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Positive The Tapering Supportive/Social Thread

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uncle_jocko said:
Thanks for the support, Painful. There's no doubt that my body adjusts ... I can feel it (anxiety, etc) the first few days after a taper, but it's really not that bad. Part of me is curious what things will be like when I get down to 7.5 or 5 mgs a day, but I'm just sticking to lowering the dosage by 1.25 mgs every 7 days. I'm at 11.25mg per day now. Combined with exercise, eating well, etc. ... I'm hoping that will be enough to get me through. As for tolerance - it can DEFINITELY drop down. I was regularly doing 40-50 mgs every day in the summer. At that point, 5mgs would be NOTHING - I wouldn't even feel it. Now, I can feel if I have 2.5 to 3.75 mgs. I was normally taking 25-30mgs in the evening ... and it got to the point where I was quite functional on that amount. Now, if I took that in the evening, I'd be totally "out of it". So, that's the good news - my body (brain) is slowly getting back to normal. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what/and how much are you taking? I think I read that you were taking MS Contin, which I'm assuming is practically identical to Oxycontin, yes?
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That is very, very good news! Thank you for that!
I take MS Contin 75 mg a day- (sometimes 90 mg a day on bad days, sometimes 60 mg on good days)
I get prescribed the 30 mg MS Contin. So 2-3 a day is what I take. I try to stick to two and a half a day because I don't like the ups and downs of dosage increases/decreases.
I only get prescribed enough to take 3 pills for 15 days out of the month and then I would have to drop to two pills for the rest of the month.

MS Contin is the long acting, time released formula for morphine.

I have no idea if it is identical to OxyContin. I think it is actually a little less strong.
I have never taken OxyContin so I don't know.
But I assume it is very similar yes.?

Thanks again for this post. Gives me MUCH hope!
 
uncle_jocko said:
Thanks for the support, Painful. There's no doubt that my body adjusts ... I can feel it (anxiety, etc) the first few days after a taper, but it's really not that bad. Part of me is curious what things will be like when I get down to 7.5 or 5 mgs a day, but I'm just sticking to lowering the dosage by 1.25 mgs every 7 days. I'm at 11.25mg per day now. Combined with exercise, eating well, etc. ... I'm hoping that will be enough to get me through. As for tolerance - it can DEFINITELY drop down. I was regularly doing 40-50 mgs every day in the summer. At that point, 5mgs would be NOTHING - I wouldn't even feel it. Now, I can feel if I have 2.5 to 3.75 mgs. I was normally taking 25-30mgs in the evening ... and it got to the point where I was quite functional on that amount. Now, if I took that in the evening, I'd be totally "out of it". So, that's the good news - my body (brain) is slowly getting back to normal. If you don't mind me asking, exactly what/and how much are you taking? I think I read that you were taking MS Contin, which I'm assuming is practically identical to Oxycontin, yes?
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Of course everyone's body is different but for me tapering subute x has been relatively simple. I was at 18mg around 2 nmonths the ago and am down to 3mg and will be going down to 2-2.5 starting tomorrow. I think I went from 16mg to 8mg in one go or it might of been 18 to 10 can't remember. Not gonna lie that was tough. It started to catch up with me after a week or so. But 5 days later I was back to normal.

And believe it or not i can actually feel 3mg. Definitely strong stuff. So there is hope! Hope this helps.

And I hope you are all doing well!.....maybe to many hopes their
 
Yeah for people not opiate-tolerant, even .5mg can be pretty strong. It's a very strong drug.
 
