Brain damage from oxygen deprivation caused by opiate use

[Making_an_effort]

http://www.bluelight.org/vb/archive/index.php/t-504764.html

I was reading this thread and started to get paranoid. I have not used heroin for about 6 months. Before that, I was using for about a year and a half. I never shot it; I only blew it. I was using at my peak around four times per week. I abandoned the habit because I have seen what can happen. I was a "chipper" but I still consider myself an addict.

There were several times (probably around 10) where I definitely did too much dope and woke up gasping for air. The gasping only happened a few times. It was like sleep apnea or something.

I have probably damaged my brain from oxygen deprivation caused by opiate use.... I definitely feel more sluggish in general. I have nodded too many times to count. For any long term addicts that recovered out there who can relate to what I am talking about... am I overreacting or do you think that this is a valid concern?

Also, I just want different perspectives on this in general.

 

[thedawn]

i don't think you have permanently damaged your brain.
i don't think you're overreacting,this is very scary.

wishing you time as a healer and all the best.

 

[Corazon]

I think you are over-reacting.
If you've had major acute overdose episodes that you can point to and say "yea i turned blue, I almost died etc...", then yes you will have done some degree in damage. If you haven't, you probably haven't done anything significant.
If it deters you from future use - great.

The brain is pretty adaptive, so if you stay clean and exercise - even if substance abuse has taken it's toll on some brain cells, other cells will strengthen and pick up the slack.

 

[WantToBeReborn]

Extreme fatigue is par for the course after laying off or reducing opiates. It takes time for the body and brain to learn how to work properly again in all opiate addicts.

Give it time, fight back, light exercise, start small and well done on quitting!

 

[Maya]

http://www.bluelight.org/vb/archive/index.php/t-504764.html

I was reading this thread and started to get paranoid. I have not used heroin for about 6 months. Before that, I was using for about a year and a half. I never shot it; I only blew it. I was using at my peak around four times per week. I abandoned the habit because I have seen what can happen. I was a "chipper" but I still consider myself an addict.

There were several times (probably around 10) where I definitely did too much dope and woke up gasping for air. The gasping only happened a few times. It was like sleep apnea or something.

I have probably damaged my brain from oxygen deprivation caused by opiate use.... I definitely feel more sluggish in general. I have nodded too many times to count. For any long term addicts that recovered out there who can relate to what I am talking about... am I overreacting or do you think that this is a valid concern?

Also, I just want different perspectives on this in general.

OP have I suggest you go see a doctor if you have any concerns about your health etc.. I am a natural hypochondriac and whenever I read something online I will apply it to myself and it is not a good thing to do. First of all, please do not apply anything you read online to yourself because you will get more paranoid and it will cause more anxiety. I had been there so I know these things and it only made me feel worse but when I calmed down and started to ignore all the symptoms i can feel in my body I started to feel better.

 

[Chinggis]

Your brain is fine. You will be supprised how plastic the brain is...if you were an IV addict for 15+ years with a crazy amount of near-fatal overdoses, then you should be worried.

 

[ad lib]

It is a valid concern, I worry about it myself.

We cannot (obviously) diagnose you in the Internet, but what else besides being sluggish and gasping for air while nodding leads you to believe that you may have permanant brain damage?

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

People who have had this happen typically wake up with ringing ears and hearing loss. Waking up gasping is probably a sign you woke up just in time but I could be wrong.

 

[T. Calderone]

It might be sleep apnea if waking up gasping for air is still happening after you quit opiates. See your doctor if this is a concern.