Oxy withdrawal - tired of the pills

[NorgeZebra]

I am a chronic pain patient with 5 herniated disks in my neck, a surgery and a number of ineffective injection treatments under my belt.  I have a prescription for 2 10mg XL Oxycodone and 4 5mg Oxycodone per day.  I have been on this dosage for 5 years and have recently begun self medicating myself taking about 20 pills a day.  I just went through my new monthly supply in 11 days.  I am tired of the pills control over my life and am going to try to get off of them NOW!  I just recently started a new job and do not yet have health insurance, so as I try to think how to get more meds, the $ cost of going the the local ER without insurance is helping me with this decision.  I have two boys who are my life and want to be the father they deserve.  Any ideas for helping to deal with the withdrawals?  I am addicted and want it to end.

Thank you for your forum and help.  God Bless us all.

[Yankeesin7]

It is very hard to just quit taking them.  As you know you will go through a lot of hell.  My suggestion is to find a place that will prescribe you suboxone.  Go online and type in doctors who prescribe suboxone then go to the state that you live in and find a dr by you.  Suboxone is actaully a pain killer but it also takes away the withdrawal that you get from stopping oxys.  If you cant get the prescription you will go through a lot of agony but if you can get through it go for it.  It will last about 5 days of not really sleeping and pain.  Good luck and if you want any advice on what to do to get through it let me know.

[NorgeZebra]

Yankeesin7,

Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.  I have half-heartily tried before, but have four days to myself to get through the worst part.  I will try to post through the process to help others and myself.  My Mom died two weeks ago after a 3 year battle with cancer.  I want to make her and my boys proud.  I hope I can.

[matine]

This is for You and Yank.  First it  will be tough. I have almost the same problem. I cut pills in half and take it that way. I last around three days and bingo I can not stand the headache and all the rest and I am back up to 40mg once again. The Sub. is a good way to go I hear and this where. Hey Yank, you seem to know a lot about Sub. Could you please enlighten us. I mean I was told that it shuts down the pain center in the brain and therefore if you are not in severe withdraw then You soon will be. I was told that is not true. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Back to you Norge. You mention that you have four days. It will be tough  but it can be done  because I have done it before. (Yes I know I am back on them. My Doc. is treating me for Hep. C. and wants me on them. But I am getting off the band-wagon). Walk a lot, or jog, also hot baths, knee bends, cat naps...grab all  the sleep you can when you can even if it is only for 20 minutes because you need the sleep to fight the depression and overall fatigue. Eat, even if it is only a bite or two. Movies, man they are mindless but you will need that because you should measure time not in days (when you are in that manner of pain and anger and AND!) days are too far away, heck hours seem endless. Last but not least little things will rile your anger toward even your kids...try to walk it off or jump in a hot tub. And just know deep inside that God, or the Buddia, or whatever spirit moves you is with you. Good luck.

[NorgeZebra]

Matine,

Thanks for the encouragement and support. I will do my best.  I have gone 36 hrs before, but knowing I had an appointment for more meds.  This time I am 17 days from my next pain appointment.  Not a very pretty picture, but I got myself here and take responsibility for that.  I only hope I can be strong enough to gett off.

Thank you.

[matine]

36 hours. WOW. 36 more hours and the worst should be behind you. 17 days wait. wOW. Been there. My Doc. is a tough old bird and would not write me a new script. Had to buy them on the black market...very pricy. But it taught me a lesson...one that I have not all-together learned yet, yes I come up short a few each month. Just remember if it gets real bad there is always the E.R. (which is also pricy unless you have insur.) Hey I am not telling you lie but most E.R.'s won't treat a person 'detoxing' unless it appears to be life threatening. I always complained about my back which in my case is true.
            Marching back-wards sometimes it seems. Good luck.

[matine]

Norge:
You know it seems You are asking for help in detoxing and reading my posts I am not sure I have been of help. Made me think:) Thanks.

[girlybuff]

You can go to turntohelp.com and type in your zip code and find a list of participating suboxone doctors near you.  They can only treat 30 patients on it at a time so there might be a wait so get a few numbers and call around.
Also, you need to be in full blown withdrawal before you start your first pill in order for it to work and in order for the dr to find the right dosage for you but I hear it DOES work.
Good luck.  I'm in the same boat.  Big ass boat ain't it??
Happy Holidays to all and a sober (and pain free) New Year!

[caregiver222]

First of all I have had severe spinal injury, gone through the drug routine. "Been there, done that". You can get off of them, and there will be withdrawal problems. The problem is there are certain kinds of pain for which they really do help. Go to a pain specialist with experience with a "TENS" device. You need a therapist to show you how to use it. Keep well hydrated. Keep your sugar levels in balance. Abnormal sugal levels can induce tremendous pain because the alteration in osmolality can cause pressure on nerves going through the vertebra that are compressed. Try a good accupuncturist. Also you have been on this stuff long enough so that your body has developed a real "need" for these substances. Going through a "program" is not the worst idea in the world. Good luck.

[hill country]

Hi, I have Hep C, too and am wondering how the pills affect our disease.  Are you taking vicodin or vicoprofen?  I heard that vicoprofen was better but also read that these painkillers can make our disease progress more rapidly.  What's your experience and opinion?

Thanks,

Hill Country

[matine]

Hi
I don't know if Vic's have Tylenol or not. I have talked  to many Doc's concerning Tylenol and the liver and some favor not taking Tylenol at all where others say a pill no more then twice a day is fine. As far as Codine, well my pain Doc's says it is fine as long as you are not at the end stage of Hep C; you know at deaths door...which I thought that if you are at deaths door so what. So I would say that it depends on your liver count, and   the level of Hep C in your blood. Have you had a biospy? Blood work? Considered the Interferon program? (Which  will wipe you out for a year). Me, I just want to get off the damn things. So I am apt to take more risks. You know after a year and a half on Interferon I just want to  get on with my life...however long or short that turns out to  be.
Happy times. Email me if you have any other questions or just want to talk. Hep C. is a bummer all by itself.

[hill country]

I treated in a trial for a week last year and quit -- couldn't handle it.  VL is over 20 million and in 2004 FibroSpect blood test showed minimal liver damage.  My AST and ALT are normal.  That all looks good on paper but I'm starting to feel very ill every day instead of every few days so I'm seriously considering tx.  According to the Hep C med help I may end up worse off AFTER tx.  So am still undecided -- have been so for 4 years.

How's your experience going?  Are you UND and do the vics help you stay on tx?  

Thanks,

Hill Country