[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by hydrowhore

we're all worried about you mouse . . . please check in!
HW

ditto on this............... my prayers are with you mouse.

[mouse1111]

hi hi! i didn't end up telling anyone..my pulse was really high? and my blood pressure was too. but that's because i have a needle phobia. they had to give me a sedative and dilludidied? i dont know what that is, but it made me fall asleep and i slept most of yesterday. today im going to start on the thomas recipe if im allowed too (i have a ct scan) coming up and it might say to stop all herbal supplements, etc. again. ive started taking imodium and drinking gatorade. my spirits are up today, i feel alright. they perscribed me 50 vic. 5's. im not going to flush them, i think that i will keep them all as a reminder. i dont even want them. i used to feel weak to one pill, now i have 50 and i feel mentally strong. i have support this time and i have never had that before and it is so mch easier when you can just talk about it. if you guys think it's a better idea to flush them, i will.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by mouse1111

hi hi! i didn't end up telling anyone..my pulse was really high? and my blood pressure was too. but that's because i have a needle phobia. they had to give me a sedative and dilludidied? i dont know what that is, but it made me fall asleep and i slept most of yesterday. today im going to start on the thomas recipe if im allowed too (i have a ct scan) coming up and it might say to stop all herbal supplements, etc. again. ive started taking imodium and drinking gatorade. my spirits are up today, i feel alright. they perscribed me 50 vic. 5's. im not going to flush them, i think that i will keep them all as a reminder. i dont even want them. i used to feel weak to one pill, now i have 50 and i feel mentally strong. i have support this time and i have never had that before and it is so mch easier when you can just talk about it. if you guys think it's a better idea to flush them, i will.

mouse ... I am glad you procedure went well. I can't emphasize enough to get rid of those pills. You're about to start detoxing. Damn you don't need those vics around while doing that. That is just asking for it. That is my opinion and no way I could feel any stronger about it than I do. Please don't play that "reminder" game. That is the easiest way I know to relapse. It's a bonafide reservation. And a reservation is a relapse waiting to happen.

[melinda7.5]

OH, Its so good to here from you.I had a stash of vics,but i flushed them and im really glad i did.they are not calling my name.LOL.
Keep us posted, melinda

[mouse1111]

i didnt think of it that way, i guess you're right...i really should get rid of them. that way there isnt a pull at all. my stomach really hurts right now. anyway, you guys are really nice and thanks for the nice thoughts...they are working. so is the advice.
mouse

[mouse1111]

im on day 4..did the medicine they gave me yesterday in my IV change that? do i have to start all over?

[Robert_325]

Don't worry about anything they gave you during your procedure. All that matters is that you are committing to yourself to get rid of the remaining vics and do this right. Don't even think about what you took in the hospital. It doesn't matter. Just go flush that garbage down the toilet now.

[mouse1111]

relapse. on day 2 again. taking a medicine that counteracts the effects of painkillers, rendering them useless so that it wouldnt even be worth it to use. sorry if i let anyone down, it was a weak moment and i hope it doesnt happen again. i was in really bad pain and i didnt take it to get "high", just to stop the pain. and it did for a couple of days, now im back to tylenol and trying to get back to where i was before. i feel really down about it, but im not w/d today..so i dont know. i feel alright. kind of flushed and thats about it. i feel like i let myself down and everyone who has been supportive here.
mouse

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by mouse1111

relapse. on day 2 again. taking a medicine that counteracts the effects of painkillers, rendering them useless so that it wouldnt even be worth it to use. sorry if i let anyone down, it was a weak moment and i hope it doesnt happen again. i was in really bad pain and i didnt take it to get "high", just to stop the pain. and it did for a couple of days, now im back to tylenol and trying to get back to where i was before. i feel really down about it, but im not w/d today..so i dont know. i feel alright. kind of flushed and thats about it. i feel like i let myself down and everyone who has been supportive here.
mouse

Don't worry about it. Just start over and stick with it this time. So many of us me included have relapsed. I only hope you don't find it necessary to relapse as many times as I did. You didn't let anyone here down. Don't even think about that. It doesn't matter. So what medication is it that you are taking now???

