Meth is one of the most dangerous drugs out there. It’s incredibly addictive and can destroy your body quickly. Meth, short for methamphetamine, can be snorted, smoked, or injected. No matter how you take it, meth can rot your teeth, ruin your insides, and cause severe stomach pain, leaving you a shadow of your former self. This isn’t an exaggeration – it’s the truth. Understanding how meth destroys your body is the first step to overcoming addiction and saving your life.
Why Does Meth Cause Stomach Problems?
Meth causes stomach problems because it is a toxic substance that disrupts your body’s normal functions. Here are some reasons why:
- Toxicity: Meth is a poison, and your body tries to get rid of it quickly, which can lead to stomach pain and diarrhea.
- Reduced Blood Flow: Meth narrows blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the intestines. This can cause cramping, pain, and poor digestion.
- Appetite Loss: Meth suppresses your appetite, which can lead to poor nutrition and digestive issues when you eat again.
- Stress Response: Meth triggers a fight-or-flight response, diverting energy away from digestion and causing stomach problems.
Does Meth Cause Diarrhea/Poop?
Yes, meth can cause diarrhea/poop. Meth is a powerful stimulant that disrupts your digestive system, leading to toxic effects, reduced blood flow to the intestines, and gastrointestinal distress. To manage diarrhea caused by meth, stay hydrated, eat small, easy-to-digest meals, take probiotics, and seek medical help.
How Meth Damages the Stomach
Meth reduces your appetite and disrupts your digestion. When you eat again, your body struggles to process food properly. Here are some ways meth harms your stomach and intestines:
- Intestinal Ischemia: Meth can constrict your blood vessels so much that your intestines don’t get enough oxygen. This causes diarrhea, cramps, and slows or stops digestion, leading to poor nutrient absorption.
- Increased Risk of Blood Clots: Using meth can block blood flow in your intestines, leading to ulcers, perforations, and even gangrene. This results in severe long-term stomach pain and serious digestive issues.
- Reduced Muscle Function: Meth slows your digestion by reducing muscle function in your intestines. It can cause total blockage or intestinal infarction, which can be fatal.
How Long Does Meth Stomach Pain Last?
Meth stomach pain can vary in duration depending on several factors, including the amount and frequency of meth use, the individual’s overall health, and how quickly they seek and receive treatment.
- Immediate Effects:
- Acute Stomach Pain: Meth can cause immediate stomach pain, often due to the body’s attempt to expel the toxins. This pain can last for several hours to a few days after using meth.
- Short-Term Effects:
- Withdrawal Symptoms: When a person stops using meth, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, including stomach pain. This pain can persist for days to weeks as the body adjusts to the absence of the drug.
- Long-Term Effects:
- Chronic Pain: For heavy or long-term meth users, stomach pain can become a chronic issue. The damage meth does to the stomach lining, intestines, and digestive system can result in ongoing pain and discomfort that lasts for months or even years.
- Healing Time: The time it takes for the digestive system to heal depends on the severity of the damage and the individual’s overall health and nutrition. With proper medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle, some people may start to see improvements within a few months, while others may experience pain for a longer period.
Remedies for Meth Stomach Pain
- Seek Medical Attention:
- Consult a Doctor: It’s essential to see a healthcare provider to assess the extent of the damage and receive appropriate treatment.
- Medications: Doctors may prescribe medications to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and manage symptoms like nausea and diarrhea.
- Hydration and Nutrition:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and keep your digestive system functioning properly.
- Balanced Diet: Eat small, frequent meals that are easy to digest. Focus on foods rich in vitamins and minerals to support healing.
- Avoid Irritants: Stay away from spicy, greasy, and acidic foods that can irritate the stomach lining.
- Natural Remedies:
- Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce nausea and stomach pain. Try ginger tea or ginger supplements.
- Peppermint: Peppermint can help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and reduce pain. Peppermint tea or oil capsules are good options.
- Chamomile: Chamomile tea can soothe the stomach and reduce inflammation.
- Probiotics:
- Support Gut Health: Probiotics can help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut, improving digestion and reducing discomfort. Yogurt, kefir, and probiotic supplements are good sources.
- Over-the-Counter Medications:
- Antacids: Over-the-counter antacids can help neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from pain and discomfort.
