[michelle1122]

Hello all....
i have been on vicodin for less than 2 years... on and off but the past year has been pretty continuous...
i was almost always given the 7.5mg vics and the last time i got any they were the 5mg. for a couple days i was taking one and a half and when i was getting low i started just taking the 1. i would normally take maybe 4-5 pills a day (either 7.5 or 5mg) but as i got lower and lower i was cutting back my dosage. the last 3 days i took 3, then 2 and then the last day (Monday) i only took 1. my last pill was monday about 430pm...
i was doing well until tuesday about 7pm... all of a sudden i kept feeling like i was going to vomit... i was up all night dry heaving mostly and unable to sleep from muscle aches...
i did not work yesterday because i got no sleep but i was able to eat crackers and soup and hold it all down... as the day went on, i got better... i also went to my dr and got xanax so i could sleep... i slept the whole night starting at 9pm and then woke up for work about 6am.
i am feeling well for the most part... just really would like my energy back.... i always had so much energy when i would take vics. now i have none!!
do you think the worst is over?? and when and how can i get my energy back? i really want to be able to go and do things and get things done around my house but i just dont want to do anything!!
what can i expect... this is my 3rd day pill free... is the worst over? how can i get my energy back?
i want to feel normal again but i think i got used to my normal being on vics... i would do everything on vics and always make sure i had them to do things...
i do have a legit cronic pain... still there but i cant continue to take them... i want to start a family with my hubby soon!
any help is good help...
i think i read every page on here and it all helped...
thanks all!

[Robert_325]

Michelle .... you've done really well. Congratulations on your success. You're probably not quite past the worst yet but you're getting closer. Most people have a pretty rough four days or so. So another day or so and then each day will get a little better.

You've got to realize that a lot of that "energy" was those evil pills BSing you into thinking they were helping you. Now you've got to deal with your natural energy. Believe it or not the best medicine to get your energy back up is moderate exercise.

You don't have to run five miles, but even if you go for a good walk in the evening it will help you. The moderate exercise gets our natural endorphine production going and that helps with our overall well-being. While taking the pills your endorphine production was brought to a screeching halt so it takes a little bit to get it working again. Exercise is what will do it the quickest. Go for a good walk around the block a time or two today and tell me it doesn't make you feel better. I promise it will help even though it's the last thing you feel like doing. Let us know how you're doing. You're almost there. God bless.

[michelle1122]

thanks robert -- i hear you are the best!!
i have a dog so i will take her walking today after work... that should make it easier since i am normally pretty lazy! but i will be doing it for her and my benefit...
are there any other ways to get energy??
what about caffine? or something?? i usually only have 1 cup of coffee a day, although i didnt have any yesterday or today... i have been drinking green tea with pomegranate because of my upset stomach.
i havent really felt tooo horrible besides tuesday night... i mean i have not been myself but the vomiting and shakes are gone... all i feel still is muscle aches and laziness...
i actually feel hungry today too... yay... i love food but i am worried about what to eat. today i had a dry waffle for breakfast, a couple saltines and then lunch i had pasta with a little butter...
when can i eat good stuff lol

[michelle1122]

also my head keeps telling me to get more... but that was expected... bla.. i just wish my head would stop cause that is making me nuts... thinking "oh go get some" or "a couple more wont hurt"
but my tuesday night episode really sucked a$$

i have done pleanty of other drugs in my past and i NEVER went through w/d... not even with cocaine... i dont know why vics are the only thing that made me go thru w/d

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by michelle1122

thanks robert -- i hear you are the best!!
i have a dog so i will take her walking today after work... that should make it easier since i am normally pretty lazy! but i will be doing it for her and my benefit...
are there any other ways to get energy??
what about caffine? or something?? i usually only have 1 cup of coffee a day, although i didnt have any yesterday or today... i have been drinking green tea with pomegranate because of my upset stomach.
i havent really felt tooo horrible besides tuesday night... i mean i have not been myself but the vomiting and shakes are gone... all i feel still is muscle aches and laziness...
i actually feel hungry today too... yay... i love food but i am worried about what to eat. today i had a dry waffle for breakfast, a couple saltines and then lunch i had pasta with a little butter...
when can i eat good stuff lol

You can eat anything you want as soon as you feel like it. Try to eat healthy, lots of fruit, veggies and protein. I would not try to get energy from caffiene. You can drink a little coffee or have a soft drink but do it in moderation.

