Cold turkey off of hydro

[insearchof4]

Hi everyone...I came across this web site by accident only an hour ago, but it has helped me more than words can describe.  I have been on hydrocodone for not even 3 months (up to 8 pills a day) as a result of auto accident with back injuries.  I received my first pill within an hour of the accident and have been taking them every since.  They really do fix my pain/discomfort in back and allows me to physically function, but I can tell that I'm starting to like them too much for other reasons...such as energy and general euphoric, calm feeling.  Life just seems so much better when I take them.  My pain is gone and I can take Yoga classes and even walk a mile on the treadmill.  I cannot do those things without the hydro.  But I decided that I'm quickly heading to serious addiction in just 3 months.  I ran out of my Rx yesterday and am trying very hard not to ask the doctor for more.  I would definitely be prescribed more because my injury is still very fresh and it's "legitimate" pain.  However, I am a recovering coccaine addict and have also abused alcohol in the past.  I'm a major addictive personality and am very scared that I will become like so many of the people who have posted issues on this web site.  I am very ill with withdrawals...nausea is non-stop and I ache everywhere.  It's only been 24 hours.  I am hoping that my symptoms will not be long because my use has only been 3 months.  It's amazing how much better I felt with the drug.  I'm going thru significant life challenges....unemployed and living on borrowed funds.  I was making six figures and then lost my job, house went into foreclosure and I finally checked myself into short-term rehab (one week).  Have not used coccaine for 18 months and it took 6 full months for my brain to normalize.  I don't want to go through that again.  I also am an insomniac and have been since teen years.  I am prescribed Xanax for sleep and have been taking it (same dosage of 1.5 mg) for 17 years.  I don't need another addictive drug to add to my problems.  Guess I will have to live with the withdrawal symptoms and "suck it up" as one person posted.  My pain isn't that bad from accident anymore...healing rather well.  Truth is that I can live without the drug now using Ibruprofen.  I am feeling physically ill...non-stop nausea, aches & pains everywhere and general fatigue.  Just took a hot bath and it did help a lot.  NO appetite.  Also took half of a Xanax to help relax.  This web site has inspired me even more to STAY OFF OF HYDRO.  In just 3 months, I'm already addicted...wouldn't be having so much withdrawal if I wasn't.  Guess it's a blessing for the moment that I'm not working, so I can recover at home.  I live alone.  My family doesn't know that I've been on narcotics -- they would flip out because of the hell I went thru and put them thru when I was using coccaine.  I lost everything because of coccaine...and I had a lot...my 20-year career, my home, all my savings and, worst of all, my self worth and dignity.  I'm not willing to go through that again.  Thank you for helping me.  I am more committed now to not get my Rx refilled.  It's hard, but I'm determined.

Insearchof4

[Decisions]

At this point just tough it out.  I did off of 150mg a day, more or less.  It was hell, and it was that hell that I hope keeps me clean from it.  I am having a craving now and then, but not much, and when I do, I just take myself back to the w/d's and how painful it is.

Tapers were easiest for me and I stuck  to them but in the end, the misery of quitting just might be the medicine I needed, and you  too?  It taked discipline to taper, and stay off, because it lets you  down a bit easier.

Either way, good luck with your decision...

[NautyOne]

Don't even consider a taper.  24 hours.....it may get worse over the next couple days but then will start to subside.  Please, stay away from the Hydro.  Three months is long enough to get addicted, but your withdrawal healing time will be much less than others.  its a good thing you recognized it now.  Stay strong.  Your a few days away from freedom........

Luv,
Nauty.................

[virgo1969]

You can do this! You definitely have the right goals set in your mind and you know what lays ahead. The Thomas recipe is great as mentioned above. One thing that helped me tremendously with the RLS was to eat a banana or two every day for the potassium. (I wish I had known that the first time around) Take your multi-vitamins and stay hydrated but no caffiene. Exercise helps alot as well even though you may not feel up to it. Just a walk around the block or something.

