HELP! Day 19

[Petra81]

My husband has been detoxing cold-turkey for 19 days and he is really suffering. He starts to get better... and then he gets worse.... he feels as bad today as EVER. He can't sleep, diarrhea, nausea, cold sweats and RLS is killing him. He is so miserable. How much longer until this lets up?? Is there anything OTC that will help? He's taking Imodium, benedryl, melatonin & various supplements for RLS. He is so depressed and I don't know if he will hang in there much longer..... I think he might give up.

[melinda7.5]

My husband has been detoxing cold-turkey for 19 days and he is really suffering. He starts to get better... and then he gets worse.... he feels as bad today as EVER. He can't sleep, diarrhea, nausea, cold sweats and RLS is killing him. He is so miserable. How much longer until this lets up?? Is there anything OTC that will help? He's taking Imodium, benedryl, melatonin & various supplements for RLS. He is so depressed and I don't know if he will hang in there much longer..... I think he might give up.

What was he taking and for how long ??? it will help me help you !
Melinda

[Petra81]

What was he taking and for how long ??? it will help me help you !
Melinda

Thank you!
Perc/Vic/Morphine... for about 3 years

[Ggeo]

Can you also tell us the dosage? How much of each of these per day? What was his max dosage etc? When he quit how much was he on?

[Petra81]

Can you also tell us the dosage? How much of each of these per day? What was his max dosage etc? When he quit how much was he on?

Really, he has taken a variety over the last few years... even used Fentanyl patches for a while, methadone, oxy's.... all together at times. Illegally & legally.... then most recently morphine. 90mgs time released. Took 6 or so a day and recently weened down to 2 a day (one in morning, one at night) for the last month, then quit completely. This is the 3rd time he has tried to quit. The first time he detoxed was from Fentanyl. Lasted a week. 2nd time was from methadone... lasted about a week. This time he has made is 19 days!

[Petra81]

Oh, and after taking 2 a day for about a month, he quit cold turkey. He hasn't had any help the last 19 days besides OTC stuff.

[cheekysod]

tell him it IS GOING TO GET BETTER. he is by far over the worst now, and making it to 19 days is awesome.

i came off methadone, pretty hard, and suffered for about 8 weeks. you said he was on morphine, that is short acting, so he has it out of his system. wondering why he still has RLS. are you sure its 19 days.

that should be subsiding by now.

keep up with the fluids. immodium, etc, the thing that helped me get off subs, was something to help me sleep, night time is usually worst i know. can he get something for sleep. it might just help, get him a few hours so he can gain strength and carry on...

but tell him, awesome, you are at the turning point, please keep going...

cheeky

[Petra81]

tell him it IS GOING TO GET BETTER. he is by far over the worst now, and making it to 19 days is awesome.

i came off methadone, pretty hard, and suffered for about 8 weeks. you said he was on morphine, that is short acting, so he has it out of his system. wondering why he still has RLS. are you sure its 19 days.

that should be subsiding by now.

keep up with the fluids. immodium, etc, the thing that helped me get off subs, was something to help me sleep, night time is usually worst i know. can he get something for sleep. it might just help, get him a few hours so he can gain strength and carry on...

but tell him, awesome, you are at the turning point, please keep going...

cheeky

He said thank you. He doesn't take in as much fluids because honestly he didn't want to have to get up and pee as much. lol It's so hard to get up! And yes, he's been 100% clean for 3 weeks this upcoming Sunday!

[freedom11]

Hi there - As someone who has been on methadone and heroin, the weak/heavy body is hard work, but make him get out of bed and move around, go for a walk - don't take any excuses - tough love needed. The drugs have been giving him energy, and he has to move so his body starts finding his own energy. How about he gets himself up and comes and reads on here? Also, vitamins, minerals, energy supplments etc. Needs to build up his own strength. Tell him he's doing great and get walking, even though it's hard. To the end of the garden today; to the end of the road tomorrow etc build it up. He's doing brilliantly and it will improve. (PS there is a theory that actually stopping immodium now will be helpful as body is getting rid of toxins/drugs) I certainly wouldn't say that at the beginning but after 19 days I would. (PS I am on day 24; made myself walk almost every day). Hope that helps. Love Jay xx PS Walking really helps with RLS.

