Help with Opiate Withdrawals, Naturally
Hello BL! :0) Newbie here. First, I must apologize because this is my first post and I'm not sure I'm even doing this right. [Throw tomatoes here.
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I've been a lurker for 6 or so years and really, wanted to collect all of the research I possibly could before going from poppy seed tea to poppy pods, which I did about 3 years or so ago. Before I did that, I researched pods, addiction, withdrawals, pain management- homeopathic, holistic pain management (etc.) at least 8 months before deciding to advance to pods. I didn't go into it blindly, that's for sure. I'd like to share my story and experience with you guys and hope that somebody might be able to take something from it and use it for their benefit. Every little bit helps in this game! We all know that.
What brought me to seeking pain meds to begin with, began about 6 years ago. I was a full-time student (with 2 teenage kids at home) and I began--seemingly overnight--to experience excruciating migraines. They lasted no less than 3 days- 72 hours of full-on pain, as if somebody were shooting me in the head non-stop. I mean the pain was indescribable. It's worth mentioning that I've had 3 kids "natural" and am a firm believer in "mind over matter". I was like a birthing Ninja, no kidding. I had that stuff under control! But these migraines made that look like a picnic. I've just never experienced 3 days straight of hellish pain with no transitional relief of any kind.
So, I did what most people do: I went to my doctor. He prescribed Lortabs, as I'd expected him to (thankfully) and because I have a fairly high pain barrier, he also prescribed Fiorcet- thinking the caffeine would help too. Except the combination made me nauseous, and so he then added Phenergan to the list. I took them as prescribed sometimes, but most of the time, I took 1/2 of a Lortab in the morning and the other half in the evening so that 30 of them would last an entire month. (It's ok. You can laugh. I do too looking back.) I used the Lortab for more for a preventative measure though, rather than waiting until that wicked hell train was already crashing through my skull. And so that was my routine for about a year.
And for that first year, it sort of worked. One Lortab a day is a joke, but I realized I was a war with not only my pain, but the possibility of addiction. It's just utter madness to take pain meds and not factor that very ugly truth into it, and so I always kept that at the forefront of my mind; watching my intake, persistently and vigilantly. Even so, the migraines grew in both magnitude and frequency and before much longer, I had to drop out of college entirely; which broke my heart. My children and I aren't well off, and I was fighting so hard to set a good example for them, especially. My depression grew stronger and the Lortab just wasn't cutting it. Sometimes I would be down on the couch, sobbing in pain and really thinking that I could possibly stroke out or begin having seizures from the brain trauma. Our brains just aren't created for that kind of pain for that long of a duration.
I returned to my doctor and we discussed my options. He increased my dosage, and naturally, the little (Minnie Me junkie) voice inside was delighted, but I was also hesitant due to the addiction factor now increasing as well. Regardless, I stayed on that routine for another year or so. But I just didn't feel good- and I don't mean the pain only. My liver hurt, I was always nauseous- despite having Phenergan- I just wasn't at my best and I was only 40 or so! The migraines had certainly taken a toll over the last few years, but the pills weren't helping either. I began researching natural pain medication and herbal anti-nauseants, etc. I learned that ginger is excellent for quelling nausea (and dyspepsia and all sorts of other stomach disorders), and also, I learned that cayenne pepper acts as both a blood cleanser as well as a mild analgesic. So, I began taking cayenne and ginger supplements.
