Hardcore OC user seeks W/D advise

[Lurker10000]

Hi all,
OK, I've read several post about w/d's and was wondering if there are any others out there that have been through w/d's that are so bad, you want to kill yourself. I mean I know I won't kill myself, but it sure feels like it. First off, I've been snorting at least 500 - 600mg a day of oxycontin / roxicodone. On somedays considerably more, but I honestly don't know how much because I can't keep up with it. This all started after a car accident, which damaged L5, L4, S1, soft tissue damage ect. I really just kept trying to stay out of pain via doctors and pain clincs. However, eventually all the meds I was perscribed were not enough, so I started buying on the street in addition to what I was perscribed. Yeah, ... this has turned into a really big problem. So, I'm trying to quit. I'm taking all of my vacation / sick time because I simply cannot work this sick. I have access to plenty of Suboxone. When I stop using OC, you know how you have to wait like 24-48 hours before you can take Suboxone, I found its about 26 hours for me. Even though I've made it far enough to start using the Suboxone, and even with the Suboxone, the w/d's are still horrible. Cold sweats, hot flashes, stomach pain (due to throwing-up), chills, ect. Not to mention the back-pain! BTW, I don't know what the hell to do about my back pain after I quit. The Suboxone seems to help with the irrability / restlessness, but only somewhat. Does anyone, anybody, please, have any helpful advise? What I'm taking now is: Suboxone 16-24mg per day, Imodium, Tylenol 4000mg per day and Phenergan. Oh, I've got some pot a friend gave me, but I haven't smoked any since I was a kid, seriously its been at least 20 years. I had a friend tell me to watch movies, which does help keep my mind off of it some. I know I've got a serious issue ahead of me, but please any helpful advise? ... please? Thanks in advance for any help.

Lurker10000

[mr.lucky66]

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU ARE DOING THIS TREATMENT FROM A DOCTOR OR AM I MISTAKEN? IT SOUNDS LIKE WAY YO MUCH AND IT COULD TURN INTO A WORSE ADDICTION. THE POT AND THE TYLENOL AREN'T A GOOD IDEA EITHER. TRY A PROGRAM . ALL THE BEST

[Lurker10000]

Thank you guys! Really... Thanks for the advise there are many useful suggestions to help. I just feel sooooooooo bad I can't really post much right now. Sorry... but thank

Lurker10000

[worried878]

i re read ur post and realized that all i did was vent my problem and did not address ur question..what to do for pain after the pills are out of our lives...suboxone is not a powerful pain reliever like On Oxy said...methadone is the better choice for pain but getting off of it is a bear that i would not want to fight...not now anyway..my pain is mostly upper back..neck..do have some low back pain as well.but not as bad as my neck...massage and chiropractic helps me the most..i beleieve had i found chiropractic sooner, that my problem would not have become chroinic..I have also found that ice helps me more than heat...still use heat but i use ice for severe pain...i do think elavil is helping with my sleep and in turn helps the pain..i rarely use muscle relaxers but it would probably benefit me to take them daily..i just dont like feeling so tired from them..i get steroid injections every 4 months..yoga/stretching really helps me as well...have they ever addressed surgery with u?  it did not help me but i do know it can help some..and epidurals etc?

[OnOxyfor10yrs]

One more thing. You are taking WAY TOO MUCH tylenol. This will add to your stomach aches. Please see a doctor. You could take as much as 32mg of sub a day and maybe feel somewhat better. How long did you stop the oc? How long do you have off of work? This concerns me b/c maybe if you don't have enough time off and due to your very high usage, the sub may not work. Get to a doc and get advice. Last thing you need is to feel ****** still and have to return to work. Please call a doc