In the evening take a HOT shower or bath about an hour before you crash. Go for your evening walk with your dog and then do a long relaxing hot bath. Burn some candles, read, whatever relaxes you. That will help you more than anything I can think of. You'll feel MUCH better after the walk and bath.

I am assuming you've had some diarrhea as well. Most everyone does. That dehydrates us bigtime. Drink gatorade as it's full of electrolytes and will help. You should almost feel better while you're drinking it if you're like most. I think that I drank a pallet full of gatorade going through opiate detox.

Let us know how you're feeling tonight. I bet the gatorade, walk and hot bath will make you feel like a new person. God bless.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by michelle1122

also my head keeps telling me to get more... but that was expected... bla.. i just wish my head would stop cause that is making me nuts... thinking "oh go get some" or "a couple more wont hurt"
but my tuesday night episode really sucked a$$

i have done pleanty of other drugs in my past and i NEVER went through w/d... not even with cocaine... i dont know why vics are the only thing that made me go thru w/d

I partied like a crazy man for decades with every drug known to man. Not bragging just sharing my past. I started getting high in 1968 through 2002. I'm just an old reformed hippie from the 60s. I walked away from every drug there is at one time or another. Then came RX opiates and benzos. They kicked my ass!

Stopping cocaine was a piece of cake compared to RX opiates. And I did a LOT of cocaine years ago and for a LONG time. It wasn't even in the same league as opiates and benzos. They landed me in rehab twice.

RX opiates are extremely addicting. Join the club with the rest of us. You aren't weak, the pills are just strong. Hang in there. You're going to win this deal. God bless.

[michelle1122]

i didnt have diarreah much - i did have some but it wasnt bad - i have had it worse without going through w/d lol

i have been sipping my 32oz gatorade which is def. making me better...
can i eat chips and stuff??
i just feel like i wont get energy as soon as i want it... i want to be myself again... i feel like its depressing how i am now...

[michelle1122]

thank you so much... it means a lot to me... i feel like if i am doing so well 3 days free of them it can only get better.. right??
its insane how u hear so many bad things about cocaine and stuff like that but when it comes to stopping them prescription drugs are way worse!

[Robert_325]

RX drugs are so much more addictive than most of the street drugs. That is a fact. Sometimes people get defensive when I try to tell them to leave the stupid things alone. They think that I'm judging them or whatever. I've lived in hell for over three decades due to my physical addiction to RX drugs. NEVER AGAIN will I turn over control of my life to some stupid damn pills. It won't ever happen again. It took me ten years to get there but you can do it. You only have to do this ONCE if you do it right. You don't ever have to use again! God bless.

[michelle1122]

thank you so much for being here for me to count on... my hubby doesnt know and only 2 of my girlfriends know and they are obviously here for me 100% but its nice to talk to someone that has been there...
you know exactly what i am going through
THANK YOU!!

[jworley35]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

Hi Jeff .... sounds like you may be one of the lucky ones and start feeling better on day four. You're not just vegging around the house and that will help.

Activity does a world of good at the point you're at in the detox. I bet you feel like a totally different person tomorrow.

You're about to turn the corner on this based on what you've said. Keep me posted buddy! Talk to you this evening. God bless.

Thanks for the words of encouragement -- I am feeling better even now than when I got to work this morning -- so I am feeling good about that!

Tonight I am going to try to stay as busy as possible, and may even work out a little as well. I am guessing the hard part is going to be the weekend as I will get bored, so I need to really stay focused on being sober!

I am looking forward to day 5 tomorrow and I will update the forum on how I feel tomorrow!

Thanks again!

Jeff

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by jworley35

Thanks for the words of encouragement -- I am feeling better even now than when I got to work this morning -- so I am feeling good about that!

Tonight I am going to try to stay as busy as possible, and may even work out a little as well. I am guessing the hard part is going to be the weekend as I will get bored, so I need to really stay focused on being sober!

I am looking forward to day 5 tomorrow and I will update the forum on how I feel tomorrow!

Thanks again!

