Poppy Seed Tea Withdrawal Is Hell

[EPL1]

Hi there iamgollum,

Man can I relate to everything you wrote here, I am on day 7 CT WD off my long term opiate therapy medication. I just got sick of all the hoops I had to go through to even obtain my medication. So I stopped.

Funny, just like you I have been noticing the things I've been putting off. I have decided to take better care of myself and even started making these really elaborate protein smoothies again. Something I would have never done while on the opiate meds. I would have had pop instead. So yeah that's huge for me.

I think it's amazing that you are on day 29 now, so congratulations!!! You have a strong will and a desire to be done with it all. That's very important and helpful.

It also sounds like you have a lot going for you, sounds like you have a nice life and a good family.

I'm truly happy to hear of all the positive changes for you already, like the weight loss and you being more involved. I know things will only continue to improve for us...

Really great progress, here for you anytime, hope the insomnia subsides for you soon,

your friend,
Ashley.

Day 25:
But, as tired as I am, I can see that my life is better now than when I was chained to the poppy seeds. I have been pushing myself to exercise and eat better and have dropped 15 pounds (including the 10 or so I lost during CT...). I have been getting a lot of things done around the house and have been more involved at work (to everyone's surprise...). I can go out to dinner or movies with my family without having to worry about getting high first or it cutting into my "nodding" time. I cleaned up the past 3 years of dust from my wood shop last night which was motivating. For no apparent reason I used my miter saw to cut a board into about a hundred pieces--given the fog my brain is in right now it is lucky I didn't lop off a finger. Regardless, the smell of sawed oak was therapeutic for some reason. Just a reminder of the things I have been ignoring or missing for the past few years, I guess.

.

 

[iamgollum]

@SoCal424: Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I will ask the doc about the Trazodone to see what he says. Glad to hear you are pushing forward with recovery and sleeping better. If I could get the insomnia demon under control, I know I would feel great.

 

[iamgollum]

@EPL1: Thanks for the support and congrats on Day 7! That was about when the really physical stuff started fading for me. I am still focused on getting/staying clean but the sleep deprivation makes it really hard to keep moving and stay positive. I keep hoping the insomnia will start improving but so far it has been relentless and is a symptom I didn't expect to last this long. Some have said it starts to get better after 6 weeks while others have said it could take months. I've really tried to avoid heavy duty sleep meds, but think I probably need to go that route at this point.

 

[EPL1]

Hey gollum,

If you can get your hands on some benzo's they would help you out sleepwise. Just don't get into the habit of taking them too much, otherwise you will be trading one habit for another.
And benzo's you have to taper from and can be more tricky/dangerous to come off of.

Hang in there though, you really are doing an amazing job!

Keep me updated, here for you anytime and I hope you get some sleep soon.

Have a great day,
your friend,
Ashley.

@EPL1: Thanks for the support and congrats on Day 7! That was about when the really physical stuff started fading for me. I am still focused on getting/staying clean but the sleep deprivation makes it really hard to keep moving and stay positive. I keep hoping the insomnia will start improving but so far it has been relentless and is a symptom I didn't expect to last this long. Some have said it starts to get better after 6 weeks while others have said it could take months. I've really tried to avoid heavy duty sleep meds, but think I probably need to go that route at this point.

 

[RedRum OG]

Just checking back in to remind you how amazing you are doing, keep it up man. An addict who cleans up is like you have is incredibly strong. You could have an amazing future if you keep this attitude up. Try to avoid psychoactive medications wherever possible, and don't use them more than a week or two, your brain needs to find stability in homeostasis, if you keep throwing stuff at it, that is much harder to achieve.


Keep exercising, hard!

 

[Larimar]

How's it going ? I hope you are getting some rest ?

 

[EPL1]

Where you at iamgollum?

Just came on to see how your day is going? Good or bad I'd love to hear about it.

your friend,
Ash.

