[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Hey, guys. Winding down day 1 of my dose reduction...been kind of an emotional day. Having some BF issues, and I didn't want them to interfere with my judging my reaction to the reduction, but of course, they did. So, after crying on and off most of the afternoon, and a couple glasses of red, I really just feel like laying down. I will say that the dividing up of doses when you go from 4.5 to 3.4 is a little frightening...it seems like so much less to be taking! I know that's the goal but I'm a little scared.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good upcoming week!

[Robert_325]

Having some boyfriend issues beats the dickens out of RX drug issues. You can always tell him to go home, unless he's already there. Then you're on your own.

Christi ... don't sweat the small stuff. Your little boy is keeping you going, you're making progress on your subs, you're not using, need we say more?

Who doesn't have some partner problems occasionally other than Melinda and I because we are so perfect together? LOL Plus she agrees with everything I say. RIGHT!!!

Don't make a big deal out of something if you don't have to. God bless.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

Having some boyfriend issues beats the dickens out of RX drug issues. You can always tell him to go home, unless he's already there. Then you're on your own.

Christi ... don't sweat the small stuff. Your little boy is keeping you going, you're making progress on your subs, you're not using, need we say more?

Who doesn't have some partner problems occasionally other than Melinda and I because we are so perfect together? LOL Plus she agrees with everything I say. RIGHT!!!

Don't make a big deal out of something if you don't have to. God bless.

You're right, of course. One problem we're NOT having is that he is completely supportive of me and what I'm doing here - and that makes it a lot easier. It's just been a long day...it will all look better after a good night's sleep, which is what I hope you guy's are in for as well.

We'll talk tomorrow.

* hugs to all from us *

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

I just woke up and went, "Wow, that's the fastest night that's EVER gone by!" I had just fallen asleep for a couple of hours, so I must've needed the rest. I have a question about waking, this is typically in the morning after a full nights sleep, so I just have been attributing it to overnight stiffness but when I woke up just now, I was so sore and stiff. My back hurts, which is pretty typical, but what is not typical is my joint pain. My fingers are stiff and painful. I had trouble walking to the kitchen to get the Ibuprofen and trouble opening it with these fingers when I finally got it.

This is my fingers, my neck, my wrists (having typing problems), my ankles, my shoulders - it goes on. Are my pain receptors adjusting to not being smothered in Norco? Or does this have to do with lowering the dosage on Suboxone? Does it sound arthritic - am I just getting old and didn't notice because I was high?

Any answers, advice, experience? I'm too young to crawl.

[Robert_325]

There is always lots of physical pain associated with opiate detox. It's painful throughout the body. It will improve as time goes by. God bless.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Then I must be doing it right!

Have a great day!

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Hey, guys. Had a great day today, aside from the fact that I was so sweaty. I had a presentation to give first thing, and I got to work and my room wasn't set up - so I had to remedy that (moving furniture and everything with my back like it is = not smart), so I was a little irritated about that and nervous about the presentation...then it just did not stop all day. I was SO busy, and there was constant turmoil going on - that sweaty feeling prevailed throughout the day. At 2:00 I felt relief that it was time for my dose because I thought it would help with the sweat and flashes. It was such a tiny little thing, once it went under my tongue, it was gone! I know that's what I'm shooting for, but it was SO LITTLE!

Anyway, all-in-all, a good Day 2.

Hope everyone else is doing well, or on their way there.

[Robert_325]

Christi and Michael ... It never fails that we always end up having extra hassles at work when we feel like hell. Nothing helps a good presentation like a bunch of sweat running down our face. When it all goes away after dosing you know things are going right.

Melinda is going through the four day induction still. She doesn't want to eat anything so I'm going to Safeway to get her some home-made soup at their kitchen. They have a great kitchen there. She's doing the sweating thing too. But I expect both of you will be like new life forms over the next few days. Hang in there. And give my best to Michael. God bless your family.

[melinda7.5]

Hi Cristi
I'm glad you had a good day and yes what is this sweating thing going on ...I just feel gross when I get home from work...
and I'm kind of cranky...LOL...wasent sure if that was a hormone thing going on...but im not feeling any drug w/d...

give hugs to Michael...
Talk to you soon, Melinda

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

Christi and Michael ... It never fails that we always end up having extra hassles at work when we feel like hell. Nothing helps a good presentation like a bunch of sweat running down our face. When it all goes away after dosing you know things are going right.

