Help getting off opiates

Question

I am posting this hoping that I can get some much needed support.  Basically, I have been taking vicoden/norco for years.  I never thought of it as a problem because I would take one a day maybe two and feel good.  I noticed that I would feel a little tired and worn out the next day after taking them for a few days in a row.  Then after having 4 surgeries I was taking 7.5mg at about 5 pills per day, sometimes more.  I went out for a birthday dinner and drank too much wine.  The next day I felt horrible...then for days it continued.  After about a week I figured I had food poisoning bad and went to the ER.  A friend suggested I was withdrawling.  I read up on it and realized that was what was happening.  I got off them since what I went thru was sooo severe.  Well then it was a matter of about three months that I would take one here and there but promised myself I would never ever do that to myself again..  I had felt dopesick like no tomorrow and I cringe at the memory.  I remember laying in bed with the chills and not being able to get up, covered in sweat.  It was so painful.  
On and off, I have quit and dreaded the WD, the last time I stopped CT, it wasn't so bad like the last WD.  Now, unfortunately, I am finding myself using again.  I have been taking about 6 per day of 10mg.  I am wondering how I will feel if I quit CT again and take 1/2 a pill here and there when the symptoms get pretty bad.  I don't have any more pills to wean off of.  Am I overreacting, or is this something that will hurt bad again?  
Please give me some advice, I am not in the position to lay in bed dreading this.  I saved a few pills so I can kill the pain.  Do you think I will be able to feel a little uncomfortable, but yet get thru it?  I don't have valium or money to buy all the stuff on that one popular recipe for WD (forgot the name ) 
I spend so much time reading about other peoples experiences and its scary because I always think the worst.  
I would love to get help but I can't afford it and I would NEVER want my insurance company to find out or be red flagged.  I just want to get over this and get my tolerance back up where I can take one every few days and have it be effective for my pain.

toothfairie · Answer

hi and welcome!  you might want to post your own thread...just go to the top of this page and hit "ask a question"...as for your WDs....a slow taper will help minimize the WDs but you will still feel it somewhat....as you probably already feel some.  Congrats on wanting to get off the pills!!  it's a rough thing to go thru but it's so worth it to not have to worry about being a slave to the pills. You can do it as so many of us on here have....just be patient and know that it will get better....this site is great for support and info....the people here have helped me get to almost 5 months clean off hydros....took 12 or so pills a day for a long time.  Just stay strong and keep posting for support!  We can help you with your symptoms.

jarhead4ever · Answer

Ive never posted a comment so im just going to give it a shot. Ive got horrible knees and shoulders im 41 an electrician in a young mans game and have been using opiates for 5 years mostly hydro up until my surgery in 2011 November.then I was put on nucynta it was horrible then Percocet now oxycontin anyways ive been trying to taper with some hydro the last day I had any of the heavier drugs was about 10 days ago so I started my taper at 6 then 5 41/2 to 4 and a half less everyday til today which was 1 and im out will my wd be any easier than going ct or am I screwed ive been taking Imodium and its been helping im just worried because my trade is Dangerous I dont want to be totally out of it

littlebit667 · Answer

to do a true taper you will need more than a few pills. You were so close to being over it. The 4th day is usually the worst and then it tends to ease up. If you do a quick taper....have a schedule and stick to it. No matter what you do you will have withdrawals...taper ones are a little easier, but no walk in the park. A lot of people do not stay hydrated enough which makes it worse. Gatorade, carnation breakfast, ensure..whatever you can drink to keep your intake up and some nutrition to keep you going. Don't give up, in the end it is so worth it.

craftygirl2013 · Answer

Well I could not really take the WD so I got a few more pills and I decided to taper . Day 4 was all I made it to.  I was covered in sweat, telling everyone I had stomach flu, could not move.  I am a mother so I could not handle it anymore.  :(  Its BRUTAL

BarbRTR · Answer

Your sentence that says you just want to get your tolerance back up so you can only take one every few days for pain.. I'm not sure that is possible, and would love to hear from members that know for sure. 
Yes, your tolerance would decrease if you quit for a while, and only used every now and then, maybe a couple once a month for severe pain, but I'm not sure it would work that way taking every few days. Seems it would be to close together. 

Hopefully someone with knowledge about that will weigh in. 
I'm praying that with all the knowledge research physicians have, they come up with a medicine that is great for pain, that has no mood altering or addicting substances, but stronger pain relief than what's available now, such as Motrin or Tylenol. 

Hopefully your wds won't be so bad this time. And you can find an alternative for pain. Easier said than done depending on your pain I know. Good luck to you.

Pat1956100 · Answer

Hi and welcome
Since you are going cold turkey, I wouldn't advise you to take a pill here and there.  You don't have enough left to do a proper taper so taking a pill for relief will just prolong your withdrawals.
Just make sure you stay hydrated.  You aren't on a huge amount so maybe it won't be that bad.  
It's a very good decision to quit now.
Keep posting for suppot and let us know how you are doing.

hope4good · Answer

If you taper the withdrawals won't be as harsh but they will last longer.  CT the withdrawals hit hard but usually last about a week or so, but some people are lucky and they don't last that long.  Like the above post said you should probably see your dr. and tell him whats going on and have him give you something non narcotic so your pain won't be bad.  There are lots of options.  I have been using 800 mg IBprofun and a muscle relaxer when absolutley needed for my back and migraines.  It will be hard but so worth it.  Good luck to you.

marycarmel · Answer

What type of pain are you having?  There's lots of ways to manage chronic pain.  First time went into wd I thought I was very ill.  My physician @ the time told me not to worry about wd.  I was very nervous  about a d diction &   wd.  They were mailing my script & it never came (should have came on Thurs).  I knew nothing about wd. When it wasn't in Fri's mail, I figured it would come Sat.   I felt sort of ill on Sat but never connected it to the pills.  Mon. was a holidsy.  Sun I was really ill. By Mon I was worried.  I was so week & shaky I couldn't get out of the tub by myself.

Turns out one of the employees was bringing the mail to the mailroom.  She stuck them in her purse & forgot  about them until the office began getting calls from upset patients.  I only figured it out in hindsight.
 
I think you need to either CT or taper.   Tapering slowly you won't feel the wds so much.  CT you'll feel it more but it will be over more quickly. Look @ the Thomss recipe for things that will lessen the symptoms.  Keeping yourself    hydrated is very important.

If you have chronic pain that needs to be treatef, you'll need to figure something out with your physician or find someone different to manage your pain.  There are lots of ways to manage CP.  I use lots of different things to help with my pain.  There are times I have to take narcotics but I'm very cautious with them.  I've wound up in wd on several occasions for different reasons (stomach bug, etc.)  I never want to feel like again; I would rather have the pain.