[razztazz]

I just found this site. Guess I'm definitely not alone in being fed up taking pain meds. I've been taking oxycontin for lower back pain for the last 3 years - progressed to 40 - 50 mg per day, but haven't needed to increase for the last year or so. I was able to take large doses of ibuprofen for years, but my stomach got to the point that I can't tolerate them in enough quantity to really help. I would really like to stop, but I'm not sure what other pain treatment options I have other than living with the pain. I do have a question - anybody else suffer from intense pain and muscle spasms in the midback and front chest when they stop taking the pain meds? It gets so bad that I feel like I can't breath, I get charlie horse like symptoms in my ribs, and sometimes feel like I'm going to go into a panic attack from the pain and not feeling like I can breath! This happens almost immediately if I stop taking the meds, even before any major withdrawls symptoms. I have had my mid back, heart, lungs, esophagus, etc checked and no isssues other than a hietal hernia which the doc's don't think should be causing these symptoms! So I'm starting to think withdrawl from the oc is causing it, which would be interesting since the mid back pain is what caused me to increase dosage from 10 -20 mg to 40 - 50 mg!

[Ellen2012]

Hi,
I have been addicted to Nurofen plus (Ibuprofen 200mg & Codiene Phosphate 12.8mg) for approx 9 years and am currently taking between 30-36 per day!.
No-one is aware of my problem and I cover it up really well, but now I really want to stop. I am not going to buy anymore and try to go cold turkey so to speak, but I'm really concerned about the side effects of withdrawal.
If anyone has any advice to help me get over this or tell me what to expect I would really really appriecate it.
Thanks

[zodiac]

Hi, lately I have been struggling with opiate addiction. Its not the first time I have had an issue like this. I've been doing OC and H daily for a few months now. Previously I had a problem with percocets but I was forced to stop when the source dissappeared, and I wasn't in nearly as a bad a situation as I am now. I am dreading the withdrawals more than ever, because I know they are going to be worse than last time. If I don't have anything, I don't even have the energy to get out of bed, let alone go to work. Now my source may dissappear again, because a friend of mine is going on Suboxin and so much for that. I don't think I can afford to go on a drug like that because I don't have any insurance right now. Before I suffer through cold turkey again, I'm wondering if anyone can give me any advice or tell me of any options that I don't know about to get clean and stay clean.

[Painful_Truth]

Plain N' simple - narcotic addiction sucks! Life is a breeze when you have them, things get alittle tougher when you're nearing the end of your supply, and finally, life is at its worst when you're completely out and have been for more then 24 hours.

I too was a narcotic pain killer addict. It was horrible. I self-increased my dose, my prescribing physician got wind of my dependency and cut my supply. With the pain becoming worse (mainly because the addiction has hit severe) I was constantly visiting the emergency room. So, they get wind of the problem and stop prescribing narcs. Then, you just visit multiple hospitals. Even though the bills were piling up, I still did it.

Hell, by this time (about three years), you're up to 10-20 per day (Norco 10mg/325mg was my drug of choice). Before you know it, you're on the persuit of stronger narcs (eg. Oxycodone and Oxycontin). While this all happening, your life becomes a blur. Your job performance suffers, your relationships w/family and friends vanishes and all hope of feeling 'normal' depends on whether or not you have your pills.

It's a vicious cycle. All attempts to stop the cycle from continuing fail. Even the slightest taste of narcotic withdrawal sends you on a quest to find an unknowing prescriber. Soon enough, it's impossible to get any pills. Some individuals will even buy them illegally or even switch to something completely different yet even more illegal (such as cocaine, crack or heroin - which is derived from the very plant that fuels the addiction your pills are inducing...opiate).

This may not be the way it is w/everyone but it is exactly what I experienced at the height of my addiction. I didn't, however, look for a high from other sources, especially those that are illegal. I quit cold turkey. I had to. All the times I had tried to quit were nothing but distant memories. I had to put things into perspective. My wife was becoming very worried as well as frustrated. My family knew nothing of my problem and that was always something that bothered me. It was time. No help from doctors, no excuses, nothing.

I did have help though...from an odd source. The doctor I was seeing prescribed me gebapentin (spelling?) otherwise known as Neurontin to treat my nerve pain from a L3-L4 disc herniation that was indenting my sciatic nerve. Neurontin is actually an anti-seizure medication but has an underlying benefit...its help in relieving nerve pain (from many different sources). While taking Neurontin during the first signs of withdrawal (usually 24 hours after the last dose was administered give or take), I noticed that I was actually able to sleep. I wasn't restless, wasn't hot one minute then cold the next and wasn't bothered as much by the Restless Leg Syndrome. The only thing that was bothersome was the diarrhea but solved that problem quickly by taking Immodium AD. Now don't get me wrong, the signs of severe detox were still in place and by no means did either of the fore-mentioned medications rid me of all the withdrawal symptoms...they just eased it alittle.

Everyone is different and so are their addictions. Some of them may stop cold turkey and not notice a thing. Some may need the help of a detox center or medication to help them through it. It's horrible but just remember why you're feeling the discomfort. Your body is simply trying to rid itself of the toxic substance (the pain medication). Your body has gone so long accepting this chemical that it believes it's needed in order to operate successfully. By detoxifying, you're changing the way your body treats the narcotic and therefor, it slowly but surely purifies itself by removing it completely. It's not a short process. Usually the first 72 hours are hell but general symptoms improve alittle each day for 3-7 days thereafter.

I wish you all the best and hope you'll be clean very soon!!!

*Pain

[quietgirl]

Hi all,

I am transferring my message that I accidentally posted in the wrong place earlier. Please read it and let me know if anyone has any advice they can offer. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I need to ask some of you for your help and insight because I am new to this. I am not the person who is addicted, I am the girlfriend of the person who is. My boyfriend of 5 months just trusted me last month with this secret of his that he’s been hiding for over 3 years now. He’s addicted to vicodin. He’s never told ANYONE. I felt honored and wonderful that he felt comfortable enough to tell me and trust me with it, and I am determined to do anything I need to do to help him. Well, his doctor put him on something to help with the withdrawal symptoms (I don’t know the name of it). It’s been a month now, and he’s been acting so differently toward me, and I just want to know from some of you who have experience with this what I should expect. In the beginning I was very secure in our relationship and how he felt about me. We talked about things like moving away together, getting married, etc. Just a few weeks ago he asked if I would go look at houses with him. Last weekend he dug up a big piece of his nice backyard grass and put topsoil down just so I could have a garden because he knew I always wanted one. Well, One question I have is do these meds affect your libido? Because he hasn’t been into doing anything for over a month (about the time since all this started). Also, this past weekend he started acting very strange. He said to me there’s no surprise in our relationship, it’s expected that we hang out, we went to fast, and we should both have space to “refresh” our relationship. These don’t sound like things someone would say who just asked me to look at houses and just made me a garden and gave me a key to his house. Very weird. I asked him if there’s someone else involved, or if he wants to break up or see other people, and all he keeps saying is the same thing: “no! honey, I love you! You’re my girlfriend!” I might also add that he owns his own business and is trying to work and stay afloat while trying to kick his addiction. I know this is tough on him, and I’m willing to do what I have to to help him, but like I said, I have no experience when it comes to this, so could someone who’s been there please help. I know when he met me he was hooked on the vicodin, but could he change so drastically that he be a COMPLETELY different person and not want to be in this anymore at all?? What do I do? He says nothing is wrong and we just need space but it just seems weird and contradictory, that’s all…

[pattikake]

Hi, I am new to this forum (not new to reading the forum though) and I am in the same situation as so many of you. Unfortunately addicted to pain meds due to back pain, etc. I have been on oxy, percocet, and hydrocodeone for 2+ years. My doctor says that I am "maxed out" as far as increasing the meds goes, and my tolerance is obviously high, so frequently I come very close to running out before the next script is due. Well, this time it actually happened. I had my refill date wrong by about 1 week! So anyway, I am now facing withdrawal. I have exhausted all my options at this point, so I am accepting it and just trying to prepare. The withdrawal stories I have read here are scaring me to death! Anyway, I have the stomach medicine and some trazadone to hopefully help with sleep - does anyone have ANY suggestions or advice on getting through this? I have a 3-year old and noone to help with this or with my child, so I have to somehow get through this while still functioning! Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks!