 

[Toreadores]

Hey man I know this is kind of old topic and don't know if you still check in, also I want to note that I didn't go thru all of the pages because the thread is way too long so what I am going to suggest and advise may be already said by somebody else so if you already know it I apologize in advance. What I am going to advise is you is to get Kratom. More specifically Maeng Da Kratom. It really do wonders when coming to help with withdraw symptoms and opioid cleaning. It helps with ALL kinds of opioids including morphine, oxycodone and some people say it help them with heroin addiction as well. I've personally have been addicted for years to morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and other opioids. The good thing about Kratom is that is not addictive. At least not the regular Kratom, because there are other enhanced types of Kratom like Ultra Enhanced Indo (UEI), superfine types and enhanced types which can be even worse than opioids when comes to addiction and withdraws. But I am not talking about these types, but about regular Kratom, which is safe. It literally saved me. It greatly helps with withdraws, depression, insomnia and pain. Kratom was basically the pain treatment in South-East Asia before modern medicine. The recovery is long and hard but not nearly as hard than going cold turkey. <snip> Also the reason why people in this forum are very understanding and helpful is because nobody understands an addict better than other addicts. Regular people can be very judging when comes to addicts because they have absolutely no idea what is to be an addict and how hard it is. Most people think that addicted people are the scum of the society and most of it is thanks to the mainstream media that always that side and people believe it. But in reality 3/4 of the addicts are good, normal people who got addicted because of somekind of accident/trauma and they were treated in hospitals and over long time of period with opioids which leads to addiction very fast, but that's not as interesting as a teenage boy/girl who decided to start using drugs because it's cool or because they are in somekind of gang. Regular people who never took an opiod in their life don't understand that and in their mind stopping narcotic is something like stopping cigarettes which is very, very far from the truth. The only way to understand what is to be an addict is to become an addict. It can't be explained. It's like explaining to a person who was born blind what is it to be able to see. No matter how detailed you explain, that person will never be able to truly understand what is it. Same thing is with an addiction. That's why people here are very open, understanding and supportive. Every one of us knows and walked or still walking that road. There is no judgement or prejudice from our side. Anyway I hope I was able to help. Good luck and hang in there.

 

[SoCal424]

Hi Ash,
IAMGOLLUM was going with his sister to a cancer facility in Texas. Seems like this was around the time he said he was going.
Dale

 

[EPL1]

Thank you Dale,

I was wondering where he got to ..Now I won't be pestering the poor guy..; )

Ash.

Hi Ash,
IAMGOLLUM was going with his sister to a cancer facility in Texas. Seems like this was around the time he said he was going.
Dale

 

[iamgollum]

I'm back--sorry for the lapse in updates. I wasn't sure what day of recovery this is and had to look at my last post. Guess it is Day 45. Probably a good sign that I stopped counting minutes, hours, days, etc. Feeling really good at this point. Sleep patterns are still messed up but seem to be getting better with each passing week. I convinced my doctor to prescribe a few Restoril for the trip to Texas and it made a huge difference. I only took them during the trip so I could function but they seem to have helped my brain remember what sleep was and when to do it. I have been using GABA and 5-htp instead of the Restoril for the past few nights and am averaging about 5 or 6 hours which is a hell of a lot better than the 2 or 3 I was getting. while I think some of the insomnia is attributed to PAWS, I think it may also just be regular insomnia which I have had off and on before I started using. I am supposed to see a sleep specialist in a few weeks so we will see what they have to say. I still feel tired and a bit unfocused at times, but I think my healthier lifestyle is helping to compensate for the limited rest and giving me more energy.

I've continued my exercise program and am up to 45 minutes on the Elliptical in the morning and swimming laps for 30 minutes in the afternoons. I am up to 25 crunches a day and added some light weight training. I have cut out all sugar, most carbs and fats at this point and have lost 18 pounds. I am down to 8 oz of coffee before 9 am. I also started a new woodworking project--making a bench for our front porch--which is helping to keep the boredom at bay. The boredom is the worst at this point--hours that I used to spend high now need to be filled with something. I am not a big TV or internet person so that has been a challenge. Often times I go from being restless, to bored, to feeling like I should do something, to not feeling like doing anything. That was somewhat unexpected.

