How long for re-addiction

[G'Kar]

I realize that addiction is an individual thing, but I was just wondering, how long it can take to deveope a habit that would or could include those nasty withdrawals?  After 4 months with nothing, (After approximatly 3 years of taking T&C #3s for cronic pain), I have to undergo a surgical procedure and have 70 Vics for the post-op pain.  I was hesitent to take the script because of my prior experiences.  However, I do not have regular access to them anymore and have no intention to aquire such access.  I realize that this is a VERY sensitive time.


My questions is this, if I finish this script within the 2 weeks that it is perscribed for, will I have to go through all that horrific physical and mental withrawal again?  Will it be to a lesser degree?  Please, please, those with this experience as well as the DR. share with me your input.


Otherwise, I haven't even thought about this stuff for months now.

[OxyDout]

if you take them the way they are prescribed or even less then prescribed you should be fine.  Its usually a phsychological beginning, when you start taking them to feel that high, if your taking them for pain and not to go out or to feel good then you should be ok, but you should definitely monitor yourself and consult your doctor, i hope that helps, i know i'm not the most educated in this area.

GWH

[skipper]

GKar:
take them as perscribed when needed. maybe a wife or girlfriend
can dispence them to you. i bet if you do this, the worst WD you
will have are several night where you won't sleep to well. it's
good to hear you've stayed clean. i don't know if you remember
me from last summer when you were posting, but i remember you!

keep an angel on your shoulder and good luck with the cutter
kip

[shane]

Please be very careful my friend. If you love the feeling of narcotics and were addicted 'I believe it is next to impossible to use 70 vic's without  "waking the ecoes". Four months is not very long to be off drugs. This is a very incidious desease. I would be very aware and honest with myself if it were me. Hope this helps you. Good luck '  Shane

[Witchywoman]

Congratulations for having four months clean! I too am four months clean, and very happy about that.

Now, to answer your question.  It takes about a week of having hydrocodone in your system 24 hours a day for physical dependance to begin.  It is different for different people, but a week is about the average.  So, if you take them several times a day for two weeks for your post surgical pain, you probably will experience mild withdrawals when you stop.

However...you will need the meds for the pain. Plain and simple. Real recovery is not about tolerating very high pain, it is about being able to make the choice to take pain meds when absolutely necessary, and only as prescribed.  Surgical pain absolutely needs pain meds. Research has proven that people heal much faster when they take their pain meds post surgery, as the intense pain signals interfere with the body's healing process.

So, if I were you, I'd take them as needed for the first four days, then try to back off to twice a day for two days, then down to once a day, then hopefully your surgical pain will have resolved and you won't need to be on them.

I'd also urge you to tell your doc that you have had problems with meds in the past, and to be cautious and question you if you ask for refills.  do you have a friend who can give the meds to you when you need them? An NA sponsor to talk to to be sure to stay honest?

It is a very sensitive time, but there is also no need to suffer.
Just stay honest, and don't let the Dragon get his claws back in you by taking more than you are supposed to.

So, that is what I'd do if I were you.  Take whatever part of the advice might work for you, and know that I'll be wishing you well.
What kind of surgery are you having?

love,
WW

[Manipulator]

HELLO everyone.....I'm so graetful that I stumbled onto you.
I too wonder about re-addiction....I went 5 days about a week ago with no opiates.....I jumped off the train at  20mg---a week ago Friday....12ish days....help from valium and alcohol and evrything ,,,to stay away from the oxy......I was living in NYC.....then I came "home" to LA and realized that I jumped off from "too high"....too fast.....wimpily...if I may coin a phrase....I called the Dr. and got some Norco (my old stand-by)....to start stopping again......I am preparing for Saturday when ...with the help of my parents, and my ex-girl friend (an addict) and some other friends, and my current girl friend...(a real person)...I will resume low-level.... oxy.....with the intent of weeeeeeeeeening off....Hopefully getting down  from 60mg ....no chewing....for 4 days...then 50mg.  for a few days...then 40...30...20...10....then half a ten?.....any suggestions...?????..thanks for just being there .....guys...I appreciate just having someone...even invisible...to talk to....any comments will be greatly appreciated....ust conversation would be great beacause no one else will even talk.....wow what  a great "place"...I mean it...
Sorry to sound so shmaltzy.....Thanks
T he MANIPULATOR

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

That's a good name by the way. We are all great manipulators here.  So welcome to this site!

