Vicodin Withdrawl - From 20 10mg Pills/day to ZERO

[TheBigEasy]

Not a question but may be a helpful post for someone struggling with this horrible addiction.  I started taking vicodin 10 years ago for an degenerating disc in my lower back - weight lifting accident.  The doc wrote a script for 7.5s and I was off.  Yes, my back hurt at times but nothing that could not have been controlled by OTC meds.  I would walk into work, throw one at my buddy, pop one myself and away the day flew.  10 years later (I'm 35), I was living my life watching the clock, the calendar & counting the minutes until my next refill.  I would blow through the bottle of 120 in a week and spend money trying to find anything that would keep me from withdrawilng.  Oxies, Vikes, Opanas...anything.  Last week I woke up and said enough was enough.  I still had my family, friends, and a great job.  I could see myself sliding down that slippery slope....way too fast.  

I scheduled 3 days vacation and cut it cold turkey.  Those "could" have been the worst days of my life if it wasn't for my family and friends.  See, I approached them before they approached me about my habit.  I'm a 35 year old male, 250#, 6'4", and been weight training for 20 years.  Yes, I'm a big guy.  But during those three days, I cried more than my two year old when Dad shuts the TV off.  My wife, who told me she had an idea what was going on, took off work and stayed by my side.  We talked and cried about everything.  If you don't already know it, opiates suppress your emotions.  I was numb for 10 years to everything.  All of a sudden, the flood gates opened.  The withdrawls were very bad...I'm not going to lie.  So bad, that we went to a detox center at a local hospital to be admitted.  After being there for an hour, they admitted me and said I was to be sharing a room with a meth addict.  We turned around and left.

It was that night I had a long talk with myself.  You only get one body and one chance at life.  Why am I wasting it in a fog?  So much promise and so many more years to live.  You're mind is a very powerful tool.  Use it.  It was then I made up my mind to NEVER do these things again and I swear to god I never will.  I'm now on day 8 and am amazed how beautiful the world is.  The fog lifts more and more each day.  Yes, I still feel tired once in a while but what can you expect of a body that has depended on hell for so long to survive?  Once you feel the natural high again...I guarantee you will smile.  It's simply amazing.  

One day, hour, minute & second at a time.  It's not easy folks but it's sooooo worth it in the end.  Having to relearn how to live is now an adventure...one I can say I'll be doing drug free.

God Bless

[mommyof2lilones]

im a 24 yo mom who started taking vics when i was 21 yo after having my 1st daughter, for a torn ACL, started there and went down hill quick.... soon after it was there not for the high but for the pain of getting thru the day, my parents were getting a divorce after 30  yrs i had a baby girl which i adorned was getting married and dealing with the stresses of that, seeing my father ended up in the icu just everything was bad and that was the only thing to seem make it better..... well i continued to use when i didn't need to no more that 5-6 a day 7.5 and up till now i never had the urge to do so....  i was so tired of always counting wonder how i was going to get thru the next day hiding this secret.  Another big reason the biggest was me being pregnant.  i informed my dr of my situations at the beginning and we tried to taper off process with no success.... but i found myself out and unable to get any and i took that as a sign that it was time for me to do this for him.   so here i am i took my last vic at 1am sat night which didn't do anything for me and by sat morning was withdrawing.  So i can say 5 days in hasn't been easy but do able.  especially the 1st two nights, the restless legs the constant wanting of the medicine just to sleep the generalized body aches suck.  yesterday i went to my ob and told him i hadn't slept in 3 day and my bp was up so he was able to prescribe me some ambien just to get thru the process and im a grateful sooo much for that.   i came home miserable from the dr office my bf left for work and in that time i had to myself i decided i was no going to let this crap ruin and bring down my life anymore.   i forced myself out of the couch and started cleaning.  something awkwardly i had been wanting to do but did feel like getting up and starting ..... he was so appreciative to come home and see that i was making an attempt to do this knowing i wasn't feeling 100 % and him telling me that he is going to stand by me while going thru this process made it even more worth it.... so heres to day four gonna finish cleaning our room straighten up the mess that was left last night by the kiddos and go for a walk maybe the pool!  I learned going out instead of being cooped up all day helps.  even if its just around the block, it helps you think clearly and sweat out all the crap!   im greatful for this site because i kept reading and reading about ppl who had the same problems as me and have got thru it.   im more than a conquer and will too get thru it... I think i am thru the worst physical aspects of it now its more determination !  which my lil man inside of me is !   Thank you guy for everything and every post everyone of y'all has done for me it truly does help me more that any of you all will ever know..... :)

[amarw]

Thank you so much! I just took a super ht bath, which helped. Even though I feel like downing bottle of vodka just to settle my nerves, I don't want to be completely out of it lol. I just can't believe I am handling it as well as I am. I honestly thought I would be on the floor rolling around in pain for 4-5 days. And maybe I am speaking to soon, we shall see tomorrow lol. But I am in touch with my "old" sponsor, yes I have kicked a drug before, not pills. Having a spiritual connection, a support group like this one, and a little quiet time is doing wonders!

[TheBigEasy]

I did the same thing.  Please keep your mind busy.  Surf the net, play games, anything...

Remember, every hour is a milestone.  I can honestly say that the grass is definitely greener on the other side.  

[amarw]

Thank you for this story. I am only 27 hours in and so far not feeling too bad except the anxiety and chills. Reading this post is helping me get through the minutes.

[TheBigEasy]

Couldn't have said it better myself!  You rock...

[pillsnomore]

WOW... All I can say! Day 9 for me!!! And I cannot explain how AWESOME life feels again.. Like the senses you get back eh? Smelling the frest spring air, hearing the birds chirp, and childrens laughter, taste and touch!!! Its like a Fresh new world again:)) Hold your head up high for you should be VEry Proud!!! Isnt life GRAND.....

[vicki595]

Hey Big!  Welcome and thanks for sharing and inspiring the forum!  I love to read posts like yours!  

Music is great isn't it?  I know what you're talking about. In my early clean days, I thought I was in hell forever!  I got off the couch,turned off the ridiculous TV and turned UP the music.  It was medicine!!   My favorite(don't laugh) was the theme from Rocky(the first one).  It got me going and still does. It's the ringtone on my phone!!

Please stay and post to everyone on the forum. There are quite a few folks just beginning the journey...

[TheBigEasy]

This is going to sound really stupid but it has worked well for me.  There is a rock song by a group called "Shinedown".  The song is called Diamond Eyes.  Anytime I felt down or had a craving, I would listen to this song over and over.  And every time I did, I imagined the song was written for me.  Crazy but this turned into my drug when I was craving.  

[TheBigEasy]

I have no doubt you can do it.  Your body and mind deserve better than a little white pill every 2 hours.  Feel free to ask away.  I have your back....

[soleil518]

tears.....
you hit it right on the head. I KNOW I can do this !!!!!!

[cleaninitup]

Thank you for sharing-every day without a pill is a great one! So glad that you had so much support from so many people in your life.Keep up the great work!  Heather

[sudie58]

hi, its great you shared your story, like you say it is hard but doable,withdrawals are different for everyone, some find it easier than others, its also good you got the support of your wife, detox centres can help some folk, wether its heroin, meth or painkillers its all addiction. and it can happen to any of us, i really wish you well, and good luck for the future .          sudie