[luvy298]

When I was detoxing what really helped me was valerian root (which he can get at a health food store). I would take them at night. Also exercising really helped; even though I know that he is weak now, but it really does help. For the RLS I heard that pottasium supplements are good for that. It took me at least a couple of weeks to finally feel normal again. Tell him to hang in there the worst is almost over. I also drank a lot of gatorade. I am not an expert on this, but this is what worked for me.

Best of luck
Luvy298

[Petra81]

Thanks for the support. I will try to get him on here today.

His process has seemed a bit unusual compared to some. He took his last pill at noon on Oct 9th. He was planning to check into rehab to detox the following day. We went to church that day and out of the blue, the pastor's wife asked us if she could pray with us. As she started praying, it was like she knew everything that was going on... but she didn't, because we have never told anyone. It was all God. So DH had confirmation that he could do this.

Since he attempted detox twice before, he expected to feel bad by that first night, but he actually felt ok. Probably because the morphine is time-released. But still strange that he didn't feel anything. He was planning to go to rehab as soon as it got too hard to handle.

He slept through the first 3 days. Not feeling great of course, but not feeling too bad. At least he was sleeping!

Day 4 it started to get hard, bodyaches, shaking, RLS, not able to sleep much, but he figured that at this point he could probably make it on his own without medical attention and this was probably going to be the worst of it.

He got up everyday for a soak in the tub. Day 6 we actually drank some wine together and had sex which I know is really good for him.

Day 7 he laid on the couch shaking & trembling all day. We were thinking the worst was over though, so we were excited.

Week 2 was full of crawling skin, insomnia, RLS, headaches. He didn't get up much. It was a hard week. He got up and drove to the store once, but was so dizzy he almost turned around came home half way there.

Day 14 I told him he needed to get up and start exercising. We have some light dumbells in the house, so he got up and started using them. Did a few pushups. Started trying to walk some. At first just to the end of the driveway. It was really hard for him. He is very depressed.

Day 15 (Monday) I took him to a Celebrate Recovery meeting. It was good for him. It wasn't easy, but it did feel good to get out. He felt awkward, but thinks he will get used to it.

The rest of this week he has continued to try and walk. He went to the gym twice. The diarrhea just started on Wednesday. Seems late for that to kick in, but the Imodium works. He didn't get up at all on Wed because he felt too bad. Thursday he got up for a while again. Tried to exercise. Friday was horrible. It's like every other day now he gets very sick. He only sleeps about an hour or 2 at night and then wide awake all day. He's tired of laying down, tired of being in the house, tired of watching tv, tired of feeling like ????, tired of not sleeping well & being exhausted. He is depressed & anxious. Ready to go back to work, but his job is extremely physically & mentally demanding, so I really don't think he's ready..

Tomorrow we are going to try and get to church. Monday Celebrate Recovery again. Probably take another week off work and see if insomnia gets any better.

[Petra81]

I will pick up gatorade & Valerian root today.... and see what else I can come up with that might help. I'm a herbal remedy fanatic myself... won't take medication unless I'm dying. lol I'll pull out one of my herbal bibles and see what else might help!

Thank you guys so so much for the advice. I think he just needs to know that it's normal and that it won't last forever. Feels so hopeless when you're almost 3 weeks along and still feel so terrible!

[freedom11]

Petra - what he was taking must have a long half life; how long ago did he stop with the methadone? And what did he take after that?
Sounds like he's arrived at the worst bit then of it coming out of his system; I think dumbells is asking too much but a slow walk in the park - fresh air, look at the trees. Sounds best to call in off sick for the next week; he doesn't need that on his mind. Google the 'Thomas Recipe' for alternative medicines to help with withdrawal. I've been taking a multi mineral and L-tyrosine. He will need electrolytes as well - they are good at this time anyway, but with having diarrhoea. Lots of liquids and those supplement things that weight lifters use - I will find out a bit more detail and get back to you. Has he been throwing up? All for now. Love Jay xx

[freedom11]