[worried878]

right there with ya on that one..chronic pain is a tough one...you kick ur doc but the ain does not go away...i am still trying tho...i am going in to see a nuerosurgeon to evaluate having the metal plate and screws removed from my neck..I am scared as I know that pain control post op is going to be difficult due to my tolerance so i am going to be honest with this doctor/i have not seen him before and the doctor who did the original surgery is not on my insurance...sux!..I realize that i will still have pain after the plate is gone, as i had pain in the first place or i would not have had the surgery in the first place..but i do believe the plate is rubbing on something or that the screws are dislodged or something causing me more pain...this whole thing can be so depressing..trying to work and get past the pain so that it does not drag me down...i have often wondered what it would be like not to hurt everyday....i have been in pain for 22 years..never a day where it was not there...sorry for rambling but guess i needed to vent..people who do not have chronic pain just do not understand

[OnOxyfor10yrs]

When I say I had moderate w/d I mean that those 5 days of the taper of oxy i w/d but not like it would if i went cold turkey. After I got the sub, the w/d went away almost within the first hour. Please private message me. I want to help you hon.


L

[OnOxyfor10yrs]

My addiction specialist told me that people who use a considerable amount of OC do not benefit from suboxone but have to be put on methadone. I don't know if I truly believe this in the long run b/c eventually the sub may help you. You have to be under a doctor's care and get their advice. I personally don't think the methadone is a great way to go but a thought is to go on the methadone and taper down to 30mg a day. This is the magic number to make the transition from methadone to sub. Also, if your back is so bad and will be that way forever, methadone is used for pain management. Therefore, maybe you could get your pain control doc to prescribe the methadone thus avoiding the daily trips to the clinic. I am a chronic pain patient as well and this was raised as a possibilty for my pain control b/c the sub is not helping my pain and it is driving me crazy. Funny, when I was using oc, nobody in work knew at all. Now that I am taking sub and am very very depressed, I fear that they think I am on pain meds now. BTW, same thing happened to me. Got hooked on oc, tolerance built and was up to 320mg of oc somedays. Just chewed them, never anything else. Also bought fentyl patches, roxis and anyhting else I could get my hands on. Tapered to 80mgs of oc 5 days before the jump to sub with moderate w/d and did fine with no withdraws.I take 24 mg a day and started 8/5/08. Now I am emotionally craving my drug back b/c I want my pain to go away. I know how you feel. Keep us posted and pm me to keep in touch as if I cannot get any pain relief, I may be forced to take the methadone. I hope you feel better soon hon. Life ***** sometimes for chronic pain patients. Yes, we beat the Gorilla on our back after we go off the drug, but are left with the constant pain. What to do... what to do??????


L

[ochooked]

Hi Lurker,  Yes, many many people on this site can relate to what you are going through.  Don't know if it will help but I can add that this can be done --- it is doable -----  Yes, it is very hard but many more before you realized that the drugs were the gateway to death and knew they HAD to stop.  Those who are successful usually say they just had to reach down very deep within and determine that the W/D's would eventually stop and they would not be in bondage any more.   My advice is to get some help --- I mean, you need someone to help you by being there to encourage you or stop you from buying more pills.  DO NOT try to quit while you hide your problem -- this is a sure way to relapse ---  Tell you doctor --- that was my hardest thing to do -- then tell trusted friends and family.  You may be amazed at how much help that brings.  What I am saying is you need others when you are too weak to resist the pull of the drugs.  Keep on the road and please keep posting.  All the best.

[enemy48]

About wanting to kill yourself............We all get those thoughts!  Promise!  We knew we wouldn't, but you do think about it, because you hate yourself so much during this time.

As for what you're taking to ease withdrawals, it sounds like you know what the protocol is.  If you add something extra in, and it works for you, then go for it if you know it's safe.

Down gallons of water from the bathroom issue.  Eat Bananas for the legs, then all the vitains & aminos.

Best Wishes!

[starfish1963]

I went cold turkey and I did it...you just have to make up your mind...the first week is the worst but I promise you it does get better.
Consult a doctor, that would be your best bet.
Gods richests