- Pain Relievers: Non-prescription pain relievers like acetaminophen can help manage pain, but avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen, which can irritate the stomach.
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Regular Exercise: Gentle exercise, like walking, can help improve digestion and overall health.
- Stress Management: Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to reduce stress, which can exacerbate stomach pain.
- Avoid Further Meth Use:
- Quit Meth: The most effective way to stop meth-related stomach pain is to stop using meth. Seek professional help to overcome addiction.
- Support Systems: Engage with support groups, therapy, and rehabilitation programs to help with recovery.
Life After Meth: Getting Clean
Recovery is a continuous process. It’s about facing personal problems and coping with stress without relying on meth. Long-term sobriety requires ongoing commitment. Seek help from addiction professionals who can diagnose your addiction and recommend the best treatment approach.
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Decide to change your life for the better today. At Ranch Creek Recovery, we know that quitting meth is hard, but it’s necessary for a better life. Our holistic recovery center offers medical and physical treatments, psychology, and experiential therapies to help you build a drug-free future. Contact us today to learn more about our meth addiction treatment program and start your journey to recovery. We’re here to help.
Staff: 4.5/5Owner, Director, therapists, nurses, counselors, and support staff are all really great. I had no issues with anyone in particular. They are all there to help you however they can. I found that everyone advocated for my well being, were available when I needed them, and did their best to support me, check in on me, and make sure I was happy and comfortable.(why not 5/5? They have had a bunch of turnover and need to update their website with their newer staff members and qualifications. Additionally the Doctors they partner with were not as thorough as I would have wanted, and were kind of pushy with medications)Program: 4/5Small groups for the win! You get a lot of attention if you need it. This is a Holistic approach rehab. They do not focus on any 12 step programs. You have daily classes with different counselors, focusing on the science behind addiction, anger management, talk therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, nutrition, and much more. You have one-on-one sessions twice a week with a Licensed Therapist, and you have access to a gym daily, with a yoga instructor and trainer coming a few times a week. You also have a docent that comes once a week to do sound therapy, and you can learn techniques such as tapping. They have 2 doctors on staff you will have Zoom appointments with, and someone is always present to distribute morning, afternoon, and bedtime medication. You can also always grab whomever is on-call to talk through any issues or questions you have.(why not 5/5? Overall I found that there was too much down-time. I got bored and restless with that much free time and I craved more structure. Additionally I thought that the family Zoom sessions could have served as a stronger resource for loved ones)Location: 4/5Murrieta is a quiet, tranquil area, with mountain views, a lot of farmland, and very little public noise to distract you. When you do leave the house, you get to visit a small farm that is very close by to interact with horses and goats, etc. You also have an outing on Saturdays for a few hours that allows you as a group to get out of the house. The immediate area has all the basic stores and activities you would want, like target/walmart/grocery/7-11/etc as well as mini golf, bowling... You do need to decide as a group where you want to go because you have 1 chaperone and need to stay together at all times.(why not 5/5? There are 2 different houses located about 10 minutes away from each other. The Bass house advertised on the website is much nicer and larger than the Doreen house. During my time the clients staying at the Doreen house were shuttled over to the Bass house for our daily classes and sessions, not being able to utilize their own kitchen, rooms, and bathrooms during the day. I was also told by clients that the Doreen house was not as nice as the Bass House)Amenities: 4/5Pool - (I was there in the winter, so it was not heated and basically unusable, however, I did do some cold plunges just for the shock)Hot tub - available once a week on Friday eveningsYard - Large Grass Backyard and cement patio with tables and chairsGym - Available daily. TV for movies or music. Free weights, yoga mats, and a few outdated cardio machines that mostly worked.Kitchen - Large kitchen, multiple Fridges/Freezers, Huge pantry for preparing anything you want, ovens, microwave, toasters, dishwasher, outdoor gas grill, etc...Pool table, ping pong table, arts and crafts table, outdoor TV, Indoor TV, Computer, land-line house phone.Comfortable rooms and bathrooms with laundry access, and provided bedding and towels.(why not 5/5? I was disappointed that it wasn't clear that the pool and hot tub didn't have daily access as advertised, and that the gym was more outdated than described/pictured. They also could make some very inexpensive recreation investments like a basketball for their outdoor hoop, soccer ball, frisbees, croquet set, bocce, etc for their giant lawn to be used during the extensive downtime)
