Day 10 - I am grateful for MAT and this sub. just finished a 6 day family hiking trip and didn’t have the mental burden of planning for and secretly drinking green sludge throughout the day.
I continue to take 1/3 of an 8mg suboxone strip, twice daily, so total daily dosage is approx 5.3mg. I take it after brushing my teeth in the morning and about an hour before dinner. The result - nothing. I am myself without withdrawals. I have no euphoria but also no anxiety/RLS/nausea. I sleep at night and feel my feelings. I still crave dopamine hits but instead I eat ice cream, go to the gym or watch Netflix.
I pause every day to thank the universe/God/science for MAT.
My plan is to stay on Suboxone for 3-4
months, then begin to taper, potentially using Subutex. I will work with my doctor to determine the best plan, factoring in PAWs and the slower Suboxone taper timeline.
I do have occasional thoughts of Kratom, maybe once per day. Not conscious thoughts, more flashes of “you could drink Kratom” pop into my head- usually when I see a coffee cup (former K tea drinker) or feel tired and need a pick me up. Here’s where this
sub has been so helpful. When thoughts happen, I think about all of the posts from people who returned to using Kratom with the plan of “just once” or “1-2 times per week at most.” They post about being right back in full blown addiction in no time. I’m sorry this has happened but I heed your warnings!! There is nothing special about me and I know I cannot dabble with this addictive substance anymore than the next guy. I simply never win.
I think my body and brain are beginning to heal. I no longer notice vision changes. I have not had one panic attack and I wake up feeling normal. The first couple of days I had 1-2 skin zaps per day but that has gone. Unfortunately, as of day 7, my skin has broken out horribly along my chin and jawline - quick internet search said this is testosterone levels coming back up. I’m also constipated from the Suboxone and plan on using mag citrate followed by daily magnesium/fiber. The flip side - I can empty my bladder and no longer have the feeling of needing to pee but inability to go. Good and bad, I welcome all the changes. Most importantly, my short term memory is showing small improvements and I am present for my family.
Obviously everyone’s experience and situation is unique. STRICTLY because of this sub, I never tried 7OH, so this is a tea drinker’s story (approx 26-40gpd, I often didn’t measure and just spooned powder in).
I probably would have called QuickMD sooner but had read so many opinions that tapering off of tea was WAY easier than Suboxone and I should never consider MAT. I wish I had tried this sooner. I will continue to update with the good/bad and ugly as I stabilize and then taper the Suboxone. This sub was so important to me and I want to add more data points for everyone considering options.