22 days clean of Oxys - energy question

[Melanie6260]

Hi everyone! I'm happy to report I'm 22 days clean of Oxys after 8 years of being a slave to my next pill. I've been awaiting surgery this last year which I finally had in January . I was on 10-12 10 mgs a day for the last year. You know how it goes. Over time the body needs more. So I'm 22 days clean and proud of myself as a Warrior. However, when will my energy come back? I've been taking a multi vitamin (not really working) and just want to be able to take a walk normally , although after 8 years every day on Oxy, I don't really know what normal should feel like.

[jifmoc]

Melanie, Gnarly beat me to it...aftercare means usually 12 steps meetings (NA or AA.) Many go into counseling as well. There are some programs but I'm not familiar w/ them. I'm w/ Gnarly, though, being w/ other addicts every day, and learning SO much as to why we use has just been a dang miracle. I could always get clean but I could never STAY clean on my own. I finally surrendered and walked into the rooms. I know for a fact we can't do it alone. Once we remove the drugs, then we have our lovely brains to contend w/ and we all need help!

Stick around and keep posting:)

[gnarly_1]

Hey congrats on 22 days your off to a great start aftercare is a critical part of recovery  just because your off the pills does not = recovery getting off the pills is the ez part  staying clean takes work many people try conslors tharapists or groups  for me N/A has worked the best it treats the addict that is still alive and well in your head  it is the only thing that wilth time you can loose the very desire to get to use google N/A meeting in your area  keep posting for support...\
.................................................Gnarly...........................................

[msdelight]

All good advice above. Just wanted to add that a good B-vitamen complex works wonders for energy. At 22 days you will start to have strings of good daysm followed by a few bad. It feels light a roller coaster, but after a while the good outweigh the bad and then things even out. Don't lose heart during days of low energy and depression. Its normal and you will bounce back. 30 days was a big turning point for me. Hang in and congratulations on your awesome clean time!

[dominosarah]

I had to put a plan in place with my doctors once i stopped using.  I told them i was an addict and under no circumstances could they give me a script for pain meds if i was alone.  My family knows of this also and should i ever need anything i have designated 2 people who would go with me to the doctor and the script will be given to them to hold, fill and distribute.  Thankfully i have a doctor who is on board with this and had she not i would of found one who did.  As for the aftercare......It is very important that we find out what was driving us to use as using is only a symptom of this addiction.  We bury many demons during our using period.  Vitamins....i believe these are very beneficial as our bodies have been depleted of the nutrients we need.  Our internal organs have taken a beating and they need something healthy to feed them.

[Melanie6260]

One more thing...... I don't trust myself at any doctor anymore or weirdly I'm afraid part of me will con them into giving me. I have my follow up surgeon appt next week. I asked my husband if he would come with me that way I know I can't say I have pain because I don't. Like what the heck is wrong with me? Why would I want to do that? I guess that's why I need aftercare. :(

[Melanie6260]

Wow, thank you everyone. I'm SO proud of myself. I've lurked on this group for probably 2 and a half years that I wanted to quit, but always talked myself out of it. Why would I want to do that? And now that my surgery is over and I was pain free; I knew exactly what I was doing and I said halt! I ended up throwing the remainder of my pills and going CT, taper? What a joke at least for me. I couldn't do it.

But you're right, Jifmoc. I've been using for 8 years and I truly did think I would be better already. Really and truly. My psychiatrist gave me a week of clinidium and Ativan. Today is my last day with both. I feel so much better than I did a week ago. Okay so I need to exercise. I will force myself on those walks each day. How about vitamins? Do they play a part now at all?

I just want to sleep. Sounds like you guys know - when will I sleep? If I get three- four hours I'm blessed.

What is aftercare? You mean who will I talk to now that I don't have the Oxys?

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Melanie

[Cricketk92]

Hi Melanie!  Congrats on 22 days!  That is awesome!!!  I also can't add much to what was said above.... I can tell you that my energy came back little by little...I dragged myself through work for the first month but then everyday got a little better!  Keep the faith though cause it will come back!
You are doing great!  Keep on posting and let us know how you are getting on!!!

[jifmoc]

Hi Melanie. At 22 days, although you are past the acute phase, you are still technically detoxing. It will take a while for you to feel "normal." In a few more weeks you will feel better and on it goes.

I always get a giggle out of that question (I asked the same thing early on) because we have a daily opiate habit for YEARS and wonder why we don't feel better in 3 weeks! Patience is not a typical trait of addicts.

Energy and sleep are the last to come back. But push yourself to exercise daily, even if it' minimal. Don't give in to the "I'm too weak" mentality, because you have zero natural endorphins and exercise will make them come back.

The most vital part of staying clean, which is different from getting clean is aftercare. Our addict brains are still our addict brains when we remove the drugs. Have you started any?

Please stick around. There is awesome support on this board.