Poppy Pod Recovery

[ToroRoma71]

Hello all, I am 10 days clean from a daily poppy pod tea addiction. I have received help from my local addiction centre in Toronto and given clondine.

Day 1 was bad
Day 2 was hell
Day 3 was hell
Day 4 was hell
Day 5 better
Day 6 to now Day 10 I have been feeling these lingering feelings of pain, discomfort, nd at times I just fantasise about escaping my body. I can barely work, have problems sleeping and feel run down.

I really thought the pain would have been less with the clondine and should have went on the suboxone treatment instead. Hindsight is 20/20

the only time I feel normal is when I am doing exercise, (long walk help). but i can’t be in perpetual motion you know...

I just want to know what is happening to me and why I am not feeling better. Can anyone give me some insights?

 

[Muzda Jonxx]

I too am an ex-poppyhead. About 2 and a half months since I partook of the tea now.

Unfortunately, pod withdrawal is just really, really drawn out, there's not much can be done unless you switch to subutex or whatever. If you've gone ten days I wouldn't do that, because subutex withdrawal can be complete hell in itself.

It's difficult to say how long you'll be feeling like this. After 2 and a half months I still get plenty of nights when I can't sleep because of nerve-fry and rls. I'm going through what's called PAWS, or post-acute withdrawal syndrome. I'm an old hand at withdrawing, so I know that there's nothing to be done but wait this out for a year or so, and be happy doing it. It gets better all the time though. Try and get into a positive mindset, I find that for me, the happier I feel, the less I hurt (or worry about hurting, more accurately).

Eating good food, steering clear of alcohol and caffeine, getting lots of exercise will all help you a lot to feel that little bit better. Exercise is king, I sometimes have to force myself out, but always feel better once I have. Doesn't have to be much, I find a nice leisurely walk for an hour or so is enough to iron out the muscle creases.

Good luck, you got this! Being an aching poppy free mess is infinitely better for you than being a subdued poppy filled addict.

 

[ToroRoma71]

I know that there's nothing to be done but wait this out for a year or so, and be happy doing it. It gets better all the time though. Try and get into a positive mindset, I find that for me, the happier I feel, the less I hurt (or worry about hurting, more accurately).

Thanks for the reply. I was doing three pods a day for 3 months. Hopefully I won't have to wait a year to get over this. I am a little more worried by this now.

 

[Muzda Jonxx]

I don't mean to scare you, I'm just telling it like it is. I could sugar coat but I'd rather inform. PAWS is the period that follows what you're going through now (acute withdrawal). It's a feeling of slight malaise, discontent and, in more serious cases depression, mood swings and anxiety. Sure, it sucks, but we got a choice in how to approach this. I've done wallowing in self pity many times before, and let me tell you that just makes everything 5 times worse. This time I'm constantly kicking myself up the ass to get out and do stuff, whether I'm aching and tired or not.

3 months isn't too long. 3 pods doesn't mean much, because you might be getting real potent pods.

Is this your first cluck? My impression is that it is. If so - I can see why the protracted withdrawal is freaking you out. I don't think you'll be going through acute wd for too much longer. And hopefully your PAWS won't be too bad. The good news is that you should recover quicker than I would, because I've clucked around 20 times now. Each time it takes longer for the body to readjust to sobriety.

When you're done with the acute phase, that's when you've got to work hard to stay poppy free. Cravings will hit, and they can be incredibly powerful. Don't underestimate how devious your mind can be too itself in the quest for more poppies.

 

[ToroRoma71]

Is this your first cluck? My impression is that it is.

Thanks Muzda, it is my first time kicking pods. I kicked kratom twice and it wasn't nice but much easier. I really though by day 10 I would have felt normal and the process to be much easier. Live and learn. If anyone is reading this and thinking of doing pods, don't do it!

If there is a light at the end of the tunnel that makes me feel better, this experience will keep me sober that's for sure. I don't want to experience anything like this again.

 

[ArtVandalay]

I was a daily pod tea addict for many years. I couldn't kick on my own, it was just too long and drawn out. I tried using kratom, didn't work, tapering, and cold turkey. I finally got into a bupe program, currently tapering that.

I feel your pain. I would seriously consider suboxone.

 

[Muzda Jonxx]

I was a daily pod tea addict for many years. I couldn't kick on my own, it was just too long and drawn out. I tried using kratom, didn't work, tapering, and cold turkey. I finally got into a bupe program, currently tapering that.

I feel your pain. I would seriously consider suboxone.

It certainly works for some. It certainly worked to get me off oxy once and pods another time. The irony for me was that I stayed on the bupe too long and found it hurt just as much (in terms of anxiety far more) than pods ever did. So when I quit the bupe, I just ended up on the pods again. Bloody vicious circle!