Quitting Tramadol (Support Group) 2

[PanSinoeis]

Just starting a new Thread.  This is continued from Thread "Quitting Tramadol (Support Group)".

Hi All!

[PanSinoeis]

I use to not care.  I took them every day and did not even consider quitting.  And I just enjoyed them to my liking.  If I felt like taking a couple more, I would.  Averaging 15 a day, sometimes up to 20.  But I came to the conclusion I don't want them in my system.  It's as simple as that.  I plain don't want Tramadol in me anymore.  I would quit cold turkey, but my body and all logic says that's a bad idea.  So I'm going to go down, 1 pill per week like I have been.  Get to zero, take two weeks vacation, have a bottle of Valium and Ambien ready and some Thomas Recipe items.  And go for it.  I can only hope for the best.  I know it's not going to be fun or pleasant, it's going to be hard and painful.  But I'm ready for it, and I'm not even scared anymore.  I will suck it up and keep on going.  Ryan, I noticed you said you are in the military.  I used to be in the Army.  I was at 75th Rangeer Regiment 3rd, Ranger Battalion, Ft Benning Ga for two years.  In Benning from Feb 1991 to Oct 1993.  Went to Germany Echo Company 51st Infantry, LRRP.  (1 year there) We where the only airborne unit in all of Germany, except a Special Forces unit. Finished in Bragg, 82nd Airborne.  (Left Army 1995)  I was in Desert Storm and Bosnia.  What's your MOS?  What branch did you say?  I can't remember, I'd guess Army.  What's wierd is that I know in my gut that had I not got out after my first enlistment, I would have died within my second enlistment.  So I have no regrets.  It had it's ups and downs that's for sure.

[Ryan1979]

It took me several attempts before I got to this point, I've come off tramadol probably 10 times and didn't make it.  My mindset was killing my efforts, because I wasnt completely ready to quit.  I knew that the pills where bad and led nowhere  good, but I kept putting off quitting for good as a excuse and used the pills to elevate my mood to deal with difficult situations in my life.  After I realized that I would never truly be happy while taking the pills, and I mean "realized" because I knew this but for whatever reason didn't believe in it until that point if that makes sense.  This last time I quit has been really challenging, not the week or so of wds, but the constant depression that comes after the detox is over, but it feels like its lifting more and more everyday and i'm starting to feel like myself.

[PanSinoeis]

Today was my first day of 10 per day.  So far everything seems to be ok.  No bad feelings yet.  If I do have any mild withdrawals it will probably be within the next 24 hours.  I am a little tired, I going to sleep.  I post again later.

[PanSinoeis]

That point you are trying to make above is in my opinion the most immportant point.  That it the very hardest part, making up your mind, having a plan and staying on course with that plan.  After quitting, not being sucked right back into the whole mess again.  That is the part I have been thinking about the most.  It is going to be hard, very hard.  But I do have a plan, and I have stayed on track with that plan, thus so far.  I am now at 10 per day, which is still a lot I know, but I have not cheated once.  And I have wanted to quite a few times.  I just resist.  And I am going to continue to resist until I am at 60 days clean and free like you bro!!  WooooHoooo, I can't wait and am so stoked about the whole thing.  This time it is different.  (at least for me in my mind)  I have simply made up my mind 100%.  I can't explain how/why/when a person gets to that point, but I am there, like I have never been there before.  But I know inside I am going to make it and I will be clean and free again.  I will!  And soon.  I want to be like my mentor, Ryan1979!!! LOL.  You rock Ryan!

[Ryan1979]

Glad to hear everyone is coming doing well and sticking to there taper.
I wanted to clarify, that although I still am coming along at around 50 days and dont feel completely better, its alot better actually having feelings and not being numb to the world like when I was on tramadol.  

I think because addiction mess's with our pleasure-reward circuit of our brain it takes awhile for us to feel really happy after quitting, as even though when we have the pills in our possesion/system they take a back seat to our activities and enjoyment, you realize the first time you don't have them that finding/using has taken first priority in your life, as you cant do anything or want to without them.

Your most important ally while trying to quit any substance in my opinion, is your thought process, if you really want to quit you have to realize that you just have to get through the present, and not worry so much about the next days(s).  Quitting tramadol is about endurance, and when I thought about looking forward to at least a week of acute symptoms, especially  when time slows down, its almost too much to bear.  Take it a day at a time, and before you completely taper off/cold turkey, write down in a journal the reasons you want to quit. I wrote a note to myself before I quit, to remind me that I wasn't happy on the pills, and not to forget and relapse, and that really helped me because everytime I thought I wanted to give up and take some pills, I read that remembered that my mind was trying to trick me, and I wasn't any happier on the pills.

[joanie42]

Congrats!!! It's a long slow process but it's worth it! I can't wait for the day when I can say "this is my first day of 10". I'll be praying for you.