When will my sleep return???

[delightdee]

Hey guys....well I have successfully got off the pills that have controlled my world.  I tapered down from 7 norcos to one and now none.  Way easier than going cold turkey like before.  However, will my sleep ever return?  I wake up on the hour every hour.  I took melatonin and got a whole 3 hours.   I'm on day 2 of nothing.  Feel ok other than exhausted.  Trying to stay busy.  I have done this several times, but no longer have access to pills, confessed to the doc and she notified all my specialists.  So no more narcotics for me.  Which I am glad.  Its been a dirty little secret that has robbed my life.  I am a ****** person on those things.  A shell of a person.  Not living.  On a good note, I did laugh out loud with my husband for the first time in a long time.  So I know I am getting better.  I just need some encouragement.  Any advice would be appreciated.

[ponco]

hi hows it going/

[weaver71]

I was real emotional for awhile, I had to balance out. Opiate suppress our feelings, that's the most addictive part. After not feeling for so long, you have to practice. I know that I didn't cry or feel deeply about much of anything while using. Now I cry, but I laugh more too. Like I said, recovery is all about balance, and it takes some time. You're sleeping and craving, sounds like the major detox is over, this is the time for aftercare. Talking to an addiction counselor, 12 step meetings, church, or somewhere you can go and be open about your life and feelings really helps. It's hard to see ourselves when we first come out of the fog, so I think of all my support as mirrors. And I'll say to you what was said to me in my low hours, "Congrats of feeling again."

[jenjen1966]

Hi. Sorry to hear you're having such a rough go. I went through a crying phase too. I am not usually a cryer. It kind of came in waves for me. Now I'm 60 days out and my emotions have settled down. It just rakes a while for our brains to get back to normal. Try to exercise. Get the natural endorphins going. Hang in there. It gets better! Congratulations on the clean time!

[delightdee]

Just checking in with everyone.  Depression has full blown set it.   I'm sad, crying about everything and feel fing horrible in my mind.  I'm trying to be positive and be happy, but just can't seem to shake the funk I am in.  Is this normal?  I was feeling great.  Now just sad, tired, and emotional.  I do have alot going on financially right now.  So the added stress is pushing me over.   But the crying about everything. Is this normal or should I go see someone about this?

[delightdee]

YAY I got a full nights rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I think I'm going to make it guys....but I do have to be honest...is it normal to want the pills....I find myself thinking about them....wishing I could talk one for anything.....is this normal?

[delightdee]

Well last night I slept well.  But had a horrible day.  I have really bad vertigo and the only thing that helps is xanex and ativert.  Thats probably why I slept so well.  Today I am antsy and want to take a pill so bad.   Everything hurts or seems to.  I am irritable and moody.  Why is this so hard.

[delightdee]

So finally at 2am  I took 2 5mg melatonins  and I fell asleep.  Up at 5am again. Is it normal to have weird dreams?  I dreamt about pills and trying not to take them from a coworker offering them.  But I made it through another night.  It's been day 4 without pills.   Days are ok and I feel good, but nights are rough! I can see how people go crazy without sleep.  It's depressing.

[Pat1956100]

I know.  You are too tired to do anything but try and sleep.  I always find that if I go too long without sleep, I get very anxious so I try hard not to dwell on it but it does get very frustrating.

[Sweetness91]

Yeah I tried the Melatonin Pat...might as well have swallowed a button for all the good it did me! Lol. Seems like nothing will help sleep but time unfortunately. And I always think I'm gonna sleep so good because at the days end I am totally exhausted. You'd think you mind wouldn't be so cruel to your body huh!! Lol.

[Pat1956100]

I haven't tried Nyquil but I am about ready to.  Hopefully something works.  Melatonin worked for a bit for me but hasn't lately.  I have always been an insomniac though.

[Sweetness91]

Does the NyQuil really help alot? From having a birth defect, I was in & out of the hospital from the time I was 2 weeks old from surgeries. I even obtained my medical records from birth to age 17, and found out that I was on SEDATIVES at two weeks old. That's kinda crazy. But anyway, NyQuil, Benadryl, Tylenol PM have had the opposite effect on me for years that stuff would have me bouncing off walls...but I'm not sure if that was due to the methadone use?