[pj10467]

hi i am new to this ive been on vic.perc.tabs.oxy.tramadol just about every one that you can imagine please bear with me please im into my third day of withdraw after been on meds for over 10 years im going thru the shakes sweating cold havent slept in 3 days now and feel like ???? if not for my wife of 16 yrs helping me out right now it wont work and now i know that it is very important to have someone go thru this with you someone you can cry to yell at (and there is a lot of that right now)but my wife told me to get on the net and see what people go thru when they are getting off the meds and ive read about all of the postings and i hope the way i am feeling right now will be over with soon some people say 3 - 7 days for my sake i hope.what are some ways people are dealing with the shakes arms and legs feel like the skin is crawling off and feeling like ive got the worst case of flu in the world the only thing ive have found out is taking real hot showers for the aches and pains but you can only do that for so long

[mpvt]

Hi PJ: Your very lucky to have such a caring wife.Get some immodium it will help alot.If you can take a benzodiazipine that will help with the anxiety.Take alot of hot baths,it helps with the leg pains.Your at the worst of it right now,in a couple of days you will notice a turn around and you will start to feel better.Be careful after a few weeks of being clean that you don't talk yourself into taking a couple of pills thinking you can handle it.Hang in there your almost through the worst of it,remember"hot baths and immodium".Good luck......Dave

Finally my pain is under control!!!!!!!

[Simara12]

I hear you.. but don't have much to offer, sorry. Truthfully the only thing that really has helped me through withdrawals is sleeping, and even then I would dream of pills. I have to load up on Nyquil or sleep aids and just sleep it out. I went through the worst (and longest) of my withdrawals just over a month ago after over six years of addiction to percocet. I felt terrible, the worst. After six days I remember my upper body still ached so bad I sat on the couch and asked my husband over and over "When is this going to STOP?" The anxiety was getting much better but the aches and the LACK OF ENERGY was just terrible- (if you have a house with stairs you will learn they are THE ENEMY) and the mind screaming for the pills. I gave in.. telling myself 'just one night of feeling like a decent human being again, after almost two weeks of feeling like complete hell I deserve just ONE night off" then one night turned to two and now I have taken them straight for over two weeks again and am at my old (way too high dosage). I am wishing so badly I had stuck with it... My mind is such a dumba$#- it can manipulate me so much, I told myself I could HAVE the pills in the house and not take them except on special occasions- I could even PRETEND they were not here..umm NOT.
Now my husband still thinks I am clean- he does not deserve this at all. But at the same time he thought after a few days (of being VERY SUPPORTIVE and wonderful) that all should be fine and I would be great and I wasn't. I was a hideous mess- not just physically but emotionally, I was extremely depressed- God these pills just even out my emotions so much and make things okay in my mind. I am a perfectionist and they help me achieve that, when in reality I am a complete disaster.
While I was going through the worst of my w/d's I even found myself outside in my backyard suddenly realizing I might have dropped one pill recently when I was out there (hiding) putting them in a different bottle. I found this mushy (raining) white thing and I was so desperate for a pill I found myself gobbling it down. I have no idea what it was and suddenly saw myself how someone else would see me, skinny and haggard and sick eating what could have been fertilizer or bird poop in the hopes that it was a pill. That woke me up. My husband took a picture of me withdrawing and for awhile that helped me to not take a pill- looking at how bad I looked and remembering how badly I felt at that moment.
Sorry for rambling, I am determined to stop again... but I know if I was serious about that I would flush what I had and start now (I've watched enough Dr. Phil, ha), and I can't do it. Never in my LIFE have I understood how someone would lose a family and money and risk their life for a drug. I always thought "Just QUIT". Now I get it, and it sucks.
All you can really do is STICK IT OUT and do not go through this HELL SICK for nothing like I did. You will be right back where you were before- or tell yourself "I can take just one". And the BEST thing I remember about quitting is going to Home Depot on a Saturday with my husband and little girl and picking out a bunch of stuff for our house and thinking "Wow, here is is 4:00 in the afternoon and I haven't taken a pill all day and I feel okay, I can do this".. that was a good day, I wish I could get it back- I wish I was back there and I could stop myself from taking one that night (it was that night I took my first one again).
Hope this makes sense, if you need someone that COMPLETELY understands (like everyone on here does) but need to talk then you can email me. (elliewig@yahoo.com).



hi i am new to this ive been on vic.perc.tabs.oxy.tramadol just about every one that you can imagine please bear with me please im into my third day of withdraw after been on meds for over 10 years im going thru the shakes sweating cold havent slept in 3 days now and feel like ???? if not for my wife of 16 yrs helping me out right now it wont work and now i know that it is very important to have someone go thru this with you someone you can cry to yell at (and there is a lot of that right now)but my wife told me to get on the net and see what people go thru when they are getting off the meds and ive read about all of the postings and i hope the way i am feeling right now will be over with soon some people say 3 - 7 days for my sake i hope.what are some ways people are dealing with the shakes arms and legs feel like the skin is crawling off and feeling like ive got the worst case of flu in the world the only thing ive have found out is taking real hot showers for the aches and pains but you can only do that for so long
[/quote]

[Simara12]

Hi,
I responded with my story in a earlier email but I am going to start withdrawals tomorrow (with a few Xanax and one low dose vicodin that I am going to try and break into pieces through the worst of it). W/d's are terrible, horrible.. but I know how y ou feel because I have a three year old girl too, and not a mellow one at that, she is into everything. It is the HARDEST part of withdrawals for me (taking care of her) Sometimes the pure anger I feel that just erupts scares me- not that I would EVER hurt her but I just feel this incredible black impatience with her when she does normal (naughty) three year old things. When you have a small child like that you cannot just get into bed, pull up the covers and hide from the world until you feel better... and even if you have help with your child you still have everything happening around you that piles up that wouldn't if it was just you sick (laundry, cleaning, dishes etc).

Good luck, when are you going to start the withdrawals?




Hi, I am new to this forum (not new to reading the forum though) and I am in the same situation as so many of you. Unfortunately addicted to pain meds due to back pain, etc. I have been on oxy, percocet, and hydrocodeone for 2+ years. My doctor says that I am "maxed out" as far as increasing the meds goes, and my tolerance is obviously high, so frequently I come very close to running out before the next script is due. Well, this time it actually happened. I had my refill date wrong by about 1 week! So anyway, I am now facing withdrawal. I have exhausted all my options at this point, so I am accepting it and just trying to prepare. The withdrawal stories I have read here are scaring me to death! Anyway, I have the stomach medicine and some trazadone to hopefully help with sleep - does anyone have ANY suggestions or advice on getting through this? I have a 3-year old and noone to help with this or with my child, so I have to somehow get through this while still functioning! Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks!
[/quote]

