Headaches

[LAM49]

I'm about 5 days now without any of the norco after tapering for about 3 weeks.  I'm doing much better, the chills/sweats have stopped and the restless/achy legs and arms are gone for the most part, very mild and intermittent.  What has been coming in waves are the horrible headaches and sneezing/feeling of sinus pressure.  I think my want or need for the drug is gone, I honestly hate those things and don't ever want to look at another one after everything I have just been through.  In fact, I was having a difficult time today and burst into tears simply because I'm frustrated at the fact that I can feel so good and then hours later feel so drained of energy and these headaches, ugh!  So my fiance who has been keeping my pills and helped me to taper, he's been very encouraging and supportive, asked me if I wanted a sliver (this is his term for a 1/4 piece of a pill, which is what I was taking to taper) to help with the headaches, I quickly said, "no, I'm done with those!"  He quickly said, "ok" and hugged me then heated a heating pad for my neck (that actually helped with the headache.)  My question is for those who have been through this, when do the headaches stop and energy come back and do walks help bring back the energy?  I keep thinking of walks but having a hard time finding the energy to move.  Thank you for any advice or info.

[LAM49]

Thank you for your info.  I finally slept for 4 hours and feeling much better, still a little headachy.  I think you're right Vicki about the dehydration and I can tell when I am, I can see all my veins in my hands and feet when I'm dehydrated, so I'm working on the water today.  I'm getting out for a little bit today, I need to get my energy going.  Thanks again.

[vicki595]

Fioricet is a very,very bad med for an addict to ever use. It's so incidious...just my two cents...

[fluffy215]

So sorry you are having such horrific headaches. I feel for you. Be careful with the headache meds. even the over the counter meds can give u rebound headaches. I suffer from migrain, tension & sinus headaches. The only thing that has helped me is a heating pad behind the neck, sudafed, this one sounds weird but it works for me, boil pot of water, when the steam starts get a towel to drape over ur head and lean over the steam it really clears ur head, just be careful u don't get to close & burn yourself. If worse comes to worse my doctor prescribed me Fiorcet (Butalbital, caffiene & Tylenol) this is not a narcotic but it is a Barbiturate, I only use this as needed and as prescribed. It's the only thing I have found that will totally get rid of my headache. Everyone is different and you should consult with ur doctor before taking any medication. You should be careful with vitamins & supplements they are not regulated through the FDA, and react badly with certain meds. I am not saying that I am against them, I'm just urging you to consult a doctor before trying anything. What may not harm one person may harm another.
Good Luck to you

[vicki595]

Excedrin Migraine and Extra strength have the same ingredients:APAP,ASA,and caffeine.

Be sure you're drinking enough water. You need a lot of water and usually dehydration is the cause of many symptoms,including headaches.

Hope you feel better today!

[Katrina81]

I am honestly not real sure what the difference is? I am sure the heart palps are from the caffiene in the them. Maybe you should ask your doctor what he/she suggests. And since you said you usually don't have headaches I would attribute these to the withdrawls then. I do still have a few lingering symptoms here and there. I am still dealing with some mild anxiety but it is WAY better than when I began detoxing. Still some sleepless nights. Which is why I am up chatting away tonight LOL I still keep the Melatonin handy for nights like this. I have taken some but they don't seem to be doing their job tonight! I took a late nap though so I am sure that is why I am having trouble sleeping. I do get the ocassional headaches but again nothing like in the beginning. Maybe once a week I will have the restless legs. Other than that and just dealing with the mental side of this I am doing pretty good! I supose I should try and get some sleep! My little ones really don't give a hoot if mom has been up all night! They want their breakfast served up upon awaking! Hope you get some sleep. Talk to you soon.

[LAM49]

WOW, what a story you have, I'm so sorry you went through such pain.  Congrats on your survival and making it through 35 days!  Are you still dealing with any physical symptoms of withdrawal, like the headaches, etc.?  I have been taking ativan for sleep only at night but tonight is the first night I have not taken any and I'm up, but I've slept off and on all day and I seem to be able to fall asleep when I'm tired, so I'll take that and just ride it out now, I don't want to take the ativan anymore as they aid in zapping my energy, although I was only taking 1/2 to 1 a night, but would start with 1/2 and if I woke up in middle of night would take another 1/2.  They definitely helped me get some sleep that I'm sure would have been lost otherwise.  Thank you for the advice on the natural remedies, I'd never heard of them and wish I had known about them before.  I know I'm well on my way to recovery, just really want to be 100% me!  Thanks again for your time Katrina!

[LAM49]

I forgot to ask: What is the difference between Excedrin Migraine and Excedrin Extra Strength?  Because of my weight loss surgery, I am not supposed to take any anti-inflammatory, so IBs are out and I've tried the Excedrin Extra Strength but if I take one it doesn't seem to do anything and if I take two, I have major heart palpitations.  Never suffered migraines, thank goodness, I know people who have and OMG, bless their hearts!  I'm not one to typically get a headache until now.  

