methadone withdrawal day 4....

[gnarly_1]

well its the top of day 4 for me ....its been tuff but not nearly as tuff as I expected  it to be.....
as many of you know ive been a longgg term opiate addict...10+ yrs of pills and 6 1/2 yrs on methadone
it all started out so Innocently....pain management for my back...soo many pills then they quit working
so on to methadone well about a yr ago it quit working so I figured it was time to get off it and all other
opiates for good....it took 8 1/2 mo to taper from 150mg to 0mg, the taper was E/Z at first but near the end
(last 10mg) it totaly su##ed 4 days of withdrawals every mg i droped  so i was quite apprehensive about the
final withdrawal being horrible...well the truth be known it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be...im not saying
its been a cakewalk but it has been no worst then going threw the last 10mg's...im writing this to encourage
annyone that is fearing the end that your fear like mine is probably worst then the final withdrawal....
now my symptoms haven't been pleasant anxiety,rls panic anxiety and just a total drain of anny energy
but I have had 6 to 8 weeks of this just getting off this stuff so yes its been ruff but is totally doable and
it certainly wasn't worth all the worry over it...so i guess what im saying is this isent always terrible, it
can be done... with some discomfort but not nearly the horror storys that you read about .I guess its
different for everyone but please let this incurage  some of you that this is very doable and so so worth it.
as for now I look forward to all this anxiety ending soon and also my energy returning but until then
I am in this for the long haul and will do whatever it takes to be clean and sober... Gnarly...            

[Iamfree714]

You are doing the impossible, made possible by God, you know it, dude. I'm so proud of you and your will to be methadone free, you are an inspiration to me. I will see Sunday my Brother in Christ!
Great Job
Baruch HaShem!
Rob

[dominosarah]

You have an awesome attitude gnarly!!!  Keep it up!!!  Isnt it great when we finally realize we have the key that unlocks the chains that have kept us down........sara

[whitie]

good report.


he said......

"I am in this for the long haul and will do whatever it takes to be clean and sober..." Gnarly...


I like that, some fortitude and determination. without it, the enemy will over run you in a heart beat. that 800 pound gorilla smells weakness and fears determination!

[gnarly_1]

hey girleee thank you for your concern ....and yes i do have after care in place
I see a substance abuse consolor every week ....have several freinds that are
there 24/7 for me when i just need to talk...if it gets bad im not apposed to going
to N/A meetings ( have done so in past with other addictions) and also am involved
with a grace filled church that is non judgmental and has been a huge part of my recovery and of course ive got this forum witch again has played a huge part
in getting off the methadone...again A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE
Gnarly  

[gnarly_1]

hey girlee wow 40 mg you go girl when i went down I hit a bump at 40mg also just rember it will pass might have to slow down for a bit
maybe give yourself a week... 5 days use to do it for me b/4 you
go down again but the 10% every 72hr wil still be possible if you
give your body and mind a chance when it needs one ...be proud
of yourself your making great progress and even if you have to stop
it dosent mean your going backwards or loosing ground just means
the fight has gotten a bit tougher and you need to give the troupes...
(yourself) some time to regroup and prepare for the fight ahead ...
I know your anxious to get off...I know I was..it couldn't happen fast enough...but keep in mind 10%ever 72 hr is flying off the stuff when your dose gets below 40 mg if you can keep that schedule and only have to stop here and there...you will be methadone free b/4 you know it...keep posting on your progress in the end lisa it is so worth it and with your will and drive you to will be successful ....Gnarly      

[Lisa034]

wow I am sooooo proud of you!!!!!  Great job, you kicked that methadone in the a$$.  Please keep posting everyday letting us know how you feel.  You def make me feel a whole lot better about this.  Reading your post makes me not as scared.  If that makes any sense. Reading your posts takes away a lot of my anxiety. I am now at 40mgs and I have just in the last few days started to feel just a little achy. And kinda stupid but last few days I just cry for no reason been kinda deppressed but they just found a little girl here in my town that was missing and she is dead and that is only about 5 miles from my house. Her name was Somer and it is just so sad.  So I am thinking that some of my anxiety and sadness is from that. I dont know just a whole lot of stuff happening at one time. I just want you to know that i am so proud of you.  I really want you to be successfull.  I want all of us to be successfull!!!  We will be.  Sending my love and prayers your way.

Lisa
Jacksonville,FL

[kiylen]

Thanks for the answers.  I have already been taking a calcium, zinc, magnesium combo and a B6 but only one a day.  I didn't know if you could get too many vitamins and get sicker.  I've heard of all of these things for restless legs, different names - one is supposed to be really good that starts with an H, Hylands or something.  I can't find anything for my legs anywhere.  I guess I may have to try GNC but do they even carry pain relief things?  Anyway, once again you're a great guy and I hope I can do at least half as well as you are doing.  I've learned DO NOT sleep during the day if I can help it.  Then I seem to be okay through the night.  I know towards the end you take it when you can get it no matter what time!  I also have lupus so it really gets fired up when something in my body changes.  Talk about pain on top of pain.  You really make me want to continue the fight.  You and several others have been so great but to know you have made it all the way, is great.  Let me know how long you feel like poop.  I know it may be a couple of months.  One of my main problems was I could not eat anything, and had NO energy! Just taking a shower would almost kill me.  But I can't thank you enough for just being you and being honest and getting through this.  I would like to just give you a big hug!

[gnarly_1]

to answer your questions yes i have done and had some help first thing was go to wallmart and get a calcium/magnesium and zinc supplement 4 in the morning and 4 at dinner been doing this over 5 weeks and noticed a big diference in the withdrawals
got info from health pages second im bypolar so my phyc dr was very concerned
that i might go into a manic episode if I dont sleep so she gave me a short term
script for risteril (temazepam) for sleep it helps but is not perfict actuly it only works
with a hot bath b/4 going to bed and as for the anxiety a bit of zanex again helps but dosent realy get rid of it as ive said b/4 "you just have to be ok...not being ok for a wile
it will pass in time ..at least im told also some stuff called "restful legs' has been helpful
annway i got to run but ask annything you like and i will try to help...Gnarly

[emwave]

Thanks from me, too.  I'm getting off the stuff and have been really apprehensive.  Today I made up my mind not to go onto Sub, so I'm just going to go for it and get off of the methadone.  I wish you well -- congratulations  :)

[kiylen]

Thanks for the post.  You know I've been so apprehensive about getting down to the last stages.  What did you do, if anything, to help with those last few weeks?  I appreciate so much your posts all of the time.  Even at your worst you have been trying to help others.  I know we've talked a few times and you always have such a great outlook.  So, hopefully, my last few weeks won't be like they were when I was thrown into cold turkey without wanting to be while at the hospital and given nothing?  Did you take vitamins, benzos, anything like that?

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

Hey,,, SOOOO proud of YOU!  Keep up the GOOD WORK... you are an AMAZING PERSON... with SOOOO much good advise... I REALLY appreciate YOU and all the GREAT info you have shared...

Lots of Love and Hugs your way!

You ROCK!
NorcoQueen

[dominosarah]

Glad to hear this is going better than you expected.  Are you getting any type of aftercare?