[terese]

quote:Originally posted by pilot

Want to introduce myself. I am a father of two and been married 22 years. I am 46 and been without cartlidge in the right knee 33 years. I started having some back pain along with knee pain a few years ago. I found that when I took hydrocodine It made me feel great not to mention got rid of pain. The most hydro I have taken is 3 a day. I would get a prescription and take the 50 tabs in a month or so. When I stopped took a day or so to feel normal from some mild side effects.
Well, I must admit, if it were easier to get I could have found myself taking a bunch of pills.
I had a DR. prescribe tramadol a month ago. I found it took away the pain and I couldnt believe something non narcotic could work so well. I take only two a day which is a total of 100mgs. and I can do stuff around the house without getting too grouchy. Now I am hearing that it can be addictive... I called several pharmacys and they said I could take two a day forever and no problems....health wise. I wish that were true because it would change my life. Is two a day tramadol no big deal..?? What do you think. Any input is appreciated.
take care,

Hi pilot,
I just wanted to tell you that my doctor had prescribe me w/tramadol I thought it was addictive either. Only because my pharmacy said the same thing. I am still taking them for my back but I skip days. I haven't gone through any withdrawal symptoms but then again i haven't completely stopped. I refuse to take any narcotics so I need to have medicaiton when I am in pain. I think the pharmacy isn't giving the right information. I am not going to go back for any refills and I hope not to go through w/drawal. But I can tell you I see some people around me who are addicted to Tramadol. I wish you the best.

Terese

[DivisonofHumansAndNature]

Hi,

I am new on the forum, but my boyfriend is detoxing right now. We are trying to do it with no drugs except mary jane. Does anyone have any advice without using doctors. Like any fruits, veggies, herbs, or teas

Please respond soon if anyone can help

[xx(]Jessi

[mtlmd]

I have just started looking at this site yesterday and it has been a big help. I know that what I am going through is nothing. I got addicted to pain killers (prescribed for pain) about 6-7 years ago and got off 5 years ago. But I needed morphine for pain during my pregnancy and got switched to methadone. I was weaning my dose but I guess I started to feel a bit less than stellar and I escalated my dose - only to 10 mg. When I ran out of prescription I took Tylenol 1s (you don't need a prescription in Canada - I hope that doesn't give anyone any ideas). I realized after a week that I was in trouble and went cold turkey. After 2 1/2 days when I felt so bad that I wanted to die, I fessed up to my doctor who gave me clonidine, valium and stuff for stomach cramps/nausea. I am now clean 8 days and finally feeling significantly better. In fact I only took 1/2 a valium this am.
You guys are all doing great. I know how hard it is to tell people you love what you are going through but I have always been pleasantly surprised how supportive people are - especially if you were taking pain pills for real pain.
The first time my parents forced me into treatment. After going through the withdrawl I told 2 friends who were both supportive and took me out to distract me when I had drug cravings.
When I met my husband 4 years ago I told him about my prior addiction. At first he was stunned. He didn't really understand. He told me to promise that if I ever went back to drugs I would tell him right away. But when I went up on the methadone dose and took the codeine I didn't tell him. I was afraid he would judge me, find me weak. Although he doesn't really understand, he has been very helpful. When I am not well, he takes care of the baby. As much as I resisted taking the clonidine and valium again at least I was able to take care of my baby girl - although I had to stop breast feeding and feel REALLY guilty about that. I hope that today is my last day of meds and that I will be able to start breast feeing again by tomorrow.
Having been through this process a few times I think it is better to tell the ones you love; you'd be surprised how supportive they can be. Also, don't be afraid to take medication to help you get through the withdrawl. It's not like you got hooked on purpose - you shoudn't have to suffer.
Anyohw, just my 2 cents. If I can be of any more help to people let me know. I have taken the week off of work to recover. I think it's important not to do too much at once. Focus on your recovery and everythin else will fall into place. Putting too much pressure on yourself can only do more harm than good.
That's all for now, but I will be checking in on everyone's progress.
Keep well

[mpvt]

Way to go Mtlmd I know what it's like.If anyone can make it through narctotic withdrawl then they can make it through anything.I was on heavy narcotics for 22 years before I tried methadone.My pain was such that I constantly needed stronger doses.The methadone works wonders.I'm even back to work part time.......Dave

[WizardarLarge]

Wow lots of very interesting post. It's both good and sad to know that so many people are going through similar problems. I wish everyone the best of luck, I know what a hard situation it is to try and get off of these medications. The first time I was addicted to percocet and methadone and I was taking the medication orally at the time. That time I was able to get off of them on my own. But now it seems much more difficult.