[pj10467]

hello I am pj1067 's wife He has had a problem I have been aware of for many years, started when we were first married I beleive approximatly 14 years. I could never talk to him about it cause he would get furious with me and tell me it was a lie....however I just let it go and went on with our life hoping and praying that he would eventually admit to his self that he had a problem and it has takin 14 years for him to admit it to his self and me. answer to prayer! well a month ago we had a lil argument and he kicked me out of the house after being married for 16 years and I just thought my life was over no matter what I said or did he wouln't let me come home I missed my kids and him so bad I felt like my heart had been ripped out and that i would just die and I prayed harder than I ever had in my life , my husband and I met in church and though we stopped going after getting married. we had two boys and have never split up before I was just devastated it was only for three days but it felt like a lifetime...however I don't know how this fits in with his pain med addiction but I know it has something to do with it, he told me he wasn't sure he was inlove with me anymore but that he loved me and I believe it's due to this addiction it has affected him in some way i think it made him numb or cold hearted not really sure of the right words but he wanted some space and God was my only answer and thank God I am back home and just last night he had admitted to me that it was his addiction and that he was having withdraws not the flu he was trying to make everyone think. I new it wasn't the flu but didn't realize at first that it was actually withraw symptoms but got on this site and realized that was what was going on. I will pray for you and your boyfriend that it will work out...I think he is just confused as my husband was just continue what you are doing and pray that it will work out if you truly love him. hope I helped actually your post made me realize that what happend between my husband and i could be med related.and I do believe it affect there libido cause it has in our marrage.... I even thought he was having an affair but in reality it was the pain killers affecting and lowering his sex drive I really believe that. God bless you and hang in there.

quote:Originally posted by quietgirl

Hi all,

I am transferring my message that I accidentally posted in the wrong place earlier. Please read it and let me know if anyone has any advice they can offer. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I need to ask some of you for your help and insight because I am new to this. I am not the person who is addicted, I am the girlfriend of the person who is. My boyfriend of 5 months just trusted me last month with this secret of his that he’s been hiding for over 3 years now. He’s addicted to vicodin. He’s never told ANYONE. I felt honored and wonderful that he felt comfortable enough to tell me and trust me with it, and I am determined to do anything I need to do to help him. Well, his doctor put him on something to help with the withdrawal symptoms (I don’t know the name of it). It’s been a month now, and he’s been acting so differently toward me, and I just want to know from some of you who have experience with this what I should expect. In the beginning I was very secure in our relationship and how he felt about me. We talked about things like moving away together, getting married, etc. Just a few weeks ago he asked if I would go look at houses with him. Last weekend he dug up a big piece of his nice backyard grass and put topsoil down just so I could have a garden because he knew I always wanted one. Well, One question I have is do these meds affect your libido? Because he hasn’t been into doing anything for over a month (about the time since all this started). Also, this past weekend he started acting very strange. He said to me there’s no surprise in our relationship, it’s expected that we hang out, we went to fast, and we should both have space to “refresh” our relationship. These don’t sound like things someone would say who just asked me to look at houses and just made me a garden and gave me a key to his house. Very weird. I asked him if there’s someone else involved, or if he wants to break up or see other people, and all he keeps saying is the same thing: “no! honey, I love you! You’re my girlfriend!” I might also add that he owns his own business and is trying to work and stay afloat while trying to kick his addiction. I know this is tough on him, and I’m willing to do what I have to to help him, but like I said, I have no experience when it comes to this, so could someone who’s been there please help. I know when he met me he was hooked on the vicodin, but could he change so drastically that he be a COMPLETELY different person and not want to be in this anymore at all?? What do I do? He says nothing is wrong and we just need space but it just seems weird and contradictory, that’s all…

[pattikake]

quote:Originally posted by Simara12



Hi,
I responded with my story in a earlier email but I am going to start withdrawals tomorrow (with a few Xanax and one low dose vicodin that I am going to try and break into pieces through the worst of it). W/d's are terrible, horrible.. but I know how y ou feel because I have a three year old girl too, and not a mellow one at that, she is into everything. It is the HARDEST part of withdrawals for me (taking care of her) Sometimes the pure anger I feel that just erupts scares me- not that I would EVER hurt her but I just feel this incredible black impatience with her when she does normal (naughty) three year old things. When you have a small child like that you cannot just get into bed, pull up the covers and hide from the world until you feel better... and even if you have help with your child you still have everything happening around you that piles up that wouldn't if it was just you sick (laundry, cleaning, dishes etc).

Good luck, when are you going to start the withdrawals?




Hi, I am new to this forum (not new to reading the forum though) and I am in the same situation as so many of you. Unfortunately addicted to pain meds due to back pain, etc. I have been on oxy, percocet, and hydrocodeone for 2+ years. My doctor says that I am "maxed out" as far as increasing the meds goes, and my tolerance is obviously high, so frequently I come very close to running out before the next script is due. Well, this time it actually happened. I had my refill date wrong by about 1 week! So anyway, I am now facing withdrawal. I have exhausted all my options at this point, so I am accepting it and just trying to prepare. The withdrawal stories I have read here are scaring me to death! Anyway, I have the stomach medicine and some trazadone to hopefully help with sleep - does anyone have ANY suggestions or advice on getting through this? I have a 3-year old and noone to help with this or with my child, so I have to somehow get through this while still functioning! Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks!

[/quote]

[pattikake]

Hi - yes, I did read your earlier post and I almost had to laugh (I know it's not funny) but your story is so similar to mine. Especially the part about looking for pills in the backyard - I've searched the house so many times when I was running low looking for that one that may have dropped somewhere. And when I do find one (rarely) you'd think I had struck gold! And you're right, the absolute hardest thing about withdrawing has been taking care of my daughter. I read some posts where people say they just couldn't get out of bed for days and I'm almost jealous! I wish I could do that while I get through this. But I can't stand the thought that she may suffer in the least from any of this, so I feel like I have to keep things going as normally as possible for her - and it has been so hard! I started the w/d on Mon. I think and Tues. was the worst day so far. I was in the bathroom all day - in spite of the massive amounts of immodium I was taking. And that right there is a feat in itself with a 3-year-old who follows me everywhere and has no patience for all these "private time-outs" and disruptions to her day! But yesterday (Wed) I guess the stomach med. starting working or something, and it seems like once that's under control the whole thing becomes more manageable. Still MISERABLE - but a bit more manageable. Why does every hour that passes seem like an entire day? It's amazing what a hard job just taking care of a home and a child really is without the help of those pills. Plus, I'm going through a divorce but we're all still living together while the house is on the market, which is an uncomfortable situation anyway. My husband (estranged) works from home mostly too - so we're just all here together all day (but in seperate bedrooms) - and I'm having to hide this from him the whole time too! It's funny - the problem that got you hooked on the meds. in the first place (back-pain for me) becomes the least of your problems when you're withdrawing. I also know what you mean about the impatience and anger - it seems like the meds. inhibit or diminish your emotions, and when you run out they just erupt full-force. My problem hasn't been with anger but with crying. I've been crying over everything since this started. Just feeling sorry for myself I guess. Anyway, back to the grind. Will you start tomorrow (Fri.)? Good luck, good luck, good luck to you. Your lucky for those xanax - maybe they'll help you with that restless leg syndrone at night - that's kept me awake for 3 nights now in spite of sleeping meds. I hate that! Let me know how you're doing and if you come across anything that helps and I'll do the same!

quote:Originally posted by Simara12



Hi,
I responded with my story in a earlier email but I am going to start withdrawals tomorrow (with a few Xanax and one low dose vicodin that I am going to try and break into pieces through the worst of it). W/d's are terrible, horrible.. but I know how y ou feel because I have a three year old girl too, and not a mellow one at that, she is into everything. It is the HARDEST part of withdrawals for me (taking care of her) Sometimes the pure anger I feel that just erupts scares me- not that I would EVER hurt her but I just feel this incredible black impatience with her when she does normal (naughty) three year old things. When you have a small child like that you cannot just get into bed, pull up the covers and hide from the world until you feel better... and even if you have help with your child you still have everything happening around you that piles up that wouldn't if it was just you sick (laundry, cleaning, dishes etc).

Good luck, when are you going to start the withdrawals?




