Please Help

Hello, I am new to this site and new to asking anyone for help. I would just rather talk to someone who knows what I am going through. I have read quite a few post and decided that this would help. I have been addicted to Vicodin for about 2 years now. It started when I got them from my dentist (due to my molars coming in), I never thought that I would become addicted to them but here I am now. I feel really stupid for even posting on here, because it seems a lot of people are having a rougher time then I am. I use to only take them at night, but then started taking them throughout the day. I have only taken at the most 4 a day. Again I feel really stupid for posting on here, but maybe with a friend or two I can quit and go back to the old me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, and good luck to all the people that are also trying to quit! God Bless You All!!

[conhall]

Hi and welcome to the forum and first off you are not silly or stupid for posting on here I am glad you did
First off when do you plan on stopping?  Do you plan on just doing it cold turkey or a taper?
We all have started off taking them maybe like you smaller amounts its good you are stopping now I was taking 15-20  percocets a day 5mg and I also started with maybe 2 or 3 a day and it just escalates.
If I were you I would just decide a plan and stick to it But when you do decide Make sure you have supplies Immodium helps with stomach issues and also many say just also helps take edge off and also I would get some epson salt for hot baths and stay hydrated and get Nourishment Drink lots of water to flush out toxins.
Taking walks and getting exercise helps with the anxiety tremendously!
Where do you get your supply from a doctor or do you buy off friends?
Make sure once you do decide to stop you eliminate your pill source because once you are into the WDs you will cave in and think just 1 pill wont hurt but it will make up your mind to do whatever it takes to stop taking them and at this amount it will be alot easier on you than like you said most on here that have built up a tolerance and take 3 time or 4 times the amount you do
You have come to the right place to get support and advice this is a great place to read and also get support. I Hope to see you posting .
Good Luck to you and I will be looking to see what kind of plan you have to taper or just quit and I can offer alot of advice and support :))))

[kyle505]

As conhall said there's nothing stupid about posting here; nothing stupid about abusing drugs. I too started taking 1/2 or 1 every six hours as needed. Two years later I was eating 10 Norco 10s a day. Consider yourself proactive.
Your detox shouldn't be too bad. Again, as conhall stated, cut all your sources, get rid of any remaining pills, cancel any refills or scripts still out there. The mental part of withdrawal is much harder than the physical part, and if you're not aware it can lead to relapse. Keep posing.

[weaver71]

Yeah what they said, also remember that each time you go through this, it gets worse. You may feel like, "Oh, I was just worrying too much," or "Just a couple won't hurt." Always remember how you feel now. And I don't think you are stupid at all for posting, I wish I was smart enough to quit early on. You may be the smartest of us all, definitely smarter than me. Good luck and keep us posted.

[MissyMoe21]

Thank you for making me feel welcome. I would like to ween myself off of them. I use to take only one a night to get to sleep, My legs become restless at night if I don't take one. I did go all day without one today, so I was very happy with that. I did take one, once I got into bed. All day I just kept telling my self, don't take one till this time. Then when that time came around I would tell myself, no I don't need it right now and wouldn't take it. I went 32 hours without one. Although that is not a very long time, that is the best I have ever done. I figure if I can get down to one a night and then maybe one every other night. Then just keep taking days off and moving forward. That/s the best plan I have and I think it will work best for me. I just need the friends to back me up. My fiance is there for me but not going through the same thing. Sometimes I just get aggravated telling him about it because he doesn't feel the same way that I do. Thanks again, and please keep giving me your advice. I feel if I have people there to talk to, it will make this a lot easier.  Thanks to you all!!

[MissyMoe21]

Thank you, and I will keep you all posted. Are you sober now? If not, I hope that you can also become clean. Thanks again!

[MissyMoe21]

Thank you kyle, I do intend on cutting off all resources. I know that if I have them, I will take them. Also thank you for making me feel welcome. I really appreciate it!!

