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Vicodin....everything

I have been taking Vicodin, Oc's, whatever I can get my hands on for about 2 years.  Before that , I was taking stimulants, adderol,. ritalin, anything to get me "motivated" as I call it. Then I discovered the pain meds, and life was great! Until I couldn't get them anymore. Then it sucked for a while, then I got more, etc I 'm sure you all know the story.  Well, sparing all the details I decided to get clean, kind of by choice, today is day 4 clean of any opiates.  I have not slept, when I do, I wake up in a panic.  What am I going to do with out my pills? How am I going to go through the day with out something to give me energy, it's like I have no energy, I have no appetite, I have 2 kids to take care of and to go to work. How long is the "pain" (body aches, no appetite, no sleep, anxiety) going to last? Should I go to a doctor? I just moved to a new town so I don't have a lot of resources.  I tried going to AA, (there's not a lot of NA meetings around here) I can't do 90 and 90 with my kids. I can't even relate to any of them really cause i have never hit any kind of "bottom", I don't even drink.  I was TOTALLY functional on these pills, better than normal! My only problem was that I couldn't get them anymore! J/K I decided to quit it was causing a strain in my marriage. OK Now I am totally rambling but I just need some support,.  My husband doesn't understand, my dad (long story, recovering himself) is just trying to get me to go on suboxone.  I don't want to substitute and get addicted to something else .  Can I do this on my own? I feel like I can, I 've gone 4 days now and it hasn't been the end of the world yet... OK I am going to take a walk.  I hope this message makes sense.
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Avatar universal
I am coming off an opiate addiction to an herbal opiate.  
Don't try this at home kids it is just as addictive as anything else, and it's legal!  I am dragging myself through the day and taking tylenol.  I really miss that false energy i used to have.  But I want to be sober.  Does anyone know when the natural motivation will come back.  I was taking it (kratom) for over two months and I am half way through day 2?  This is the first time I have every been pysically addicted.  I have no appetite either.
Helpful - 0
968560 tn?1307451498
My heart goes out to you. doing this is a *****, with a capital B. But,believe it or not, if you just keep putting one foot in frony of the other. This will go away and you will come back.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know I am gonna sound like a whiner, but I don't have time to take a bath I have to go get my kids.  Awesome!!! I love them dearly, but I wish I could just take a bath and lay down. Ok I'll take some advil
Helpful - 0
968560 tn?1307451498
ibuprofen helps also
Helpful - 0
271792 tn?1334979657
Hi,

Body aches: hot baths and lots of them. If you exercise it also helps, even a short walk. Please hang in there, it will all be over soon.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Got through my short shift at work (barely) thanks for the responses! I'll try the thomas recipie... I feel like I have the flu, what about getting rid of body aches? Sorry for all the ??"s
Helpful - 0
968560 tn?1307451498
I know where you are,good job on 4 days. I have detoxed several times ( too stupid to learn the first time)  There is a homeopathic med from a company called Hylands(most drug and health food stores sell them) its called Leg Cramps. It's a sublingual tab that containes quinine and it really helps with the nightly leg cramping and "crawling". If you have a family doc there is a drug called requip whitch is also for restless leg syndrome plus it contains dopamine,which is the chemical in the brain that is released when you take narcotics or hit the lottery and is responsible for "pleasureable feelings". Problem is too much stimulation will deplete dopamine levels. Thats why mentally you feel like crap. requip will help restore dopamine. A benzodiazapine will help with nervousness and that jittery feeling. It is for short term only 1 month or less. and use a longer acting one like valium or serax. Xanax is "slam, bam, thank you mam" and its effecst are gone. There is a new med called Nuvigil for fatigue. Not very addictive class IV schedule. It will help you "get off the couch,but requires Rx. Tramadol will help with withdrawal and help with body aches, again Rx needed . You need a sympathatic doc that will help. I might get kicked off this site for this,but all the abovementioned med are available online w/o rx. good luck
Helpful - 0
1435456 tn?1314674659
Congrats on day 4. I remember my first post here was on day 4 or 5. I wanted answers, and got them. This forum is very a very valuable resource, especially for the first few weeks. You have already gotten some great advice from people at various stages of recovery. Stick around for the support and answers that you will have as we have all been thru the same thing. You are doing great. I have found that a positive mindset is the most important thing during this time and you seem to have that. Good Luck and God Bless.  
Helpful - 0
1432897 tn?1322959537
Good job on the four days.  I would keep going to the AA mtgs.  It is great that you didn't have to hit a terrible bottom to want to stop.  Bottom is bottom though.  You decide where you want to stop.  As long as we're alive the bottom can always get lower.  I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Learning to identify with the feelings, emotions, the twisted thinking and attitudes of other people is what helped me.  Many of our stories are the same although the specific circumstances can be very different.  The biggest thing I got out of mtgs is a support network.  When I get urges or cravings I have someone I can call that understands.  That has saved my butt many times.  I also learned how to have more happiness and peace in my life which coincidently relieved me of a lot of the stressors that used to trigger my drinking and drugging.  Don't worry about the energy.  That will come back to you.  In the meatime try and stay busy.  Do some exercise, eat healthy and drink plenty of water.  Your body is going through some major changes right now and needs all the help it can get.  Good luck and God Bless!!!!
Helpful - 0
1412212 tn?1285599428
Congrats on day 4! Keep fighting! I was where you were and I had a husband that did not understand. You are not alone in this! Take a lot of hot baths! My energy started to pick up at day 17 and it took me about 30 days to get myself back to normal. The mental part is what sticks around so if you can get involved in an aftercare that will really help! Here is the "Thomas Recipe" Keep us posted! Praying for you! God Bless You can DO THIS!!

