How to handle Lortab Withdrawal

[JBA62]

For about 2 weeks back in May I was taking 7.5/500 Lortab for a back injury.  I was taking 2 every 4 hours.  As my back began to feel better I began taking less and at this point I find I only have to take them occassionally.  Once in a while I'll take 1/2 a pill if my back is bothering me but the other day I took 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon as my back was hurting more than usual.  Then yesterday, I didn't take any because my back wasn't hurting very much. Today I have severe bloating, nausea and diarreah and no appetite. When the back pain is tolerable and doesn't interfere with daily activity I don't take any.  But my problem is this:  At the end of June I came down with a "Stomach Flu." My doctor insisted it was a long-lasting nasty virus. Ever since then I've been having bouts of bloating, nausea, severe diarreah and a lack of appetite.  I've lost quite a bit of weight.  Could this be due to the sporadic use of Lortab?  I'm perfectly willing to go off of it but if I am in fact addicted I want to know the best way to do it.  The last time I saw the doctor she asked me how my back was doing and I told her it was doing better but didn't feel i needed to mention that I was still occassionally using the Lortab as the focus of the conversation was on the stomach virus.  I guess I should talk to her about it but I'm really scared of being labeled an addict.  I didn't know addiction could occur as long as you took it as prescribed.  She prescribed me 168 of them 2 mo.s ago and I still have 66 left.  Considering I took probably 86 of them the first two weeks that means I've taken approx. 16 pills during the past 6 weeks.  (42 days)  Does this mean I'm addicted?  Am I having all the stomach & bowel problems I am because of NOT taking the Lortab?  I don't seem to be suffering any of the other symptoms of withdrawal that I've read about.  I'm scared because the symptoms are severe although they seem to come and go and I've noticed it's not as bad when and if I take a Lortab.  Is that because the Lortab can help with stomach bowel problems as well as back pain or is it withdrawal from the Lortab?  Please HELP!      

[GoingToMakeIt]

Another consideration is allergy or food sensitivity. Are you sensitive to Gluten (wheat, rye, barley)? Just a thought.

[triedeverymed]

Everybody is different, you can become dependant if you take them on some sort of regular basis but the amount you say you take seems very small to have such bad withdrawls. It sounds more like a bad bug. One thing you usually get with w/d's is hot and cold flashes and a runny nose, do you have any of that?
If it is w/d's it takes about 2 weeks for them to go away once you completely stop the Lortab.
You are smart to be cautious about getting labeled an addict in your medical records. If you are then it's fine and you need some help to quit but if your not, you don't want to be uninsurable someday because of a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies don't like alcoholism or addiction since it always has the possibility to come back and cause other serious medical issues they don't want to pay for.
Here's a thought, stay off the Lortab for 14 days and see if you start feeling better, if you do it may have been the pills. It doesn't take long to become physically dependent on them, trust me I've been there.
Good luck to you!!