day two of withdrawal hell

[lulu747]

I was doing okay until a few hours ago-I felt like death with chills, sweats, cramping etc. but in a lot of ways the more the oxy is out of my system the better my brain feels.  I haven't had a dose in 39 hours and the small opiate dose I took yesterday wore off this afternoon.  I can't sleep-at all.  I took my dose of clonidine and oxazepam and I have been laying and shivering and my legs hurt sooooo much.  Can anyone tell me when this is going to get better?  I took potassium and magnesium for the legs as well as an ambien.  Still no sleep.  Al so-I remember being cold-the last time I went cold turkey was in August of '08 and I wore a touque and wooly socks.  But this time cold is a whole new level.  I am wearing long johns, long sleeved t-shirt, thick hoodie, scarf, cashmere scarf and two pairs of socks and I'm still shaking with cold. I had three baths today.  I feel so alone in this even though my family is right here supporting me.  Any and all advice is most welcome.  Bless you all.

[lulu747]

I feel for you too.  The only reason I ever took opiates was for pain relief to try to improve the quality of my life after devestating chronic illness hit me at 26.  Every day I would ask myself if I needed the pills and if the side effects were worth the relief.  I finally decided they are not.  I felt like the pills were stealing my soul.  I cold turkeyed once before several years ago and made it six months drug free.  But i never got out of bed.  Then I had another surgery and got right back on the opiates.  I am going to tough through the pain no matter what and trust and have faith that I will have a good life  It's been a tough five years.  Much love to all.

[lulu747]

Many thanks again.  Have been trying to move around the house but my dizziness (probably from clonidine) and exhaustion from zero sleep is making it difficult.  It takes me like twenty minutes to get dressed!  (and not because I'm worrying about what to wear(:)
I went cold turkey off benzo's the last time I decided all drugs were evil and I had a seizure so yes-going to be more cautious this time.  I keep forgetting that I take zoplicone (I'm Canadian) I am pretty sure it is the same thing as ambien though.  I have been taking it for insomnia for 8 years-7.5 mg a night and never more.  I will lose that one day two.  One drug at a time.

[LeaAnn807]

Oh, yes.....I see.  You definitely want to conquer one at a time if you've been on it that long.  I thought you had just been given them to use for detox.  I missed it somewhere.  Sorry about that.  You have to be careful detoxing from benzos like that anyway.  Your doc can give you advice on a nice, safe, long taper plan.  

Yes, this will be the hardest day.  Just keep the baths and fluids going.  I know that it seems like nothing you do helps much, but in small ways everything does.  You'll make it.  Just take it a few minutes at a time.  Move around as much as you can.  Lying in bed, miserable and tossing and turning can drive you crazy, so get up and do small things when you can.

[lulu747]

Thank you so much for all your kind hearted and helpful advice.  I have been on oxazepam for two years (though have cut my dose significantly in the past 6 months.  My overall goal is to be 100% med free.  My problem is this-I have 3 serious auto-immune illnesses that get worst with lack of sleep.  So I do what I have to do.  I've never taken more than what is prescribed.  I will concquer the other meds-but one step at a time.  I still haven't slept.  Hot baths with empsm salts only relieve so much.  This is going to be the hardest day.  I'm ready for it.  Thank you all for your support and please keep it coming.  Bless you.

[LeaAnn807]

Hey, here's some stuff that might help, but you're basically doing the right things.  I don't know what you can buy OTC in Canada, so I'm not sure if the Hyland's Leg Cramps with quinine is available, but here you can find it at your drug store.  It is great help with the legs.  Baths in epsom salts helps.  Also, drink gatorade and apple juice.  Drink it ALL day long.  Don't let up on it.  Just keep some with you all the time.  That will help your legs so much.  The epsom salts in the bath work on the cramps also.  Very important to get some if you don't have it already.  I took Nyquil at night, and it helped my restlessness, but you are taking a lot of stuff already, so I don't recommend that.  On that note........watch the oxazepam and ambien.  They aren't really helping you anyway, so I'd leave those off.  They are SO addictive.  I know you feel like you have to have something, but you will get through this with the clonidine.  You don't need the other stuff.  You'll just have to worry about getting off of it when all this is over, and you don't want another addiction, right?  Nothing is going to help you sleep in the first few days no matter what, so why take them?  Just looking out for you, ok?  

I'm cheering for you!  You can do this!  Congrats on your clean time so far!  Don't go back! : )

[jlannaa]

I hope you feel better soon after the first few days each days gets a little better but remember its worth it all in the end no chasing pills and the freedom from not needing to take something everyday , you will feel better it just takes some time . Stay strong and i wish you all the best in the world :)

[ricart70]

Sorry you are having so much trouble lulu,Have you tried quinine? It will get better soon just hang in there ok? You are doing something great!

[GA_need_help]

Lulu,
My heart goes out for you.  And, I am praying for you.  I am sure you felt you had no other reason than to go CT, right?  And you will end up on the other side of this, with these bonds broken.  I support you in however you decide to do your detox, and just want you to know I am here for you, if you need me.  I am doing a taper because I have a back injury, and yes, that first area to hurt during any kind of detox--is my back.  So, I am in the thick of the slow,drawn out process of tapering.  Not everyone can taper for reasons of why we took medications to whether we have enough medication to do so.  But, you have made a giant decision, on eI respect so much.  As you hang in there, you will get relief and the end is in sight!  Hold close to your supportive family.  I am here for you anytime.  Big Hug. Marie

[selfinduced]

Hey Lulu, Be careful with the ambient. I thought I could sleep thru my WD's and took it way more than prescribed and it backfired. It gave me anxiety, then I had to deal with WD'S from THAT. I know you don't feel like it , but if you can get moving. Walk to the mailbox, clean out a cabinet, put up a stand of xmas lights. Something to distract you. Hot towels in the microwave may ease your legs. Keep fighting!

