Need Help Getting Off Meds

I seriously need help getting off the pain pills I've been taking for the last ten years.  I do have legitamate chronic pain from failed back surgery, endometriosis surgery, abdominal adhession surgery, colostomy surgery and colostomy takedown, hernia surgery, and fibromyalgia.  I've dealt with a ton of pain, but quite honestly I'm sick of taking these pills that don't really work anyhow.  I'm taking about (10) Percocet 10mgs a day plus (2) Oxycontin 40mgs a day.  I'm over medicating myself and yes I know I shouldn't but whats done is done so now the real question is, how do I stop?  I've tried cutting down, which doesn't work for me and I've tried cold turkey which also hasn't worked cause the pain is HORRIBLE plus all the other ugly things that go along with withdrawals such as diareaha(sp), weakness, restless legs, high blood pressure, fevers, and bouts of crying.  I really don't want to involve my doctor because she will try to talk me out of stopping because she knows everything Ive been thru.  Can someone PLEASE help me find a way to get off these drugs that are slowly taking my life away?

[soxfan0622]

My story is not quite the same. But when I put my self into detox off oxy Im only two weeks clean but i did not have pain, in detox they help with the wds syptoms (symptoms). I will pray for you

[Stormie1968]

Thank you for the prayers!!

[BIKERDAD1963]

Believe it or not but the amount of meds arent to extreme. The oxy is a very lo dosage. The best way in my opinion; and is how I am doing it, Is get off the oxy first and then percs or vice versa. I would start tapering one and when off one start the taper on the other. The first one you taper from will be relatively easy because you are still taking the other. If the oxy is first then go to the 20mg tabs 2 or 3 a day and if you dont feel a difference then taper again. If you feel a difference then wait till your body adjust before you taper again and so on. If you start the percs first then lower it by a pill and see if there is a difference. If not lower it another pill. When you notice a difference then let your body adjust again before the next taper. The withdrawals during the tapering are minimal and only last a few days and it will give you the courage to keep going forth. And your doctor is there for you. If you want off the meds they will help you. Just tell them what you want to do and go over the options.

[broknbck]

going somewhere different or detox like soxfan said might be worth a try.
it seems to be easier if you are not in the same routine while trying to quit.

when i quit, i first quit my job and that made my routine different and slowly weaned off and then.....even moved somewhere different. new friends, job, everything new. yea, it sounds a little drastic ...... but it worked! and i had been trying for like 2 years to quit.

i hope you find a solution and it doesn't have to be as drastic as mine. maybe just try to change things up while you are quitting. and weaning slowly will make your recovery smoother and faster back to normal time.
best to you!

[hooklineandsinker]

Since you do have legitimate pain issues maybe you should discuss it with your doctor.

The problem with any narcotic is that you develop tolerance and need more to get the same effect.

You have stated what you are taking isn't working any more for the pain. There are stronger narcotics but again, you will keep needing more and more with time.

What some chronic pain patients do is take a vacation so their tolerance levels drop. You do have to suffer through that period with pain though.

As for how to detox, that is why you need to discuss this with your doctor. JMHO

[LissyH]

I have not experienced the exact, same issues as you, but I can tell you one thing.  Your pain levels are deceiving you!  Let me explain.  When I came off my Fentanyl patches (some of the strongest stuff out there...100 x stronger than Morphine!) I had so much pain I thought I would die.  At first, I thought that's just what my pain would feel like without any narcotics, but I was wrong.  The pain, after coming off any narcotic, is amplified...out the roof.  You not only have severe pain where you've had it before, you have pain in places you've NEVER had pain!!!  So, the good news is that, when you come off the meds and after you get through the detox, you will be surprised at how much lower the pain levels are.  I was really shocked.  I thought I would be living in agony forever but, after 8 days off Fentanyl, my pain levels are great.  My doctor kept me on a lighter, low-dose narcotic (Darvocet, three times a day) and it is handling my pain!  I couldn't believe it!  So, please know that there is hope that you will not endure that same level of intense pain once you have detoxed from your current meds.  I wouldn't have believed it if I had not experienced it...I've had too many surgeries (including back surgery) and chronic illnesses to name here, so I can totally empathize with all you have been through, even though I know I have not walked in your shoes!  I just wanted you to know there is HOPE!  Don't give up!  You will be in my thoughts and prayers!

Blessings!

Lissy