What was your reciepe for success

Whatwillittake,

What was your addtiction and how did you get clean? I would help me to hear someones story of success as i have posted Im just starting. Is it easier the way Im doing it with a tapering scheduel or does it matter?

This question really is for anyone this is willing to share there sucess story on how they got off percs oxy or any painkiller that is so addictive! Thanks in advance for your story.

[IwillDoThis]

HI and welcome.  I agree with everyone about wanting to be off pills more than anything, your attitude about pills and recovery does make a difference.  I'm 65 days off hydros for chronic pain for years along with sleeping pills, benzos and a host of other meds.  I'm clear again, I feel again, I'm not a slave to watching the clock and my pain is SO much less now it amazes me every day.  Withdrawal wasn't fun, I tapered as you are doing but it was a short lived temporary situation - and we can tolerate anything if it is a temporary state.  

This group is some of the most wonderful, kind, knowledgeable people who will support you.  Glad you are here!

[want2befree123]

i quit 200 mg of oxy about 10 days ago.... went to school while w/ding... can be done. did it cold turkey. just gotta really want it. when you start feeling things again its the most amazing feeling and drive... sure its rough but can be done...i couldnt taper just cuz if i had them i was taking them but if you can all the power to you it will help alot... IT CAN BE DONE! good luck to you!

[Teri9498]

  Hey....I'm 12 days off methadone today....with methadone you have to taper...a life on pills is no life!....They will turn on you and you will have no drive for life!...It's totally possible..you just have to want to be sober more than you want to be high!....I have had hardly any sleep and I still feel better than on it and fully rested....hope this helps you!............Teri  :)

[Rodbird]

From everthing I have read. The way you did it must have been to hell and back to hell!   How is your sleeping now? From what I read lack of sleep is the worst withdrawl (withdrawal) sympton? Would you agree? What were your symptoms of wds?

[Rodbird]

Thanks Terry, any help is Great. I just started tapering from a 35mg dependence on Oxycondone. Im very scared its my first day and Im petrified. Yikes its only 5mg Im dropping you would think I would man up.

[want2befree123]

lack of sleep does really suck... i went the the doc and he gave me some meds that helped with the sleep and overall crappy feeling. just clonidine and trazodone which is an antidepressant. its a battle and you cant give up. it was hell but im glad i did it. my old man had a heart attack at day 8 and i took one... immediately regretted it. gotta get the right attitude and keep it. the battle is all in your head and how you perceive your situation. stay positive. i also took melatonin at night which seemed to help me too....with tons of magnesium. lol it works for the restlessness in your legs, which for me while lying in bed trying to sleep was most definitely the worst.

[lal757]

        To stay clean you need to want to more than anything else. Just stick with the winners and stay focused on recovery from your addiction to the drug.   Go to some meetings if possible group recovery is good for your drug thinking.  This forum is also good to share your thoughts.  A lot of good recovery from drugs.  Been clean a while now from coke and benzos. So we have a choice to get clean or to waste away on drugs.  If your tapering I would stick with it if you quit cold turkey it could be dangerous to you its according to how long you have been addicted to them.  Hang in there and dont give up.

[notme42long]

22 days clean from hydro & oxy. Work is going grate again. Im  realy back on my game. My decision to quit was so strong to me was my biggest strength.
This site helped so much on comforts during wds support sharing with people dealing with the same as you.
You can do this it will be done

[littlebit667]

First off you have to WANT it almost as much as you have wanted anything.  Those pills and their pull is almost stronger than you can imagine.  Your will to win will be pulled by the need for the pills.  Your will has to be stronger.  I came here in Sept. and was determined to quit a norco addiction of over 5 years.  I relapsed and came back in March and am 60 days clean today!  You can do it, but you have to really, really want it.  I came clean to my hubby and daughter in Sept. and relapsed.  I came clean to my son and Doctor in March and it made all the difference.  It is the hardest and best thing I have ever done.  Do I still want them?  If I am truthful, yes.  I am an addict.  I can only promise today and that is good enough.  I am glad you came here..post post post!  This group is awesome and helped me so much.

[IwillDoThis]

HI and welcome.  I agree with everyone about wanting to be off pills more than anything, your attitude about pills and recovery does make a difference.  I'm 65 days off hydros for chronic pain for years along with sleeping pills, benzos and a host of other meds.  I'm clear again, I feel again, I'm not a slave to watching the clock and my pain is SO much less now it amazes me every day.  Withdrawal wasn't fun, I tapered as you are doing but it was a short lived temporary situation - and we can tolerate anything if it is a temporary state.  

This group is some of the most wonderful, kind, knowledgeable people who will support you.  Glad you are here!

[Bkitty]

I think it depends on what the underlying issue you have for abusing the medications in the first place,,,like for me,,I just loved the way they made me feel. I had underlying depression that was untreated. In the beginning the pills acted like an anti-depressant and made me feel great! I love them! So,,Id take more and more to get that "good" feeling back and it just never ever came back. I started thinking about quitting 2 years ago. I had abused them for 6 years. I thought that if I just quit Id be fine. So I did and was not at all prepared for what was to come. I kept the addiction my deep dark lil secret and ignored the power it had over me. I did relapse (actually) when I had 30days the first time I quit. The cycle repeated itself and here I am 2 years later. I wasted the last 8 years of my life to addiction. Prime years.