[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by mouse1111

relapse. on day 2 again. taking a medicine that counteracts the effects of painkillers, rendering them useless so that it wouldnt even be worth it to use. sorry if i let anyone down, it was a weak moment and i hope it doesnt happen again. i was in really bad pain and i didnt take it to get "high", just to stop the pain. and it did for a couple of days, now im back to tylenol and trying to get back to where i was before. i feel really down about it, but im not w/d today..so i dont know. i feel alright. kind of flushed and thats about it. i feel like i let myself down and everyone who has been supportive here.
mouse

cant even tell you how many times I have relapse...... I have 4 yrs of total clean time and the time of my life........... came home and relapsed. No dissappointment, just hurt for you. Now, stop feeling srry for yourself and start over. Hope the wd stays away for you.

sister

[Browneyedgirl791]

WOW Congrats, it sounds like your SOOO close to being MUCH BETTER!! Depends on the person but a week sounds like your almost done feeling like crud!! I've read/heard that after about 7-10 days the worst is over BUT it could take up to a month before your totally back to your old self.....you almost made it!!! I honor your strength!!!

[sallymander]

I came here wondering what to expect when quiting Vicoden and was shocked by the suffering many of you were going though.
I've been taking two presribed for neropahy Vicoden per day for about ten months and feel like the treatment has become worse than the diease, want to quit.
With my low level of use can I expect any problems?

[AgustusM]

I am so happy I stumbled upon this forum. I was feeling very bad and weak dealing with this and reading this has really helped.

My prayers are with all of you struggling and my deep admiration for those that are helping. Hey Mouse - hang in there - take some pride in the fact that not only are you getting better your helping other people by sharing your story, even a middle age guy like me.

I have been on norco for about a year after ending up the ER with a back problem. I have managed to conquer the overwhelming back pain (mostly by dropping 45 lbs) but do have lingering pain. Luckily I have never regularly taken much more than 6 a day. I have never had an Rx for more than 90 in 30 days and I have never gone “outside” to get them. I have been tapering for a few weeks and was down to 1.5/day. I haven’t had any in 24 hours.
I just flushed the last 17 I had left and shredded the Rx labels to remove the temptation to call in a refill.

Even with the tapering I have been suffering the various symptoms described here (especially the cold sweats) the one thing I have had for a long time is my teeth never stop chattering. It is like the chattering you get when you are cold, but it is all the time, even when it is 100*. When I mentioned it to the doc, he said “well you’re in pain, so that is the body’s reaction.” Thing is, the worst of the pain is behind me but the chatter is still there. Anyone else experienced this?

At the moment I feel absolutely terrible – but reading this entire thread actually made me understand what is happening to me. I have always been better able to deal with things when I understand why they are happening. The physical is tough, but the mental side is a lot easier reading this. Come to think of it he ease on the mental side has really eased the physical side – amazing how that is.

Also a quick story on my back pain if it helps anyone. I am 42 years old, father of 4 and former college football player. I am 6’ and 235 lbs, well over my playing weight. Or – I was. I am down to 190 lbs. So how did I do it? I have a variety of physical ailments from my playing days: knee, back, ankle, and so on. I just can’t do the lifting and running I use to. So I started walking. I started slow and just went a little further every day. I have been at it over a year and am up to an hour a day and I do it rain or shine. Tired or not. I walk every day, no excuses. Amazing how much weight you can lose when you go from under an hour of exercise a week to 7 hours a week. Even if it is simple as walking.

Now I also changed how I eat partially because my wife was on weight watchers and I swallowed my pride and started doing it too. For me it is all about portion size. I still eat most of what I love – I simply have 1 serving instead of 5.

Add in some yoga stretches and a little patience and the weight started to come off. As the weight came off the back pain started to recede. Now I am hardly pain free (which is how I have been justifying the norco refills) but it is far more manageable than it was.

I have already started feeling more like myself as I have tapered off. Well, when I am not withdrawing. I am really looking forward to and motivated by the idea of being off completely and feeling normal again.

God Bless to all.

[melinda7.5]

Im so glad you found us.this forum is the best thing that ever happend to me also,keep us posted on how you are doing...

