Pain Pill Addiction and Where to Begin to Quit

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Living2Lives

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I've never posted anything in a forum, or felt comfortable even discussing my addiction to pain pills to my doctor because I have a lot to lose if this becomes known to anyone in my community. I work in the school system, have 2 beautiful children, and I do everything that I can with my work and for my kiRAB. However, I've lived a double life for quite some time, and frankly, I'm sick of worrying about where my next Oxy, Norco, Loratab, or Percocet will come from. I've tried to detox naturally at home and went three days feeling like a train wreck, and not to mention I was not able to function. Where is a confidential place to begin? I probably need treatment with methadone, or soboxone (SP), a non-opiate drug I keep hearing about. As the nearest methadone clinic is 30 minutes away from me, and $11 a day, it is more convenient and cheaper to keep fueling the fire, but I would like to quit entirely. Can I seek another physician besides the one I have to treat my depression? My fear is that she will think my addictive personality will give her concern for prescribing me the Ativan that I sincerely use when needed, and it isn't abused. Can a regular doctor see you for addiction and will Blue Cross Blue Shield cover the expensive costs without sharing my information of treatment to my employers? I have a ton of concerns, but if I can figure out a way to treat this without anyone finding out, get through it, and move on with life, that would be grand. Thanks!
 
i L2L,
i like you have depressions issues and when i have taken the pill your addicted too (i was also) my depression never got better, but i really thought those pills were the only think that were helping me! NY is so huge and i know you dont want anyone to find out but you have houndrs of choices of NA meetings in that beautiful city and alot of clean and sober people walking around who would drip everything and gently help you through the long seemingling endless tapper process. call doctors on your plan, ask on the phone if they can help you use soboxone- not all doc can give it out. soboxne help me allot so that i was till sick but could work and function until the worst of the WD passed. i know your busy, but dont be to busy to get yur life back, you deserve it and so do your kiRAB. keep writing it helps more then you can dream, truth truth truth...... im not so good at that but i am getting better:)
 
Suboxone is an opiate. I suggest you do some research on it to get all the information. I did an inpatient detox at the beginning of the month by doing a suboxone taper. I was on it for a week. It takes the withdrawals away without getting that rush of euphoric high. If used properly, I feel it is a great tool in helping one reach sobriety. It stays in your system a long time. I had some withdrawals from it about 3-4 days after I stopped. They were tolerable and not as intense as the WRAB are from other opiates. I think because one's minRABet is for getting clean, you feel you can deal with the suboxone withdrawals.

The suboxone is just one tool in recovery. There is alot more to it. You have to take care of the psychological aspects of your addiction or you will not advance in your recovery. I was a complete isolater when using my pills. The fact that I stayed home and rather take my pills and not socialize, caused me huge problems.

Good luck to you. If you do the suboxone, I feel it should be used for just a short period of time.
 
Hi L2L,
You've come to the right place. People here know what you're going through and will help you immensely! I have gotten tremendous support in my effort to get off pain pills.

I'm fairly new to these boarRAB myself (last Nov). After reading your post, I realize we have a lot in common! My frienRAB and family have no idea about my addiction either, and because my work and family situations are similar to yours, I can't let anyone find out. I felt so alone before I found this board.

I've been taking percocet for over 15 years. At my highest dose I was taking 130-140mg daily. Now I'm in the middle of a SLOW taper- with a lot of help from people on this board. I've tapered down to 55mg - I still have a long way to go! .

Keep posting.....the help you need is right here.

tomatoface (ridiculous name - using TM from now on!)
 
Hello L2L

My friend, you are so not alone in the issue. To try and answer some of your questions first...

-Insurance companies must follow HIPPA laws and what happens in your doctors' offices is not reported to your employer in any way at all.

-Only doctors certified in Suboxone treatment and psychiatrists can provide scripts for Suboxone.

-You can see another doctor for this problem if you choose. There are doctors who are addiction specialists if that is your preference.

There are many ways to get off of opiates and how we do it is a matter of personal choice. We can cold turkey and just stop, we can taper, either quickly or slowly, we can go into rehab or a detox center, we can choose the Suboxone route ( please know that with Suboxone, that while it stops the withdrawal symptoms, it, too, must be tapered from and contains an opiate (buprophrine-sp?).

To find success in getting away from pill abuse, it is often a matter of the best laid plans winning the battle. Our plan must include a withdrawal system, support ( the board is great but nothing can beat some live support), and, in my opinion the most important, an aftercare plan. We need to find the root of our addiction ( addicts are always hiding from something in life... pain, grief, fear of something). When we can put ALL the pieces of our plan into steady, commited action, we have the best chance at overcoming the abuse and misuse of narcotics.

I, too, worked for a school system and had a visible place in the community. I, too, misused and abused opiates, crossing a line between legitimate use and abuse somewhere. Today, I am opiate free, living in the realities of life and enjoying life. I have happiness and joy. When I meet a challenge, I have learned to be able to face it head on and deal with it. There is so much hope! Please remeraber that throughout the battle. There is so much hope.

I hope you will share more with us.... are the opiates prescribed or otherwise? ( No one here cares, but it can help us to know the best advice to offer). How long has the use been going on? How did you try to detox naturally? Share with us so we can get to know one another and help one another. A brave step was taken in posting. Seeking help can be the beginning of something wonderful in your life.

Glad to meet you and rooting for you.
With all hope
reach
 
L2L,
You have heard wrong about Suboxone, please educate yourself on this awful drug, I was on SUBS for 1 1/2yrs and I wish I would have known about the evils of this drug.

Please also read posts that all of us have wrote on suboxone withdrawls...

Keep coming back.
 
Hi L2L,

Yes, Suboxone is an opiate. I have been on Suboxone for almost a year now and it has saved my life. I will be on it long-term, however it is a great drug to use, to get off opiates, if used for a short-period of time (see mucisman's reply).

Not everyone has a bad experience with this drug. I suggest you do 'alot' of research before you make your decision. It may be the right thing for you, it may not.

Good luck :)
emsmom
 
Honestly, I am currently prescribed Percocet, but the rest on the list are not my prescriptions. I've tapered down to a 20 mg. Oxy a day, or 4 Norco (10 mg.) a day. When I go a day without anything, I sweat and run a fever, so my work senRAB me home thinking that I am sick with all the things that go around in school. I feel like I have direction now, and my next step is to seek a doctor that will prescribe me the Suboxone. That sounRAB like the best plan, and I heard it is a non-opiate form of detoxing verses the methadone. Did I hear wrong? And also, with work and my loves, checking into a 'rehab' isn't an option. I have been researching holistic programs through local churches and am trying to commit to counseling for an hour 3 days a week. I have to get through this before my life wastes away. I want to be completely sober by summer so that I can enjoy the outdoors with my kiRAB. (: Thank you all for your responses and support. I feel like an idiot for even getting myself in this mess.
 
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