Need a little advice

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Secrets1983

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littleblue GOOD FOR YOU!!!! That is great.. Please keep us updated as to what happens at your appointment.. I think the Dr. will be happy for you for doing this. I don't think you have anything to worry about and I really hope I am right.
Hang in there.. I just wanted to wish you GOOD LUCK.. You are in my thoughts and prayers.. YOU CAN DO THIS! We are here to support you thru the journey..
Sincerely,
~Secrets
 
I am new to this board and I have been poking around reading some of the post and since I decided that I need help I figured I would join this great community and try and kick my addiction. Let me start from the beginning. In May of 2007 I was diagnosed with a testical problem. I was put on a bunch of antibiotics and sterioRAB and oh yeah those little blue devil pills called hydrocodone/lortab. At first I hated taking them because they made me sick so from May 2007 to around Septeraber 2007 I only took them when I really could no longer take the pain. Soon after that I was no longer getting sick and liked the way the pills were now making me feel. So from Septeraber 2007 to the present which is a little over a year I have been abusing the pills. I have been taking anywhere from 4 to 8 Lortab 10/500 a day. Never more than 8 a day and that has not been many times. I would also like to say that I had a cocaine problem that I kicked on my own over 20 years ago and have not touched it since so I would really like to try and wean myself off of the pills on my own. I have about 50 pills left can anyone suggest what I should start taking starting today to start the weaning process? I also have the week of Thanksgiving off from work so that should help with some of the wd. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
 
I too go to a pain doctor for my chronic back pain. I was given oxycontin and percocet every month. Well I went camping and lost all my pills and I want to tell you that the withdrawls were horrible. I wasnt going to tell him that I lost them but the withdrawls felt so bad I had to. So I broke down and told him. I know am given meRAB every two weeks. So basically what I am trying to say is PLEASE stop slowly....Dont do it cold turky..Although I think vicodins or norcos are a little different compaired to oxys. What ever you do I want to say good luck and keep us posted. ;)
 
I am doing pretty good. I have a slight headache myself, but I just try and think about something else. That is great that you are tapering down, and I know, believe me, how hard it is. I think the mental part of wondering when you can take that next pill, is part of all of our problems. I have an appt with a pain management doctor next Wednesday and am afraid of what he is going to say to me. You see, I have been getting my pills off the street, and have chronic neck pain, so I am really afraid he will look at me and tell me to get lost. I also am afraid he might want to taper me more quickly than I have a plan for. It sucks that we have to worry about all of this stuff. I have also heard that Benydryl helps you to sleep some too. I bought a big bottle of that stuff so if I couldn't sleep, I could take that. Just keep telling yourself that you can do this. I know how we need reinforcements all of the time. I don't know why we do, but we do. You are doing the right thing, and no matter how hard this is, we will do this and we will be stronger for it. Keep your chin up because you are doing great!!!!!! TaCot
 
Just wanted to give everyone a update on my progress. I have been taking 4 lortab a day for the past couple of days down from 6 a day and it has not been that bad ( so far). I actually only took 3 yesterday and spent the afternoon out with my wife going to a movie and dinner. The worst part of tapering is the bad headaches and my head feeling really hot so far. The mental part of thinking about the pills and wanting to take more is also very very hard. I do have to say that I started taking one a day vitamins since I started the taper down and I am not sure if they are actually helping me with wd but so far it has not been to bad but I know the worst is still to come. I also purchased sleep md. They are all natural sleeping pills and really do help me to get some sleep at night when all I am thinking about is taking another pill. I keep thinking about my appointment with my urologist on Tuesday and how he is going to react when I tell him the truth. I hope he wants to help me because I really do not want to go cold turkey or the suboxone route. Thanks for listening.
 