A little about myself: I am a single father age 42 with a daughter age 13,I have been suffering from severe migraine headaches for over six years. I have been taking various prescription drugs for relief for almost 6 years. I have gone thru so many different medications I've lost track. Everything from anti-depressants to narcotics and now it seems my doctor is going back in circles and trying medications I've already tried in the past.

Currently I am taking 160mg of OxyContin and 24mg of Hydromorphon daily (Dilaudid) by nose(of course my doctor thinks this is being taken orally) for the last few months and this had been very successful in providing relief, but I am beginning to worry about my health and the long term effects this may be having on me. I want to cut down or even quit all these narcotics, but every time I attempt to go off of them I get horrible headaches along with a number of other symptoms including sever depression.

In the past I have always been able to quit addictions on my own, so this situation is extremely embarrassing for me. Is there any help for people with addictions like this? I am on Disability so my insurance is Medicaid which I doubt has any coverage for conditions of this nature. Not to mention they would probably dis-continue my social security and Medicaid if they where to find out about my addiction. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks and good luck to everyone is similar and not similar situations.

[ann654321]

quote:Originally posted by Iamfree

Hello,
I am so happy to have found this site. Although, I must say it would have been even more helpful almost two years ago. I am a former pain pill addict. I have been clean for 1 year, 8 months and 16 days. And it feels so good to be free from that horrific cyclical nightmare! I had gotten so bad that I was up to 80 pills a day! (No ****!) I abused Vicodin the most, but my drug of choice was Percocet. I just couldn't get those as much as I would have liked.

It began innocently enough. I had a vast amount of extremely painful scar tissue surrounding all of my inner reproductive organs from C-sections that only laying down relieved the pain. However, being a divorced mother of three very active sons with a father who successfully dodges his child support obligations, laying down was not an option. Hence, I was given pain pills before, during and after 3 additional surgeries. It didn't take long before I realized "my little healers" as I called them back then, provided more than relief from pain. Being quite depressed due to my unfortunate circumstances, the euphoric state I recieved from their ingestation was more than welcomed.

However, after going through $9,000 of my retirement fund and catching myself in the mirror while down on my hands and knees sucking up a handful that my stomach had rejected, I knew it was past due for me to get help.

I tried Detox twice, but was right back on within 24 hours of being released. Rehab wasn't an option with three sons and no support system. My final plan which should have been my first, was to get on my handds and knees and ask our Creator for HELP! So I did. And I soon learned of a program that combined 5 hours of weekly counseling sessions with Suboxone treatment. I began the regiment and have been clean ever since. I have even had minor but quite painful oral surgery that required the use of Vicodin. I took it correctly for
three days and have had no problems. And where some patients have become addicted to the Suboxone, I have not. I had to initially take the hihgest dosage due to the staggering amount of Vicodin I was taking, however, I am now at the point where I go days without taking it. In fact I usually only take it if I have pain of any sort.

It has been a totally up hill battle. Going through wihtdrawal was the worst thing I haveever been through including three C-sections but one I am happy to say I am winning.

The one bit of advice I would like to give is that I do beleive in NA and AA Programs but I do not believe in continually affirming that I am an addict, as I believe you are what you affirm yourself to be. And I affirm that I am Drug Free! I hope my story has been an inspiration for someone! It does take hard work and support but YOU can beat this!

Look for my book. It will be out soon. I will put my screen name below the synopsis on the back cover so you will all know who I am.
I am dedicating every bit of my spare time to helping others to beat this type of addiction! It has become my Life's Ministry!

God Bless You All!