[mouse1111]

it really does help to see the strength of the people on this board. agustusm--i think it's incredible that you could get rid of all of the medicine and the rx labels...but i almost feel like since you have been on such a high dose for a long time..that maybe you should taper off even though you already have...i dont know, maybe even taking tylenol with codeine or something and then just tylenol, i dont know..im not a doctor, but taking a benzo really helps like valium or klonipin.w/d feels like death and ive been taking ritalin/adderall because when you take it-you dont get the "high" from the vic. so it isnt even worth taking..yeah i am all jittery and trading one drug for another is bad, but i dont like adderall or ritalin because it makes my teeth clench and makes me feel stressed. i just figure if i take it then i cant take the pain killer and it also helps with the lethargy from the w/d. i just have to remember to eat on it otherwise ill lose 20 pounds! so i am on day 3? yeah. so a couple more weeks and ill be in the clear and then i can start helping others get through this. i think i am the youngest person on this board? maybe that is good? maybe it is bad...that i will have to fight this for the rest of my life. addiction runs in my family, i never thought it would touch me. but who ever thinks it will?

[mpvt]

After taking vicoden as prescribed for 10 months you will have a few days of sniffles and general body aches.You are not addicted from what you have told us here but anyone taking a prescibed opiate for more then a few weeks will likely become dependant on them.

My wife took 80-100 mgs of MS Contin (slow release morphine) for 2 years.She took it as prescribed and was not addicted.She did have a couple days of feeling like a mild case of the flu.
So I don't see were you're going to have much of a problem after 10 months.
When you do stop try and eat high protien diet for a few months and get out a couple times a day for a walk.Exercise is vital for a good recovery as it helps promote endorphin production.
Stay away from prescription sleep meds ect as they carry their own problems.Good luck and let us know how your making out.....Dave

[AgustusM]

I wanted to share a quick story in the hopes it might help someone relate the way so many other stories in this thread have helped me.

So my oldest son is 10. Great kid, happy, healthy, does well in school. He does have this one problem with sleeping in his room, I won't get bogged down in the details. No real reason, nothing has ever happened to him. Just a normal childhood fear.

The problem has been: almost every night it has been easier to simply say we will deal with that tomorrow and let him sleep in his sister’s room or the playroom. Then the next night it was “one more night”

I realized today while reading this. That is what I have been doing. I never thought about being addicted to the pills. I started taking it for pain, and then I just took it “one more day” I will deal with this tomorrow. Now I have tried several times to ween myself off of them – but not until today after reading this forum did I finally realize that I was just convincing myself I would deal with it tomorrow.

Oh yeah my son, last week I had a great talk with him and we solved the problem together and he has slept in there every night since.

[AgustusM]

Today is day 3 and I feel like I have the worst flu ever. I must say though that without having read this thread I would have never dumped the pills and I am sure I would have refilled and kept telling myself one more day.

Now, even though I am feeling awful, I am feeling awful with purpose and am looking forward to being back to normal again.

I am having a horrific time sleeping. even taking ambien CR does not help. It knocks me out for the first 2-3 hours, but then I am up for the middle of the night. I am completely wiped out and tired and really hoping a good nights sleep will come when I get this all out of my system.

Of course I will need to kick the Ambien habit after getting off the Norco. It is amazing that I spend the first 40 years of my life never really taking anything and then in one short year got so hooked to both the pain and the sleeping pills.

Predictable too. At first vicodin took away the pain and gave that happy feeling, but with time as my body adjusted it took more and more to just feel OK. Same thing with the Ambien. I started with over the counter sleep aids. But I as worried I would get hooked and asked the doc for a sleep aid. At first they absolutely knocked me out and I was getting the best sleep of my life. But as time went on it takes a bigger and bigger dose to help and now all it does is give the first couple hours.

I am really looking forward to the day when I don't take any of this stuff anymore.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by AgustusM

Today is day 3 and I feel like I have the worst flu ever. I must say though that without having read this thread I would have never dumped the pills and I am sure I would have refilled and kept telling myself one more day.

Now, even though I am feeling awful, I am feeling awful with purpose and am looking forward to being back to normal again.

