I Ve been off methadone for 21 days. My legs aren't as bad as they were on the first and second week, but they still keep me up at night. I've been forcing myself to ride my boys Bmx bike on the 16th day and then a couple days later doing some lazyass push-ups(these push-ups sucked not pain wise but just completely wimpy) and the next two days or so I felt almost as much pain in my arms as if I was on my fourth day detoxing. So any kind of walking sitting and standing repetitive motion is going to keep our pain level up, IMO.
I haven't smoked weed in more than four years. And I didn't want to start again or I guess the since not smoking in a long time the psychoactive effects had me all F'd up. So that's why I never wanted to. BUT I tried AC\DC strain and it really helped with the crazy neurological electricity pain through my body. And if that's not your thing some beers (if your not an alcoholic) really do help.... I'm on day 21 and I want to say that my feet seem to stop sweating. But it's early in the day. honestly, I'm still struggling w/ pain in my spine area and throughout my legs. I haven't wanted to play videogames and I'm forcing myself to do everything. But I know that the only way that this is going to get better is by getting up and out... Cleaning, walking, going to meetings cause when your actually talking to someone it does something to the brain and body I swear to god it helps the most.
So I was on 50 mg for 3 yrs. And then started tapering 2 mg per week and I was feeling the pain everyday. But it didn't stop me from continuing the tapper. I got down to 13 mg and went cold from there. Even though I was at a really low dose it still felt like crazy s*** hell for the first week of detox then it seemed a little better the second week( because I'm not used to pain or feeling everything was haywire everything, emotions, feelings, neurological, thought processing, I mean everything... And now I'm on my third week, and the feeling you get when you know your clean and it makes you hella happy has disappeared( but, I haven't been to a meeting in a week, so.) I know that's going to make things harder. So here iam still using benadryl, antihistamine, sleep aid and I'm tired of using Imodium. I figure if I just don't take Imodium then my digestive system will eventually work itself out and start producing normal bowel movements(I read that it could take at least a full 30 days till that happens). There is more to this recovery than I've stated but I'm done for now and I gotta get my son ready for his first day of second grade. Grant me the energy.
Hey congratulations on making it this far. On day 33 without methadone. I have been on a daily dose with out missing for 18yrs. If I had even a clue as to the damage this med would end up causing me or if just 1 of the pain management docs had taken the time to explain the long term effects I'd have surly left this one alone. That said, I was prescribed 140mg a day for the first 4yrs and then to 60mg until I stopped 33 days ago. I'm 45 and have 4disc bad, 3 herniated, sciatic and spinal stenosis, was taking 80_80mg oxycontin every 2weeks. The pain management docs were being shut down left and right so I was told that oxycontin was over and they would start with methadone to manage pain and any withdrawals from oxys. What they failed to mention as I've said is long term issues.
The Withdrawals are super bad, but 33days in and I can say I feel worse now than the first 10days(and that's a huge statement) because those were awful. I know I'm not being very positive, but I need to hear from someone who's been on as long as I have and either is at my current days clean or 45_60. I havnt slept more than 2/hours a day and not at all 4days outta the33. I have eaten as best as possible, stay hydrated, have and still take vitamins (many of them most all I've seen posted) and exercised 3-4days a week. The mental and physical fatigue is absolutely taking its toll.
Any one who can shed some light on this would be much appreciated. also I have no will want or thoughts of taking methadone again, I am completely over that. I have 3children married for 23years and have my own business (for how much longer I don't know) I take Pride in jumping off from 60mg to zero and for 33day without. I have so many people who count on me and I can barely take a shower and dress with out feeling like I ran a marathon. Please forgive any errors above, this was a task in itself.**if I posted in wrong place I apologize**
The Withdrawals are super bad, but 33days in and I can say I feel worse now than the first 10days(and that's a huge statement) because those were awful. I know I'm not being very positive, but I need to hear from someone who's been on as long as I have and either is at my current days clean or 45_60. I havnt slept more than 2/hours a day and not at all 4days outta the33. I have eaten as best as possible, stay hydrated, have and still take vitamins (many of them most all I've seen posted) and exercised 3-4days a week. The mental and physical fatigue is absolutely taking its toll.
