getting back energy methadone withdrawal

[fiftythousandths]

hi,

day 7 into methadone withdrawals after a 10 year addiction. tapered a bit fast, stopped cold turkey at 5 mg a day. the worse seems to be over or getting close...knock on wood. night time seems to stay the worst, skin crawls, fever, 30 minute sleep intervals at best, and waves of depression, bad thoughts, anger.

i'm finding it very hard to move, and once i do feels as if i just got hit by a bus. i'm also having the normal flu like symptoms 24/7, and vision issues. everything seems off, hard to describe but driving has become a little scary.

i'm dealing with the other symptoms okay, but i need to find some energy to get back to work. does anyone know of anything i can take/eat/drink that might help?

thank you

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well you are doing relly well you just got to stick with it it can be painfuly slow but every day is a victory methadone is one hard nut to crack just know it is so worth it when it is said and done for a long habit it takes a wile to recover the sleep and ''energy crash'' are one of the wort symptoms I was hard core 7trs at 150mg but threw a slow taper did help me you will see improvements a 1 month 2 months and it was around 3 that seamed to feel ok again you really got to be ready for the long haul just know it is so so worth it  keep posting for support.......................................Gnarly.............................

[Ejm7263]

So glad to see you post. I'm on day 33. We're doing this, the lack of energy is awful. I'm feeling much better most of the time then out of nowhere a wave of wd. I'm so glad we're doing this.
So grateful your here:)

[fiftythousandths]

day 40 now!

feeling very positive, still catch myself moving around like a zombie here and there but it feels nice to see the ride start slowing down. had my doc test saliva/urine for any methadone in my system and the traces are no longer lingering. pain is still there, but it gets a little less everyday. sleep has been improving, no longer waking up with the skin crawl and deathlike feeling.

reality still seems so weird and i'm a lot easier to get aggravated then i used to be, but it seems so much closer to my vision of a normal life.

[gnarly_1]

Hey good to see you 15 days is great most of the phyical stuff should be gone but there is always one or two things that seam to linger just hang in there recovery comes in baby steps each day is a victory celebrate the little things  like your skin is not crawling anymore  you get the idea for me it was sleep or should I say the lack there of that almost drove me over the edge that and the ''energy crash'' you just have to push threw it  you will get better methadone is very cyclic and just when you think you got it beet it comes back with a vengeance just pace yourself take the good days and be productive and rest on the bad days  push yourself to get outside fresh air and exorsize even if it is just a short walk you win this one day at a time  thanks for posting your progress it took me a good 90 days to be problem free.................Gnarly

[Ejm7263]

Hi welcome. I'm on day 15. I did everything they said on here. Some days it has taken me hours just to get dressed but I've gone to a AA meeting everyday. This site & AA are saving my life 1 second, minute, hour, day at a time.
This site is a special blessing.  

[Ejm7263]

Congratulations on day 28. I'm on day 15, almost 16, lol, counting minutes.
Your such an encouragement.

[fiftythousandths]

thank you! day 23 now.

has been up and down hill nonstop, the blood pressure is finally getting somewhat normal though. lost a total of 18 pounds and decided to try the er again as my doc suggested eating and drinking non stop even if it keeps running through which seemed to make the pain come out amplified.

i still have traces of methadone in my urine but couldn't get any straight answers as to how much. first thing once i seen the doctor was to get offered 30ml of methadone and after i kept denying it got told i'd never make it staying clean as she'd never seen anyone get off who were taking for pain. managed to get a bag of fluid after staying very firm but still had to get the "you've been a bad child" lecture once i wanted to be released.

i keep telling myself it's getting better, but it gets hard when others try to push off negativity especially when the mind is in such an unstable state.

[Sonrissa]

Hi Hon, first congratulations on your clean time. You are really doing this! Hang in there and stay focused on your goal.  Staying active and getting some exercise, like walking your dog is one of the best things you can do. Stay very well hydrated and keep sweating out those toxins. Also take some Epsom Salt baths. Soaking will help with restlessness, and will relax you. They feel wonderful.

Getting off the methadone is absolutely worth the struggle. Stay strong! Be proud of what you have accomplished. All the best!