[ann654321]

My husband is addited to perocets/oxyicotin as many as 15-20 day. It has almost been two years since he has been himself. He has finally made himself an appoinment to detox tommorrow. He will detox using suboxone? If anyone has detoxed using this drug, please tell me your story.

[ann654321]

quote:Originally posted by Iamfree

Hello,
I am so happy to have found this site. Although, I must say it would have been even more helpful almost two years ago. I am a former pain pill addict. I have been clean for 1 year, 8 months and 16 days. And it feels so good to be free from that horrific cyclical nightmare! I had gotten so bad that I was up to 80 pills a day! (No ****!) I abused Vicodin the most, but my drug of choice was Percocet. I just couldn't get those as much as I would have liked.

It began innocently enough. I had a vast amount of extremely painful scar tissue surrounding all of my inner reproductive organs from C-sections that only laying down relieved the pain. However, being a divorced mother of three very active sons with a father who successfully dodges his child support obligations, laying down was not an option. Hence, I was given pain pills before, during and after 3 additional surgeries. It didn't take long before I realized "my little healers" as I called them back then, provided more than relief from pain. Being quite depressed due to my unfortunate circumstances, the euphoric state I recieved from their ingestation was more than welcomed.

However, after going through $9,000 of my retirement fund and catching myself in the mirror while down on my hands and knees sucking up a handful that my stomach had rejected, I knew it was past due for me to get help.

I tried Detox twice, but was right back on within 24 hours of being released. Rehab wasn't an option with three sons and no support system. My final plan which should have been my first, was to get on my handds and knees and ask our Creator for HELP! So I did. And I soon learned of a program that combined 5 hours of weekly counseling sessions with Suboxone treatment. I began the regiment and have been clean ever since. I have even had minor but quite painful oral surgery that required the use of Vicodin. I took it correctly for
three days and have had no problems. And where some patients have become addicted to the Suboxone, I have not. I had to initially take the hihgest dosage due to the staggering amount of Vicodin I was taking, however, I am now at the point where I go days without taking it. In fact I usually only take it if I have pain of any sort.

It has been a totally up hill battle. Going through wihtdrawal was the worst thing I haveever been through including three C-sections but one I am happy to say I am winning.

The one bit of advice I would like to give is that I do beleive in NA and AA Programs but I do not believe in continually affirming that I am an addict, as I believe you are what you affirm yourself to be. And I affirm that I am Drug Free! I hope my story has been an inspiration for someone! It does take hard work and support but YOU can beat this!

Look for my book. It will be out soon. I will put my screen name below the synopsis on the back cover so you will all know who I am.
I am dedicating every bit of my spare time to helping others to beat this type of addiction! It has become my Life's Ministry!

God Bless You All!

[dedmunne]

quote:Originally posted by WizardarLarge

Wow lots of very interesting post. It's both good and sad to know that so many people are going through similar problems. I wish everyone the best of luck, I know what a hard situation it is to try and get off of these medications. The first time I was addicted to percocet and methadone and I was taking the medication orally at the time. That time I was able to get off of them on my own. But now it seems much more difficult.

A little about myself: I am a single father age 42 with a daughter age 13,I have been suffering from severe migraine headaches for over six years. I have been taking various prescription drugs for relief for almost 6 years. I have gone thru so many different medications I've lost track. Everything from anti-depressants to narcotics and now it seems my doctor is going back in circles and trying medications I've already tried in the past.

Currently I am taking 160mg of OxyContin and 24mg of Hydromorphon daily (Dilaudid) by nose(of course my doctor thinks this is being taken orally) for the last few months and this had been very successful in providing relief, but I am beginning to worry about my health and the long term effects this may be having on me. I want to cut down or even quit all these narcotics, but every time I attempt to go off of them I get horrible headaches along with a number of other symptoms including sever depression.

In the past I have always been able to quit addictions on my own, so this situation is extremely embarrassing for me. Is there any help for people with addictions like this? I am on Disability so my insurance is Medicaid which I doubt has any coverage for conditions of this nature. Not to mention they would probably dis-continue my social security and Medicaid if they where to find out about my addiction. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks and good luck to everyone is similar and not similar situations.

