[terryspuba]

I have posted on other forums. Here today.I am a 51 yr. old widow.My husband died 5 yras. ago.I have been taking vics and percs for years.Want to stop but have to work.I am tapering off.Down to about 8 a day.To me that is still alot.Guess i didnt realize how many i was taking a day till i cut down.Taking 8 for about a week and a half now.Anyone do you think that this way will work.terryspuba

[angler204]

Sparky-Hang in there. You sound like one of the strong ones. Keep your head up and stay strong.
Everyone hang in there actually. WE CAN BEAT THIS!

I am very open with my wife about it. She has been amazing. We used to take them together just for fun but she got pregnant and had to stop, luckily for her. While she was pregnant my usage went way up without her knowing.
I noticed recently (4 months after her pregnancy) she began taking again occassionally. When we started doing it together often I had to tell her I had a problem so she didn't get hooked and then we'd really have been screwed. So, not only can I not use...she can't even think about taking any either for both of our sakes.
I told my source not to give me anything no matter how many times I asked. That was hard to do too. But he's been good about it.

[angler204]

terrysp- i've tapered off many times never taking that last step. until you are really ready to get off it's going to be very hard going back and forth. For me it's either all or none...
good luck!

[angler204]

Jonesing-
let me know how it goes with the sub. I'm trying cold turkey for the 1st time...
I had a 10-20 a day pill addiction and have now only had 6 weaker type pills 8 days ago. I went the 1st 2 days after coming off the pills into a xanax induced coma basically. That helped a lot I think.
*also from the south...

[crazydave]

I can understand what your friend is going through.
At one point in time, I was on 140mg (14-10mg)Methadone daily, among other scripts. Doctor put me on 5 day withdrawal program. Felt lousy. Know what withdrawal feels like, first hand. I extended my program for three or four days, and I'm off. No matter the dosage you are using, cut dosage 5mg for three days, then 5mg more for three days, etc., etc. Over three day period, body doesn't notice 5mg less; usually won't react with withdrawal symptoms. My Doctor's PA admonished me because I didn't follow her schedule to the letter. I 'nicely' told her I'd been on methadone since before she graduated high school. I also let her know she would not scold me like a ten-year old EVER AGAIN.
Like others have stated, the last part is the hardest. You have to want to stop completely. But, keep your chin up. I've been on and off of Methadone, and worse, for over 10 years. When my system becomes so tolerant to the present meds, I'm withdrawn from the current, and changed to another. You can do it if I can.
Please try my advice. If they are on it for recreational purposes, once they are off, STAY AWAY FROM IT. There is a valid reason it's a Schedule II narcotic.
Good Luck, and let us know how this works out.
Crazydave, AHD

[angler204]

Lisa, you seem to be know a lot about what we're all dealing with. I'd like to give you my schedule of what I was taking and get your opionion of where you think I am with the physical aspect of withdrawls...that is if you don't mind.
Prior to Thanksgiving I was taking 6-20 pills a day either 10 mg lore tabs or 7.5 vikes, or whatever I could get my hands on really. It started as fun...and now I'm here spending almost $20,000 a year on this ****...I've been using for about 1.65 yrs heavy.
Last big dose of the vikes or tabs was 11/20, then meth for 5 days, then 7 vikes on the 27th, then 3 ultram the 29th and then 3 more ultram the 4th of dec.
I feel ok. After the 5 days of meth I used xanax for 3 days and that helped me sleep. Still a little anxious...my wife knows everything so that makes it better. She is a huge help.

This place and your success stories have been a great help to me. I appreciate anyone's help/advice.