I am certainly not an expert on this area and am going through the same thing you are. My drug of choice is Hydrocodone 10/325. I have been on them for over 2 years. I was on six pills per day two weeks ago. Last week I tapered down to five pills per day with little w/d's. This week, I am down to four pills per day, with little w/d's. Next week, I will take three, and so on. Each taper, I am on them for seven days. I get up from my desk three times a day and take mini walks, because my legs ache some. I started on vitamins regularly two weeks ago too. I told my PCP everything two weeks ago, and she referred me to a Pain Management doctor to help me with the taper. I meet with him next week. I know too well the anxiety you are feeling right now, the fear of running out of pills. Take some deep breaths and tell yourself that you want to do this and you CAN do this. I have times when I feel like bursting into tears and then I have times when I feel I am the strongest I have ever been. From what I have read here, admitting that you have a problem is the first good step. My PCP told me that too. She said that I was on the right path, having admitted that I do have a problem. You are not alone right now. We are all going through this or have gone through this. There are very helpful people on this board, and I know that part of the reason I get through my days are because of these people. We share our pain almost daily and just having someone tell you that it is normal is a great feeling. Have you thought about telling your doc about your situation and want to wean yourself off? Take care and we are all thinking about you.
 
I also wanted to tell you that I used cocaine about 20 years ago as well and quit. I stopped smoking five years ago, so we have some things in common. These stupid pills are my only vice at the moment.
 
Here is the update from my doctors appointment today. It went great. My doctor was so happy that I came clean. He asked if I had a taper plan and I said yes kinda of. He then said I am going to give you the taper plan. He wants me to go from 6 pills a day for the first week then 5 a week so on until I get down to none. He also wrote my script for lortab 7.5 instead of 10mg. I feel so much better. I now have a plan without the fear of runing out of pills and tapering off to fast. I now know I will DEFINTLY be able to do this. I just want to give a big thanks to tacot and secrets for always replying to my thread. I love you guys. WOO HOO I am on the road to no more pills. I will keep everyone updated daily on how I am doing. I hope everyone is doing good and I am praying for you guys. Lets do it together and I know we will all be sucessful and get are REAL lives back. God Bless!!!:)
 
I agree with Terri,

If you tell the Dr. you want to taper he will probably be so happy to help you thru that.. I know my Dr. was! That way... if you have medical help along the way.. you can take this a little slower and suffer A LOT less.. When I started my taper program I had 60 oxycontin's and 42 oxycodone's to use.. I still suffered a lot.. She spread it out over 3 weeks and they were the worst feeling 3 weeks of my life so in my opinion.. Slow is the way to do it.. However, then the flip side to that is.. If I would not have suffered the way I did I would probably be right back to finding a way to get the them again. So the suffering I think is a crucial part of this too.....

You take care of yourself and keep in touch! You will be in my thoughts.
~Secrets
 
Hey! It sounRAB like you are doing great! I start my three pills today. I was on four pills per day last week. Aren't there times when you just think to yourself, I can't wait to get off of these darn things and move on with my life? I have those thoughts often and can't wait to get off. Then, there are the times when you are thinking, when is my next pill? I think, from what I have read here, this is all normal.

It sounRAB to me that deep down, you too, really want this to be over with. As long as you keep telling yourself that, I think you will do great. You have done this before, albeit a different drug, but you were strong enough then, you can be strong enough now. I hope your wife knows and is supportive. I know my husband is by my side, and that is a great feeling.

I know what you mean by the headache. I have a dull headache it seems all of the time, but I try and keep busy and not think about it. It also seems to me that if I stay busy, I don't think about it as often. I can't lose my job either, so I can understand where you are coming from there too. Keep up the good work. YOU WILL DO THIS!!!!!
 
That is wonderful!!!! So, did he tell you to taper down one pill every week? THat is what I am doing so far. I am so happy that things went so well for you. I can tell you feel the weight of the world off of your shoulders. Here's to getting off of those **** pills!!!
 
TaCot Thanks. I actually see my Urologist next Tuesday and I was going to tell him because he has been the one writing the perscriptions. I was going to see what he suggested or I was going to ask for a lower dose (7.5 or 5) to slowly wean off over like a month or so period. I was thinking about something like you are doing maybe like 4 a day then 3 a day but if I go that route then I will be out of pills in like 2 weeks and if I tell my doctor I do not think he will write me a new script. I do not think that is enough time to start a cold turkey rehab. Do you think I should just ask for a lower dose and continue with my taper off or do you think I should just let him know I am hooked. I am so scared of the w/d that I have read about on this board and I cannot afford to lose my job.
 
Well today is the day I see my urologist at 2:30 and let him know that I want to taper off these damn pills. I hope he understanRAB and wants to help me. If anyone has any more advice on how I should talk to him about this let me know because I have been trying to figure out a way to tell him without him telling me to go take a hike. Wish me luck.
 