[Katrina81]

That is a huge thing when you know what has lead you to addiction. It makes working the issue out a lot easier! Have you thought about going to therapy? It sure sounds like you have your mind made up about never going back on pain pills! My addiction started about 2 years ago with a dislocated jaw courtesy of my soon to be ex husband. I took them as prescribed at first as well, but I loved the feeling I got from them. Obviously I was going through a difficult time with my ex. Those pills helped to numb up the emotional pain I was feeling. And on several occasions they did kill the physical pain he inflicted on me. As much as I would like to blame him for my addiction I am the one who put those pills in my mouth. But I will say this, his actions caused me to feel the way I did. And those feelings fueled my addiction. But again, I am am holding myself accountable, and nobody else. It is pretty crazy how a medication that is suppose to relieve pain actually causes more pain. I still don't understand how that works, but it is VERY true. I am so glad to hear that you have put your foot down and are taking your life back. 5 days is something to be proud of! You are just at that point when you should start seeing improvements. But I suggest you try not to look for improvement every day. Try to do this weekly. It can drive ya nuts when evaluate every day how you are feeling. Worse? Better? Somewhere in between? That also tends to make us focus more on the physical way we feel and withdrawls can seem like eternity when we do that. Sleep and energy sure take there time returning to normal! But they will come. If you are having a hard time sleeping I suggest trying Melatonin. It is all natural so the risk of becoming addicted or sleep dependent on them is pretty much zero! They work really well in promoting sleep and you can find them at Walmart or Walgreens in the vitamin isle. If you are having any anxiety Valerian Root works well to take the edge off. Also in the vitamin isle. St. Johns Wart works well to promote a positive mood. Kind of like natures anti-depressent. The great thing about all of the drugs I mention is they are all natural and non addicting! I would just strongly urge you to consider some therapy. Addiction is so sneaky and cunning. It can just come out of nowhere and get your brain thinking it really "needs" those pain meds. Those strong cravings and urges didn't hit me until about 2 weeks or so. I am on 35 days clean and I still have those days when I struggle with my brain saying NO NO NO!! I hope you get all the advice and help you need from this wonderful forum and that you know you are NOT alone in this terrible addiction. I was also like you. I never did drugs before this. And addiction was just something I didnt understand. I came to understand it the hard way, and just how crippling it really is. Just keep in mind that is as disease, and it needs to be treated just like diabetes, heart disease, etc. Ok I think I talked your eyeballs off enough!! I hope you stick around and keep posting! We are all here to help and we will be at your side every step of the way to a clean and sober life. We are all so worth it and we deserve it! Take care and we will chat again soon!

[LAM49]

Thank you Katrina, lots of good info.  Yes I was abusing them, first by taking them as a "party" aid, just for the high and would only take 1/2 at a time, then I suddenly started getting "real" pain in back then in hips and obtained my own script of 3 a day, got to taking 3-5 a day and enough was enough, so I decided to get off.  I have never been addicted to anything before and infact was always very much against anything like this.  They were introduced to me in the midst of partying and having a bit to drink and I guess I took that chance and liked the feeling and high I got from it.  I do not like what they eventually did to me including adding pain that I didn't have to begin with, craziness!  The reason I say this is that now that I'm not taking them, all my back and hip pain is gone.  I know that people take this med because they really need it, so shame on me for even starting this bad habit.  This is so not where I want to go again.  I am the type of person who does not have to be knocked over the head several times before I get it, I usually learn the first time and I think this is one of those times.  The only real addiction I had was with food and I took care of that over a year ago, losing 120 lbs. after weight loss surgery.  One of the things that bothered me is that now I have the body I've always wanted and now I have another problem, this addiction to these darn pills!  As far as an underlying problem, I guess it could have been the fact that I was trapped in a large body and didn't want to be, the addiction started before my surgery.  I really have absolutely no desire to go back to them, just want my life back and to feel good in my new body.  I will get out and walk, thank you for the advice, it totally makes sense.

[ClaudiaKishi]

I'm on Norcos now but I have no plans on getting off of them. Hope you feel better, I'm sure exercise will help..You should try Pilates.

[Katrina81]

Hi there. Yes yes yes excersise is the best thing to do!! Ya have to get those endorphines flowing again! Congrats on your choice to get off the pain meds! Your headaches are probably rebound headaches. Its very common when going through withdrawl. They should start to subside pretty soon. Motrin or excedrin migraine can help. Have you tried anything else for them? Do you have a history of migraines or headaches? I know its tough to get through the day sometimes, but you seem to be doing a great job. A nice walk or some time on a treadmill or an excersise bike will do wonders. I have suffered migraines since I was a child and the only thing that ever works for me is Motrin. 800 mg. Its a bummer but a normal sleep pattern and a good energy level are usually the last things to return to a normal state. Vitamin B12 can help promote some natural energy and again excersise to get those endorphines going really helps alot! I know its hard to do though when you are suffering with terrible headaches. It also wouldn't hurt to speak with your doctor. He/she may be able to prescribe something (non narcotic of course) to help. Imitrex, Topamax and beta blockers are a couple I have tried. They didn't work so great for me, but everybody is different and they may do wonders for you. But if you think this may be withdrawl related then the best I can say is to try and make yourself as comfortable as possible and wait them out. Good luck to you and keep posting! The people here are so wonderful and full of great advice. We have all been where you are now. May I ask if you were abusing the Norco? Or did your body become dependent on them after taking them the way they were prescribed? If you abused them are you going to do any type of recovery care? Like therapy or NA meetings? Going through the withdrawls is the easy part, staying off the drugs is the hard part. The meetings and therapy will help provide you with the tools to stay clean and if you were abusing them, that is usually a symptom of underlying issues. Sorry to bombard you with questions to your questions but it really helps to get as much info as possible to better help you. I hope you are getting some rest tonight! Take care and we will chat soon!