K
Kerry21
Guest
I am SO happy for you.. This was like the coolest thing ive ever read. it was like a movie LOL!
D
Debdeb9899
Guest
My doctor knows all about what I am going through and I have discussed it with him and with several pharmacists and they all say it's a painful withdrawal process and just something I have to get through. They have all said mix up between ibuprofin, alieve, and tylenol. Along with the HylanRAB Leg Cramps pill with quinine, which work wonders, and my sleep aid Lunesta, fluiRAB, hot baths, exercise and just work through the pain step by step. Today I feel as if I have the flu. My entire body aches and it feels as if there's no end in sight. I am 3 1/2 days clean. I just pray to God that it will start getting better soon.
M
madhen17
Guest
I just finished reading this thread and I'm amazed. I am going on week 1 in my recovery from Norco. I really felt like someone just knew what I was going through because as I'm reading it I'm going through the same thing. Sharing your journey on here has helped me a lot. There is me waiting at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait to get there.
Heidi
Heidi
silentwarrior
New member
:wave:Hi there.
I apologize for taking forever to get back here but my doc threw me into the hospital that lil stinker. :dizzy:
I hope that you are feeling bit better each day and know you can and will gets there. I have not been addicted but I was once a crisis counselor who granted did not work in a rehab setting but did see quite a few beautiful souls who were in the grip of addiction.
I also on pain management for Lupus, MS, and stroke like migraines (that started after my brain surgery) and can relate to my body being dependent on the meRAB.
Anyways...on to going in more detail...
1) Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine that does a lot of things (as you listed in a recent post). I have known people who were RX'd it to help ease some WD symptoms such as feeling of want crawl out of skin, restless legs, anxiety and help sleep.
I take it for BP 3 times a day as needed for BP spikes. I have never had any WD symptoms from not taking it...ever. But we are all different so keep that in mind.
Why did your doc RX it few months ago? Before taking it I would call your doc. and see. I can tell you that the DOSE for treating opiate WD is much different than the dose for blood pressure. So please make sure. Take TOO much and your BP can bottom out with in 20-30 minutes as it is a fast acting drug thus excellent to get a patients BP down quickly. So be careful ok?
2) Potassium: Yes, if our bodies are depleted of potassium it can cramp our legs. Potassium levels will usually stay level in a person unless they are unable to keep food and liquiRAB in (especially if having diarrhea) or if they are exercising at a moderate to high level. That said there are certain health conditions that affect K levels as well, for example Conns syndrome which I have.
FooRAB/drinks that are good sources of Potassium: banana, watermelon, potato skin, cantaloupe, orange juice, tomatoes, lima beans, certain fish, chicken and other lean meats. Of course there is gatorade, power aid, pedialyte pops (I always keep these in stock), and the vitamin waters tend to have some in it as well.
There ARE plenty of powders, pills, vitamins on the market with Potassium in them and I am not against using them as long as you have asked your doc and they are not concerned and/or they run a blood test to check your levels.
This is esp. important if you have health conditions such as I do like lupus, MS, Conns syndrome...etc...
I take 8 RX'ed K tabs a day on top of trying to get it through drinks and smoothies. I used to have to take 16 a day but they fixed my Conns syndrome the best they can and my levels are much better. All of it under close care of my doctors.
Ugh ok my home nurse just got here so I gotta end for now. This post is way toooooooooooo long anyways.:dizzy:
Hope it has helped if even a little...if have questions please ask and I do my best get back on.
Peace,
SW:angel:
I apologize for taking forever to get back here but my doc threw me into the hospital that lil stinker. :dizzy:
I hope that you are feeling bit better each day and know you can and will gets there. I have not been addicted but I was once a crisis counselor who granted did not work in a rehab setting but did see quite a few beautiful souls who were in the grip of addiction.
I also on pain management for Lupus, MS, and stroke like migraines (that started after my brain surgery) and can relate to my body being dependent on the meRAB.
Anyways...on to going in more detail...
1) Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine that does a lot of things (as you listed in a recent post). I have known people who were RX'd it to help ease some WD symptoms such as feeling of want crawl out of skin, restless legs, anxiety and help sleep.
