Please help

[wannabedrugfree]

Hi. I am a 52 year old male.I started using Lortabs on and off about 6 years ago after arm surgery and three shoulder surgerys.
I have been taken 3 10mg tablets per day for the last 2 years because of back pain.
I realize this isn't a lot compared to some folks but I don't like what they are doing to me. I will not keep taking these.
I took my last pill 21 hours ago. My head is swimmy and I am emotional. Kinda feel like I have the flu.
What can I expect in the next week ? When will the withdrawal syptoms go away ?
Can I do this ? Would some one help me ?
I am working 12 hour shifts at a factory while doing this.
I have three collage age kids to care for.
My wife left home three days before Christmas after 30 years of marriage.
I am broke.
And I must move in 30 days.
I'm trying to hold all this together.
I do trust and depend on God. Aways have always will.
Thank you all. Please help me.

[selfinduced]

Oh Wanna, You certainly have a full plate, but you will be just fine. Deep breath and take this one day at a time. 21 hours in is good. Are you drinking plenty of fluids? Know your going to feel kinda icky for the next 3 days then improve each day from there. Just go with the physical and push thru the mental. I will promise you that with all you have going on, you need to be clear headed and you are well on your way. Keep posting. It is never too late to get back to living.

[katmandu516]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum. Yes, you certainly have a full plate. But as the days go by, the w/ds will get very intense. Is there any way you can taper off them? I mean going c/t, plus having to work and everything else, I just can't see it being done, unless you have some sick time, or vacation time and tell your employer you have the flu and need a week off. You will definitely need at least that much time to go through full blown detox and w/d. I know I was sick longer than that. I was on oxi's/trams and vicodin. But I know Lortabs are very strong because I had to take them after a surgery.  So try to get some time off, you are not in the thick of it yet. You should be home at this time in my humble opinion.

[OpenMind24hours]

Sounds like you're at the WD peak right now, so like selfinduced said, just another 3 days and it will start to quickly get better and better and then you'll be done. Try not to compare to others who have taken more opiates than you. I was on about what you were on and went through detox 3 times in 3 years. (you only want to do this once!) I'm 67 years old. We all reach our bottom, and we all get fed up being a slave to a pill. Glad you got God in your life, me too. Take this detox one day at a time. Don't worry about sleep, the WD will keep you going for a while at work. By the time the weekend rolls around you'll start to get some sleep. I highly recommend taking a hot Epsom Bath as soon as you get home from work. Look below at the Thomas recipe. Get those items if possible.

As for the other things you have going on in your life, take everything one item at a time if possible, as it arrives on your plate. If you have everything going on all at once in your head it will just bring on unnecessary anxiety.   Just Concentrate on getting through detox the next few days and stay in the now. By next week your head will be clear and you can start to think on the other items going on in your life. Once you feel good, you should also consider aftercare. I'm in NA and it works for me. It keeps my addiction at bay and it gives me a place to sort out my problems with others as they sort out theirs.

Wish you the best. Keep posting and letting us know how you're doing.

[wannabedrugfree]

Thank you very much. Thank you all.
My life has fallen apart in three months.
I went from a happy middle class family to wifeless broke and homeless in three months. Just so you know my wife didn't leave because of another man or solely because of me. She is dealing with emotional and mental issues from childhood trauma. I pray daily she gets help and gets well and returns. I believe she will. All the more reason to get off these drugs.
Surly I can make it another 4-5 days. In 3 more days I have a week off. I work from 6:30am till 6:30pm. If I could just clear my head and get rid of the anxiety I think I could handle the rest. I told one person at work who I trust what I was doing in case I went crazy.
My 21 year old daughter who lives with me knows.
I haven't got enough money to buy supplies to help me thru this. I have $12 to do me till Friday and I have to buy gas.
Thanks again to all who replied. If any of you are praying people please say a prayer for my wife and my family. Thank you so much.
36 hours without a pill !  

[wannabedrugfree]

One other thing. I am seeing a mental health therapist who agreed to see me with little money. I see her once a week and will see her again this Friday.

[clean_in_ks]

You just hang in there!  You have a good attitude which is HUGE!!
3 days and then a week off.....and seeing a therapist is a great addition to your recovery tool bag.

I will pray for you, your wife and your family.  I have found that God restores what the "moths have eaten".....

[ROSYouralright]

Hi and welcome! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I want you to know that I will be praying for you and your family everyday! Just know that you are not alone in this. The wd's only last a few days and then they are OVER and you have your freedom back! Most important thing is STAY HYDRATED!!! Take each symptom as it comes and keep the great attitude! Hang in there !

[wannabedrugfree]

It's 1am. and I can't sleep. My shoulders and upper arms are going crazy with what feels like restless leg syndrome. I have to keep shaking them.
Anyway to stop this ? I have to go to work soon. A 12 hour day and no sleep.
I might call in sick. I hate to have a bad record at work.
And thank all of you for your kind comments and your prayers.
Prayers don't work by magic . They are heard by God Himself. And I take them very seriously. And I thank all you who pray. Your prayer could very well be the one that pulls me thru. So thank you all. 40 hours now without Lortab.
  

[selfinduced]

Just said a prayer for you. For your shoulders and arms twitching, get in a hot bath even for just 10 minutes. If thats too much trouble at this hour, heat up a towel in the dryer and wrap it around yourself. If you have tonic water in the house so swig some. There is something called restless leg cramps by hylands that another member swears by on here. Hang in there my friend, with each minute you are closer to being rid of these devils. About work, just take it hour by hour. If you need to call a day off, so be it. This time is so very important for you to be well.

