Off the top...

[MikeInFrance]

Days weeks and even months are just flying by now. What was once an everyday battle just to stay focussed is now easily accomplished , effortlessly. What does bother me a bit is the fact that a day never goes by without the word "oxy" passing through my head. It's not a craving, it's not a desire for one but it's nevertheless there ....always. Can't shake it. Everywhere I go each day (work, home, restaurants, etc) are the same places I would use at before. So constant reminders are always there.  I deal with what I can and try to make it a better situation for myself.   I don't count days anymore...I just know I stopped on 16 January.  

We all need to take advantage of any opportunity to stop using once and for all. It's not easy but if you want it bad enough then  I promise you that you'll make it!  

I haven't experienced any really super days that made me say "wow it feels so great to be clean!" I just know that using was killing me and everything i love in life and so I had to stop.  I feel more and more normal each day. Whether or not I like that is another story...lol but it's the way I should feel cuz it's natural and it's healthy.  

So for everyone in their first days and weeks/months ...life gets better.... slowly.  Just let it happen when it happens. No matter what....it's always a better quality of life clean!

Have a great weekend everybody!

[AVeryThankfulMom]

Gnarly.....I cant go any longer without sharing this with you and everyone on this post.  I have visited this discussion for months yet remained silent.  I have a 22 year old son who HAD been at the methadone clinic for approx. 1.5 years.  He blessed us with our first grandchild and is such a great kid and it was such a shock when I found out he had an addiction to opiates.  I took him to our family Dr. thinking surely this could be fixed.  I was so completely lost and naive....I didn't know where to turn.

He thought the "pain" clinic was the best option so without knowing anything about drugs or methadone I went along with it.  He started at the clinic and the months passed....and they passed.....and I started getting that awful feeling that he had traded one addiction for another!

I kept asking my son what kind of plan they had for him to get off the stuff and I continued to get the same answer...there really wasn't a plan.  Yes, he was 21 year old old at the time but a Mom is always a Mom and I wasn't about to let someone or something control his life like this anymore.  

I asked his permission to visit with him and his counselor.  It was after leaving that visit that the light bulb went off.  If we didn't take some kind of action, he would be on methadone and giving those folks 10.00 a day for the rest of his life.  That counselor had no plan to get him off.

I was determined to find help.....and that's when I found you and all the other good kind folks here who help people.  I started printing off your posts and he and I developed a plan.

He worked his way down to 20 mg a day of the methadone and stayed there around 2 to 3 months.  He then began slowly coming down 1 mg at a time.  He made up his mind that when he got to 4 mg and stayed there for a couple weeks he was going to quit.  He continued to work and got stabilized at 4.  He has a very physical job and I think it helped!!

He decided that last Wednesday was it.  He started on the multiple vitamin you recommend and the whey protein shake 3 days before he quit taking the methadone.  It has been 3 and 1/2 days since his last dose of methadone and he is doing GREAT!!!  He even felt like going to a birthday party with his wife and son today.

Sure, his lower back is hurting badly, his stomach is not good, he really don't care about eating.....BUT you should see the look of accomplishment (and astonishment) on his face that he is doing it!!

I am absolutely convinced that he is doing so so well because of two things.....1). He followed your advice of a slow taper and starting the supplements early, and 2). I am a person of great faith and I never doubted God would help us get thru this!!!

I just want to thank you for what you do and encourage other parents to help these young adults see they can do this.  They need love, support, encouragement, and sometimes a little tough love too!  

Again, without researching and studying your suggestions, I know he would be waking up at 6 in the morning headed for a dose of methadone.  

God Bless!
A Very Thankful Mom

[zoea]

great post. maybe the thought of oxy will always be there. But maybe its a.must so you dont complacent.

Keep well my friend

X

[gnarly_1]

you cant loose with that attitude but be prepared for some down and out days it all part of this if your ready you'll get threw them........Gnarly

[MikeInFrance]

Thanks for all the responses! As the saying goes ....I just keep on keepin on .... No great days , no terrible days ....just alot of days between me and CT and gaining strength.  I don't like driving in reverse...I wanna see everything in front of me  and that's how I approach my day to day life!

[charliej41]

Good to see u still around and staying clean keep it up

[Littlelegs2003]

What a fantastic post! Thank - I'll be using it as inspiration! I'm only on day 7. It felt so honest - you said life doesn't suddenly become a heavenly paradise and you admitted that the pills are always lurking in your subconscious every day... Thanks - at least I'll know not to berate myself when the thought of mine still cross my mind, or if I get frustrated when life isn't going the way I want it to. Please keep posting - there aren't so many posts by people that have a fair amount of time clean under their belts - and it's reassuring to know that there are people who've had so much success!! Good luck & keep it up!

[gnarly_1]

HEY dude good post the only thing I would change is couting your days each and evey one is a victiry and when you struggle there are certain days that will go unmentinord that can be troublesome your still a baby at this your gaining strength and your attitudr is strong but count your days dude I got 887 and remember many a struggle going threw them if you can let us know where your at we can help good luck and God bless........Gnarly

[notme42long]

Its good hearing about your accomplishment much to be goal for many as myself . At work multitasking phone, driving, computer, planning my brain busy as right? Out of nowhere whispers- ""you can do just one"" like were that is? Pit in stomic and gone quickly.
We are and allways were human who briefly lived thinking  we became  super human.
Not easy being normal in a world full  of superheros.
Im ok with not having some super day. Regular day mowing yard burger on grillinjoy the simple things. This is early for me but i have a strong motivating force. Your words are hart felt

[staticage]

thanx,I needed that today...Just did routine bloodwork and was thinking would this be better on percs?....Its always on my mind.....Oh thats just great..now i got kenny rodgers n my head...lol....anyway...thanx again...day 15 here..

[LostNoMore]

Nice post Mike. Good to hear from you.

I wonder when "normal" starts to feel N O R M A L??

[IwillDoThis]

Great post Mike - it is so great to see you moving forward.  I am coming up on 60 days very soon and it has flown by and I really feel like I turned a corner in the last week.  I really do think trying to have a positive outlook helps - for me it does anyway.  Thanks for your post!

[NorthEast213]

Well said Mike...  I can appreciate the part of not really craving but having oxy always pop into your head.  Same here for me.

Enjoy your weekend!

[sandstone27]

I enjoyed reading this Mike.
From the girl who said she'd never read another one of your posts :-)

Have a great weekend!

Sandy ♦

[n8tiv_ndn]

Great post.....great advice...(as usual) hope many newcomers read this and take it to heart.....Mike you are an inspiration to many....stay clean my friend as I know you will.....I am still early in my recovery but have used your words and experience, and that of many others here to help aid my efforts....just wanted to say thank you.....

pilamaya kola,
n8tiv_ndn
Mark

[WantToTakeMyLifeBack]

Your post gives me the hope I need, I am just starting in this journey as this is day 1 for me yet again. The difference this time is I want to this, I need to do this. My life has no benefit to it if I keep using. I just need to keep finding my inner strength, I am scared to death of the withdrawals though...