Hi, I am new to this forum (not new to reading the forum though) and I am in the same situation as so many of you. Unfortunately addicted to pain meds due to back pain, etc. I have been on oxy, percocet, and hydrocodeone for 2+ years. My doctor says that I am "maxed out" as far as increasing the meds goes, and my tolerance is obviously high, so frequently I come very close to running out before the next script is due. Well, this time it actually happened. I had my refill date wrong by about 1 week! So anyway, I am now facing withdrawal. I have exhausted all my options at this point, so I am accepting it and just trying to prepare. The withdrawal stories I have read here are scaring me to death! Anyway, I have the stomach medicine and some trazadone to hopefully help with sleep - does anyone have ANY suggestions or advice on getting through this? I have a 3-year old and noone to help with this or with my child, so I have to somehow get through this while still functioning! Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks!

[/quote]

[Simara12]

You've stopped since Sunday or Monday? I always get so jealous when I hear someone has made it that long, up until this last time I usually would have really strong resolve (when I was really high), then as soon as those first symptoms of w/d's started I would immediately lose all my strength and give in. What you are doing is SO HARD, to have to do it by yourself and not having the support of your husband so you should be really proud of what you have done.
The last time I quit I cried nonstop the entire time. I thought of the percocet as almost a anti depressant- I felt just despondant- completely devestated, that was the worst- that and the way your mind just screams for more pills, I remember thinking that I would pay $50 for one lousy pill at one time. I quit on a Monday and that was Tuesday that I felt like that. I work part time three days a week, six hour days and it was almost better going to work then trying to stay home and take care of my daughter. Right now she is up to something at this very moment- ok, I found her in her bedroom with a vase full of flowers that she has torn apart and scattered everywhere, and poured the water out everywhere- and she stripped and is naked, it is something like that every few minutes.
The worst time of the day for me is in the early evening, I miss the pills more then anything when I am starting to make dinner, it was almost like 'my time' my husband came home and played with our daughter outside and I would start dinner and have a glass of wine and take a few pills and watch Judge Judgy and the world was just buzzing and wonderful. Just writing that makes me think I can't do this. But I have to quit, I know it. My hair has become so thin- it just breaks off and it used to be really long and full... and I feel like just crud every morning when I wake up and am bruising so easily and have pain under my right rib. I drink a lot of wine on top of the pills too.
There is so much I could say and relate to you on.. I know what you mean on the 'private time' my daughter won't have it either, and if she does then she is using the freedom to get into trouble. I have a 10 year old son too but he is old enough to take care of himself. I have had 'the flu' so many times it's not even funny when I am going through w/d's. I just want a happy healthy life without these damn things, I don't want to struggle with depression.
I am sorry about you and your husband, that sounds like a very hard situation to quit in. Last night we were going for a walk and my husband said "You've been taking them again haven't you?" and I told him "Yes, but not as many" I could tell he was worried but our daughter was with us and now he is at work.
If you want to you can email me, I never feel really comfortable with spilling everything on a public board, I am always afraid someone I know will stumble on it. Maybe we could help each other through this. Good luck to you. I have one vicodin and 1/2 a percocet right now and the xanax, but I won't take anything till I feel REALLY bad and then try and just 1/2's everything. A problem for me though is that I can always get pills, in fact if I don't make a call people will start calling me and when you have w/d's and you have them offered right there it is so hard to turn them down, you probably know how the mind works "Just one and this pain will be over and I will feel so good again". Also I still get high from the pills, I know a lot of people that say the pills quit working and now they take them to maintain and be ordinary, but for me I still feel that euphoric and wonderful high feeling even if I just take a couple. I crave that feeling.
Take care.



Hi - yes, I did read your earlier post and I almost had to laugh (I know it's not funny) but your story is so similar to mine. Especially the part about looking for pills in the backyard - I've searched the house so many times when I was running low looking for that one that may have dropped somewhere. And when I do find one (rarely) you'd think I had struck gold! And you're right, the absolute hardest thing about withdrawing has been taking care of my daughter. I read some posts where people say they just couldn't get out of bed for days and I'm almost jealous! I wish I could do that while I get through this. But I can't stand the thought that she may suffer in the least from any of this, so I feel like I have to keep things going as normally as possible for her - and it has been so hard! I started the w/d on Mon. I think and Tues. was the worst day so far. I was in the bathroom all day - in spite of the massive amounts of immodium I was taking. And that right there is a feat in itself with a 3-year-old who follows me everywhere and has no patience for all these "private time-outs" and disruptions to her day! But yesterday (Wed) I guess the stomach med. starting working or something, and it seems like once that's under control the whole thing becomes more manageable. Still MISERABLE - but a bit more manageable. Why does every hour that passes seem like an entire day? It's amazing what a hard job just taking care of a home and a child really is without the help of those pills. Plus, I'm going through a divorce but we're all still living together while the house is on the market, which is an uncomfortable situation anyway. My husband (estranged) works from home mostly too - so we're just all here together all day (but in seperate bedrooms) - and I'm having to hide this from him the whole time too! It's funny - the problem that got you hooked on the meds. in the first place (back-pain for me) becomes the least of your problems when you're withdrawing. I also know what you mean about the impatience and anger - it seems like the meds. inhibit or diminish your emotions, and when you run out they just erupt full-force. My problem hasn't been with anger but with crying. I've been crying over everything since this started. Just feeling sorry for myself I guess. Anyway, back to the grind. Will you start tomorrow (Fri.)? Good luck, good luck, good luck to you. Your lucky for those xanax - maybe they'll help you with that restless leg syndrone at night - that's kept me awake for 3 nights now in spite of sleeping meds. I hate that! Let me know how you're doing and if you come across anything that helps and I'll do the same!

quote:Originally posted by Simara12



Hi,
I responded with my story in a earlier email but I am going to start withdrawals tomorrow (with a few Xanax and one low dose vicodin that I am going to try and break into pieces through the worst of it). W/d's are terrible, horrible.. but I know how y ou feel because I have a three year old girl too, and not a mellow one at that, she is into everything. It is the HARDEST part of withdrawals for me (taking care of her) Sometimes the pure anger I feel that just erupts scares me- not that I would EVER hurt her but I just feel this incredible black impatience with her when she does normal (naughty) three year old things. When you have a small child like that you cannot just get into bed, pull up the covers and hide from the world until you feel better... and even if you have help with your child you still have everything happening around you that piles up that wouldn't if it was just you sick (laundry, cleaning, dishes etc).

Good luck, when are you going to start the withdrawals?




Hi, I am new to this forum (not new to reading the forum though) and I am in the same situation as so many of you. Unfortunately addicted to pain meds due to back pain, etc. I have been on oxy, percocet, and hydrocodeone for 2+ years. My doctor says that I am "maxed out" as far as increasing the meds goes, and my tolerance is obviously high, so frequently I come very close to running out before the next script is due. Well, this time it actually happened. I had my refill date wrong by about 1 week! So anyway, I am now facing withdrawal. I have exhausted all my options at this point, so I am accepting it and just trying to prepare. The withdrawal stories I have read here are scaring me to death! Anyway, I have the stomach medicine and some trazadone to hopefully help with sleep - does anyone have ANY suggestions or advice on getting through this? I have a 3-year old and noone to help with this or with my child, so I have to somehow get through this while still functioning! Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks!

