Back to square 1

Let me start from the beging I was shooting herion and coke plus taking 100 mg of methadon for about 20 years then one day it was mothers day 1997 I got on a bus to know ware I wound up in dallas tx all I had was the close on my back and maybe $350 in cash I found a real cheap motel and rented a room for 2 weeks. in those 2 weeks I stoped everything cold it was a living hell just to think about it makes me sick for weeks I cried just laid there went to the bathroom in the bed at the end I still felt really bad it was about 2 months before I felt human again. Now fast foword 12 yr I built a new life I was so happy then I met my wife buitful 20yrs younger drug free we got married have 2 boys there my life THEN IT HAPPEND my past cought up with me the damage I had from years gone by I went to my doctor and he gave me hydrocodone now im taking 6 3.25/10mg  for about 4 years now again I want to stop I cant just do it cold I just cant im too old and on top of that I found out my wife has been taking 1 pill a day for about a month I dont want to seem mean and just make her suffer me I deserve to suffer, can any one tell me the best way to kick without such pain we own a good business so time is not a real problem and money is really not a problem I just dont want to lose all that I worked sooo hard for and I would rather die then to hurt my wife by saying its only been 1 a day for a month please help

[TrayCee]

she shouldnt be sick.   Maybe a little discomfort,mild leg cramps,  but not full blown withdrawals.  She should N O W

[gizzy32]

Is it possible to taper for you? Most addicts have a very tough time tapering, not a chance i could, but that's only me. Your wife's w/d should be mild, yours I imagine a bit worse, but if you go c/t it is doable, not easy but doable. I think your making a great choice wanting to quit now, as you already know, addiction is so progressive for addicts. Good luck, you guys can get through this. Come up with a plan and stick to it. Congrats on getting off the heroin and coke.

[loser50]

I soooo bad want to stop but I just cant go cold I know some people can just stop I did it once I WILL just end my life before I go through that hell again I know if I go down 2 pills per month and then at the end just feel like the flu I just cant go cold I wont make it

[NurseMan101]

First off way to go and recognize the addiction. Stopping cold is very hard and on some drugs can be dangerous. I agree with you that tapering your dose will be much less uncomfortable for you, but it will stll be hard. Don't think about ending your life over this. Your boys will need you in the future. They need you now. They need you to be all that you can be. You showed that you were strong enough to beat addiction once, I know you can do it again. Don't give up. Talk to your wife work with her and let her help you. Going it alone the first time was an amazing accomplishment, but now you have someone that can help you and you can help her.

[Brokenbutglued]

I hope you don't mind me responding. I am not an addict but my husband is and I'm sure any spouse would tell you the same...It is my job, my privilige, my right and my honor to stand by my husband through whatever may come. I would fight to the death for my husband's life, wether it's a tangible "enemy" or not.
'I couldn't imagine NOT being there for him so I encourage you to tell your wife. The more people you have fighting with you and for you the better off I think you will be. Congratulations on seeing the problem and wanting to take care of it, that alone is a big step in the right direction. *hugs* You can do this, she can do this...you can do this together.

[bmdad]

If you know you don't want to go cold turkey, you just have to come up with a taper schedule and stick to it. I would start by dropping by 1/2 pill every 5 to 7 days. You just have to give your body time to make the adjustment to the lower dose. It takes a lot of willpower but makes everything so much more bearable. You just have to stick to it. You can't talk yourself in to taking just one extra for the day. Doing this will probably just cause you to end up right back where you started. I am currently tapering and I swore to myself that if I ever found myself taking more than my plan called for I would flush the pills and just go cold turkey. I've been giving my body time to adjust to the lower dose and I have felt little to no withdrawals. You just have to make sure you realize the tapering is to get off the pills and not to achieve that buzz anymore. I prepared myself mentally and no longer even think about the high. I no longer feel the warm fuzzy feeling and honestly don't care too. I just know that tapering is keeping me from getting sick and that is enough to keep me motivated to stick to my plan. If you need help with a taper program, please let me know. It also helps to get out and get some exercise. Also be sure to eat healthy and drink plenty of water or gatorade. Also, check in to the amino acid protocol in the health pages. The vitamins and supplements help our bodies replenish what we have lost while taking pills.
Well, just come up with a plan and stick to it. Prepare yourself mentally and stay strong. You know you can't stay on the pills forever so there is no better time to start the tapering than the present. Come here and post often as everyone here is wonderful and will give you the much needed support to make your plan work. Best of luck to you and if you need anything, please let me know.
Brian

[Jules1866]

Hi loser50,

I am on a taper schedule coming off of morphin and the taper schedule is given to me by my doctor, very strick and no room for a slip up.

You may want to talk to your doctor and explain what your situation is and the doc and help you with a very controlled taper, and then the dr will always be aware of your addiction and help you avoid drugs except for maybe a surgery of some sort.

my taper as been very comfortable, i really dont even notice. in fact my doctor had some great suggestions on how to handle the taper.

good luck, and you may want to go to the health food store and get some valerian root at night time and help you sleep and then maybe some passinflower tea to help with any anxity.

hang in there jules