I am almost at 11 months. The post-acute withdrawal isn't as bad. I feel more mentally stable not taking etizolam and lowered my dose of those anxiety meds a little. I have been a mess for most of this year, but things finally seem to be coming around. I still have a lot of work to do though and the habits other than opiates to work through. That is going to be challenging.
I had my labour shift though, did a yoga class and really pushed myself it was so hard. Also, had good conversations with four different women like one on one and didn't feel uncomfortable. Really some of it is switching to a better anxiety med but also I have been putting more effort in. I am eating 3 meals a day again as well. I was only having one before. Hopefully something stupid doesn't happen like running low on benzos or weed that's really the only time I panic. Anyways I have enough of those for several days and I am smart, I always find a way. That is not the focus of my life though, nor was asking out any of those four girls. One of them I am confused about. She is def the most compatible like we got to know each other super fast and have a lot in common that is rare. And is super cute but I think she is with someone, she mentioned that but it was up in the air if that still is true, but then she winks at me so I don't know wtf these girls are thinking. I will continue to be confused. I don't seem to get irritated as much because at least I can talk to them I don't feel stupid about myself.
Because that is one of the big parts about post-acute withdrawal if you ever have to or want to get off pain meds you will encounter something similar. Not this, could be anything but the withdrawal amplifies little things like this isn't going to be a problem for me I'm just too shy to pressure them in any way and get a date so it's kinda stupid, some girls recognize this though and think it's cute and make it easier for me haha. Anyways, you can see what's on my mind. I'm getting really fit again I noticed, I am becoming muscular and toned again which is a great sign too. That is more like myself, I was always that way before the chronic pain. There was never once a time that I wasn't fit except after my last year of university cause I was binge drinking and taking way too many stimulants on party nights, cause it was like, the time to party, y'know. Foolish in hindsight but everything is. I asked about a job today as well without thinking about it much. I have to start trying hard though it is one thing to feel good and one thing to take action and I'm just not yet. I don't know what I should do today because that shift exhausts me completely. I feel like I need to work, but really I don't. I think I should focus on self care so that when the week starts I'll be springing out of bed and I'll be able to do yoga Tuesday too. Every second day hopefully. If I start searching hard for work or racking my brains after all that exercise I'm going to burn myself out. It really takes a long time to get your energy back, I get tired so easily but yoga is whipping me into really good shape. Also, not skipping meals is helping with that.
I could run out of benzos one day though and be fucked. I know I'm not in the clear by any means yet, I've just been enjoying being myself lately. I had been questioning for so long whether it was possible to feel remotely like your old self. My problem is my low energy level so I'm trying to make the yoga a daily thing it will make me on the go all the time if I do that. My body grew up from an early age doing intensive sports and then exercise so I feel like it's something that my body requires now and I am glad to have found a way to do it. As there is no way I am ever stepping foot in a gym or so much as touching a weight again. I also couldn't shoot hoops with my buddy over the summer the basketball was too much. It sucks. So the goal really is pain management not getting really strong or anything but it is very good for my body and strengthens me. I can't be pushed around having back pain either I need to be able to defend myself.
 
The energy thing is a big challenge with the chronic pain I know. I get so tired so easy. I'm still a fairly young person and I feel like I am ninety. Lol! Gotta take naps and rest breaks in between doing the slightest activity. It is so frustrating.

The exercise does really help. I'm happy to hear you are back doing yoga and good job for that! You sound so much better Shroomy.
You really do. I think you are going to continue to feel better and better but yes, we have to manage the chronic pain all the time.
It is a real hard balancing act!

It is a great sign that you are even thinking about girls in my opinion. That means you are getting healthier.
It is so nice to hear you are talking to girls and others and not feeling so self conscious.

Eleven months huh?! That is excellent! You are starting to feel more like your old self again!
I think that most don't make it through the post acute withdrawal because it is so long and just so hard to feel that way for so long but you are making it and I think you are over the worst for sure! Things are just going to continue to improve.

Don't push yourself too hard like you wisely realized that you don't want to burn yourself out. Slow and steady.
I think the focus on self care is major. I realized that myself quickly but that is only because self care is about all I can do now days.
I'm grateful that I can at least do that!
 
I wake up at 5am every day and get ready like I'd be going to work. It is hard to keep my place clean with chronic pain but if I keep up the yoga it should go away again like before once I'm stronger. I am back into yoga intensely. Yeah I do sound better but I better not run out of xanax, just saying I am better but I still have lots of problems. I'm not abusing it though, for once, and it is far more effective than etizolam for this kind of anxiety. My anxiety is more of a physical ailment than a cognitive thing.
Yeah I agree about the girls as well it seems like my drive has finally been returning. Had some fun conversations. They like me.
Yeah like that was my day. I've been too exhausted to watch tv until now. Starting wentworth a good show about a women's prison. Having some coffee an going to make sure to have dinner before passing out. But yeah it was not just the lack of anxiety but the interest that those few ladies had in me. Like something has obviously changed. I personally think it is a large combination of things and one thing that stands out to me is that etizolam abuse has been a bad part of my life. I am ready to stop holding myself back I just don't really know where to go from here. Like one of the girls I have a crush on there put it today, I am figuring things out. I have lots of options. I obviously don't mention anything about drugs there except I must be a known pothead because I smoke before going in every single time. One of those chicks basically runs a halfway house and the conversation was real interesting. I wonder if the girl was testing me to see if my reaction would change with her once she said she met someone. lol. The shit that goes through my head. That is my intuition because she seemed to like me more after. I didn't care. I kept getting to know her as a friend why wouldn't I and she's probably being tricky.
 
