Kicking a Terrible Habit...Need Help

[SmokeyMcDude]

   I smoked my last balloon at 4A.M. last night. I was doing about 3 a day for 5 months. I saw a doctor today and unfortunately, she was not very sympathetic to my situation. (I do live in Utah and most citizens, let alone MD's are Mormon so I wasn't expecting much of anything.) I have all the workings for the Thomas Recipe, Librium and 1 Xanax pill (from earlier scripts), Mineral Suppliments, Fish Oil, L-Tyrosine, B-6 and even some Melatonin to help me sleep. (which I doubt I will) I am feeling totally and utterly drained and my entire body aches, I have another balloon but I really don't want to get into it. I am literally inches away from the toilet trying to drop it in.
   Anyway, I was never an addict of anything before I had hand surgery about 7 months ago. I would describe myself as having a hippie mentallity (weed, beer, LSD and mushrooms are all ok) but when I got a Vallium script I was introduced to a world I'd never experienced before (and wish I hadn't) Needless to say the Vallium didn't last long and heroin is becoming ever popular in my state and also easier to get a hold of. For 10$ a balloon I thought I could spend everyday getting peeled back with no problem. WRONG! I felt like I was slowly slipping away and I couldn't get a grip on my life anymore, I haven't lost my job (yet) and just want to get back to my old life-loving self. I have lined up many trips and festivals this summer and don't want to be dependent on smack to have fun at Telluride. (which is more fun that this brown **** anyway.)
Basically I have some questions:
-Does booze help the withdrawal symptoms? I never had a problem with alcohol as I have a very sensitive stomach but would a couple of beers calm me down? I would think that and Librium would be a recipe for sleep but I don't want to over do it.
-Also does weed help at all? I have a nice bong and a satchel to burn through but I don't want to exacerbate my symptoms.
-When should I take my Xanax? After 2 days or on the 2nd day? Basically when is going to be the worst because it's really bad right now and I don't know how it could get worse.
Any secrets that the Thomas recipe hasn't told me would be greatly appreciated, I'm getting really down on myself and considered shooting a lethal dose rather than going through this hell on more than one occasion. Any help would be appreciated.

[newmanagment]

for real, flush the balloon. done is done bro, and you said your done. you need a safety net, you have us!! drugs arent a safety net, its a surefire way to put yourself back into addcition. sounds like you have all the makings, but i think the beer is probably not gonna help. but it may relax ya, and so may the weed. but i would be carefull. like opi said , the beer has a way of lowering the willpower you have now, and lets the demons escape. I have no problem with medicinal marijuanna, but thats something you have to decide, and see how you feel when ya smoke some. i wouldnt suggest getting blasted, may lower your willpower as well. i have had several friends hooked on H, and like cocaine, it is gonna be a long hard fight to get urself back. but sound like you are ready for that fight. so keep ya chin up , and protect it with your left... good luck bro, flush the ballon, man up, and lets do this ****.....

[cathy5841]

wow, i know absolutely nothing about heroin.  but i do know a lethal dose would be a permenant solution to a temporary problem.  this will pass.  it is a hard road to travel, but to obtain freedom from  the hell in which you live you must travel it.  and it is so worth it when the fog finally lifts.  you can do this.  it aint pretty and it aint easy but it s doable.. you can get clean.  have you thought about the suboxone option?  google it and you can get lots of info.  if you are gonna go cold turkey  and follow the thomas receipe...get some immodium for the stomach issues they will come.  also for the rls and muscleaches take hot baths with epsom salt.  eat plenty of bananas for potassium.  for the chills use an electric blanket or heating pad
good luck and keep posting
cathy  

[SmokeyMcDude]

I read a lot about suboxone but I hear it's just as hard to kick as heroin. I would rather just go through it all and be done with it but I really didn't expect it to be this bad. Even after reading all the posts on the internet and doing research. I am literally soaked to the bone in sweat and my body hurts like it never has before. I am starting to regret flushing my only source of instant "feel betterness" but you guys are really helping a lot. Thank you so much.

[newmanagment]

i feel your pain bro. but that instant feel good is only prolonging the inevitable. i think it is possible to die from heroin w/d's , so if ya get too bad, go to ER!!  if you think it is ok and ya can handle it , stay here. i wil be up a minute, and ill help all i can. do this, list all the things you want when ya get clean. it may take your mind off it.

