All normal progression!! It took me over a week to finally sleep. Depression gets better, but there will be ups and downs. What worked incredibly for me was walking. No matter how far, though I just wanted to run from the crappy feeling until I was exhausted. Exercise starts your endorphins again that the drug has suppressed. I would walk as many times as I needed to telling myself as I walked "I can do this", "this feeling won't last forever". Exercise and telling yourself these positive things works! It sounds simply unexciting, but I promise it works IF you do it. Take multivitamins and multimineral supplements along with Omega 3 for the brain. You're in the worst part right now, but it's the shortest part of withdrawal. Drink ... Naked Juice is good, it's all pure, Special K has a protein powder to mix with water. Hot bath soaks are awesome. You must work your way out of this being proactive. Listen to those who have been off the painkillers for days to months. Let them inspire you that it is possible to do this. I am Day 28 today. Brain scans of an addict taken one month after stopping shows a tremendous progressive healing. Keep going! Don't quit! Don't give in!
everything dwbson says is so right,you willget there, lots of folks say day 4 is the worst,even down to saying the dreaded 4th , it will start to get a bit better soon,youll see the difference a couple of days make, take care, stay strong, god bless.
Thanks to you both, for taking time to encourage me. Your posts did trigger my weepies! but I won't quit. I can't say I feel like walking but hot baths and supplements totally doable. And I can add the exercise when I feel ready. I hate this addiction for it's secretive life and how easy it is to use and keep your life going. I am 'normally' super proactive but today I feel like a fragile shell.
Stay Strong, this WILL pass, yesterday was my day 4 and I had to fight w all my Might! I FORCED myself to go for an afternoon walk and it worked wonders, perhaps my breakthrough. Get some gatorade down you and do whatever it takes to get out of the house, even if it is a 5 minute walk. Stay strong, keep posting and we will keep holding your hand
Ok making myself exercise now. Wish my endorphins luck!
You will feel better soon, I promise. I swear I had to FORCE myself yesterday and it felt great afterwards. Stay strong!! You are doing great
Thanks, it does feel better. I did just 15 mins of light exercise, endorphins still there. Wish the weepies would go, they are the worst part today.
Ok day 5. Slept ok but had some lemsip before bed to help with the symptoms. Hope that's not cheating? Still with the chills and this weird brain slower than my head thing when I move around. Also normal? Feels similar to when I miss an effexor (which I haven't). Maddeningly slow progress but progress I hope. Anyone out there who can shed light non day 5 I'd love to hear from you
Baths baths and tears. Feel low low low low. Off to exercise. Please come endorphins!
Check! Watch friends now.
Your doing great!! Your post seems to be exactly where I am, day 6 here. Wow a couple of days ago I was an emotional disaster, but it passed! It will for you too keep exercising, it helps. Like you, my brain seems slow, but i can actually feel things now, and even though i dont feel great.. Being able to feel is a great feeling if that makes sense. I think yesterday was a huge day for me, I felt really good all day. Today i woke up a little sick to my stomach, back pain, and extreme fatigue. BUT i know We will have these days and I have learnt to accept it, as I think this is "normal" life. keep fighting... Remember I am right there w you, holding your hand, no turning back now..... Hugz
Are you home? I am not sure if staying at home helps or hinders. Yes I know what you mean re feeling again. Are you crying loads? What gets me through each hour is knowing my body was so addicted it is having this extreme reaction, which proves i needed to take action. I would just like some hope that my effexor will kick in and help me get some joy and energy back. But lots of the info i am reading says 3 months. Long time only 5 days in. But not as long as yesterday.
Yep, I am a stay at home mother right now. I spent 2 days in absolute tears. It was TERRIBLE!! But yetsterday was when things seemed to turn around. From a nurse's standpoint, unfourtnately it could take up to 6 WEEKS for the effexor to kick in. Sorry, but I gotta be honest. I take a multi vit and also a daily B 12. The B12 comes in a sublingular form, it instantly disolves under the tongue. Works great for energy. As far as the mood, stay busy, thats hard i know but I find the more I do the less I think. Give your body time to adjust, it will I promise. Positive thinking=Positive ENERGY. And lots of posts here of course. I guess we have to remember that everything we feel now is how "normal" people feel:)... Learn to accept it and live with it. Afterall, that is what we wanted Right!?
Just keep moving one step at a time. Everything you're going through is normal. We all went through it and you can too. I'm on my second day of tears, but I've had more good days than bad. Fill your head with positive thinking and keep walking. Be gentle with yourself in these early days. Keep going! Don't quit! It will get better.
I have been on effexor for six months. Assuming codeine interfered with it? Slept this aft and now feeling ok. thanks for the encouragement all.
Hmmm! it shouldnt make that big of an impact. Maybe you should consider talking w your Dr about changing to something else. I have been on Zoloft for about a year, and prior to that my Dr had to switch a few things around before we got it right. Just my opinion.
Keep Going BabyGirl:)
Day 6. Watched my husband and daughter leave for school and work. That's a happy feeling. I am not sure now what to expect when I am back at work. Each day I've hoped that the curtains would draw back and the sun flood in but I'm still very teary and sad. Going easy on myself this week but work is usually the trigger for me.
Exercised now going out for an actual outing (lunch with husband). Pharmacy not any sort of a temptation but I will ask him to come with me so I cam look for b12 and Epsom salts. Still super weepy. So called my next therapist who I've been avoiding for months. I will see her tomorrow. Will have to tell her.
its good your going to tell your therapist, you will feel a huge relief, if not a bit weepy, i just read you are on effexor, so maybe your prescription has to be altered, to suit you now,i really wish you well, your doing great, take care and god bless.
Thanks for your encouragement. I made it out today, bought vit b's multiple vitamins and some natural sleep remedy at the health food shop. Thanks for the advice dwbson! had lunch with husband and talked about what is going on in life that makes me reach for codeine. Therapist tomorrow. Weepies still lurking but I am not caving. Didn't go into pharmacy while out, didn't even notice them. Bring on day 7. I pray not two steps back tomorrow.
Day 7 and no weepies so far. Just kinked out for an hour and very little energy but I think it might be a bit better than yesterday. I tried my usual routine - up then exercise. That took it's toll I guess. Really don't want to go back to work Monday but will have to produce doctors note if over 5 days. If I had 2 weeks I could keep building up the good habits. Maybe energy will make miracle return before then. But this mornings progress so minuscule I feel that's too much to hope for.
your doing really well, its good your taking your vitamins, to keep healthy.it does make us very emotional, we have supressed them with medication for so long, i know its hard ,try not to worry about work , just baby steps. you have been through a lot , and you are winning, take care and god bless.
Thanks for that - it is baby steps. The key will be my plan to stay off as I would rather have spent this recovery time doing something , anything else. Just for today... Still can't read but only cried during therapy session which is why I hate going. Told her so that's one more step. Have enough energy to make a few plans for tomorrow. God bless.
Day 7 and the fog is definately lifting. No weepies today and noticeably more energy, just a nasty cough and tight chest left over. Saw therapist and going to look forward not back thankfully. Thanks all for wishes and help over this week, you really helped on the darkest days (3, 4, 5 for those looking out for guidance on what to expect). Will update with any further noticeable change, but logging out for now. God bless.