[Angela H]

Lynn,
Hi. Welcome.
I, too, am fairly new here. I don't have any chronic pain or anything like that, I was strictly taking pain pills recreationally and to numb some emotional pain. I do, however have a close friend that has had 10 back surgeries, had major complications (the surgeon left an instrument in her back) and was told after the 10th surgery, there was nothing else they could do...so they sent her to a pain management doctor. For the past 5 years I have watched this once vivacious and fun-loving girl turn into a depressed, addicted nightmare. She takes 2 80 mg. Oxycontin a day, along with liquid oxycontin for break-through pain. She also occasionally takes Methadone for pain. I personally think the methadone is to supplement her addiction, because the oxy's don't do the full trick alone anymore. This has been so hard to watch and to see what she's become scares the hell out of me. About a year ago, her insurance was changing or something and she ran out of pills one evening and couldn't get anymore until the next afternoon. She called me and said she thought she was dying. She was shaking so bad she could barely hold the phone, was pale, sweaty and almost psychotic until she could get her meds. She literally could not function or get out of bed until she got her prescription 12 hours later. And they keep giving these to her month after month and said she would probably have to be on them the rest of her life.
The reason I'm telling you this is so you can see this side of it. I'm so sorry you're having pain and sympathize greatly. If there is ANY other alternative, please check into it. If meds are your ONLY option, so be it, but I would hate to see you turn into what's happened to my friend. Good Luck! I will be thinking about you.

[haley_06]

I had a friend that went on the sub to get off of hydrocodone. She went to the doctor and had taken some hydrocodone just a few hours before, he gave her a shot to immediately detox her, it took a couple of hours to kick in and she threw up. She had to put the sub under her tongue, and not long afterwards, she felt better. The doctor told her to use the sub when she felt the withdrawals coming on. He also prescribed her some sleeping pills to sleep at night. It only took a little bit of the sub to put under her tongue, I was amazed. Anyway, I never used it, I had to go and get detoxed, then to a treatment center. I couldn't resist the temptation, I could never have done it on my own, treatment helped me. I have been clean for over 100 days now!!! I am proud of myself. I hope the sub works for your friend.
Thanx, haley_06

[Angela H]

Haley!
CONGRATULATIONS ON 100 DAYS CLEAN! That is so awesome. I am so proud of you! How has the psychological part of it been for you? Do you still have cravings or the desire to use? I have been hooked on Lortabs for a while and am trying so hard to kick this. Stories like yours inspire me and give me hope that soon I will be where you are! Keep up the good work!
Hugs, Angela

[johnnycash]

Johnny has news for all of the Suboxone users:

Suboxone is an opiate.

[fisherman]

johnny is right. I could not find a doctor in my area who could perscribe suboxone. I have heart problems and I take numerous meds. my doctor prescribed clonidine (blood pressure) medicine.It seems to help so far, but it did take a few days for me to regulate it,my pressure got real low (58/29}but that was only because my other heart meds were not out of my system yet.
Clonidine info even says it helps with opiate withdraws.Thanks for letting me share. new guy Fisherman

[chrish1]

Hope everyone is doing okay. It looks like the current topic is Suboxone and using it to stop taking painkillers. When I first got clean, I did it without the help of anything like Suboxone - I did it the old fashioned way: I weaned down, and then I quit. I did a lot of research on it at the time, and I came to the conclusion that Suboxone can be effective in certain situations to begin recovery. I emphasize begin since my research has shown it to be ineffective long term without some kind of program used in conjunction like Outpatient, 12 step programs like NA/AA/PA..., self education, meditation, prayer, service, higher power (I call mine God)... etc. You don't have to use all or any of these things, but I'm just sharing what worked for me. Each person has to find out what works for them and then stick that program and let it evolve.

Also, Johnny is right, Suboxone is an opiate just like the painkillers we used at one time, so we need to be careful of using Suboxone long term. I'm not saying I don't like Suboxone. I'm just saying that it should only be used in certain situations (where pill usage is 10+ per day and weaning seems to be unsuccessful). Also, there needs to be some kind of other personalized program in place. Even the manufacturer of Suboxone says that without some kind of program in conjunction there is an extremely high likelyhood of relapse within 2 years. So, if you have to use it to quit, by all means do it, but make sure you have a long term plan in place.