Hi - a bit more detail here - I copied it from Robert. This is what he recommends to help with the heavy 'lead suit' body/weakness. Pretty essential in my view as it's led me back to the drugs more than once before.
Here are a couple of ideas to build up your body so you have enough energy to move. First you should be downing as much water as you can. Even drinking some pedialyte daily is good as it's full of electrolytes that WILL help you. Most of your muscles and even bones consist of water. Next doubling up on a good multi vitamin every day should be a must, once in the morning and once at dinner time. Next get the best protein shakes you can find and start guzzling those things down. That is what energizes your muscles. Next realize at first it's going to cause you a little pain, but I guarantee if you will do what I'm saying it wiil get better. Get some of those protein shakes they have at health clubs that guys drink before lifting weights, not some trash at the grocery store. It gives guys working out on big weights a big boost of energy so they can lift more weight and do a better workout. Why wouldn't it affect you the same way? It will if you will follow through. '' (Robert)

Hope that helps. Love Jay xx

[crazin]

100% agree with freedom. Based on the timeline of events, this has to be a drug with a long half-life; methadone or buprenorphine (subutex or suboxone). Withdrawal from extended release drugs would have a slightly delayed onset, but this would only be hours, not days. In my opinion, he was either using methadone or buprenorphine, or he is still using, though on an irregular schedule. I hate to call someone I don't know a liar, but that is what we addicts do best. It is also possible, depending on his source, he could have been sold methadone, but led to believe it was morphine.

[Petra81]

Petra - what he was taking must have a long half life; how long ago did he stop with the methadone? And what did he take after that?
Sounds like he's arrived at the worst bit then of it coming out of his system; I think dumbells is asking too much but a slow walk in the park - fresh air, look at the trees. Sounds best to call in off sick for the next week; he doesn't need that on his mind. Google the 'Thomas Recipe' for alternative medicines to help with withdrawal. I've been taking a multi mineral and L-tyrosine. He will need electrolytes as well - they are good at this time anyway, but with having diarrhoea. Lots of liquids and those supplement things that weight lifters use - I will find out a bit more detail and get back to you. Has he been throwing up? All for now. Love Jay xx

He took about 10 methadone a day until around May of this year? Not sure what strength they were. Then switched to Perc 10mg/Morph 90mg... he would take about 30-40 10mg percs A DAY until he ran out of perc. Then he would switch to 90mg Morph and take about 15 a day for the rest of the month until his doctor would see him & refill. The last month he quit the perc. Didn't even fill his script because he couldn't afford them anyways. He started weening down on the morphine and the last couple weeks got down to 2 a day for a total of 180mg daily. He was still having withdrawals, but it took the edge off. Quit cold turkey 20 days ago.

He is actually a bodybuilder, so we have supplements in the house. We'll get him back on some of those. No vomiting, just nausea everytime he eats.

[Petra81]

100% agree with freedom. Based on the timeline of events, this has to be a drug with a long half-life; methadone or buprenorphine (subutex or suboxone). Withdrawal from extended release drugs would have a slightly delayed onset, but this would only be hours, not days. In my opinion, he was either using methadone or buprenorphine, or he is still using, though on an irregular schedule. I hate to call someone I don't know a liar, but that is what we addicts do best. It is also possible, depending on his source, he could have been sold methadone, but led to believe it was morphine.

He said that he has taken a few methadone off & on with the percs. Not a lot, just a few here & there.

[Petra81]

Hi - a bit more detail here - I copied it from Robert. This is what he recommends to help with the heavy 'lead suit' body/weakness. Pretty essential in my view as it's led me back to the drugs more than once before.
Here are a couple of ideas to build up your body so you have enough energy to move. First you should be downing as much water as you can. Even drinking some pedialyte daily is good as it's full of electrolytes that WILL help you. Most of your muscles and even bones consist of water. Next doubling up on a good multi vitamin every day should be a must, once in the morning and once at dinner time. Next get the best protein shakes you can find and start guzzling those things down. That is what energizes your muscles. Next realize at first it's going to cause you a little pain, but I guarantee if you will do what I'm saying it wiil get better. Get some of those protein shakes they have at health clubs that guys drink before lifting weights, not some trash at the grocery store. It gives guys working out on big weights a big boost of energy so they can lift more weight and do a better workout. Why wouldn't it affect you the same way? It will if you will follow through. '' (Robert)

