Still trying to detox

[Frank Lee]

Hi Folks,

I

[Wizard]

Frank, I'm only going to speak for me. I said before I have NO medical training except being used for a guinea pig from time to time. You seem to be on a lot of different addicting substances at one time and I don't know about the seizure thing myself. I went "cold turkey" myself at home with only the support of my wife and this forum. My dr.bailed out on me when he freaked about a dumb ass seminar he went to that said he'd get in trouble if he tried to wean his patients himself. I told him fine I'll do it myself because I wasn't gonna go away anywhere unless I couldn't do it. This is what I was taking  prior to kicking. For about 8-9 years I was taking Vicodan es 8 at a time twice a day 4 .5 ativans at night for sleep. 3 years ago after back surgery, I added to the regiment 3 500mg Somas to the 8 Vics in the morning and added 4 oxycontins 20mg.each NOT chewed in the afternoon still taking 4 .5 ativans at night. This went on for the last 3 years. On April 29,2001 I stopped the oxy,Soma, Hydros after I caught myself drinking cough syrup with codein because I was running low on the oxy's. I said enough..... I continued to take the Ativan at night. I now am tapering that to nothing. I'm currently at 1 Ativan.5 in the morning and 1 Ativan.5 at night. I am shortly going to drop the morning benzo and then eventually the night. It can Be done. Not easy but CAN BE DONE. I pray an awful lot and I now feel better than I have in many years. As I said Frank this is just how I did it. Everybody is different. I did use Thomas ' L-Tyrosine formula and it WORKED WELL. I'm not suggesting that you do what I did. Only you know how you feel man. Whatever you decide bro, I'll be praying for you.
Power & Magick 2 U,
Peace & Light on U 2,
Wiz

[Frank Lee]

Wizard, Wildcat, Thomas ( you still there??) and everyone..

Well, got the fax from the doc today. He changed my detox plan from 14 weeks to 7, wants me in AA meetings ( look at my post 7/15 to see what I think of AA), I apologized to the board about my AA comments because I don't want to offend anyone, but you won't find me at one of those meetings. What scares me is that he wants me to detox from everything, ethanol, xanax, hydrocodone, codiene phosphate, darvon, valium - all at once. The ehtanol he wants detoxed in 7 days - tell me I won't seizure with the other substances on the wane. The rest he changed from 14 weeks to 4. When I get down to 15 mgs of hydros ( remember I have been on the hydos for 5 years and I am at 80 mgs a day now) he wants cold turkey hydo withdrawl. I sent him a fax asking what the hell I am going to use in the interim.

I am now getting scared and, although everything you guys say and I read, says it's impossible, I am wondreing if I should blow this guy off and try to do this myself. I would like your candid opinons about his detox plans.

Thanks and hope you are all well tonight.

FLEE

[Wizard]

Wildcat, you keep it up! I truly believe the best HAVE BEEN there. You will be great at what you do!
Frank, please DO keep the open mind and take the ride. Sounds like your doc is trying to help. I'm here in both of your corners rooting and praying for you.
Good Luck and may God bless you both.
Power & Magick 2 U,
Wiz

[Frank Lee]

The doc looked at my detox proposal of 14 days and said he is sending me a quicker plan. He also wants me off ethanol quicker than I had proposed. And, he wants me off the rather small amount (IMHO) I took of valium for 12 years before all these problems. I am keeping an open mind, scared and ready to try the out paitient route. I appreciate your kind, wise words and will keep in touch.

F.

[wildcat]

Frank-

I hate to be the party pooper, but I don't think out-patient will work, espexially with as many different things you are on.
I was only on alcohol when I first tried to self detox and failed miserably as mentioned above.

Then I tried the doctor with some meds fast in-patient 10 days and relapsed in only four, I was not past the main withdrawal and still having seizures.

She punished me by cutting me off from the Klonopin she put me on and I went through the above mentioned again, only this time I almost died. I had to beg her to put me back in and she said at least six weeks. I did and got off the booze. Like your doc she wanted me off the Klonopin too but my anxiety disorder and newly created seizure disorder prevented it and made her really angry.

She says anyone addicted to anything will eventually go back to their original favorite. I disagreed and have not yet after 1 1/2 years. I changed psychiatrists because she was going to cold turkey cut me off from the Klonopin 12 MG a day I was taking.

The other psych doc knows I need it for the seizures.

Since you are on so much, it will be extra hard esspecially if he wants you off the benzos too by the end. You will have anxiety and that may lead back to self medication unless you cannot get to it. That's where the six weeks in-patient helps. The withdrawal and cravings are reduced or gone by then and only psychological cravings which programs will help you with staying clean.

Good luck I hope you can do it, but don't rule out in-patient treatment. There are strict confidentiality laws and although I live on a small island, people except those that work here don't know about me being in here unless I told A.A. members or I told talk radio programs myself to educate the public that our legal drug alcohol is the worst of the worst. Another alcohol related driving death last night, maybe two. Almost every day, it's disgusting.

Yes, I now work here, my home away from home!!!!LOL I am working toward being a drug and alcohol counselor. A big change from typhoon forecater!!!!! They say those that have been there make the best counselors!!!!

I wish you and everyone else luck and happiness. God bless us all and chase away those dragons!!!!!!!!

luv,  wildcat

[Wizard]

That is great news Bro! Sounds like you got a program that will work with the amount of effort you have put into it. Please do keep in touch as I'm sure ALL of us are not only interested but want to cheer you on each step of the way! Good luck and Godspeed!
Power & Magick 2 U,
Peace & Light on us all,
Wizard