time toxic vrs time to feel better.

[justlikeyou]

how do you feel about the idea that time toxic (taking meds) relates to how long it takes to heal?

and quantity.

i took pain meds every day for 3.5 years without a single day off because of my back injury. i see people feeling better here after 2 or 3 weeks? i have felt terrible for 5 months.

my own experience has left me believing that i completely changed the way my brain functioned, it doesnt work the same way it used to, hopefully it will get back there but it feels like im missing the healthy part of my brain activity.

zero energy or enthusiasm for anything for months is very hard to do, im just hanging on and waiting for my brain chemistry to get back to normal.

i understand it might never fully recover.but i believe the body/mind will heal if given the oppertuity.

do you think years with the drugs in the body has a different effect overall to short term use or higher doseages?

how do you believe time and quantity effect a person differently?

[willruthie1965]

Well maybe a mild antidepressant would help.It would be better than going back to meds.ruthie

[anotherfinemess]

Yeah, I think its important not to overlook the psychology of recovery, instead of just thinking in terms of a re-balancing of your brain chemistry.  I don't go to NA meetings - they're just not for me personally- but talking to others (peers, friends, a psychologist or counselor,etc) can go a long way in facilitating recovery.  I definitely believe it requires a holistic approach to bring everything back into balance.

[Gobig]

I'm almost 7 months clean, and I feel great - after almost a decade on mass opiates.  I'm sure going to N.A. and the like has contributed a lot to my well being.

[anotherfinemess]

It would be hard to quantify the long-term effects of opiate use, particularly in people who have only used for a few years; there haven't been any long-term, double-blind, evidence based studies.  But there IS tons of anecdotal evidence: there are tons of people sharing their stories in meetings, in print, and on websites such as this.  And I have yet to come across stories of people who haven't pretty much returned to their old selves with time---some longer than others of course.  Even though I still feel a little off-kilter, I feel that I'm about 75-80 % back to "normal" ( a relative term for me anyways lol) and that's after 2 mos.  I have come a long way, and I think its important to keep track of the small victories!  justlikeyou:  when you think of how far you may still have to go, think also of how far you've come.  you're not alone!

[High Noon]

Very interesitng questions/observation.
I am off vics (7.5/750) for 36 days- to a grreat extent due to this forum.
I went through all the "traditional" wds- rsl/diarrhea/anxiety, etc for a couple of weeks. Now I still sneeze and wake up with a stuffy nose (not allergies).

Two observations to make. First how drugs, food, etc. affect people is greatly influenced by their own genetic makeup- DNA/RNA, etc. That may be why people detoxing who have used similar amounts of drugs for the same time frame react differently. Secondly, Drs., pharmaceutical cos, scientist DO NOT know the long term effects of opiates on the human body- You can read of the side effects of taking this stuff- you can read how you get dependent/addicted-you can read about withdrawals- But you cannot read about the long term effects because they do not know.

One can only hope we all get better.

Ken

[justlikeyou]

great to read permanent damage is extremely rare.

ive been a little worried but i will relax now.

[anotherfinemess]

I've done a lot of reading regarding the chemistry of addiction.   It is extremely rare for opiate use to cause irreversible damage.  But it does take time to start producing the dopamine and other neurotransmitters responsible for well-being, motivation, etc. that we've stop producing.  When the opiates "substitute" for these, then a negative feedback loop causes the brain to stop producing them on its own.  It takes time for it to bounce back.  All the nutritional support is essential, it provides the raw material for re-synthesizing the neurotransmitters, but it still takes time.
I used for 2 years, sometimes taking a couple of weeks off, without ever experiencing w/d symptoms.  I never took more than 30 mgs of hydrocodone a day, and I can count the times  on one hand that I took a whole one at once! I almost always cut them in half and never crushed or snorted them.  And yet, I had harrowing w'ds (cold turkey) and now, 2 months later, I still have anxiety, depression, and an inability to find real enjoyment in any of the things that used to interest me.  I'm just riding it out like you are!

[Savas]

I was just discussing this in another thread. I think it may take up to a few years, but it will heal eventually. The "permanently damaged" argument is popular with methadonian lifers right now. The problem you face is how to cope with the time and speed up the process. I've seen a few promising therapies to help speed this, I suppose I'll be finding out the hard way soon enough if they work...

[dessss]

I wonder this same thing. I think it probably take a very long time to get our brains better an able to produce (on it's own) the dopamine or whatever the pills produce for it. You gotta figure for however long your taking those pills your brain stops producing the amount of (good feeling) chemicals because the pills produce it for your brain. Something like that.

I remember someone at NA saying that you don't become a drug addict over night it takes time and effort. I think the same goes for the brain getting back to normal. As for it fully recovering I dunno.. But I hope so!

[marcatj]

i think it could be a number of things... it could simply be a persons/your disposition BEFORE pills that could make you feel this way (or NOW, if life situations have changed.)  depression effects the entire body, if it is something like that...

i know i am weening off right now, due to a couple weeks of use (again) because of back pain.  i am simultaneously integrating the amino's from The Mood Cure... and I gotta tell ya, I feel better already.

is it possible it's not just the pills/being clean now from pills that could be making you feel this way?

[KeepTheHope]

I dont know, good question. If 3.5years has permanently changed you brain in a negative way, then I'm screwed! LOL No seriously, if it changes your brain over time, dont look at that as completely a bad thing if you are trying to recover. Your brain function probably changes over time regardless of use...right? Yes I think years with the drugs is different then short term, it sure as heck is harder to quit!!! I'm sure everybody will vouch for that..