[/quote]
[/quote]

[MONIQUE31]

I AM ADDICTED TO A PAIN KILLER CALLED TRAMADOL AND IM GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWLS RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOONE TO TALK TO. I HAVE NIGHT SWEATS AND SHAKES AND IM VERY DIZZY. I HAVE TRIED TO STOP TAKING THE PILLS BUT AS FAR AS I GET IS 2 DAYS AND I GET REALLY CRAZY. WHEN I DONT HAVE THE TRAMADOL I GET REALLY TIRED AND THAT LEAVES MY 5 CHILDREN ASKING ME ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHATS WRONG? WHAT DID THEY DO THIS TIME? WHEN I HAVE THIS MEDICINE I HAVE ALL THE STRENGHT IN THE WORLD(AT LEAST THATS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE) I REALLY NEED A FRIEND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO TAKE ANYMORE PILLS BECAUSE ITS A REALLY BAD FEELING WHEN I RUN OUT OF THE MEDICATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN GO ON LIKE THIS! HELP ANYONE WITH ADVICE HOW TO KICK AT HOME!

[Simara12]

I'm going through withdrawals right now too- your not alone. My muscles are twitching like there is no tomorrow and I just had to carry a load of laundry up two flights of stairs and thought it was going to be the end of me I got so dizzy and weak. When I have the pills I can bound up those stairs with the energy of a soccer mom on crack...
And you have five kids??? I thought taking care of two with w/d's was hard... I can't even imagine, but I just can't think you can do this alone and with no help for your kids while you are going through the worst of it. Isn't there anyone that you can talk to? It would be a relief for you even if you are scared to death to do it, a friend or spouse?
Isn't Tramadol the same thing as Ultram? If it is I used to take that as well but I got off of it when it caused grand mall (sp?) seizures in two of my close friends. I never really cared for it though, even though it gave me tons of energy it also gave me really black dark awful thoughts and worries and I couldn't sleep at night. I prefer pain pills- percocet or Hydro. But I know Ultram does cause seizures, my best friend almost killed herself and her two kids when she was driving and had a seizure, luckily the 12 year old could grab the wheel. She quit for months but I believe she is taking it again.
I know from experience that you will feel SO MUCH better if you can quit, but I don't know if you can do it on your own without help. Ultram is so easily accessed on the internet, that is how my friend gets hers, it is cheap and easy to order unlike other narcotics. Please try and get help and know you are not alone and if you need to to talk....


I AM ADDICTED TO A PAIN KILLER CALLED TRAMADOL AND IM GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWLS RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOONE TO TALK TO. I HAVE NIGHT SWEATS AND SHAKES AND IM VERY DIZZY. I HAVE TRIED TO STOP TAKING THE PILLS BUT AS FAR AS I GET IS 2 DAYS AND I GET REALLY CRAZY. WHEN I DONT HAVE THE TRAMADOL I GET REALLY TIRED AND THAT LEAVES MY 5 CHILDREN ASKING ME ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHATS WRONG? WHAT DID THEY DO THIS TIME? WHEN I HAVE THIS MEDICINE I HAVE ALL THE STRENGHT IN THE WORLD(AT LEAST THATS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE) I REALLY NEED A FRIEND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO TAKE ANYMORE PILLS BECAUSE ITS A REALLY BAD FEELING WHEN I RUN OUT OF THE MEDICATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN GO ON LIKE THIS! HELP ANYONE WITH ADVICE HOW TO KICK AT HOME!
[/quote]

[pattikake]

I am also going through it right now, since Sun/Mon. The 2-3 day was the worst day for me too. Well, for the physical symptoms anyway. That desperate panic-stricken feeling hasn't gone away yet unfortunately. But are you going through this because you've run out and can't get more or you're intentionally out and trying not to take more to quit? I am out early and can't get my next refill yet, so I can't really call a doctor to ask for help. But if you are in the other situation, you could consider talking to your dr., letting him/her know what's going on, and ask for help through the withdrawals. There are things that can be prescribed to make this easier. Otherwise, all I have found to do is just to treat each symptom (immodium, sleep meds., otc pain meds., etc.) Anything you could get for your nerves would be helpful too. I am going into my 5th day now, and most of my symptoms have subsided, except the mental and emotional ones. I don't when that's going to start! Here's another suggestion that I would try if I had the resources (and if I had 5 kids -omigod!) I would immediately come down with the flu or a stomach virus, get some friends or relatives to help out, and give yourself a couple of days to get through the worst of it that way. And your kids will understand and not think they have anything to do with it (I personally would need that guilt off my mind). The other thing that has helped me so much is getting replies from this forum from people going through the exact same thing right now. You know that your symptoms and feelings are perfectly normal for what you're going through and somehow that's helpful. I guess misery really does love company! Good luck to you.

quote:Originally posted by MONIQUE31

I AM ADDICTED TO A PAIN KILLER CALLED TRAMADOL AND IM GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWLS RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOONE TO TALK TO. I HAVE NIGHT SWEATS AND SHAKES AND IM VERY DIZZY. I HAVE TRIED TO STOP TAKING THE PILLS BUT AS FAR AS I GET IS 2 DAYS AND I GET REALLY CRAZY. WHEN I DONT HAVE THE TRAMADOL I GET REALLY TIRED AND THAT LEAVES MY 5 CHILDREN ASKING ME ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHATS WRONG? WHAT DID THEY DO THIS TIME? WHEN I HAVE THIS MEDICINE I HAVE ALL THE STRENGHT IN THE WORLD(AT LEAST THATS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE) I REALLY NEED A FRIEND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO TAKE ANYMORE PILLS BECAUSE ITS A REALLY BAD FEELING WHEN I RUN OUT OF THE MEDICATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN GO ON LIKE THIS! HELP ANYONE WITH ADVICE HOW TO KICK AT HOME!

[pattikake]

It is really hard to do with no support but I don't really feel like I deserve much credit because I am going through this just b/c I've run out! I don't really have sources other than my scripts for meds. I'm not where you are yet, even though I know that I desperately need to be. What you are doing seem impossible to me - you have available sources that could put you out of this misery and you're not doing it. That's really something to be proud of - I wish I could do it. I want the same thing - a healthy, happy life w/o the need for pills! I don't understand why I need to have these pills to make things more fun and interesting, and myself happier, but I do. My physical symptoms have really slowed down now, but mentally - NONE at all! I'm constantly consumed by thoughts of pills, everything seems so boring and mundane, time's just dragging on and on, and I have NO energy (except for useless nervous energy). Something you said in an earlier post really has me thinking though - about not going through this hellacious sickness for nothing. I keep thinking about that b/c I know I'll be right here again soon if I don't make a change. We could definately e-mail directly if want. Talk to you soon.

quote:Originally posted by Simara12

You've stopped since Sunday or Monday? I always get so jealous when I hear someone has made it that long, up until this last time I usually would have really strong resolve (when I was really high), then as soon as those first symptoms of w/d's started I would immediately lose all my strength and give in. What you are doing is SO HARD, to have to do it by yourself and not having the support of your husband so you should be really proud of what you have done.
The last time I quit I cried nonstop the entire time. I thought of the percocet as almost a anti depressant- I felt just despondant- completely devestated, that was the worst- that and the way your mind just screams for more pills, I remember thinking that I would pay $50 for one lousy pill at one time. I quit on a Monday and that was Tuesday that I felt like that. I work part time three days a week, six hour days and it was almost better going to work then trying to stay home and take care of my daughter. Right now she is up to something at this very moment- ok, I found her in her bedroom with a vase full of flowers that she has torn apart and scattered everywhere, and poured the water out everywhere- and she stripped and is naked, it is something like that every few minutes.
The worst time of the day for me is in the early evening, I miss the pills more then anything when I am starting to make dinner, it was almost like 'my time' my husband came home and played with our daughter outside and I would start dinner and have a glass of wine and take a few pills and watch Judge Judgy and the world was just buzzing and wonderful. Just writing that makes me think I can't do this. But I have to quit, I know it. My hair has become so thin- it just breaks off and it used to be really long and full... and I feel like just crud every morning when I wake up and am bruising so easily and have pain under my right rib. I drink a lot of wine on top of the pills too.
There is so much I could say and relate to you on.. I know what you mean on the 'private time' my daughter won't have it either, and if she does then she is using the freedom to get into trouble. I have a 10 year old son too but he is old enough to take care of himself. I have had 'the flu' so many times it's not even funny when I am going through w/d's. I just want a happy healthy life without these damn things, I don't want to struggle with depression.
I am sorry about you and your husband, that sounds like a very hard situation to quit in. Last night we were going for a walk and my husband said "You've been taking them again haven't you?" and I told him "Yes, but not as many" I could tell he was worried but our daughter was with us and now he is at work.
If you want to you can email me, I never feel really comfortable with spilling everything on a public board, I am always afraid someone I know will stumble on it. Maybe we could help each other through this. Good luck to you. I have one vicodin and 1/2 a percocet right now and the xanax, but I won't take anything till I feel REALLY bad and then try and just 1/2's everything. A problem for me though is that I can always get pills, in fact if I don't make a call people will start calling me and when you have w/d's and you have them offered right there it is so hard to turn them down, you probably know how the mind works "Just one and this pain will be over and I will feel so good again". Also I still get high from the pills, I know a lot of people that say the pills quit working and now they take them to maintain and be ordinary, but for me I still feel that euphoric and wonderful high feeling even if I just take a couple. I crave that feeling.
Take care.



