Help

[LadyDaryl]

This is harder than I thought.  I took 3 Norco and 2 Morphine Sulfates a day for 8-9 years.  I'm on 5 days at 1/2 dose and at first it was OK but today I couldn't even walk down the beach and I lost my pouch with money and stamps because I am spaced out.  Next week I was going down to just 2 Norco a day and then 1 Norco a day and then quit....but I am signed up for some classes online that start in 3 weeks and I start school again in February.  I could do neither now.  These are all very hard classes.  

The question I have is how long before I can function at a normal level....plus my doctor said it takes a year to get the 'happy endorphins' back but 2 other doctors denied that and said it's just months.  

When will I be normal again?  I don't mind the hell for the short run but I need an honest true answer of what's next.  I read Cory Monteith went to Eric Clapton's 12 Step House in Malibu and was so knocked out by not having methadone or suboxane that he went crazy back on an O.D.. I have no source of heroin.  I do have a doctor who would give me Vicodin and I am trying to get a hold of my shrink who suggested this.  But everything I am reading on the internet about life after opiates sounds worse than life on opiates.  

I am quitting because after 10 years they don't work and I sleep 14-16 hours a day and I want energy back.  As old as I am I am not ready to just give up and wait to die.  That may be a long, long time off.  I can't afford suboxane and it sounds like you never get off that and methadone is the same.  Sometime I have to give up everything except herbal remedies.  

Please help me.  I can't find the answers and I need to know what the future will bring.  

[Kbusymom]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on wanting to quit.  I would wait until after Christmas and then go CT.  It sounds like you are trying to taper and that is really hard to do; not many of us have had any success with tapering.  It seems to draw out the WD process both mentally and physically.  
Check out the Thomas Recipe to help with the physical part and try to think of it like you have the flu.  

I think the energy thing takes longer; I'm still struggling with that part too.  We have to give our bodies and our minds time to heal.  You will come to hate the word "time", but it's so true, we have to be patient with ourselves.
Good luck and keep posting- we are in this together.  Getting clean is so worth it- we deserve good lives free from chasing pills :))))

[atthebeach]

Congrats on quitting. Be patient with yourself and the process. Keep on moving forward, it will get better.
Make sure you are staying hydrated and try to get some food down to help keep up your strength. drinking protein shakes is beneficial.
move around as much as possible. It will take some time to heal after using for 9 years. Both doctors were right, you will go through changes and healing each day, 30, 60,90 days are huge milestones and yes up to one year of complete healing.
Take it one day at a day and do as much as you can naturally to help the healing. The Thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol are listed under the health pages on the right bottom right of this page.
Keep posting for support and encouragment,
Keep the faith...

[katmandu516]

Hi there...and welcome to the forum!  It sounds like you are not feeling well, and I am sorry. Been there around 68 days ago when I quit taking oxi's, trams and vicodin every day for 3 years due to physical and mental pain. In all honesty, they seemed to make my pain worse. Not better. I was nodding off, burning holes in everything and looking like God knows what.  But getting back to you. Do you really want to do this now? It is Christmas Eve. That is totally up to you. I wouldn't take the subs even if I had the money for them, I heard they are a terrible beast to get off of. Your question was "How long until you get back to normal right"?  It's different for all of us. Depending on what you took, how much, ect, ect. In my humble opinion, I would say a couple of months before you can start seeing clearly again, that's how long it took me. And it was all worth it! Good luck and try to have a Happy Holiday.

[marycarmel]

I would think you're about to turn the corner.  Look into the Thomas recipe for things that help ease the w/d symptoms.   As far as getting totally back to yourself, that could take some time.  You were on them for a long time.  If you can get some exercise, it will help with getting your natural endorphins going again.