[weaver71]

I've been off methadone for 98 days today, had to check my tracker. You made me think back to many years ago, when I would take similar amounts as you are now, and for 3 yrs I stopped, then relapsed. That was about 15 years ago. I don't regret anything now, I can't afford to feel regret, but I can only imagine how different things would be today. That's why I really believe in aftercare. Good luck, your plan sounds good.

[JGOODMAN]

Addictions do not discriminate - they are an equal opportunity destroyer.  I am proud and very happy that you took the courage to step up and talk about this situation, and I hope that your experience by doing so helps minimize any feelings of guilt or shame that addictions often cause.

Pain killers are touchy for many - reason being, people tend to rely on them so they don't feel sick from the withdrawal.  Sometimes it leads to street narcotics as they can sometimes be cheaper - and then the slippery slope becomes much more complex and dangerous.

I sincerely suggest seeking meetings in your area - either narcotics anonymous; and here on the east coast we have "Addictions Victorious" which are usually Christian based support groups - often in churches.  I'm not saying this because I feel it's an absolute need - however - you'll probably be surprised to find some extremely supportive and likable individuals just as there are on this site.

I know many people who developed addictions due to pain management (just like yourself) - it's so very common - but if we can move mountains with faith, we can certain overcome an addiction; especially with the proper support, inspiration, and direction.

Wishing you success,

J

[MissyMoe21]

I have been reading everyones post but have been very busy to respond. So I do apologize and I appreciate all of your responses. Yesterday was a bad day, I woke up, had my coffee, and half of a vicodin. I started cleaning and all of a sudden my left eye became very blurry (like I had something in it). I washed it out with water. I also became very dizzy and felt very sick. I sat down and ate something (thinking that it was because I didn't eat). Then I thought maybe I was dehydrated. So I drank tons of water. None of these things helped. About a half hour later I had a massive headache, so I took a motrin and that didnt help either. I layed down for prolly three hours and it was still there. Come the end of the night, probably seven hours later, it began to ease up. I was very scared that I was going blind or something. The pain in my head wasnt like a headache though. Its was much worse then that. I know this is a bit off topic but any thoughts on what it might be? I was thinking a migraine? I have had headaches all my life, but as I stated before this was not a headache. Much Much worse. I have been weening my self so I thought it could be that too. Please a suggestions would be great!! Thank you everyone!!

[Pat1956100]

I really think that you should tell your doctor as soon as possible about your episode.  My husband had the same thing happen to him with the blurry eye etc.  We didn't tell his doctor as it just passed.  A few months later he had a brain aneurysm.  I suffer so much guilt from not making him go to the doctor.  I am really not trying to scare you and you are probably fine but I just feel that I have to tell you this.  Please have it checked out.  It could be a warning sign.
Let me know how you are feeling.
Again, I feel badly if I am scaring you but I just care.

[MissyMoe21]

I did tell my doctor and he said that it was probably just a migraine. He is sending me to a neurologist though... I am pretty worried about that but I am sure that everything is going to be ok. Thank you for caring and no you didn't scare me. I know that there is probably something wrong just hope it is not to bad. I will deffinetly let you know what happens when I go see the neurologist.

[Pat1956100]

Yes it could just be a migraine but it's good to get it checked out.  It will relieve your mind.  
Actually we shouldn' say JUST a migraine as they are pretty painful too.

Thanks for the update.

[paddleback]

I had the same reaction when I quit. I was only taking 3 a day. Then went down to one and stopped. Just keep going until you stop all together.  You really can't avoid what will happen next. You'll be so glad after about a week. I had blurred vision for a week and a foggy feeling, dizzy and didn't have much of a attention span. Read up on withdraws, mine were pretty mild and yours might be the same. I was on a low dose as are you but everyone is a little different. You will start to cry at the drop of a hat, that's normal. You might get short tempered as well, and forget things. All of this will pass. Stock up on vitamins its going to take time for your brain to adjust again. I'm almost to the three month mark and its 100% better life is good.

Your withdraws won't be as bad as some because you are on a low dose. Its the the amount of time you have been on them. Give yourself time to heal. Good luck