trying to kill my sub demons, and need help!

[bettermomma]

I'm a 24 yr old female, mother of two and wife of WV coalminer, and I've been abusing subeutex and suboxone for a little over a year. I have admitted to my doctor that I have a problem and he prescribed cymbalta and clonidine. Can this help me with w/d symptoms or is it a waste? None of my family knows about my addiction but I am 4 days into w/d and I feel like I'll die. The rls is the only thing that I have trouble dealing with... any suggestions for how to help myself without relapsing?

[lulu747]

How much clonidine are you taking?  How often?  I'm on day 6 of opiate withdrawal and taking .1mg every 4 hrs-but I was taking a lower dosage while tapering my meds before jumping off cold turkey.  The symptoms it helps are the racing heart and the gastrointestinal-everybody is different.  It doesn't stop the sweating, chills, or the RLS which for me has been the worst besides the sleep deprivation.  Consider upping your dosage but make sure you keep an eye on your blood pressure.  Better yet-call a doctor and ask for advice.  And keep going-you're doing great(:

[bettermomma]

Thanks for the support, but I still don't feel any better even with the meds doc gave me... what's wrong with me and y don't I feel the clonidine and others working to make me feel better?

[ImDONENoMore]

I only know my experience with opiates, but the withdrawal will go back and forth for a while - you'll feel a little better for a day or so, then not so great, then good again.... but it will end if you give it the time it deserves.

So many of us give up before allowing that time to pass.  And that's why aftercare is so important - but you can address that concept later.  Just take care of yourself like you would if you had a really bad flu - sleep or rest when you can, eat and stay hydrated, take hot showers/baths with the epsom salts.  And keep reading.  It will keep you going and keep you inspired.

And another important thing?  Tell yourself this is GOOD for you because it is.  That's another thing I notice a lot - that we think we're sacrificing happiness or well being by giving up the drugs and that couldn't be farther from the truth.  Getting OFF this poison is what's good for us so you have to remind yourself of that.

Now go take that hot shower, make yourself a cup of hot tea (it's soothing) and rest where you can.  And GO SLOW.  If you keep the expectations for feeling better too quickly in check, and realistic, you'll be okay.  Don't trip over your hope for feeling better right away - let yourself "sink" into this for a while and you'll eventually get some relief.  Your body is going to thank you for this you'll see.  And in ways you never expected.

I will look for you tomorrow.  Hang in there - you're going to be OKAY.  :)

[bettermomma]

Imdonenomore, how does the next week feel? I mean will it get better or does it get worse before it gets better? I'm scared to death, because I don't know what to expect ... how long it w/d from subs? I don't know many ppl that, or any in this case, that have been through this.

[ImDONENoMore]

Time.  Time is probably one of the things that helps the most.

Course - most of us hate that answer (I know I did) - but it's true.  So keep going - do the stuff that vicki suggested - and keep reading.  You're going to find a ton of good info here and that will inspire you to go another day....and then another day...and so on and so on..

Welcome and good luck to you!  You can do this and I will tell you that life DOES return to normal as much as that may seem hard to believe right now.  It just does.  So give yourself the time you deserve and feel good about the fact that you told your Dr. you had a problem and want to get on with your life without the drugs.  And take the stuff he gave you - I have not once yet read a member here say the meds he gave you didn't help them.  They do so TAKE them.

:)

[bettermomma]

Thank you so much... it seems like forever, every day seems to get longer I mean... I'm so emotional right now, I can't sleep, but I think that's a lot of the w/d tho... what do you suggest to help with that?

[vicki595]

Hi!  No! It's not a waste at all! Clonidine really helps the symptoms so take it. Take them both!

Four days is very good so keep going. Sub withdrawals are hard!! So take the meds he gave you and drink lots of water. It gets easier!

For the RLS:

Hot baths with Epsom salts;several a day.
Apple and orange juice
Combo calcium/magnesium tablets. I've used and still use: K-Mag Aspartate. It's amazing and works fast!! Follow label directions...
Highlands Restful legs at Walmart/Walgreens

Those are different things to try. I think the potassium tabs and hot baths will do the trick for you though.  Good luck and stay away from the Sub!

Keep posting here; there's an amazing amount of support....