[fiftythousandths]

work seemed to help a lot, sweat still smells chemical like but i'm feeling better. sleep and the mind constantly racing reminding me of suppressed memories seem to be the hardest, but the pain isn't half of what i thought it would be. heart rate and blood pressure still stay high but it's not always noticeable.

had a minor panic attack and spout of anger which my son made me go to the er for. big waste of time & a black and blue arm from the blown out vein they stuck the iv in, getting off these pills can seem discouraging when every doctor wants to put you in a 60 day detox getting on suboxone or send you to the methadone clinic, but everything seems better the tastes, smells and new perception is almost mind numbing, definitely worth the struggle.

[fiftythousandths]

thank you everyone!!

had a great na meeting today, lacked a bit of sleep being very anxious but it was nice to have some face to face support. think i may have even found a sponsor who was very friendly and has been off methadone for 1 year 7 months after years of heroin abuse.

my mind keeps racing and it's still hard to read very small print but i'm feeling a little stronger everyday. going back to work monday and feeling very motivated cut the grass after i got home and trimmed/ fertilized the bushes, staying busy seems to be helping a lot with the vitamins and eating 3 meals a day.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Well it sounds as if things are improving a bit.  As you start eating and drinking liquids more and your WD's symptoms calm down you will notice the B-12 working even better.  It is fighting against a lot of symptoms that are telling your body "oh just go lie down"....I would not survive without my B-12...I also take a super B complex...so you could always add that on at some point too.

Taking a cab to the meeting is an excellent idea since it isn't far and won't be expensive.  You might be able to hook up with a sponsor who lives close to you who would ride-share.

I'm very impressed that you are going to go especially since you don't feel 100% yet....it is the best thing you could do though.

Take care of yourself!

[weaver71]

Waves, that is exactly how I describe my detox of methadone. The tide will settle in, with occasional tsunamis, but every storm weathered, you will build more and more strength. Make sure you have a good long board to surf back to shore, when the big waves come. It actually starts to be fun, though it is scary to catch a big wave sometimes. It's not safe to surf alone, so find some buddies to paddle with, like mentioned above. It just keeps getting better.

[fiftythousandths]

thank you! last night was much better, managed to sleep for 6 hours and woke up feeling great. the withdrawals are coming in waves and the craving is still there but i manged to get my feet moving better and able to operate the clutch normally. finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel not being a train.

energy is still not 100%, but the shakes are better now that i'm drinking and eating more. i've not got many supportive people to ask for a ride and i'm still so irritable that i'd hate to impose on my son. i found a na meeting tomorrow at 10 am which is only 3 miles away so if i feel too scared to drive i can catch a cheap cab fare.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

I'm so glad the B-12 sublingual worked for you.  If it is increasing the shakes or your anxiety a bit too much just cut it back a little.  This is something that you will probably be using for several months....I still don't have my normal energy back.

Re: NA meetings.  If you don't feel like you can drive safely is there someone who can take you?  If not perhaps research some online groups that you can join until you feel more comfortable driving like SMART Recovery.

Just a thought :-)

[fiftythousandths]

thanks everyone!

last night was rough but i was able to keep down a good meal finally which helped a ton this morning, the restlessness unable to sleep keeps trying to play tricks but it seems to calm down as long as i talk to myself as crazy as it sounds.

the b-12 and protein shake got me moving today increased the shakes a bit but gave me a boost of energy and a surge of hunger(both needed), got to stand up in the shower for 30 minutes instead of laying in the fetal position fighting the skin crawling and was able to walk the dog for a solid hour. felt and looked half dead afterwards but i'm starting to feel better even if only baby steps.

it's been a good while since i've went to aa or na groups but they helped greatly when i was abusing cocaine and booze in my early 20's. soon as i get driving better i plan on starting back going again, just dont want to go too soon and cause a unnecessary accident or worse.

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well it good to see you found a friend with a little more clean time then you  I detoxed off 150mg after 7 yrs of use hands down it was the worst detox I ever had thats what you get when you stay on mmt as long as I did recovery with methadone is slow  sleep was all but impossible and the ''energy crash'' was tuff  the first month is the hardest your emotions will be off the charts  the real trick here is what your going to do with life on lifes terms  granted methadone does not get you high if it is prescribed correctly but as you will see it sorta makes the world a quieter place my wife was ausum she got me out of the house and we walked first it was a block or 2 but each day we would go a little farther exorcise is critical to get threw this now when you hit the mental/emotional part I highly recommed N/A it will give you the tools to stay clean it will change the very way you think  just because you stopped  it does not mean recovery you need to have something in place google N/A meeting in your area   and try to be patant  some come around in a month others 60 day  for me and many others it is a 90 day grind this recovery comes in baby steps just know it is possible and so so worth it keep posting for support.............................Gnarly..........................................
......................................