[sparky]

I'M SITTING HERE REFLECTING..READING BACK QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I FIRST POSTED SEEKING HELP...I READ MY DESPERATION, MY PROCRASTINATION...I READ YOUR RESPONSES...AND I QUIT POSTING...EVEN ON AN ANONYMOUS BOARD I COULD'NT CONTINUE PLEADING FOR ANSWERS THAT WEREN'T AVAILABLE FROM ANY ONE BUT MYSELF..... FINALLY., YOU ALL WERE STILL HERE AND STILL SUPPORTIVE..I CAME BACK ALL "GUN HO" ABOUT THIS MIRACLE DRUG CALLED SUBOXONE ...GOSH, I WAS ON SUCH A POSITIVE HIGH...TO HELP MYSELF ...TO OFFER WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SOME...IT'S FUNNY I THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT...NOW HAVING RELAPSED I NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT MY OWN ADVISE...LIFE IS SUCH A ROLLER COASTER..AND IN SOME WAYS SUCH A CONTRADICTION....I QUESTION MY CORE VALUES AND WONDER WHY I SEEM TO LOOSE SIGHT OF THOSE....ONE DAY GOOD ONE DAY BAD....JUST READING STORIES, OUR LIFE STORIES, OUR STRUGGLES ,OUR ATTEMPTS TO OFFER WORDS OF ADVISE....THIS FORUM ALLOWS US TO EXPRESS OUR FACELESS SELVES WHEN WE MAY OTHERWISE KEEP QUIET...I HOPE FOR EACH OF US THERE IS A USEFUL EXPERIENCE TO RELATE WITH OR GAIN INSIGHT FROM...... GET CLEAN ...STAY CLEAN

[downislandgirl]

i just found this board today...while rooting around online looking for detox information. i've read many of the posts and for the first time in the last several days, i don't feel so alone.

i am currently taking 10-20 percocet a day and am ready to quit. i am disgusted with myself, disappointed, frustrated, and feel totally out of control. i've only "come clean" with the truth of my situation in the last few days, and only to three close friends, and only after i felt i was truly arriving at the end of my rope.

i have been considering treatment options and have researched inpatient and outpatient treatment, including medical detox with suboxone. i am a nurse, and am finishing up grad school, so i am particularly sensitive about the confidentiality issue. i'm also well aware of the effects of opiates and every other mind-altering drug out there, which i have just about decided are the pill forms of pure evil. i'm also painfully aware, both from my own knowledge and my own experience, of the pains of withdrawal.

i've tried to self-taper a few times in the last few days, and find myself getting sick and miserable if i go even and hour or two beyond my normal "dosing" time. so obviously i am dreading the detox. yet, because my willpower is so strong (at the moment, anyway...), i would really like to try and give it a go on my own. i appreciate all of the suggestions i've read about on here and feel more confident that this is at least worth a try.

i'd love any feedback you have to offer...suggestions for tapering down...ideas for "self-detox"...anything. it's taken me so long to fess up about this and to decide to do something about it, that i'm just about desperate for any support at this point. i have been to meetings in the past...i have gone to therapy in the past....maybe it's time to consider doing this again. and i probably will. but at this point, i am trapped in what has gone beyond seeking a high to a full-blown physical addiction. and it's scary. i find myself asking all the time....how the hell did this happen? and how did it happen to me? [V]

"Faith isn't the absence of fear but the courage to walk through it."

[sparky]

Island girl.....you have taken the first step in your recovery...admitting to yourself and to a few close people that you have a problem is HUGE....I'm sure it took alot of self anguish to finally get the courage to realize you are at the end of your rope and want to do something about it...most of us have been down this path to one degree or another...we all have different experiences of what has or has not worked for us...hopefully, you will take any suggestions or guidance and put it into forward action in your life...there are a few ways to get clean..and you probalbly already know most of the ways from reading these boards...tapering, cold turkey, or the assist of a drug like suboxone which eases the terrible w/d which for some is the only reason we still keep taking the darn drugs...we don't want to go through the painful w/d feeling....because I'm sure by now the euphoria you once felt often are few are far between..and if you started them for pain, they may not even be helping the pain anymore....soooo..in my experience I did not have the will to stop on my own...I took suboxone, and suboxone is great for helping you come off your opiate...you can do it with the help of a doctor who is well educated in suboxone and addiction...you don't have to spend days in a rehab either...which is the beauty of suboxone...you can pretty much keep up your normal life...except without the pitfalls of chasing your next opiate dose...best to you as you gain more courage to make that important phone call to get further help...