I assume you are into oxycodone(Percoset)rather than Oxy Contin? I hope you can stick with your taper schedule by using the hydrocodone, booze and benzos. Keep us posted because everybody counts here and we all have different ways of doing things that may just help someone.

I'm on day 14 from morphine...MS Contin. I did indulge in some Darvoset for pain but I don't consider this as an opiate.  Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it's pretty weak stuff. I've taken Xanax for insomnia but the past few nights I haven't needed it and am able to sleep more and more each night. It still feels like something is missing but staying busy helps. I wish you all the best!

J.B.

[skipper]

Manipulator:
welcome to this forum. there will always be room for one more
junky in here! like J.B. i really like your cyber handle- years
of addiction made me a master manipulator.

i certainly hope your taper works. if you can find Thomas's re-
cipe for detoxing archived here get on it as soon as possiable,
as it really makes a difference.

I'm in day 11 of a self imposed detox from oxycontin. see i have
a spinal injury that causes "intractable" pain. every so often
i like to take a little vacation from drugs and will go 10-14
days without.

before this spinal trouble, i used heroin and morphine and any
thing else i could get my hands on. i would be very cautious
about throwing alcohol into your taper and detox. when your ad-
dicted to opiates your liver has a real bad time with alcohol.
stay oxy free for about 10 days before you throw alcohol into the
equation GOOD LUCK!!

[AnnieS]

j.b. Just as you said and I thought something wasn't right. He was doing Perc's again. Gcar be very careful. My boyfriend relapsed again after only 60 days by having Vicodin prescribed after dental surgery. The first script he let me hold and dispense as needed but it got that animal going again and the next thing I knew he was buying Percs off the street,
Thank you all for letting me vent, it's amasing how much denial we can put ourselves through when we want to. I really wanted to believe him but I have been there too many times to know the signs. I have decided to stay by him since he broke down yesterday and told me he was scared and in trouble again. Hopefully the Percs (like he says) is all that he has done and he wants to stop before he gets into the major grips again. He went through (we) so much pain with withdrawal from the oxys that I think he is serious about keping himself in check now. I don't feel threathened to use because looking at him so messed up has made the desire for me to use so unapealing. I really don't want to be in that place again. Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom and encouragement. I will keep you all posted on my recovery and keep praying for each and every one of us. Peace and Love to all, Annie

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Thanks for the thanks you gave us! Comments like yours' make it all seem worthwhile to spend a little time helping others. Where else can we go to vent our frustrations in the real world? Most people, and myself included, cannot discuss the things we discuss here out of fear and dread that we will be "found out".

You said a mouthful when you said that looking at your boyfriend's relapse made the world of addiction so unappealing to you. It sounds like you are on your way to bigger and better things!

J.B.

[skipper]

Annies:
i'm happy your man let the cat out of the bag. knowing the truth
may not always be pleasent, but it sure beats sitting in the dark
with fear.

it sounds as if you have made a decision, and now it is time to
stand by and be happy with it. best of luck.

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Telby]

Nice to be back.  My experience is that the more times you become dependant - the easier it is to become dependant and withdrawls get worse they don't start at the beginning.  Once our bodies have made room for opiates the memory is there and our bodies adjust much faster when opiates re-enter the system.  The first time I went through withdrawls (many years ago) I had been taking 20 or so percadan a day.  I was miserable for two days - every time has been worse and worse. I think it's the bodies way of fighting to hold on to the drug when it stops coming in.   I also agree that no one should be in pain, so the suggestions of giving your meds to someone to hold and dispense is a good one. The body tends to absorb narcotics differently when there is actual pain, the problem is when the pain stops and the drugs continue.  I could never have them around me without over doing it and I never ever didn't finish an entire script of any pain meds.  Just my two cents, Telby

[skipper]

Telby:
i was wondering how you were doing. haven't seen post for awhile. so how are you doing?