I am having a horrific time sleeping. even taking ambien CR does not help. It knocks me out for the first 2-3 hours, but then I am up for the middle of the night. I am completely wiped out and tired and really hoping a good nights sleep will come when I get this all out of my system.

Of course I will need to kick the Ambien habit after getting off the Norco. It is amazing that I spend the first 40 years of my life never really taking anything and then in one short year got so hooked to both the pain and the sleeping pills.

Predictable too. At first vicodin took away the pain and gave that happy feeling, but with time as my body adjusted it took more and more to just feel OK. Same thing with the Ambien. I started with over the counter sleep aids. But I as worried I would get hooked and asked the doc for a sleep aid. At first they absolutely knocked me out and I was getting the best sleep of my life. But as time went on it takes a bigger and bigger dose to help and now all it does is give the first couple hours.

I am really looking forward to the day when I don't take any of this stuff anymore.

In my experience Ambien are worthless especially when we are detoxing. They are the most expensive sleep aid available and work for a couple hours. It's just like you describe. I would get rid of that garbage immediately. You aren't going to sleep well during detox anyway. Why add to your problem???

They often say "no pain no gain." There is a lot of truth to that. Suffering with purpose as you describe it is very accurate. Maintain that focus and you will be fine with this.

Day 3 totally sucks big time. It will likely be the same for another 2-3 days realistically. But along about day six or so you will begin to notice how much better you are starting to feel each day. The good night of sleep is the last thing that we usually get back. It took me about three months before I slept 4 hours at a time. I thought I would go crazy from no sleep. I was a walking zombie. But we don't die from lack of sleep. We did this to ourselves. Once you get past all this you will never have to do it again. Hopefully it won't take you as long as it did me to sleep again. I used a LOT and for a very long time. Lots worse than what you describe. You were clean for 40 years while I was using for almost that entire 40 years. So we are not the same, similar, but some different.

Hang in there. It gets better as long as you don't use. Good luck and God bless.

[mouse1111]

i feel worse today than i felt on day 2 or 3. im on day 5? yeah and i feel like death. i would rather step on a land mine than feel like this today, a friday, when i should be getting ready to go out and have fun with friends. i dont know how to fake happiness, so tonight when i do go out..without the help of pain meds...everyone is going to keep asking me why im so down. i really am craving that happy jolt of "everythings ok, i look great, i feelt great". it helps me get ready to go out that night, convincing me i look good when really i have clumpy mascara and that whole courtney love "kinderwhore" thing going on. oh well. hope you can stay strong augustusm....i once od'd on sleeping pills and almost died. i dont know why i did it. those things are the devil and i have not touched them since. good luck!

[Robert_325]

I couldn't help but laugh a bit at the land mine and Courtney Love thing. Thats too funny.

You are so close now. Day five can be so bad, day six can be bad, but then we wake up one day and see it's a little better. Just a little. But then it begins to turn around and gets better every day.

This weekend should be a turn around for you. I would bet that by the end of the weekend you will start feeling better. Don't put yourself in situations this weekend that make this more difficult. It's too important. This is a very critical time for you. Get through this weekend and you will be on your way. Hang in there.

[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by mouse1111

i feel worse today than i felt on day 2 or 3. im on day 5? yeah and i feel like death. i would rather step on a land mine than feel like this today, a friday, when i should be getting ready to go out and have fun with friends. i dont know how to fake happiness, so tonight when i do go out..without the help of pain meds...everyone is going to keep asking me why im so down. i really am craving that happy jolt of "everythings ok, i look great, i feelt great". it helps me get ready to go out that night, convincing me i look good when really i have clumpy mascara and that whole courtney love "kinderwhore" thing going on. oh well. hope you can stay strong augustusm....i once od'd on sleeping pills and almost died. i dont know why i did it. those things are the devil and i have not touched them since. good luck!

I just want to share about needing things to change............ we can stop taking the dope and still be the addict. Life has to change too. Just give this a little thought mouse.

I am glad your feeling better.... hey your thinking about going out, so your better. Just be carefull...... you have very little time under your belt and believe me.. not much has changed yet other then your not popping pills.

