i dont know the answer to your question, but welcome.  and screw nettiquete.. i mean, it's always a good idea to introduce yourself even if its been discussed.  so hi.  

Hi, and welcome!  You will find wonderful, helpful, caring people here.  If you decide to quit, I would speak to a doctor about it, because that is a ton of medication to just stop taking altogether.  But, I think you can do it, if you really want to!  And we will be here to help you along the way!  Nice to talk to you and take care!

Hi back. :)

I am trying to enjoy this experience - first day in 20 years without taking pills, but I'm not feeling that good.  I am okay sitting here in front of the computer, but when I get up to cook dinner and do my household duties....I start feeling kinda bad.

i dunno the specifics but.. any withdrawal is hell pretty much.  have you tried some extensive googling?  there may be easier ways for you to get off of your medication that involve less suffering, chances are if you feel terrible now it may not compare to how you feel later, though this should definately not scare you away from going through with quitting!  you have to quit eventually, it's just not healthy to keep upping the dose on.. really anything you've become dependant on.  ofcourse, pain is pain..  any idea on what you're going to do to manage that once you're off?  im trying to figure that out now, though mine isnt a daily pain so it's not as big of a deal.  

I actually don't know what to do about the pain.  I've participated in clinical trials but nothing new has come on the market.  Botox is in stage 2 and I've tried that...it helped a bit the first time, but didn't do much for the migraine the subsequent time.  (It did get rid of my vertigo though.)

I have imitrex for the worst headaches, which works quite well, and I figured I'd just see how bad my other headaches get after I am off the meds.  Maybe all those drugs are compounding the headaches by now.

I've not done a lot of google on it - I came upon a few pages that all said the same thing, and then this forum.  

I know I can't keep taking them forever.  My liver function tests have all been clean but someday, that won't be the case.  And, my lack of energy is really bothering me.  Maybe it's ME and not the drugs, but I've taken them for so long that I don't really know.  I have a young child still and need energy!

When you say it's going to get worse...and like hell....what do you mean?  I feel achy and shaky and lightheaded....but nothing I can't handle so far.  Is there anything I should be doing to make it easier on me?

seriously i wouldnt know.  im pretty new to all this, just figured out this week that opiate withdrawal is why i was feeling terrible, it came as a shock.  

some withdrawals (like meth) is like two days.  benzo's i just found out are absolutely awful..  as are opiates.  it really depends on your medications.  if you have a good doctor i would talk to him about what to go off, when, and how.  it's just safer.  i mean, it could get pretty unpleasant, im sure you found the withdrawal symptoms for your drugs.  and also, it depends on the half life of the drug as to when it gets bad.