[dedmunne]

quote:Originally posted by WizardarLarge

Wow lots of very interesting post. It's both good and sad to know that so many people are going through similar problems. I wish everyone the best of luck, I know what a hard situation it is to try and get off of these medications. The first time I was addicted to percocet and methadone and I was taking the medication orally at the time. That time I was able to get off of them on my own. But now it seems much more difficult.

A little about myself: I am a single father age 42 with a daughter age 13,I have been suffering from severe migraine headaches for over six years. I have been taking various prescription drugs for relief for almost 6 years. I have gone thru so many different medications I've lost track. Everything from anti-depressants to narcotics and now it seems my doctor is going back in circles and trying medications I've already tried in the past.

Currently I am taking 160mg of OxyContin and 24mg of Hydromorphon daily (Dilaudid) by nose(of course my doctor thinks this is being taken orally) for the last few months and this had been very successful in providing relief, but I am beginning to worry about my health and the long term effects this may be having on me. I want to cut down or even quit all these narcotics, but every time I attempt to go off of them I get horrible headaches along with a number of other symptoms including sever depression.

In the past I have always been able to quit addictions on my own, so this situation is extremely embarrassing for me. Is there any help for people with addictions like this? I am on Disability so my insurance is Medicaid which I doubt has any coverage for conditions of this nature. Not to mention they would probably dis-continue my social security and Medicaid if they where to find out about my addiction. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks and good luck to everyone is similar and not similar situations.

This is my first post and this is truly an amazing forum.

I came on looking for help for withdrawls from Perc's for my girlfriend and was just reading about the migraines which i suffered with for years and the only relief i got was sleeping,if i could,but they are unbelievable misery for those who suffer from them and my heart goes out to you.

I no longer have migraines and the reason I dont is because I went to a Chiropractor and my neck was my whole problem,blowed my mind to say the least,so you might consider trying this and if you do I pray it works for you as it did me,bless you all who are going through addictions is my prayer.

+Do+you+not+think+you+were+wrong%3F%5B%3AX%5D%5B%3 AX%5D%0D%0A




%5Burl%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fmicrogaming-online-*****s-best.polib.com%22%5Dmicrogaming+online+*****s+best %0D%0A%5B%2Furl%5D+++

[indycouple]