[cathy5841]

i totally agree with you on the sub.  i went cold turkey myself from any opiate i could get mostly oxys in the end.  if you had the balloon it would only postpone the enevitable.  to be clean you gotta go through it.  soak in a hot tub of water for as long as you can.  i would soak til the water got cold and let it out and refill with hot.  do whatever you have to to make it.  it is all about survival that first week lol.  you can do this.  dig deep within and find the strength the heroin stole from you.  keep posting...keep reading...it will get better.  i have 96 days clean and it is wonderful, it can be yours too just press on.
cathy

[cathy5841]

here is some info that should help you


Let's start with the good news! Even though withdrawal can be pretty uncomfortable, it's not dangerous to detox from heroin, no matter how much you've been using. And the worst of the physical detox is over in four to five days. Some people say it's like having a bad case of flu. But it is really important to remember that your tolerance to heroin will drop after detoxing - it is likely that if you start using again in the same amounts  you will overdose. Many people have died from this sort of overdose.

Not everyone will go through the same things - what you experience in heroin withdrawal depends on how much and how often you've been using. For example, if you've been using every day for months or longer it will probably be more uncomfortable than if you've been using once or twice a week. How you cope can also depend on your general state of health and how much support you have. If you feel you need 24 hour support while you detox you could contact us at ADAWS for more information.

What to expect in withdrawal
It can really help to know what to expect when you're withdrawing from heroin. The more you know about what's happening, and what to do, the easier it is to cope. This is a list of things reported by people who have been through heroin withdrawal.

12-24 hours since using

You might be starting to feel agitated, irritable or just `not right'.
You might be sneezing and have a runny nose and eyes.
You might suffer goosebumps, sweating and hot and cold flushes.
You probably won't feel much like eating.
You'll probably do lots of yawning!
After 24 hours you might experience some or all of these symptoms:

strong cravings to use, cramps in the stomach, and maybe some diarrhoea (the trots)
feeling a bit sick, no appetite, maybe some vomiting
backache, pains in the legs or arms, and maybe a headache
restlessness when you're trying to sleep
feeling run down, irritable and finding it hard to concentrate
hot and cold flushes and sweating.
Days 2 - 4

For most people, this is the worst time. You will probably still be suffering the symptoms listed above. But hang in there! It's like having a bad flu - it won't kill you, and it won't last forever.
Days 5 - 7

Most of the withdrawal symptoms begin to settle down, and you'll start to feel lots better.
After 2 weeks

Nearly all of the symptoms will have disappeared, except maybe the tiredness and irritability, and you may still have some cravings to use.
After 3-4 weeks

Your sleep gets better.
Your mood and general health improves.
The cravings start to get less and less.

How to make heroin withdrawal easier

Withdrawal symptoms are your body's way of getting back to normal. For most people, it's not a very pleasant thing to go through, and there's no magic way to take away the symptoms. But there are lots of things that can make it easier:

It won't hurt not to eat for a few days, but you could try something light (like toast).
It's important to drink lots. Six to eight glasses of water (or juice) a day will help flush the toxins out of your body and make you feel better. Sip slowly if you are feeling a bit sick. (But skip coffee and coke, especially at night because it will make it harder to sleep.)
Disturbed sleep is a normal part of withdrawal. It can be frustrating, but you will start to sleep better as time goes on. Try to get used to going to bed before midnight and avoid sleeping during the day. Skip coffee and coke at night.
Listen to music.
A bit of gentle physical activity (like walking) is good as it releases `feel good' hormones in your body.
Warm baths or showers are great for aches and pains and to help you relax. You could also try hot packs.
Massage can be really soothing.
Tell your diary how you're feeling - writing or drawing can help get you through rough patches.
Try to keep busy: draw, paint, write, sew, watch a video, play cards, read, walk, talk to animals, get into a jigsaw puzzle, make phone calls (but not to other people who use!).
Don't use large amounts of alcohol, sleeping tablets or tranquillisers to help you get through. The danger with this is that you might swap one habit for another and end up with a pill or grog problem. Medication prescribed by a doctor can help with some symptoms of withdrawal, but there's no magic potion that will take away all the symptoms.
Plan a reward for yourself for getting through detox.


Check out the section on cravings for some tips on how to cope.



If you are going to use heroin again once you have been through detox, remember that your tolerance will have dropped - using the same dose will very likely cause you to overdose.  

Also remember that slip-ups are not failures. If you do use again, try to work out why - the experience is something you can learn from.

Last updated: Thursday, 31 January 2008