I think what I am feeling could be PAWS?

[takingmylifeback2014]

Hi All -
Okay so I hve been freaking myself out. I am in and out of a mental funk feeling depressed, not much motivation hard to be happy etc. but - recently I noticed my vision is blurry and I feel "Drunk" off balance .... I have done A LOT of reading about PAWS. I know I posted before and someone commented that "I should not go" there because PAWS does not happen to everyone. From what I have read it does seem it happens to everyone in different ways, some may only get a few of the symtoms and the amount of time it can last does vary by person. But when I read about PAWS it explained how I was feeling to a T ....
Can you guys give me your thoughts on this? I am overreacting? Or could I be experiencing PAWS?
Please Help

[Angelog]

I think 90% experience withdrawl, but depends on the strenght and mind altering state , the first time i tried getting cleab wasent as hard as now , im
On day 50, i was clumpsy and brain fogged alot more severe then i am now, but the depression, anxiety etc of post acute withdrawl peak at 90 days, after that the good days get longer and longer, they could last anywhere from a year or 2 doctors say, sometimes longer depending on age, health, and other medications, im 26 and on day 50 im having good days but
My paws are also getting stronger its fkn phycotic, lonelyness is what gets me

[jugglin]

Hey girl, you are doing awesome!  My brain still gives out on me at 90 days.  I was staring at the computer at work the other day and could not find the delete button...I have to control+alt+delete every day, multiple times a day and I just stared there thing "wth???".  I have mood swings...but I'm pretty sure if you ask my husband, he'd say I've always had mood swings.:) I just wanted to jump in and show my support.  This thread has so many great posts and I just wanted to add that you are not alone! Keep moving forward!

[BanMethadone]

I don't think I can add anything new to this thread that anyone has not already said, plus I have never been 66 days clean. That being said, I still offer you all of my support and you have tons of respect from me for how far you've come! Just hang in there. I can best respond to you with these lyrics which I think are pretty pertinent to recover.

"It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will"

I don't know, it just seems to fit bc a change is going to come... just be patient and look to all of these amazing people who have been where you are now, and are still rocking their recoveries with style.

I can't wait to join you, and I look up to you big time. I want to be 66 days out!

ty for sharing

[takingmylifeback2014]

Thank you for screaming for me!!! XOXO

[dominosarah]

Dont worry about PAWS.  It takes our body and mind "time" to get better.  We need to work on our "patience" skills during this period!!  You will get there so keep moving forward~

[Pat1956100]

I know I'm sounding like a broken record but I still blame it on tramadol.  It is so much harder to come off of than other opiates.
It scares the hell out of me.  I found out that what my doctor prescribed (tridural) was actually tramadol and I got off of it after taking it for only a couple of months.
I have read so many horror stories about tramadol and that the withdrawals last for a long time.
That's just my opinion lol.
I really wish you were feeling better.  Sometimes you just want to scream, IT'S NOT FAIR.  
There, I did if for you.
Hugs
Pat

[takingmylifeback2014]

Amanda- Thanks Girl! That was sweet!

Weaver71- thank you! You always help me every time I need it! I will just keep on "faking it til I make it"!

[takingmylifeback2014]

Thank you!

[takingmylifeback2014]

That's crazy I didn't even know Dr.'s were allowed to cold call lol ... How you feeling?

[weaver71]

Just hang in there. I know it feels like it's taking a long time, but time will speed up. Just focus on today, one day, you will look back and say, "That 90
Days was soooo slow, wish I had that extra time now." Focus on being good, feeling good will come along shortly.

[motye51]

That's it! I knew I had the name wrong. I'm just amazed that they called like drug dealers? Solicitors?

[ricart70]

Hi Motye I think you are thinking of vivitrol which is naltrexone  and is not an opiate but an opiate blocker and at over 1000 bucks a shot it's no wonder they are trying to sell you on it. I would say you don't need that either and you are doing great so just keep doing what you are doing friend. ;)

[Amandag78]

I hope you feel better soon too, i really do. Im always thinking of you xx

[takingmylifeback2014]

No I did not feel great at all .... Still dont I just dont want that PAWS thing to hit me and I have noknowledge of it. I guess I am still in withdrawal .... Hoping around 90 I start feeling better

[weaver71]

90 days is a pretty common methadone detox time. Many of us notice a difference then. Did you feel okay, like it was over, then it came back out of the blue? That's how PAWS was described to me. I felt a little better and then worse, but I never felt like it was over and it returned.

[motye51]

I think their right....I'm still feeling some w/d symptoms??? Definitely not as bad as before, but damn, I sure don't fee too hot?  Want to hear something funny?? My doctors office actually CALLED me today, b/c I've missed 3 appointments trying to convince me to come get some Vistoril?? shot? That works like subs but is a shot and lasts a month? Is that funny or what? NOT!!!!  

[Amandag78]

Hello there you, congratulations on 66 days clean, awesome.
Now i did read somewhere years ago that abusing drugs affects our middle ear, which is what makes us stand up straight and grab things without dropping them etc.
This was the case for me anyway. I would start walking and slowly vear to the left or right lopsided. I hated it, i looked drunk. My eye sight has been affecting me for some time now, i cant read things on the bottom of the tv screen like i could a month ago and my eyes go blurry while im looking at something or writing. Your middle ear also affects your sight as well as ears. I get ringing in my ears and they make funny noises. Also my brain twitches and its the horriblest feeling. Its like it shakes inside my head.
I get all of this when i stop using for a certain amount of time and it takes a while to get back to normal.
Not saying what i have,.but it sounds pretty close.
What about getting a full body check to ease your mind and rule out some things.
Im sorry yout doing it so hard but believe me, im right there with you!!! Its a long slow drawn out process and its not fun but your still here and you can do anything. Please try not to worry we are all feeling you xxxx

[IBKleen]

I KNOW it isn't PAWS. You are still in withdrawal. Do yourself a favor and don't invite trouble. Don't read into thing--you will make yourself crazy. 66 days is awesome. Get on with your life.

[takingmylifeback2014]

Today it my 66th Day Clean? So you don't think it is PAWS?

[ricart70]

I have to concur with IB on this. I checked your tracker and you are at around 60 days. Your brain still has a decent amount of readjusting to do. Most of these episodes tend to take a day or so and then you feel even better than you did before the episode. I am heading for two years soon and I still bounce off of a wall or two but I attribute it mostly to my lack of attention to my surroundings and not the fact that I used to use drugs. ;))    Hang in there friend. You are doing awesome!!  ;))

[IBKleen]

PAWS is very rare. Many people "think" they have it but what they are experiencing is withdrawal which can last for some time.

How many days clean are you?

[Goblin666]

HI, I have been through PAWS a few times.  When I first got sober 7 years agon and also after coming off of Tramadol and Norco after a few years.  I'm currently only 6 days in but yes PAWS is real.

My main symptoms with it were and have been.  Clumsiness, dropping things.  (i dropped my keys twice opening up my apt door last night), mental fog, fatigue, lack of coordination and balance (like where I felt drunk and bounced off against a wall).  We are all different but it sounds like you may be experiencing this which is a normal part of recovery.