Advice:been there done that:: heroin w/d

[nowheretogo]

OK so I need advice from someone who has been there done that so that I know what my husband is saying is true or not.

It has been a long and painful road to recovery and of course- his case is unique and no one knows what he is going through. Our baby girl is due in December and he is determined- plus we are broke and I am sick of these shananagans.

He has injected heroin for YEARS now at a high dose. He tried methadone (been off of it for about 4 months now) and he has tried subutex but our insurance didnt cover it. He managed to wean his dose down a lot to the point where he isn't crippled sick with withdrawals. He has been off work for a month now. Using cottons to ease the extreme sickness and taking xanax to sleep through the rest.

He needs to get a job and get back to getting ready for our daughter and he is still having trouble. He tells me today that his withdrawals could last up to 45 days since he used methadone (but he has been off it for 4 months now! if not longer). Has he been secretly using? I have all our money so if he is using it is very little that he is bumming off osmeone else. And also- if he doesnt use for like 2 weeks and then does one lil shot- will that shoot him into full withdrawals again?


I just need him to get his act together and he is so close now but I feel he is making excuses and might be hiding stuff.

Thanks in advance for any advice or information about what to expect.

[Evanna]

45 days is not that long. Only 6 weeks and methadone withdrawal can be protracted.

From my experience i would be thrown straight back into withdrawals and physical addiction if i had one hit even after quite a long time of not using. I think that is same for many addicts when they have had a habit.

Couldnt say if your husband has been using or not. You will most likely know soon enough if he has.

Can totally understand your frustration when you have a baby on the way. You dont have the luxury of taking time out. Even if your husband is completely on track it may take a while.

All the best
Evanna.

[exjunky]

Originally Posted by nowheretogo

He managed to wean his dose down a lot to the point where he isn't crippled sick with withdrawals. He has been off work for a month now. Using cottons to ease the extreme sickness and taking xanax to sleep through the rest.

He's trying to quit probably the hardest way there is (cottons?? ugh, been there!!) ... but if he really can do it, great.

Originally Posted by nowheretogo

He needs to get a job and get back to getting ready for our daughter and he is still having trouble. He tells me today that his withdrawals could last up to 45 days since he used methadone (but he has been off it for 4 months now! if not longer). Has he been secretly using?

That's a really hard question to answer. Honestly it sort of sounds like it's possible he's been fooling around just a little bit. At this stage, if he hasn't used at all in over a month, the only really bad symptom should be sleeplessness. Which is bad, no doubt, but not as catastrophic as full blown WD's.

Originally Posted by nowheretogo

if he doesnt use for like 2 weeks and then does one lil shot- will that shoot him into full withdrawals again?

No, one shot is not necessarily a total disaster, but it would drag the process out longer. But the problem is that we addicts have a tendency to be powerless saying no to the second shot, or the third, or the fourth. It's only that first one that we can refuse, with great effort.

If he went on a binge for a weekend, yeah he'd be right back into the middle of it again. It's pretty much like starting from scratch. And he probably wouldn't tell you because it would break your heart, and he'd feel like a jackass.

Incidentally, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's important: if he is fooling around, he's in the prime position for an overdose. Nearly all overdoses are from people who used to have bad habits who took some time off. They underestimate how much their tolerance has dropped, so they do too much.

Please understand I'm not accusing him of anything, everybody is different and I don't know the guy. He might just be having a really hard time, and it's also possible that his mind is blurring the line between the physical cravings and the psychological cravings.

Like Evanna said, you'll know real soon. If he's been completely truthful then withdrawal symptoms should be minimal to nonexistant pretty much right now and this upcoming week.

[northbelle]

Ok...here is my OPINOION..
If he is still beating out his cottons and putting that weak A##ed water in his veins to help get through withdrawal?? Sounds like he is sure using to me..
I have about 40 days off heroin ,,used methadone when I did not have my dope...took pills like xanax to sleep and help with the "kick"....How big a heroin habit do you mean when you say big...???...I mean it can be hell to get off so he may very well be really ILL....4 years of a huge habit...
He is lucky to be still ont he face of the earth..
Many heroin addicts like us are NOT so lucky and I have had the unpleasant experience of having to witness their demise...What a awful lonely place to be...Just support to him but I don't need to tell you that you can't do it for him .sis....

Is he a pretty decent guy otherwise?? We addicts can have some pretty redeeming qualitities when we get clean...Maybe it will be worth your patience..

Sending you both lotz of hope
love north

The fact that he is still alive and kicking is...in itself encouraging!!!

[northbelle]

I hate to say this but it is just the truth..
We addicts lie like rugs...

You know the saying....
An alcoholic will steal your money..
And a addict will steal it and then help LOOk for it!!!!
Its just the disease..
love north

[2ala2]

Hello,
For me it's simple. I was addicted to Herion for over 20 years. I quit cold turkey in a mere few days, 7I think.(I was locked up)
The Benzo major withdrawals are what took about 3 weeks, insane!
He is lyiiiiiiing through his teeth..
Tell him to be man and get it over with..
Good luck!

[Evanna]

Originally Posted by northbelle

Ok...here is my OPINOION..
If he is still beating out his cottons and putting that weak A##ed water in his veins to help get through withdrawal?? Sounds like he is sure using to me..

I didnt get that bit reading through the original post. That is really dodgy behaviour in my opinion. If i were still doing that it would have to be because my head is still right in there.

[exjunky]

Originally Posted by Evanna

I didnt get that bit reading through the original post. That is really dodgy behaviour in my opinion. If i were still doing that it would have to be because my head is still right in there.

When she mentioned cottons I assumed the cottons were only for the first day or two and then threw them away, along with all of his needles.

The notion of throwing one's needles away is so core to the process of quitting I never thought for a minute that she meant anything else. You mean to say he's still doing cotton-rinses? If that's the case, I hate to say it, but it doesn't sound good. Not good at all.

[northbelle]

Hey Sis!
You still out there?? How are you guys doing???
Don't give up girl!!!
Addicts get clean EVERDAY....pray for miracles..they really do happen!!!! Keep the faith ..
love north

[Evanna]

Nice post North.

I apologise for negativity on my part Nowheretogo. Took me a while and i didnt get it all in one go, but get there i did. Northbelles post gave me pause to reflect on that. How easy it is when one has been clean a few years to forget the struggles that got you there. Hope you are doing ok today.

Warm Regards
Evanna.