I take it for BP 3 times a day as needed for BP spikes. I have never had any WD symptoms from not taking it...ever. But we are all different so keep that in mind.
Why did your doc RX it few months ago? Before taking it I would call your doc. and see. I can tell you that the DOSE for treating opiate WD is much different than the dose for blood pressure. So please make sure. Take TOO much and your BP can bottom out with in 20-30 minutes as it is a fast acting drug thus excellent to get a patients BP down quickly. So be careful ok?
2) Potassium: Yes, if our bodies are depleted of potassium it can cramp our legs. Potassium levels will usually stay level in a person unless they are unable to keep food and liquiRAB in (especially if having diarrhea) or if they are exercising at a moderate to high level. That said there are certain health conditions that affect K levels as well, for example Conns syndrome which I have.
FooRAB/drinks that are good sources of Potassium: banana, watermelon, potato skin, cantaloupe, orange juice, tomatoes, lima beans, certain fish, chicken and other lean meats. Of course there is gatorade, power aid, pedialyte pops (I always keep these in stock), and the vitamin waters tend to have some in it as well.
There ARE plenty of powders, pills, vitamins on the market with Potassium in them and I am not against using them as long as you have asked your doc and they are not concerned and/or they run a blood test to check your levels.
This is esp. important if you have health conditions such as I do like lupus, MS, Conns syndrome...etc...
I take 8 RX'ed K tabs a day on top of trying to get it through drinks and smoothies. I used to have to take 16 a day but they fixed my Conns syndrome the best they can and my levels are much better. All of it under close care of my doctors.
Ugh ok my home nurse just got here so I gotta end for now. This post is way toooooooooooo long anyways.:dizzy:
Hope it has helped if even a little...if have questions please ask and I do my best get back on.
Peace,
SW:angel:
D
Debdeb9899
Guest
Well I haven't posted in a few days but that's because I was in a living hell. But for the most part things are really good now. On day 8 of my cold turkey vicodin quit, I had no more withdrawals and was feeling great. But that evening my menstrual cycle started which is always bad, so cramping started in my back and legs again but I made it through on ibuprofen. On day 9 I started having a severe sharp pain in my right lower back and under my right ribs, the pain was to the point of taking my breath away and doubling me up in pain for hours. So I went to the emergency room. I told the doctor when he wanted to give me pain meRAB, that I had just quit vicodin and wanted nothing with an opiate. I would rather suffer through the pain. So he gave me Ultram (Tramadol), a non-opiate. It didn't help much but was better than nothing. But from lab work it seems I had a pretty bad urinary tract infection and have had it for a couple months. He said I must not have felt the pain usually associated with one because of the vicodins.
So it's been a rough couple weeks. I was hoping once the vic withdrawals were done then I would finally feel good, but of course as the old saying goes, when it rains it pours. Today though I am feeling so much better and even slept quite a bit last night.
I was low on potassium so they started me on a multi vitamin. But I did it. I went cold turkey on the vicodins, it's now been 11 days. And I made it through all the other pain with only taking one tramadol.
I didn't think I could do it but I know now that the fear of the withdrawals is far worse than the actual withdrawals.
So after 11 days and a whole lot of ibuprofen, alieve, tylenol, and hylanRAB leg cramp pills, I am finally free of the vicodin hold.
Time for me to run to the store.
Thank you for everyone here who was kind enough to talk and help me through this. I wish the best for each and everyone of you.
Deb
So it's been a rough couple weeks. I was hoping once the vic withdrawals were done then I would finally feel good, but of course as the old saying goes, when it rains it pours. Today though I am feeling so much better and even slept quite a bit last night.
I was low on potassium so they started me on a multi vitamin. But I did it. I went cold turkey on the vicodins, it's now been 11 days. And I made it through all the other pain with only taking one tramadol.
I didn't think I could do it but I know now that the fear of the withdrawals is far worse than the actual withdrawals.
So after 11 days and a whole lot of ibuprofen, alieve, tylenol, and hylanRAB leg cramp pills, I am finally free of the vicodin hold.
Time for me to run to the store.
Thank you for everyone here who was kind enough to talk and help me through this. I wish the best for each and everyone of you.
Deb
silentwarrior
New member
:wave:Hi.