Girlie[:0], hope all is well.

NS Clueless, how are you doing?

X - haven't heard from you in a while. Hope all is well.

Chrish

Clean Date: 10/11/05

--There is light at the end of the tunnel--

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**

http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm

***HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEETINGS****

http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[cluelessNJ]

Wow~ The board went from jumpin' to noone around. I hope everyone is doing well.

I really don't want to say anything about suboxone or methadone because I am VERY one sided with the discussion. Yes, they both are opiates. Yes, they both are addicting. I feel some people need to use them as a krutch to get thru life but in the end it is much harded to detox off of those then regular pain pills. The longer you use them the harder your detox. Just keep that in mind. If you are going to use one of them do it for a short period of time.

Chrish~ I am doing well. I had a great mothers day with my mom. We went to brunch and then shopped all day! It was very nice. I hope you had a good weekend.

Angela~ How are you? I'm praying for you.

Girlie, X~ We miss you guys!

Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[fisherman]

Hi clueless this is fisherman (new guy), as I said in my post the blood pressure med Clonidine is helping me.It is not an opiate. Wednesday will be 2weeks without pain meds, thats a record for me considering I've been on pain meds steady since 1994. Hello everyone

quote:Originally posted by cluelessNJ

Wow~ The board went from jumpin' to noone around. I hope everyone is doing well.

I really don't want to say anything about suboxone or methadone because I am VERY one sided with the discussion. Yes, they both are opiates. Yes, they both are addicting. I feel some people need to use them as a krutch to get thru life but in the end it is much harded to detox off of those then regular pain pills. The longer you use them the harder your detox. Just keep that in mind. If you are going to use one of them do it for a short period of time.

Chrish~ I am doing well. I had a great mothers day with my mom. We went to brunch and then shopped all day! It was very nice. I hope you had a good weekend.

Angela~ How are you? I'm praying for you.

Girlie, X~ We miss you guys!

Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[cluelessNJ]

Fisherman~ Welcome! I hope you can stay clean from all pain meds. I am so glad you joined us. Did you use suboxone or methadone? I am assuming "no" because of your reply! Did you go cold turkey?

Chrish~ I'm looking for you! Don't stay away to long!

Girlie~ I miss all your positive energy flowing here. Pop back in and say "hi".



Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[fisherman]

Hi clueless. I had to go to detox, they had me on suboxone for 4 days, I came home on the 5th day that night was terrible it was like I did'nt even go to detox,I was restless, very irritable and I only slept about an hour. I was scared even after going 5 days without pain meds the withdrawals were really bad. It was starting to look like suboxone was the only way to do this, well after a long and frustrating search I could not find a doctor in my area to perscribe it, I guess Doctors need a special license to perscribe suboxone and then there limited to 30 patients. I was so up-set and scared I was ready to go back to detox just to try and get suboxone.But then I settled down some, remembered how much I hated being in the hospital and I called my family doctor (she's the one who suggested detox) She put me on the blood pressure med clonidine, it is really helping and it is not an opiate.
Hey clueless it is nice meeting you I am fisherman, my wife is yankees fan I have posts on page 108 and 109.If you read those it will explain a little. I stink at typing (1/2 hour to type this) and my spelling is'nt to good sorry about it but I will talk to you later Fisherman

quote:Originally posted by cluelessNJ

Fisherman~ Welcome! I hope you can stay clean from all pain meds. I am so glad you joined us. Did you use suboxone or methadone? I am assuming "no" because of your reply! Did you go cold turkey?

Chrish~ I'm looking for you! Don't stay away to long!

Girlie~ I miss all your positive energy flowing here. Pop back in and say "hi".



Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[Angela H]

Hi everyone!
NS Clueless, Thanks for asking about me and keeping me in your prayers. Sorry I haven't posted in a while...had a busy weekend trying to spend time with my mother and my boyfriend's mother.
Things are okay I guess. I've reduced my intake a lot, but am still using some. I've made it to the gym a couple of times, which always makes me feel better. I feel like I'm stuck...like a record that keeps skipping. I'm trying to break the habit by changing my routine a little and it is helping some. I just want to get to where you are and not use AT ALL!
Anyway, that's all for now. This is a battle! I'm praying for all of you and am ever so grateful for this board. BTW, have y'all met each other in person? What part of the country are y'all from? As you can probably tell, I live in the south...Louisiana. Anyway, have a great day everyone.
Hugs, Angela

[jhl]

Hey guys -

I haven't posted in awhile, but things have been busy. I got my refill and of course have taken them all and don't get another refill for a couple of weeks. I am going to have to go through withdrawals all over again. I hate this - but I am not read to quit....anyway - you guys are the only ones that understand - thanks for listening. You all are in my prayers..

jhl

[strongwoman]

Hi Everyone,
I haven't been on this board for a while. You can find me back on page 72 when I was trying to quit for the 2nd time. Well, I wasn't sucessful, in fact I had quit once and was clean for a month in November of 05. I thought that I could take just a few and be "OK" but for any of us that know-there is no such thing when you are an addict. In fact, when I relapsed my use got MUCH MUCH WORSE. At my highest point, I was taking 140mg of Vicodin a day which is like 26-27 pills. The first time I got clean, I was able to wean myself off. I have tried SO MANY times to quit over the past several months and finally tried AGAIN a few days ago. I am very proud to say that I have been clean for almost 54 hours now (2 1/2 days!!!) The 2nd night for me was by far the worst. I was tweaking so bad I thought I was going to lose my mind. I withdrew at home with my husband by my side. Now, at 2.5 days in I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't had any shaking or tremors (clonodine does help, I had some leftover from the previous times trying to quit). I'm very emotional and recognize that I need all of the help I can get. My husband and I are going to a treatment facility to check out intensive outpatient programs. I know that I will need that in order to be successful at beating this for the last time. I will keep everyone up to date on my progress.

Oh-I'm sorry for not remembering your name but to the person who is currently detoxing and can't get any farther. What I have found in my experience w/ this addiction which has gone on WAY too long (over a year), is that the part of you which is an "addict" is not letting it go. Dig down, becuase you are stronger than the addict.

I'll keep everyone updated on my progress!
Strongwoman

[Angela H]

Strongwoman,
Awesome for being clean 3 days! I'm the person you were talking about that can't go forward. I think I needed to see your post tonight before this gets out of hand. Thank you. I had done so well and backslided and NOW I see what this addiction is! And like you, the relapse is worse than the first go round. I'm so over this! Y'all are fixin to see a new me!

[POPPER]

hey everyone...i am dumb on this topic.
i sit here thinking this can't be me. a person with a drug problem on top of a very bad back.
i used to be a person that could not sit still. i still think of all the things i want and need to do. buy my butt don't move.

i need to lose about 80 lbs before the doctors will try to repair my back again..they want to fuse to lower disc.
i can't do my regular job any more because of the pain (salesman)
so i am going to transfer to a desk job..less pay of course.
right now i think about working on my pro-street truck. the engine's in just need to install the brackets and minor stuff.
and a high dollar carb i need to rebuild for resale.
i can think about it for ever..it's just trying to move my in a ball of pain self out to the garage to do it..
i am afraid to do anything, that i might hurt my self worse and not be able to get up.
any help would be great...thanks

HELP

[cluelessNJ]

Hello everyone~

Strongwoman~ welcome back! Congrats on 3 days, that is awesome! Stick with it. You will see the grass is greener on this side of the field!

Angela~ you keep working at it. You will quit (because you have the desire) when your ready! That is NOT me giving you an excuse but, I don't want you to feel bad. Honestly, You won't quit until your ready! I know that for a fact! I told everyone that cared that I had quit only because thats what they wanted to hear. YOU WILL DO IT! You are me 4 months ago. Now in a week (actually 6 days) I will have 4 months clean! Thats completly free of pills. NONE! No methadone, suboxone! I didn't use a krutch. It might be hard physically for the first week but the physical stuff goes away! The hard part is the mental game that you have to play with your mind for months or years to follow! I can tell you it does get easier! Keep your head held high, and keep a positive attitude. A possitive attitude will help you along the way. I PROMISE!