[sparky]

Island girl... Not to deter you from seeking a doctors help but there is one thing to consider given your situation as a grad school nurse and privacy.....One thing I do know is when you see a doc and they take notes it will be in your file about the reason you saw them. it will be sent to the insurance. unless they are selective in the wording... I am not in the medical field so I don't know all the privacy laws but I do know my insurance company knows things about me....plus if you get a prescription for suboxone through insurance its states that it is a drug for treatment of addiction.

[tinkers]

All

Just stoped in to see how you are all doing? As for me my back went out saterday and I have been in severe pain since I seen my pc doc yesterday and that was a joke so today I found a chiroparactic dr. close by were I get on my train and after fighting with my pc I got a referal to see her today at 430 I havent seen a chiro in many years but it use to work for me before I discovered narcs I hope this works I dont know how much longer I can last in pain like this. pray for me!

[morticia]

hi Angler~ ive read your posts and it seems that your ready to give up your addciction. you said you were on meth? did you find that it helped? I'm on meth i ve been on meth for 2 months since ive been out of detox , i was in detox for 5 days because of a 80mg daily of perks, and i was constanly going to the ER for diluadid IV shots weekly because i have chronic back pain, so i finallly had enough, i thought it over and said to myself , "damn i really have a problem , im an addict" so i made some phone calls , to try and find a methadone clinic no such luck. So i called this one detox place and they said i can detox there for 5 or so days so i did , they detoxed me with meth , valium, vistral, and trazadone (for sleep) another popular drug for detox is clonidine (a low blood pressure med) but i couldnt use that one because my BP was always low, but i was still in really bad pain, so when they gave me the meth i felt a lot better physiclly for my back and mentally for the w/ds. then when i got out i went back to my pain speciallist and i talked it over him and he put me on 20 mgs of meth a day, i feel so much better my back doesnt hurt and it seemed to help with the w/ds too.

but if your not in any pain. i would definalty suggest suboxone as meth is very addictive and hard to get off of. maybe also check out a local NA meeting that was the best thing i couldve ever done, NA gives me the support i need and i'll be celebrating my 60 days next week, they will help you get though the tough times i would highly suggest that, but of course the final desicion is yours. im just giving you some frinedly advice. and what kind of addction i have , i know what its like believe me i have been on pain meds for 16 years but the last year to 6 months were the worst for me, this forum believe it or not , helped me through my addction and problems and was a great support i felt like i wasnt alone that there were ppl in the same boat as me, and now the ppl who were currently using at the time are clean now Congrates to all!!! they have sucess stories to share and i love to hear and see sucess stories, so i believe in you that you'll be a sucess story too and that you are already just that you admitting you have a problem..and coming to the forum and saying you need help your on your way, believe me you are. and thats sucess in its self.

Island girl~ ive been in your shoes not to long ago i have an addction to perks , vikes , dilaudid and any other opiate with out pure codedine in it, if you want to go cold turkey you can try the Thomas recipe or get some immodium AD , gatorade , water advil and some hot and cold compresses becaues when you w/d cold turkey you will need to keep hydrated and wash out all the toxins in your body, and the ammodium AD is for the phyical w/d part advil for the acheyness it will be like having the flu for a few days but much worse and its all indiviudal (as we all are unqiue) but it lasts for about 5 days or so then you have the mental part which could last up to 2 to 3 weeks again its all indiviudal. but if you want so frindly advice go with the sub it makes things alot easier www.suboxone.com has more information, and alot of ppl here are on sub , it makes the transition alot easier from what i heard, and maybe you should check out an NA meeting as well for some extra support. the ppl at NA know exactly what your going through and its a great local support.
Best of luck to both of you keep us posted we like to hear back from y'all