Melinda is going through the four day induction still. She doesn't want to eat anything so I'm going to Safeway to get her some home-made soup at their kitchen. They have a great kitchen there. She's doing the sweating thing too. But I expect both of you will be like new life forms over the next few days. Hang in there. And give my best to Michael. God bless your family.

Oh, yeah, that's a lovely presentation face to have on - it makes me look nervous, when I'm not! I put a lot of work into what I'm talking about and I don't want to look NERVOUS!

I hope she can find it in her to eat; we all know in our brains that food helps tremendously, its just convincing our bodies to eat it. I'm hanging in - I expect this to be a short dose drop. (yea, me!) Of course, I give Michael ya'll's best every night..if you'd ask Mel to email me your physical address on my gmail account, Michael has something he wants to send you guys. If you don't want to, I totally understand, and will make sure he understands.

Have a good night.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by melinda7.5

Hi Cristi
I'm glad you had a good day and yes what is this sweating thing going on ...I just feel gross when I get home from work...
and I'm kind of cranky...LOL...wasent sure if that was a hormone thing going on...but im not feeling any drug w/d...

give hugs to Michael...
Talk to you soon, Melinda

Not for me anyway (hormones) - I got test results from full blood work up the other day and my hormones are just fine. But I just HATE this - I can't stand to be sweaty, rather it be trying to give a presentation, or talk to someone one-on-one, its just mortifying to have beads of sweat on your forehead! Ahhh! No W/D here, either.

* hugs to Michael, and back from him *

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Wow, is it just me or this forum seems to be bustling with activity? I am so used to being "armed' with my Norco persona that all of these people make me kind of uneasy. Just part of the deal...trying to get used to being a human, a sober human. I interact with people all day, but I feel like a child these days, just learning how to do and say the appropriate things at the appropriate times because I'm not "protected" by the drug haze. Does anyone get what I mean? I don't think its "social anxiety" or one of the many sexy new disorders the psychiatric community has come up with, I think its straight-up being comfortable in my own, sober skin. Kinda strange, and even stranger now that I've posted it - I wonder if anyone can relate...

Anyway, down to business: another good day on 3.4, I'm still having the sweating but someone pointed out something rather obvious to me today - we have a heat index of 105 degrees...my kiddo got sent home from Six Flags with the Boys Club the other day for getting overheated. There is nothing unusual about sweating! It's normal! It's hot! I may be having it a bit more intensely than other people, but its a world away from when I was eating the Norco. I couldn't even buy winter clothes, because I got too hot in a sweater! It's nothing like that, thank God.

Little leg cramping during the day, pretty much handled with 800 mg. Ibuprofen, a little anxious (described above) - am taking the Klonopin. Here's the dumbest thing: I just get more scared the smaller these doses get! I get to work and get my 2:00 out and go, "that's all I get?" I think its a pill-taking habit or feeling that it has to be something more than this to do me any good. Also, as the doses get lower, I'm gonna need help with the realities of cutting/chopping! I know its inevitable, but I'm not really looking forward to piles of crumbs and powder. I know someone will help me out in this regard.

Okay, that's all I've got. The higher dose reductions have "appeared" a lot easier, but, personally, I've had fewer issues/problems this week than I've had yet. Maybe I should just let my body dictate, and quit trying to let my mind control it all! I think I may be on the verge of a 4 day taper week, what do you think, Robert?

I'm certainly "chatty Cathy" tonite, huh? I don't usually do this - just feels like there's a lot to say.

Have a great evening, everyone.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

There is always lots of physical pain associated with opiate detox. It's painful throughout the body. It will improve as time goes by. God bless.

Are you ever wrong? My feet are so sore they would barely walk me down the hall to the kitchen to get the Ibuprofen, who's bottle I couldn't make my fingers open. It reminds me of my most hated commercial of all time where the little old lady attempts to open a can of food with a manual can opener but gives up on eating a meal because her arthritic hands cannot do it. (Meals on Wheels) Saddest thing ever.

Anyway, it hurts! Boy, I'll just gripe and gripe won't I? Believe me, I'll take this over W/D 7 days a week, and twice on Sunday!

