[AFSGTSAM]

I have a personal story to tell and I have been reading your posts for a week now, I finally decided to admit my problem and talk to you all about it. First a little about me. I am a disabled Iraq veteran, I served in the US Air Force for 15 years and did multiple tours overseas including the middle east (Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey). I suffered severe injuries to my feet and knees and had been in a moderate to sometimes severe level of pain for more than 2 years. To say that I was arrogant would be an understatment I have a college degree, I retired from the military and have a great high paying job as an executive contracting officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I used to look down on people with drug problems as weak minded or just plain scumbags. Well in the last 9-10 months I realized that it can happen to anyone, what a trip back down to Earth this has been. My doctors at the VA have been feeding me large quantities of Vicodin for the last year and they allowed me as many refills as I wanted and when I wanted at no charge. In the begining it did relive my pain and helped my quality of life, but within a few months it went beyond that. I started to develop a tolerance to it and I gradually started taking more and more and looking back now it was not always for pain...I was addicted. For many months I thought I had it under control, I managed to keep it a secret from everyone even my wife and kids. At its peak for the last few months I was gulping down 4 or 5 at a time and using 12-15 pills a day sometimes more. The mood changes and being high all the time took its toll I was disconnected from my family I was short tempered with my wife, my life belonged to the pills. It reached a head last week when I started bringing pills into work and taking them thru the day. That is when I started reading about this addiction online and found you all. I spend hours reading all your stories and I realized you are all real people that had the same problem I have. Anyway I was inspired to stop cold turkey and I did 5 days ago. I finally admitted my problem to my wife and she said she had a suspicion I was taking too many vics. Well thanks to all your posts I am now on day 5 and starting to feel much better. Days 2-4 were hell on Earth, every muscle in my body felt like it was going to jump out of my skin. I had nausea, coughing fits, flu symptoms, and even ghost pain. I took pepto to help with the nausea and like one of the previous posts some flexril for the muscle spasms helped a little. I also took several hot showers thru the day especially right before bed time, along with some tylenol PM. Anyway to make a long story short I am in day 5 and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[cagirl]

Hi I think its wonderful you decided to quit...You came to the right place for support, It does get better every day, Life is great without pills.....Take CAre!!!!

[Robert_325]

You're doing great. Every day will get better and better as long as you don't use. Stay in touch and let us know how you progress. Congratulations on your continued success. God bless.

[melinda7.5]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have a personal story to tell and I have been reading your posts for a week now, I finally decided to admit my problem and talk to you all about it. First a little about me. I am a disabled Iraq veteran, I served in the US Air Force for 15 years and did multiple tours overseas including the middle east (Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey). I suffered severe injuries to my feet and knees and had been in a moderate to sometimes severe level of pain for more than 2 years. To say that I was arrogant would be an understatment I have a college degree, I retired from the military and have a great high paying job as an executive contracting officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I used to look down on people with drug problems as weak minded or just plain scumbags. Well in the last 9-10 months I realized that it can happen to anyone, what a trip back down to Earth this has been. My doctors at the VA have been feeding me large quantities of Vicodin for the last year and they allowed me as many refills as I wanted and when I wanted at no charge. In the begining it did relive my pain and helped my quality of life, but within a few months it went beyond that. I started to develop a tolerance to it and I gradually started taking more and more and looking back now it was not always for pain...I was addicted. For many months I thought I had it under control, I managed to keep it a secret from everyone even my wife and kids. At its peak for the last few months I was gulping down 4 or 5 at a time and using 12-15 pills a day sometimes more. The mood changes and being high all the time took its toll I was disconnected from my family I was short tempered with my wife, my life belonged to the pills. It reached a head last week when I started bringing pills into work and taking them thru the day. That is when I started reading about this addiction online and found you all. I spend hours reading all your stories and I realized you are all real people that had the same problem I have. Anyway I was inspired to stop cold turkey and I did 5 days ago. I finally admitted my problem to my wife and she said she had a suspicion I was taking too many vics. Well thanks to all your posts I am now on day 5 and starting to feel much better. Days 2-4 were hell on Earth, every muscle in my body felt like it was going to jump out of my skin. I had nausea, coughing fits, flu symptoms, and even ghost pain. I took pepto to help with the nausea and like one of the previous posts some flexril for the muscle spasms helped a little. I also took several hot showers thru the day especially right before bed time, along with some tylenol PM. Anyway to make a long story short I am in day 5 and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi AFSGTSAM
I'm real happy for you. If your on day 5 you going to do just fine,I knew by then I was going to make it.I did a cold turkey from oxycontin and vics.
So let us know how you are doing.
Talk to you soon, Melinda