Chrish~ where are you? Everything ok? I'm praying for you and your children! You are on the right path ..... someone once told me "when a door closes, another door opens". Keep an open mind. You still have SO much to look forward too.

X, Girlie girl~ We are looking for you both! I hope all is well!




Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[chrish1]

NS Clueless - hey sister! You are correct when you say that people need to quit on their own time. Each has their own bottom, and the longer we wait, the lower the bottom is. The very bottom is always one of 3 places: jails, institutions, and death. I hope and pray that everyone will find the necessary help. But, ultimately we must want to do it for ourselves. Thanks for asking about me and your concern. Things are going well.

I've also heard that when one door closes another opens, but I also heard that statement amended with the statement "but don't stand in the hallway too long." To me standing in the hallway means harboring resentments, having self pity, and staying within the triangle of isolation (anger, resentments, and fear). I've found a new way, a better way. With the new tools, messages from NA, and a strong connection with God through prayer and meditation today I have total freedom from active addiction. I've found that when somebody hurts you and is actively trying to hurt you the key is to always remember the positive qualities of that person. Usually the same people that hurt us are the ones who gave us a lot of love at one time. Always remember that love and see the saint in everyone. It has saved me, and with that I can forgive no matter what. With love and forgiveness comes serenity - this is my experience. Ultimately if I do the next right thing I can live with myself and today I like what I see when I look in the mirror because I am trying do the next right thing. I've found that freedom from active addiction does not come from personal willpower, but rather a change in perspective through actively seeking God's will. This has propelled my recovery past 7 months clean, and as long as I remember to actively seek His will, the desire is gone. I've hardly had a craving in about 3 weeks now. In fact, using almost repulses me. All I have to offer on this board is my experience and hope. This is how I have found a new way to live, and this is how I found freedom from active addiction. My message is love, hope and forgiveness. Thanks for reading.

Chrish

Chrish

Clean Date: 10/11/05

--There is light at the end of the tunnel--

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**

http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm

***HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEETINGS****

http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[strongwoman]

Hi All~
Over 3 days clean! Still feeling withdrawl but today is better than yesterday. I'm going to start intensive outpatient on Monday so that I can start to learn and build tools to be successful. In the meantime, I'm going to NA meetings everyday, checking in here and doing a lot of praying. All talked out today. Check back in later. Hope everyone is doing OK out there.
Strongwoman

[cluelessNJ]

Strong woman~ I am SO proud of you! In a few days you won't even feel the physical withdrawl anymore. Stick with it! You will be SO proud of yourself in the end!!!!!!!!

Popper~ Have you gone to a pain management clinic? I don't know about them personally but alot of people seem to turn to them! I wish you the best of luck and I hope you will come back and post with your progress!

Chrish~ I love your post! You bring such a positive vibe that I love and CHRISH! LOL! I am so glad you keep coming back!

Angela~ Hang in there! You will get clean as long as you have the desire! Keep coming back! I used and still use this board as a support for myself being and staying clean! I hope you can do the same. You know where I am if you need me!


Fisherman~ Where you at?

X, Girlie girl~~~~~ Still looking for you guys!




Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[fisherman]

Hello everyone 15 days without taking pain meds!!. The pain is really bad still but I am trying to live with it. 35 days ago I had a cervical neck fusion, I have also had 5 surgeries on my low back. I meet with my neurosurgeon on Friday.(he does not know I went to detox, and I'm affraid to tell him) I am supposed to schedule my other surgeries (I need 3 more) I am going to try and put those surgeries off until next year. I am affraid that if I go in now for my operations I will go right back to abusing the pain meds. I hope by next year I will not be so affraid of my addiction. because I know that I will have narcotics pumped in my system as soon as I go in for these surgeries. Thanks for letting me share.
scared fisherman

quote:Originally posted by cluelessNJ

Strong woman~ I am SO proud of you! In a few days you won't even feel the physical withdrawl anymore. Stick with it! You will be SO proud of yourself in the end!!!!!!!!

Popper~ Have you gone to a pain management clinic? I don't know about them personally but alot of people seem to turn to them! I wish you the best of luck and I hope you will come back and post with your progress!

