u/AwestruckAudioHertz

Day 50 no 7

Day 28 No SR

Lost track of how long its been since I used gabapentin. At least a week with only using once before than then multiple day breaks.

Sleep is still an issue. Crazy to me seeing people get full nights by day 7. Thought it was the SR that may be causing the long term sleep issues as I've seen other posts suggesting it but one of my quit buddies didn't even use SR and didn't get a full night until day 60ish.

I know a lot of it is luck of the draw, genetics and previous history length but I also equally believe that we have no idea what all is going in this stuff. Especially if your buying online when suppliers are trying to "stand out" when people are purchasing in bulk.

Some days are better than others. Try to just take it day by day. Its definitely not linear in progress. I've had days where I felt almost like my old self. Others where I was useless. However, I will say, overall I'm in much better shape.

Slowly finding enjoyment in the things I used to do again. Played basketball for a bit the other day. Detailed a vehicle and enjoyed the sun/warmth. Training in boxing.

Got to dig deep people. If you are one of the ones who are good by day 7. God bless you, and I kind of hate you. lol. If it takes you 90 days, so be it. Ultimately, its for the rest of your life to be free. I am grateful for my 7oh addiction because it was so intense, brutal, soul crushing and creeping up on a suicidal issue that I really don't have a desire to use anymore.

Naturally, I've had a few small cravings here and there but my brain says...
"Okay, one of two things are going to happen.. Either your tolerance is absolutely fried and its not going to work and you'll probably STILL feel like crap for a week at least, OR it will work and now I've reactivated something within my brain that has started this all over again."

Thats all it takes. I only use cannabis these days but am quickly starting to taper it off as my energy levels are returning.

How bad do you want your freedom? What are you willing to do?

I want to give one last piece advice before ending this post. I see all too often posts on here where people claim "freedom" yet they are still using plain leaf multiple times a day. Is this harm reduction? Absolutely. I'm not judging. I just want to be absolutely clear on something. The sheer amount of people who have had they're lives destroyed over even plain leaf is staggering. You are absolutely replacing one with another, albeit a "safer" alternative. Just don't bullshit yourself. I say that lovingly.

Love you all. Blessings. AMA

Hadn't touched the speed bag in at least 8 months. Still have to force myself to get moving but once I do I start to get some semblance of my old "self".

Wont let me upload a video so heres my google drive link.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14H2QNcIK2CuVMuCg_BPRGz1hc-XilCJx/view?usp=drive_link

Never thought I'd have the interest to want to box again. Well, my name is Tyson after all.

Stomach is still torched something fierce. I'm like Ice Cube's Dad in Friday when he blows up the bathroom. LMAO.

Secondary symptoms thus far to date:
Trench foot (booth feet)
Athletes foot (can't stop sweating its gross)
2 hemorrhoids

Lost 30 lbs in 3.5 weeks. Back down to my pre 7 weight. Used to be shredded for absolutely no reason at all. It was stupid. Even at 38. I age like a vampire. Now i'm fighting to get ripped again.

Only way through is forward ladies and goons.

Today marks 40 days from the 1500mg-2000mg/day nightmare. Sleep is still somewhat hard to come by. Thankfully I have a bottle of Trazadone laying around from a couple years ago which has allowed me to get a solid 4 hours at a time of sleep. I typically rotate some combo of L-theanine, magnesium, ashwagandha, and trazadone in order to maintain some level of effectiveness with each other. Some nights I get more rest than others. Usually takes a good 1.5 hours after initially waking before I'm able to "shake the night off".

That feeling of waking up with your body kicking 2-3 times a night having to get up, walk around, take some meds and wait for your body to calm back down just to be woken up by it one last time when its time to get up is mentally/physically exhausting. However, ultimately, everything, across the board has improved.

Stomach is still off. Better, but not right. No desire to go back. Had a few small cravings over the last couple weeks but it always my mind going to the "honeymoon phase" of my use. My brain QUICKLY reacts and tells myself, you'll most likely never get that phase again. Even if you do, at what cost? You ready to do this again?

HELL NAWWWW NAWWW!!

Something I've noticed on this subreddit... 98% of the posts here are either relapses, or Day 1 - Day 10 posts. 2% or less are people who make it past 30 days or more. I attribute this happening due to one of two ways, or both.