Jeff

The main thing I had to do when I got clean for good was find something else to do with the time I had on my hands since I wasn't using. It had been right at 35 years using so I didn't have anything that I did unless I was high. I didn't even go to the grocery store if I wasn't high. I played racquetball clean but that was it.

If you like to workout that would be about as good as anything you could do to help yourself right now. You would get in better shape and it would really speed up your recovery process I guarantee. I've seen people on this forum workout to where they hardly had any w/d symptoms. I always say that exercise is the best medication there is for opiate detox.

You don't have to go crazy in a gym. It does help to workout but the main thing is to stay busy with something new so you keep your mind off using. That clock moves really slowly when we are counting the hours clean waiting for one more. God bless.

[melinda7.5]

Hi michelle
I just wanted to tell you I think your doing great...it wont be long now before you start to feel better...
I know exersice is the last thing you want to do but it really does help..
I could only do about 2 minutes a day when I started and just kept working my way up...
Im really excited for you, your going to do great with your new life...
Talk to you soon, Melinda

[melinda7.5]

Originally Posted by jworley35

Thanks for the words of encouragement -- I am feeling better even now than when I got to work this morning -- so I am feeling good about that!

Tonight I am going to try to stay as busy as possible, and may even work out a little as well. I am guessing the hard part is going to be the weekend as I will get bored, so I need to really stay focused on being sober!

I am looking forward to day 5 tomorrow and I will update the forum on how I feel tomorrow!

Thanks again!

Jeff

Hi jeff
You can post anywhere you want but it is really nice if you start your own thread,sometimes things get missed...and it's kind of cool to look back after you get clean and say wow was that me...
your doing great talk to you soon, Melinda

[michelle1122]

thank you so much ... it gives me lots of hope!! i am going to walk my dog right after work today...
i have a ton of dishes but i really dont want to do those lol the hubby never helps with them!
i know i could have felt worse... now i just want to get back to the old me!! the me that doesnt rely on vics to have fun... cause that is def. where i was at!

[michelle1122]

this is kinda gross and sorry if i disgusted anyone... but can someone tell my why my pee is so dark lol
thats kinda odd for me

[melinda7.5]

Hi Michelle
If you new what I have been thru this week there is nothing that could gross
me out,have you been drinking enough water...try and drink a couple of glasses...
Im going to ask mags for you if she doesn't see this...
get back to you soon, Melinda

[michelle1122]

i have been drinking more gatorade than water but i always drink lots of water... i also have been drinking green tea... but i just know it is never that color

[michelle1122]

will smoking a little pot help at all or would it make things worse? anyone know?

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by michelle1122

will smoking a little pot help at all or would it make things worse? anyone know?

The pot question comes up again! I try not to recommend doing things that are illegal. It's the principle of the thing. But this isn't an NA meeting it's the drugs.com forum even though I spent several years very active in NA at all levels. I still participate in Celebrate Recovery and respect recovery principles.

It's not my place or others place to judge here if someone should smoke pot or not. It's available by prescription where I'm at. I'm not saying whether that is good or not. I'm not promoting it just stating a fact. This forum is a place where anyone can think whatever they want.

I don't think it's a huge deal personally if it helps you get past the opiate w/d if you're NOT trying to be totally clean but just stopping RX opiates. And that is certainly your right and your decision to make. That's as honest as I can be. There is nothing in pot that would adversely affect you stopping the RX opiates. God bless.

[Opee]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

The pot question comes up again! I try not to recommend doing things that are illegal. It's the principle of the thing. But this isn't an NA meeting it's the drugs.com forum even though I spent several years very active in NA at all levels. I still participate in Celebrate Recovery and respect recovery principles.

It's not my place or others place to judge here if someone should smoke pot or not. It's available by prescription where I'm at. I'm not saying whether that is good or not. I'm not promoting it just stating a fact. This forum is a place where anyone can think whatever they want.

I don't think it's a huge deal personally if it helps you get past the opiate w/d if you're NOT trying to be totally clean but just stopping RX opiates. And that is certainly your right and your decision to make. That's as honest as I can be. There is nothing in pot that would adversely affect you stopping the RX opiates. God bless.

