Aa
To All Long Term Recoveries
Okay, the w/d's are manageable - but my question is - will the fatigue and lack of energy ever go away? I eat well and exercise, I just feel lousy still. Will my stamina and exuberance for life ever come back?
Meg
Meg
Hi...this is my first post offering any advice and the info is purely from personal experience so for what it's worth:
1. 5 months clean tomorrow
2. I started to really get my energy back; I mean where I didn't think about it, around 4-4.5 months
3. I exercise 4-5 times a week, cardio (exercise bike) and weights - about an 1-1.5 hours ...I have definite goals here and I think that's important
4. I eat right, carbs, proteins, aminos and drink approx a gallon of water each day
5. I started reading again, magazines (my trade rags), books, etc to exercise my mind...I stay away from the TV because I thought the sitting there was making me lazy
6. I walk my dogs at least twice a day
7. I sleep OK...sometimes good and I try to get at least 8 hours
8. I absolutely do not drink any sugar or caffinated beveages; I may drink Gatorade occassionaly
9. When I have time, I work outside around the house with my family because the sun and sweat feels good
10. If I really feel good, I may hit the pool and swim some laps
I guess all this boils down too is that I pushed myself, set goals and refuse to let my mind or body slow me down because of past med use. I wouldn't advocate this routine for everyone unless you're in pretty good shape..getting injured while you're trying to recover would really be upsetting.
I hope you start feeling better soon; once you feel like you can do anything again without the meds, you'll be well on your way to better than normal.
Guy
1. 5 months clean tomorrow
2. I started to really get my energy back; I mean where I didn't think about it, around 4-4.5 months
3. I exercise 4-5 times a week, cardio (exercise bike) and weights - about an 1-1.5 hours ...I have definite goals here and I think that's important
4. I eat right, carbs, proteins, aminos and drink approx a gallon of water each day
5. I started reading again, magazines (my trade rags), books, etc to exercise my mind...I stay away from the TV because I thought the sitting there was making me lazy
6. I walk my dogs at least twice a day
7. I sleep OK...sometimes good and I try to get at least 8 hours
8. I absolutely do not drink any sugar or caffinated beveages; I may drink Gatorade occassionaly
9. When I have time, I work outside around the house with my family because the sun and sweat feels good
10. If I really feel good, I may hit the pool and swim some laps
I guess all this boils down too is that I pushed myself, set goals and refuse to let my mind or body slow me down because of past med use. I wouldn't advocate this routine for everyone unless you're in pretty good shape..getting injured while you're trying to recover would really be upsetting.
I hope you start feeling better soon; once you feel like you can do anything again without the meds, you'll be well on your way to better than normal.
Guy
From my experience too much protein is hard on the kidneys and difficult to digest and pass thru the body (constipation), also that I feel a LOT better when I keep my simple carb intake very low even if it does mean consuming more protein.
A proper mix of protein, complex carbs and vegetables is critical imo, tho obviously not always a quick and ez meal to prepare for those not familiar with cooking/eating healthy.
But like any meal-prep routine it can become much easier to prepare with the desire to learn more about it. If interested, read some Mishio Kushi books on Macrobiotics if you want to learn how to truly eat healthier and feel consistently better, available at most libraries.
Also, drinking fewer caffeinated beverages is easier on the adrenal glands and adrenalin production. Getting high on caffeine often actually depletes energy from the body and then sets up the vicious cycle of needing more just like any other drug.
One thing about simple carb foods is they may make us feel good quickly, but we eventually feel exhausted mentally and physically shortly there-after, again, actually not much different than taking drugs.
Isn't insanity defined as repeating the same behaviors over and over but expecting different results?
Welcome to the club :-)
-Vic
A proper mix of protein, complex carbs and vegetables is critical imo, tho obviously not always a quick and ez meal to prepare for those not familiar with cooking/eating healthy.
But like any meal-prep routine it can become much easier to prepare with the desire to learn more about it. If interested, read some Mishio Kushi books on Macrobiotics if you want to learn how to truly eat healthier and feel consistently better, available at most libraries.
Also, drinking fewer caffeinated beverages is easier on the adrenal glands and adrenalin production. Getting high on caffeine often actually depletes energy from the body and then sets up the vicious cycle of needing more just like any other drug.
One thing about simple carb foods is they may make us feel good quickly, but we eventually feel exhausted mentally and physically shortly there-after, again, actually not much different than taking drugs.
Isn't insanity defined as repeating the same behaviors over and over but expecting different results?
Welcome to the club :-)
-Vic
90% protein is not a good diet. Just a couple of good servings of protein a day is enough.
You want to mix in as much raw, fresh veggies and some fruit as possible.
And if you can afford to buy the lactic flora (good bacterias).
really the only good kind is the ones that have to be refrigerated. They are live bacteria.
And digestive enzyemes are good too.
You see all the pharmacuticals have pretty much destroyed these and your body is not absorbing nutrients as easily without them.
Red meats are good for iron and have protein but if you have an injury that causes pain, like bad back. Well the red meat causes inflammation and then pain.
It really does cost a lot of money to eat good, but it is money well spent.
Hope you are feeling great soon.
You want to mix in as much raw, fresh veggies and some fruit as possible.
