I'd say you'll be fine; congrats getting off the other drugs. Having your husband dispense the ultram is very wise. Also, you say about 2 ultrams a month? I'd never worry about that! Keep up the good work.
I began with vicodin and then switched to tramadol and then the doctor switched me to Ultram. I personally felt the addiction was worse than vicodin and tramadol...at least for me. They gave me tramadol because they wanted me off the vicodin, and I had no problem with that in terms of addiction. I was able to control the dose combard to the the Ultram. Ultram is the same as Tramadol except that you only take one pill with Ultram...and you have to wait for results. While you are severe pain, that is a long time to wait especially since vicodin and tramadol works faster. Since you will figure that out, you will find yourself taking more ultram just to make sure that you can have the least amount of pain possibe. I felt myself taking another Ultram because the pain was blinding. The objective of trying to take Ultram only once a month or week is difficult too. Ultram takes a while to get in your system and if you only take one, you really won' experience any less pain...or at least for long. Ultram--At least in my experience--was the worse pain reliever to get off. Be careful with it...
Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting off the percs & vics.
Ultram can be addictive if you take to many for to long. But if you have pain that causes you to pass out, you obviously need to take something, right? I guess the trick will be, to use them only if absolutely needed. And having your husband hang on to them is a good idea. I doubt that you've set yourself back by taking one, so don't worry about that. I'm sure within the next hour others who are more familiar with Ultram will join in and give you more advise. Good luck.
Sorry no one has responded. I don't know that much about Ultram, but hang on, others should be responding soon.