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Withdraw from pain pills
Hi you all, I'm 60 and have been on 6 pills daily of 10-325 Vicodin for the last 7 years. I had three total knee replacements that went bad because of infection and then bone loss. My legs are a mess. I have never taken more than 1 extra pill in a day if I was in more pain and than always back to the prescribes dosage. I want to get off these pills and see how my body feels. I'm starting to count them now and that's not a good sign. any help wold be great. I'm retired and can do this at home. I think
Good work spike, I am impressed with your story and how you kept posting updates. Surprised you were able to keep a stash of pills, usually that leads to a relapse, it has with me.
Reminds me of my dad, he had a bunch of back surgeries and was on Oxycodone but was using them as directed for the most part but still got hooked. He was able to just kick it without it really letting it bring him down mentally or preventing him from getting anything done and he was in his 60s. I guess if you can keep yourself from really using them for motivation and to get stuff done its not as hard to get off them. Congrats, hope you never need a narcotic pain med again.
Reminds me of my dad, he had a bunch of back surgeries and was on Oxycodone but was using them as directed for the most part but still got hooked. He was able to just kick it without it really letting it bring him down mentally or preventing him from getting anything done and he was in his 60s. I guess if you can keep yourself from really using them for motivation and to get stuff done its not as hard to get off them. Congrats, hope you never need a narcotic pain med again.
Good luck to all who are struggling with addiction, stay strong and do one day at a time. you will be so glad you did it, It's ***** the first 5-7 days but it will get better.
38 days and I feel great, thank you all for your help..not even thinking about pills anymore, keeping very busy and enjoying life
I'm taking good supplements and they help, woke up this morning feeling great. It is so nice to be clean and not taking pills. what a difference in me. love it. If I can do it so can you.Is it easy NO, is it worth the struggle..Yes
COMMUNITY LEADER
The energy takes awhile to come back but it does so hang tight! Are you taking any supplements?
Just started to sleep good, a full 7 hours last 4 night. But so tired throughout the day.
Hey buddy, gnarly's right. Aftercare can be a big help. Think about it. I work with a psychiatrist and a therapist. It helps a lot and it's still very hard. I would be going to meetings right now if I could. ...ike
Hey congrats on 14 days your off to a great start.....the lack of energy can be tuff but you got the right idea just force yourself to push threw it....are you sleeping yet??? the lack of sleep and the ''energy crash'' was the worst part of it for me...my wife made sure we walked every day at first it was just a block or 2 but after doing it for a wile we built up to a couple of miles I hated it at first but it does help the one thing you need to do is get involved in aftercare this is not a optional thing it is a critical part of recovery for me I tryed just about every thing the pastor of our church a substance abuse conslor even a shrink all helped keep me clean but I never lost the desire to use....then I found N/A the progam is simple go to meetings get a sponcer work the steps and with time you will lose the very desire to use...something I thought was impossible check it out google Na meeting in your area........Gnarly
14 days and going strong, very tired and have to make myself work in the yard . this is tough
Congrats on 7 days Spike! I'm 32 days off hydrocodone and that first week feels so far away even though it wasn't too long ago. Keep up the positive energy/mindset as it really helps! Just remember, you may still have some bad days, just don't let them bring you down. Like you, I suffer from real pain. My best advice is to learn what your body can do without pain pills. It will take some time (I'm still learning). You don't want to overdo it and hurt yourself. I have found, like many others before me, I have less pain off the pills than when I was on them. Keep posting each day - there are many of us here rooting for you!
Good morning , 7 days in and what a ride I'm on. I got 6 hours sleep last night and I feel so much better today.I'm feeling a flood of emotion right now and can't believe that I have got this far cold turkey. what a difference a good nights sleep did for me.If I can do this anybody can, you all have it in you to stop the drugs and get back to living a clean loving life.Do I feel like taking a pill. Yes, will I, No Feel like Im over the hump and need to stay strong and start on some short term goals, like cleaning my garage just to keep my mind busy, than get my garden in. Keeping busy really helps. The first 4 days I had no energy and man was it hard but it get better, just do one day at a time. Get out there and enjoy your day.