[musicman48]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have a personal story to tell and I have been reading your posts for a week now, I finally decided to admit my problem and talk to you all about it. First a little about me. I am a disabled Iraq veteran, I served in the US Air Force for 15 years and did multiple tours overseas including the middle east (Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey). I suffered severe injuries to my feet and knees and had been in a moderate to sometimes severe level of pain for more than 2 years. To say that I was arrogant would be an understatment I have a college degree, I retired from the military and have a great high paying job as an executive contracting officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I used to look down on people with drug problems as weak minded or just plain scumbags. Well in the last 9-10 months I realized that it can happen to anyone, what a trip back down to Earth this has been. My doctors at the VA have been feeding me large quantities of Vicodin for the last year and they allowed me as many refills as I wanted and when I wanted at no charge. In the begining it did relive my pain and helped my quality of life, but within a few months it went beyond that. I started to develop a tolerance to it and I gradually started taking more and more and looking back now it was not always for pain...I was addicted. For many months I thought I had it under control, I managed to keep it a secret from everyone even my wife and kids. At its peak for the last few months I was gulping down 4 or 5 at a time and using 12-15 pills a day sometimes more. The mood changes and being high all the time took its toll I was disconnected from my family I was short tempered with my wife, my life belonged to the pills. It reached a head last week when I started bringing pills into work and taking them thru the day. That is when I started reading about this addiction online and found you all. I spend hours reading all your stories and I realized you are all real people that had the same problem I have. Anyway I was inspired to stop cold turkey and I did 5 days ago. I finally admitted my problem to my wife and she said she had a suspicion I was taking too many vics. Well thanks to all your posts I am now on day 5 and starting to feel much better. Days 2-4 were hell on Earth, every muscle in my body felt like it was going to jump out of my skin. I had nausea, coughing fits, flu symptoms, and even ghost pain. I took pepto to help with the nausea and like one of the previous posts some flexril for the muscle spasms helped a little. I also took several hot showers thru the day especially right before bed time, along with some tylenol PM. Anyway to make a long story short I am in day 5 and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Physically the hard part is about over ! Congrats! ...Mentally things may be tough for a while.You really need a support system like NA/AA or God.Family etc ,whatever,..to help you stay clean and focused..Good luck to you and thanks for your service to our country.

[Oxy Moron™]

First off, please allow me to extend to you my deepest gratitude for fighting to protect our freedom as United States citizens. I am very grateful for everything you and your fellow soldiers have and are doing to protect us.

Second, I'm VERY impressed!!! Abruptly discontinuing your pain medication by means of cold-turkey, ESPECIALLY considering your moderate-to-heavy usage history, is astounding!!!

As a person myself who has battled with opiate addiction/withdrawal, I know the hell one must endure in order to free themselves. ANYONE who can successfully stop the self-administration of narcotic pain-killers, by whatever means necessary (Sub-X, cold-turkey, N.A.), are heroes in my book. I know that there are HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS, belonging to this forum alone, who have freed themselves. Kudos to ALL of you!!!

Again...thank you and congratulations!

[AFSGTSAM]

I am now in day six without vicodin, most of day 5 I had a basic case of the icks...I was tired and felt like I had a minor cold. Then by the evening of day 5 my muscle spasms and pain started up again. I took some tylenol and a couple of flexril (a low grade muscle relaxer/not addictive) that seemed to settle the pains and twitches enough to go to sleep and I actually got over 8 hours of sleep last night. Here I am at day 6 and the fog is starting to clear, I still have a little bit of the ick but nothing too bad. My wife has been very supportive she made all my favorite comfort foods and did what ever she could to get me through this. I have been going to work through all of this and I found it in my case to be helpful, I knew if I stayed home I would think about the pills all day and probably end up at the VA Pharmacy getting another refill.
Now a few questions posed to all of you...........

