how much time does it take to heal once substance free?

[angrysurvivor]

How long does it really take for the withdrawal symptoms to really be gone? I'm completely clean for 6+months now. After a 3wk emergency illness  hospital stay I came home addicted to fentanyl and oxycodone. I was clueless as to what was ahead for me. I was put on 150mcg fentanyl/72hrs with up to six 10/325 oxycodone a day for the past 2yrs. NOW I know how large of a dose l was on.. I've had two pharmacists tell me I would never b able to get off with that l rage dose,that I would probably always b on some. When the law regarding narcotic responsibility tightened up jan2014 (Wisconsin) my GP must have developed nerves about my dose & declined to continue prescribing. I could h ave found a new Dr cause I still have a painful condition but decided I hated my listless existence & started the tapering off process with virtually no help because I believe my Dr is CLUELESS about the whole narcotic game.anyway,long story later I got clean on my own & it's truly the hardest thing I've ever faced in my life& I'm 51yrs old. I'm hoping there is someone reading this that is far enough out to tell/ me if the things like RLS ever go away? when will the fog in my brain subside? When will I get back to feeling like me before drugs... or am I just  left with these horrible side effects as leftovers of being innocently blindsided by narcotics?

[angrysurvivor]

It's sounds like we started this process at about the same time, but I just started tapering in feb2014 & then at the end of March I was down far enough to go off completely. The fentanyl for me was tricky because I had 75mcg patches and my MD refused to break down my remaining scripts into 25s&12s so I had to improvise since u can't cut a patch. I have been thinking that the fentanyl was the real culprit for my rls. U say it's been a rough go for u too and I certainly understand. I'm thinking it's much harder for you with the length of yrs u were on the Vicodin... I'm guessing that u had accepted that  much of who u were on substance was the real you...how hard have the changes hit you? Are you getting anywhere close to feeling normall yet? I still am trying to find who I used to b hoping she is still under the fog somewhere... it's a pretty lonely scary place to b at times...

[angrysurvivor]

Thanks, I'm just sooo clueless about all aspects of the addiction game.... it's really so horrible the way our mind and body betrays us when we know in our hearts that getting clean is what we desperately desire. I realize that not everybody achieved addiction with doctor prescribed substances but many of us did in some way start there. And even for all of those who just got caught up for whatever reason...I believe the medical community needs to get a *******clue and stop treating our challenges and failures with addiction like a weakness that we can overcome suddenly if they just cut us off. The fear and desperation I have felt thru this process is awful. Thank god for people like u &others that take the time to share ur experiences &lend the kind support and encouragement thru forums like this....my heartfelt thanks goes out to you :)

[meegWpaw]

hey survivor you are doing great!  you've had a rough history with your meds so give it time, and your doing this on your own so give you credit!!!  yeah!  I've been trying to get clean for a long time and I still experience quite a bit of RLS but in my feet, mostly in the mornings and night.  The foggy thing tended to come and go a lot for me when I first got clean, now it is usually better, but that too takes time.  Time time time.  you are doing such a good job.

[newlife52]

I am so glad this was on here today.  I am at 219 days off vicodin that I was on for 19 years and I am really having a rough time.

So there is still hope for you and me.

[angrysurvivor]

Yes I've been totally off since end of march 2014 after 2yrs of just existing. I was on so much ****I didn't even want to drive,although NOBODY in the medical arena would say "legally" if I should or could. The RLS is still a factor. although the intensity is milder, it is present almost round the clock unless I'm mobile. I broke down and asked my MD for requip but fear augmentation since its 24 hrs a day symptoms and the low dose didn't help. I have read that it takes time for the brain to heal and start to  use the natural chemicals we make on our own. But I fear its been too long now to hope the rls will go away with time...maybe there is somebody that is far enough out to know. I have to undergo a knee replacement surgery at some point and dread dealing with pain control at that time. I don't want to go backwards and have to go thru addiction /withdrawing again.... mostly because I believe the leftover ailments will b intensified(anxiety,rls,etc) plus I'm sure as time goes on ,no consideration that I'm a former addict will b given so I wouldn't ever b prescribed an amt of pain med to allow tapering....thx for your response

[angrysurvivor]

Thx for putting into words what I've been pondering in my head....the networking and sharing with others in the same boat whether thru meetings or forums like this seems like a very healing tool. Just to know how others are coping and dealing with similar issues lends comfort and support. I feel that local communities need to do more to ensure help is out there for those who seek it... the only stuff available here is AA . Doctors seem ignorant about after care except to prescribe even more pills to camouflage the damage.  again for ur wise words.

[VICourageous]

Hi & Welcome..I will say TIME & PATIENCE is what you will need..Many factors play here like age, health, how many years of drug use and how many drugs you c/t vs taper and how many mg a day.
I can tell you that i came c/t off of methadone and i was snorting it with street bought adderral at the end and doing a benzo at night..I got down to 30mg on the dones and jumped. Because of my past history of drug use and drinking off & on since I was 14 it did take me a good 2 years to really feel that my brain was finally balanced out a bit. These drugs do so much to the Brain that this is the part that will take awhile depending on how long you have used..I got clean at 56 and now I am 58. The physical for me came in stages for months..Each month I felt better but it was yet one more strange experience on how I felt.
NOW this should not be you but I just put this out to let you know that it will take a bit of time and then each day it does get better..We are Addicts and we want to feel good right NOW!!! Well it took years for us to do this type of damage so it will take time to heal. Just make sure you are still drinking lots of fluids because the brain needs it too. Also eat healthy and take some good vit/min..YOU will be coming down off that mountain real soon..The detox is over soon it is working on staying clean that will be the challenge. I do wish you the best and yes those are some NASTY drugs!!
I do not understand the RLS still if you have this much time.Keep taking the magnesium, potassium and calcium for this..These help relax your muscles. Avocados have more potassium in them then banana but eat both.
Bless

PS..Do you have 6 Months right now??? If so you are getting closer & closer. This is usually the mental stage for many.

[motye51]

Good Morning.....
I just wanted to mention this.  The foggy brain, the "here and there" RLS, at 6 months, to me, is totally normal.  This is where aftercare, for me, came into play and helped alot with the foggy brain, no energy, leg cramps, etc...  Believe it or not, I get a physical "relief" when I go to meetings, get in those textbooks and meet with other addicts.  I've never seen anything like it.  It's an emotional relief as well, but I swear to you, it's physical as well.  If there was no relief, I wouldn't still be going!  Honestly, this is what aftercare helps with!  Maybe look into giving it a try?
BTW...awesome job on 6 months!