Robert's right. I, personally benefit tremendously from weed while kicking covers. I was off today (Day 4) and spent the day eating Klonopin, Xanax and smoking grass. I also went to Wal-mart (a nightmare) and did laundry. Klonnies and Xanax are weird drugs. It isn't a high, just a numb, deadening feeling that takes away w/d pukiness. I really don't like them, but they are so beneficial when kicking. Definitely not anything I am interested in using after beating this. Back to the original question, weed makes me feel alot better. I eat more, the TV is better and time passes quicker. I don't feel a bit bad about doing it. Detoxing sucks hard. As was earlier referenced I kicked cocaine standing on my head, and I did alot. I used to be a huge lush, and I never drink anymore hardly. Beat that easy, too. These pills, Man, they're a whole 'nother thing unto themselves.
Good night all, best of luck. I'm taking Robert's advice and going for a walk and hit the sauna. Looking forward to putting Day 4 behind me and starting fresh at Day 5!

Opee

[karaboo]

Pot is available here in CA by prescription as well. I never thought of it as an option for wd because I've got three kids to look after, but I might have if I didn't have the kids. Klonopin and RLS med (can't remember the name, my mom gave it to me) definitely made a difference for me.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by karaboo

Pot is available here in CA by prescription as well. I never thought of it as an option for wd because I've got three kids to look after, but I might have if I didn't have the kids. Klonopin and RLS med (can't remember the name, my mom gave it to me) definitely made a difference for me.

It's the same thing in Washington. I guess it's a west coast thing. The med you were probably taking was requip for the RLS or at least that is the most common one. God bless.

[karaboo]

Oh, yes, the wonders of the west coast LOL. I looked up what my mom takes and it's mirapex. She took vicodin for quite awhile -- we'd split scrips -- but she didn't abuse it like I did. She stopped taking it because she noticed that when she ran out the mirapex wouldn't help her RLS -- even if she took two. She decided that she could deal with pain, as long as her RLS was under control

[michelle1122]

i stopped smoking weed about 2 years ago so when i do smoke have like 3 hits i get pretty stoned... lol
i met my friend down at the beach, we smoked a little and then and we walked about 3 miles! whoo... it felt great!
today is day 4 for me and i feel soooo much better!!!
i stopped drinking about a year ago also...
i am turning straight edge lol
who would have thought?!? no one i know, thats for sure!
my cocaine habit was pretty nasty.... ugh... it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about how bad i was with it and how skinny i got... i was prob. 85 lbs... granted i am a tiny girl now... but i am HEALTHY looking! only 5'1" - 115 lbs...
whoo i am glad those days are over... the hard part is still my head telling me to get more freaking pills...
esp. when things get bad with my hubby... we seem to argue and that was like a way out of it for me... he always starts with me but on a positive note... HE DID THE DISHES LAST NIGHT!!!
holy cow, i almost fell to the floor!

[michelle1122]

the weekend is almost here... i hope i can do this!!
i feel like i have been doing well starting to get back to myself without pills... i have energy today too
must have been my long walk...
today is day 4
man i have been sneezing a whole lot the passed few days! any reason for that... i dont feel a cold coming on!

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by michelle1122

the weekend is almost here... i hope i can do this!!
i feel like i have been doing well starting to get back to myself without pills... i have energy today too
must have been my long walk...
today is day 4
man i have been sneezing a whole lot the passed few days! any reason for that... i dont feel a cold coming on!

You're doing well. The sneezing is just an opiate w/d symptom. You get through today and tomorrow and you're going to start feeling noticeably better. Continue to exercise, stay in touch, and let us know how you're doing. You're almost past the worst of this. God bless.

[michelle1122]

i really dont feel bad at all though... that is what is odd to me... no complaints obviously...
can things get worse??? or only better right??
i also have one pill its tramadol -- like yellowish with 537 imprint
what is that??? its non-narcotic right? i found it in my pill container where i keep vitamins and tylenol...

[michelle1122]

i cannot believe how much i have been sneezing... that is crazy... i never sneezed as much as i have lately... thats nuts... i would have never thought that would be a w/d symptom

[Robert_325]

DON'T take any tramadol. It works on the same brain receptors as your other pain pills do. Get rid of it. Don't even take one pill.

You are going to keep doing well if you exercise like I suggested and just continue to do the next right thing. Sounds like you kind of lucked out honestly. You won't get worse, it will only get better as you go forward.

Count your blessings that you've had this as easy as you've had it. God bless.