[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
MsM wrote:
… then I will have to rethink the negative connotation of the word.
Good stuff!
I’m all about rethinking negative connotations, lol 
Keep us updated as to your progress, won’t you.
Bushy
[/quote]
Glad to hear it! lol
I sure will Bushy. Thank you for everything.
[quote]Rockscar wrote:
MsM wrote:
And before I get going today and forget, I felt encouraged today when I realized that my skin’s starting to look better. I also don’t feel as dehydrated.
AND you’ll feel better and better. I’m now just about a year sober. I regularly drank over a sixer of Sierra Nevada a day…from 27-36. With many years it becomes habit, then it becomes the only “normal” thing in life…
To stop a drug or substance completely after years of abuse…will change your life dramatically. Keep it up! There are many of us out here pulling for you.
It makes it easier to know you are not alone sometimes.[/quote]
Rockscar, I am so relieved to hear that you’re well on your way. Congratulations on your year. That’s so encouraging!
I appreciate all of the support and it’s nice to feel like you’re not alone.
[quote]BigRagoo wrote:
MsM wrote:
And before I get going today and forget, I felt encouraged today when I realized that my skin’s starting to look better. I also don’t feel as dehydrated.
Very good to hear! Let that be a catalyst to continue moving forward and kick that demon to the curb. As with overcoming any addiction, it’s one day at a time. Take care.[/quote]
You’re just awesome Big Ragoo!
I will continue to drop roughly 10% about every three days. I did that today and found that the “big” jump was a bit much so I’ve decided to take Bushy’s advice and do it slowly and surely. I could still tell the difference today but it was manageable!
If anything really different happens, I’ll update here or if I’m having a rough day perhaps. Not that I want to keep bringing it up or talking about it excessively. It would just make me feel better that if someday, down the road, if someone used the search engine here to find something on stimulant abuse, that there would be something here to read so that they knew they weren’t the only one that’s gone through it.
It truly is a day-by-day thing but I’ll get there.
I can’t find the right words to express how thankful I am for all of you. Every one of you has helped me take that step in the right direction. The rest is on me now.
Thank you!
Taking stimulants like ephedrine shouldn’t last for longer than six months. Its horrible for your heart number one, kidneys and liver take a beating too. Im not sure I understood your post but it seemed like you were experiencing those sides while still taking the ephedrine.
If so, your body has built a tolerance like any other drug and no longer responds to higher doses,just becasue you don’t feel the effects doesn’t mean your body doesn’t. Stay the hell away from that crap. You know that ephedrine is the base of Meth Amphetamine. I hate speed nasty stuff it do you well to leave it the hell alone bro
So, as of this morning, I will be down to 75mgs in the morning and 60mgs afternoon and then evening. Cutting back more gradually seems to be a little easier.
On the initial day that I cut back, I get the worst headaches and have a hard time being around people. By the time I get to the third day on that dose, it’s a lot better. I sure hope it’s not going to be like this for the whole time. At least my body appears to be eventually adapting to the lower dose.
I have also had the most bizarre dreams the last few nights.
My appetite is coming back with a vengence and that is difficult for me to deal with since it’s been years since I’ve experienced the feeling of hunger. Only thing is, I’ve been only craving things with a very high sugar content. Doesn’t matter if I pass a donut, cookies, chocolate. I think my blood sugar is all over the map now and I’m getting very light-headed and dizzy at times - especially in the morning. I think my blood pressure has dropped more as well although I haven’t had it tested.
I guess this was a really long-winded way of asking if blood sugar and blood pressure changes would be normal or should I maybe have them checked and could I expect to have them return to normal, although it’s been so darn long, I don’t even know what normal is anymore.
If anyone has any diet suggestions, that would be great too. My focus is not entirely weight or bodyfat at the moment but more to keep blood sugars level. I think my protein is good (I usually hit 1.5g x bw) but I’m not sure about the carbs right now and if it’s a better idea to keep them or get rid of them for now.
Just to note, there haven’t been all negative changes either. That bloated/puffy look that I was getting in my mid-section has just about disappeared. So there’s a positive. I’ve also noticed that my eyes look better in regards to the coloring.
I was surprised too. For the last couple of months I actually thought that my new, more thick waist was as a result of the heavy ab work that I was doing. Well, part of it was but apparently not all of it.
Apple juice and organic oats? I’ll try it. I think I can even manage that one for two days on the road when I move. I can throw them in a cooler. I love sweet potatoes too.
Thanks for the great ideas.
Susan
I would just like to thank you for posting this post Susan, and for being very honest too, I have been taking epherdrine for a long time too, I started taking it just to help improve sports performance and that led to a daily usage of around 300mg of Pure epherdrine.
I did post some of my concerns about my growing dependancy on epherdrine over a year ago and the repsonse I got was very little and not too helpful or supportive.
As an attractive female you have received the kind of help and advice that I hoping for.
I hope you get things sorted for yourself. reading this post was great because I gained some valuble information and it also confirmed that T Nation is the most testosterone filled forum ever.
What a pack of dogs we truely are
[quote]electric_eales wrote:
I would just like to thank you for posting this post Susan, and for being very honest too, I have been taking epherdrine for a long time too, I started taking it just to help improve sports performance and that led to a daily usage of around 300mg of Pure epherdrine.
