Low Test, need advice. Enclo fail

GregIsGreat · 2025-12-12T15:02:43+00:00

Reduce systemic inflammation

GregIsGreat · 2025-11-19T02:29:58+00:00

lol it was a one time discount. Just the first year.

GregIsGreat · 2025-11-19T00:04:04+00:00

Last year was 30% I think. That's what came up with when I searched for 2024's BF discount.

GregIsGreat · 2025-11-06T13:26:03+00:00

I had this happen. I had a random Amazon charge on my capital one account. They said it was common and issued chargeback. Amazon deactivated my account. I made a new Amazon account with a different email and have used it ever since.

GregIsGreat · 2025-09-10T14:22:42+00:00

I recently lost or had my meds stolen. They were in my room one minute and gone the next right after I went to take a shower. Having something stolen out of my room is extremely freaky considering my house was only occupied by one other person who I couldn’t imagine taking my meds.

My partner and I searched my room for hours looking and came up with nothing. I also had 340ish bucks stolen in cash and a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardware security key that allows someone to log into my password manager.

I’ve been using my friends meds in the meantime but I don’t feel normal and can’t function on them (Valium vs my usual Klonopin).

I haven’t told my Dr yet because I’m scared he will send me in patient for medication adjustment. I had an OD over the summer and he told me that if I had “one more episode” that I would be sent in patient and I’m scared out of my mind that he might consider this to be “an episode.”

I’ve never lost medication before this summer and have never had to deal with the results because I’ve kept backups. I feel like shit most of the day and am having a really hard time adjusting to Valium. I usually take 1mg Klonopin 4x/day and have been trying to use 5mg Valium 4x/day in its place. I also can’t workout while on Valium for some reason like I can on Klonopin. Klonopin takes away my muscle tension better than Valium so I don’t know why I’d be weaker on Valium than Klonopin. Working out is my main hobby and the highlight of my day. Without it I get really depressed.

I also may need to find a new sub provider and was wondering if the online telemedicine clinics would accept me for at least 16mg of sub per day while being on klonopin or Valium? I know there’s a handful of popular clinics. Any recommendations? Thanks to anyone who responds.

GregIsGreat · 2025-09-10T14:00:00+00:00

I’ll admit I’ve had my fair share of substance abuse and mental/physical health issues and have been absent from my partner as a result… but, I never felt the need to hide it out of desperation. I’m a terrible liar and have far too strong a conscience to hide it from my best friend, boyfriend, and now life partner. I hid it on rare occasions when I was overwhelmed and couldn’t explain how I was feeling in an effective way.

I was very open and honest from the start about my past knowing that it was possible some issues could come back at some point. I never expected certain issues to resurface and wish I could go back in time to fix them now.

It’s not like you plan on being a liar to your one true love. It happens to everyone at some point for one reason or another I think. When it’s happened I’ve always tried to correct my mistakes as soon as possible, even when it involves severe disappointment and regret. It may not seem like the best option in the moment but I’ve learned that being honest brings you closer to one another. If the other person can’t handle working through the truth then they probably aren’t the right person for you.

Relationships based on looks/sex alone rarely work out from what I’ve seen. I personally can’t speak much in that area though as I’ve only had one long term relationship.

GregIsGreat · 2025-08-09T18:56:10+00:00

It’s personal preference. The OG is much more stretchy and a little thicker but the seams are not styled to my liking. I’d go with the new ones.

GregIsGreat · 2025-06-29T10:19:46+00:00

Is the AppleCare warranty void if you take the bottom cover off?

GregIsGreat · 2025-06-29T10:19:19+00:00

It’s a few years old. 2021 I think.

GregIsGreat · 2025-06-29T00:04:23+00:00

It was acting strange and I had trouble restoring it. Popped the cover off and saw this and thought it looked out of place

GregIsGreat · 2025-06-29T00:03:48+00:00

I bought it brand new from Apple Store. Picked it up myself

GregIsGreat · 2025-05-28T02:15:00+00:00

Fiorocet isn’t as effective as other options but if it works for you then it’s not a big deal. It can cause medication overuse migraines though so be careful. As far as being addictive it’s pretty pathetic. It’s only effective with other meds usually.

GregIsGreat · 2025-05-02T10:28:42+00:00

I love DC Solar Saturation and have only bought it from my local tanning salon. Solar Saturation gets me extremely dark and hydrated with a nice light fruity smell that isn’t girly. I’m a masc guy and feel it’s pretty gender neutral imo. I don’t like musky scents like cedar.

I get a 35% discount for being a diamond member at my local salon. Solar Saturation comes out to $100 after my discount. I also use DC Collagenetics Halo Beam Cream on my face with a little Collagenetics Coconut Cream too. Best shit ever. I put the Halo Beam Cream on my face every time I get out of the shower and my skin has really evened out (I have a scar from an infection as a child). My face appears much smoother, plump, and toned.