Did any of you find it better to go to work during the detox process ?
In my case the muscle aches and spasms have been the worst part of this, any of you find the same thing ?

Thank you all for your positive feedback....I cannot tell you all how helpful all your posts to me and stories of addiction have helped me get through this.

Thanks Again !

[pbs8218]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have a personal story to tell and I have been reading your posts for a week now, I finally decided to admit my problem and talk to you all about it. First a little about me. I am a disabled Iraq veteran, I served in the US Air Force for 15 years and did multiple tours overseas including the middle east (Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey). I suffered severe injuries to my feet and knees and had been in a moderate to sometimes severe level of pain for more than 2 years. To say that I was arrogant would be an understatment I have a college degree, I retired from the military and have a great high paying job as an executive contracting officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I used to look down on people with drug problems as weak minded or just plain scumbags. Well in the last 9-10 months I realized that it can happen to anyone, what a trip back down to Earth this has been. My doctors at the VA have been feeding me large quantities of Vicodin for the last year and they allowed me as many refills as I wanted and when I wanted at no charge. In the begining it did relive my pain and helped my quality of life, but within a few months it went beyond that. I started to develop a tolerance to it and I gradually started taking more and more and looking back now it was not always for pain...I was addicted. For many months I thought I had it under control, I managed to keep it a secret from everyone even my wife and kids. At its peak for the last few months I was gulping down 4 or 5 at a time and using 12-15 pills a day sometimes more. The mood changes and being high all the time took its toll I was disconnected from my family I was short tempered with my wife, my life belonged to the pills. It reached a head last week when I started bringing pills into work and taking them thru the day. That is when I started reading about this addiction online and found you all. I spend hours reading all your stories and I realized you are all real people that had the same problem I have. Anyway I was inspired to stop cold turkey and I did 5 days ago. I finally admitted my problem to my wife and she said she had a suspicion I was taking too many vics. Well thanks to all your posts I am now on day 5 and starting to feel much better. Days 2-4 were hell on Earth, every muscle in my body felt like it was going to jump out of my skin. I had nausea, coughing fits, flu symptoms, and even ghost pain. I took pepto to help with the nausea and like one of the previous posts some flexril for the muscle spasms helped a little. I also took several hot showers thru the day especially right before bed time, along with some tylenol PM. Anyway to make a long story short I am in day 5 and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Well AFS, I just read your story and I first want to say THANK YOU. I have the upmost respect for anyone in the military. And thank your folks and family too. They have been unselfish to let their loved one go. I'm not sure I could have been that strong.

I hope each and everyone that knows your addiction is rooting you on! From here on out, feel free to post to me anytime. Have you gotten past the mentals? I found them the worst. What about your pain? Do you still have? I've read that quitting pain pills makes pain even worse for awhile, but subsides eventually. I hope that's the case for you. My heart breaks for your story. I'm going to start calling you ABS, because you have the muscle to get through this, and if I find out you are not right behind me, I'll hunt you down, haha-certainly don't have any energy, but I'll just be mad! God bless you and your family, ever need an ear, I'm here. pbs8218@gmail.com Good luck Peggy

[icandoitin08]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I am now in day six without vicodin, most of day 5 I had a basic case of the icks...I was tired and felt like I had a minor cold. Then by the evening of day 5 my muscle spasms and pain started up again. I took some tylenol and a couple of flexril (a low grade muscle relaxer/not addictive) that seemed to settle the pains and twitches enough to go to sleep and I actually got over 8 hours of sleep last night. Here I am at day 6 and the fog is starting to clear, I still have a little bit of the ick but nothing too bad. My wife has been very supportive she made all my favorite comfort foods and did what ever she could to get me through this. I have been going to work through all of this and I found it in my case to be helpful, I knew if I stayed home I would think about the pills all day and probably end up at the VA Pharmacy getting another refill.
Now a few questions posed to all of you...........