[lulu747]

thanks so much, not struggling with the mental as much as the physical,  My whole body is so restless and I can/t find anything to help.  It's making me crazy.  I've already taken my sleeping meds but I can't sit still and am just trying to breath.  There is no doubt about it I AM IN HELL> how do I calm down my legs?  I've tried magnesium, potassium, clonidine, oxazepam and hot baths.  They are worst not b3etter.  going insane !

[gnarly_1]

HI sorry to here your still in the grip of it ........its got to break sooner or later probably today then it will be the mental mind screw you have to deal with be ready for it I always say this is 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental rarely dose the physical beat you its the metal anguish that brings you down .....aftercare is a must N/A is free and is a great program it will help you threw the mental stuff
stay strong your doing great so far just a bit longer and things will settle down
you will be tired out for a few days and sleep will probably be a problem but things will even them self out good luck and God bless........Gnarly

[lulu747]

wow.  this is by far the worst I have ever felt.  The restless legs are making me crazy.  Drinking magnesium hot and praying they will settle so I can get some sleep-or at least peace.  I'm at 54 hours and have been awake for about 48 of them and starting to cough and sneeze.  I am praying-God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

[gnarly_1]

hang in there girl you should start to feel a little better by tomorrow its a gradual process but you have been threw it b/4 so you nkow what to expect I think that take a lot of the fear our of your body going threw such sudden change I just wanted to check on you but your last post did that for me keep pushing forwawd and you will get threw this........Gnarly

[lulu747]

congrats on the 31 days I can't wait to get there myself.  I am suffering big time but grateful that I probably only have one or two more days of this misery.  The greatest thing is this-I had a migraine headache that lasted a month while I was on the oxycontin (switched from fentanyl to oxy in october) and IT'S GONE.  I was in the hospital for two days trying to get it under control and so I really asked myself what could be causing it and the answer was the oxy-now I know I am right.  I swear it is the devil itself.  Paleflower-I can't take valerian root it does terrible things to me (nightmares, shakes) well I've already got the shakes so don't want to add!  Am taking b vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and the blessed L-Tyrosine...It's a life saver.  48 hours and counting(:

[paleflower]

Have you tried Valerian Root?, it's a natural supplement that did wonders for me the first days of my recovery, sleeped a lot better (I'm 31 days clean today). Hope you feel better soon sweetie, you can do this, stay strong, we are here for you, God bless

[steg11]

Your doing great!! Hang in there, its so worth it.  I found that day quil and ny quil really helps. Esp if u tell ur mind "its the flu, its the flu, damnit its just the flu!" Lol. I also took a natural sleep aid called Alteril...that's amazing too. Your body will stop hurting around day 5 or 6. After that its mental. Load up on the vitamins, they help with energy. You can do this!! Good luck and God speed!

[lulu747]

Thank you all so much.  LOL at Antartica-I am in Canada after all (but the warm part)  I got a few hours sleep this morning.  This cold turkey is way easier than the last one and I think it's because I have the proper meds.  Honestly, I am just mad at myself that I went back on the meds after the last time.  I only did cause I had hard core surgery but if that happens again I will just suffer the pain afterwards.  The hardest part of this IS the real pain I have but I am deep breathing and praying and refuse to ever, ever, take another pain pill again.  You guys rock.

[JD1885]

Keeping pushing through!  Tell yourself you're in Antartica, and of course it's going to be this cold.  And remember that to relieve yourself from the chills this times, means you would just have to do it again.  The physical stuff gets way better after a few days.  Keep on truckin' and post on here as much as you can.  The people here are genuine and really care.  Good luck and God bless you.

[nannyh7]

feel for you too. been there. didn't have the help of the other drugs you have for the legs, guess that is one of the reasons I failed going cold turkey. just couldn't take it. I am on day 4 of weaning, and it is very rough. Good luck to you, stay strong!

[Ballgame]

I feel for you. Stay strong

[fpvfem]

Hey mate I'm on nite 8 the first four days tests ya in everyway like imdone said stay hydrated baths r really good and there's some really amazing people on this sute I wouldn't be sayin I'm 8 days clean without this site its a god send habg in there mate your doing so well keep postong I found it helps. Bigtime keep doing what ya have been with the chills you'll be strong mate god bless u

[gnarly_1]

well this is the price we pay for useing you got 2 or 3 more days till your well againkeep up with the hot baths and the supplements it will get better as the days go on hang in there your 1/2 way threw it good luck and God bless.........Gnarly

[ImDONENoMore]

Well you're doing most of the right things - I know with the drugs you're still taking that it should be helping some but withdrawal is tricky - affects all of us differently.

And I hate to say this - but what you're going through you kind of have to go through (I'm sorry) - but that's what the process entails.  Feeling yucky for a while, and then slowly coming out of it.  At least that's how it worked for me.  The struggle is tough I know - and I do know it was something, even after a year clean, that I will never EVER forget.  It isn't something that you easily forget and that's probably good too I suppose.  Keeps us from ever wanting to go through this hel* again right?

Keep going - and stay nourished and hydrated.  It does come down to the basics during withdrawal - and treating ourselves like we would if we had the worst flu of our lives.  It will get better but it will take some time.  :)