[Amandag78]

Hey there, big congratulations on day 7 : )
Yea, sweat it out, walks are fantastic in detox if you can drag yourself out the door.
Going to the toilet is an acomplishment lol, so your doing pretty well.
Ive never detoxed meth before but have detoxed subs, and my energy was aweful.
Meth is much harder to get off, so give yourself lots of credit !!!
I agree B vitamins, i use the Mega B, which has all the B vitamins in it.
If your having spouts of depression, i use krill oil and Vitamin D supp with calcium, it also has 6 minerals in it like vitamin K, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Boron, and Magnesium.
My vit D supp is called "OsteVit-D+ Calcium Plus".
Your doing an awesome job on day 7 : )
Well done !!!

[fiftythousandths]

it's really nice to hear some positive words and the thought of actually getting clean being possible, my pm doctor told me 4 days ago i should go on suboxone, as i am and will always be an opiate addict.

i mustered the energy to drive to the pharmacy and bought b12 sublingual liquid and whey protein shake powder. i was also able to walk the dog 4 blocks after i got home, instead of the usual letting out in the yard which felt like an accomplishment as sad as it sounds.

my mind keeps trying to tell me i'll never make it, but i keep fighting it and think of what my mind has clouded with the 2 years on oxys and 10+ years on methadone. readytogetmylifeback is definitely how i feel. 28 days seems a year away but i can't wait to get there, major kudos are due i can only imagine what it must feel like to finally break the chain.

thank you!

[Readytogetmylifeback]

I'm on day 28 off Methadone and I used the l-tyrosine & B12 pills from days 12-23 and it seemed to help. Eating bananas helped me the most, as much as I hate them I would eat 4-5 a day. The lack of energy has been the worst for me and I was finally able to stop taking all these energy boosters a few days ago b/c my energy is FINALLY coming back. And oh how I have missed it!!
Congrats on 7 days!!!

[VICourageous]

Hi..Great Job so far.
Methadone is one of the worst drugs to get out of the system. I was on it with 2 other meds and got it prescribed in 10mg. I did jump at 30mg with the other meds.
This might NOT be you but I used it for around 12 years and this month I will have 2 years in. For about 6 months I went through these strange stages as everything was Balancing out. It still is unfortunately, but I think it has to do with all my years of using..( If I could only take it back)
Right now you can get some Protein powder and make a good Berrie shakes or mix it any way. You need a good plant based vit/min. (now this is just my opinion). You will learn what vit/min will help with energy and which ones will relax you. The Amino Acids are good and I get mine all in one. I do use some like L-Tyrosiine by its self for energy..All the Bs, Cs and so on should help but this all takes time to kick in. Exercise is one of the BIG keys here too. We need to get the Happy & Energy Hormones/Chems back up again that are knocked down from drug use. You can try the SAM-E if you are not on a AD med. Just give it TIME and it will slowly creep back in. The more you do the better you are.
Right now Drink LOTS of water and this will help with Energy too. I would try to stay away from Caffeine right now and too much Sugars. This will lift you insulin up and drop you bad. Eat...Eat & Eat very Healthy. This is so important so you can get all your vit/min in food.
I do wish you the best and there are quite a few of us that had gone through the Methadone Detox and it does take time for this med to get out of the Bones and Cells too. Just keep stepping forward and soon you will be back and ready to go.
Bless

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hi hun and congratulations!  Day 7 is awesome!

What I use for energy is B12 injections.  If you have a regular doc and he will prescribe this that would be awesome.  If not the 2nd best is the B12 sublingual...the liquid form you can get at Walmart for $4 or $5.  My last choice is the B-12 tablets..but it doesn't work as well or as quickly.

If you get the injections or the sublingual take it first thing in the morning.  In my case it takes about 8 hours to kick in...so if I do it at noon or 2 pm I will be awake all night.  Lately I've been getting my injection (hubby does it for me) at bedtime.  That worked great...I slept good and had energy this morning.

Hope that helps :-)