I made it. I'm stable at 6mg and feeling much better. It wasn't fun but it really could of been much worse. I only took Ativan 2 of the 6-7 days I felt sick. On the 7th night I slept like a rock and woke up feeling pretty normal. Thanks for the support everyone it really helped.

I'm planning to drop to 4mg in a couple weeks but I'm going to ask my doctor for some meds before I do that
 
Awesome cj!!

I am so happy to hear you're feeling better too. I think that's smart that you're going to ask your dr for more meds too. Your taper plan sounds really good.

Much love and support to you cj.

Hang in there my dear friend,
you know I'm here for you anytime you need me.

Love,
Ash.
cj said:
I made it. I'm stable at 6mg and feeling much better. It wasn't fun but it really could of been much worse. I only took Ativan 2 of the 6-7 days I felt sick. On the 7th night I slept like a rock and woke up feeling pretty normal. Thanks for the support everyone it really helped.

I'm planning to drop to 4mg in a couple weeks but I'm going to ask my doctor for some meds before I do that
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Cool man.

Still feeling well, although I've been physically exhausted from getting fit again. Today, I just didn't sleep well and I'm in a haze. I worked hard yesterday and need a break, low on both meds though so I have to take care of that. Try hard not to panic about the benzos when I'm low on them, and I managed to grab some real nice purp to smoke today within a small time frame. I am improving I can tell but I better not get any much lower on the benzos or anyone would start to panic. I'm tapering with them it's a heavy dose but everything will work out I psych myself out It's normal to have the odd exhausting day. Can't see myself getting up for the rest of the day, hit the bong once and that's it. So tired of all this, and the sleep is really getting to me. It's almost always less than 5 hours. I have a lot of work to do and feel so lazy today it's just frustrating.
 
cj said:
I made it. I'm stable at 6mg and feeling much better. It wasn't fun but it really could of been much worse. I only took Ativan 2 of the 6-7 days I felt sick. On the 7th night I slept like a rock and woke up feeling pretty normal. Thanks for the support everyone it really helped.

I'm planning to drop to 4mg in a couple weeks but I'm going to ask my doctor for some meds before I do that
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Excellent!
Nice job CJ!!
So happy to hear you are feeling better.

The support here does help a lot.
I sure do appreciate you all.

It is good to hear that it only took 6-7 days to adjust to a dosage drop.
Especially such a big one.

Gives us hope my friend.
 
ShroomySatori said:
Cool man.

Still feeling well, although I've been physically exhausted from getting fit again. Today, I just didn't sleep well and I'm in a haze. I worked hard yesterday and need a break, low on both meds though so I have to take care of that. Try hard not to panic about the benzos when I'm low on them, and I managed to grab some real nice purp to smoke today within a small time frame. I am improving I can tell but I better not get any much lower on the benzos or anyone would start to panic. I'm tapering with them it's a heavy dose but everything will work out I psych myself out It's normal to have the odd exhausting day. Can't see myself getting up for the rest of the day, hit the bong once and that's it. So tired of all this, and the sleep is really getting to me. It's almost always less than 5 hours. I have a lot of work to do and feel so lazy today it's just frustrating.
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Thumbs up Shroomy!!!

Everything will work out. It always does. Don't get yourself too anxious over it.
Rest up and don't worry about needing a break.
Hope you get some much needed sleep and that your sleep cycle becomes more stable.

I have been sleeping and eating better. I am holding now instead of loosing weight rapidly so that is a good sign.
I have been feeling pretty good. I just need to keep stable now. I sure hope my doctor is cool with me showing up a little early for medication this month because I cannot do cold turkey again. It throws me off for too long and is so hard on me.

It has been a rough few months!

I hope everyone is doing alright. ❤️
 
Well hey there everyone. I got a lot of catching up to do here lol. One thing that jumped out at me was what ash said. They're doing the same shit to u as they did to me. They done it to my buddy (not my dealer buddy thank god) as well. 90 Percocet a month, tapered down to 0. It's so fucked up that we have to just suffer like this. Ur a tough lady and you'll be alright of course, but if a doctor done that to me? I'd burn their office to the ground. Hang tough lady. You'll have your meds soon.

I have recently injured my foot (nothing serious) so I've been laid up Tryna catch up on studies since Thursday. Admittedly tho I just smoked a bunch of weed and played red dead redemption 2 for 4 days straight. But I had to come back and see u guys tonight. Been thinking a lot about how everyone's been doing and it's sad to see that it's not so good in some cases.

I, myself, am now 24 hours free of diazepam. And I feel like SHIT. Got a script waiting for me at the pharmacy but too broke to pick it up (I know right, 14 whole dollars). Had to take a zopiclone to curb the withdrawal symptoms which surprisingly worked well, even tho I prob shouldn't have.