Did any of you find it better to go to work during the detox process ?
In my case the muscle aches and spasms have been the worst part of this, any of you find the same thing ?

Thank you all for your positive feedback....I cannot tell you all how helpful all your posts to me and stories of addiction have helped me get through this.

Thanks Again !

Congratulations on six days! Just a suggestion but, I am avoiding Tylenol. I have been abusing the hydros for so long (and they are loaded with Tylenol) that I changed to motrin to give my liver a chance to heal.

I am on the suboxone plan with Robert. For me it was the last resort as I have been abusing hydro for 4 years increasing my dose to 5-6 pills at once.
In response to your question: Personally, I could not work when I was going cold turkey. However now that I am off the hydro I am very thankful that I have a job(who knows for how long, i work in the auto industry) going to work each day gets me out of the house and it feels good accomplishing things at work. I work with numbers all day long so when I was in w/d I could simply not get my mind to calm down. I had terrible racing thoughts. Hot then cold, sweats, runny nose and diarrhea. I knew if i just took one more pill it would feel better than what I was feeling at that moment.
So from there the cycle went on and on and on and on.

You are a strong, disciplined person and you have wonderful support. It was hard for my husband, he was giving up on me, he had been through it so many times. When I started the subs he admitted to me a few days later that he did not think it would work. He was ready to move me out. Now, things are getting better each day. I am gaining his trust back little by little.

You are doing so great! I wish I had someone making me my comfort foods!

Keep up the good work!

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by pbs8218

Well AFS, I just read your story and I first want to say THANK YOU. I have the upmost respect for anyone in the military. And thank your folks and family too. They have been unselfish to let their loved one go. I'm not sure I could have been that strong.

I hope each and everyone that knows your addiction is rooting you on! From here on out, feel free to post to me anytime. Have you gotten past the mentals? I found them the worst. What about your pain? Do you still have? I've read that quitting pain pills makes pain even worse for awhile, but subsides eventually. I hope that's the case for you. My heart breaks for your story. I'm going to start calling you ABS, because you have the muscle to get through this, and if I find out you are not right behind me, I'll hunt you down, haha-certainly don't have any energy, but I'll just be mad! God bless you and your family, ever need an ear, I'm here. pbs8218@gmail.com Good luck Peggy

Peggy,

Thank you for the kind words, it was my privilage to serve in the Air Force, it was a wonderful life for me and my family. We got to travel all over the USA and overseas, I will cherish my military memories for the rest of my life, same for my family who travelled with me much of the time.
I started taking vic for real pain, looking back now after I became addicted I now think that it was not always real pain, just my mind playing tricks on me to take more pills. At this point I am still having some phantom pains but the worst part for me through all this has been the aching bones and muscles. Some of my muscle spams were so bad I felt like tearin the skin from my arms and legs. Taking Tylenol PM, and Flexril along with frequent hot showers helped relieve some of the w/d symptoms for a few hours. So far I am still going through the tail end of the physical w/d pains. I consider myself to be a strong person and I pray that when the mental cravings get stronger I can take them on in a positive way. You will not have to hunt me down I will not fall off this wagon my family is counting on me to get through this.

Thank You so much for your post, I know this sounds odd because I dont know any of you in person but just reading your stories and being able to talk to other who are or have gone through what I am is a great comfort.

Thank YOU !!

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by icandoitin08

Congratulations on six days! Just a suggestion but, I am avoiding Tylenol. I have been abusing the hydros for so long (and they are loaded with Tylenol) that I changed to motrin to give my liver a chance to heal.

I am on the suboxone plan with Robert. For me it was the last resort as I have been abusing hydro for 4 years increasing my dose to 5-6 pills at once.
In response to your question: Personally, I could not work when I was going cold turkey. However now that I am off the hydro I am very thankful that I have a job(who knows for how long, i work in the auto industry) going to work each day gets me out of the house and it feels good accomplishing things at work. I work with numbers all day long so when I was in w/d I could simply not get my mind to calm down. I had terrible racing thoughts. Hot then cold, sweats, runny nose and diarrhea. I knew if i just took one more pill it would feel better than what I was feeling at that moment.
So from there the cycle went on and on and on and on.