For the Recipe, You'll need

   1. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store). [generic brand anti-diarrheal is fine. Don't take it unless really uncomfortable]
   2. L-Tyrosine* (500 mg caps) from the health food store.* [See Warning]
   3. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
   4. Vitamin B6 caps. [or stress B-complex?]
   5. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available). [many gyms offer free trials]

How to use the recipe


During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate W/D symptom. [I like Epsom salts in the tub. Forces Magnesium into the muscles]

Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. DON'T TAKE IT, however, if you don't need it.[Diarrhea is the bodies way to aid in the detox so take Immodium or generic for the comfort factor, if needed]

Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine*. Try 2000 mg, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mg. Take the L-Tyrosine* with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine* will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine* can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate W/D, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine* is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help. [*Read the Warning first! *L-Tyrosine* is great. *SamE 400* mg works for mood too]

With breakfast, take the mineral supplement.

As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better. [Walking gets the blood and lymph systems working, helping you detox better.]

PLEASE NOTE: If you have any medical complications, first check with your doctor before detoxing to verify that this regimen is safe for you. [Very important note]

[WARNING If you are on anti-Depressants, use medical supervision on L-Tyrosine, SamE and all mood enhancers. There can be a risk if taking L-Tyrosine, 5 HTP  if you are on a tricyclic  or a MAIO antidepressant's ...It can cause a spike in blood pressure.]
Helpful - 0
753324 tn?1457819192
There are a ton of people here you can talk to. I wish i could tell you how to just jump into a normal life. I'm only a little over three months clean and still figuring it out. But you know what...Its been 95 days since my last pill,,and i've made it without what i thought i HAD to have. The more time goes by the more i realize what i'm capable of without pills...It gets easier!!

For me the anxiety was the worst!!! I would have taken diarrhea for the rest of my life to not have to deal with the mental aspect of all this. Just know that "panicky" feeling will go away. Try to deal with it as it comes. Try to stay busy. If you get back from a walk and still feel  like crap...clean your baseboards...something..anything. You should start to feel ALOT better in the next few days. Stay strong!! Your at the worst of it right now.
Helpful - 0
617347 tn?1331293081
you are on day 4 and it is usually the worst for most of the people... btw, welcome to the forum.. :)

you will start feeling better soon but in no way you are going to find that hyper high energy level... it will take some time to recover a healthy energy level, the same with motivation... but they will come back... anxiety and some bouts of depression are also normal now, i am afraid... it is doable so you can do it but you need being motivated with this decision of quiting your doc because it takes a lot of effort... i am not going to lie to you, you would need making some life changes, aftercare included( na meetings, addiction counselling, therapy ... ) but it is all worth cause your addiction will always be progressive... you may still find energy with your pills but soon things will go downhill until you will find yourself taking the pills so you won't feel sick ... life doesn't get better while on actice addiction, just the opposite and you know it by your dad's life as you have said that he is on recovery ..


ok, stay here posting, this is a good place to find support :) and about your questions...you can read the thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol on the health pages here ( right side of your screen )... take a lot of hot baths, keep drinking a lot of fluids ( gatorade, apple/orange juice, tonic water, green tea.. ) and  get Hylands restful legs if your RLS at nights are bad...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know snagging a few is only a temp fix... I'm not going to do it. I will try and go to a meeting... have been taking some motrin.  
I was trying to think of someone i can talk to, my dad is also an addict, he was giving me pills for a while then cut me off, every time i try to talk to him he tries to get me to go to the doc for sub.  I don't want to take that stuff, I've heard it's just as bad as the vics. I really need to talk with someone about how to lead a "normal" life without my crutch, my "best friend", the only thing that seemed to get me to do ANYTHING...those stupid pills!
Helpful - 0
753324 tn?1457819192
Snagging a few from a friend is only a temp fix...You KNOW that. The Thomas Recipe is in the health pages at the top right of this page. Also check out the amino protocol. Are you taking anything OTC right now?
Helpful - 0
753324 tn?1457819192
"What am I going to do with out my pills? How am I going to go through the day with out something to give me energy,"

  I had those same thoughts(fears) over three months ago. I can tell you...you WILL adjust, Its hard to think about a day without our little"crutch". But if you really think about it we made it for a long time without. Its tough those first few weeks..no doubt!! But you WILL start to realize you dont need that crap to have a productive day.

  Try another AA meeting if you have another one in your town. Pick up a when & where book. I found a couple in my area that were for people with "high" bottoms...in fact one of the groups was called "High Bottoms" there is also one called "AA lite". You have hit a bottom...you just haven't lost everything yet.Its a little weird if you dont drink or really have the desire to drink. What i do is when they say drink, i think use. I think if you go enough you'll find that most alcoholics have the same struggles we have. And you'll also probably find that there are also addicts in the group. I didnt do the whole 90 in 90, it was more like 45 in 90. I try to make a meeting at least once a week. Talk to people there they might be able to help you find a group that fits you better.

Your already 4 days in ...I would def stay away from the Sub.

Congrats on 4 days clean. Stay strong...

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went for a walk, still extremely anxious, almost in a panic.  What am I going to do?
Where can I find out about the Thomas recipie? I am thinking about going to swipe some pills from a friend who has them. But I really don't want to. This is so absurd....
Helpful - 0
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