Picked up my guitar tonight and started learning 'just like heaven' by the cure. It's beautiful go check it out. Gotta get my singing voice back because I'm starting to lose it. I'm gonna continue reading down thru all the comments since my last post but it's just too much to weigh in on now lol.

Painful one, glad to see you back. U had me worried for a while there.

To all the regulars, you know who you are, I still love u guys and I'm not Tryna be a dick and go off the radar for weeks at a time i swear. Just caught up in life is all.

God love you all, you bunch of beautiful bastards.

Your friend, the high in the sky freebird, dopiejay
 
Good to see an update from you, we missed you around here. ; )


I see you're online and I wanted to thank you while you are still on here.

Thank you dj, I have been struggling lately, it's very nice to have friends like you that understand.

Glad you're playing your guitar dj, I hope you feel better soon my dear friend. You're the best.

Here for you anytime,
feel free to pm me if you like,
hugs,
your friend,
Ash..
 
EPL1 said:
Good to see an update from you, we missed you around here. ; )


I see you're online and I wanted to thank you while you are still on here.

Thank you dj, I have been struggling lately, it's very nice to have friends like you that understand.

Glad you're playing your guitar dj, I hope you feel better soon my dear friend. You're the best.

Here for you anytime,
feel free to pm me if you like,
hugs,
your friend,
Ash..
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Check your inbox when u get a chance, and tell me all about it :)
 
Thanks painful one, I am low on anxiety meds like really low so I'm nervous. I'm trying to let it not get to me I have a couple days supply. I have to admit it is tearing me apart though the fear. There are supply issues, everywhere And I'm taking lower doses which makes me depressed so I have been crying all morning for no reason completely overwhelmed by everything it's too much. It's a lot to have to live with. I don't know what's up and with work either I am stressed. I really try to avoid this but couldn't somehow. I don't feel safe but trying to make the best of it. I think, hope anyway that I have lots of work hours this week but then getting the shit in time is another matter altogether. I'm practically fucked I'm trying really hard. Figures the moon is in Leo. It is always like this and with my friend with that sign. I need to keep my cool it will make the anxiety worse well it clearly already is but things should be okay. I have to taper so much and I am trying to pull myself together still. I'm not complaining I don't really understand how I got myself in this situation and when close calls like this happen it's just not fun at all. I am still trying to focus on what is important today getting work hours and securing that.
 
cj said:
I made it. I'm stable at 6mg and feeling much better. It wasn't fun but it really could of been much worse. I only took Ativan 2 of the 6-7 days I felt sick. On the 7th night I slept like a rock and woke up feeling pretty normal. Thanks for the support everyone it really helped.

I'm planning to drop to 4mg in a couple weeks but I'm going to ask my doctor for some meds before I do that
Click to expand...

Great to hear that, CJ. It's amazing how the body can adjust; and if done correctly, a taper can be quite effective. For me, the biggest struggle for the taper hasn't been my body ... it's been my mind. For example, last night, I wasn't craving any pills physically, but it would have been SOOOOO nice to just have that big, warm blanket of opiates. Had I not flushed the extra, I would have DEFINITELY indulged. But, now that I know I don't have any extra pills on hand (only the amount I need for my taper), I simply know I can't. Very akin to a child knowing it has to obey his/her parent. In fact, tapering (for me) is VERY similar to parenting yourself. That's my experience thus far - I guess we'll see if this holds true in a month. :)
 
You sound like you're doing a fine job UJ!!!

Don't be such a stranger though ; ) We miss you around here, everything else going well for you?

Love and support,
Ash.

uncle_jocko said:
Great to hear that, CJ. It's amazing how the body can adjust; and if done correctly, a taper can be quite effective. For me, the biggest struggle for the taper hasn't been my body ... it's been my mind. For example, last night, I wasn't craving any pills physically, but it would have been SOOOOO nice to just have that big, warm blanket of opiates. Had I not flushed the extra, I would have DEFINITELY indulged. But, now that I know I don't have any extra pills on hand (only the amount I need for my taper), I simply know I can't. Very akin to a child knowing it has to obey his/her parent. In fact, tapering (for me) is VERY similar to parenting yourself. That's my experience thus far - I guess we'll see if this holds true in a month. :)
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Much love my dear friends!!

Just wanted to wish UJ, Shroomy, cj, Painful One, DJ, Squeaky and everyone else on this thread a great day!!

I'm thinking of you all, hoping you're all doing well. If anyone's having a hard time or struggling, you can always pm me.

Here for you guys anytime,
love and support,
your friend,
Ash.
 
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