Chrish~ I love your post! You bring such a positive vibe that I love and CHRISH! LOL! I am so glad you keep coming back!

Angela~ Hang in there! You will get clean as long as you have the desire! Keep coming back! I used and still use this board as a support for myself being and staying clean! I hope you can do the same. You know where I am if you need me!


Fisherman~ Where you at?

X, Girlie girl~~~~~ Still looking for you guys!




Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[Angela H]

Hey everyone!
Thank you Chrish and Clueless for asking about me. I'm doing a lot better and you're absolutely right....it's funny how an addict knows another addict...like when you said that you tell them you're quitting because it's what THEY want to hear! Well, that doesn't work, because it only makes you want more! Kinda amusing when you think about it...it's like you're playing games with yourself. I know that I WILL do this for myself...not my boyfriend, not my mother, not my friends...FOR ME!!!!!!!!! I'm working out which has been hard initially to get going, but once I'm there, I give it all I've got. And nothing feels better than those natural endorphins (not even Lortabs)!
I wanna ask you guys about the psychological part of this. What do you do when you want one so bad? I know it's mind over matter, but that's where I get stuck. Like I'll have gone all day without one, but as soon as I get home, that's the trigger. I've gained a little weight back which is good, and trying to put the muscle back on that I've lost. Maybe if I concentrate on my health and get myself back physcially fit, that will be my focus. I'm gonna try anything. That always seems to help with my self-esteem.
Anyway, I'll post later. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Chrish and Clueless, y'all are truly both an inspiration to me. When I get where y'all are, we are gonna have to celebrate (with sparkling water of course)! Love y'all!
Angela

[fisherman]

When I get craving them I try to remember detox and how bad the withdrawals were, Basically I try to scare myself I am in so much pain right now it is very tempting to take some. But I will fight this!!

quote:Originally posted by Angela H

Hey everyone!
Thank you Chrish and Clueless for asking about me. I'm doing a lot better and you're absolutely right....it's funny how an addict knows another addict...like when you said that you tell them you're quitting because it's what THEY want to hear! Well, that doesn't work, because it only makes you want more! Kinda amusing when you think about it...it's like you're playing games with yourself. I know that I WILL do this for myself...not my boyfriend, not my mother, not my friends...FOR ME!!!!!!!!! I'm working out which has been hard initially to get going, but once I'm there, I give it all I've got. And nothing feels better than those natural endorphins (not even Lortabs)!
I wanna ask you guys about the psychological part of this. What do you do when you want one so bad? I know it's mind over matter, but that's where I get stuck. Like I'll have gone all day without one, but as soon as I get home, that's the trigger. I've gained a little weight back which is good, and trying to put the muscle back on that I've lost. Maybe if I concentrate on my health and get myself back physcially fit, that will be my focus. I'm gonna try anything. That always seems to help with my self-esteem.
Anyway, I'll post later. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Chrish and Clueless, y'all are truly both an inspiration to me. When I get where y'all are, we are gonna have to celebrate (with sparkling water of course)! Love y'all!
Angela

[liv2ride]

Hi everyone -
This is my first post here - new to the forum but not new to dealing with addiction to pain medicine. I have abused percosette on and off for about 8 years, which was when I started snowboarding and got my first significant injuries. I compete, and broken bones, etc. come with the territory. From what I've read and heard, it's not uncommon for athletes to have pain med addictions. Anyway, regardless of how, I'm learning reading your posts that it can affect anyone. I am trying to wean off my highest doses ever, 80-100mg of oxycodone a day. The last time I got hurt, the ER dr gave me a script for vicoden. I have such a tolerance to opiates that it did nothing for me. I had to go to my regular Dr., who prescribes percosette PRN for other chronic pain, (which I abuse also) to get any pain relief from my recent injury.
I of course ran out of my last script early, and spent last Sat. and Sun. it AGONY. I am scared to death, my script is low, and this one is supposed to last for another 10 days because I'm suppose to be weaning off. It won't last that long. I've detoxed many times before, but never from such high doses.
Writing this down makes me cry. I hate feeling this way and I am terrified. I don't want to be alone, but I am ashamed to tell anyone that I am an addict - especially my friends and boyfriend. I'm afraid they will look down on me.
I am 23. The sport that makes me more happy than anything in the world has also helped make me an addict.