Ranch Creek Recovery is the best way to start your new healthy way of life. This program actually saved my life and my sanity. Their Holistic approach was amazing and I learned so much from my counselors and Dr. Dena. With only a limited number of participants in the house at one time, you are guaranteed the one on one time, as well as the group counseling they offer in a safe and comfortable setting. They make you aware that they truly care and are there to support you , listen to you, and most important to teach you. Teach you information about triggers, cognitive behavior and how to stay sober. They include therapy through others means such as Yoga, Meditation, working with Horses and even Physical Training. Ranch Creek makes sure when you leave you are good, Mind, Body and Soul. They have an excellent Intensive Outpatient Program (10) weeks that helps navigate your way back into life. A year ago (received my one year chip June 8, 2022) I was lost and a raging out of control alcoholic. I can proudly say today that I am not. I will always be an alcoholic with an addictive personality. But now I have tools, personal contacts and the faith in myself that I have never had before in my 9 years searching for sobriety. I often reflect back on my time at the Bass house. I am probably one of the few that actually stayed 60 days because I had so much to learn. My insurance did not cover all of the last days, but it was worth it to me, so I stayed. I am so grateful to so many of the staff, Jimmie, Christine, Jonathon, Dr. Dena and countless extended staff to name a few, because there were more. I would not be here to tell you it works, because without the treatment and the help I received, I alive today to tell my journey. If you are ready to face the truth, please give them a call. I promise if you are committed, you will never be the same as when you walked in. Thank you Ranch Creek Recovery.
Also known as Angelica, I couldn’t recommend this place more . This treatment center really helped me get what I have always wished for , Peace with my past , healing , restoration . Ranch Creek Recovery’s program was such a tremendous blessing, life changing experience for me and my family. This week I celebrate 9years of living life in recovery, sobriety. Thank you RCR for saving my life .
I had long term sobriety and was under a lot of stress from my professional position. I began to use cannabis recreationally and soon became dependent. I sought recovery, because I could not stop using cannabis on my own. It was causing issues with my family and in my professional life. I signed up with Rancho Creek Recovery, through my insurance. I attended the pm IOP zoom sessions with Lorri. Her group sessions and the materials she provided, helped me to get off of cannabis. Lorri was a big help in giving me strategies to stay sober and to manage the cravings and ways to deal with my work stress. I would strongly recommend Rancho Creek Recovery's outpatient program and the pm IOP zoom sessions with Lorri. She was a great professional to work with.
I've had a few stints with rehab and none even skinned the surface of what I learned here. Located on a beautiful property in the foothills of Murrieta, with in house groups led by instructors that break it down so in depth. My perspective had a total shift and I can honestly say I owe my life and the promise of a new future to this facility and it's faculty. If you're willing to do the work this is the place to get into your core issues and help you recover from the lifestyle and vices that one is addicted to. I recommend this place to anyone who wants something different from life. DBT, CBT, recovery education, family therapy are just a few of the groups and The program director and Clinical director hand picked a team that is progressive, informed, patient, caring and passionate about what they do. I encourage anyone who's seeking treatment to look into this program I first hand watched others and had my life transformed.
Coming to Ranch Creek Recovery, I had been through three different inpatient chemical treatment facilities in CA. I was feeling lost and somewhat hopeless. The serene setting gave me peace and I began healing. The counselors were very inspiring and helped me grow in ways I haven’t experienced in years. I began to see the bigger picture that a life in sobriety can give you. Although I am somewhat scared to leave the comfort and security that Ranch Creek Recovery and staff has brought me, I am also excited to share my growth with my family and to start my new life. Thank you RCR!
Resources:
1WebMD. Side Effects of Meth Use that You Probably Didn’t Know. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/methamphetamine/little-known-meth-use-side-effects.
2American Addiction Centers. THE EFFECTS OF METH ON YOUR BODY. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://drugabuse.com/featured/the-effects-of-meth-on-your-body/.
3Medicine. Methamphetamine consumption and life-threatening abdominal complications. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2018/05040/Methamphetamine_consumption_and_life_threatening.47.aspx.
4National Center for Biotechnology Information. Methamphetamine-Associated Shock with Intestinal Infarction. Accessed July 13, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480589/.