I need to be out the door ( got an IV treatment for MS) but I wanted to share few things...
1. Lack of hunger: I get this from my Lupus and MS meRAB. I often rely on milkshakes to soothe tummy plus get something in me. Smoothies too. Got more to say on this but gotta hurry so...
2. Potassium: Increasing it naturally through food is ok...(unless can't eat....i throw banana in milkshake) but be careful with ANY AND ALL potassium OTC suppliments. Our range of K levels is not a big one. Get too little it can cause havoc. Get too much can be fatal. Solution? Have doc run blood levels and see where you are at.
I can get into how and why I know this...(I almost died) later. But I am passionate on this and don't want you hurt.
I was a college and semi pro athlete I got a few tricks up my sleeve for leg cramps.
Will post more later.
Peace, health and joy~~~
SW:wave:
I need to be out the door ( got an IV treatment for MS) but I wanted to share few things...
1. Lack of hunger: I get this from my Lupus and MS meRAB. I often rely on milkshakes to soothe tummy plus get something in me. Smoothies too. Got more to say on this but gotta hurry so...
2. Potassium: Increasing it naturally through food is ok...(unless can't eat....i throw banana in milkshake) but be careful with ANY AND ALL potassium OTC suppliments. Our range of K levels is not a big one. Get too little it can cause havoc. Get too much can be fatal. Solution? Have doc run blood levels and see where you are at.
I can get into how and why I know this...(I almost died) later. But I am passionate on this and don't want you hurt.
I was a college and semi pro athlete I got a few tricks up my sleeve for leg cramps.
Will post more later.
Peace, health and joy~~~
SW:wave:
S
StrahanFan92
Guest
I know you are a little upset with my response to you earlier, but I have been reading your thread, and I just wanted to say you are really doing great. I can tell you that both times I went through this, it lasted about 7 days, after that I really started to feel a lot better, by 10 days you will start to feel like your old self again. The withdrawal may be a little shorter for you, may only last another day or two. But you made it this far, just stick with it, and I can assure you that it gets better.
Sometimes your going to feel fine, then out of nowhere the symptoms will return, thats when will get the most discouraged, you have to just keep fighting. For the most part, you are going to have those flu symptoms the whole time. The worst part is not being able to sleep. Ive been told to use Nyquil and lunesta, things like that, and they only worked once, after the first night, I still coulnt sleep, no matter what I did. It makes the 5-7 days feel like a lifetime. What your are going through is a nightmare, I know, but u can do it, your already more than halfway htere, just keep it up and youll be better in notime. Good Luck.
Careful with taking any other medications to help with the withdrawal, you may just end up delaying the withdrawal sickness for another day, or even possibly getting hooked on a different medication.
Sometimes your going to feel fine, then out of nowhere the symptoms will return, thats when will get the most discouraged, you have to just keep fighting. For the most part, you are going to have those flu symptoms the whole time. The worst part is not being able to sleep. Ive been told to use Nyquil and lunesta, things like that, and they only worked once, after the first night, I still coulnt sleep, no matter what I did. It makes the 5-7 days feel like a lifetime. What your are going through is a nightmare, I know, but u can do it, your already more than halfway htere, just keep it up and youll be better in notime. Good Luck.
Careful with taking any other medications to help with the withdrawal, you may just end up delaying the withdrawal sickness for another day, or even possibly getting hooked on a different medication.
S
shaman123
Guest
Hey, just wanted to let you know about passion flower. it's natures Xanax- really. you can use it to wean off of alcohol and pills and it works so well that i recommend it to everyone. and it has no side effects. milk thistle will help also..
M
mydaughtersmom
Guest
hang in there girl! keep the faith...although i have never been in your shoes, I have a daughter that strange as it may sound it wish she was in your shoes. She is still in denial. I will watch for future posts and pray for you.
mydaughtersmom
mydaughtersmom
S
StrahanFan92
Guest
Be careful with tramadol...Yes it is documented as being non-opiate, and non-narcotic. But it IS Narcotic like, and it IS addictive. I know because I went through withdrawal when trying to quit tramadol. You will see other posts on the boarRAB who are having the same problems. If you took one to help the pain that one time, no big deal, but be careful about continued use of tramadol, its just as physically addictive as vicodin.