[cluelessNJ]

Welcome everyone!

Angela~ I'm glad your coming back!

Fisherman, I'm very proud of you and hope you continue to come back and share with us.

Liv2ride~ If you ahve the desire to quit and REALLY want to do it for yourself YOU CAN! I can promise you that! There are alot of great supportive people on this board that can give you great advise. Keep us sopsted on your progress.

Strongwoman~ How are you?

Chrish~ I'm looking for you! No laying low right now! Come say "HI".[] You bring hope and inspiration to our thread! I love having you here. I miss you when your away for more than a day!

Everyone else (you know who you are), were still waiting for you to pop back on and let us know your ok!

I'm praying for all of you!

Not so clueless,

CLEAN DATE 1/23/06

[fisherman]

liv2ride this is fisherman. YOU CAN DO IT !!!. I know what it means to be in pain, in 1994 I was rearended by a drunk driver at a sobriety check point I have had 8 surgeries 6 of them on my spine the most recent was 5 weeks ago I had a spine fusion done on my neck.As of today It has been allmost 3 weeks without pain meds.I feel really good mentally, I am handleing the cravings OK the pain is still really bad but I'm dealing with it ( tens-unit,Ice,Heat Bone-stimulator) I talked to my neurosurgeon yesterday I still need 2 more back operations (finish re-building back). I am putting these surgeries off until winter I am scared that I am going to start abusing again if I have the operations now.
Liv2 if it gets really bad go to a detox they will put you on suboxone for 3 or 4 days, that really helps. If you want to read my other posts (pages 109,110)hopefully they will help.
Good Luck and let me know how you are doing.
P.S. Hello clueless. I will be on later

quote:Originally posted by liv2ride

Hi everyone -
This is my first post here - new to the forum but not new to dealing with addiction to pain medicine. I have abused percosette on and off for about 8 years, which was when I started snowboarding and got my first significant injuries. I compete, and broken bones, etc. come with the territory. From what I've read and heard, it's not uncommon for athletes to have pain med addictions. Anyway, regardless of how, I'm learning reading your posts that it can affect anyone. I am trying to wean off my highest doses ever, 80-100mg of oxycodone a day. The last time I got hurt, the ER dr gave me a script for vicoden. I have such a tolerance to opiates that it did nothing for me. I had to go to my regular Dr., who prescribes percosette PRN for other chronic pain, (which I abuse also) to get any pain relief from my recent injury.
I of course ran out of my last script early, and spent last Sat. and Sun. it AGONY. I am scared to death, my script is low, and this one is supposed to last for another 10 days because I'm suppose to be weaning off. It won't last that long. I've detoxed many times before, but never from such high doses.
Writing this down makes me cry. I hate feeling this way and I am terrified. I don't want to be alone, but I am ashamed to tell anyone that I am an addict - especially my friends and boyfriend. I'm afraid they will look down on me.
I am 23. The sport that makes me more happy than anything in the world has also helped make me an addict.

[abey042000]

hello everyone. Well here I am again, starting my WD all over again, after falling short a couple days ago and went to local ER complaining of toothache. I got a measely 15 vics and of course their gone, and here I sit crying once again. I wonder how I'll ever kick this mental part. I have two little kids and just want to be a normal mother to them. Actaully, as I sit here, I remember a dentist appt. I have on Mon. maybe I can get some pills then.? This is freakin' terrible. It's bad when I wake up in morning and cry because I'm facing another day with nothing, and can't wait till night time to sleep again.

Clueless,
Thanks for all your help to me. It means more than u know. How do I know when I really want to quit? Thats prob.a stupid question, but owell. I also have some Immodium now and i have some clondine .1mg, will that help as well. Thanks also for the extra websites. I'm going there now. I hope I can do this.