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[OxyDout]

god help me, I don't know what is goinng on but my "restless leg syndrome" is ******* (excuse my language) killing me, I'm sorry, but that is how bad it is, I"m losing it, I really am, I just took some klonopin that my brother found and now I"m really drowsy but it didn't do **** for my legs, I  called my dealer tonight, told him I wanted to come up tonight, but I didn't go, now I think I'm gonna go in the morning on my break at work, I can't deal with this anymore, I just can't do it, I feel like I"m having a nervous breakdown, I think I might be going insane, I just sent my girlfriend home and it was only about 9:30 and now I'm going to be restless all night long, will this ever end??????? I just cried for the last 15 minutes because I don't think I've ever been this scared... I haven't taken more then 20mg of oxy in the last 3 weeks, I took some methadone, but that was it, why hasn't this "restless leg" gone away yet.????? I haven't taken anything for the last 5 days, AHHHHHHHH  I'M ROYALLY SCREWED, PLEASE HELP?!?!?!

GWH

[skipper]

GWH:
i've had a few bad nights (to say the least) myself recently. i
finally caved in-whimped out-whatever. i swam a mile this morning
and it felt great while i was swimming. after i'ld done my mile
i tried to get out of the pool, but i couldn't. i swam over to the ladder and couldn't do that. the life guard helped me. man am i ever embaresed. the whole thing was pain orriented. when i got home i took 40mgs oxycontin and a oxyir. about 20 minutes ago i took another 20mg oxy and an oxyir. to the hour i'ld lasted 11 days. i too have RLS. my wife tells me it's like i'm trying to ride a bike.

how much clonipin did you take? perhaps some more? the tablets are scored so it's real easy to do halfs. try to get enough of it in you to get to sleep. i've been known to lay a tablet out on the bed side table so when i wake up half way thru the night it's right there, don't even have to get out of bed. i'm real uncomfortable taking benzos of any kind so i usually just take it every other night at most. for what ever it's worth "i'm there and doing it too."

as far as you and the oxy: well i caved in but i hope you don't.
don't take any tonight and worry about tomarrow when it's tomar-
ow. ya know this ******* world we live in, you never know from
one minute to the next whats going to happen or how yo are going
to feel. but drug addict knows, cause all he's got to do is look
at what kinda pills he's going to take- thats how he's going to
feel. before you pickup any oxy maybe a visit to the doctor. but
most important, don't leave the house tonight and quit with worry
and planning of tomarrow.

sometimes things work out just right. sometimes they don't. but
most times it's somewhere in between.

hope that this helps...

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Telby]

Thanks for asking Skipper-I've been out of town as a relative has been ill so I haven't been able to post. You have really done great, I think of you often as it seems we have taken simular paths in our past.  Fortunatly I have no physical problems but I still have one God awful addiction problem. I realized years ago that you don't often see really old junkies and as I am passing through my 40's acting like I did in my 20's I can sure feel the difference.  The party is long over and I just want to go home.  You are very brave and I admire how far you have come.  GWH, I think you should go to a Doctor and see if there is some other reason for this problem with your legs.  Vitamins and calcium would be my suggestion but it could be something else that flares up on you.  You have fought so hard and done so well I don't want you to get discouraged. There are Doctors who are "Addictionologists" and should know alot about the effects of withdrawls, see if you can find one in your area. I would hate for you to assume something is a withdrawl symptom if it's not, or to give up when there is a medical solution that you don't know about.  Hot baths, heating pads, vapor rubs - somehthing besides oxycontin.  What ever you do you'll always be my hero and I will keep the faith.  I know it's hard but you have come such a long way.  That leg discomfort has been a problem since the beginning so I suggest you get it checked out before you play Doctor yourself.  love ya, Telby

[OxyDout]

thank you so much.....the both of you are great, my IT band, the band on the outside of your leg is so sore from me flexing it all night, and as usual, the sheets and blankets were all on the floor this morning.  I'm struggling, I know I don't want to get back into taking oxy however, I do want to get a 40mg and split it into 4 which I know I have the will power to do, I know I will not take the whole thing at once........... so if I did  take about 10mg a day or just went ABSOLUTELY NEEDED, do you think that would work........ or no. It probably wouldn't be enough to stop the rls but I think it would give me a tiny bit of help to make it through the rest of withdrawal, what do you think??