Thanks Secrets:) Is it so nice to have people here to give advice and best of all knowing that you are not alone. I am going to let my urologist know on Tuesday that I want to taper off and I hope he will be happy to hear that and work with me on it. I am just so afraid he is going to just say well its your problem or your own fault so deal with it and not write me a script. There would be no way that I could deal with the wd while I am at work and I cannot afford to lose my job.
 
Personally, I think you should tell your urologist that you are thinking that you want to taper off of the medications. He will probably be thrilled to hear that and want to help you. I know when I told my PCP what was going on and that I wanted to taper, she asked me if I had enough meRAB to do that. I told her I did, but I think she was going to help me out if I didn't. I think all doctors are willing to help you when you want to help yourself. My PCP also told me not to go cold turkey, that tapering was better. I think if you are comfortable with your urologist, you should just tell him that you want to try getting of the pain meRAB and want to do a taper program and see what he says.
 
Well, I really don't think it will happen that way but I do understand your fear.. It's a scary thought... However, if that does happen.. There are other options. You can ask to be sent to an addictionologist... Or another Dr. who is willing to help you taper down. Any decent Dr. is going to help you get off these drugs. If this Dr. doesn't then maybe one of his colleague's will.
Regardless, you hang in there.. I really don't think you will have to deal with any of that.. Most Dr.'s are happy when you ask for less.... That seems to be the trend around here.
I hope your weekend is great and you stick around and make yourself at home!
:)
~Secrets
 
I think you are doing the right thing entirely. I just wanted to let you know that when I was rehabbing inpatient in 2006, I went off of morphine and frienRAB (nothing off the street) cold turkey, with only the help of Klonadine. I don't know how controlled it is as far as having to be checked-in somewhere to get it, but instead of the regular feeling of imminent death and severe leg pain, I was freed it felt like in the week that i was in there. It was a maricle fix for me. Not that I think using pills to stop taking pills makes any sense, but whatever is working KEEP IT UP!!! We are all behind you 110%!!!
 
TaCot

How are you doing today? I would like to really keep in touch with you on your progress and I will keep you updated on mine. Well yesterday I only took 4 pills all day Had some slight w/d mainly just a bad headache. When I got home I really did not want to do anything I just watched tv for a few hours had some dinner and I was in bed at about 8:30. Had some problems falling asleep so I took a sleeping pill. I forget the name of it but it is that all natural one that I saw on tv and it seemed to help a little. When I woke up this morning I felt ok still had a headache and wanted to take a pill but I didn't. I actually waited till 10am this morning to take one. So I actually went 16 hours without taking a pill and that is the longest I have gone without a pill in the last year and a half. Still going to talk tomy urologist when I see him on Tuesday and tell him that I want to start tapering off and suggest that he give me a scrip for 7.5 instead of the 10's and continue on my tapering process. I hope I can do this on my own because I really do not want to go the suboxone route.
 
Tacot thanks for responding. It seems that between you and Secretes you guys are my lifeline right now and I really appreciate that. Even though we do not know each other personally I feel that we have a internal bond that is getting all of us through this crap together. My doctor said to taper down one pill a week plus he lowered my dose from 10 mg to 7.5. He said since I have only been on the pills for less than 2 years and only taking 6 a day that I should be able to taper down with the lower dose. I hope he is right. Even if he is wrong I do not care I want off and I am determined to do it. So I will be doing 6 a day at 7.5 for a week them 5 a week and so on.

Secrets

How are you doing? I was hoping for a post from you letting me know how you were doing. Please update me as soon as you can.

WE ARE GOING TO BE JUST FINE AS LONG AS WE HAVE EACH OTHER TO GET THROUGH THIS CRAP. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH.:)
 
Your welcome. It is amazing how close we can become just by sharing our experiences on this board, isn't it? My husband is supporting me and is great, but doesn't really understand the anxiety of quitting or the feelings we sometimes get. That feeling you have right now, is the one I want to keep throughout this ordeal. I know I can kick pills butt, and am going to do it too. I will be down south until Deceraber 1, but will have our laptop, so will try and check in with you and Secrets. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and you are doing GREAT!!!!
 
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