[liv2ride]

fisherman-
thanks so much, it is great to hear your story --- it sounds like you have been through so much and you are still here, on this board and you sound so optomistic. that gives me hope. i think that one of the hardest things about this addiction, and what makes it unique to other types of addiction, is that when you are having these surgeries and frequent injuries, not only do you want the pills for the terrible pain, but it also makes them much more easily available. our doctors give us scripts, our insurance pays for it, for the most part, it's not like we have to "go hunting" and pay lots of money to keep the habit. you are strong, and smart for delaying your surgeries. i was suppose to have another surgery this spring on a fracture repair from last season. its not terribly painful so i will wait as well.
i dont even know how many times ive come off these things and gotten back on the next time i get hurt. and i certainly have never passed them up. there are times when i really could have and dealt with the pain. usually i run out early and go cold turkey. this time i am trying a quick taper, because my last injury i was on much higher doses than ever before. so monday was 10 pills, tuesday 8, wednesday 6, thursday 6, yesterday 2. no wd's really until this morning, but today i will go for 2 for the next few days. it will be hard. i am doing hot packs, physical therapy, and dexamethazone patches for the pain, which really helps. i'm nursing a relatively minor back fracture from 4 months ago and a recent shoulder separation.
this board is a great tool, i will keep in touch!

quote:Originally posted by fisherman

liv2ride this is fisherman. YOU CAN DO IT !!!. I know what it means to be in pain, in 1994 I was rearended by a drunk driver at a sobriety check point I have had 8 surgeries 6 of them on my spine the most recent was 5 weeks ago I had a spine fusion done on my neck.As of today It has been allmost 3 weeks without pain meds.I feel really good mentally, I am handleing the cravings OK the pain is still really bad but I'm dealing with it ( tens-unit,Ice,Heat Bone-stimulator) I talked to my neurosurgeon yesterday I still need 2 more back operations (finish re-building back). I am putting these surgeries off until winter I am scared that I am going to start abusing again if I have the operations now.
Liv2 if it gets really bad go to a detox they will put you on suboxone for 3 or 4 days, that really helps. If you want to read my other posts (pages 109,110)hopefully they will help.
Good Luck and let me know how you are doing.
P.S. Hello clueless. I will be on later

[abey042000]

Hello, Liv
Well it's almost bedtime! YEAH!!! Anyways, today wasn't to bad for me. I actually made myself get out of the house and I took my daughter to the mall. It wasn't to bad, but now I'm dealing with the actual pain! I've been loaded up on Motrin 800. and also use Lidoderm patches. Guess I have to make due. The prob. I seem to be having is, I keep thinking about how I would feel if I could only get 4 pills in me. I'd feel so much better. The mental part is very hard for me as I deal with depression anyways. How are you doing today LIV2? Talk to me and I'll be waiting to hear from you. Bye the way I took .2mg of clondine today, I'm not sure if that's why I'm kinda calm today or not.

[chrish1]

Hey NS Clueless. Thanks for asking about me. Give me a call some time. I haven't been able to post as much as I'd like since I've been pretty busy lately. Lots of stuff going on, as you know. Thanks for saying I bring inspiration - that is one of the things that helps keep me clean. My program is SO strong. Using isn't really an option. The NA program has taught me a new way to live, and I am forever grateful. If you are new to recovery, I recommend at least trying NA or AA. If you don't like one meeting, try a different location. Some people can get clean without such a program, so I am only sharing what has worked for me.

Chrish



Clean Date: 10/11/05

--There is light at the end of the tunnel--

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**

http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm

***HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEETINGS****

http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[liv2ride]

abey-
i just got back from the concert i was talking about. i was saying this morning how fun it would be to get high and go hang out. but i only took my alloted 2 pills over the day. now its almost bedtime for me too, and i am thinking "just a few more hours, i can make it!" i know what you mean about the pain, im really starting to feel it --- using ibuprophen also. that is so good you got out of the house too! it's hard, because when you don't have pills, it is so depressing, and you don't feel like doing much. i have depression too, and i actually had my anti-depressant increased when i got my script last week, anticipating the extra depression that comes with withdrawal. i dont know about much about clonidine, maybe its that or maybe you are just getting better!
the mental part is so tough, but talking from experience, the mental part WILL get better once the physical wd's are over and your brain chemistry starts to operate normally. you won't feel so depressed. the longer you go without taking a pill, the less you will think about them. this is the worst part!