1. Relapse rates are insanely high with 7oh.
2. 7oh is so traumatizing that most who actually beat it, never want to look in the rear view again.

I plan on making random posts up until 6 months to a year in order to help encourage others. Blessings to all of you.

Hello everyone. First time poster here.

Had previous history of 20+ years of opiate use from a partial amputation of my middle finger when I was 14 learning how to weld working for my old man. Press brake machine mashed it off. Good times.

Anyway, during this 20+ year journey I've been hooked on just about every form of it. The last iteration, was 7oh for me. It was a nightmare. But, I am 38 days clean today.

I used gabapentin for about 3 weeks. Got up to a fairly high dosage for about 1.5 weeks. Approx 3000mg to cover the horrible opiate withdrawals/rls/insomia. However over the last 2-ish weeks I tapered myself down 1200-1800mg. Then 5 days ago after realizing it wasn't helping that much anymore and concern grew over dependence to another substance I pulled the plug. Stopped taking it.

Unsure if the symptoms I experienced were the 7oh withdrawals, gabapentin withdrawals creeping in, or maybe even a bit of both.

For reference, I have two other "quit buddies" who were approx 12 days ahead of me and they mentioned still experiencing some symptoms as well and they did NOT take any gaba.

I had a pretty rough day today and decided to take about 1200mg after going 5 days without any. If I continue on this trajectory of being able to make it multiple days without any and if I absolutely need to take something to feel halfway decent, would I still be able to obtain the freedom from gabapentin if I am indeed dependent on it to some degree after 3-3.5 weeks of use?

Appreciate your time. Thank you.

Quick rundown.

1500-2000mg/day 7oh. Tapered to 400-500mg, jumped to SR for about 17-18 days. Day 5 no gabapentin.

Feeling noticeably better. Still have some symptoms such a sleep and relearning how to live my life and difficulty finding joy in things but I have noticed I'm smiling more. Wont even realize I'm doing it.

I'm speaking from strictly a male perspective here. Guys, if you have classic symptoms of low dopamine, low T from this stuff, as soon as your physically able to get up, go out and do something, go do some man shit.

I'm talking, go hiking. Go shoot some guns. If you've never shot an AR-15 with an FRT installed, I PROMISE YOU, by the time your done, your T will go multiple points by the time your done.

Try to stand a cold shower, even if its for 30 seconds at the end of a hot one. It helps.

Still suffer from clamy hands and feet.

During this whole process, I've developed hemorrhoids from stomach being destroyed for over 30 days, trench foot on BOTH of my feet. I'm a welder/laborer, really sucks. Talk about pain. I still push forward. No going back. Anytime I get any form of craving, I walk it out. I know where its going to put me. Right back at square one. Sober is the new high now.

Best of luck. Keep pushing, just don't give yourself a hemorrhoid. =]

1500-2000/day 7oh. What a nightmare. Limitless, what goes around comes around.

Anyway, last two days were tough. Not sure why. Had worse nights sleep which made the day feel like it never ended. Combined with low energy and resulting no motivation it just felt like I was going backwards.

I've learned the recovery from this stuff is seldom linear. Some days it seems like your going 1 step forward. Others its like your going 2 steps back. Ultimately, the trajectory is going in a positive direction so I've learned to bare that in mind. However, today has been a much better improvement. Night and day. Feel some level of motivation this morning.

If it was any other time in my life, I would have gave in by now without question. However, 7oh was so bad, so tolerance destroying, that I no longer want any form of opiate. In a way, maybe I should be grateful for this hellacious experience. It was truly the most intense, darkest, flat out insane style of w/d I've ever experienced.

As the old saying goes, everything happens for a reason. If I continue to stay this course, it was for the best.

I'm truly terrified for what is coming to replace these substances next (7oh/MGM) once more states start banning it. Part of my reason for quitting was understanding that these substances were getting stronger and stronger. Both the street stuff, and the store bought. My time for sobriety truly felt like it was now or never. The next 1 or 2 iterations of opiate/opioid style substance are going to hook people so bad, that traditional MAT meds might not even touch it. That's a terrifying thought in my books.

Not to mention, the rate the worlds going, I for one, don't want want to be worrying about an addiction if WW3 breaks out or society collapses. Stupid stuff I think about.