ChrisH~ no i still havent found a sponsor yet but ive already asked 2 ppl and they said they havent finished their steps yet so im still on the hunt and im not gonna give up til i find one. i'll be comomg up on my 60 days next week, so im excited. but as soon as i find one you'll be the first to know

Lisa~your an inspiration keep up the good work and you too Sparky you both are such sucess stories and giving ppl advice about sub i think its is wonderful..i bet its the best drug around from what i heard from you both, and nymommy you 2 are inpiration keep up the good work all of you deserve a big (((hug)))).
Lisa~ im glad you bought that jewelry you always wanted you definalty deserve it.
Sparky~ how did your NA meeting go yesterday? hope all went well.
phew ok now that ive written a novel here. lol but i just wanted to let ppl know about options and to congradulate all of the sucess stories ive been hearing for the past couple of days i needed to catch up with all of you. to all the newbies WELCOME
[:I]


Clean Date:10/16/06

Just For Today

Luv N Hugs,
Clarkie

[morticia]

Tinkers~ i am so sorry to hear that i hope you feel better soon , i hope that the chioicprator helps , i will definalty pray for you and i hope you feel better soon((hugs))[:I]

Clean Date:10/16/06

Just For Today

Luv N Hugs,
Clarkie

[angler204]

mortica-
Thank you so much for the words of wisedom, I really appreciate it. However I am confused. Are you still on methadone? Isn't that an opiate?
I only took the meth for 5-6 days, before that I was only doing vikes or perks or lor tabs, like 15-20 a day.
The meth seems to have helped a great deal I guess. My schedule got so screwed up b/c I was taking xanax to calm myself. I think I may have slept through the worst part of it. I'm now 60 hrs without anything and really 9 days with only 6 little ultram. You think I'm over the physical part? I feel really pretty good.

Thanks again. Stay strong!!!

[morticia]

hi Angler~ you are so welcome glad i could be of help, yes ,im still on the meth, and yes it is an opiate but it doesnt give you the "high" that all of like especally me for example. but i am really glad that it doesnt give you a high because then it would defeat the purpose. you said your 60 hours with out anything and you feel pretty good? i think thats making great progress, i think your probably over the worst but like its all individual, so if you feel pretty good your are definalty on your way of getting clean Congrates to you[:I] now the mental part thats a toughy cuz it can be tricky its like you want the pills mentally like you want that high but phyically you dont , its something like that and that can last up for a few weeks again individual but im so glad to hear that you made it this far, with out anything maybe you dont need anything now but you just might want to consider an NA meeting or maybe meth sub ect.. so that you dont wind up relapsing. NA is a great start the ppl in NA are just like you they know what your going through and talking and having that support system maybe all you need to stay clean, best of luck to you keep us posted your on your way!!!!

Stay Stronge you can beat this (((hugs)))


Clean Date:10/16/06

Just For Today

Luv N Hugs,
Clarkie

[nymommy]

terry..islandgirl~~~~tapering is extremely difficult when you have a drug problem..( i tried 2x)...if we could "control" our usage, we'd have no problem...the suboxone is a good choice, when inpatient treatment isnt an option...and this forum maybe your biggest help and source of reference..for me i have learned sooo much, besides the support, information and experiences shared are so helpful..this board has helped me more than my suboxone doctor...you might even meet a great friend!..the suboxone does take "tweaking" the first few days..but it will eliminate all withdrawals, and for me cravings..hoping to be done tapering in 2-3 weeks..coming here was your first step!

[LISA GIRL]

Hey everybody! Apolgogies in advance for not having more time to post. I am having new carpet put in and painting done tomorrow, so having to move a lot of furniture tonight. Redecorating=fun. Moving furniture=stress!