Hi - yes, I did read your earlier post and I almost had to laugh (I know it's not funny) but your story is so similar to mine. Especially the part about looking for pills in the backyard - I've searched the house so many times when I was running low looking for that one that may have dropped somewhere. And when I do find one (rarely) you'd think I had struck gold! And you're right, the absolute hardest thing about withdrawing has been taking care of my daughter. I read some posts where people say they just couldn't get out of bed for days and I'm almost jealous! I wish I could do that while I get through this. But I can't stand the thought that she may suffer in the least from any of this, so I feel like I have to keep things going as normally as possible for her - and it has been so hard! I started the w/d on Mon. I think and Tues. was the worst day so far. I was in the bathroom all day - in spite of the massive amounts of immodium I was taking. And that right there is a feat in itself with a 3-year-old who follows me everywhere and has no patience for all these "private time-outs" and disruptions to her day! But yesterday (Wed) I guess the stomach med. starting working or something, and it seems like once that's under control the whole thing becomes more manageable. Still MISERABLE - but a bit more manageable. Why does every hour that passes seem like an entire day? It's amazing what a hard job just taking care of a home and a child really is without the help of those pills. Plus, I'm going through a divorce but we're all still living together while the house is on the market, which is an uncomfortable situation anyway. My husband (estranged) works from home mostly too - so we're just all here together all day (but in seperate bedrooms) - and I'm having to hide this from him the whole time too! It's funny - the problem that got you hooked on the meds. in the first place (back-pain for me) becomes the least of your problems when you're withdrawing. I also know what you mean about the impatience and anger - it seems like the meds. inhibit or diminish your emotions, and when you run out they just erupt full-force. My problem hasn't been with anger but with crying. I've been crying over everything since this started. Just feeling sorry for myself I guess. Anyway, back to the grind. Will you start tomorrow (Fri.)? Good luck, good luck, good luck to you. Your lucky for those xanax - maybe they'll help you with that restless leg syndrone at night - that's kept me awake for 3 nights now in spite of sleeping meds. I hate that! Let me know how you're doing and if you come across anything that helps and I'll do the same!

[/quote]
[/quote]

[robert327]

hi folks i have been reading most of the posts lately getting ready for today. just took my last pill and iam already scared about whats to come. i have heart disease and i suppose the real reason ive taken painkillers for so long is because it helped me deal with everything so much easier you know empowered. ultimately fear and pain started this and it looks like the same issues will be their as i start withdrawls. i have saved some xanax i got months ago will they help at all with withdrawls.
thank you for any and all help bob[V]

bob

[pattikake]

Hi Bob, if you've been reading the posts you probably know the drill... I was in your exact same place 8 days ago, and all I know to tell you is what I did - just try to treat each symptom. You [u]have</u> to have immodium (lopermide)for your stomach. You'll need sleep aids and if you can get prescription ones they might be better, but if not, O.T.C. sleeping pills work too. O.T.C. pain relievers for the aches & pains, etc. That's all I know to do! Unless you can call your dr. about this, because there's stuff that can be prescribed to help you through it. Your xanax will DEFINATELY help you out - I wish I'd had some. Those will be useful for the axiety, nerves, probably help with the shakes, etc. I had these symptoms for about 4 days - yes it was terrible - then they got a little better daily. Still dealing with the mental & emotional effects though. Best of luck to you.

[robert327]

quote:Originally posted by pattikake

Hi Bob, if you've been reading the posts you probably know the drill... I was in your exact same place 8 days ago, and all I know to tell you is what I did - just try to treat each symptom. You [u]have</u> to have immodium (lopermide)for your stomach. You'll need sleep aids and if you can get prescription ones they might be better, but if not, O.T.C. sleeping pills work too. O.T.C. pain relievers for the aches & pains, etc. That's all I know to do! Unless you can call your dr. about this, because there's stuff that can be prescribed to help you through it. Your xanax will DEFINATELY help you out - I wish I'd had some. Those will be useful for the axiety, nerves, probably help with the shakes, etc. I had these symptoms for about 4 days - yes it was terrible - then they got a little better daily. Still dealing with the mental & emotional effects though. Best of luck to you.

thanks for your help

bob

[Melui]

I have a similar problem. I just recently discovered that my boyfriend has an addiction to pain killers. He has a type of cancer (he's only 20 [V]), and has been taking pain killers for a while now. He's recently developed a habit for them, and has been spending every cent he has to get more. He's thought about getting help, but he doesn't want to tell anybody he has this problem I'm the first he's told. The problem with him telling me is that I can't help. We have a long distance relationship, and it's already difficult enough for us to communicate. I don't know how I can help him other than being there to listen, be supportive, and encourage him to get help. Is there anything remotely useful i can suggest besides rehab?

[J.Fluoride]