Sister

[AgustusM]

Day 5 and I must say I think I am very fortunate to be a little ahead of the curve. All the big time flu like symptoms are gone and I actually slept 6 straight hours last night for the first time in weeks.

I have done the Gatorade and OJ thing and I have been stretching about 3 times a day.

I am VERY happy I flushed the pills, because there have been about 5 times where if I had them I know i would have taken them and I have caught myself at least twice heading up to take them without even thinking about it and then realizing they are gone.

I still have the teeth chattering which was getting much worse, but is now starting to subside.

I feel more like myself than I have in a long time.

I do know the big test is going to come when my neck or back flairs up and I am in pain. I do plan on doing the Tylenol/Motrin plan and hope that gets me through.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by AgustusM

Day 5 and I must say I think I am very fortunate to be a little ahead of the curve. All the big time flu like symptoms are gone and I actually slept 6 straight hours last night for the first time in weeks.

I have done the Gatorade and OJ thing and I have been stretching about 3 times a day.

I am VERY happy I flushed the pills, because there have been about 5 times where if I had them I know i would have taken them and I have caught myself at least twice heading up to take them without even thinking about it and then realizing they are gone.

I still have the teeth chattering which was getting much worse, but is now starting to subside.

I feel more like myself than I have in a long time.

I do know the big test is going to come when my neck or back flairs up and I am in pain. I do plan on doing the Tylenol/Motrin plan and hope that gets me through.

Good for you. You have done well because you had your mind made up when you started this. You flushed your stash, you prepared with the things that make the w/ds a little easier, this is how you do a successful cold turkey detox. And after less than a week it's turning around for you already. I'm very happy for you. Now you can start to enjoy life again. God bless.

[AgustusM]

Day 6

I am still feeling kind of a lag feeling like the last few days of the flu. Hoping that doesn't linger too long. I did sleep 8 hours last night! only waking up once and at that only briefly. Not being exhausted all the time has had a huge impact.

It was so fortunate to stumble upon this site and this thread. It really made all the difference in this process to me. I have no doubt I would simply be on "one more day" if I had not read everything that was here and gained strength from those that posted here.

thanks again to all that have participated. For those still struggling, keep at it - you can do it and you will feel so much better when you do.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by AgustusM

Day 6

I am still feeling kind of a lag feeling like the last few days of the flu. Hoping that doesn't linger too long. I did sleep 8 hours last night! only waking up once and at that only briefly. Not being exhausted all the time has had a huge impact.

It was so fortunate to stumble upon this site and this thread. It really made all the difference in this process to me. I have no doubt I would simply be on "one more day" if I had not read everything that was here and gained strength from those that posted here.

thanks again to all that have participated. For those still struggling, keep at it - you can do it and you will feel so much better when you do.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Day 6 can be tough. But you are almost there. Consider yourself lucky to have slept six hours. That is really unusual. You are doing better than you think you are. After another 2-3 days you should start feeling pretty good again.

[AgustusM]

Just wanted to leave a quick update. I am not sure how many days it has been since I quit, and that in of itself is a great sign.

I fell pretty much completely clean with all traces (or at least physical signs) gone. I feel clear headed, so much so that I didn't even realize what a cloud I had been under for the previous year. I am also sleeping much better.

I do frequently get a quick passing urge to take "just one more" but since I flushed them and there is none to take it passes in a matter of seconds.

I do know the real test is going to be when I have a problem with my back or neck and experience the debilitating pain that started all of this. Good news on that front is I am working everyday to make those days less and less (with diet, stretching and exercise) and having gone through the WD, I really don't want to go through that again and will be very stubborn about not taking anything stronger than the tylenol and motrin in the concern of getting hooked on the pain killers again.

Good luck to all those fighting, good luck and god bless. You can do it.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by AgustusM

Just wanted to leave a quick update. I am not sure how many days it has been since I quit, and that in of itself is a great sign.

I fell pretty much completely clean with all traces (or at least physical signs) gone. I feel clear headed, so much so that I didn't even realize what a cloud I had been under for the previous year. I am also sleeping much better.