You are a strong, disciplined person and you have wonderful support. It was hard for my husband, he was giving up on me, he had been through it so many times. When I started the subs he admitted to me a few days later that he did not think it would work. He was ready to move me out. Now, things are getting better each day. I am gaining his trust back little by little.

You are doing so great! I wish I had someone making me my comfort foods!

Keep up the good work!

Thank You for your reply, as you probably know from my story I work for the Government. Yes I have been coming to work all week, have I been a real productive employee...I hate to admit NO. The only reason I didnt take this week off is I just knew I would get bored at home and end up getting more pills. I had to be somewhere busy. You work in the auto industry, my father worked in the car biz for 40 plus years he is retired now. I hope and pray this bad economy does not hurt your employment. Regarding the tylenol I just take a few Tylenol PM's at night to help me sleep. The bulk of my w/d has been unbelievable bone and muscle aches and cramps. The only thing that gives me even a little relief is to take some muscle relaxers and hot showers. I am in day 6 now and I am starting to see the end of this, I have no regrets about quitting cold turkey I know I will stay clean.

Thank You again for your encouragement please keep posting me with updates.

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

You're doing great. Every day will get better and better as long as you don't use. Stay in touch and let us know how you progress. Congratulations on your continued success. God bless.

Robert,
When I made the decision to quit cold turkey a lot of that decision was based on the advice you have given people in here, you are a good person who seems to really want to help people with their addictions. Thanks to inspiration you and many others in here gave me with thier stories and advice I fianlly learned how to say no to the pills.
I have a question what is your opinion about the doctors that pass out these potentially dangerous drugs like candy ?
My doctor at the Veterans Administration Clinic gave my a perscription for 180 vicodins at a time and gave me 10 refills that I could fill every 3 weeks by phone. I realize that I am responsible for the abuse of the drugs I would never blame the doctor for taking more than he perscribed. Still you have to wonder what the doc was thinking, he must know that vicodin is very addictive, why would he give me so many ?

God Bless You Robert my faith, family and support from all of you in here has helped me get to this point, I now see the end in sight and the world already looks a lot better to me.

Thank You!

[AFSGTSAM]

It has been a whole week since I quit vic and I feel 99% better, most of the physical w/d symptoms are gone. I feel like I can see clearly in almost a year. Yesterday I found some more pills in my medicine cabinet and I did not even hesitate, I flushed them down the toilet and tore up the label. Lets just say if you hear in the news about a bunch of stoned fish in the Sacramento River it is probably due to the pills I flushed.
Thanks again for all your support !

[pbs8218]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

It has been a whole week since I quit vic and I feel 99% better, most of the physical w/d symptoms are gone. I feel like I can see clearly in almost a year. Yesterday I found some more pills in my medicine cabinet and I did not even hesitate, I flushed them down the toilet and tore up the label. Lets just say if you hear in the news about a bunch of stoned fish in the Sacramento River it is probably due to the pills I flushed.
Thanks again for all your support !

haha thank you for making me laugh the first time today! Been a rough one! Peg

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by pbs8218

haha thank you for making me laugh the first time today! Been a rough one! Peg

I have found going through this horrible time that a sense of humor helps. Although there is nothing funny about my addiction you still have to laugh at the stupid things I did to my mind and body.
Glad I can help and keep working hard at being clean.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have found going through this horrible time that a sense of humor helps. Although there is nothing funny about my addiction you still have to laugh at the stupid things I did to my mind and body.
Glad I can help and keep working hard at being clean.

You've done really well. This can obviously be done cold turkey. Now you can start focusing on your longterm recovery. That is what it takes to maintain and accumulate some clean time. Good luck and God bless.

[melinda7.5]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have found going through this horrible time that a sense of humor helps. Although there is nothing funny about my addiction you still have to laugh at the stupid things I did to my mind and body.
Glad I can help and keep working hard at being clean.