[caughtagain]

SmlUGotFrenchs Good morning, How are you and Michael doing? You were on my mind last night and I wanted to just drop you a note and again tell you how proud of you I am. I look at my struggles with staying clean and I thought to myself, Man, I have only myself to handle. suck it up! (I was saying that during a craving). I look at you and only hope I have an ounce of your strength. I look at you and how you are doing and you have your son to help too. WOW, I am not sure if I am getting my point across, but suffice to say, I am a big fan of you and look up to you! Have a nice Day.. CA Tell Michael I said hello. If you ever think you are not strong, Don't... you are a rock.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by caughtagain

SmlUGotFrenchs Good morning, How are you and Michael doing? You were on my mind last night and I wanted to just drop you a note and again tell you how proud of you I am. I look at my struggles with staying clean and I thought to myself, Man, I have only myself to handle. suck it up! (I was saying that during a craving). I look at you and only hope I have an ounce of your strength. I look at you and how you are doing and you have your son to help too. WOW, I am not sure if I am getting my point across, but suffice to say, I am a big fan of you and look up to you! Have a nice Day.. CA Tell Michael I said hello. If you ever think you are not strong, Don't... you are a rock.

Good morning, CA. Michael and I are fine - getting ready to Meet the Teacher (tomorrow night), then start school (next Monday). Michael is quite excited and hoping he makes it through this year without any infections or illnesses that cause him to have to pull out and have a home school teacher come. Pray for that not to happen! He's just not even considering it, though - he "knows" its gonna be alright, so it will. He's just a rock star - I'm so proud of him I could burst. I appreciate your confidence; I am gaining more in myself each day, and I can admit today that, yes, I am a strong woman! You are strong as well, the only difference is for some reason, I am not being faced with having to battle cravings. I don't have them. I just think of those pills as the evil they are, and what they did (and almost did) to me and my family. I still have a bottle of Norco - I am not trying to prove anything to myself; I don't believe in doing that. But when I accidently come across them, they serve as a reminder of how far I've come. And its cool when I realize with all my old lady aches and pains (see above), I don't even think about or consider what relief could be found in that bottle. It's just holding onto a "bottle of the past" that I'm not quite ready to just flush away. It's still serving a purpose for me. Is that wrong? Weird? I don't know...

Anyway, have a wonderful day - I appreciate your thoughts!

P.S. This is Day 4 of my last dose drop - the first consistent 4 days I've had. Yea!

[caughtagain]

congrats on day 4!! That is great, as far as the bottle, I bet you know what I am going to say, but I would be proud of where you have come and you should take a picture of the bottle which could sit where the bottle is now... Then flush those suckers.. (just my opinion) They are evil and the devil loves to have temptation on his side. Anyway, you are doing great. Tell Michael he has many fans. I am one of them..CA

[Robert_325]

Christi ... I have just been kind of wiped out with melinda the last couple days. But drop the 3.4mg down to 2.5mg. You're doing great. I'm just making a few quicky posts tonite and crashing. Will catch you guys tomorrow with news how you're doing. God bless.

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

Christi ... I have just been kind of wiped out with melinda the last couple days. But drop the 3.4mg down to 2.5mg. You're doing great. I'm just making a few quicky posts tonite and crashing. Will catch you guys tomorrow with news how you're doing. God bless.

Okay, the awesome news is that you can crash! You must be sleeping again and that's a great thing. Hey, you - I made it four days! I know its not a contest or an accomplishment, you do what your body instructs, but dang it, it feels like an accomplishment. I want this so badly! Michael is high-fiving me all over this room because I'm dropping. He's like, "Mom, get out the blades!" (which in retrospect isn't the best thing for your pre-teen to be yelling at you, but..) I know how rough of a time you've been having, I appreciate the effort to pay attention to my situation.

Time to go "get out the blades".

[SmlUGotFrenchs]

Originally Posted by caughtagain

congrats on day 4!! That is great, as far as the bottle, I bet you know what I am going to say, but I would be proud of where you have come and you should take a picture of the bottle which could sit where the bottle is now... Then flush those suckers.. (just my opinion) They are evil and the devil loves to have temptation on his side. Anyway, you are doing great. Tell Michael he has many fans. I am one of them..CA

Hey, you, check me out! I'm dropping again! I'm so freakin' pumped - I'm all over the place! I've even got Michael in on it. This is my first 4 day taper - I've typically been a 5-6, sometimes even 7 day, girl, which is okay, I gotta do what my body tells me to do - but, I've had an unusually good week. I feel so hopeful and excited; I just can feel it , I know I've got a ways to go, but I'm so on my way, I feel like I'm almost there. I've got enough in my heart and soul to carry me through, and that's all I need!

Thanks for the support!

[caughtagain]

RIGHT ON!!! I am so proud of you! Keep it up and keep going. Have a nice day.. CA