u/Foreign-Sock-8740

This quit was way easier than I thought it would be, I’m so fucking proud of myself for doing this especially because I refused to take the strips. FYI - 1.5 year 600-1200 mg/day user (7stax).

The worst part of this right now is debilitating gut pain, bloating, soreness. My abdomen is in lots of achey sore pain, like my entire gi tract and lower belly feels almost distended, like I can’t really control or hold or tighten my muscles there. It’s really uncomfortable and can randomly hit me, but it’s never sharp. It’s painful but in a sore way not a sharp way.

My insides feel swollen, inflamed, achey, and I’m so so so bloated because I literally can’t tighten my stomach like I normally always do. I have taken liposomal vitamin c at megadoses - but it’s a high quality liquid - though could still be making it worse.

When I sit down it hurts a lot of the time, it can hurt while I’m walking, moving, etc. it kinda feels like trapped gas but there’s really nothing there, just yucky wet/sparse nothing. It just hurts.

I’m concerned. I know stomach issues are to be expected - but I literally feel like my organs are on their last leg. I know I’ve shredded my gut biome from this and my 6 year kratom habit before it. I also assume this might be because I’m actually FEELING my body again. The numbness isn’t there so I’m feeling how my body was really feeling and doing.

Anyone who’s been sober for a while that can offer your experience?

Anyone else going through this now?

I’m going to keep hydrating and exercising as I have been, I’m moving way more, doing yoga/stretching to massage and move things around. I’m also eating sauerkraut for the amazing probiotics, but I definitely have no appetite yet. I’m thinking of stopping the vitamin c to see if that makes a difference too.

What has worked for others??

Ive been using 800mg +/- of 7oh (or mgm15 - thanks 7stax) per day for over a year.

As of this morning, I made it close to 40 hours with only one slip of a single tablet at about hour 20 something and it didn't do shit. I took it shortly after I took a tiny sliver of a sub I was saving. I hate subs, don't want to take them and wont be.

But then, in a moment of weakness today, I found myself driving to the store. I got 3 80mg tablets and took 2 right away, and then the third. I had been fantasizing about that rush of relief....

Frankly? I feel like shit. The restlessness is gone, but I feel dirty, ill - nauesous, not better - just different really. It's REALLY not even worth it at all. So incredibly not.fucking.worth.it.

In hindsight, my symptoms really weren't that bad. I mean they fucking suck yes, I hate the restless feeling and would never wish it on my worst enemy - but I could have stuck it out. I will say, wow, I can't believe how dramatically my tolerance went down in less than 48 hours. That really shows me that despite the short duration of the attempt - it definitely made an impact and I feel more determined, more vigorously committed from that observation alone.

So now - instead of beating myself up I am getting right back on the horse and disclosed my stumble to a close supportive friend. I now have evidence that I didn't have before and that is that I can tolerate a couple of pretty shitty fuckin days! Little sleep, restlessness. I genuinely did not believe I could. Ive never been able to get more than 12 ish hours before, so this was huge progress. I am moving forward, even though I am resetting the clock. Im closer to freedom now than I was when I started last week.

I learned a few things during my last attempt, and based on that - here's what Im doing to make things a little easier this time:

• Prepping food - chicken, veggies, chia pudding, overnight oats, hamburger, etc.
• Prepping lots of filtered water & electrolyte water
• Putting vitamins in 3x day pill organizer
• Fresh sheets on the bed
• Washing, organizing and laying out all of my comfortable & easy to put on clothes
• Cleaning bathtub and putting a stack of towels & robes + epsom salt for easy midnight tub visits
• Scheduling & planning low expectation, outdoor, and easy to exit activities with supportive friends and family for the next 7 days
• Ordering more Liposomal Vitamin C, epsom salt, and water bottles
• Making sure house is clean & all dishes are clean
• Removing any access to money or ability to purchase more

I live alone with my dog so luckily there isn't much to clean, but man - the little things on the list above, like even just filling the water filter, can feel like a mountain of a task on the second night of 0 sleep. Having these things done will at least take some of the weight off of the important but tedious things I never want to do when I feel like shit.

If there is one most important thing it is this: I absolutely HAVE to be as busy as reasonably possible. Ive learned that even when symptoms really aren't that bad, I will get dangerously close to giving up, or I will give up, if I am just sitting at home thinking about it. I am so frustrated with myself that I gave up earlier today, because I could have kept going. But beating myself up does nothing - so I am choosing to learn, get back up, and make it happen this time.

I love to hear your stories, so please feel free to share! If you're on this journey too, message me or post a comment and Ill message you. Ive gotten through things like this before and been sober for many years - and the best part about all of that has always been the community of people who understand this brutal battle.

Thank you everyone and best of luck! We can do this!!!