detox - preparation for

 

However, I must detox from the pain relievers I take on a daily basis.  I was taking 10 - 20 OTC's of every kind / a day.  Ten years ago when I tried cold turkey detox I lasted 4 days before I thought I was going to die and went back on meds.  This time I knew I had to complete the detox as I am in more pain as the years progress and am starting to take more than 20 meds more than I care to.  I have irreversable stomach problems and have to get my liver checked every so often.

 

This system may not work for everyone, but it worked for me.  I hope I can help someone else who is about to go through this, lessen the impact. 

 

5 weeks before: I started taking 100 mg of CoQ10 and Feverfrew

4 weeks before: cut back to 8 pain tablets max (tough but I had to cut back)

2 weeks before: cut back to 6 pain tablets max (some days not possible)

Day 1: cut out pain meds all together

Week 1: I slept most of the day to ignore the pain (totally daily average 15 hrs) 

2 weeks into the process: I only sleep in the afternoon and I only need max 2 hour nap and can stay awake past 9 pm. 

 

My Dr is shocked that I am doing so well.  She was expecting that after 23 years it would take me a long time to be where I am now.  I have headaches 24 hours a day and it's not like before where I can pop something and have a couple hours of reprieve.  It is a constant pain.  But, it's to a lesser degree (I monitor my pain from 1-3 <workable - debilitating>.   Pre detox levels were 2-3 daily but after 2 weeks I'm now at 1-2.  I have had a couple of 3's when I have had triggers such as certain smells, loud noises and long exposure to florecent lights.)

 

I now know where the pain originates from which is interesting as before it travelled and now it's consistent.

 

For anyone going to detox, it's a big step and it's not easy.  Good luck and all the best.