GWH

[skipper]

GWH:
well ya' got thru the night! i know exactly where your at. my
last detox of 11 days had 2 main features after the first night:
1) extream emotional pain. i've had wd from numerious opiates,
and none of them featured emotional pain. i believe oxy is the
only narcotic that does this in wd.
2)RLS & INSOMNIA. even though i take 1mg of klonipin most nights.

i can't tell you to go ahead with a plan of quartering a 20mg.
oxy-c. you must make that decision for your self because it will
be you who will suffer any consequences or benifits. if you do
decide to go that route, why not use oxyIr instead. it comes in
5mg capsules that you could devide even further down if you cared
too. oxyIr can hit you like you've been sucker punched so be
careful!

i discovered during my last detox that even though i wasn't
sleeping right (less than 2 hours) i wasn't overly tired! every-
one of us is different though.

hey how about this? tell your self 2 things today:
1) something good is going to happen today
2) i will love myself enough that i won't indulge in anything
that is physically or emotionaly hazerdious to me.

something good is going to happen today, be ready to notice and
appreciate it. things will get beter. it won't happen on your
time table however.

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[butterbeans]

I am truly sorry I haven't posted.  I have read!  Skipper, I read you and I wonder, what was your childhood like?  Do you need drugs to help with the memories????  Anyway, I am still off the meds, and I have never abused drugs, used until I had pain that I needed for.  However, I know they help me deal with everyday life, and I think that is how I started taking too many.  I have never bought drugs off th e street, never will.  I take for pain only.  Of course, my emotional pain is as bad as my physical pain.  Jennyfla, I haven't forgotten you.  I think of you often and I pray you will be Ok.  All of you, I believe in you and know that you will all do what you need to do to be healthy and happy!!  Eventually!!!  witchy woman, I miss you, but, I cannot get on that site.  I am registered but can't get through.  I miss you and your advice, input, because you and I are so much alike in so many ways.  Good luck to all of you.  Skipper just because you have been an addict most of your life, doesn'tmean you can't stop.  I know you want to.  Keep the faith!!!
Love Butterbean

[Witchywoman]

I'm still here Butterbeans, I just don't post anywhere very much. I am trying to cut down on internet time, and so post just occasionally. You can email me anytime as well!

I hope you are doing ok.
lots of love,
WW

[butterbeans]

Thank you so much.  I don't have your email address anymore however.  I am so proud of you for the 4 months!  Great work!
Love Butterbean

[fairlight123]

Hi GWH,

I don't post much because I am doing really well, but I've become attached to this board and am still reading all the posts.

Restless Leg Sydrome is an actual medical problem, I just looked it up on the web.  I don't know if we are allowed to post links here, so I won't, but just go to your web browser and type in Restless Leg Syndrome and theres tons of stuff on it.  It might not be related to your withdrawal at all.

I feel for you, you are doing so well I'd hate to see you have a setback because of something that may be unrelated to your drug use.  Please research restless leg, and maybe go to the doctor and describe what is happening to you.

Keep strong!

[astarblaze]

This really isnt a comment i have a question. My aunt is a recovery addict and has a new man in her life that has caused alot of stress on her so therfor she has turned to pills i really want to help her she stoped going to meetings she was clean for 5 years just bought a new home got her kids back i love her to much to let this happen again to her .. if there is any one that can help me email me at ***@**** thank you very much

[OxyDout]

hey guys, I'm gonna look into other drugs for my dog, I will definitely ask about the drug you had mentioned, I have to go back to that post and see what it was, It just tears me apart to see her sit at the bottom of the stairs and not be able to come up when we call.......

anyway, on a more serious note, yesterday was awful, I don't know if I told you this but the reason i got hooked on narcotics was because of multiple knee surgeries including two reconstructive, I have screws, pins wires etc. in my knee, its like a mini construction site.  So, I went to the doctor yesterday because, not only was the restless leg syndrome kicking in but that next morning when I woke up I felt the worst pain I have felt in years, it was awful it was like I could feel exactly where the screws were in my leg (they're metal) so, I got a cordizone shot AND he gave me a script for OXY CONTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (40MG) 12 OF THEM!!!!!!!!!Somehow I had the strength to say no, I don't think I need them, so instead why don't you give me one to go home with and I will deal with the pain with advil.  So he said I  should take 1 40mg oxy because of the pain I was in and so now I have been taking advil, not doing much but I would rather be in pain then keep taking oxy....... You know what was weird....I took that 40 mg yesterday and yes it helped with the pain, but honestly, I didn't like the feeling as much, I like having a clear head, you know???? so anyway, any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.  I love you all for all your help and support.  Thanks again.  
GWH

[skipper]

