any other methadone addicts in here

[lucyred68]

any one else in here a methadone addict? i really need some info about how long the sleeplessness will last.

[justlikeyou]

i had about 20 compleltely sleepless nights from pain pill withdrawl.

it sucked.

[lucyred68]

i have already had 24 sleepless nights.  hopefully it is almost over.

[grievingwidow]

I am still on my methadone but I want so badly to finally be free of it, just scared.  So you both have been off for a while now, or at least to me going over 20 days without it is just unthinkable.  Were you both in total and complete hell during the first 20 days?  Is no sleep your main problem now?

Love, Cindy

[lucyred68]

i have only been totally off for 8 days, and yes sleeplessness is really the worst of whats left.  still get a few sweats and chills, but nothing compared to how it started.  it is truly worth it all to be back in my own body now.  i lost a year and a half of my life.  memory loss, personality loss.  n-one wanted to be around me.  i was a whining, selfish person while on it and that is not my normal self.  i am a loving, giving person in real life.  you can make it.  if i could anyone can.  my prayers are with you.    

Lucyred

[grievingwidow]

I am sorry, one more question.  I just wandered, I know you have to be glad to be off this stuff because who wants to be an addict and have drugs control your life, right?  But my question is this:  do you TRULY feel better physically? Do you think I will feel better in the mornings and have more energy during the day after I have all meds totally out of my system?  I mean, I know it is better to not have these drugs control your life but it has been so long since I have not taken some kind of opiate every day (like 20 years) that I have forgotten I think what I felt like before.  I do remember way long ago though how I would wake up in the morning energetic and happy.  Of course now I am dealing with depression over the death of my husband so the happiness part may not come and I understand that, but do you really feel physically better off the meds?  Like you, I have become a hermit socially and am nowhere close to the same person I used to be so long ago.  I do want to have my life back but just want to make sure it is possible, I don't want to stop the pills if I am just going to feel even worse than I already do.  I am not talking about withdrawal, I expect that to be hell, but afterwards is what I am talking about.

Love, Cindy

[lucyred68]

from one cindy to another.  i go by lucy in here, but my name is really Lucinda (cindy).  Yes, it is worth it.  my energy is still low, cause i am not totally throough the symptoms.  that is why i try to warn anyone who is starting or thinking about starting methadone.  nasty stuff.  it was rotting my teeth even.  have had to have two pulled because of it!!  the things that dr's don't tell you.  I know I will be back to normal when my energy returns.  still weak from not much food, 10 lb. weight loss in two weeks, no sleep.  but i feel better every day.  i was able to help with tear down from graduation last night. couldn't have done that three or four days ago, so it gets better every day.  it was deffinately worth every bit of struggle.  you'll make it.  and the pain i was in that led me to take it in the first place feels better OFF the dope.  it's hard to do, you need someone to support you like my hubby did.  i'll be praying for you.  my faith really helped me too.  when it seemed impossible, and the cravings got really bad, I would call on God for help, and He was always there for me.  

Lucy (Cindy)

[Dave W.]

Hey,it's been only 10 days for me,Methadone free,but not opiate free
unfortunaetly. I do need the oxy for true cronic pain.Stopped a 4 year 8omg
a day Methadone maintenance program cold turkey.I'm sure I don't need to
explain how bad it was,but of all the nightmarish symptoms,yes the insomnia
and tremors far exceeded my expectations.Luckily I only had about 8 days
of total no sleep,even with sleep aids,but it is getting much ,much better as
I can now get almost a good night sleep with the use of Valium and the with-drawls that start back up in the morning are actually bareable,so that's my body telling me it's time to concentrate on tapering the oxy's. I truely do want
to be totally drug free.Just take it one day at a time,and never loose focus on
what you want to acheive with your own personal addiction battles.The battles
can be conquered in time,just never give up Greivingwidow and everyone in need on here.God Bless All.

[grievingwidow]

You are both so sweet to take the time to help and encourage me. I really want to stop this and I feel like I am closer than I have ever been before, in part due to this board.  I know I would earn the respect of my children who by now are well aware of my problem.  They still love me and understand but I know they want me to be well.  Lucy (or should I say Cindy!) I cannot believe you said that about losing your teeth - in the last four years I have had five teeth pulled!  I thought it was due to another addiction of mine - carmel apples!  I am starting to believe though that it is from my addiction.  I don't know if I can do withdrawal at home now that my husband has passed, I cannot imagine him not being here just to hold my hand like he did the few times I went through withdrawal in the past, so I suspect a rehab facility will be the choice for me plus I need all the tools I can get in order to not relapse.  Just want to say thank you to you both - I will let you know when the time comes that I am brave enough to finally regain control of my life.

Love, Cindy

[lucyred68]

YOU GO GIRL!!!!   You will make it.  my two kids knew and my adult son warned me when i started taking the methadone. he had seen other kids go through it.   but i thought the dr. knew best.  so sorry that i never listened to my son.  i would have been better off, but then i wouldn't be able to help others.  that is the only positive thing about it all.  now i understand what addiction is all about and i can offer hope to others.  it's worth it all to me.  i guess i sound like an idiot, but i always try to find the positive.

Lucy