And if you can afford to buy the lactic flora (good bacterias).
really the only good kind is the ones that have to be refrigerated. They are live bacteria.
And digestive enzyemes are good too.
You see all the pharmacuticals have pretty much destroyed these and your body is not absorbing nutrients as easily without them.
Red meats are good for iron and have protein but if you have an injury that causes pain, like bad back. Well the red meat causes inflammation and then pain.
It really does cost a lot of money to eat good, but it is money well spent.
Hope you are feeling great soon.
I really think you are right I really need to change my diet and exercise to get energy back I didn't notice before but my energy is down the drain even my husband was telling me yesterday that what was wrong with me he came home a little after me from work and I was passed put in the couch and I never ever take a nap it was 3:30pm cause I get out of work early on Fridays.
So you think a diet 90% protein is the right thing?
Thanks
Galdy
So you think a diet 90% protein is the right thing?
Thanks
Galdy
Speaking of depression and fatigue, a few points:
1. I honestly believe thats how i usually felt before i had experimented with any drugs, including Tramadol.
2. Sometimes those feelings of depression and fatigue come from poor eating habits and too much stress, including too many simple carbs, candy, caffeine, lack of proper nutrition, including over eating, etc.
3. Sometimes its genetically related.
4. When I was numbed out on pain meds, i wasn't always actively aware of the messages my body was constantly trying to tell me about how poorly I was feeding my mind and body, my lack of exercise activities, lack of proper rest, excessive stress loads, etc. As such, I had ran my body/mind down into the ground for long periods of time but I also now believe that being able to better sense what my body is trying to tell me by being painpill clean (simple cause and effect patterns aka Karma...) combined with a healthier lifestyle I will be able to recover to at least where I was pre-drug use.
With all that being said, i'm not going to get into a guilt trip as to how I may have harmed my body but instead work on better ways of nurturing it.
There was perfect reason why I had did what i did and it all made perfect sense at the time (again called Karma) and thats the best we can ever do in any given moment, but now I choose to take better care of myself. It's as simple as that. Life goes on.
Clouds come and go but the Sky is always blue.
-Vic
1. I honestly believe thats how i usually felt before i had experimented with any drugs, including Tramadol.
2. Sometimes those feelings of depression and fatigue come from poor eating habits and too much stress, including too many simple carbs, candy, caffeine, lack of proper nutrition, including over eating, etc.
3. Sometimes its genetically related.
4. When I was numbed out on pain meds, i wasn't always actively aware of the messages my body was constantly trying to tell me about how poorly I was feeding my mind and body, my lack of exercise activities, lack of proper rest, excessive stress loads, etc. As such, I had ran my body/mind down into the ground for long periods of time but I also now believe that being able to better sense what my body is trying to tell me by being painpill clean (simple cause and effect patterns aka Karma...) combined with a healthier lifestyle I will be able to recover to at least where I was pre-drug use.
With all that being said, i'm not going to get into a guilt trip as to how I may have harmed my body but instead work on better ways of nurturing it.
There was perfect reason why I had did what i did and it all made perfect sense at the time (again called Karma) and thats the best we can ever do in any given moment, but now I choose to take better care of myself. It's as simple as that. Life goes on.
Clouds come and go but the Sky is always blue.
-Vic
I had 2 months of being real tired. I was taking naps all the time. If you can swing it with your daily routine, take naps whenever you are tired. The body heals while we are sleeping and after what we went through, it needs a lot of healing. Keep your proteins way up. Eggs, chicken, nuts. And amino acids, good wholesome foods." Want your car to run good, you put good gas in it", right?
It will come soon, you are going to feel fabulous!!
It will come soon, you are going to feel fabulous!!
4 months and bouts of fatigue that can last all week touch me often....it is a major reason for relapse along with depression and and the major reason i crave...exercise helps mine...but it is there and i will not lie...the depression is pretty much gone...the fatige lingers for me
I have been clean from heroin for a little over 2 years. It is just hard to try and readapt to life after using, I think that is why I still take the pills, I dont even take them all the time for some reason it is a comfort just knowing they are there. One day I hope to just flush them down the toilet. But I think if when you get up in the morning and try to stay active all day you'll find your energy level will increase. good luck
Nutrition means a lot - I advocate the Amino Acid Protocol......but I am one that had a hard time with energy and motivation. It will return, but the time frame is different for everyone.
I,ve been off methadone for almost two months & for me, the lack of energy seems to be the last thing falling in place in my physical recovery, regardless, I cant complain to much as it has gotton much better, Im done with putting a time frame on when I,ll be 100% back to my pre-methadone days, it will happen when it happens.Penelope
I'm a little over four months out and my experience has been that it comes in spurts thus far......I enjoy the good days when I have 'em and remember on the bad days that more good days will follow soon..
Energy after opiates? It is like good weather, when you have it enjoy it. Pretty soon your body's summer will come.I have found that mood can really effect energy. SamE has helped me.
hey Meg
It has been 4 months for me and I am still lacking the energy to do anything. I am hoping it comes back soon too.
Susan
It has been 4 months for me and I am still lacking the energy to do anything. I am hoping it comes back soon too.
Susan
You have to give it time..for some it takes months..as is the case for me..it will come back eventually..just give it some time and keep doing what your doing..I am so glad your here and making it...Good job..Lisa
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