It is great to hear that you want to take back control of your life. Also congrats on being clean from coke. Keep posting. You'll find so much support here.

:)

[luvmyfrogs]

hi, welcome from another north fl addict!!!  we have alot of us fl peeps on here you should feel right at home.. i sent you a personal message check your messages at the top right of the page. maybe we should try doing that "trading house" thing were we trade houses for a week or so.. i would love to go to some of the places were some of you live in trade for someone who wants to come to fl.. just a thought..diane

[mimi1313]

Hi,

You've definitely come to that right place. You will get so much support and info. I drank ensure for a few days, just to get vitamins and something in my stomach and also gatorade. Everyything worried, sara desparate and Sunny said is true so just take care of yourself and you will ge better. Take it one hour or even one minute at a time. Post as often as you need to or want to. It really helps!

Good luck,
Melissa

[dominosarah]

i was thinking about the island myself.  Im in Minnesota!!!!  brrrrrrrr.

[worried878]

I am glad u found us...people with prio addictions get addicted to narcotics much faster that the general population....resad thru the healh pages...get the supps recommended and follow the thomas recipe...valium is a bit safer than xanax...just be careful and just use it this week...u should feel better by the end of the week...i was at ur dose for 3 years...took me about 4 days of feeling achy/sweaty/tummy mess...went back to work on day 5... the hardest thing for me was the fatigue...it all gets better tho...i am so glad u caught this and didnt go off the deep end into lortab land....keep posting

[Sunnyd210]

LOL I'll trade my Island for urs :) Thats my dream place to live Im on long island now but it gets toooo cold florida is awesome!!

[dominosarah]

exercise is great and i too changed my eating habits especially with the sugars.  didnt need any more highs and lows from that.  Keep your mind focused on what you need to do to stay off the pills.

Congrats on 18 months of being coke free.  That is awesome.  You wont be lonely here on this forum.                        sara

[insearchof4]

Thank you for the immediate responses with so much acceptance and cheerleading.  It helps me immensely to not feel alone in my fight.  I will look at the Thomas recipe.  At the moment, I don't take any vitamins.  I'm sure my body is depleted of nutrients.  I'm trying healthy alternatives....eating better (no sugar) and just started Yoga, which is INCREDIBLE help.  I'm thinking all addicts to do Yoga...it is life altering.  It gives me the euphoria that drugs used to.  I feel an amazing energy and sense of calm after every class.  Plus, it gets rid of my pain (oddly).  Anyway, thank you again.  I will definetely be coming back to forum.  I live on an island in north florida and it's rather lonely...

[desperate1111]

welcome! you can beat this. get your life back. now is the time to quit before your usage gets more and more which it will. there will also come a time when the pills do nothing for you but you'll keep taking them. more and more trying to get that "feeling". i have less pain since i quit the pills. pls stick around, check out the health pages.

[dominosarah]

Welcome to the forum.  You have come to the right place.  Sounds like you have recognized what is going on.  We have a real big tendancy to swap addictions.  I hope you dont get your presc. refilled.  You said advil helps so stop while you can and before it becomes full blown.  It is not worth it.  W/D's are no picnic but staying on those pills will make you feel a bazillion times worse than w/d's.  Get yourself some vitamins, the thomas recipe is listed at the bottom right corner.  That really helps.  Just stay on here and keep posting.  There is tons of support with lots of caring people.  Time to take your life back.  You can do this and we are here for you.  You know the first few days will be the worst but there is a whole new world waiting for you.........clean.  Read as much as you can and stay here on this forum.  Stay strong.  It gets better.            sara

[Sunnyd210]

OMG you sound like me (minus the cociane and alcohol) ur smarter than me though because I never had experience with addiction except cigs and it creeps up on u thats for sure. I was going through a bad divorce when I started getting bad. Good for you Im so glad u decided to stop mayb you should have a talk with ur doctor you have nothing to lose and they might be able to help u mayb a taper would work for u but only u know if that would work for u. Good luck and keep posting