I do frequently get a quick passing urge to take "just one more" but since I flushed them and there is none to take it passes in a matter of seconds.

I do know the real test is going to be when I have a problem with my back or neck and experience the debilitating pain that started all of this. Good news on that front is I am working everyday to make those days less and less (with diet, stretching and exercise) and having gone through the WD, I really don't want to go through that again and will be very stubborn about not taking anything stronger than the tylenol and motrin in the concern of getting hooked on the pain killers again.

Good luck to all those fighting, good luck and god bless. You can do it.

Well according to the dates on your posts this post of yours is day 10. Congratulations!

You have done really well. You are right about the real test actually starting now. It's not easy but it is simple to detox. We just have to ride it out if we are doing a cold turkey and not use no matter what. Staying clean requires us to surrender, to have faith, to really want to have something better for our life.

You have the right attitude. That is the biggest part of this deal. And you have started to exercise which is important. If we have real problems with our body we have to change what we WERE doing or nothing changes for the future long term. And very important you are aware of the mental issues involved with staying clean. I think you are at a very good place for having less than two weeks clean. The one thing that has always helped me that you mention is simply FEAR. I am petrified when I think about the possibility of another detox. It simply isn't happening. I don't know how many of them I could survive and I don't want to find out.

For what it's worth I was in a wheelchair just a few years ago from illness and sports injuries. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynauds Phenomenon, five knee surgeries, deg disc disease, all kinds of garbage. Was taking 30 30mg oxy a day plus other trash. I take only Ibuprofen 800mg for pain today. And I play racquetball. I am living proof that we can come back from a pretty deep hole if it's really important to us. Hang in there. Good luck on your continued recovery and God bless.

[AgustusM]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

Well according to the dates on your posts this post of yours is day 10. Congratulations!

You have done really well. You are right about the real test actually starting now. It's not easy but it is simple to detox. We just have to ride it out if we are doing a cold turkey and not use no matter what. Staying clean requires us to surrender, to have faith, to really want to have something better for our life.

You have the right attitude. That is the biggest part of this deal. And you have started to exercise which is important. If we have real problems with our body we have to change what we WERE doing or nothing changes for the future long term. And very important you are aware of the mental issues involved with staying clean. I think you are at a very good place for having less than two weeks clean. The one thing that has always helped me that you mention is simply FEAR. I am petrified when I think about the possibility of another detox. It simply isn't happening. I don't know how many of them I could survive and I don't want to find out.

For what it's worth I was in a wheelchair just a few years ago from illness and sports injuries. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynauds Phenomenon, five knee surgeries, deg disc disease, all kinds of garbage. Was taking 30 30mg oxy a day plus other trash. I take only Ibuprofen 800mg for pain today. And I play racquetball. I am living proof that we can come back from a pretty deep hole if it's really important to us. Hang in there. Good luck on your continued recovery and God bless.

wow - thank you for sharing your story. the single biggest thing that has made this easier is reading about what others have done.

I started taking vicodin because of my back problems. But I also have knee, shoulder, ankle, etc injuries from my youth of football, basketball, baseball and rodeo. Great to hear you are staving off your pain with Ibuprofen, gives me confidence I can do the same.

[ecsancho]

Hello, I'm new here

First I just want to say all of your stories have encourage me to rough out the W/D symptoms I've been feeling.


I've been taking Norco for about 1 year, and last 2 months I was taking 6-10 pills a day. Then I realize I don't want to live my life this way so I stopped cold.

I am now going through worse experience of my life. I don't eat, sleep, ache, I vomit, depression, and the worst has to be the aniexty. The 2 first days I used 4 pills of tramadol which help and I didn't experience to much W/D. Then on 3rd day thats when hell let loose, the major problem was depression where I feel like crying about anything I find sad, then I couldn't rest to sleep all that night. 4th day which Im on now, I feel fatigue, low energy, aneixty, drepress, and achy.

Im also taking GABA to help with the anxiety, eating banannas and drinking gatorade, it helps little bit.

Can someone please tell me this only going to last 1 mor day, I don't I can take this anymore. I would go to the doctor buy I don't have money nor health insurance to go get prescribe to counter my W/D. THanks