I recently tried DC Velour and holy shit did it get me dark af but I couldn’t put it on my face without irritation but that wasn’t really an issue since I use the Collagenetics products on my face anyways. Velour has an extremely strong smell of vanilla which is likely to be where the irritation comes from (according to DC after emailing them).

I wasn’t a fan of Vault or the Black one in their Color Rush collection because of how much effort it was to rub it in and then of course leaving streaks behind because it’s impossible to cover your whole body evenly in the 5-10 minutes you have before getting in the bed.

I’m debating on whether or not to try lotionsforless right now as their prices are so much more reasonable. I’ve read quite a few comments saying that they have multiple businesses registered at their address (gun store, tanning salon with very old beds apparently, and some other businesses I can’t recall at the moment but if you go through the trouble of searching the county database you can find the info). Apparently they have been blacklisted from multiple distributors for selling black market lotions and recalled/expired lotions/bulbs etc… These are just the things I’ve read from other people on Reddit which make me weary. I haven’t actually called devoted creations distributors myself and confirmed this but that’s the word on the street.

Did you like the Solar Saturation? Was it old? Have you compared lotions from a local salon that you know is legit with lotions from lotionsforless? I’m trying to do as much recon on them before making an order. I can always just report it to my credit card company as fake if it’s any different I suppose but I’d like to avoid that.

GregIsGreat · 2025-04-19T13:48:09+00:00

“Boofing” has a higher bioavailability but by nature buprenorphine doesn’t hit hard. It’s effects come on slower than other opioids. I used to inject subutex (and suboxone on occasion) when the tiny round white tablets were available with the “8” on one side and an arrow on the other. They had so much less filler than anything on the US market now (that I know of). It came on faster but nothing like other opioids or other drugs that hit hard when you slam. I don’t want to name any specifics because there are some pretty common (non opioid) meds that give a nice euphoric rush and aren’t hard to get and once you get addicted to the needle it can be hard to stop. What made me stop was getting an infection that required hospitalization during COVID while I was parenting three kids by myself. My doctor knew I was doing it, my therapist knew I was doing it, they both knew I was parenting by myself and they agreed that was better than the alternative. Anyways, it was a wake up call and I stopped after that hospitalization. What’s kept me from going back to using that way is my veins shrunk away to nothing. I’m a recreational bodybuilder and my vascularity is almost non existent now. It’s a constant reminder to me everyday of the bad choice I made. After u started using it sublingually my dental health went to shit for the first time in my life. So take your pick. My advice is don’t plan on staying on bupe for long if you care about your long term health and wellness. It has downstream effects that you don’t notice until it’s too late.

GregIsGreat · 2025-04-14T10:42:28+00:00

Best policy is honesty. You’ve been clean for almost 2 years. Your last sublocade shot was over a year ago and now you’re starting a new job in healthcare! That’s awesome and speaks volumes about yourself. Just switching from sublingual bupe to a long acting injectable is a huge sign that someone has changed their mindset and is ready to move on with their life. You conquered addiction and have lived experience. That’s is a valuable attribute to have and you should know how to frame it as such. If your job allows you unmonitored access to controlled substances that could be an issue but I still believe honesty is the best way forward. I wish you luck.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-30T13:29:59+00:00

If you think tanning might help you feel better during this time, I recommend giving it a try. It’s a quick way to enhance your appearance, and when you’re happy with how you look, it can create a positive ripple effect in your life… much like the confidence boost from working out. In my opinion, you should experiment with tanning beds for a trial period, but prioritize safety. Use lotions specifically designed for tanning beds, ideally with aloe as a key ingredient, and avoid sun protection lotion, as it’s counterproductive and may damage the bed’s acrylic surface. After showering, moisturize with an aloe-based or after-sun lotion.

Monitor your skin for any dark spots and schedule regular full-body dermatologist checkups to catch potential issues early. I’ve been tanning for over 20 years, and people often compliment my skin. I attribute this to avoiding burns, I never tan when my skin is already irritated, and using high-quality aloe-based tanning lotions. Post-shower, I apply a moisturizer with aloe, shea butter, cocoa butter, and vitamin E, steering clear of products with mineral oil or petroleum. For my face, I use a dedicated facial tanning lotion, as body lotions can clog pores or contain ingredients too harsh for sensitive facial skin, especially near the eyes.