GWH:
i hope your vet can get your dog back on her feet. you know if you spell dog backwards it's god! such noble creatures they are too. the strongest desire a dog has is just to belong, be apart of the pack. too bad us humans can't take a lesson from that.

so ya' got some hardware in ya'. when my neck was opperated on for the first time i got a 2" titanium plate screwed into my vertebrae.it covered two fussion. one of the fussion (proabably 'cause i was still smoking) failed. when the good doc went in a second time he found 2 of the screws broken, 3 of them half backed out. no wonder i was in such pain! the second plate only covers the refussion site, so it's about half the size of the first one that was taken out. i passed it around the coffee table at work. i didn't tell any of the guys what it was until everyone examined it. when they found out what it was a couple of them actually got queasy. the first sugery whacked my insurence co. $20,000. i kept the old plate so i'ld have something to show for it!

i hope your pain levels come down some. i find it very difficult
to stay away from junk when i'm in screaming pain and there is a
bottle of little pills (the little ones is the good ones) i can
go to. i don't know what to tell you about RLS. i have it too. i
can't even describe how awful it can be at times. my wife found
a web-site called "we move." that about says it all right there!

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[OxyDout]

ok, so apparently I won't be complaining to you anymore,hahahah, jesus, you have been to hell and back!! I don't know what to do now, well, I know what I have to do, but its not going to be fun, atleast the pain is tolerable, and i thank god I'm not taking the oxy's like I was before, (160mg a day) because if I was, I would never be able to go through withdrawal.  Atleast now, I feel ok physically its just the restless leg, which brings me to my question.  HOw long do you think it will take before it goes away.. When i stopped about 8 months ago for about 5 days it went away, so I'm assuming that its gonna take about 10 this time around, what do you think?? It usually is only bad for a couple of nights, then its tolerable but still there, you know? I'm just gonna have to suck it up because I want to get through this and be done with it.....So how long do you think the restless leg lasts??? (assuming I go cold turkey) HOpe all is well!!! oh by the way, my dog felt great today, it was awesome, she was running circles around me!!!!

[AnnieS]

I don't now why but I haven't been able to get aa  post through. GWH I felt your pain  the other day. I had arm cramps, well not so much cramps as it was the heebie jeebies! Hours of the restlessness in my arms untiil I went crazy. Told my Dr. and got some zanax and trazidone foor sleep. It really helped, so does the remedy from Thomas. All I can tell you is to hang in there the best you can. The longer I kept the opiates out of my system, the less the skin crawling went. It took awhile so be patient and stay as busy as possible. I  have been clean 91 dayss now and it feels so good not to have that psycial pain. I pray for you to find some peace and relief. Annie

[OxyDout]

did anyone just see the question that was posted, whats vicoden? oh god I wish I was her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what I would give....... anyway, I came across a couple of the lowest miligram vicoden so I took one, It didn't make me feel any better at all, but it did help the pain in my knee, huh, who would have thought..........painkillers, when used for pain actually work!!! well, I'm still struggling, but atleast I'm starting to laugh at myself now, I can joke around about it, I find it  helps me........  Anyway, I hope all is well. oh by the way, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!! 91 DAYS!!!!!! DON'T EVER LOOK BACK, PLEASE KEEP YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT, that is incredible.   I have to go to work, but I will look forward to reading tonight.  hope everyone is doing well

GWH

[shane]

Hello WW I've been trying to post a question to you but haven't been able to get through. Thought I'd try it here. I was off vicoden 10/500 - 8 a day,  for two months. I relapsed just before Christmas and I am back to about 8 aday. same old story. I am really scared of going through withdrawals again! My question is, how severe will they be, all things concidered? Also have you heard much about the anti depressent Serzone? Ive beeen hearing good things about it. Please help if you can. your so kind and I respect your advise.  Love Shane

[skipper]

hey people:
GWH: it sounds like things are getting a little beter for you. i'm happy to hear that you are learning to laugh at your self. you know what usually comes next? loving yourself. i have great difficulty doing this at times. today i love myself enough to not put kip in places he doesn't belong. today i will not go into the shooting gallerys, even though i'm relatively certain my hypo days are over.(damm few veins left) i have a new found respect for myself! well, anyway i know today that i don't need to put my head thru the kinds of changes that watching someone else shoot dope would. i found out the hard way that it is my responsibility to maintain self respect. there are a whole lot of things i used to do that i won't do today. today i love myself enough to not do things that make me unhappy,unhealthy, etc.

