Aging very badly during taper!! Can we fix this!?

[[...]]

Hi Guys,

 

I just looked at a video I made of myself last year BEFORE I started my taper. Looked fine. OK.

 

Then just looked at a recent video shot 3 days ago after tapering ( and still going) for 9 months.

 

I LOOK LIKE I'VE AGED 10 YEARS!!!

 

Has this happened to any of you?

 

I couldn't believe it. My face is all blotchy and skin is red and haggard looking. I've got a TON of grey hairs, my eyes are drooping. Jesus. This is only from a 9 month taper.

 

I look like those before and after photos of people who take METH! Well, not that bad, but damn.

 

Drugs really mess you up and age you.

 

And I didn't even have FUN with these drugs!!

 

Anyway, anybody out there feel like they've got 'old' fast on this crap.

 

And can we change it when we're off this junk?

 

Can we get our looks back?

 

Thoughts?

[[Sm...]]

Some days yes some days no,My eyes are the worst thing

 

I think its just that we look crappy and feel crappy.

 

When I have a good night sleep and a shave and some exersise I always look a lot better.

 

so I don't think its a permanent thing just a "come down of drugs hangover from beer" look if that makes sense.

 

I think we have to do all the sensible things like exercise, eat plenty of fruit and drink plenty of water,Just even more than usual because we are in W/D.

 

 

[[ea...]]

This is pretty common in withdrawal, JACD. A lot of people say they look old and haggard. I know I did! I used to look in the mirror and was horrified by the old lady who looked back to me. I hardly recognized her. I think part of this is that our senses are screwed up in withdrawal, and our perceptions of ourselves may be way off. And part of it is that our bodies are undergoing quite an upheaval, and putting more energy into healing.

It will pass, and eventually you will see the same old person you were before - maybe even better.

east

[[ge...]]

This is pretty common in withdrawal, JACD. A lot of people say they look old and haggard. I know I did! I used to look in the mirror and was horrified by the old lady who looked back to me. I hardly recognized her. I think part of this is that our senses are screwed up in withdrawal, and our perceptions of ourselves may be way off. And part of it is that our bodies are undergoing quite an upheaval, and putting more energy into healing.

It will pass, and eventually you will see the same old person you were before - maybe even better.

east

 

I was going to write exactly the same answer    It passes - I don't look like a heroin addict anymore! 

[[be...]]

One day I looked in the mirror and was horrified at my face. I looked like I was 20 years older. It scared the crap out of me. Once I got well down in my taper my looks are beginning to return. I am sure when I am finally off this crap I will return to my normal self. I know this to be true because so many neighbors and friends and family always comment on their own that I am looking really good. So yours will return as well, and this is coming from someone who has been on very high doses of both Xanax and K for nearly 20 years. Bets

[[Ba...]]

I realised after hitting thirty why the term "beauty sleep" existed. The lack of sleep we all go thru combined with all the other stresses are going to make us look old and haggard. Clean living and healing will help, and of course when we can finally again get some of that "beauty sleep"

[[Je...]]

At one time I lost 20 lbs, even my fingertips were wrinkled.  It got better.

[[je...]]

I was thinking the same thing. It seems I have more grey hair, droopy eyes & less muscle tone.  I'm 53 so I really don't care to look older than I am. 

[[je...]]

Yep I feel this way too, I look older now. Ugh..

[[dr...]]

I used to look young for my age.  I'm 46 now and I have friends asking what happened to me.  I think it's more of the worn out look we project.  We have no vitality or life in our eyes and faces.  I'm in a hugantic window for the past week(best and longest yet) and I have a different look to me. A good friend told me unsolicited I looked and sounded the best in years.  I'm still against photos being taken of me though.

[[be...]]

I was thinking the same thing. It seems I have more grey hair, droopy eyes & less muscle tone.  I'm 53 so I really don't care to look older than I am.

 

I solved the hair problem by using dye....Tho I didn't even have any grey hair, when I think about it....Still don't. But I never even liked the color of my hair anyway.

[[je...]]

Do you guys think any of this stuff reverses after we are healed or are we stuck like this?

[[be...]]

Do you guys think any of this stuff reverses after we are healed or are we stuck like this?

 

I think we are stuck with the grey hair, but I believe that the collagen comes back.

[[hu...]]