Hello, Been reading this forum for several days now. Yes I have a problem with Pain Medication. Bare with me here as my spelling and overall writting isn;t that great. It all started about 5 years ago, when i hurt my hand playing basketball, i am a late 20's male. I got into an altercation, and ended up having a tooth pulled from my hand, long story short, it was a fight at a basketball tournament, just defending myself, i had never taken pain medication before, and the feeling from what the doctor gave me, was the best feeling u could ever have, at least one of the best. I had nerve damage in my hand, and had to have minor tendon surgery done. in which i was given the pain medication lortab and norco for about 3 months. over that period of time, i would use more and more of the medication even though i didn;t need it, all the time telling myself i would not use anymore, my hand had long healed, and i was still getting the medication, if u want something bad enough you can get it. I was getting the med's from online and from friends, at first it wasn;t that bad, but financially it started to catch up with me, i have a wife and 2 kids, so the longer i took it, the more it was hurting the family, i am still on the medication as i am writting this, but have made a time frame of 1 week from today to stop taking them. I have heard about the Subutex, Suboxone, Buprenorphene. I have sence been looking online to places where i live that will take me in and help me with this. My habit is a huge one, which takes alot of the money from the family. I easily take 40-50 pills per day, and that is not something i am proud of, honestly taking that many just makes me feel normal anymore. having this habit for so long, i just hate taking them. I think about all the money i have spent on them, all the time i have spent trying to track people down to get them, worring about when i would get more, or if i would run out. I have tried a few times to go cold turkey, i am a male, so i guess we think we can just stop doing something without help, i tried to stop, and what a hell i was put through, i couldn;t even go 2 days without going crazy, honestly feeling like u are dieing, i can relate so much to everything i have read here on this forum, the leg shakes, the sweats, the diarreah. ect ect. all of those, the panic attacks, and feeling like u can not do anything without them, that is exactly how i feel. I have been telling myself to quit for so long, i have my mind set and will start the process coming next monday a week from today. just because my birthday is here, and alot of family get togethers and such the next 7 days, so i am putting it off, which i know i shouldn't, but at least i have a goal to stop. I know i do not deserve the pitty, and i have put myself in this situation, nobody but myself has done this, everyday i want to stop, and think about what i could be doing with my time and all that money i have wasted, and when i say money, it is alot. just thinking $5 a pop street value, and taking 40 plus a day for almost 5 years or so, i can't emagine how much money i have blown just to get this silly high, or now as i say, just to feel normal. It gets even worse, i have started to get my wife to take them, she isn;t like me though, she only takes 2-3 a day. she had severe headaches about 4 months ago, and sence she has been taking at least 3-4 of them from me per day, so not only am i trying to supply my habit but hers as well. we have come to an understanding that this must stop, we are both doing research on the best possible way to get off of this hell ride. Inpatient isn;t a possibility really, outpatient is the only way i can really see. being she works full time, i work 2 jobs, one from home and one with a partner. and having 2 kids to take care of, just can;t get away. her problem isn;t as bad as mine, but i do know, yes i know she is in the same boat, and i feel like **** for getting her on these with me. I am just so happy to find this site, it has given us hope, it has given us a boost to get this over with, and move on to a bigger and better part of our lives. Not sure how much this has to do with this forum, but everyday i think about when i quit how things will be so much better, having all that extra money, having a bigger sex drive, anyone have this problem, i used to want sex 24-7 seems like it is the drug i want 24-7, we still have it, but it is far and in between, like takes away alot of the sexual desire? i am not sure. but i can remember when that was the only thing i could think about like a male, but that is another story. just trying to get myself ready to turn a new page in my life, a new chapter, of bigger and better things to come. Over the past 2-3 months i have been prepairing myself for this, and god be with me and my family that i can pull this off, Like i said earlier in the post, if you want something bad enough you can get it, i was able to get the meds! so if i really want this problem to go away, i can do it, we can do it. I read the posts and it says after 4-5 days of being off the meds, from the withdrawl, u start to feel better, u start to feel normal again, that is my goal, to get clean, stop hiding from my family and friends, stop spending all my money, stop cheating myself and my family. I will post again, once i find a place by next monday, i will keep this uptodate so at least i can feel better about taking the next step to being free. I can;t say how much i appriciate being able to say these things, and read about so many others having to go through this.

One Day at a time I think again and again of how i can be free from this.

[pthelps]

Indycouple,
I wish you BOTH the best of luck .I started tappering down the end of June .It took me almost a month tappering down .Each time the withdrawls taking about 5 to 7 days .I can't take as much credit as you will be able to though .I was not addicted but physically dependent .Everything is the same except the craving .I don't have that .Thank God .

The withdrawl were no worse than a really bad flu or strep throat .I found the best thing to do durring this time was to exercise some for the restless legs and anxity .Sleep is going to be hard to find because your body doesn't have anything in it to induce sleep .Taking vitiams and eating well helps Lots of fruits and veggies .Drink lots of water 64 or more ozs to flush out the toxins .Take hot showers and baths to relax those tense muscles .And dream how much better your life is going to be .How proud you both will be to get this thing off of your backs .Getting rid of guilt is great !!!!!!!!!

You both may be very grouchy . Expect that and say your sorry before this even starts .

You have a very positive attitude which is a huge assett when talking on a major under taking like this .The love you have for your family will help keep your hands from reaching into that pain pill bottle . You sound so ready to do this . You sound like you have a strong will and desire to do this .If it so happens and you take 1 pill .Forget it and forgive yourself and go on .This is so doable !!!!!!!!!!!! You can do it .Keep thinking about what a big accomplishment it will be and how proud you will be of yourselvs . Message theraph helps more than anything else !!!!!!!!!!