Hi AFSGTSAM
You sound so good, this didn't take you any time at all.LOL
Your even out making other people laugh.
I'm really happy for you.You have done a great job!!!
Have a great day,Melinda

[pbs8218]

hey abs, how are you hanging in there? You seem to be doing well so far. Just thinking about you. Peg

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by pbs8218

hey abs, how are you hanging in there? You seem to be doing well so far. Just thinking about you. Peg

I just cant believe I made it to day nine, for the first few days of this I thought there is no way I would make it this far. Around day 5 and 6 a lot of the physical cravings tapered off then from days 7-9 some new w/d symptoms came up. I got a strange case of the shakes, a couple of days my hands would not stop shaking and I had chills. Now here in the morning of day 9 it seems to be tapering off. Now the battle with my mind is taking over the psychological effects may last longer. At this point the world looks much better and I have been spending some quality time with my family over the weekend without being high on pills and it feels great !!

Peg I think we both made it through the worst !!!

Hang in there everyone !!

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by melinda7.5

Hi AFSGTSAM
You sound so good, this didn't take you any time at all.LOL
Your even out making other people laugh.
I'm really happy for you.You have done a great job!!!
Have a great day,Melinda

Thanks for your words of support, at this point in my life I have a new understanding about the horrors of drug abuse...it can happen to anyone. In reality the time it took to get off the drugs is far less than the amount of time I lost polluting myself with the pills. But the truth is this last week felt like the longest in my life. I am happy now because I can finally be myself and see the world sober (something I have not done for almost a year). I find laughter is a great way to get through tough times. If any of my words helped anyone in here to get off vic then I am thrilled, I know the words of everyone in here helped me more than I can ever tell.

Thanks for the kind words Melinda !

[pbs8218]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I just cant believe I made it to day nine, for the first few days of this I thought there is no way I would make it this far. Around day 5 and 6 a lot of the physical cravings tapered off then from days 7-9 some new w/d symptoms came up. I got a strange case of the shakes, a couple of days my hands would not stop shaking and I had chills. Now here in the morning of day 9 it seems to be tapering off. Now the battle with my mind is taking over the psychological effects may last longer. At this point the world looks much better and I have been spending some quality time with my family over the weekend without being high on pills and it feels great !!

Peg I think we both made it through the worst !!!

Hang in there everyone !!

I had the same problems with the shakes. They're gone. The MENTALS have set in, but today seems ok so far. Robert had suggested to someone about Valerian Root. Its kind of an anxiety buster. Got last night, and believe me, it helped ALOT. Give it a try. Helped my sleep too. Keep pushing me from behind! Need all the help i can get! Peg

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by pbs8218

I had the same problems with the shakes. They're gone. The MENTALS have set in, but today seems ok so far. Robert had suggested to someone about Valerian Root. Its kind of an anxiety buster. Got last night, and believe me, it helped ALOT. Give it a try. Helped my sleep too. Keep pushing me from behind! Need all the help i can get! Peg

I will keep pushing from behind, to me you are pulling me forward there were a few moments in the last few days where I was tempted to go to the VA Pharmacy and refill my vic but I fought the urge off. At this point I will NOT sacrifice the progress I have made. I have found just keeping busy with work, family, recreation...etc helps anything to keep my mind occupied so I dont think about the pills.

You may not realize it but following behind you has helped more than I can say....Thank YOU !!

[pbs8218]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I will keep pushing from behind, to me you are pulling me forward there were a few moments in the last few days where I was tempted to go to the VA Pharmacy and refill my vic but I fought the urge off. At this point I will NOT sacrifice the progress I have made. I have found just keeping busy with work, family, recreation...etc helps anything to keep my mind occupied so I dont think about the pills.

You may not realize it but following behind you has helped more than I can say....Thank YOU !!

You are exactly right. Does your doc know problem? Why hang on to those refills as a crutch? Tell them to cancel your refills. I know those urges, and it takes every bit of my soul to fight, but i read a post from someone that said how much she cheated her kids out of a mom, etc. It really struck a nerve and gave me strength, I'll find for you, want you to read....

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by pbs8218

You are exactly right. Does your doc know problem? Why hang on to those refills as a crutch? Tell them to cancel your refills. I know those urges, and it takes every bit of my soul to fight, but i read a post from someone that said how much she cheated her kids out of a mom, etc. It really struck a nerve and gave me strength, I'll find for you, want you to read....