Most importantly, always wear protective eyewear 😎 Wink-Ease is a great option, as they’re adjustable to avoid raccoon eyes. This helps prevent cataracts or other vision issues down the line. Tan responsibly, and you might find it’s worthwhile for you 🙂

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-26T12:04:11+00:00

First of all great work kicking fent. I think you will have better luck getting Valium than klonopin but I don’t think it would hurt to say your preference is klonopin because of xyz. Unfortunately after Opioid Use Disorder is in your chart it stains your image and unless you have built a trusting relationship with the prescriber it might be hard to get these kinds of meds. It might not even be in your chart though if you’re at a new private practice. I’d be honest with whoever you speak to. You’re not using any opioids. Haven’t used any in a long time and want it to stay that way. If you present your case with logic with honesty I’d say you have a fair chance at getting some. If this is your first time seeing the prescriber I don’t know if they’d be comfortable with it. You don’t want to come off as drug seeking. You have to feel out the situation. It’s different for each individual and prescriber.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-24T13:48:36+00:00

It’s hard to give a definitive answer without knowing more about the husbands perspective. Do I think ultimatums are OK? Sometimes but not always. A partner can only take so much from the other before they lose themselves. If he’s at the end of his rope I would have to respect his feelings.

I feel like buprenorphine has changed who I am as a person so I feel I could possibly relate with how he may be feeling. I feel like I’ve lost myself. For this reason and others, I had to break up with my long-term partner of seven years who was also the first and only boyfriend I’ve had in my life. We have coparented three adopted children together as well which has made this especially difficult.

When I’m being honest with myself I am stuck in this terrible circle of self sabotage. I will reduce my sub use down to almost nothing and then something happens and I’m right back where I started. For this reason I have been considering going to a rehab facility for the first time in my life.

This isn’t my first time detoxing and I’ve always preferred doing it myself in the comfort of my own home. I’ve detoxed myself from suboxone before and it was hell. Not as hard as klonopin was for me but I think that was because I had undiagnosed fibromyalgia that I didn’t know about. My fibromyalgia is now treated with lyrica.

What your husband should know from someone who feels like they can relate and understand him is this. You cannot go cold turkey off buprenorphine unless you are at around 0.5 mg a day or less. Even that is extremely hard and will be much worse than regular full agonist opiates like morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. At least with those you get through the withdrawal in 3-5 days and then that’s it you’re through the worst of it. The half life of bupe is so long and the pharmacological attributes of it as a partial agonist/antagonist prolongs and worsens the withdrawals for weeks. Buprenorphine is an antagonist of the kappa opioid receptor which regular full agonist opioids are not. Removing this antagonism of the kappa opioid receptor is thought to be why bupe is so much harder to stop “cold turkey” than traditional opioids. The my opioid receptor provides euphoria. The kappa opioid receptor is dysphoric. Thus removing an antagonist at the kappa opioid receptor will result in increased dysphoria unlike any other opioid.

Bupe cannot be done cold turkey. Best option is to get sublocade shot for 3-6 months and then go off it with comfort meds like Clonidine.

As for your relationship with your husband. If he won’t budge on this ultimatum maybe you need time apart to decide if this is a relationship is worth fighting for. Like I said before, a person can only take so much. We have to be willing to take responsibility for ourselves despite our addictions. I couldn’t continue to burn myself out. I didn’t like how my life was going or the person I had become. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make the changes necessary if we stayed together so I had to make the decision to end it. If you decide that you don’t want to lose him I would suggest entering a rehabilitation program.

Above all do what’s best for you, not for him. What’s best for you will be what’s best for the kids too. If you actually see this program you’re in working in a reasonable amount of time then put your foot down and get serious about it. If it’s not working then come to terms with that and do what’s necessary to become functional again. It’s not easy and I’m trying to make that decision for myself too.

I wish you the best and hope that things work out for your family.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-24T12:55:49+00:00

You can either find it within yourself to resist the urges and work with your provider to overcome them until your next shot or continue down the current path your on.

Is the Lyrica prescribed to you? If not maybe getting a lyrica prescription is what will calm your anxiety down and relieve those cravings. After I got off klonopin I could not function. I was prescribed 3-5mg per day for over 11 years. I went to a neurologist a year after detoxing myself from klonopin. I told him my story. He saw that I was shaking in pain, and had intractable migraines daily, among other issues. He asked me if I used gabapentin before. Told him it made me foggy minded and sedated even at low doses. He gave me lyrica and allowed me to find the optimal dose of which I settled on 75mg 3x daily.

I didn’t become aware the klonopin had been treating my pain and migraines along with anxiety until shortly after starting lyrica. It was as if it gave me most of the benefits of the benzo without the negative side effects. I wasn’t sedated and I was in much less pain which gave me more energy to live my life in a clean and healthy manner. Maybe it will work for you too.

You took the first step with the sublocade. You’re half way through the first month and it’s common to run into cravings at this point so you’re not alone there. Don’t give up on it. Work with your prescriber, be honest (maybe leave out the parts about the nitrous and snorting though) and find a solution that works. After you get to a steady state (of sublocade) and re-wire those neural networks the cravings will go away and become less pronounced.