My skin got very rough, dry and flaky in the early part of w/d. Shaving gave me cuts all over my face, there was no natural moisture in the face. Now the skin is back to normal.

 

But my beard has started to grey and I'm balding fast from the front, I hope the hair follicles are not permanently destroyed and the hair grows back. Not sure if my greying will reverse though.

 

 

[[Th...]]

HAIR?!!!  YOU'VE GOT HAIR?!!! OH, GEEZUS...THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS AND ALL THE HOUNDS FROM HELL!!!!!  I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!

 

Lee

[[be...]]

HAIR?!!!  YOU'VE GOT HAIR?!!! OH, GEEZUS...THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS AND ALL THE HOUNDS FROM HELL!!!!!  I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!

 

Lee

 

 

Many people believe baldness to be very attractive. I for one, believe that. That's why so many people who have hair actually shave it off. ?

[[Th...]]

HAIR?!!!  YOU'VE GOT HAIR?!!! OH, GEEZUS...THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS AND ALL THE HOUNDS FROM HELL!!!!!  I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!

 

Lee

 

 

Many people believe baldness to be very attractive. I for one, believe that. That's why so many people who have hair actually shave it off. ?

 

??ARE YOU NUTS?  i'M A 5'6" 36-24-36 MIDDLE-AGE BLONDE!  I'M SUPPPOSED TO HAVE HAIR!!!!

 

IT'S SO BAD PEOPLE HAVE HAVE BEEN ASKING "WHEN WILL YOU BE DONE WITH THE CHEMO?"

 

ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!  Oh well....gotta look at the bright side, I guess.  I have (or used to) loooong hair and now I can't hold my arms up in the air long enuff to put it up.

 

(Will somebody please point me in the direction of the exit?)

[[...]]

Thanks for the responces everybody!

 

I don't feel so bad now!!

 

Has anybody gotten yellow skin?

 

I've got yellow skin around the skin of my eyes. Like when you put on glasses. Or the ring or tan line around ski goggles.

 

It's like that. And no it's not Jaundice. It's not that, thank god. The WHITES of my eyes are still white. It's the skin, that has a tan/off yellow look around the eyes.

 

It's also dark circles and bags too.

 

My skin gets red blotchy on my face and my hair is dry and like straw.

And very grey now.

 

Thanks doctors.

 

Anybody get this?

[[...]]

One day I looked in the mirror and was horrified at my face. I looked like I was 20 years older. It scared the crap out of me. Once I got well down in my taper my looks are beginning to return. I am sure when I am finally off this crap I will return to my normal self. I know this to be true because so many neighbors and friends and family always comment on their own that I am looking really good. So yours will return as well, and this is coming from someone who has been on very high doses of both Xanax and K for nearly 20 years. Bets

 

Thanks Benzogirl!

 

I sure hope you're right. I sure hope our skin comes back to life after we are off this crap.

I've got huge bags under my eyes as well as dark circles and even a yellowish circle under my eyes now.

The whites are fine but the skin has a weird yellowish tint.

 

Plus red blotches and hives too.

 

Nightmare.

 

I hope we get our looks back.

[[be...]]

HAIR?!!!  YOU'VE GOT HAIR?!!! OH, GEEZUS...THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS AND ALL THE HOUNDS FROM HELL!!!!!  I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!

 

Lee

 

 

Many people believe baldness to be very attractive. I for one, believe that. That's why so many people who have hair actually shave it off. ?

 

??ARE YOU NUTS?  i'M A 5'6" 36-24-36 MIDDLE-AGE BLONDE!  I'M SUPPPOSED TO HAVE HAIR!!!!

 

IT'S SO BAD PEOPLE HAVE HAVE BEEN ASKING "WHEN WILL YOU BE DONE WITH THE CHEMO?"

 

ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!  Oh well....gotta look at the bright side, I guess.  I have (or used to) loooong hair and now I can't hold my arms up in the air long enuff to put it up.

 

(Will somebody please point me in the direction of the exit?)

 

If you must know, I AM nuts. I just assumed you were a man as your name is Lee. Nope, baldness in women is a true nightmare. Have faith, it will grow back. Maybe you can wear a wig in the meantime? I wish I had your figure. Go figure. Tell them you will have chemo for the next two years. Maybe they'll bring you food and candy and presents...Or you can tell them that you have hair cancer.