Angler.. I appreciate the recognition, but unfortunately not going to be of much help in evaluating your situation as I am unfamiliar with meth dosages and ultram. I was a strictly a Percocet girl! (and a few lortabs in a pinch) Am I right though in reading that you have only had 6 ultrams in about a week and 1/2? I am not familiar with the strenth of that drug but to me it sounds like you would have to be thru the worst of any physical w/drawal. Did you have w/d symptoms ?(I apologize if you posted that previously as so many new people around it takes a while to get all the stories straight.) I applaud the tapering effort...not for everyone...but I would recommend that or c/t over the suboxone any day. It all depends on the person, your resolve a the time and your level of dosage. In any case to me sounds like you are doing very well!! C The worst part of w/d is the first 5 days IMO so it would seem you may be in the clear! Congratulations!

Hey Tinkers...good luck w/ the chiropractor. I hate to hear you are in pain.. I will say a prayer for you..

Morticia... Hey woman. Yeah loving these diamonds! Definitely a better investment than perocet. For those of us who didn't have a legitmate prescription, the $$ incentive is a big one. Hope all is well with you.. to be honest, just had time to skim the postings as have a BIG night ahead. ..will spend some real time here this weekend...hope all is well with you.

Down Island girl.. you said you were taking 10-20 percs per day.. how many mg were they? I only ask as that would influence my decision on what route you should take. I went cold turkey from percs 1 1/2 years ago when my resolve was strong as you indicate yours currently is... it was uncomfortable..mostly at night.. but not unbearable...this time around I feared my dosage level was too high, and the w/d would be much worse so I opted for suboxone. Also I was quitting mostly as the "responsible" thing to do.. not because I necessarily wanted to, so I had concerns about cravings. The sub has been ok...some side effects and it remains to be seen how easy it is to get off this stuff but for now I am content. I still have more cravings now on suboxone than I did when I went cold turkey.... I wonder if that was a resolve/willpower issue or a level of me being at a lower level of percocet use prior to quitting...May never know....Good luck and welcome.

ChrisH...Hey buddy!! Good to see you. I always enjoy seeing posts from my first influence here!! I know you are busy but glad you find time to come around when you can. Congratulations on another day clean...You are the true inspiration of so many here.

Everyone else....welcome..You have definitely found the right place for sound advice and encouragement. ..See you all around the weekend...busy busy week.

[Osagewoman]

Hi, everyone, last time I was here I was stressing about a drug test for a new position and if they'd 'find' anything! Well, they didn't and I start my new job Monday! I didn't try using my friend's pee after all; just my own. Then, I went to my doc told him I'd been taking my husband's hydros for recurring migraines...all true! He gave me my own script, which will help for any future drug screens, but not necessarily for me! Hubby's relieved and scared all at once; won't be running out of his by month's end now, but will I take more now that I have more??? As you all probably know, I've been loving the extras (7.5's) but I'm trying to keep it down to no more than 30 mgs. TOTAL of hydros a day...sometimes on the weekends I was taking 50 or more mgs. a day and I felt such guilt! Now, when I'm in public or at work, talking to someone and realizing how much they respect me, I wonder how they'd look at me if they knew my secret! It's so hard to listen to others talk about their brushes with pain-pill addicts and try to act innocent! I've been so tired when I get home from work, too. I'm thinking I'm just coming down from the day's pills, so instead of taking another one, I've been eating and going to sleep. My house is a pit, too! Gee, ain't life grand!

Oh, glad to hear you all are doing so well! I always have suboxone in the back of my mind as a possible way out of this, when I'm ready! Thank you all for being there!

[nymommy]

downislandgirl~just re-read your post..you sound exactly like i did on my first post..scared, yet clearly ready to do something about it!.you come at least educated w/ your options ..i knew nothing, and like you couldnt believe i was even in this situation!..just wanted to say that for ME tapering was inpossible (if they were in the house, i was doing them)..everyone is individual, and i shouldnt generalize..just know that people are here who really can help..i hope you find what works best for you..for me it was the sub, cause in patient wasnt an option, tapering never worked, and honestly i was toooo scared of cold turkey..it seems you "want" to quit, so your 1/2 way there!