In my opinion, methadone used as a last resort. To me it wasnt the drug methadone that was the problem so much, it was the program. Ive been on the methadone program for 5 years and yesterday, 6-2-05 was my last day there and it was not by my choice either. What got me there was I started out doing oxycodone and other small time opiates. Then I started snorting oxycontin and ms-contin(morphine),heroinand methadone pills. But my real problems didnt start until I got on those methadone pills. Because before that I had never been dope sick. The first time I got dope sick badly was after I had been taking 1 or 2 40miligrams methadone wafers each day for about a month and my hook up ran out. When I was doing it, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Then I got really sick and didnt even know that it was from the drugs until a friend told me. After I found out I was like "Screw this stuff Im not doing it anymore". But then about a week and a half went by and I was still sick and about to lose my job because of it. I tried sniffing oxy's and morphine and heroin but that didnt help. Then one day I had to go to work and I was very sick and weak mentally and physically and I let a "friend" talk me in to letting him give me a shot of 2 80 miligram oxycontins. Until then I always said I would never touch a needle and I was actually scared of them. But after getting that shot I was all better and I thought to myself, "That wasnt as bad as I thought". Because I thought it was going to be something really hardcore and lay me out in the floor. The next day I learned to shoot myself up and I was on the rollercoaster ride from hell, and it caused un-Godly problems. This went on for 5 years before I went to get help at a meth. clinic. The first clinic I went to was great. They were caring and almost every councilor had been an opiate addict. They were patient about money, and about failing drug tests(as long as it wasnt hard drugs like opiates or coke). These people also encouraged You to detox off of the methadone. But 2 years later they had to move that clinic and it was taking me 90 minutes to get there, but a month later they opened one in my home town. By that time I only had to go 1 time each week and I would get 6 take home bottles because I passed all my drug tests for a year. But when I got to the clinic here I noticed right away that there was a big difference. Im 25 years old and all but 1 councilor was older than me and none of them had any kind of addiction in their past. So they were not so patient and compassionate. But I put up with it. But then I started having seizures really bad and had to be put on Klonopin, and this clinic wouldnt even let you take benadryl. So I soon lost my take home meds. and then they started detoxing me, but they stopped it a few times because my seizures were getting worse. But over time, they stopped and started the detox a few times and I had been all the way up to 140 miligrams and they were detoxing my 1 mg. each day. What I really thought was messed up was they let some people take benzos as long as it wasnt xanax. This one guy I know, they let him take diazepam and dilauded. But they would not work with me at all. They just detoxed me. But to some people 1 mg a day doest sound so bad but when you have bee taking it for 5 yearsand your tolerance is so high it really hurts and right now Im in bad shape. I really didnt expect it to be this bad, but its terrible. I feel like a junky again and all those bad memories that Ive tried so hard to forget, have came back and if I didnt have the support that I have, I would relapse tonite. But Im not going to do anything to get myself back down there to put more money in their pockets. Because it seems money is all they are about. They never once talked to me about detoxing, except when I failed a drug test for Klonopin. Then they would threaten me. Im just glad Im off of it now, but at the same time I wish I was still on it, so I wouldnt be hurting. This stuff is way worse and harder to come off of thab norphine or heroin. Those drugs withdrawals were fast and furious, but this stuff is just a long drawn out torture. But it doenst have to be that way if you detox at a rate that you are comfortable doing. I just suggest staying away from opiates period. But if its too late and You need help, GET IT!!! Ive saw too many friends die from these poisons. Get whatever help you believe is going to be the best for you. I would suggest methadone as a last resort. But if You do get into a meth. program, stay clean, pass Your drug tests and dont stay on it for years. Stay on it long enough to get your life in order and detox yourself. Dont let them make You do it. Trust me, I know from experience, its not pleasent, at all. Looking back I wish I could have just rode out the sickness and got it over with, but its easier said than done. Just be careful and dont let this stuff bring you under, because this stuff doesnt discriminate, it will get anyone.

Jeremy G. Fluoride

[mpvt]

You've had quite a ride Jeremy.Now it's your turn to help someone who is dieing the slow death of addiction.I hope you can stay clean but if you had to can you get into another clinic that is better suited to you????Good luck and hang in there.....Dave

Finally my pain is under control!!!!!!!

[Nikki456]

HELLO ALL. IM NEW AT THIS SO DONT LAUGH. I WAS ADDICTED TO VICODIN ES AND LORECET FOR 3 YEARS. I BECAME PREGNANT, STILL TOOK THEM, LIFE WAS GREAT. I HAD CERVICAL DISPLASA AND ENDOMETRIOSIS VERY BAD. BY GYNO KEPT WRITING SCRIPT AFTER SCRIPT, AND WHEN SHE CUT ME OFF AFTER 2 YAERS I WENT A FAMILY DOC. AND HE KNEW ABOUT BY ADDICTION AND WROTE SCRIPTS FOR LORECET AND VALIUM. (THE DOC NO LONGER IS IN PRACTICE.)SO I FINALLY RAN INTO A DRUG CALLED ULTRAM WHICH HELPED ME GET OFF THE NARCS, BUT KNOW IM HOOKED ON IT WHEN MY DOC TOLD ME IT WAS NON NARC. AND NON ADDISTIVE. IM SCARED TO GO THROUGH THE WITHDRAWLS BECAUSE I AM SO TIERED, I HAVE HOT AND COLD SWEATS MY HEAD FEELS LIKE ITS FALLING OFF, AND I DONT WANT TO TELL MY NEW DOC. MY PROBLEM OR PAST BACAUSE IM SCARED AND DONT WANT HER TO KNOW MY PAST. DOES ANYONE KNOW A WAY THAT WILL HELP MY WITHDRAWLS IF I GO COLD TURKEY? IM SO SCARED IM ONLY 20 YEARS OLD I HAVE A SON WHOSE 15 MO AND HE NEEDS ME SO MUCH RIGHT NOW, AND I WANT MY ENERGY BACK SO I CAN SPIN HIM AROUND AGEIN AND BE THE MOMMY GOD MENT FOR ME TO BE.[V]

[Stoddard]

Hello,

I'm new here and it's great to see so many other people with similar problems coming together to support one another. I started out hard doing H (via insufflation), however, I never have used a needle. That was about 2-1/2 years ago. I've been on/off since then mainly on painkillers because I moved from the area where I could score H.
Anyway, I decided to finally get clean. I weaned myself down to 60-80mg hydrocodone per day and now I'm going to detox quickly (&lt;week) with suboxone. Sub seems to be wonderful so far. I was starting to go into WDs, I took 4 mg sublingually, fell asleep, and 2 hours later I woke up feeling fine.

My main point on posting is to bring attention to the 'thorn' in the side of this board. This is a board where struggling addicts can support one another. However, there is one poster who presumes that he is omniscient and he really contributes nothing to this board except hard feelings. I've been reading posts for about an hour and I cannot begin to express what a pomposity and arrogance of Mr. Miles. Give these people a break Miles. And pardon me, but who in the **** are you?

The classification of mental disorders as a disease is debatable, yes, even amongst doctors and other professionals. What you are expressing is YOUR viewpoint. Your arguments are full of semantic tripe. True, addiction and depression may not appear to be diseases in the traditional sense, but it has been proven that there are differing brain chemistries in individuals who have a tendency to succumb to these illnesses.

For instance, we'll use one of your examples: diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that seems to be somewhat hereditary. I'm not a doctor, or a know-it-all, like Miles, so I don't know exactly how diabetes works, but I know it is due to the body's inablitiy to metabolize glucose due to insufficient functioning or lack of insulin. Now, it has been proposed that addiction and depression may be cause by insufficient functioning or a lack of certain receptors or neurotransmitters in the brain. So, what's the ****in' differnece Miles? One produces physical symptoms, the other produces mental symptoms. So are you proposing that only ailments that produce physical symptoms are diseases? What about Alzeimher's? That's a ****in' disease you asshole, or the dementia that comes with late-stage AIDS or cancer. Hmmmmm.....it seems like their may be a mental link to some of these physical conditions.

You are trying to suggest that these addicts are just weak. Well, sorry bud, their brains just may have been wired differently than yours.

You are to eager to decipher between the physical and mental. We are just coming into a new age of medicine where we can look at the interactioins between the mental and the physical. So if we start to notice that a certain population of people are deficient in a certain neurotransmitter and they are also suffering mental symptoms, we should assign this condition a name, like depression. However, according to Miles, this is just a name for a certain condition that the body is in. It cannot be a disease - just a name. Come on now Miles, you're semantic bull**** is not impressing anyone here nor is it doing anyone any good, so go away. Unless of course you are afflicted with addiction or depression and need to talk with others that have your condition/disease.

Furthermore you go on to say:

"Here goes one more shot across the bow in the name of responsibility and true freedom: There is no blood or other biological test to ascertain the presence or absence of a mental illness (e.g., "depression" for a few posters at this site), as there is for most bodily diseases."

That is bull**** anyway. A CT Scan will clearly show differences between a depressed individuals brain and a normal person's brain. Just because we don't have the technology yet to determine some of the intricacies of the brain (receptors, neurotransmitters, etc.) doesn't mean that the evidence of disease is not there. We just don't have the means to see it YET.

I also believe that you are the one with low self-esteem. Coming to an addiction board and talking down to all the addicts about how they are weak and not biologically unlucky, I'm sure that makes you feel good, huh? And it probably makes you feel intelligent. If you are so intelligent, why don't you go to medical board with doctors and researchers and sling some of your ideas out there?