[Goldylox]

Hello Everyone,

I just signed up at this web-site.... Looks like I am a little farther past the addiction stage...... I have Fibromyalgia, and Mysofacial Pain Syndrome's..... I was on REALLY STRONG MEDS...... Morphine's (2), I am now in day 7 of my Suboxone, and doing good.... I will share some of my story later this afternoon, I can only type a little at a time.

Sincerely,

Goldylox

[ginafl2]

HI, I recently went to a pain management doctor and confessed my addiction. I was taking 7-10 norcos a day. I am getting married in October and really want to quit. The Dr. told me the suboxone was too strong for me and I can taper off. We also discovered I have Adult ADD so he started me on Strattera. In a week I have made it down to 4.5 pills in a 24 hour period. Yesterday was really bad because my doc prescribed me lunesta for sleep and it really messed me up. It didn't work at all and mad the withdrawl symptoms worse. I finally got sleep last night. Although I have to wake up every few hours and take a half of a norco. Does anyone know of anyone who has had success tapering off? I just don't feel like I can do it. My fiance is wonderful, he is holding onto my pills and giving them to me as I need them. The Strattera is helping a little. I can focus on things without the norcos. My body is going through some crazt stuff though. My skin is crawling like crazy and I'm really sweaty. I don't know how I am going to handle this. My doc is out of town so he can't give me anything else for sleep. I took 1mg of xanax last night along with 1.5 pills and it gave me some relief. I'm worried about sleep tonight though. At what point does the skin crawling go away? The diarreah is easy to control you just have to take some imodium.

[herewegoagain]

I am currently undogoing treatment with Suboxone, 8mg/day and have been on it for about 6 mos. Does anyone know what the shelf-life of the med is? In other words, how soon after an 8mg dose could hydro be taken?

I haven't taken any yet and I'm sure many of you will say, DON'T, but I haven't decieded yet. I don't want to compromise my treatment, but I don't know if I can take the pain--physical or emotional much longer.

herewegoagain

[mtlmd]

herewegoagain - please do not do anything rash. I sympathize with any pain you might be having. Before you do anything why not talk to the doctor prescribing the Suboxone? Maybe he/she will be able to help either by changing your dose or adding other medications. Going back to hydrocodone might not be your best option.
What kind of symtpoms are you having? What was your situation prior to going on Suboxone?
Please seek the help of a professional before undoing 6 months of work!
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing
Mtlmd

[bluebugs]

hi, never done this sort of thing before. my husband and i are both addicted to anything and everthing to do with narcotics. he got injured at work back in March, his mother died like 1 week later, and ever since we BOTH has been living off of scripts of pain killers from our docs. Make believe injuries (though some not), dental work, anything to get pills. Although he takes 3 times as many pills a day than I do, I look at it as we are the same. He has gone to the ER twice during withdrawal times, and both times they just let him sit in a room for 18 hours or so, alone, no one even really checked on him even though he was asking for help. Not pain killers, but real help. So needless to say we found no answers there. His last visit to his pill pushing doctor, who gave him a script of 60 lortabs every 2weeks, he finally fessed up that he thought he was addicted to them. The doc told him that he would be "sore for a few days" and then he would be fine. Funny how he can get on on them but can't help you get off of them. Needles to say, We are going on day 3 of cold turkey. We have 3 kids, 9,4,9 months. This has been a living hell for both of us. I have managed ok, for the most part. Taking (of all things) DayQuil and other herbel energy boosters have helped with the utter exhaustion. Also, smoking you-know-what has helped also with the intensity. Not that that is much better, but at least it's not narcotic. He has just kept himself asleep most of the time, which is really wearing me down because I am doing all of the kid duty, and cleaning,cooking etc etc. But I know that he is feeling worse than I am. I am coming off of 3 or 4 a day, and he is coming off of 12 to 15 a day. Soooo, not too sure what the next couple of days will hold for us but I am glad to have able to put my feelings in words, and hopefully there is someone out there that can give a litte encouragement. Or a least tell me that there will be life after this terrible thing we have brought to our family. Thanks for listening.