Thank for your post, I also don't have restless legs, lots of sneezing , runny noise My energy level is bad and I'm far from a couch potato. Drugs are drugs, they can get you at any age and the doctors give them out like candy..I just hit day four at 7pm .happy happy.
I quit hydrocodone when I was 65 years old. I had very bad issues with my knee and had been on it for about five years. I finally had surgery a year ago in February. I had to go back on it when I had surgery, and especially during PT. I am sorry your surgeries didn't turn out well. Mine was like the difference between night and day. I am amazed that I have no pain any more and I can walk all day and never get tired. The first time I quit (ct) was harder than the second time. I felt lousy for about a week. I didn't sleep, constant nausea, and the anxiety was through the roof! I will be honest...it took about a month before I started to feel good but when I did, I felt great. I was very lethargic, and I was only able to get up and work for about 10 minutes at a time. Then I would lay down for about 20. I hadn't had my knee operated on yet, so I had those pain issues as well, but once I started to feel good again, I had energy like I have never had before. I remember I couldn't wait to get out of bed in the mornings....kind of unlike how I remembered myself to be, prior to the pills.
After I had surgery and had to go to PT, I went back on them, but mindful that I would be quitting as soon as I could. I probably did stay on them a little longer than I should have, but once I quit, I quit. No regrets or second thoughts. The second time was easier than the first. But, the second time, I tapered. I told my doctor I wanted to quit, and he suggested a slow taper. However, at the same time, he increased my pills. I didn't realize it until I went to get the script filled. I still had some nausea, and lots and lots of sneezing. I didn't have the bathroom issues like the first time, and I didn't have restless legs, and though it was a little harder to sleep, I didn't go for days, like I did the first time. I never abused my prescription...in fact, I didn't take all that was prescribed. The only time I did take as many as prescribed was immediately following my surgery, because the doctor told me to take them every 4 hours and not let the pain get away from me because it would be harder to control.
I just wanted to wish you luck and tell you that even us "old folks" can get dependent on these drugs....and we dread quitting them, but it isn't as tough as we make it out to be in our minds, usually. Good luck to you.
After I had surgery and had to go to PT, I went back on them, but mindful that I would be quitting as soon as I could. I probably did stay on them a little longer than I should have, but once I quit, I quit. No regrets or second thoughts. The second time was easier than the first. But, the second time, I tapered. I told my doctor I wanted to quit, and he suggested a slow taper. However, at the same time, he increased my pills. I didn't realize it until I went to get the script filled. I still had some nausea, and lots and lots of sneezing. I didn't have the bathroom issues like the first time, and I didn't have restless legs, and though it was a little harder to sleep, I didn't go for days, like I did the first time. I never abused my prescription...in fact, I didn't take all that was prescribed. The only time I did take as many as prescribed was immediately following my surgery, because the doctor told me to take them every 4 hours and not let the pain get away from me because it would be harder to control.
I just wanted to wish you luck and tell you that even us "old folks" can get dependent on these drugs....and we dread quitting them, but it isn't as tough as we make it out to be in our minds, usually. Good luck to you.
I wanted to add that I have read tons of old posts and they really help me understand what my mind and body are going through. I'm taking lot's of good vitamins, and water
My other symptoms are very tired, it has rained for the last two days and I just cut the damp grass.lol needed to get outside. My pain is not bad that I feel I need to take pain pills but I am also feeling all those little hurts that were masked with Norco..7 pm tonight will be four days..
Victor, you can do it when your ready. I'm doing it and I know every day will be better
Sleeping, anxiety, RLS, the bathroom and some other side effects can be rough. Yet is the bigger scheme of things they are nothing compared to what you were facing down the road spike. Keep your edge as you begin to find some relief upcoming. What other symptoms are you experiencing? You may be surprised at what knowledge is contained in this community that can help you. Keep posting spike and tell us what's going on. Good Luck...ike
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