[Topnotch83]

Ok so Ive been addicted to pain pills since I had my wisdom teeth pulled which was 5 years ago....
And It all started after being prescribed Percocet's for the teeth pulling the feeling I had after popping 1 pill was just GREAT and on top of it me and my ex had broke up not to long after we were together for years and also the loss of my unborn son so it helped cover up my pain.

I stopped taking pills for a few months met a wonderful girl which Im still with right now I found out she was a recovering Heroin addict which freaked me out I was going to end things between us "talking" but I felt I had no room to judge I was just as bad as her I felt as if it was my goal in life to take her under my wing since I was clean when I met her and keep her headed in the right direction and make sure she stayed clean as well. Well we started dating and things were fine for about 3 months.... well we both got sudden urges for drugs.... we started buying 40 mg ABG peach oxycodones from a friend and before I knew it I was hooked again the feeling of snorting them was just GREAT it got to the point where i was snorting 120 mgs of oxys..... **** got bad I was blowing all my hard earned money to feel good for 3-4 hours? then come down off it with a major headache and feel like **** the next day so I was tempted to stop but we kept at it me and my gf now that is. Well a little while after things were not going good between us we were argueing alot I broke things off with her started talking to two different girls and 1 of them made me realize this is dumb etc.... and the only way she wanted to keep talking to me was if I was clean so I stopped cold turkey stayed sick fought it and I hadn't touched a pill for about 3 weeks.
Well after that I then decided to cut things off with talking to these two dif. girls and got back with my ex who had the heroin problem and told her I dont want this anymore the drugs I mean she agreed we didnt do them. Well time was passing being clean me and her and then all of a sudden she gets it back in my head about how she wanted to get some pain killers cuz she was just getting a cold so I told her I didnt want this anymore but it was to hard it was already in my head from her mentioning it too me so we ended up getting a few morphine pills and did them. Well after that I told her once again never again!.
I have been clean now again I would say almost 4 weeks cold turkey............
But here is my MAJOR problem lately that I need input on.
Some days just recently my ex I had dated for many many years goes through my head periodicly how much I MISS HER AND SHE WAS EVERYTHING TO ME AND I just wanna get high to get rid of this pain I feel as if I will never find a love like that again my gf now doesnt compare
"I know that sounds horrible" but I cant get these coming and going occurances of my ex. We have been broken up for over 2 years and I figured the pain would have stopped by now and it did up until recently and I dont know what triggered it and now that she just had a baby with her bf it's makin things harder on me (especially since we were spose to have a baby together when we were younger but she had an abortion".
I dont know what to do anymore? I feel as if I should just keep getting high cover the pain and go on with my gf now and make her think im happy even though its the drugs doing it for me. I just dont know what to do and I would love to know how to handle this I care about my gf now she does at times make me happy but then at times she makes me angry alot because she is severely bi-polar and has major anger problems but I feel as if she sences I dont Love her or care about her she always questions it AND I know I cant get my old ex back who has the kid now.... I just feel unhappy but I feel my gf now helps me from feeling lonely but not enough i feel as if I dont show her enough affection unless im high and im trying to stay clean should I let her go? even though I know she Loves me and I do care alot about her I just dont know if its Love I dont know what to do. Or should I keep on going with this relationship trying to stay clean with her even though i can sence my gf feels as if I dont care for like she thought I did when we first met. I just wish I could figure out what triggered my ex to run threw my head again...... and Im having really bad problems copeing with it I feel my life is a bore I woke I see my gf she goes to bed really early I go home sleep then work same routine we barely hangout with anyone just each other and watch movies. Any ideas on how to start showing I care for my gf now more and get these urges for drugs out of my head again so I dont go back to my oldself and get my ex out of my head.... Seems like ever since I found how she just had a baby it crushes my heart knowing I loved her so much and we were suppose to have a BABY not her bf now! I feel she was mine I took her virgnity we spent many years together.
Im sorry guy's and girls I know this post kinda gets off topic here and there but its a mixture of things and I see how people are giving advice how to stay clean etc.. and I was addicted many years to drugs I was just wondering any advice to get these thoughts out of my head.... (drugs and ex) bad enough Im prescribed xanax and valiums.......... [V]

