desperatley seking advise (from people who've been there)

[going through it alone]

hi, im kristy and im new to the forum.  i am an addict.DOC- hydrocodone.  ive been using everyday for more than a year and a half. like a lot of others, i got them for pain, and then realized how fun it was to take more.  i am a mother of two, and a nursing student.  i have tried every thing possible to quit on my own with no success. i do not have the luxury of having many people around me who understand what i am going through, both physically and mentally.  i even sought help from my o.b. doctor when i was pregnant for my second child( shes 5 months now) I was monitored more closley to make sure my baby was fine (she is) i wan completley forgotten about once i had her. i was given the same mombojumbo that i wasnt taking enough to be really addicted and rehab/withdrawl would be worse for me(and my child) than staying on them.  Although i managed to keep my addiction at a safe(if thats what you can call it) level during pregnancy, i found myself taking triple that amount within 4 days of coming home from the hospital. HELLO, IM A #%^*$*@ ADDICT FOR HEAVENS SAKE, did she really think that my problem would just go away after my child was born. i have never been a depressed person until recentley so i know something has to be done soon. i have read this forum on a few occassions but only recently had the nerve to write.  i have only taken one lortab today, and already the aches have come so i can just about imagine what im in for so any advise/tips/tricks will be greatly appreciated.  

[blitz6]

Hi and WELCOME dont be shy here,we all know the pain and sorrow these drugs can cause,you are not alone any longer!you have come to the best place for support,you will get many post from other addicts with great advise,you have made the biggest step already sit tight and check back often you will get a lot of help here
                              Tim

[Badapple]

Dear Kristy, I am new to the forum also and I am on my 3rd day of withdrawl from opiates. I am a wife and mother of 3 great kids and I am also an addict. I have been taking vicodin and percocet for over 3 yrs. on a regular basis. I will tell you that you are in for a miserable few days to weeks. My husband found the Thomas recipe and we got the stuff today and I am doing the best I can to atleast give it a try and I am praying to God that it will help me!!! You can find this info on the forum site so look it up and I send you best wishes!!!

[rockferdoxy]

allot off good advice here It's tough you do need support and spirituality right now as I have offered to anyone who wants it. I have been pulled thru a knot hole got two weeks tomorrow.

[orangefyre]

Hi sweetie, you need to know first off, you are welcome to the forum with open arms.
Second, you are among a bunch of good ppl who are going thru the same, or have been through it as I have.
You have to get to the point where you ABSOLUTELY hate what those pills are doing to your life, and your body. If you are there, (you are here so you must) then you have to decide which way to get off of them is best for you. Taper down, or cold turkey.
Do you know of the Thomas Recipe written by another detox friend of the forum?
I have a copy if you want it. It will help with the symptoms of withdrawals.
Lisa

[blitz6]

I think the first thing you need to decide is do you want to taper or go c/t ?,if you read back through some of the post you will find a lot info on both,there will be others here that have a lot of good info,just check back here often and post if you just want someone to talk to
                                    Tim

[orangefyre]

Thomas Detox Recipe

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas

This recipe is designed for cold turkey opiate detox. It assumes that you can get about 5 to 7 days away from your job or household responsibilities during which you can sleep, veg and act as miserable as you feel. Opiate WD mimics the symptoms of the common flu, so, if you need a smokescreen, hide behind a bad case of the flu.

If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.

For the Recipe, You'll need:

1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.

2. Imodium (immodium) (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).

3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.

4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.

5. Vitamin B6 caps.

6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).

How to use the recipe:

Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5.

During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.

Use the Imodium (immodium) aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it.

At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.

With breakfast, take the mineral supplement.

As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have any medical complications, first check with your doctor before detoxing to verify that this regimen is safe for you.

[ArlingtonAddict]

Many of the otehrs have said what I would (they are always getting my ideas before me -- I hate that, ha, ha) SO I wanted to simply say "hello", that my name is Jessica, thta you are in the RIGHT place, and you are VERY WELCOMED. I, too, am in the health care profession and didn't see this coming. Talk about scary and humbleing, eh? I'm sure we'll get to know one another--at least hope SO! Jessica

[addictedtoloratab]

Hi welcome, first of all your not alone,, It usually happens the same way for all of us...  First for pain then for feeling good then it just gets out of control,, I am a mother of 3 and it made me a supermom and superwife for so long,, I felt like many of the other moms if you read the posts.  I felt like I was happy, I could handle life and it was just more fun... Then the fun wears off and you just get tired of trying to get the pills, the high is not the same and you just get depressed,, I have been clean for 7 days and I got to say that Thomas Recipe is really the best way,,, See if you can get someone to watch your kids because its almost impossible. You need to just lay around and sleep it off,,  I wish you the best of luck and as much as I used, I could not even get out of bed without two pills, I had already taken 6 by noon,,, It is a lonely disease,,,  If I can do it then I know anyone can,,, Good luck,, I will be checking up on you,,,, You can do it,,,