Been clean for 21 days and trying to live again...man it is hard...

[azureangel]

Once all the pain and battle of coming off the Vicadin is gone how do you start picking up the peices?  I had two surgeries a little over 6 weeks ago...I am just starting to exercise and do little things again.  I quit living about 3 years ago so this is real hard.  I can not do a whole lot but even short walks seem to wear me out big time.  Daily housework is still to much so I try to do 10 mins a day which does not get it clean but keeps it ok.  My family is great help but I am struggling to heal my marriage and be a great mom again.  How did you all pull your lives back together or how are you trying to to?

Thanks to any and all who answer and blessing to all.  

[SandySlope]

Sometimes I am SOOOO tired of the fatigue and the lack of motivation it drives me NUTS.....I cant wait to get "normal"again. I feel ya....sometimes it feels good to vent, too.

Some days, anxiety comes back a bit.....I have definitely been feeling the 3 steps forward, 2 back, 4 forward, another 2 back........Today is a good day for me, but I got the back pain, which sets me back a bit.....Cup half full though, at least Im feeling slightly motivated a bit.

[azureangel]

Thanks all.  I have the positive attitude most of the time but today is hard and like hitting my face on a brick wall.  I know I can get through this thanks for the kind words and support.

[SandySlope]

4 years on pain pills and a month clean right here. Im dragging for sure, but each week as a whole gets better. Woke up this AM. with really bad back pain.  Now I know I need physcial therapy and stretching, stuff I neglected when numb. I also took some ibuprofen instead, I think those actually help with the back pain more than the pills did. The pills were mostly a mental relief I think, especially in the end.
Fatigue has been the hardest thing for me to overcome, even with the amino acid protocol. (I think those B vitamins and L Tyrosine is helping though, along with 5-HTP for depression) What is getting me through is a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Being kind to myself that its OK to feel fatigued, at least Im not on the pills anymore. I know with PATIENCE that the energy will come back, it might just take another month or 2. Another month of fatigue is SO MUCH BETTER than a lifetime of pills and dope sickness!!! We gotta keep things in perspective here, as much as it's hard to at times. Cup half full, not half empty!!
Make a list of the benefits to quitting and keep it handy. In this thread so far there are a few.....personal plumbing working well is a big one. :) haha.....Getting oxygen to the brain by excercising....having your senses return.....and outlook on life can change sooo much for the better if you put your mind to it.
I woke up from a bad dream this AM. My friend said, that means you are evaluating your life and making a leap. I realized that for years on the pills, I was having super hazy good dreams, and they were barely there. It was kind of refreshing to have a vivid stressful dream, truly an awakening, that life isn't candy coated, and that I can face things now without hiding in fog. Im determined!
I think I need to excercise more, and start taking some herbs that are good for memory and thinking, help aid the brain thru this adjustment. ALso I gotta keep reminding myself that along with all the new frustrations, there are AWARDS, and they are in our faces daily. New sense of taste and smell, new libido, no more pill guilt, and when the motivation comes back it is going to be REAL and maybe I can actually truly get some real stuff done if I am just PATIENT!! :)
Hang in there!

[broknbck]

well before we got a false sense of well being.
now we have to get the real thing. one of the best ways to feel good, is to get real healthy. of course eating good, exersize , all that stuff.
there is another part of healthy that many don't want to talk about. but it is a fact that you just cannot go to the bathroom while you are on those pills. hah sure that changes real quick when you quit. but a good cleansing program is usually needed for years of this. it can be a huge factor to your well being and low energy.
congrats to you and hope you are where you want to be soon!

[10356]

One day at a time.. It is surprising how much of ourselves we loose to the addiction on pain meds but this all comes back once the fog lifts and we are not numbing our emotions. I had my shoulder replaced 2 and 1/2 months ago and stopped the pain meds 3 weeks after. there are still a lot of things that are difficult to do but they will come back. just try to take it one day at a time and as time goes you will be doing more.. the best thing you did for yourself and family was get off the pain meds as they dull who we are our family misses us.. just having you back will be a great starting point in healing the emotional. congrats on this by the way :) 3 years is a long time I was on them 4 so I understand. just give it time ok keep up the walks and a positive attitude makes such a difference.. lesa