I also learned that Milk Thistle is one of the strongest, natural liver cleansers in the world. And, Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa) is a virtual panacea for all sorts of things: the stuff is phenomenal (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal. it's called "The King's Cure-All"). But also, it's an excellent
natural potentiator. SO, I began taking herbal concoctions and noticed I felt
much better. Except for the pain thing! And that's when I stumbled across this place. :0) I learned about poppy seed tea (PST) and was hopeful, for the first time in a long time. I researched PST for approximately 6 months or so, and when I felt that I was educated enough on the subject, I ordered some. It allowed me the relief I was looking for, and after 6 or so months of slowly replacing my Tabs (and other pills) with the PST, I asked my doctor to take me off of all pharmaceuticals. I had learned through experimentation that I could take care of myself-
naturally- without the help of a doctor who was basically grabbing for straws with my health. He had no idea what was causing my migraines after two years. I chose a radical, self-induced regimen,
but it worked. I had more energy and noticed a comorbidity going on with the poppy seeds- it put my head chatter to sleep also. Completely. I was able to focus on things in a way I'd never experienced before.
These were good things.
After a full year on the seeds, I was able to re-enroll in college and continue working on my Associates Degree in Behavioral Science. I've always been interested in drugs since I was a young child. Not in
taking them, necessarily, but studying the correlations between the body and mind while taking various substances. And I basically became my own guinea pig. But that's ok! So did Freud, and Pavlov and many other people. (Freud, for instance, was a coke head for years. He even claimed that he posited many theories and such while geeked out of his mind on coke.)
I felt the need to study drugs academically, because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. I knew at every step, addiction would be waiting. I was going to need all the help I could get. I simply couldn't "yoga" this kind of long-lasting pain away, however. Having
some type of pain medication was an an absolute must. And so I decided to get a CPC/Certification in Substance Abuse at my school as well. Despite the PST helping me through
many cramming sessions, I was still being blasted with two and three day migraines. It was beginning to affect my grades, because some days, my test would be on a day that I had a migraine and that type of thing is an academic-killer.
Anyway, I knew I had maxed out my seed potency for the levels of pain that I was enduring. I simply needed something stronger. I want to clarify for the record, I seldom used the seeds to "try to get high". Getting high was not my goal. Killing the pain
was. I simply wanted to be able to
function like other people and be up and about- pain free. I wanted my life back.
So I began to research dried poppy pods for pain management. For the next 6 to 8 months, I studied everything I could find about poppy pods-
everything. When the day came for me to cross that thresh hold, I was not unprepared. I already had purchased a grinder and I already had a recipe ready- ginger for nausea- whatever else I needed- I was set. Throughout any and all opiate consumption, I've kept my drug levels down. I do know that once you begin to "kick it up a notch" because you've had a bad day, etc.; you're already seduced. And I'm not going to say I never did that! But I kept myself in check. I wasn't careless. I want to be a doctor someday. I know the risks and I have a lot to lose- all the way around; just as we all do.
I experimented with the pods and discovered what worked for me: one teacup of pod tea every morning. Now, I know many people would shriek at that, and consider it a big no no, however, for the kind of pain I was constantly being assaulted with, this was necessary to prevent them from developing altogether.
It was an absolute life-saver. Not all drug stories are negative. Naturally, our world has purposely conditioned the masses to collectively stigmatize
any drug use for self-medication, but that's just ignorance and fear-mongering. Ignorance is a dangerous weapon.
After 6 month of drinking a cup of pod tea every morning like clock-work- and never
ever increasing my dose- I graduated from my college with my Associate's Degree in Behavioral Sciences, with a CPC/Certification in Substance Abuse- Dean's List/Honor Roll. :0) That was two years ago. I still have my morning cup of pod tea faithfully (and still, never increase the dose) and I am now only one semester away from receiving my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. I've made the Dean's List every semester and have been invited to join our local Society of Leadership and Success. I'm scheduled to begin working on my Master's in Forensic Psychology in the fall of 2016, and ultimately, my doctorate in Clinical Psychology thereafter. I got my life back.
I know all of this is one hell of a long introduction, and again, my apologies, but I say all of that to say- I have
much experience with both poppy seeds and poppy pods, as well as my fair share of experiencing horrible withdrawals from the pods, and I want to offer what I can in the area of what helped me during my darkest (withdrawal) days of my life. Here's my experience of those 30 days without my medicine and what I did to counterattack the withdrawals. It's not the Thomas Recipe, but these things sure made the month a little more doable.
