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12192525 tn?1426449883

Feeling alone.

Has anyone been on methadone for over a decade? I've been on this for 12 years and my father asked me,are you going to live like this forever? It hit me so hard cuz I never thought about it.
During those 11 years I went up and down a lot,(highest dose was 80mgs) but managed to get myself down to 13 mgs by new years eve 2011. Then started a silly rapid detox and decreased 13 mgs down to 11mgs for one week. Then 11mgs down to 8.5mgs the next. I got so sick. Felt like my heart almost gave up on me giving me random chest pains. So I had to slow down. I went only 1mg each week til I got to 5.5mgs, & stayed on that for 10 days as I felt the rapid detox was catching up to me. Today is only day one and I'm sending myself into a panic attack! I do have clonidine and Diazapam and some lopermide just in case. Has any body out there been on methadone for over a decade and made it? Are the withdrawals longer than others who has been on it like 3 or 4 years? Will it be harder on people who've been on it too long? Is it too late?
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Avatar universal
The one thing that seems to happen to most of us methadone detoxers, is the withdrawal symptoms seem to come in waves. I would feel like I was getting over it, then it would flare up again. Never got as bad as the original intensity, but it didn't just go away either. The light headed thing and limbs acting like jello happened to me. I described it as my blood was mercury and my muscles were lead and my brain felt detached from them. I also said I felt like I had half a brain and no skin, it hurt when the wind blew. I found that if I drank 2-4 packets of EmergenC a day, that it didn't happen as much or as intense, especially the light headed part, the weak limbs still happened. The electrolytes, b vitamins, and trace minerals in EmergenC really helped me feel more even over all. Gatorade and sport drinks are fine, but most of them are full of some kind of sugar, which caused me to spike and fall with my blood sugar, I think? Avoiding sugar, caffeine, any kind of toxin, and taking amino acids and EmergenC really made my detox more bareable. Nothing makes it easy, or this site wouldn't exist, but it helps. You have not described anything I didn't go through, so it all seems normal to me anyway. Hang with it, I am amazed at how I feel, so many years on methadone, even at going on 3 years off it, I am still feeling better and better. It's not only from detoxing methadone. Detox got me on a track of self improvement that hasn't stopped after feeling better, using the healthy tricks to get off drugs are now helping me be the best me there is. I couldn't ever seem to grow like this on drugs, so life is far better than I was able to imagine on drugs. Congrats on your progress, never stop growing.
Helpful - 0
12192525 tn?1426449883
Hi guys.
Thank you Debbie.  Your kind words always lifts me up.
So far it's day 15.
I am feeling more like myself for the past 3 days. I'm able to walk without feeling so tired anymore. I actually felt hungry and food tasted good for the first time. I still have the chills all day long and it's 40 degrees here, down under!  But that's it.
aside from that,  I'm having these random feeling of wooziness out of nowhere. It's really short but strong and occurs quite a bit. It's like that feeling when u slip or falling really fast and your heart skips a beat, I end up holding on to something so I don't keel over.
Guys Please tell me this is normal.
Fingers crossed.
Catt.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
congratulations Catt on two weeks clean.
you are doing great.
every day that you aren't using you are healing.
you were on methadone a long time, it will take time to heal.
keep moving forward.
you are young, you will be alright.
keep the faith.
keep up with the vitamins, clean eating, exercising, getting sun,
hydrating and you will continue to see improvements.
please be patient with the process.
everyone has bad days detoxing or not.
life on lifes terms.
I am proud of you my friend.
sending prayers for continued healing and strength,
sending encouragement and support,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi  well dont get discouraged ...just take it day by day  methadone ant like the pills  recovery is slow your doing really well keep pushing the protein shakes  2 a day  even though exorcise may seem impossible force yourself  even short walks count you will see progress in a month then 60 days  and it was around 90 days that life turned the corner for me  I was on 150mg for almost 7ys I was 47 when I detoxed so the cards where stacked ageist me  but I have helped a lot of people off this stuff and what your going threw is very typical you just got to take it one day at a time it takes resolve and perseverance keep your eyes on the prize  and just know it is so so worth it when it is all said and done I will pray for you..........Gnarly
Helpful - 0
12192525 tn?1426449883
Hi guys.
Sorry I haven't been posting lately.
I kept feeling good one day then horrible the next. I kept getting more and more tired just when I thought today is getting better, it proves me wrong. I'm on my 13th day today. I'm no longer hoping for anything. I'm just gonna have to suck it up. I'm just pissed off at myself. Still taking the vitamins and trying to eat and drink lots of fluids. I feel like life is .... well there's no life left in me right now.  I hope it will get better by next week.
Thanks for checking in on me gnarly. I really did spoke too soon  on the first week didn't I?
Still hanging in there. And I'll try and keep you guys posted. Sigh..... *hugs
Catt
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Catt  just checking in on you how you doing  havent herd from you in a couple of days  please post.......Gnarly
Helpful - 0
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