I did post some of my concerns about my growing dependancy on epherdrine over a year ago and the repsonse I got was very little and not too helpful or supportive.
As an attractive female you have received the kind of help and advice that I hoping for.
I hope you get things sorted for yourself. reading this post was great because I gained some valuble information and it also confirmed that T Nation is the most testosterone filled forum ever.
What a pack of dogs we truely are[/quote]
Well, I’d like to thank you for reading it. I noticed that you said you “have been taking” 300mgs of ephedrine for the longest time. I assume that means you’re still using that much? Even without maybe knowing the science behind it, you and I both know that is waaaay too much.
You know, I have no issues with you jumping in here if you would like to. I hope that you use some of the suggestions given here so far. That is the whole reason why I posted the thread instead of PMing someone. On the off-chance that it would help someone else.
Everyone is dealt some bad cards and sometimes we, ourselves, make bad choices. I just got to a point where I realized that I was doing myself more harm than good and decided to create some sort of a realistic plan to make my life better. It didn’t start with me reducing my dose though. It began with me having a positive frame of mind and not viewing myself as defeated. Nothing in my life has changed. Only the way I react to it.
I hope that you decide to ask some questions or at least take advantage of the support here. Please, just don’t worry about the lack of responses you got before. That was before. You’re here now. Let’s make the most of it. Sometimes it may not seem like it but people do care…and I care.
Susan
[quote]MsM wrote:
I guess this was a really long-winded way of asking if blood sugar and blood pressure changes would be normal or should I maybe have them checked and could I expect to have them return to normal, although it’s been so darn long, I don’t even know what normal is anymore.
[/quote]
Absolutely. You’re getting off a substance that raises BP, and you have adapted to being on it for a long time.
Your appetite, attitude and other vital signs are expected to swing while transitioning off the drug. But it seems that you are experiencing postitve results too, so things aren’t as bad as you initially though they would be.
As for your diet, Bushy made a good comment. I’ll throw in, also, to eat complex carbs so as not to spike your insulin and keep your sugar levels as steady as you can. Granted they will fluctuate, but you do not want to be spiking them often at this time, as it will lead to feelings of fatigue, malaise, and aggitation.
Your doing good, so keep it up.
[quote]electric_eales wrote:
What a pack of dogs we truely are[/quote]
Well…yeah…sorry. Actually no, that’s the nature of us “beasts”. Hahaha
Anyway, I hope you find insight in this thread, and if you have a question, give it. I, at least, will chime in with what I can.
Appetite is everywhere. Although I tried Bushy’s oatmeal/apple juice - minus the dried fruit suggestion and it was actually pretty good.
My attitude I am working so hard on. Really trying to think and speak positively. Sometimes my body doesn’t always agree but I’m hoping the two will eventually come to an agreement.
Just when I said I’d leave you all alone…question in regards to a couple of supplements. What about Surge & creatine or creatine and grape juice. Is that maybe something I should be avoiding for now?
[quote]BigRagoo wrote:
electric_eales wrote:
What a pack of dogs we truely are
Well…yeah…sorry. Actually no, that’s the nature of us “beasts”. Hahaha
Anyway, I hope you find insight in this thread, and if you have a question, give it. I, at least, will chime in with what I can. [/quote]
Thanks again BigRagoo…and I happen to like “beasts”.
[quote]MsM wrote:
Appetite is everywhere. Although I tried Bushy’s oatmeal/apple juice - minus the dried fruit suggestion and it was actually pretty good.
My attitude I am working so hard on. Really trying to think and speak positively. Sometimes my body doesn’t always agree but I’m hoping the two will eventually come to an agreement.
Just when I said I’d leave you all alone…question in regards to a couple of supplements. What about Surge & creatine or creatine and grape juice. Is that maybe something I should be avoiding for now? [/quote]
Well, if you are still productive in the gym, then I see no harm in including Surge PWO. I would eat something with complex carbs about an hour after, because the insulin spike Surge gives could be mean if not followed up by something to maintain that spike. Creatine and grape(white) juice is fine also after a workout. You just want to steer clear of such a spike well before and well after a workout.
Beings that your system is still adjusting to getting rid of a drug that it became dependant on, you want to limit anything that will cause a dramatic change in hormonal response as that could manifest itself in mood and attitude swings, which are not what you want to deal with if possible.
[quote]MsM wrote:
Thanks again BigRagoo…and I happen to like “beasts”.
[/quote]
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
I’ve met people who’ve gone to inpatient rehab for ephedra. They’d take up to 200mg several times a day. Thats equal to 8 yellow jackets.
Guess I’ve been taking way too low a dose.
I’m more familiar with those that have gone to outpatient conselling for that kind of abuse and have done remarkably well.
[quote]BigRagoo wrote:
I’m more familiar with those that have gone to outpatient conselling for that kind of abuse and have done remarkably well.[/quote]
Some people have it worse than others.
[quote]Hagar wrote:
BigRagoo wrote:
I’m more familiar with those that have gone to outpatient conselling for that kind of abuse and have done remarkably well.
Some people have it worse than others.[/quote]
Certainly. It’s just that the people I know that went to inpatient were from alcohol, cocaine, meth, and heroine or heavy opiate abuse.