted out,but I do think keeping occupied helps if u have the energy,good luck and take care
Lesley

[abritt121222]

Potassium and magnesium will help with the rls along with hylands rls which is available at walmart and is not very expensive also melatonin and some kind of over the counter sleep Aid all will help with the rls and sleep but nothin will take all withdrawals away exept for suboxone which opensba whole nook book but u could talk to a doc about that because I am by no means a doc just a fellow addict who has been where u are a number of times with oxy tho not methadone

good luck stay strong and everything will b ok
abritt
o yea and use all the vits about 30-45

[les05]

Unfortunately we cant get hylands or meletonin in uk,only by ordering from us,I have been looking on line at sleep aids and found one which is mainly valerian root to help with insomnia,seems thats the best we can do here!!May just have to order melatonin as many people have mentioned it,started taking the calcium/mag/zinc as suggested by Gnarly and already seems abit of an improvement in my legs,working on getting vits next week when I can afford it!!!Thanks for the help,it is all good.
Lesley

[abritt121222]

Potassium is the biggest thing for rls that will help try and get that and take it with the others

[stilltrying1965]

Good to here your feeling a wee bit better. you also got 3 to 4 hours sleep this is great news As this was one of my biggest problems no sleeping was an absolute nightmare so im really happy for you. Thanks for the friends invite it would be a pleasure to be you friend Keep up all your good work its awesome.Take care and again the very best of luck to you ,,,,,James

[les05]

Will try the potassium as soon as I can,thanks for that
lesley

[les05]

Thanks for your support james,feeling bad at the moment,pain is driving me crazy,mostly in my arms,cant wait till next week when I have money so I can get Vitamins etc,how times have changed,not so long ago all I would think about spending my money on was heroin,now its herbal remedies and vitamins,that feels good!!Hope u r doing well!
Lesley

[stilltrying1965]

Yep i can also rember when i was spending all my money on heroin too. But its great to be buying herbal remedies. And all or the right reasons. we can all do this i fought my heroin addiction for 14 yrs I was also 200 plus days clean then thought 1 bag wont hurt. It did it led me straight back into acctive addiction But im now over 3 weeks clean and loving it. I wont make the same mistake again ,,,,, James

[pharma9]

It's like cigarettes ,You just can't have only one....and really what is the point of having only one...you really don't get anything out of it.The same with a "high"...what's the point of any.
We don't need that one.

[les05]

I have been fighting heroin for about 8 years,relapsed once,mainly due to leg pains,but so much to lose now,will never go back now,but think it happens to most of us.Congratulations on your 3 weeks,you must be so proud,just keep it up!!!!!
lesley

[les05]

How right u are,unfortunately most of us have learnt the hard way,but sites like these do help so much.
Lesley

[les05]

Just to let you know that I have spoken to my keyworker and told him I wanted to get off the methadone asap and he agreed and thinks I could do it so going down 4mls next week,then2mls every 2 weeks till 5mls and then off,I know I will have a few weeks of hell after that but at least I can see light at end of the tunnel and am feeling very positive,he also said he can sort me out sleeping tablets which is good cos I have had 2hours each night for the last few days and im am so tired,but hanging in there,thanks again for all your advice,gave me so much hope and courage to speak to my keyworker and tell him what I wanted,will keep u posted!!!
Lesley

[gnarly_1]

HI Lesley hey that drop of 4ml is a bit large 10% of 20 is 2ml so im not a doctor but I did follow a taper given to me by a neo/natal nurse and 10% is a lot in the lower doses don't push it with methadone you will only wind up in withdrawals slow and steady wins this race you will be off b/4 you no it going at that pace...I get worried every time I see someone try and rush it ...I tryed and lived to regret it....good luck and God bless...Gnarly