Withdrawal Report:
Week 1
Biological Processes: Increased perspiration, runny nose, sneezing, malaise, depression, feelings of hopelessness (not to be confused with suicidal ideations, etc.), fatigue, lack of interest, heightened desire to isolate, irritability, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), insomnia, death-belly, sex drive is pleading with me to save it. I don't care.
Medicine:
1/2 of Benadryl in the morning, a whole Benadryl at night to help with sleep and help stifle the sneezing and runny nose (histamine-related).
2 "Relax and Sleep" herbal capsules (at night only) from the Dollar Tree= Melatonin- which helps to reset your natural sleep cycle, Valerian (which is where Valium comes from), and Chamomile- which acts as a mild sedative. Combined with Benadryl, the melatonin, valerian, and chamomile
together feel like 1 part Klonopin and 1 part Ambien. The stuff really helps. Also, it effectively kills RLS
fast.
Milk Thistle- cleanses the liver and helps to kick out the opiates much faster so the withdrawals are significantly lessened in both intensity and longevity.
Black Seed Oil- Aside from all of the many benefits this essential oil provides for the body, it's used regularly in Eastern countries (in many medical facilities) as an opiate withdrawal medicine. It lessens withdrawals
significantly if taken daily and proactively. Give it a chance.
Diet: Fresh vegetables (steamed/roasted) with red meats (protein is so important at this stage), green tea, chamomile tea, ginger tea- basically- drink lots of herbal teas! You will not be disappointed, and yes, they help tremendously. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that repair damage to the body on a cellular level.
Multivitamins: Again, SO important.
Ibuprofin- 3 in the morning and 3 at night- faithfully.
Week 2
Biological Processes: All of the above.
Medicines: All of the above.
Week 3
Biological Processes: Rage-face. Get used to it. It's going to be your constant companion for another week or so. Depression lessens. Sex drive has died and gone to hell. Sneezing almost gone entirely, runny nose is better too. Still feeling fatigues, malaise is still there too, but not strongly. Sex drive is starting to pick up a bit. Noticeable increased appetite. Emotions still all over the place- a car commercial could make me cry. Alas, there are good days here and there too.
Medicines: same things.
Week 4
Significant improvement in mood, laughing easily- things are actually freaking funny! Things are even
fun again. Especially sex.
Feeling tinglies all over my body- almost as if it's vibrating- it feels like pure energy rushing through me and I realize that this is what it means to feel ALIVE. Happiness comes easily and I catch myself smiling while I'm driving. Hope is a constant companion. I feel stronger than I have in so long, both on the inside
and outside. I want to take walks and take photos of things again and I have a new burst of energy to write music and sing. I can literally feel the endorphins flooding my brain- all by themselves! :0) I feel like a child again.
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For any of you who are reading this, please know that yes, withdrawals are pure hell. (You know this. We all do.) But you absolutely
must keep your vision of "week 4" in your scope. Death-belly and malaise and rage-face, etc.- it doesn't last forever! Only a month or so of it and then I promise, your head is clear and heart is full of good stuff again and most importantly, you get your self-respect back. You get your
life back.
Part of succeeding here is knowing your triggers. Don't date your triggers. ;-) It's easy to look the other way and fall (seductively) right back into it. When I was going through weeks 1-3, I seriously had some pretty scary thoughts. I really didn't think it was going to get better. Everywhere you go, there's a grey cloud above, but again- it doesn't last, and by week 4- you're on the other side of that river looking back at the last of your former self going under...it's ok to let him/her go.
They say that withdrawals from poppy pods are some of the worst that a person can experience (besides Methadone). I'm thinking this is true. ;0)
No matter what type of addiction you may have, and no matter just how hopeless those withdrawals are making you feel, please know that the sun IS going to shine again and it's F-ing beautiful.
God bless!
And thanks for letting me share. x