I've only read 2-3 of your posts, but I had to respond immediately because you should not be here. I would love to have more intelligent discourse with you, but I must say I would love it more to never see another post from you again.

Peace,
Steve

[robert327]

quote:Originally posted by Stoddard

Hello,

I'm new here and it's great to see so many other people with similar problems coming together to support one another. I started out hard doing H (via insufflation), however, I never have used a needle. That was about 2-1/2 years ago. I've been on/off since then mainly on painkillers because I moved from the area where I could score H.
Anyway, I decided to finally get clean. I weaned myself down to 60-80mg hydrocodone per day and now I'm going to detox quickly (&lt;week) with suboxone. Sub seems to be wonderful so far. I was starting to go into WDs, I took 4 mg sublingually, fell asleep, and 2 hours later I woke up feeling fine.

My main point on posting is to bring attention to the 'thorn' in the side of this board. This is a board where struggling addicts can support one another. However, there is one poster who presumes that he is omniscient and he really contributes nothing to this board except hard feelings. I've been reading posts for about an hour and I cannot begin to express what a pomposity and arrogance of Mr. Miles. Give these people a break Miles. And pardon me, but who in the **** are you?

The classification of mental disorders as a disease is debatable, yes, even amongst doctors and other professionals. What you are expressing is YOUR viewpoint. Your arguments are full of semantic tripe. True, addiction and depression may not appear to be diseases in the traditional sense, but it has been proven that there are differing brain chemistries in individuals who have a tendency to succumb to these illnesses.

For instance, we'll use one of your examples: diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that seems to be somewhat hereditary. I'm not a doctor, or a know-it-all, like Miles, so I don't know exactly how diabetes works, but I know it is due to the body's inablitiy to metabolize glucose due to insufficient functioning or lack of insulin. Now, it has been proposed that addiction and depression may be cause by insufficient functioning or a lack of certain receptors or neurotransmitters in the brain. So, what's the ****in' differnece Miles? One produces physical symptoms, the other produces mental symptoms. So are you proposing that only ailments that produce physical symptoms are diseases? What about Alzeimher's? That's a ****in' disease you asshole, or the dementia that comes with late-stage AIDS or cancer. Hmmmmm.....it seems like their may be a mental link to some of these physical conditions.

You are trying to suggest that these addicts are just weak. Well, sorry bud, their brains just may have been wired differently than yours.

You are to eager to decipher between the physical and mental. We are just coming into a new age of medicine where we can look at the interactioins between the mental and the physical. So if we start to notice that a certain population of people are deficient in a certain neurotransmitter and they are also suffering mental symptoms, we should assign this condition a name, like depression. However, according to Miles, this is just a name for a certain condition that the body is in. It cannot be a disease - just a name. Come on now Miles, you're semantic bull**** is not impressing anyone here nor is it doing anyone any good, so go away. Unless of course you are afflicted with addiction or depression and need to talk with others that have your condition/disease.

Furthermore you go on to say:

"Here goes one more shot across the bow in the name of responsibility and true freedom: There is no blood or other biological test to ascertain the presence or absence of a mental illness (e.g., "depression" for a few posters at this site), as there is for most bodily diseases."

That is bull**** anyway. A CT Scan will clearly show differences between a depressed individuals brain and a normal person's brain. Just because we don't have the technology yet to determine some of the intricacies of the brain (receptors, neurotransmitters, etc.) doesn't mean that the evidence of disease is not there. We just don't have the means to see it YET.

I also believe that you are the one with low self-esteem. Coming to an addiction board and talking down to all the addicts about how they are weak and not biologically unlucky, I'm sure that makes you feel good, huh? And it probably makes you feel intelligent. If you are so intelligent, why don't you go to medical board with doctors and researchers and sling some of your ideas out there?

I've only read 2-3 of your posts, but I had to respond immediately because you should not be here. I would love to have more intelligent discourse with you, but I must say I would love it more to never see another post from you again.

Peace,
Steve

bob

[Miles]

Stoddard:

Your psychobabble and puerile name-calling clearly illustrate how you are another who has bought into the biopsychiatric view of mental illness. As someone who has spent more than 20 years conducting legitimate inquiry into the myth of mental illness, I find your opinions typical of those who find some degree of comfort in feeling that there is a biologic basis for problems in living. If it makes you feel better to think that you have a “disease,” so be it – all too often, emotion rules over intellect in such discussions.

You write that “The classification of mental disorders as a disease is debatable…” It is not debatable if one accepts the medical definition of “disease.” In medicine, disease is defined as a physical lesion. The proposition that mental disorders are brain diseases is a big lie. Mental disorders are diagnoses not diseases.

You mention diabetes. Yes, it is a disease and yes, I understand how it works. What do you know about “lack of certain receptors or neurotransmitters in the brain (your words)?” Are you saying these cause mental illness? Show me the credible literature! There is absolutely no legitimate research to support your benighted allegation. Could you find credible the research that flips your argument on its head, i.e., that depressed emotional states may influence the body’s brain chemistry resulting in the measured changes among neural pathways you cite?

The medical definition of “disease” does not suit you, so you construct your own definition? Who is the arrogant one here? You write, “We are just coming into a new age of medicine where we can look at the interactioins (sic) between the mental and the physical.” Are you familiar with Nazi eugenics? Who are the “we” to whom you refer? May I assume you blindly buy into the self-serving research of pharmaceutical companies?

In the name of freedom, and particularly the freedom to be “different,” I contend that you are the elitist in this discussion, not I. Continue to believe that there is a biologic basis for all of daily living if you will – your reductionist thinking is insulting to all who hold personal freedom dear.

Miles

[scruffi]

Miles, your nutcase ramblings are cluttering up this forum and driving people away. Pretty soon, you'll just be talking to yourself (or do you do that already?)

[Emily131]

HI, not the first time im posting. Ive actually posted quit a few times inquiring about vicodin detox- I have been taking them daily for about 8yr- about 24-40/7.5/750 over the past 2yrs probably. My husband too-- but he only took about 6pills a day. in any event, this past sunday night-- we ran out royally. tried everything, and everyone with no avail. although we have been actively talking about quiting, we never really got there. this time, of no choice of ours, we did. i told him "if we make it thru. 24hr- its over!" (THE PILL CONSUMPTION THAT Is). We I dont know if Im jinxing myself- but I FEEL GREAT! really no symptoms. today is day 3 and aside from trouble sleeping, nothing. I was recommended to take tylenol pm, whihch mind you I always took in conjunction with my vike sessions, but the benedryl in there supposed helps- maybe thats whats helping here. I just dont get it-- all this time, all these years Ive read these message boards to see with detox is like and people scared the **** out of me--- this is a piece of cake! dont get me wrong, I want to use, I do-- thats the worst part-- and were tired, weak-- little sweating I suppose but nothing that high AIR CONDITIONING hasnt solved. My husband is having some really bad muscle pains, but aside from that-- THATS IT!
Why am I writing? too tell everyone else out there like us that quiting will not kill you or send you to the hospital. I know, everyonese different-- but I was a VERY VERY heavy user-- VERY HEAVY, and CHRONIC-- 8YEARS! everyday- never missed a day! and now im 3days off and I FEEL BETTER then I did when I was on them. sure a little muscle cramping, but not worse then the muscle cramping hangover that i use to wake up with after I popped 40pills in a night. no nausia, and many time the vikes made me puck. no diarrhea yet, but the vikes always gave me diarrhea. ok- enough babbling, like I said, maybe im jinxing myself and later today or tomorrow will be awful, but as for now 3days in-- i feel GREAT and to anyone thats scared of the w/d of detoxing, your fearing the unknown, making excuses and frankly have no idea how YOU will react untill YOU try it. Guarentee, IT WONT KILL YOU.
signing off-- Today my husband and I are proud-- not to mention, WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE MONEY IN OUR POCKETS!! LOL