Shane: the longer you put off detox, the more difficult it will be. everything that goes up, comes down sooner or later. i don't think junkys are exempt from this (at least not this one). i'm glad to see your posting again.

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Witchywoman]

Hi Shane,
I"m sorry to hear about your relapse, but good for you for being honest about it! I think the it is shame that keeps us from getting the help we need. Relapse is part of addiction...no need to be ashamed of it.

Are you planning on going off cold turkey, or tapering? If you can taper down, you should be able to get off them with little discomfort.  Cold turkey from 8 a day for a month should not be nearly as bad as Cold turkey from 25 a day for many many months.
Either way, good luck to you...it shouldn't be too bad given how many you are on, and the sooner you do it the easier it will be on your body, like Skipper said.

take care..and keep us posted!
ah..as for the serzone, I've heard good things about it, but have no experience with it personally. It is a bit different from the traditional ssri's, doesn't have the sexual side effects, and I think it is a bit sedating.

love,
WW

[jennyfla]

Hang in there, you've got the willpower, just don't let your addiction talk you into going back into a life of hell!
Remember, you will feel better, the RLS will go away, but will only be prolonged if you give in feeling better or temporarily.  I know how it hurts, but going through this pain will give you more strength to stay away from the oxys.
I remember September before last, i had to go on a trip.  I went up to NJ for a short time, then out to California for a conference.  I was taking a very small dose of oxy every day.  The first night was terrible, but i got over it pretty quick because my dose was so low.  The lower the dose, the better, that's why i want to taper at first.
I took a 20 mg oxy with me, and on the final night in CA, about the 10th day, i decided to take a little chunk.  I took about 5 mgs and man did i get high, and feel sick.  I didn't like the buzz at all!!  I also looked like hell in the mirror.  I have a hard time with how bad i look and feel, i always look tired, and i never feel very good.  I'm either sick from taking oxys or sick from being in withdrawal, i have a hard time eating times.
Keep striving for a better life, the cramps will get better.
I didn't realize you had a knee injury so i guess the jogging is out of the question.  My husband took a muscle reliever while in rehab, and i think that helped his cramps a lot.  Maybe you could find something mild to take the edge off!
Good luck!
Lv Jenny

[shane]

Thamksd for you reply, it really helpes me prepare!Iv'e beem five day's and i'm feeling a little better. know however, I'm beginning to think on doinng one of tow oxy's, just to help me along. How does the-is cicle ever end".  Shane

[shane]

Hello I think I am at my end; so sick of waging this war within.Nerver to win, it seems I'm Eithers sick from withdrawl or running out of time.I'm just growing very weary!My wife is growing tired, my son dosent understand,somtimes I fee lit would be better if I were no longer in the picture!What happens to our life's?  I've tried so maney times and failed. I've reached the bottom., I love all of you   Shane

[skipper]

Shane:
i'm glad to see you post again. you know sometimes these WD's are
so bad a person just can't handle them alone. you have to go thru
the physical discomfort yourself...no way around that. you do not
have to suffer thru the head trips alone however. keep posting &
remeber, every day not using is a small victory. i realise that
right now everything seems hopeless and that your efforts are in
vain. YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT IN VAIN! concentrate on seeing this
through to the end- you are stronger every day you go without.
you are not in emotional condition to determine if you belong in
the same picture as your wife and child. so knock it off and put
your energy where it does some good. your wife has not yet walked
off or turned her back on you has she?

please give this thing one more day. you certainly can do that
for yourself and family. i don't want to harp on you about this.
you made the decision to detox Shane. you want something beter
for yourself, your wife, your child...so let's try to see this
thru...at least for a little while longer. when you were posting
last summer and fall, i came to know of a much stronger willed
person. you are still that person. when the emotional stuff and
the head trips get to be too much, post to us.

i guess my who;le point is, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THIS ALONE! i
wish there were an easier way thru this, but there isn't. con-
centrate on the reasions that motivated you to begin this detox
and see them thru!

i'm praying for you
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[skipper]