Any one who can shed some light on this would be much appreciated. also I have no will want or thoughts of taking methadone again, I am completely over that. I have 3children married for 23years and have my own business (for how much longer I don't know) I take Pride in jumping off from 60mg to zero and for 33day without. I have so many people who count on me and I can barely take a shower and dress with out feeling like I ran a marathon. Please forgive any errors above, this was a task in itself.**if I posted in wrong place I apologize**
Wanted to clarify I was exercising prior to stopping
Well done to both of you for getting off and thanks for sharing about your first month. Just wondering if you jumped off st 60ml Ryan? I am currently on 25ml and am about to jump off in two days. I have been taking for about 20 months on a dose of 35ml and have reduced to 25ml by going down 5ml a month. All has been fine however I really want to get off asap and figure I am going to go through w/d even if I taper down to the last ml so I just wanna get it over with instead of dragging it out over time. Just wondering if you have any tips on things to do or vitamins etc to take that helped you. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks
Hello and good luck with your descion. I've posted on a thread 33days off methadone, its only a couple days old. Yes I jumped from 60 to zero, from talking to my Doctor and reading and interacting with others concerning their experience I came to the conclusion that tapering just drags out what will be an unpleasant experience to say the least. My experience like many others will be so different for you, I've been on methadone for 18 years, I'm 45 now and 35 days off,my biggest issue is NO Sleep and because of the wear going through the withdrawal I'm a zombie and from what I've gathered it's not ending any time soon. If your 100% the sure this is what you want then putting it down wouldn't be the hard part,what I mean is that I don't want it anymore so the mental dependency for me is none, I simply have to call my doctor and a refill will be waiting. If your 100% sure then do it.
Your Gonna deal with some withdrawals no around it. Im still in need of reassurance I made the right choice, from the stand point of if at my age with length of time on will I feel better get those things back I lost. If I were 25again or 35 I wouldn't wait another second to stop, but if 40 and taking for 18 years make sure you clear schedule for 45dayz.
I apologize for my rather long and less than happy report. But by all means stop when your ready and seek some better help than I can offer right now.
Your Gonna deal with some withdrawals no around it. Im still in need of reassurance I made the right choice, from the stand point of if at my age with length of time on will I feel better get those things back I lost. If I were 25again or 35 I wouldn't wait another second to stop, but if 40 and taking for 18 years make sure you clear schedule for 45dayz.
I apologize for my rather long and less than happy report. But by all means stop when your ready and seek some better help than I can offer right now.
Thanks for your reply Ryan. I have been reading your other posts and I appreciate your honesty. I am 32 years old and have been on it for under 2 years and mainly want to get off it as I feel I have no energy and feel I have become quiet dull since I have been taking methadone. I don't have much motivation and my goals etc have pretty much gone out the window and also I have gained about 20kg since I have been taking it.I just feel like methadone has so much control and I really want off it. I have a fairly good doctor, and got the maximum amount of takeaways which had changed from 6 down to 4 per week ( I live in Australia) and I am going to see him on Monday to discuss what meds will help with the withdrawal. That really sux that you sleep has been really bad and that's something I'm not looking forward to. I have a 2 year old son and am wanting to habe another baby in the next year or so and would not even consider becoming pregnant on methadone so that's another reason I want to quit. My husband works away so I'm abit worried how sick I will be having to take care of our very active son on my own for the first week but I'm just trying to stay positive and am going to try get outside and go to the beach, take my son to the park etc. so Monday will be my first day so fingers crossed all goes ok. Thanks again for your posts and good luck and hope to hear how you are travelling
What a difference 5/hours sleep makes, at 36days finally something good.if your going to have to take care of the baby while going through this, I don't know, have 3kids myself and their 15 twins and older 21 at school. I can tell you this for sure you have to have some support, youll need the help of someone else to help in those first 10 days for sure. My wife has done everything since I jumped off, and I can tell you I couldn't get out the front door,taking a shower and dressing yourself will leave you exhausted.
Since you've been tapering the why not continue that until you can have some support. You don't want to set yourself up to relapse. If your able to get clondine and so. E other med help you may be able to, again I'm only speaking from my experience. At 36 days I slept for longer than, 2hrs for first time, don't rush it, but if no assistance can be had make sure you have something to for anxiety your patience will be none existent, I apologize for the bluntness, but I wish people would be straight, this drug is awful lot and I wish you l the luck in the world. If your minds made up the thought of taking methadone is an after thought, if your worried you'll use again you might just Continue tapering.
