Opiate Addiction And Trying To Beat It

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I have had a problem with opiates going back to 2006 starting with vicodin following shoulder surgery. My usage progressed to Percocet, fentanyl, OxyContin, suboxone - clean for 2.5 years, relapse on tramadol, back on suboxone for 2 years, jumped at 2mgs and now weening with kratom. To say it has been a journey is an understatement. I am not naive enough to think that using kratom means I'm "clean" from opiates. It is filling my receptors just like the rest an it's time for me to stop. I've been actively trying to stay clean for about a year now. I no longer chase the high, I just run from WDs. I've gone through them more times to count and only once pulled through and stayed clean for longer than a week or 2. I actually was clean for almost 3 years following my first sub program. During that time period, I felt good. Healthy and strong. Since then I can feel these opiates sucking the life from me. I'm constantly stressed and worried about filling my need to avoid WDs. My wife and children deserve better. When I stopped subs the second time I went through some pretty rough WDs and after about 3 weeks into it and feeling the drain of PAWS and lack of sleep I gave in and tried kratom. At first it seemed like a life saver but it quickly became just another substance to prolong the inevitable. Well, the inevitable is here and I will be stopping CT tomorrow. I can do this. I have to do this. I want my life back. I don't know if anybody will read this but it feels great to just type it out and say it. It gives me a sense of accountability. If anybody is interested I will post my experience as I delve back into the world of abstinence and sobriety once and for all. To anybody else suffering from this affliction, god bless. There is a life after opiates and we all can enjoy it if we fully realize our worth and potential. My goal is to have a success story to share by April when my wife celebrates her 29th birthday. She doesn't know the extent of what I'm going through but I will privately give her back her husband for her birthday. By that point I will be 6 weeks clean and past the point of return. Wish me luck and thank you all.

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1

pfan34 congradulations! you have had a long hard road but you stuck with it. good luck to you and your wife. keep posting we all need the encouragement.

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2

Karen, thank you for your support!

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3

So I stopped Kratom on Sunday after roughly 15-20 grams a day. Monday and Tuesday I had GI issues, sneezing and yawning non stop, no energy and restless sleep and leg cramps for the first 2 days BUT this morning I woke up feeling *pretty damn good! Maybe kratom isn't the devil that some claim it to be. I can say this, so far compared to sub and tramadol WDs this is a cake walk. Already today *most* of my physical symptoms are so mild they're barely noticeable and I'm cautiously wondering if I have actually beaten the beast called opiate WDs. I know that mentally it will be a long road because I have to learn to live without having my go to energy source to make it through the day but I am convinced that this is finally it for me. I know WDs can come and go and there's probably still some rough days ahead but so far so good. I will repost periodically to update but I'm starting to think kratom may actually a be the life saver that I initially thought...

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4

@Pfan34,

Thanks for taking time to share this feedback and post updates on how you've been managing through past addictions/withdrawal periods. A lot of patients may see this as a life long battle, but I think if people are willing to change by putting in the hard work, mentally, physically, and emotionally, as you've already expressed, that will encourage countless others to take back control over their lives as well. Glad to hear that kratom can be a solid kick stand during this time of transition for you!

Best regards,
David

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5

I too used Kratom to help with withdrawal. I was tramadol addicted for many years before they changed that class of drug and I couldn't get prescribed any since last August. Kratom really did work for the withdrawal of tramadol but of course forms a new addiction. I knew that but felt I was doing what I had to do to avoid a major life crash. Well now my supply of Kratom has been interrupted and I'm going to find out about the withdrawals from that. I'm scared but find comfort in your post above about that not being so bad. I just want off this addiction train... Wish me luck!

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6

Hello Susan, how are you doing? Have you stopped kratom yet? It was no walk in the park but compared to tramadol, well, there is no comparison. Quitting kratom is doable. I felt physically fine after a few days and sluggish for about a week after that but that's it. It really didn't interrupt my daily life. Tramadol wds were crippling for me. I could barely get out of bed to brush my teeth. Kratom wds were annoying at most. I stopped for several weeks then started taking it sparingly because it DOES help with my shoulder pain but I really don't even think of it the same way I did the opiates. Kratom to me is like coffee. It helps to get through the day but I'm fine without it. I hope all is going well. Feel free to ask any questions or just vent of you need to. I've been through it and understand what you're going through. Good luck with everything!

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7

Pfan34.. thank you so much for your message and support! No, I haven't completely gotten off Kratom yet. The cold turkey withdrawals were too difficult to deal with and still manage a day at work. Unfortunately I work 7 days a week at 2 different jobs. I did find though, that the Kratom withdrawals weren't the same hell that Tramadol withdrawal was. My plan is to do a 2 week taper and then jump off completely when I have 2 days of vacation scheduled. Thanks again for your response.
I sure hope you are doing well! Thank you so much for sharing your experience here.

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8

Hi Susan, glad to hear you're still focused on quitting. I understand how difficult it is while maintains a life. I'm a professional chef and work between 50-60 hours a week and I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old at home as well. No rest for the weary! Lol. Have you been doing anything to prepare for the quit day? I found that taking a multivitamin and b complex supplement daily leading up to quitting as well as exercise and a healthy diet really help once you make the jump. They will help your body to naturally kick start the endocrine system (which from what I know is what really makes wds worse than just being sick. It's the hormonal deficiencies that lead to the depression and lack of energy when quitting). It seemed to help me. It may have just been a placebo affect of doing something proactive but if it helped, I'll take it! Lately I've been doing kratom for 3 days then taking 2 days off. So far it's working because on my 2 days off I function fine. I know I have to be careful not to start doing it every day again though. I hope that helps a little!

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