I've noticed that some days my legs still feel achy/tired and I have congestion/sneezing which seems to happen mostly in the late afternoons/evenings and is not horrible at this point. Again, I had no idea that would last this long after quitting the opium.

Finally, I can say that I have had no cravings for the poppy seed tea. None. Aside from the sleep meds and one margarita, I have had nothing addictive and really don't want any. Probably the closest I have come to cravings is wanting something to make me sleep or avoid boredom--not to feel high or relaxed. I think that is progress.

 

[simco]

Hey man I know this is kind of old topic and don't know if you still check in, also I want to note that I didn't go thru all of the pages because the thread is way too long so what I am going to suggest and advise may be already said by somebody else so if you already know it I apologize in advance. What I am going to advise is you is to get Kratom. More specifically Maeng Da Kratom. It really do wonders when coming to help with withdraw symptoms and opioid cleaning. It helps with ALL kinds of opioids including morphine, oxycodone and some people say it help them with heroin addiction as well. I've personally have been addicted for years to morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and other opioids. The good thing about Kratom is that is not addictive. At least not the regular Kratom, because there are other enhanced types of Kratom like Ultra Enhanced Indo (UEI), superfine types and enhanced types which can be even worse than opioids when comes to addiction and withdraws. But I am not talking about these types, but about regular Kratom, which is safe. It literally saved me. It greatly helps with withdraws, depression, insomnia and pain. Kratom was basically the pain treatment in South-East Asia before modern medicine. The recovery is long and hard but not nearly as hard than going cold turkey. <snip> Also the reason why people in this forum are very understanding and helpful is because nobody understands an addict better than other addicts. Regular people can be very judging when comes to addicts because they have absolutely no idea what is to be an addict and how hard it is. Most people think that addicted people are the scum of the society and most of it is thanks to the mainstream media that always that side and people believe it. But in reality 3/4 of the addicts are good, normal people who got addicted because of somekind of accident/trauma and they were treated in hospitals and over long time of period with opioids which leads to addiction very fast, but that's not as interesting as a teenage boy/girl who decided to start using drugs because it's cool or because they are in somekind of gang. Regular people who never took an opiod in their life don't understand that and in their mind stopping narcotic is something like stopping cigarettes which is very, very far from the truth. The only way to understand what is to be an addict is to become an addict. It can't be explained. It's like explaining to a person who was born blind what is it to be able to see. No matter how detailed you explain, that person will never be able to truly understand what is it. Same thing is with an addiction. That's why people here are very open, understanding and supportive. Every one of us knows and walked or still walking that road. There is no judgement or prejudice from our side. Anyway I hope I was able to help. Good luck and hang in there.

I agree in spirit with pretty much everything you wrote. But I wanted to put out there that it's not accurate to say kratom is not addictive. In fact, many people do become dependent and in some cases, addicted to kratom. In my own experience, the addiction profile of kratom is far more benign that what we see with proper opioids--both the psychological and physical/detox aspects of quitting kratom are far easier to manage than, say, heroin's or oxycodone's. Nevertheless, the risk of addiction is real if you use kratom regularly.

Don't get me wrong--I enjoy kratom very much. And for people having trouble quitting an opioid addiction, in many cases I think kratom is far preferable to continued use of dope.

 

[EPL1]

Hello my friend iamgollum!!!

I was wondering where you got to!!

So happy to hear your cravings are gone!!! That's HUUGGEEE!!!!!
Your exercise program sounds great and will keep the boredom at bay as well as giving you natural endorphins. Win win!!!