Hope that helps. Love Jay xx

Thank you, we'll work on getting all the supps he needs today. Really appreciate the support. He said thank you, but does anyone have a gun?? Kidding of course. (not funny to me )

[freedom11]

Well the 'occasional' methadone is why he's getting the worst of the symptons now then - cos of the long half life. He could get worse before he gets better - just warning you. Don't mean to scare you but to reassure you that if he does, that is just part of the cleansing process. Methadone takes time to get out of the system. SO that would explain why he's getting diarrhoea now. If i were you, make sure he is off work for next week and make sure there are no drugs in the house and he hasn't got the car keys. It is quite normal to feel depressed when you're coming off opiates - it's not easy. I hope you're both getting support from elsewhere. Love Jay xx

[Petra81]

Well the 'occasional' methadone is why he's getting the worst of the symptons now then - cos of the long half life. He could get worse before he gets better - just warning you. Don't mean to scare you but to reassure you that if he does, that is just part of the cleansing process. Methadone takes time to get out of the system. SO that would explain why he's getting diarrhoea now. If i were you, make sure he is off work for next week and make sure there are no drugs in the house and he hasn't got the car keys. It is quite normal to feel depressed when you're coming off opiates - it's not easy. I hope you're both getting support from elsewhere. Love Jay xx

Well an explanation is somewhat comforting. Thought he was feeling alright today, but now he's seriously talking about killing himself... guess he wasn't joking earlier. He promised there aren't any drugs in the house. Said he actually searched for something this week to relieve pain. He doesn't have any money and he knows better than to take money out of my account.

[Petra81]

I got him up... we are going to the park to walk around and stopping to get protein & supps.

[freedom11]

Hey well done petra and to your old man - brilliant. Remember tough love needed here; if you (the person addicted) know that one little pill will make you feel way better you will throw all kinds of tantrums and manipulations so that your loved one gives in and 'gives permission' - mainly unconsciously. I am speaking from experience here as an addict from both sides of the fence; it's not conscious, you're not a bad person, but you're snappy and irritable and cause arguments or you moan and groan and eventually you or your loved one gives in. I remember when my partner & I were at his mum's house over Xmas after being clean for a few months and he was drinking a lot and being a right pain in the bum and she said to him ' I preferred you when you were on heroin' - like almost giving him permission. Don't put up with any martyrdom. It's hard work to stop taking a drug and it's totally normal to find it hard and to be depressed - then to be very high and very low. The drug smooths out or numbs difficult feelings. ANyway, I've said enough. Your husband is very lucky to have you there. I hope you enjoyed your walk. I did mine - trees are beautiful autumnal colours in England. Love Jay xx

[Petra81]

Tough love comes naturally to me now. My dad became dependent on cocaine & alcohol when I was 14 and I had to learn quickly where to draw the line with him. I personally tried every drug in the books from age 15-23. I straightened up when I got pregnant and never looked back. I divorced my 1st husband over methadone. I went to college as a single mom with 2 kids and started working my way up with a career. Never dreamed I would go through this again... I remarried to a man that never drank, smoked or did any drugs (sounds safe, right?)... had another child with him... but if there is ANYTHING I have learned over the years.. it is that drugs are powerful and they can take down even the strongest & brightest of people.

We stopped at a Deli for soup/sandwich, ended up walking around the supplement store for a bit, picked up the following:

Fish Oils
Kyolic Garlic
B complex
Amino Acids
Pantothenic Acid
Niacinamide
Cal/Mag/Zinc
L-Tyrosine
GABA
L-Phenylalanine
Vit C w/ bioflavonoids
5-HTP
St. John's Wort
Valerian Root
Multi-Vitamins

A very good & pure protein powder

Then we headed over to a whole foods grocery store and stocked up on organic fruits & veggies that I can make fresh juice with. I have a juicer that I like to use. So many health benefits!

Hopefully this helps!

[freedom11]

Sounds like you're all sorted and in control. ANd you know it from the other side of the fence too. ONwards and upwards. Love Jay xx

[Petra81]

5 weeks clean today and he went back to work this week! Still not sleeping much, but he is in great spirits. Every week is a little bit better!!