How long did it REALLY take for you to feel back to "normal"

[Back2Me]

I'm around 35 days or so right now. Feeling much better than the first few weeks I can tell you that. Now it's small improvements and small setbacks not big noticable stuff. So here is the question for those with time under their belts. Now that the acute stuff is gone how long until the lingering stuff is GONE. Not better but gone, not there anymore gone.
Example, like I said I'm feeling much better but if my day is long and I have moved around a lot and had kind of a hectic day I CRASH in the evening. And when I say crash it's like total complete exhaustion like I can barely get off of the couch and into bed. I start getting these electric zapps that start in the bottom of my feet and go up through my legs (this is a brand new thing that started during intense WD while I was getting NO sleep for like 6-7 days) never had that before now I am still getting it when I get super tired. So I want THAT to go away for sure :)
My doctor say the next 60 days I should see a difference. Said my body and brain will take at least 90 days to be right. And I know it's different for everyone but how long did it take for you to say holy shet I don't feel ANY more lingering symptoms from my use and WD process?
For me the crashing and energy is still the biggest things.
And also did you do/take anything that you believed healed you?

[1sorryperson]

I understand, and I too came off abit odd in my post.  
I doubt i'll ever be able to make up the lost time with my kids and wife,
but we can make up for lost time with other human beings,
see the "new testements" or AA "Big Book", of how 'our' plans will make HIM laugh, "we can plan" but  "we can not plan the out come".

[neveragainplease]

sorry for the typo I meant my high ruled my life

[neveragainplease]

I'm feeling sort of normal at almost 30 days, but I can see room for improvement mostly in the way I manage my time. When I was addicted my time was not my own. My house I rolled my life and everything that I did. For me it is a matter of remembering simple things like getting enough sleep and taking my vitamins and protein and stuff like that.

[1sorryperson]

There's no such thing as 'normal' , i just called weaver during tornados and sent him pictures.  I'm a 49 yr old dude sendin pics from nebr to a guy in cali, we're just all family.  Don't worry about 'normal', we're all part of the same bunch!

[gnarly_1]

hey dude congats on your clean time  for me it took 90 days to start to get well but time is on your side at that point   keep in mind it goes away graduly ez dose it  your doing great so far keep doing what your doing and whatever you do dont pick up for anny reason  it will put you back to squaire one in your recovery  you can do this...........Gnarly

[weaver71]

That first month, I thought a lot about making new memories. I had to push myself to do things, but I would sit each day reflecting on the memories I made. Then I meditate on what kind of memories I want. I pick a task and make new memories daily. I try to do things that make me feel proud of my new life and give myself a break if I don't meet my expectations. The majority of my life I was high. It's cool to feel that part of my life becoming a memory too. One day at a time, the memories have built my life of recovery and it keeps getting better. The promises always materialize for those who work for them. Okay, walking into the mushroom festival, another sober memory with my family, I love it!!!

[Back2Me]

Thanks for all the great support!
I find that during the day I am just finding small ways to make my day better. Whether its just driving to and from work with the car radio blasting or going to dinner or for a walk or whatever. I have to find things to make my day fun our it will drag and be a bummer sometimes. And it's just small battles nothing big, just to keep me moving.

[weaver71]

Glad you are here, you add so much to our community. One day at a time, that's exactly right. I still count days, counting months makes me think too far back. It's different for everyone, but it's the same for everyone too. Sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. It's a miracle, like you. Thanks for this thread, it is helping me.

[ImDONENoMore]

back2me you are SO inspiring!  I love starting out the day feeling hopeful.  And your words always reinforce that feeling.  Well said!

[Back2Me]

All of this is great info it's exactly what I was looking for! And I am sure it will help out others as well. It just gives some general ideas about other peoples situations. Just to reflect on.
For me it's living each day and how I progress is how I progress. Not interested in using or going back whatsoever. Now just interested in taking care of myself and improving in every way possible.

