My turn

[tiff1496]

Wow, where do I start? First off, my name is Tiffany and I'm 31 years old. I'm also fighting stage 4 liver cancer.
So, when I first learned I had cancer I was in a ton of pain. The doctor gave me oxycodone, that was about 17 months ago. I have been taking around 100 mg a day since then. Last week I started to taper them off. I'm down to 30 mg a day, and yesterday I only had 15mg.

I really hope I can do this! Last night was bad. I would wake up soaked in sweat.
Any advice??

[YesLife4Me]

The no energy thing and not being able to sleep are the 2 biggest complaints on here about withdraw.  The opiates have depleted our Seratonin and Dopamine levels in our brain so it's like a dead battery right now that needs recharged.  Are you taking any vitamins or minerals?   I know it's hard, but if you can get out and go for a walk, it helps with mood and energy a bit.  Right now I know you are feeling like doing anything is an enormous task.  How old are your children?  Can they help with chores or anything like that?   As far as sleep goes, I hear that Valerian Root helps some.  I took melatonin and Nyquil for the first week or so when I ran out of ambien.  I had rough sleep, but did not suffer the lying awake at night.   Sleep does return, it's just different for everyone.   You are doing great.  

[ricart70]

Tiffany you are doing great and you will be feeling alot better soon and it will get easier. Yes we need to keep our guard up but saying that withdrawal is the easy part and staying clean is just a continuous white knuckle struggle is not at all true for me anyways.If it were I wold be using right now and so would a lot of others. Don't let what may or may not happen later scare you or make you depressed or become a self fulfilling prophecy.It sounds like you have had enough of that for one life.  Hang in there   :)

[tiff1496]

Doing good today! Not even really thinking about the oxy. I am SO fatigued! Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to help it? Its so hard being a mother, and trying to take care of everyone, but feeling like I can't do anything. Then when I go to sleep at night, its hard to get to sleep.

[VICourageous]

Hi Tiffany.. You got some good info from all the above. The sweats yes you are cleansing, the weakness for me was the last stage...We are all here for you. One step at a time..I am very pround of you considering your news. Sorry!!! Just keep coming back I have seen Blessing on here happen.
God Bless you
vickie
ps clean good one!!!!

[YesLife4Me]

Hi Tiffany!  You have found a great support group here on this site!   You have been given some great advice.   Also, look up on the bottom right of this page for a box with most viewed.  In there you will find the Thomas Recipe which has many over the counter items that will help you ease the withdraw symptoms.  Immodium is a must have.  It helps with the obvious, but it does also help relieve some of the other physical symptoms to a degree.   It binds in your system like an opiate but does not cross the blood brain barrier.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids too.  

My advice on that rx waiting for you is to cancel it so it doesn't keep calling out to you like it is.  You mentioned it's hard knowing it's there. Not having it there will help you just accept and move forward that there are no more pills to be had.  You can't take what you don't have, right?   A quote that helped me a lot was "one pill is too many and a thousand isn't enough".  You are like many of us, started taking them for a legit purpose and then found yourself not able to function without them after we pushed our tolerance levels up.  Please don't be scared about how hard it is.   Look at it like you have the flu.  When we get the flu, there is nothing we can do but hunker down and treat our symptoms.  This is the same except we know taking a pill will help us feel better.  But once we take those, we have to start over.  I wish you the best and stick with us.  Let's get you through withdraw one day at a time and then we can help you with the rest afterwards.  

[bama88]

Love that quote.

[clean_in_ks]

Ok...messed up....will start over and see if I can get it right this time, lol

Two guys talking back and forth here:

1st guy:  "The way is narrow"
2nd guy:  "What does that mean?"
1st guy:  "It's a Bible verse."
"It means that there are a lot of ways to be wrong, but there is only one way to be right."
2nd guy:  "How do you know the right way?"
1st guy:  "It's usually the hardest".

[clean_in_ks]

Agree with Tom......you CAN do this....you are a fighter....
Gonna share a quote (I LOVE doowah ditties, lol) I just wrote down from a movie I watched recently.  Seems most EVERYTHING I listen to since beginning my pain pill addiction recovery road....I relate SOME line, or some verse to living a life of recovery...So here ya go....and you hang in there....you're doing GREAT....
Two guys talking back and forth here:
1st guy:  "The way is narrow"
2nd guy: "What does T



"

[Tom86]

My advise to you is just hit the addiction full speed head on with everything. Even doing that our success rates are pretty low. Yes it can be done. I hope we are proof. When you seek help you have to do everything. Na, group therepy, sponser daily contacts, work the steps. You can't pick and choose and beat this. Good luck

[tiff1496]

Tom I worry about that. Being that I do have cancer, and knowing that I could have surgery or something happen at any time that would require me to go back on them. The good thing--my doctor knows. And she supports me. She was so surprised that I went from 100mg to 30 to 15. Its scary though knowing I have an rx for them just waiting on me. The good news--I dont have any in my house.

[tiff1496]

I'm in no pain. I havent been for some time.
I have just been through so much to be so young. Cancer, and now because of it, a problem with pain pills. And I feel like my poor children are suffering right along with me. My 3 year old is here everyday. Some days its all I can do to just play with her. I'm just going to hope and pray that this passes fast, and I can move on.
Only a few more hours and I will be at 24 hours!

[Tom86]

Tiffany. I'm almost 1 year clean from a 15 year habbit. You worry about the detox and withdrawl. We all did. You won't believe me when I tell you that the withdrawl is the easy part. Its only 5 percent of recovery. The real challenge is dealing with the daily cravings and not picking up again.

[clean_in_ks]

Welcome, Tiffany!!  Having yourself down to 15 mg from 100 mg is GREAT!  I think you've already accomplished an amazing feat having stage 4 liver cancer and fighting it!!!.  Are you still in a lot of pain?  I'm not sure I understand why you are weaning yourself off the pain meds, but commend you......don't let the fears of the first 14 or so days of physical stuff deter you.....you sound like a fighter......and a winner....
Hope you'll keep posting so we can get to know you and support you~
Blessings to you~

[tiff1496]

I'm so worried, I see people say days 7-8 are the worst. I'm scared at what is to come for me. :-(

[tiff1496]

I'm a little sad, other than that nothing. I'm just praying this passes fast. Oh yeah, my energy is a little low.
It's hard because I know I can go to my doctor and get more, but I'm really ready to put this behind me.

[Pat1956100]

Sweating is a big part of opiate detox.  It will stop eventually.  I always sweat and get a horrible rotting wood or something odor lol.
Just think of it as the opiates leaving your body.
Are you having any other symptoms?

[T2112]

Tiffany.... This happened to me for a time when tapering off opiates and what I found helped was drinking (4) Vitamin Waters per day that contained vitamins B5, B6, B12 & C.  I'm sure others will give you more in-depth advice but I have been drink the Vitamin Waters for the past 60 days. I think it helps. I am somewhat new to this site but the advice I received was extremely helpful and supportive.