Im in HeLL

[mattyA]

Island Girl...I am currently in, and have been in your situation many times over the past 2 1/2 years or so. I am 28 years old, had always loved vicodin, it wasnt until I discovered roxy and oxys that I developed a tendency to get addicted, both phyisically and mentally. I have probably detoxed at least 10 times over the past 2 years, sometimes succesfully for a couple months at a time. Needless to say, I have learned alot about my body, and have some things that I personally do to ease and sometimes almost eliminate withdrawls. Of course most people say that tapering is next to impossible when you reach our level of addiction; I have somehow done it a number of time with success(the relapse part is another thing altogeter). This is what I do: If I am taking oxycodone, I switch to hydrocodone. I personally find this 100 times easier to deal with, for some reason my body doesen't get as dependent on it. I taper down to about 40-50 mgs(make sure I am stable) over the course of about 2 weeks. I have found that the key to kicking these things is to space out the time between dosage. I take my last pill of the day progressivley earlier in the evening(you will find that when you do quit, getting a little sleep is a lot easier) Try to get to the point where you are comfortably able to take your last pill at like 6 or 7 at night, and take your first pill of the day at noon or so. Gradually try to space these times apart. After I get to this point, I take a couple days off, and go AS LONG as I can in the day without taking something, and take as few pills as phisically possible(usually like 3). You will find that spacing these dosage times apart really helps with the mental part of WD's, due to the fact that you are essentially "sober" for part of the day as opposed to being high 24/7. I also take like 5mgs before bed to sleep.

The next part people might not agree with, but I swear it has really worked for me on a few occasions. When you feel ready, go an entire day without anything. You will indeed have wd's, but if you are stable at like 30-40mgs, it will be bearable. From this point on, if it gets unbearable, take a pill. Just go as long as you possibly can without taking a pill. Even if you make it through an entire day, and the second day is bad, take a pill. I also find that marijuana is ESSENTIAL during this(I typically don't smoke that much at all). I also have a few drinks at night sometimes at this point, it helps to get your mind off it. I have actually skipped days, like alternating 20mgs every other day, and shocked myself when i finally did stop altogether, the wd's were minimal. I think of the $hitty feeling toward the end as progress; that my body is detoxing.

Sorry for the long winded respones, I know how it is to have absolutley NO ONE in your life that understands opiate addiction and can lend any kind of advice.

This takes an amazing amount of willpower at times, but it is doable if you really put your mind to it.

[angler204]

Lisa, thanks for responding! Everyone here has been so very helpful. As messed up as it seems knowing you're not alone makes things much easier...although I wish I could take everyone's pain away at the same time.
I have now been 72 hrs with nothing. And prior to that the Ultram (which 4 of them = 1 7.5 vike). I have taken 6 Ultram since 30th, so almost 2 weeks. I feel the mental pull but know I am strong enough to stay away. Just last night I was out putting up Xmas lights with my wife. Any other time I'd have to be on 10-12 vikes. The fact that I'm doing things with out the drugs is making me more sure that I'm getting better. I used to have to take a hand full just to get out of bed.
I truely believe what you and others have said on posts throughout this thread...you have to be mentally prepared to do this. If you have not hit rock bottom you will...and that to me was the best time to stop.
To answer your question about w/d. I did, but I was doped up on Xanax and slept most of the 1st few days. And the meth stays in your system so long I didn't really feel the need for anything.
I don't know, maybe I lucked out with what ever I did...it's Thursday and I'm good to go.

Thanks to everyone for your help!!!

IF I CAN DO THIS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU CAN!

[angler204]

thank you mortica!
actually slept last night and feel great this morning!