[mpvt]

Hang in there you 2 another day or 2 and you will turn the corner and start to feel good again.......Dave

[bluebugs]

thanks for your thoughts mptv. wow, I thought yesterday was a bad day, today was much worse. the feeling in my arms and legs is driving me crazy. my husband is just sleeping himself through it. In between NyQuil and Benedryl, he just sleeps. But I have 3 kids to take care of so I suffer through mine. All the while cooking,cleaning,shopping,etc etc. although it's my fault that I am in this mess in the first place, so I guess I shouldn't feel sorry for myself at all. Lord please let there be light at the end of this tunnel.[:I]

[pthelps]

ladybug ,
As usual we women shoulder most of the family responsibility in times of crisisis . You have to take care of yourself . Let the house go and take care the bare minumin . The most important factor in this equation in you getting off of the pain pills . Give yourself a huge pat on the back for making it this far in you struggle and taking care of everything else too ..WOW !!!!!!

Getting off pain meds is doable .Hard but doable ..I am still in pain but have seen so many positive changes that I m doing my best to stay off of the stIuff . I am not addictive so I don't have that gorrillia on my back . That must be extra hard .Dont give up .If you do the withdrawls start almost back at the begining .It does get better and can be gone in 4 or 5 days or so after you start .This how I looked at it .It was no worse than a bad flu and I made it through many flu type situations I can make it through this too .....Drink at least 64 ozs of water to flush out the toxins from the pain pills ..Take a good vitamin eat lots of fruits and veggies ...Exercise , walking , riding a bike message will help with thoes legs and that crawling feeling .

Good luck and God bless !!!!!!!!

pthelps stands for physical therapy helps because that is how I got my freedom from pain meds .......

[bluebugs]

**sigh** here i go on day 4 and i still feel soooooo tired. this has to be the worst part. no matter what i do, i can't seem to snap out of it. i am so worried that my metabolism was shot to heck and back,that it is going to take weeks for my energy to return. someone please tell me that it will come back. anyone have any suggestions on how to get energy the "right way"? I am trying otc energy pills and they are not working. I don't even have enough energy to cook a good meal! AHHHHHH! I swear I'm going crazy because of this! And to think that I did it to myself. what a freaking idiot. who did i think i was believing I wouldn't become addicted because I only took 2 or 3 a day! gee whiz. I look at my kids and feel even worse. I grew up with an alcoholic father, and I always remember his "drying out days". they were horrible. I hope they don't notice to big of a difference. on to day 5.

[pthelps]

Ladybug ,
It will come back stronger than ever ....You are tired and if you dont get some rest there will be heck to pay <<<<Come on who cares if they have hot dogs or steak as long as you get better . If you dont take care of your self now you will end up needing those pain pills to recover from a stress related injury and end up sick for years .....I you don't take care of yourself everyone else in your home will end up paying for it in the end .Like you did with your dad .It is very understandable how anyone can get in the drug trap in this fast paced world .Everyone wanting some much from you .You expecting to much from yourself .Forget it for now about blaming yourself and give yourself a break .....

The vitamins and exercise will help with the energy level soon .When you put yourself first that will help .I sure wished I did it much sooner .


Good luck pt helps

[bluebugs]

okay. last dose of lortabs was LAST thursday morning at around 11 a.m. and i still feel like crapola. the achiness in my arms and legs is mostly gone, but i can barely hold my head up. this is crazy. my husband returned to work today, i hope he will be ok, and fight any chances he may have to buy pain killers from his buddies there. that is where his taste for them began. he basically slept from Friday morning to this morning. he got up a few times to spend a little time with the kids, and to check on me [xx(]. so i don't think he could be tired at all. but who knows with this crazy sh*t!!!! I am a little afraid, I have to have surgery soon on my left ovary, to remove a 4cm blood clot that has formed and I know that they are going to give me pain killers. normally i would be all excited and looking forward to milking my doctor dry for pain killers, but not this time. i don't want to feel like this again any time soon. anyone have any luck with this situation.if i have to take them for 2 or 3 days will it feel like this afterwards??? also, just out of curiosity, does health insurance ever pay for suboxen?? i think that it would do my husband good next time he does this(which he will) he doesn't want to quit them "just yet" [xx(][xx(]. I know that they go for about $200 a pill on the street, and i would rather let him sleep than pay that kind of money for them!!!! thanx pthelps, and mvpt for your replies, they give me something to look forward to! I guess it's the little things.