I am so proud of you IAG!!! Thanks for updating, now I won't have to pester you so much!! Lol!!

Hugs,
your friend,
Ash.

I'm back--sorry for the lapse in updates. I wasn't sure what day of recovery this is and had to look at my last post. Guess it is Day 45. Probably a good sign that I stopped counting minutes, hours, days, etc. Feeling really good at this point. Sleep patterns are still messed up but seem to be getting better with each passing week. I convinced my doctor to prescribe a few Restoril for the trip to Texas and it made a huge difference. I only took them during the trip so I could function but they seem to have helped my brain remember what sleep was and when to do it. I have been using GABA and 5-htp instead of the Restoril for the past few nights and am averaging about 5 or 6 hours which is a hell of a lot better than the 2 or 3 I was getting. while I think some of the insomnia is attributed to PAWS, I think it may also just be regular insomnia which I have had off and on before I started using. I am supposed to see a sleep specialist in a few weeks so we will see what they have to say. I still feel tired and a bit unfocused at times, but I think my healthier lifestyle is helping to compensate for the limited rest and giving me more energy.

I've continued my exercise program and am up to 45 minutes on the Elliptical in the morning and swimming laps for 30 minutes in the afternoons. I am up to 25 crunches a day and added some light weight training. I have cut out all sugar, most carbs and fats at this point and have lost 18 pounds. I am down to 8 oz of coffee before 9 am. I also started a new woodworking project--making a bench for our front porch--which is helping to keep the boredom at bay. The boredom is the worst at this point--hours that I used to spend high now need to be filled with something. I am not a big TV or internet person so that has been a challenge. Often times I go from being restless, to bored, to feeling like I should do something, to not feeling like doing anything. That was somewhat unexpected.

I've noticed that some days my legs still feel achy/tired and I have congestion/sneezing which seems to happen mostly in the late afternoons/evenings and is not horrible at this point. Again, I had no idea that would last this long after quitting the opium.

Finally, I can say that I have had no cravings for the poppy seed tea. None. Aside from the sleep meds and one margarita, I have had nothing addictive and really don't want any. Probably the closest I have come to cravings is wanting something to make me sleep or avoid boredom--not to feel high or relaxed. I think that is progress.

 

[SoCal424]

iamgollum- This is your day 47 right? I think so. You should be so proud of how well you are doing! You've beat this and are working on improving your health too. You have a great attitude as well, and this thread you've kept up will surely be so much help for people that want to get clean. You've shown them it can be done - even with poppy seed tea.
How is your sister doing? I hope all news is good.

"My idea of good exercise is running after the ice cream truck."
Your friend,
Dale

 

[iamgollum]

@SoCal424: Thanks, Dale--the thoughts are greatly appreciated. Hopefully, at the very least, I have kept some people from trying PST. I think this is day 53 and am feeling good overall--haven't been posting much lately as there has not been much change to report. I've been trying to keep busy at home and work to keep my mind occupied and fill the extra time I have. The exercise/better diet program is going well and I have almost dropped 20 lbs--the last 10 will probably not come off so fast...Sleep issues are still persisting but I am probably getting between 4 and 6 hours per night which I function pretty well on--just not quite to 100%. Supposed to see a sleep specialist soon so maybe they can help that. Congestion still comes and goes as well and seems worse in the late afternoon/evenings--still have bouts of sneezes but they seem to be getting less and less each day. If I have learned anything during this ordeal it is that recovery takes a long, long time. My sister is still fighting--she got some new options at the clinic in Texas which we hope will help. Thank you for asking.

 

[EPL1]

Oh wow!!!

You're doing amazing IAG!!!! So happy to hear from you, and I hope your sleep issues continue to get better!! Always here for you!

I hope your sister gets where she needs to be too. I sincerely hope the new clinic helps her.


Your friend,
Ashley! Me waving at you! ; )
Hugs.