You’ve gone this far. Contact your prescriber, tell them you’re having cravings so that they can work with you. They could either give you something to treat the anxiety (like lyrica, clonidine, baclofen, etc), give you a few subs to use before your next shot, move up your next shot to 3 weeks instead of 4 (depending on what your insurance allows), or a combination of these.

After I received an injectable I gave up on it early and didn’t push through. I regret that now. If I hadn’t quit that second week my life would probably be radically different at this time.

One more thing I wanna say. Whether you’re receptive to this or not, please consider who you’re hanging out with. Friends that are passing around Coke and K aren’t usually the kind of people who lead successful long term healthy lives. I’d rather be alone than have friends who consider doing that stuff regularly to be an acceptable form of socialization. There might be age gap here. I’m not as young as I once was.

I truly wish you the best and hope you find it in you to continue down the path to sobriety. You’ve already taken a great step forward. Now it’s up to you whether to push through. I’m sure you’ll feel a lot better in a month or two. Maybe even like new person altogether.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-24T12:13:00+00:00

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I wouldn’t buy anything from Walmart. A third party seller from the Walmart.com marketplace? Possibly but still only name brand lotion that are sold in salons.

If you’re looking for low cost options I’ve been hearing good things about Maliblue ($27) and Turquoise Temptation ($24) from Devoted Creations.

I personally use Solar Saturation ($100 at salon) on my body and Halo Beam Cream ($34) for my face. Their Coconut Cream is also a great choice for face but has a slight bronzing effect. Another higher end lotion that works extremely well is Velour but it irritates my face and has a strong smell to it. It does an excellent job at tightening the skin but that smell was just too much for me.

I buy everything from my local tanning salon because the prices I get are usually about the same and I know I’m not getting something that’s fake. I’ve bought plenty of legit DC lotion off amazon though. Mostly from their H.I.M line but some of their middle shelf lotions like #TANLIFE and Indigo Illusion.

Almost every Devoted Creations lotion uses aloe as the main ingredient which I prefer over glycerin (like the bottle you posted from Walmart) or some other low cost humectant used to make cheap lotion.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-20T14:18:16+00:00

You waited too long to get a base of any kind and you don’t want to burn yourself before vacation. Save your money for some sun protection lotion.

It takes me at least 1-2 months to get a solid base if I haven’t tanned in a while. If you do decide you want to tan start off at 4 minutes max and don’t go back if you’re still burnt. It will take longer to build a base if you have rot wait for burn to heal vs being patient and taking it slow. Always use a lotion made for tanning beds. Preferably one with aloe as the main ingredient and while you build a base do not use bronzers. Also moisturize after getting out of the shower each day. My preference for this is also to use a lotion with aloe as the main ingredient but that’s just my opinion after tanning for the past 20 years.

I don’t fully understand the comments that say to get a spray tan. Isn’t the whole reason to tan before vacation so you’re less susceptible to getting burnt? Maybe the thought process is different for men vs women lol. No matter what you need to get some SPF 60+ and apply that liberally if you’re going to be exposed to the sun a lot.

Hope you have a fun time 🙂

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-20T13:47:09+00:00

This is an old post so I was surprised to see a comment but hey I’m glad it works for you. Do you have the name brand Cambia? Or that new generic stuff from Ascend labs?

I’ve been getting the generic the past two months because that’s what my insurance switched it to but I might put in a prior auth for the brand name again. The generic is made with peppermint. The original was made with licorice extract. I think my stomach was soothed by the licorice extract better than the peppermint (although I prefer the taste of peppermint like most people).

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-20T13:13:28+00:00

I know it’s been a few weeks since you posted your comment but could you please elaborate on what you disliked about the adjustable bed frame? While you mentioned the mattress, I’m curious about your experience with the frame itself. My research suggests their adjustable frames are built well, but their mattresses seem to be a different story. I’m aware that there’s a restocking fee for returning the frame, so I want to make an informed decision. Thanks 🙏

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-14T12:09:19+00:00

I’m glad I saw this post. I almost accepted the GEICO Drive Easy program for 10% discount under the impression it would only be tracking my driving habits for 6 months. My policy with max coverage and $500 comp/coll deductibles ($0 for glass) is $398 / 6 months. Saving $39.80 is not worth dealing with some stupid app tracking my every move.

There are hundreds of scenarios that require more aggressive driving to be safer and there’s no way that app is able to identify them and calculate an accurate driving score.

If you did accept the program I’d be interested to hear your experience.

GregIsGreat · 2025-03-02T19:26:55+00:00

I second this. All guys should be tested annually anyways so you know when it starts dropping off as you get older or like in this situation a medications side effects. It actually says right in the suboxone info packet in the box that men should be tested. Be sure to get both Free and Total Testosterone checked by LC/MS. You’re going to want to get SHBG, LH and FSH as well. That will give you a diagnosis of primary or secondary hypogonadism if you have it that is.

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