This time I realized,, I needed to change things up. About a month before I quit I was on a head on collision with life. I was about to lose everything I worked so hard for. I had just gotten married,,had a great job,,buying a home,,etc.. None of that mattered. The pills took over. So what I did differently this time was put a plan in place. I knew i couldnt do this by myslelf. I went thru the EAP at work. I knew that I was depressed and since I didnt address it in the first place I knew enough that Id never stop if I dont address that. Some people feel comfortable calling their primary doctors and having them assist. I set up aftercare and was put on medications and was diagnosed with Bipolar II and major depressive disorder. I attended aftercare and therapy and started going to NA and Al-anon. I have to say that this has been my saving grace this time around. I learned the tools I needed to live sober. You literally have to change your life around. Sometimes even the scenary. I was headed for divorce 6 months after being married. I got my addiction and emotions under control and I changed a lot of things and also learned a lot of things. Now I am in a happy healthy marriage and more in love then ever. I just needed to fix and find me again. The first time I also made the mistake of thinking that if Id quit this would be done and over with. Not so fast....It takes time and patience. Its a journey,,painful and lonely at times and physically palpable. I suffered at times and for me things got worse (way worse) before they got better. (not at all saying this will happen). This can be done. You can stop and get your life back and I know in the beginning that woes you,,but you have got to face this addiction head on and not push it under the rug.

Well,,thats my story of how I am beating this (so far). I hope I passed on something useful in my story..LOL. I wish you all the best! ((Hugs))~Bkitty

You definatly need a support system in place. This is a great forum too! :))

[Bkitty]

One more thing,,,I am an "all or nothing" kinda gal. I did not have enough self control to taper. I actually took the last 30 pills I had in a 24hour period. You need to have self control and be very militant. I do NOT at all mean this in a disrepectful way at all,,but I feel that whether you taper down even to a 1/2 or 1/4 pill a day, I feel that your are trying to delay the inevitable which is the physical part of the withdrawals. Youre going to have to go thru them. Its very scarey,,yes. But it will not kill you. (even though you feel that way). Each member here is different (yet the same) youhave to listen to your body and tailor your detox for what you need. ((hugs)~Bkitty

[IwillDoThis]

well said Bkitty!

[doitformyson]

Hi and congratulations.....You just came to the right place.  9 days ago I was a walking chit show.  Trying to manage crazy responsibilities with work and family while taking about 10 Norcos a day.  I felt trapped.  I felt if I quit, I wouldn't be able to hold up at home and work.  If I kept taking them I'd just go deeper in to a 4 year habit.  What do you do in that situation?  It's honestly such a hopeless feeling.  It helps me today to write this because I can remember how i was feeling and I will never go back.  I would have to be a complete fool to go through day 1-8 again (no offense to any of you that did :).  I came here, posted, manned up like a mad man and I sit here right now feeling like I'm progressing at a very high speed.  I did so much stuff today and barely was fatigued.  I slept the last 3 nights 6+ hours (knock on wood).  I've been a better father, husband and friend today than I've been in the past.  You can change.  You just got to want it.

[phiaNorcoqueen]

well first off i want to start this off with say welcome , you have come to the right place.. you will meet so many people that care about you and you wanting to be clean..

  my story is long but i'll shorten it up a bit.. ahahah  

   okay so i have been on and off norco 10/235 for about 7 years and at the end of my addiction i was taking up to 15 norco's a day just to feel "normal" so i decided to quit 85 days ago and never looked back..  i have been through alot of ups and downs..  But when i say people on here will help you i really mean THEY WILL HELP YOU  ..  

  i'm not gonna sit up here and tell you it's a walk in the park. because it isn't .. it will possibly be one of the most difficult decision's you will ever make. not only will you have to make the decision to get clean but you will have to keep the decision to stay clean which in my opinion is the hardest part of addiction..  yeah the  physical part of the addiction like going through the withdrawal's really are he!! on earth and it feels like you are trappen in you own skin trying to claw your way out.. and wont be able to sleep, eat , wont wanna move , or even roll over in bed for that matter..  i know that is how i felt..  sweating then cold at the same time so it makes it a cold sweat which toltally *****.. But all those symptoms are temporary and wont last very long..   and this decision of getting clean will last you a life time if you really make your mind up ..  And you will have to be okay with not being okay for a while...  and believe me at 85 days clean i can see that it was all worth it..  

  Everyday i'm clean it's a reminder of what i have been through and that i never want to go back to it..  
well good luck on your journey and know that i am here for you if and when you need me

Sophia

[Rodbird]

I want to THANK all of you for sharing your individual stories! They have been very inspiring to me. Like I has said I started the tapering 4 days ago and Im down from 35mg of Oxycodone to 25mg and Im fighting the fight! I will continue to monitor this site as it is a HUGE help for SUPPORT!! Thank you all so much! Much Love.

[Tom86]

I tried almost everything and this demon would not leave me alone.  I decided to do the rapid 8 hour detox that they advertise on the top of this MedHelp webside.  I was sooooo scared of the withdrawl (withdrawal) from 20 oxy habit a day I couldnt stop.  It went very well.  Physical part gone. doing the 30 day Vivatrol injections to help keep me straight  Im  Now attending group therepy and NA 7 days a week to work on my mental part.  I know its not for everyone but has so far worked fro me.