[mpvt]

Hang in there Lady,your going to be fine.We are all rootin for ya.....Dave

[mtlmd]

Ladybug,
I feel your pain. As a mom we are somehow expected to do it all. I agree with pthelps that you have to take care of yourself. You need sleep! The worst part will be the irritability. You will find yourself snapping at your kids and husband for little things that ordinarily you could handle (or pop a pill for). Do your best to resist. Do you have any friends or family who could take care of the kids for a day or two to give you a chance to recover. If you can't tell them the truth tell them you have a bad stomach flu (you probably are nauseous and have diarrhea anyways).
As for what to do when faced with pain meds in the future. Firstly, there are non-narcotic pain relievers. SOme of these are pretty strong. What is important is to know that you are at risk of relapsing into your addiction from the pain pills. Take as few narcotics as possible. But the good news is that it takes the body at least 10-14 days of regular narcotic use to become dependent on them physically - so 2-3 days will not make you go through withdrawl again.
If you can count on your husband at that point, make him poilice your pain pills so you don't take too many. It will be a period of risk for you.
But what is most important is to focus on the here and now. You have made it so far. It will only get better from here. The first week is the worst. Days 3-5 are the pits and then you make slow steps to get better. Sleep will be difficult for much longer, though. I would try after a week or so not to take any medication to sleep - even over the counter medications can cause dependence. Take some herbal tea or a warm cup of milk and a bath. With the kids it will be hard to keep it together. I might try to find a doctor who you can confide in to help you. COunselling, esp with your husband involved in drugs might be of benefit or a 12 step program - whatever yo can afford ($ and time).
Keep writing - it will help you to get through the symptoms. And know that there are many people out there ready to help you if you have cravings or find the symptoms too much. Just please, write here first before taking anything. Especially now that you have come so far.
Keep holding on.
Mtlmd

[bluebugs]

well here i am towards the end of day 5, and i have to say i am feeling better. i am still exhausted, but managed to not take any caffine pills of energy pills and i have done ok. i allowed myself not to clean up tonight, and we had mcdonalds for dinner. i have found that smoking (cigarettes and mj) have helped to. I normally don't smoke too much mj but my husband does and he said it would help. it keeps me calm without making me sleepy. i'm not telling anyone else to go out and do it, i'm just saying it has helped me. anyways this board has been a blessing to me during this. i appreciate all of your replies. plus, anyone got any suggestions on which vitamins are best?

[mtlmd]

I am glad that you are feeling better. Good for you for not cleaning up last night. MY only comment is that I would be careful with the marijuana. You don't want to get into a situation of substituting one drug for another. Even if mj is less physically addictive, the narcotics were giving you some degree of relaxation and escape and the mj might do the same for you - besides relieving some of the withdrawl symptoms.
I am happy that you are doing better.
Mtlmd

[helpme]

please i need help im am a 14 yr old boy whos mom is addicted to vicodin and a nasal spray.she also has serzuries and im afried of loseing her.im also afried that we are going to lose her because my dad is tried of this.[V]i dont want to tell anybody i know because im afried children services is going to take us.I dont know what to do if that happens.If you can help please e-mail me at if_ur_reading_this_ur_stupid@hotmail.com

[bluebugs]

I do believe that the worst of the withdrawal symptoms are over. I am still tired all the time, but even that seems to be getting a little better. Not sure what the next step is for me, or my husband, but we have made it this far and I don't want to ever go back "there" again. I totally agree with you mtlmd, but I have to say that mj is much much easier for me to put down than those stupid pills. I don't smoke alot or often, usually just enough to get some sleep at night. it also kinda makes me forget about feeling like ????. but i appreciate the thoughts. My husband actually admitted to me today that he liked that he was feeling better, and was glad that we decided to quit which is a huge step for him because he has always had some sort of a crutch to hang on to. so maybe there is light at the end of this tunnel.[^]