Thank you for say this, I think I did keep the refills in the system as a crutch, the temptation to go there again is too much. Thanks to your advice I made a Dr's appointment. I will ask him not to perscribe me vicodin again. Thank You yet again for keeping me on track I cant even tell you how much I appreciate it.

[AFSGTSAM]

Another reason to quit.....I cant even count or remember how many times I drove my car while on vic, sometime with my family in the car and they didnt know I was high. I was lucky there is not telling what could have happened behind the wheel I could have hurt or killed someone else or even me and my own family. If that is not a good enough reason to stop poisioning yourself I dont know what is !!

I am sure many of you did the same thing I did...how stupid was that ?

I just thank the lord that I didnt hurt anyone this way.

[AFSGTSAM]

I made it to day 10 and it looks like the worst of the physical symptoms are gone. It seems like a lifetime ago that I saw the world through the fog of vic abuse. I am returning to my normal self and it is great !
Now for the psychological battle a battle I will probably have to wage for a long time to come.

It Can Be Done !

[musicman48]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

Another reason to quit.....I cant even count or remember how many times I drove my car while on vic, sometime with my family in the car and they didnt know I was high. I was lucky there is not telling what could have happened behind the wheel I could have hurt or killed someone else or even me and my own family. If that is not a good enough reason to stop poisioning yourself I dont know what is !!

I am sure many of you did the same thing I did...how stupid was that ?

I just thank the lord that I didnt hurt anyone this way.

Yep that hit home for me.I think about all the time I drove stoned and I am thankful/hopeful that will never happen again.I remember a good friend of mine called me at about 2 in the morning because his car broke down and I was his only chance of rescue.It was about 14 degrees outside.I was so #$@% up I would not leave the house for fear of being arrested.I called someone else to pick him up. I will never forget that and I have been forgiven by my friend.Addicts are very selfish people when they are using.I am now available 24/7 for my friends and family.Good luck to you and stay strong!

[AFSGTSAM]

Originally Posted by musicman48

Yep that hit home for me.I think about all the time I drove stoned and I am thankful/hopeful that will never happen again.I remember a good friend of mine called me at about 2 in the morning because his car broke down and I was his only chance of rescue.It was about 14 degrees outside.I was so #$@% up I would not leave the house for fear of being arrested.I called someone else to pick him up. I will never forget that and I have been forgiven by my friend.Addicts are very selfish people when they are using.I am now available 24/7 for my friends and family.Good luck to you and stay strong!

It is amazing how the vic dulls our senses and we do thing that we would never do in a "normal" state of mind. I see clear now for the first time in almost a year and I want to smack myself in the head for what I allowed to happen. I am tankful neither one of us actually hurt anyone driving. And yes quitting smoking is tough I did that more than 15 years ago.

To a life free of drugs !

[AFSGTSAM]

I have a question for the forum.
If you read my story you can see that I do have some rather severe injuries to my feet and knees (lots of muscle and tendon damage plus). Usually 2 times a month or more I get flare ups that are very painful. I used to take large quantities of vicodin which the docs gave me quite liberally. Well since that is off the table forever what are some safer alternatives, and no tylenol and motrin are not even close to strong enough to help.
I heard that Darvocet is a possible alternative, that I will have less chance of addiction with it. Is it a safe alternative or not ???

Just curious.....

[musicman48]

Originally Posted by AFSGTSAM

I have a question for the forum.
If you read my story you can see that I do have some rather severe injuries to my feet and knees (lots of muscle and tendon damage plus). Usually 2 times a month or more I get flare ups that are very painful. I used to take large quantities of vicodin which the docs gave me quite liberally. Well since that is off the table forever what are some safer alternatives, and no tylenol and motrin are not even close to strong enough to help.
I heard that Darvocet is a possible alternative, that I will have less chance of addiction with it. Is it a safe alternative or not ???

Just curious.....

Nope ..Stay away from Darvocet too.Ibuprofen 800mg is your best bet in my opinion.others may say different.Good luck.