Question about Heroin Withdrawal

[benson666]

I wanted to post my concern about heroin withdrawal and see if someone could offer some insight so that i have peace of mind
basically ive spent about 2 months using frequently- once sometimes twice a day, sometimes with a day or two in between.
i was hoping that taking a week off would help me get things under control. however its been about 98 hours and i havent experienced any terrible withdrawal symptoms- just the usual stuff, insomnia, some influenza like sympotms(runney nose, coughing) and constipation/ dihareha
i was wondering if someone could tell me where i am at in the withdraawal process- whether the worst is yet to come or i am making progress.
it might help to add that ive been trying to quit for quite some time and usually give in and cop some more because it gets unbarable to go without, and ive read this term is called kindling. i was hoping someone could provide their two cents so that i can get my mind out of the gutter.

 

[A6uh]

Dear Benson666,

Fear not! You are nearly out of the woods. You're on day 4 of the withdrawl process, it's just a very mild withdrawl. I'm experiencing nearly the same thing. I've been on and off hydrocodone for nearly a year, detoxed for a month followed by 2 Months of oxycodone use. I'm finally quitting and I'm on day 4 of the withdrawl. I was expecting it to be as bad if not worse than my hydrocodone withdrawl. So far, I'm experiencing minor back pain and that's it. Keep in mind dosage and time frame of use plays huge factors in the withdrawl process. If you're at day 4 experiencing little to no withdrawl symtoms, you're one of the lucky ones. Ive had exleriences where i stopped using and noticed i wasnt withdrawing bad from the hydrocodone (2 months in) I thought about quitting and I didnt. I rationalized it as, "If im not withdrawing now i can do a bit more, a little more cant hurt." That was the largest mistake of my life. I kept dosing for another 2 weeks and low and behold i got smaked with unbearable withdrawl, so i decided to keep going for another 11 months. Dont make the same mistake as me. You can definately beat this demon while its weak. You just have to keep it up and you'll be in the clear from physical symptoms in no time at all.


--------------------------
Do you have another day 1 in you?

 

[treading threader]

i've read a lot of articles/posts that say H withdrawals begin 12 hours after last use, but as a long term user mine take like 30 hours to come on (and they get bad fast soon after). any idea why it seems to take so long for mine to begin in light of the ever-prevelant "12 hours after last dose" timeframe?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Everyone is different. Metabolism certain affects acute withdrawal. I for one won't feel much signs of kicking heroin for about 24-30hrs, then it will start getting crap-tacular.

 

[manboychef]

Mine happen very quickly. I have a very fast metabolism. I also think how many times you have tried to quit will make your withdrawals come quicker.

 

[Jabberwocky]

And if you expect the withdrawal to start earlier or be really bad, generally that turns out to make them come on (or seem to) sooner and seem more intense than they actually might have otherwise been.

 

[Phil.McKeer]

And if you expect the withdrawal to start earlier or be really bad, generally that turns out to make them come on (or seem to) sooner and seem more intense than they actually might have otherwise been.

This, bigtime. Make it a monster in your head and it will be a monster on your body. You had a comparatively light habit and that's why you've suffered so little.

Like another poster said a little lower, you're almost out of the woods. Don't stop now, just a couple more days and you'll be sleeping naturally, not getting hot/cold flashes, etc.

 

[treading threader]

interesting stuff; it's crazy how the mind affects the physical aspects of it (nevermind the psychological symptoms).

any update from OP? hope it's going well - fight no matter what, you're so close.

 

[Jabberwocky]

im on day 2 off opiates and benzo's..i wd'd before in november when i ran short on my script. this time im gettign my benzo's today but not picking up my oxy at all. i started 2 years ago taking percocet and after a year i was not taking them just for pain i was taking them to numb out life. now im coming off 80-120mg oxy a day. i just don't want to be dependant on pills anymore.
the wd's dont seem to be as bad this time, but there still a bitch..im freezing but sweating, haven't slept in 2 nights.
i hope the OP is still kicking it also..its awful but it will be over soon(thats what i keep telling myself) If this is the worstt of it , i'll be fine, and im almost at the 72 hour mark so i think it is. Geiing the benzo's will help.
best of luck to anyone doing this alone, just remember a few days of suffering is well worth not spending you life chasing a pill
i've managed to isolate myself and noone knows(other then dealers) that im an addict. an old friend who i've had for over 20 years is coming today and he's a former drunk so i'm actually going to tell him, kinda nervous to but i do need someone and i know they are not the type to pass any judgement. And i hate admitting it but i do need some support through this.
sorry for the bad spelling but i think me typing right now is a mircle lol

 

[Phil.McKeer]

Hi Jane, awesome job so far and congrats on your decision.

If you need help and support you can always start a new thread and you'll find plenty of helpful, non-judgmental, yet knowledgeable peeps here willing to help, including myself (and feel free to PM me if you like).

Also check out The Dark Side and Sober Living if you haven't already.

And how you coming along, OP?

 

[sm0kestack]

The time it takes for me depends on how much I was using, and the quality of the gear.

If I was only using .1-.2/day of moderate quality stuff, WD would start around 12-16h. Skin would start to get that burning feeling, kind of like when you have been out in the cold wind, then come inside, you get that burning feeling on your face and ears. I get that feeling on my body. Mainly on the arms, accompanied by slightly runny nose, mild body aches, and fatigue. At this point I would fall asleep for a while then wake up at about 18-24h since last dose. Then once I get to the 24-30h mark, I would be in full blown withdrawal. It usually starts by many consecutive sneezes in a row. That's usually a sign I am really in for it. After the sneezes I get the hot/cold sweats, goosebumps, high anxiety, cravings, moderate body aches, inability to get comfortable, restless legs/arms, diarrhea, watery eyes and mouth, excessive urinating, bad stomach cramps and bloating, dilated pupils, headache, simple tasks seem like chores, depression, insomnia, etc.... All other common symptoms I didn't mention too. These symptoms usually last for about 3-5 days, then wane down and become easier to deal with over 7-10 days. Then over a couple weeks sleep turns back to normal, and then I feel mostly normal again over all, physically. Psychological symptoms like depression, anxiety, isolation, and behaviors tend to last a lot longer which is called PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) , which I have a bad problem with and has lead me to countless relapses. But after 1-3months I am completely back to normal really. Energy is back, sleep completely normal again, etc....

If I happen to cop some garbage gear unfortunately, I have felt WDs return as early as 4hours. Terrible... Lol. But there is one thing good about lesser quality stuff, it can help you wean down.

If I happen to use A LOT one day of moderate or maybe just a bit of very high quality stuff, I may not feel WD set in for 24 to even 36 hours.

To the OP, by how it sounds, at day 4 your symptoms should be starting to ease up, and get more and more better. And usually, by the sound of what your habit was, your symptoms should be gone over a week, and your sleep coming back more and more. From the date of your post you should be at day 9. You should be done with almost all physical symptoms. Maybe a little sweat here and there, and feeling a little sluggish. How is the sleep returning?