Shane:
i'm glad to see you post again. you know sometimes these WD's are
so bad a person just can't handle them alone. you have to go thru
the physical discomfort yourself...no way around that. you do not
have to suffer thru the head trips alone however. keep posting &
remeber, every day not using is a small victory. i realise that
right now everything seems hopeless and that your efforts are in
vain. YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT IN VAIN! concentrate on seeing this
through to the end- you are stronger every day you go without.
you are not in emotional condition to determine if you belong in
the same picture as your wife and child. so knock it off and put
your energy where it does some good. your wife has not yet walked
off or turned her back on you has she?

please give this thing one more day. you certainly can do that
for yourself and family. i don't want to harp on you about this.
you made the decision to detox Shane. you want something beter
for yourself, your wife, your child...so let's try to see this
thru...at least for a little while longer. when you were posting
last summer and fall, i came to know of a much stronger willed
person. you are still that person. when the emotional stuff and
the head trips get to be too much, post to us.

i guess my who;le point is, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THIS ALONE! i
wish there were an easier way thru this, but there isn't. con-
centrate on the reasions that motivated you to begin this detox
and see them thru!

i'm praying for you
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Witchywoman]

Shane....I remember feeling the same thing. This is a hard battle, but don't ever give up, no matter what. You can't fail, as long as you are still trying.  

Also, please remember that the drugs mess with the brain chemistry and create horrendous depression. I'm worried about you, and scared that you might do something to hurt yourself. Please, don't hurt yourself. Suicide may not be what was in your mind when you were posting, but it got me worried that you were thinking about it. I just want to say that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There is help, there is hope, it just is a horrible struggle. I know. I've been there.

Have you considered talking to a counseler, or going to a 12 step meeting for added support? Medication for depression might also really help you. I'd really encourage you to try that as well, if you haven't already.
Don't give up. As Wiz always said.."never stop reaching for the light of freedom". No matter how dark it seems, the light is still there, and will wait as long as it takes.

love,
WW

[shane]

Dear Kip and Witchy Women. Thanks so very much for the time and VERY comforting words regarding my problem. You Truly Helped me a lot. I'm sorry I didn't thank you sooner but was in no condition to. I hope you pick up on this THANK YOU as it comes so long after your kind reply's. God bless you both. I'am doing a little better now.  Love  Shane

[skipper]

Shane:
good to hear from you. i can understand not posting for awhile,
if you've been detoxing. post to us when your feeling beter. did
you know you had several of us real upset?

keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[Witchywoman]

Shane, thanks for posting and letting us know how you are doing.
I admit I was very worried about you! But, I also understand that when detoxing, life seems very bleak at times, and am glad you are feeling better now.

keep us posted...we do care!

love,
WW

[AnnieS]

I just read your messages and want to put in my 2 cents worth. You are working hard to do what you are doing and going through. Just remember like ww said a permanent solution to a tempeory problem is not the answer. Especially when you have a son to care for. He needs you wether you think so or not. Finding support anywhere is a help. All of us suffer  in one way or another but as long as you don't give up and take one day at a time you can do it. I will post again later. But my prayers are with you. Peace, Annie

[abusa]

If you feel like you can't do this on your own, go to a detox clinic. It is not safe , although it won't kill you, it can cause severe emotional trauma and pain. When i tryed to quit cold turkey I punched myself in the face to concentrate on that pain, which is NOT healthy. I have heard of a place in miami florida that will actually let you sleep through the withdrawls, man i wish i would have done that. There is an anequedote to w/drawal named clonodine, it helped me w/ anxiety, flu-like symptoms and muscle pain. I am 19  yr old female and have fibromylgia (fibromyalgia) and degenerative disk disease. Try to get the clonodine b/c it's non addictive and effective. I just got off 240mlgs of oxys(methadone was my taper though), been on am for two years and am honestly still thinking that i need them for the pain, but truthfully, i'm more aware of what's going on and not so damn emotional/vulnerable. I think of myself as a success story though and am working on increasing my self esteem that the oxys diminished.  
Love, Katherine (i will be part of your support since the positive aspect of it goes both ways)--a friend in need is a friend indeed

[VicoDee]

I know this will sound like a joke..but how long for re-addiction? I would say about 30 minutes in your bloodstream of your first hit of what you detoxed from.

[abusa]

I will always be addicted to oxy and other opiates, I am an addaict just like everyone on this site. Do you mean, how long until you become re-dependent?

[vcat]

how many days to get morphine out of your system? they say ray charles kicked his addiction in 4 days?