[nbhope]

Gosh this is a loaded question, I just went through another bout of mental fog.. I don't feel normal. It lasted this go around almost two months, but what I have read it can take a good year to feel good again. I been supplementing with vitimins to help.

[Ben727]

Me: 10 year primarily hydrocodone addict, 500-600 mg average per day last couple years. Cold turkey about 10 months ago. My biggest issue with recovery was fatigue. I felt reasonably normal at 30 days, but it took 6 months to get to about 90% of my pre-use energy levels.

I'm not quite sure what 100% is because I'm ten years older. But as I close in on a year, I think I'm pretty close to it. Definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Taking it day by day was the best thing I did. Congratulations on your clean time!

[ricart70]

Yes 90 days seems to be a magic number for conventional opiates including Heroin. The sub and Methadone can take longer. By day 45 I felt a ton better but still had that could fall asleep standing up thing going on. It was not long after I started indulging in recreational sleep that my full energy came back at somewhere around 60-70 days.  By day 90 it was just normal.
I run 3-6 miles (mostly 3-4) every day and pretty much did that since day 3 of detox and I know that helped..alot and still does.
The protein shake seems to still help. I drink it before bed and I think it helps me to sleep better and have more dreams. I use the muscle milk chocolate kind.       Great job on staying clean.  I think you will see improvement in the next 10 days.    

[Jimmy1975]

Will you know I think it also depends on how much of your DOC and how long you were abusing . For me I was taking an average of 30mgs a day and not everyday for a year one time and six months another . I would say I was pretty much back to normal in about 2 months . As for the physical withdrawals probably 5 days and that was like a lite flu . I believe PAWS hit me about 2 months out . The feeling of unreality is not fun . The worse part of recovery for me was the anxiety that was horrible . That also passed in about a month and a half and interestingly I was always fine at night it was the daytime that was at times pretty rough .
       I know some of you don't know me well . I have been on and off MedHelp since 2007 and I have seen many come and go!  This time I am really going to try and be here at least once a day and contribute whatever l can . There are some wicked smart individuals on here and sometimes you think well what more can I add to what has been said . But for those of you that want to get an insight into one persons journey l have a lot of history on MedHelp and I invite you to scan my post from 07 to now . It was quite the yoyo ride indeed ! Peace , Jimmy

[ImDONENoMore]

Your Dr.'s right.  It does take 90 days.  Guess that's why we hear it referred to all the time, right?  lol  But it is SO true.  I even had some of the physical stuff that comes from early withdrawal last into that three months.

And given that I was also abusing the benzos, I know that's why my recovery took longer.  It was a good year before I really started to notice that all of the symptoms we go through early on stopped for good.  Not an easy road, but it did become a LOT more manageable after that first three months.

Hang in there, you're doing it so there's no turning back now.  :)

[eagle101]

I feel that the amino acid protocol is valid - the amino L-tyrosine is like natures speed. It helps with that energy stuff.

[WODAgirl]

I have good days, but more bad than good. I think we should consider our history of use and perhaps amount of use. Patience my friend. Remember, it could serve as a reminder of what we did...  

[waterLilly7]

wow, weaver said it all for me. Congrats on your 30 days btw! It is 11 months for me. Like Weaver put it in the post above with the days, that is about the same for me. I now have some residual anxiety but nothing like before, just some leftovers I guess. I notice that if I tell myself, "we are not going to tolerate this, push thru it!" it works for me. I think the residual anxiety is really the only symptom I have left. If I had to live with it the rest of my life it wouldn't be so bad, as its not that strong now, but I do look forward to it going away. I have been told it will sometimes take a full two years to get rid of it totally, and that is ok by me then. Life is a million times better with this little anxiety than it was before when I was on the meds.
ALSO, even though I was taking huge amounts of oxy and vic I don't think I was addicted, but rather dependent, because there is NO WAY IN H3LL that I would EVER go through that again. You could not pay me enough to even want to take another pill. I love myself too much to put myself through this again, and I hope you feel the same.
Congrats again, 30 days was the hardest part for me, after that it all gets better little by little.
hugs,
Lily

[OpenMind24hours]

Great one weav!

