I finally feel the best I have since I tapered down to crumbs on February 17, 2010 at 1800 PST. I was nervous taking that last crumb, but not doing was not an option. I like many of you went throught the same withdrawl symptoms such as hot and cold sweats, diareah, insomnia, no appetite, and probabaly the worst was phsycolgical. I am currently 30 pounds lighter due to the fact I could not eat for the first 7 days however my wife kept me hydrated with coconut water, gatorade and tons of water. Well the journey that led me to today was a chronic headache I suffered with from the age of 32 until november 10, 2009 when my dr. Sent me for a spine MRI and bingo there was my problem. My c5-c7 were diagnosed with spinal stenosis. I was happy they found something, but I was only 41 and in pretty good shape. My doc immediately refered me to a pain mgmt. Specialist and that was the first time
I had been introduced to Lortab 5/500. I was prescribed 2x a day as needed. I took the first one and I felt no pain for the first time in 10 years. Well my pain mgmt doc performed nerve blk facets, and a cervical spinal injection from the left side of my head. The pain now intensified and I began taking more and more Lortab and you know where I am going. Finally I left that dr for another and he immediately set me up for another CSEI however from the back as opposed to left side. Bingo, no more headaches. New problem, gotta get off the meds. It is now november 2010 and I found a dr that administered suboxone. He councled me, gave a script and said bring back your suboxone in 2 day when you are in full blown withdrawl. 2 days later go see thr 5r. You wooda thought I was a crack baby. He gave me 2mg, then 2 more 20 minutes later and bingo, no more withdrawls. He counceled me again and told me I would be off suboxone by March 2011. I am now off 10 days and no turning back. I will be 43 in March and cannot put my mind and body through this again. My wife and Dr. are my angels and God the lord jesus christ is my saviour. I can honestly tell you I have been touched by the hand of God. Time to get out of the and go take my walk . I love you and I pray for you all. Life is a journey, and I wish you well in all your endeavors.
Today is day 14 off suboxone and I am feeling somewhat normal. The only issue I am dealing with is being really exhausted however I am fighting through with exercise. Thanks for all the encouragement. I really appreciate everything.
Today is day 14 off suboxone and I am feeling somewhat normal. The only issue I am dealing with is being really exhausted however I am fighting through with exercise. Thanks for all the encouragement. I really appreciate everything.
Today is day 17 and everyday I am getting stronger. I stay awake longer, I rode my bike for 10 miles yesterday with my 15 year old daughter who kicked my butt on the hills, working out with light weights M-W-F, and of course lots of vitamins and hot baths. I slept all the way through the night last for the first time with no ativan 1mg, or Advil PM. My morning begins with 1 cup of coffee, 1 bottle of water, a smoothie with 34 grams of whey protein, a banana, tablespoon of peanut butter, 5 mgs. arginine, B vitamin complex, omega fish oil, zinc, magnesium, multivitamin, and a vitamin C complex along with a skim milk and few cubes of ice. It actually tastes good. I then keep my mind busy by doing things around the house until I return to work next week. Oh by the way I have incorporated in 2 deep massage, mostly all back and neck for 1 hour each session. I know am nearly finished. Thanks to my wife, doc, and all you folks for listening. If you ever for moment think that what you have experienced is not important you are wrong. This has been my support group because you all know what I am going through.
Thank you for your support Oxygirl. Today is my 19th day. I feel really good. I worked out hard today. Weights, 20 minute stationary bike, and a 2.5 mile walk. Trying to regain some energy the old fashioned way by using exercise. I have by no means been jumping for joy and struggle a little with energy level beginning at around 1 pm. Aside from that I feel more alive and normal everyday. Next on the agenda is just to begin thinking about what I have to do for the rest of my life but never forget what I went through because it is something that leave an everlasting effect on your brain housing group. I was in a management class several years ago and the instructor referred to a time like this as a Significant Emotional Event (SEE) defined as one's whose behavior or attitude undergoes noticeable change. This change, one hope, is for the better. One technique is to use a form of intervention in which teammates of the subject gather and confront the individual with his or her destructive conduct, or in simpler terms like getting hit in the head with a brick from about 5 feet away moving at 40 mph. Now that is a SEE!! It stays in you long term memory in your brain. Things like that, you just don’t forget.
Last edited by kjnts0; 03-08-2011 at 04:45 PM.
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Thanks Second Go. I would like to hear more from you because it sounds like you have been through this before. I am only assuming and if you have not I sincerely apologize. I do very much appreciate your enthusiasm you bring to the table. It is definitely contagious to be optimistic about all things that life has to offer. I am relearning. Thanks.
Last edited by kjnts0; 03-08-2011 at 04:46 PM.
Reason: Spelling error
I can almost say I am out of the woods but compared to the first week or so I feel like a million bucks. The last 2 days I have felt absolutely great, however I did not have a great day today and am not quite sure. I felt really drained and somewhat irritated, however like I said earlier, I feel a millions times better than I did the first week or so. I am following my same routine that I have been following. Smoothies loaded with vitamins, exercise, and keeping myself busy. Well tomorrow is my first day back to work. I have a very stressful job however I feel optimistic that things will work it way out one day at a time. Thanks for all the support and I have read so many posts that I feel pretty confident the worst is long gone and all I have are good days ahead.
So happy for you kjnts! It is wonderful to hear success stories like yours. They are very inspirational. Do you think you were just more physically dependent as opposed to psychologically? I am sort of like that. physically dependent but I suffer from chronic pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia. Lots of arthritis in neck and also a couple bulging discs. they are not fun! Just had knee surgery a couple weeks back which is doing great. I am combating my problems with exercise now and trying to cut down on pills. My goal is to take 3 pain pills a day until I level out then I will go to 2. Then I will take it from there. I take roxis 30mg. They are very physically addictive. When I ran out about 6 months ago because I didn't feel like going to drug store I thought I was gonna die! wd's are horrible! That is why I have chosen to taper. I have a full script now (ran low last week) and I am still sticking to it knowing I will have extra pills at the end. I even paid a friend of mine back some I owed her. See she takes pain meds and she borrows from me and I end up borrowing from her and the cycle goes on. However, I told her this was it and she better not run low this month because I was sticking to my plan. U sound like u have a wonderful family and a great support system. That is very important. And u are out of pain! how lucky can a guy get? Congratulations and good luck. I will pray for u and ur family and hope u stay pain free