@SoCal424: Thanks, Dale--the thoughts are greatly appreciated. Hopefully, at the very least, I have kept some people from trying PST. I think this is day 53 and am feeling good overall--haven't been posting much lately as there has not been much change to report. I've been trying to keep busy at home and work to keep my mind occupied and fill the extra time I have. The exercise/better diet program is going well and I have almost dropped 20 lbs--the last 10 will probably not come off so fast...Sleep issues are still persisting but I am probably getting between 4 and 6 hours per night which I function pretty well on--just not quite to 100%. Supposed to see a sleep specialist soon so maybe they can help that. Congestion still comes and goes as well and seems worse in the late afternoon/evenings--still have bouts of sneezes but they seem to be getting less and less each day. If I have learned anything during this ordeal it is that recovery takes a long, long time. My sister is still fighting--she got some new options at the clinic in Texas which we hope will help. Thank you for asking.

 

[iamgollum]

@EPL1: Thanks Ashley for the props. Things are SLOWLY improving each day. I would have never guessed that it would take so long to get back to feeling normal. I figured 2 or 3 weeks tops, but I am coming up on 2 months and still having minor symptoms--some days are worse than others, but it seems like the good ones are starting to outnumber the bad, which a lot of people said would happen above. Still no cravings or desire to get high at this point which is good. Apparently the hell of the CT withdrawal left quite an impression on my brain. Hopefully it lasts.

 

[EPL1]

Hello my friend,

I don't know if you know MY quit story, but I have been on pain management for the last several years due to several herniated discs, Degenerative disc disease and a spinal fusion. Having said all that, I quit on my own accord over 3 weeks ago because I was sick of jumping through hoops to get my medication. So just like you I CT'd and sucked it the FUCK up and pulled it off.

Not well mind you, the crying jags and emotional outbursts were the worst for me, as well as the RLS and insomnia.

I see you also had disc problems, may I ask what you will do for pain now if you have any? I am trying to decide what I will do. But definitely NOT opiates.

For the first time in years I am feeling REAL emotions....and I LOVE it.

I wanted you to know I have spent the last few hours reading your whole thread and jesus you're amazing!! You did it!!! And hauling those seeds to the trash that day..Fuck I was actually cheering!!!

Because I hadn't read your whole thread I hadn't given you the proper respect you are due, so I'm giving it to you now IAG. You are AMAZING!!!

I can only hope that my inner asshole will make an appearance again too. ; )

Much love and respect brother, I am sure your work, you family and all your friends like this change in you and I bet you do too. You have such a great life and so much going for you, well done man!!!!

Your friend,
here for you always,
Ashley.

Day 14.

Had kind of a funny thing happen yesterday at work. I actually made it to a weekly planning meeting which is the first one I have felt like attending in about 3 years--I simply just stopped caring and it is my own company. Everyone was surprised when I walked in. Anyway, one of our big customers requested we complete a difficult project for them and the group felt that it was too challenging and we would fail at it. I was shocked, and said something like "This company does not shy away from challenges. We find solutions and we make our customers successful in the process. That's what our fucking mission statement says. If you guys can't figure this out, I will find a team that can." And then there was like 30 seconds of dead silence as everyone stared at me. And it occurred to me that their expressions didn't say "What a fucking asshole". Their faces said "Where in the hell has this guy been" (or probably, 'Where in the hell has this asshole been'). .

 

[ladyhlove]

I just read through this entire recovery journal.

iamgollum...holy cow dude! Much respect, many props! I don't know how you're doing this. From what I've heard, poppy tea is up there with methadone as far as wd intensity and duration go and I can't believe you've made it this long without caving. You are one strong person!

Glad you are feeling better these days. Keep it up, we're all rooting for you!

 

[EPL1]

Hello my friend Gollum,

Thinking about you and how you're doing today? You're doing such a fantastic thing for yourself!!! Stay strong and focused and remember to be kind and patient with yourself.

Here for you always,
your friend
Ash.