Is there any help for this w/d symptom?

[Cabgurl13]

This is day 2 of being clean. I'm going through vicodin withdrawl after 2 years of heavy use. I did some tapering and then jumped from 50mg daily to none (I used to use upwards of 100mg daily). I am having this symptom where it feels like someone is standing on my chest. I'm not necessarily having trouble breathing, and it's not panicking me or anything, but my chest does feel like its kind of being pressed on. Has anyone else expereinced this? And is there relief for it?

[bmdad]

That's great that you are hanging in there so well!! For the rls, be sure to take a very hot bath before crawling in to bed. Also, stretching can really help also. You could try heating pads. I have heard that wrapping ace bandages can help. If you don't have ace bandages I've also read that wearing 2 or 3 pairs of pantyhose  can do the same thing. I know what helped my rls the most was going for a walk in the evening. Some people say not to walk at night due to not being able to fall asleep. I could hardly sleep anyways so it was worth the trade off. There is also Highland's Restful Legs that you can get at any pharmacy or walmart. I haven't used it but heard it works well.
For me by day 5 I felt amazing. Hopefully you will too. Just remember the fight you put up so you don't go down this road again. Once clean we get so vulnerable. We think we can control our use and one pill usually lands us right back where we started. Please trust me on this one!! I've done it myself many times and I'm pretty sure many others will agree.
Just keep going strong! You are doing a amazing job and the pain you are feeling now will be worth every second! I'm proud of you for deciding to just cold turkey it. Sometimes fearing withdrawals is the hardest part and we find out it isn't as bad as what we thought it would be. You can do this! Best of luck!

Brian

[BornofOsiris]

Thats awsome to hear! And good for you for checking out NA, its a savior for most. You should check out the article PAWS on the right side of the page, it will help educate you on whats going to happen for the next few months of being clean. Your almost out of the w/d part just keep pushing but after w/d's end the mental part starts...this is the hard part of it all...But if you stay busy and go to NA it wont be so much a problem. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Much love

Dallas

[pharma9]

Good for you cabgurl.You are doing well and sometimes the fear is worse than the experience.Consider it a powerful life lesson and learn from it to be more in touch with your body.It wants to be normal as well.Keep it up and keep posting and putting up pictures.

[Cabgurl13]

Hi everyone! I'm doing just fine, on day #3 now! I actually feel amazing! I still have some symptoms, but I'm really just a lot happier and I don't wake up thinking "yah I kinda wana die" everyday, which is a good thing I believe. I think the chest thing is kind of psychological, because I usually get it when I'm having a really bad craving, but I don't think it's anything I need to go get checked out right now. I made it through my classes (not without difficulty) and I'm actually going to go out to work for a few hours today too. I also think I'm going to check out a NA meeting tonight, I'm sure it will be helpful. I duno, overall, this has not been a horrible experience so far, I know it could still get worse, but besides some sever RLS and sleeplessness, I don't feel bad at all. Thanks so much for everything guys! I  know I'm not out of the woods yet, but I can see a hell of a lot more sun through these trees.

[worried878]

I did not look at ur age..nor do i know ur family history concerning heart disease or urs...anxiety can make u feel tight in the chest..i dated a guy whose mom died and we made several trips to the ER for chest pain..it was panic attacks..but he was anxious/very anxious

If this happens and u r not anxious then i would get it checked..sometimes pills mask true symptoms we have that we need to address and when they r gone/the pills/we feel the symptoms...there r a variety of things that cause chest tightness/esophageal reflux being one of the major ones and wd cause stress aggravating stomach acid balance and producing increased acid which aggravates GERDS.  There r also skeltal/muscular conditions that cause this...many things...if it continues and it is not anxiety then i would get checked just to be safe

[OIFMc09]

Hey you still alive?  Let us know how your doing.

[googzy]

yeah... i've had that for a week now... it feels like anxiety to me, like i can't rest and just feel so worked up and restless... i hate that feeling of my chest feeling crushed.

[bmdad]

I also had the same symptom in the past. I would just lay down in a dark room and play some relaxing music, let my mind wander, and breathe. I have never really had anxiety and it didn't feel like anxiety but it really did help. Our bodies and mind go through so much during withdrawals and we all react differently.
Have you checked in to the amino acid protocol? It really worked wonders for me. Also be sure to eat healthy, push the fluids, and exercise. I know this time of year can be kind of tough to get out and about but bundle up and give it a try. Exercise helps so much. I know it seems impossible to because of how you are feeling but you just have to force yourself. If you don't feel like going outside try walking some stairs. Take as many hot baths as you can to help with the muscle pains and rls. A heating blanket works wonders for the chills especially this time of year.
Most importantly, stay mentally strong and know that all you are feeling will pass. It is so worth the fight! Come on here, post, and answer posts often. It really helps keep you motivated and on the right track. It also helps by giving you something to look back on to remember the fight you went through. Just hang in there and all of this will be in the past before you know it! Best of luck!!
Brian

[OIFMc09]

Hey did you say you had to go to school tonight or tomorrow night?  That should be interesting.  One of the times I went c/t I was on like day 5 or something and class was the first thing I did in public.  It was nuts I felt like everyone knew!  Is there a school in Saratoga?  Where do you go did you say you are working on your masters?  Maybe a little to personal for this forum i understand if you don't want to talk about it.

[OIFMc09]

Colleen! Hope you are doing okay, the chest thing sounds a little weird.  Maybe it's just anxiety?  Try to relax, stretch a little, take a hot bath and just lay there.  But most importantly have you beaten super mario bros yet?  Did you just roll around in bed last night or did you get up and watch some movies or something?

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

Check out the Thomas Receipe and/or the Amino Acid Protocal... (under the Health pages here)  

The Thomas Receipe helped me... Plus.... pushing fluids and getting out for a little exercise... Exercise will help cleanse your mind and body and will kick in your natural endorphins...Water will help cleanse out the toxins...

Hang in there honey....