Supplements I'm taking:

- Agmatine - 2000mg/2-3x day

- L-Tyrosine - 2000mg/2x day

- Vitamin D3/K2 - 10,000iu/day

- Vitamin B6 - 100-200mg/day

- Vitamin B1 - 100mg/day

- Creatine - 5g/day

Oddly enough, I added agmatine yesterday and I feel noticeably better today. Could be coincidence. However I lot of people swear by it.

I wish all of you the absolute best in this journey. At your darkest moments, keep pushing. You will turn the corner. I promise.

Today marks 30 days. What a ride its been. Still having a hard time during the night. More dependent on gabapentin that I would care to be. Only take it at night for RLS. Trying to figure out an exit strategy with it.

Mornings are a touch rough still but its gotten far easier to push through. Its more just a matter of distracting myself instead of impending doom that I can't get away from. Far cry from the early days.

I will continue to post on occasion but I'm starting to believe this sub has served its purpose for me. I'm 'very grateful for all of you and your support. Met two people from this group that I keep in touch with regularly. We all successfully quit together. Supported each other. Gave each other tips and tricks when they were sorely needed.

You've got to want it. Nothing else matters.

Just checking in.

8 month user. 1000-2000mg/day 7 habit. Limitless user so possible unknown MGM. Or likely rather.

Tapered down to 500mg. Jumped. Approx 17-18 days of SR. Little longer than most but I needed as Ive had 20+ years of previous history.

Today marks 28 days. Im still in awe of how far Ive come.

Here are some things Ive noticed by day 28:

• I can finally see my pupils again
• Colors are shockingly more vibrant
• Eye floaters of decreased significantly (probably due to pupils being so tiny for so long.
• Not every little thing that pops up is a big deal (negatively)
• Patience is returning
• Energy levels are about 60% returned

Things Im still struggling with:

• Restless body particularly as soon as the sun goes down. But it has notably decreased.
• Some sweating/claminess still
• Sleep still isnt normal but with the help of some THCA/CBN caramels, magnesium, L-theanine and a few gabapentin gets me about 6 hours. Currently tapering gabepentin off.
• Boredom. Sheer Boredom. Live in a tiny town. First time being sober in it and that reality has hit fairly hard. Taking it day by day.
• Dont get much happiness in things but it has improved. Struggled with that before I quit so Im sure my brain is healing.
• Hit a wall sometime between 2-4pm where i just have to lay down for an hour. Dont sleep but after an hour I catch a second wind.
• Stomach still isnt right but slowly improving. Very very slowly.

Supplements I take: L-theanine 200mg - relax or sleep L-tyrosine 2000mg 2x/day - helps get dopamine receptors going. Magnesium (Calm Drinks), 2-3x tsp at night Sam-e - helps with depression and mood Vitamin D3/K2 10,000IU/day - energy

Now I dont want to scare any new comers here seeing Im at say 28 and still struggling with these things. I personally believe it boils down to these factors:

• Duration of use
• Previous length of prior history
• Age
• How much your using
• Genetics/Luck

Some people are normal by day 5. Irritates me. Lol.

Keep pushing. I was trapped for over 20 years and this is probably the longest Ive gone. No desire to go back. Ive gone done every freaking road imaginable trying to manage my habit. Only difference between each attempt is the substance I use and how long before it ruined my life. Nothing more.

Had to tell myself...

You gonna be a savage or a bitch son? And momma didnt raise no bitch.

Burn the boats. Salute.

Day 26 No 7. Day 4 No SR.

Ive been taking gabapentin for the last 2.5 weeks. It has definitrly helped a ton. First week, i was close to 3000mg a day because i was in pretty rough shape.

Last week or so I reduced my usage to 1800-2400/day.

If I dont take it the RLS at night and body temp fluctuations are insane. Still. Granted ive had about 20+ years of previous history with no real clean time.

Im am trying to figure out if the RLS and body temp fluctations when trying to sleep is still a part of the withdrawal process or if its the gabapentin starting to produce dependancy.

For reference. I have a couple quit buddies who are approx 10 days ahead of me. Dont take gabapentin and are still having restless nights. Some restless legs.

Opinions and insights please.