Jumping off methadone

[JunkyDave]

First let me tell you a little bit about me. I'm 50 years old, male and have been on methadone for the last 10 years. I'm an alcoholic who quit drinking 29 years ago. I don't do any other recreational drugs whatsoever as opiates have scratched that itch quite well. A few months back after tapering down from 80 mg a day to 20 mg per day , I signed out of the clinic and walked away. I was determined that with the small stockpile I had at home I could continue to wean myself off. I called a good friend of mine who has also been on methadone for over 10 years , although not at any particular Clinic and told her I was done. She happened to be  horribly dope sick that day  and begged me for a few wafers. I personally have great empathy for other Junkies who are sick and trying to keep it together, hold a job, pay a mortgage Etc ...
To make a long story short I picked the wrong time and the wrong parking lot to meet my lifelong friend in and soon I was in jail. I didn't stay in jail long as I do have some savings and means to post bond. I hired the best attorneys that I could and continued to cut my dose down as my court date approached. Last Wednesday was my court date and my attorneys worked out a no felony deal that knocked the drug charge down to a misdemeanor and more importantly the gun charge down to a misdemeanor (I live in a state that allows registered guns in your car) I also got 12 months of drug tested probation and it's because of this that I decided to jump off and go clean from 10mg of methadone a day. I've been doing opiates for 17 years and I've went the same route that a lot of you guys have. A bad back injury led to a prescription of Lortabs then to Percocet to Roxy's, oxy's, lollipops, pain patches and smack if nothing else was around. My last dose was Wednesday morning(10mg)  a week ago. I was drug tested the day after I went to court , called in at random they said.. what they really wanted was a Baseline so that they could see if the numbers went down nanograms/ decaliter wise. Therefore I don't have the luxury of taking benzos to sleep or even the most innocuous of prescription meds if they're not prescribed to me, it would be a violation Of course and I'd end up further entwined with the justice system. Here is how it's went:
 I noticed nothing Thursday except for anxiety.
 Friday was a bit worse but still nothing I couldn't work through.
Saturday I could tell I was going into the beginnings of a somewhat serious withdrawal. I didn't sleep at all Saturday night and the joint pain centered itself in both ankles. Sunday I knew I was in trouble, the nausea started , digestive troubles bubbled away painfully in my gut and sleep escaped me no matter what I tried. I was sweating like a w**** in church and more anxious than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. It was a very rough day.
Monday it appeared, at first at least , was going to be a great day .  Somehow  Sunday night I had managed to sleep four and a half hours  and my mind had tricked itself  into thinking the worst was over .  I Knew by noon that it was certainly not over. The mystery sleep had simply been one of those strange  gifts  that happened from time to time and not anything more. I decided instead of being crestfallen about the situation I would instead be grateful that somehow, somewhere, someone had allowed me that rest. No matter how rough Monday was I resolved myself to be in a grateful State of Mind for the nearly five hours of blissful sleep that I'd received. It's currently Tuesday evening and I'm feeling pretty rough. my face is so flushed , my body stinks , my ankles feel like they've been run over by semi truck, I am utterly exhausted  but it's the small things that keep me moving. I want to be clean. I want to put this hellish chapter behind me. I no longer want to be a Slave to the Grind of this disease The constant Hustle and Flow of opiate addiction has left me exhausted emotionally, spiritually and financially. Wish me luck, say a prayer and hopefully you'll hear from me again
Regards , Dave

[JunkyDave]

Day27
7:25am.

I had a fairly decent day yesterday and I'm expecting today to be the same. My biggest problem is that I tire very quickly. Seems I've got about a two hour gas tank. When my energy level gets depleted it takes several hours to recharges.
On the flip side, I'm not hibernating in the bedroom with dual heating pads strapped to my ankles as I  shiver and sweat. So I'll take the tradeoff.
Today I'll be grateful for my progress, however incremental. All Progress had been stalled and now we're moving forward again. Very grateful for that...

[Dee1956]

Hi Dave, I just wanted to say hello. When I am aching bad I soak in a tub of epsom salt. I have heard it draws out the toxins and replaces magnesium which relaxes our body. For your stomach I wonder if some probiotics would help

It has helped me and others very much. A small dose is best to start with, even yogurt and a probiotic. Drinking lots of water is good, being dehydrated is painful. I know you are drinking water, just wanted to add that. Water with electrolytes could help as well.

Also before bed I take magnesium supplements to help relax the muscles and help to make me sleepy. An epsom salt bath before bed is also supposed to help

I'm so impressed by your commitment.
Take Care
Dee

[JunkyDave]

Thank you so much Dee. I really appreciate your taking the time to make contact and your advice is solid also.
Blessings 2 you,
Dave

[gnarly_1]

hi dave   good to see your still in the fight  as you can already tell this is a war one in baby steps....getting outside with the grandkids will be a big help  I have 4 of the little buggers and 3 live right next door  here in phoenix it to dam hot 114 today to do anything outside after 10am so we focus on playdoe  finger pants and blocks  and nurf gun fights....it is ausum being a grand parent and you will deffently get a ''natural endorphin rush''...try to get back into hobbies  mine is fishing  we leave phx at 330am and are on the water by 4  then home b/4 10am...we have several big reservoir's within a 1 hour drive  sunday it is world class fishing for stripper in lake pleasant  cant wait anyway just wanted to encourage you...also stop by walmart and pick up a a can of whey protein mix  it has a boat load of the ecential amino acids and raw proten for energy  it is not a quick fix but over time it will really help your recovery  it is only 20 bucks for a 2lb can  keep us posted >>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Minniehaha66]

Hang in there Dave you can do this Im proud of your progress...wish my other half could get off soboxone

[JunkyDave]

Thank you for commenting and I too hope your better half finds the freedom that everyone ultimately deserves.

[EvolverU]

Hey Dave, Congrats on your time! That's Awesome. The funny thing I noticed about both Methadone & Heroin detox is how it's not exactly a straight vector. You definitely improve week by week but it tends to go in little dips & upswings -- kind of like occasionally hitting a cold spot in the ocean. Keeping busy, exercise & eating healthily will really start to show gains for you in the next couple of months.

[JunkyDave]

I've never had a detox like this.10 years on methadone was a horrible miscalculation on my part. Thanks for your input and support.

[gnarly_1]

hi dave  just want to touch bases with you  your doing great  right now you just need to push yourself threw  methadone detox is painfully slow but it will be over sooner our later  celebrate the small victory's  like sleep and little spurts of energy  day by day you will have progress  I recamend jurninling so you can see your progress  your probably in for a 60 to 90 day run to where you see hope on a regular bases  where hear for you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GNARLY<<<<<<<<<

[JunkyDave]

Thanks Gnarly