[Pat1956100]

Hi there
So sorry for everything you are going through.
I had that in my arms, chest and shoulders.
Try a nice hot bath.  I think that's about the only thing that will relieve it.
I know there are some OTC things that can help but that's not possible for you right now.
You are definitely in my prayers.

[wannabedrugfree]

Thank you all.
I made it thru the night. It was terrible. I did stay home from work today.
Most likely will tomorrow also.
I take potassium for restless legs which works wonders for me but it didn't help the upper body jerks and restlessness. They have lessened considerably now.
I feel very anxious and restless and worried. My body feels uncomfortable.
The anxiousness my come from missing my wife and worrying about her.
Just one pill would be so good right now. I have a bottle full.
But not just yet. God will help me. Please pray and encourage me.
52 hours without a Lortab.
Thank you all.

[Pat1956100]

Glad you made it through the night and hope you got some sleep.
That feeling should start coming in waves and then pass and then the waves will come less and less and fade away.
Anxiety and depression are a normal part of withdrawal and especially with Lortab (Tramadol) as there is an anti depressant component in them.
It can be tough but it's doable.
I am concerned that you have a bottle of pills with you.  I know they would be calling my name and I would be taking one soon.

[takingmylifeback2014]

Hello and Welcome! I am a newcomer but I know one thing! GET RID OF THAT BOTTLE. That is too dangerous for you right now. Even taking them just one day will set you right back to day 1 all over again. I have been clean cold turkey for 15 days. All my physical symtoms are pretty much gone for the most part. I am just dealing with low energy levels but with the help of all these loving people on this forum I get through it. You CAN DO THIS! My prayers are with you! Keep posting!!!!

[clean_in_ks]

Glad you made it thru the night.  We had a member here who always said he thought the first 100 hrs were the hardest.  So that means you'd be half way there, huh?

I'm gonna bombard you with some questions cause I'm not clear on a few things.  Are you wanting to get off and STAY off narcotic pain meds?
Did you take your meds as prescribed?  Ever run out early?  Do you attribute the use of pain meds to the losses you've experienced in the last 3 months?  It's possible, depending on the answers to those questions, that you may have just become physically dependent on Lortabs.....and if that is the case.....your head won't continue to "talk to you" after you get the detox behind you~  

[Pat1956100]

Hey there
I just wanted to correct myself.  Lortab is hydrocodone not Tramadol so ignore that comment, lol.  
I am sure you knew that.

[wannabedrugfree]

Reply to clean_in_ks
Yes. I want off for good. Yes I always took as prescribed by my Doctor. 3 10mg Lortab per day as needed for pain. No I never ran out.
I do not think the Lortab caused my present situation. The financial problems have been building for 20+ years. My wife leaving is due to her childhood and me not being smart enough to take those extra steps to make sure she was happy.
What do you mean my head may not "talk to me "?
Thank you for helping.
Thank you all. I appreciate your time and advice and friendship and prayers. I will also pray for all of you. Hope tonight is a good one.
60 hours no drugs.  

[wannabedrugfree]

Another rough night. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't lie still. It's like I am so tired but so restless at the same time. And the anxiety ! I can't wait for it to go away.
It seems like the physical withdrawals have diminished somewhat.
Please God let this be over soon. There is so much more that I need to deal with.
74 hours drug free.

[Jimmy1975]

Hi there , I have read all the post and just wanted to add my experience as I was taking the same amount as you . (30milg. a day ) We are considered light users compared to most in this fourm . Believe me no one gets off free but at your level of dosage you should be over the worst of it I would think . The real demon for me was the anxiety and boredom but that too faded in about 5 weeks and got better all through that time frame . If you're laying in bed and want to know the journey of a fellow 30mlg. Abuser please read my old post starting in 2007 . I am not saying you are not going to have to give the Devil his due just nothing like one of our fellow members who has been taking 200mlg. A day . For me the physical withdrawals were nothing it was the mentle distress that takes some time . Hang in there my friend and you will be much better very soon . Jimmy

[Pat1956100]

Hi again
If it's at all possible maybe you can pick up some Alteril if your anxiety and sleep problems persist.  It is an all natural sleep aid which many members have used and it has helped them.  No hangover and it's non-addictive.
It also has valerian root in it which helps with anxiety.

You are doing so well and have so much on your plate.  
Keep posting, we're all rooting for you.

[wannabedrugfree]

Thanks again to everyone. I really really do appreciate all your help and encouragement.
I now feel as if I have the flu. Does that sound right for being about 80 hours without a lortab ? I dread tonight. Why are nights so hard ?

[wannabedrugfree]

Yes. I want off for good. Yes I always took as prescribed by my Doctor. 3 10mg Lortab per day as needed for pain. No I never ran out.
I do not think the Lortab caused my present situation. The financial problems have been building for 20+ years. My wife leaving is due to her childhood and me not being smart enough to take those extra steps to make sure she was happy.
What do you mean my head may not "talk to me "?
Thank you for helping.

[wannabedrugfree]

Another rough night. If I just had a pill.
96 hours since last Lortab.

[ROSYouralright]

Hey... Your going to start feeling better every day... The worst will soon be behind you. I wanted to tell you that keeping a full bottle of pills, or ANY PILLS, is setting yourself up for failure!! The addict brain will scream, tell you lies, beg and plead until before you know it the viscous cycle starts all over again. Keeping them around is like a back up plan! YOU DON'T NEED IT!!

My advice... Get rid of them! ASAP! If your getting clean and planning on staying that way... Set yourself up for success!

[wannabedrugfree]

I want a pill. Just one.
105 hours without Lortab.