Supporting husband?

[helpinghubby]

My husband of 10 years had a seizure yesterday and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital.  At the hospital, he finally told me that he has been addicted to Percocet for over 3 years, and ran out yesterday. We have been having our issues lately, mostly about $ and his sleeping all time, and he has been really stressed.  This admission by him explains a lot of things. I called around this a.m. about getting him into a medical detox, but he doesn't want to go, and we don't live in a state where you can involuntarily admit somebody. I went and got his new seizure meds and all the stuff on this Thomas recipe, but since I am not going through this myself, I need some advice on how to help him.  Any/all thoughts and comments are appreciated.

[Jimmy1975]

Hi I sorry you're going through this l know its not easy . With any substance abuser they are the ones that have to want to stop . I hope he chooses to want to get help and recapture hiss life . Please keep us up to date with what's going on with him and maybe even introduce him to our site as it is a wonderful place for support. Good luck . Jimmy

[ricart70]

Yes just sit there and keep an eye on him from time to time. Keep him drinking fluids.  It could take a few days until the worst of the physical symptoms let up.  If he is sleeping then he is lucky.

[helpinghubby]

I don't know how much he was taking- just a guesstimate of 3-5 pills/day, probably more.  And I did find a medical detox center that would take him today to help medically with the withdrawals, but he won't go. So best I can do is sit here and watch him sleep?  I feel helpless.

[helpinghubby]

I found the living with an addict forum also- thanks.  He has a family history of seizures, had one a couple years ago (not drug related), and had a few more before we met.  I understand the mechanisms of seizures and that he has a lower body tolerance trigger- not necessarily coming of Percocet itself, but the stress to his body from that and other things. He has been started on seizure meds from the hospital.

Since I have never dealt with this before, I was just hoping for some insight into what to do for him & what not to do to make him comfortable through this.  The kids are out of the house today and safe. Does the Thomas recipe really work?  

  

[Jimmy1975]

Also do you have any idea of how much he was taking per day ? I know withdrawing from large amounts can be dangerous is why I ask .

[ricart70]

You can help him by taking care of him while He is in detox. It sounds like you have been reading quite a bit. Seizure is not common in percocet withdrawal. Does He have a history of seizure? Does he take any benzodiazepines?  We sometimes take them when we start having trouble sleeping due to the opiate addiction. Just asking.  
  What you do not want to help him with is anything that is going to enable him to keep using. If he does not want to quit he won't . I hope he does.Keep posting. There is also a living with an addict forum on medhelp.You may want to check that out.