PRAYERS
P
Since you've been tapering the why not continue that until you can have some support. You don't want to set yourself up to relapse. If your able to get clondine and so. E other med help you may be able to, again I'm only speaking from my experience. At 36 days I slept for longer than, 2hrs for first time, don't rush it, but if no assistance can be had make sure you have something to for anxiety your patience will be none existent, I apologize for the bluntness, but I wish people would be straight, this drug is awful lot and I wish you l the luck in the world. If your minds made up the thought of taking methadone is an after thought, if your worried you'll use again you might just Continue tapering.
PRAYERS
P
Thanks for your reply. That's really good you have managed to have a half descent sleep, having hardly any sleep without all the w/d symptoms is bad enough. I saw my dr yesterday and he gave me some clondine and a whole ten Valium! I'm disappointed he only gave me ten. I also have some Ativan which I have always used for anxiety. I have decided to wait til my husband gets home in the weekend then start day 1 on Monday so he is home for my first week as I don't have any family around where I live and they don't know about methadone anyway. I have also had half of my dose at 10 for yesterday and today then will drop to 5 on Thursday. Thanks for being honest too as I think my expectations of getting outside to park etc were abit unreasonable. I hope you managed to get another good sleep and thanks again
Hope your doing well, sleep is still a hit and miss, if my brain wants to sleep my body wakes me up or visversa.
I believe today makes 38days ( tracking isnt a positive for me right now ) though I still feel plenty bad, my wife assures me I look so much better ;) sincer but she loves me so I seek out the brutal honesty of my 15yr old daughter and I'm told that I look pretty bad as she smiles through the sadness I can see on her face because she sees I'm hurting,but I can see the anxiety as tears start falling fprom her eyes as she gets the courage to ask ( dad you still havnt taken your medicine) and I say no and she smiles and that gets me through another day. My Daughter and her twin brother havnt know their dad off methadone.so why would it matter. It does and that's enough for me.
I know that this medication has stolen my energy,my thought process,self esteem,ability to feel happiness ,to feel at all other than frustration and anger over what its taken. When ever anyone decides to stop taking, and the hell starts, if you have kid's wether 2 or 16 i believe you'll be a better parent at the least and at the best you'll know you were able to be the best one you could be with a clear mind. That's what I hope for when this is over.
I believe today makes 38days ( tracking isnt a positive for me right now ) though I still feel plenty bad, my wife assures me I look so much better ;) sincer but she loves me so I seek out the brutal honesty of my 15yr old daughter and I'm told that I look pretty bad as she smiles through the sadness I can see on her face because she sees I'm hurting,but I can see the anxiety as tears start falling fprom her eyes as she gets the courage to ask ( dad you still havnt taken your medicine) and I say no and she smiles and that gets me through another day. My Daughter and her twin brother havnt know their dad off methadone.so why would it matter. It does and that's enough for me.
I know that this medication has stolen my energy,my thought process,self esteem,ability to feel happiness ,to feel at all other than frustration and anger over what its taken. When ever anyone decides to stop taking, and the hell starts, if you have kid's wether 2 or 16 i believe you'll be a better parent at the least and at the best you'll know you were able to be the best one you could be with a clear mind. That's what I hope for when this is over.
That's awesome, your nearly at 40 days! Sounds like you have a beautiful family that are behind you 100% which must be a good feeling. In so many ways I wish I had the courage to tell my family (parents, brother and twin sister) about my struggles but then again I am also glad I haven't and I have hidden it well. I'm feeling very average, just very drained, no energy, don't feel like eating and just want to sleep all the time. I have also been getting very agitated and angry with no patience. I just hope the anger passes as I don't want to be an angry person. I have been on methadone since my son was about 5 months old so have always had the sugar coated calming affect of methadone and I just worry that I will struggle to remain calm cool and collected as my son is very full on and really tests my patience especially as it's just the two of us more than half the time. I'm sure it will get better and like yourself I do hope to become a better mum and have more of a zest for life and actually want to do things again. I also hope my son likes his mum better without the methadone. My doctor said I should be feeling fine after 5 to 7 days which made me mad as obviously he has no idea and I feel as tho he should no better. The doctors are eager to get you on it but they don't tell you how hard it will be to get off. Anyways this has turned into a long post so I will finish up. Take care