[LeaAnn807]

Ok, do you have the Cal-Mag-Zinc supplement?  Do you have some gatorade or apple juice?  Also, get some Hyland's Leg Cramps with quinine.  It says for cramps and it helps that, but it helps RLS too.  A hot epsom salt bath will help leg pain and RLS too.  Melatonin never helped me, but I finally tried a dose or two of Nyquil, and it worked like a miracle.  I couldn't take Tylenol PM or benadryl.  It made the restlessness ten times worse, so I was leery of the Nyquil for the same reason.  It contains an ingredient that REALLY helps RLS.  (DXM) Now I'm not telling you to drink it, but a dose or two won't hurt you, and you'll be surprised how much it helps.  

If you'll try all the stuff I listed, I bet you'll sleep a few hours.  Sleep is just weird for a while.  Just when you think it's coming back, you'll get slapped with a night that you'll be up all night.  It's so sporadic!  I would do like you......when I would sleep like 4-5 hours, I would think that the insomnia was over, and the next night I would be awake all night long!  SOOOO frustrating!!!!!  I remember well.....

Try that stuff if you want, and let me know if it helped!  : ) Hope you rest some!

[delightdee]

sleep was short lived.  My legs are killing me.  My left leg has RLS so bad  I want to smack it.  I'm so tired but can't sleep!!!!

[OpenMind24hours]

Great news!!! Every day we get better!

[toothfairie]

nice!!  6 hours is great in the beginning....you are doing so great!  keep it up and keep letting us know how you are doing!  

[Teresa1717]

They call laughing by urself delusions!  :)

Delight-great job on the sleeping 6 hours! Thats a big one and many of us might have sold their children for 6 hours of sleep in the beginning!  Lol take this as a huge win in a battle of the overall war! :)

Congrats on ur clean time! Keep moving forward!!

[luvabugga]

You rock!!  I waited for ya..lol.  And laughed by myself!

[delightdee]

Guess what??  I slept!!!   I slept all night like a whole 6 hours.  I feel rested.  

[delightdee]

Anytime babe....I walked tonight....it helped tire me some.  Going to try to get a little bit of zzzz's but know I will be up at 2am....

[luvabugga]

First off...good job!  Especially about telling your doc.

I'm still not sleeping, so anytime you want to sit up all night with me and laugh...just let me know!  We can pass some time.

[delightdee]

Thank you!!!!!  I am going to try some magnisium.  I'm loading up on vitamin B and B12 and omega fish oil and vitamin D.  The night time is hard for me.  I want to come home and sleep but don't dare because I will be awake all night.I was on Norcos about 60 mgs for 3 years.  Thanks for the encouragement.  

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi delightdee,
I describe my recent experience: I averaged 22.5 to 30mg of hydro a day for almost 2 years and it took me about two weeks to get some fairly acceptable sleep after going CT. The RLS and restlessness kept me awake for almost all of that time.The good news is there is help from over-the-counter natural alternative medicine, some as listed in the Thomas Recipe. I took lot's of magnesium, 1 - 250mg pill every morning.  I'd go to bed and get what sleep I could, naturally, with a bedtime tab of melatonin 5mg. And then when I awoke at 2AM or so, I'd take a long hot bath (hot as I could stand it) with Epsom salts and other bath salts made for relaxation. The Epsom forced more magnesium into my legs. The magnesium defeated the RLS "somewhat". The hot baths really relaxed me. After the bath I also took 1 Alteril sleep aid before going back to bed. If I woke up again I'd add 1 Hyland's Calms Forte' and 2 Tylenols (I have a bad back).  This got me through the 2-week period without sleep. Stop Alteril ASAP after you feel better. My body eventually got back to a fairly good sleeping pattern. The 2 weeks was worth it!! To get free from opiate was a dream come true. Keep posting, and CELEBRATE on here when you get through all of this!!
Hope you sleep well soon,
Robert  

[nbhope]

It will, just takes sometime, I will be 4 Weeks off tomorrow and sleep has been still a bit of a challenge for me. If the melitonin is helping I would take it and eventually you should gain you regular sleep pattern. I take Benadryl and thats help a lot,but I dont take it every night. Hang in there!

[Bubulous]

I am proud of you for being able to taper and telling your dr.  It seems like you are taking this very seriously this time.  The sleep will come.  When I couldn't sleep I tried to make the most of it.  I would listen to inspirational music, or watch a really touching movie to help bring some emotions out.  The first time I quit and had a little bit of clean time I happened to watch City of Angels one night when I couldn't sleep.  It made me cry but it felt so good to feel an emotion.  This may or may not work for you but I am just telling you what I did.  

Like I said congratulations, you are doing good.