[weaver71]

30 days  I could sleep
60 days my stomach naturalized
90 days I thought I was all better
180 days my energy and motivation returned
300 days I realized I was still improving
Today I am grateful to know that this long, slow process never ends.

At this point, I've stopped caring about feeling good and am consumed by efforts of BEING good.  Feeling good has become a side effect of cleaning up my side of the street. It took awhile to surrender to the process and not without self-centered intentions. I took drugs to feel good and escape the bad feelings. I had to come up with a higher motive to get and stay clean. Being part of the solution rather than being part of the problem has been a major influence. Even if I feel bad, I can lay my head down at night knowing I did the best I could have each day. Like my childhood saying goes, "I can't make life easy, so I have to make it worth it." Doing the right thing builds self-esteem and values that lead to being satisfied. Helping other addicts has been the single selfless act that has helped me to stop focusing on feeling good and made me feel I am doing good, which makes me feel good. I don't think I would have ever felt healed if I had simply stopped using and waited. My journey has just begun, but I have zero regrets, that feels pretty good too. You have come a long way. Miracles are right around the corner, keep your eyes open and your spirit ready, you don't  want to miss it.

[Ballgame]

90 days for GI system to fully get back to normal
Which is crazy, such a long time. 35 days is amazing

[OpenMind24hours]

Hey Guy...you ARE doing much, much more than okay right now, you're doing GREAT!!! You're not using! Think about that for a minute. When you first came on here you felt hopeless, and now you're full of hope, going to meetings, you KNOW you have a future and it isn't our "jails, institutions and death" we hear in our "Who is an Addict" reading at our meetings. Your recovery is good, and it's real my Detroit friend! ENJOY your new found freedom! F--k wondering about the future and throughly enjoy today the best you can. When we pile the past and the future on our cherished "today" it causes a load on our minds. Sure, you'll notice this and that as you slowly improve, I sure do, but do your best to go with the flow, and know that as addicts, as long as we don't use, just for today, we're going to be okay and we're going to keep marching towards full physical recovery.  

BTW, go to CVS and grab a bottle of Mag supplements. Just take one in the morning with a good breakfast, the most important meal of the day. Can't go wrong with those. -R

[VICourageous]

Hi Guy! Ya we all our different.I never put on here how long either..But because I have used off & on since 14 and then straight on full blown for over 16 years with the hydo/oxy to the Methadone and the other 2 drugs..It did take me about 4-6 months. It was like in stages. Like the no sleep & high anxiety for a while and then the no-interest. Then I dropped down to a very weak stage which I then changed my diet..It really scared me so I had blood drawn..It was all good..So still weak at 4 it started to improve but by then I could sleep good..Then as the weak got a bit better it turned into no or low motivation..There was so much more too this too..But about the 6-8 was a very odd emotional thing..I study the PAWS  the emotional issue is what happens when the body & mind has to re-adjust to the removal of Stims.. I really do think alot of the issues also come harder on us that have used for many, many years and our age plays havoc trying to balance back..I was told once by a psychologist that it would take me a Year or more to balance back the Brain Transmitter and such!! But today I am walking in the 9 now and I am finally feeling OK..Sometimes there are some down days but the good days have them beat now..Good luck this is why I say Time is the Greatest Healer!! You are doing a awesome Job!!!
Bless

[Back2Me]

Yeah I'm not looking for a magic bullet number or anything and I am not at all in a rush to "get better" I am in it for the long haul. I know everyone's situation is different I'm just looking to gain some insight based on others experiences. I feel I am doing ok right now I am just curious, I hear some people say 3months some day 6 or even a year or two. The more information the better I believe, any supplements help or anything like that to get the brain/ body healing that worked for anyone? I won't do anti depressants or anything like that. Just natural.