I wish I could make everyone feel better!!!

quote:Originally posted by morticia

hi Angler~ you are so welcome glad i could be of help, yes ,im still on the meth, and yes it is an opiate but it doesnt give you the "high" that all of like especally me for example. but i am really glad that it doesnt give you a high because then it would defeat the purpose. you said your 60 hours with out anything and you feel pretty good? i think thats making great progress, i think your probably over the worst but like its all individual, so if you feel pretty good your are definalty on your way of getting clean Congrates to you[:I] now the mental part thats a toughy cuz it can be tricky its like you want the pills mentally like you want that high but phyically you dont , its something like that and that can last up for a few weeks again individual but im so glad to hear that you made it this far, with out anything maybe you dont need anything now but you just might want to consider an NA meeting or maybe meth sub ect.. so that you dont wind up relapsing. NA is a great start the ppl in NA are just like you they know what your going through and talking and having that support system maybe all you need to stay clean, best of luck to you keep us posted your on your way!!!!

Stay Stronge you can beat this (((hugs)))


Clean Date:10/16/06

Just For Today

Luv N Hugs,
Clarkie

[LISA GIRL]

Angler...I think you might be right.. you may have slept thru the worst of it! When I went c/t I had nothing to help me sleep til day 5, so I was awake for every annoying part of it. I am glad you are on your way to being free. Always be on guard however. When the w/d comes too easy, it may be easy to relapse as well. Stay on guard always!! Isn't it amazing to realize you really don't need those pills to do life's tasks i.e., putting up Christmas lights?

[morticia]

Lisa~ i couldnt agree with you more this is my first holiday season without pills and i feel fantastic am so looking forward to the holidays Hanukkah starts on thurs. night the 14th so im excited about that and we just put up our xmas tree the day after thanksgiving and im not even sick of looking at it at all believe it or not lol (we celebrate both).
Angler~ Congrates on your way of being clean thats great you probably did sleep most of the w/d off are you still taking the ultram? i dont know too much about that drug but i know its not a narcotic and it works on the brain recpters like morphine does if you take alot of it, my doc told me that anyways i'm allergic to it, so all i know is that it makes me sick as a a dog Blah...lol[xx(]
well hope to hear from yall soon [:I]keep us posted


Clean Date:10/16/06

Just For Today

Luv N Hugs,
Clarkie

[Spaazkaz]

aright I posted a little while ago. I am currently using suboxone and am kinda self perscribing but i feel its is my only option at this point and i think i am doing alright. My question is that i rolled my ankle pretty bad today... last ime i took sub was last ngiht at around 9 or 10 and im wondering if it would be safe for me to pop a methadone instead today to help ease the pain. I realize you aren't supposed to mix opiates with suboxone obviously but i dont know how long i am supposed to wait before its "safe" to take another opiate. Also, I am on a mild scrip of benzos (xany) for when i feel i need to take it and i took some this morning. please let me know thanks you guys are a godsend. -Zack-

[Spaazkaz]

I just read up a little more and realized how wrong i am about what i am taking. I apologize for my ignorance but i guess thats why i am here in the first place. peace and love, Zack

[mpvt]

the methadone won't work that soon after taking buprenorphene.Your better off to take another dose of the suboxone......Dave

[downislandgirl]

everyone... thanks for the thoughts and advice. the privacy/confidentiality issue is definitely a big deal. in fact, it is in all likelihood going to keep me from doing the suboxone detox. i am just not willing to take a chance on compromising my career at this point. i do appreciate everyone's thoughts on the treatment, though, and i will keep it as my "plan B." hopefully i won't need it...

i am finishing up a clinical rotation and will be done next thursday at which time i will return to my home away from school. that night will be day 1. right now, i'm planning to use the "thomas recipe" and hope for the best. i will also go to NA meeting in my area after the worst of the w/d is over.

i am ready to do the FLUSH and put this **** behind me.

thanks again...

"Faith isn't the absence of fear but the courage to walk through it."

[downislandgirl]

sorry, i forgot to answer a question...

i have been taking the 5/325 percs. occasionally 20 or 40mg oxycontin.

"Faith isn't the absence of fear but the courage to walk through it."