oxy / hydro withdrawal after two months

[dad's story]

Hello Everyone:
My father is nearing 78 and had knee replacement suregery three months ago. Prior to the surgery, he was taking hydrocodone for about a year...four or five a week at start and as many as four or five a day right before his surgery to relieve knee pain. Post operative, they placed him on 20mg oxycontin twice daily (w/ Darvon for breakthrough pain).

Sixteen days post operative he began to feel sick...
nausea, trembling, depression, palpitations of heart, sleeplessness. He was miserable but still took his meds as directed. On learning of his sickness, his General told him to discontinue oxy (cold) and use the Darvon for pain. He remained sick and, because his knee was still in pain, his general kept switching pain meds to try and find one that would ease knee pain but wouldn't make him sick. Finally, seven weeks after surgery, my dad decided to stop taking everything and see if his sickness would get better.

Six weeks after that, my dad is constantly ill...nausea, trembling, heart racing, and sleeplessness. He hasn't had a pain med in six weeks! Everyone he sees tells him (obviously) that it couldn't be withdrawal cause everything's been out of his system so long. But why is he sick with symptoms that so closely resemble withdrawal?

At this point, we're thinking all the drugs combined with his age, etc, have blown some sort of fuse in his neurological system. Is this possible?

Has anyone heard of a situation like this before? We're looking for some clues to get him out of his misery...he's at his wit's end.

Sorry for the long post! Thanks!

13th June off everything because he was

get off all the drugs.
Six weeks of the same symptons

[wildcat]

Skipper,

Sorry I have not written sooner, I have been so busy with other things and was sick all last week. I just now started scrolling the board today. Thanks for the advice about the Demeral. You were absolutely right. Two major seizures and a week of feeling like kah-kah were all I got out of it. I am back on the Codiene for the time being, only my doc upped the dose so I am not as tempted to abuse it. Good luck skip, you have the knowledge and experience. You could write a good book!

Wiz, hello, I missed your funny humor. Some of it is over my head or in between my times on the board. Which is the Cindy(Dorothy). I remember seeing that name when I first started back up on the board several months ago and she mentioned chasing tornadoes. Is that why cindi refers to her as Dorothy and Kansas and hot air? or is that supposed to be a joke on me because I chase typhoons? It's over my head! Be up front, I can take it!LOL!

cindi, what do you mean? If that is referring to me, be up front about it don't play mind-jive. Let's help everyone know their faults, weaknesses, strengths, good things or bad things they do or talk about. This is supposed to help everyone, not be a puzzle or guessing game. Either that or I really need to cut down on the Codiene so I can figure these things out!!!!LOL.

Anyway whatever ya-all mean, I hope ya-all are doing okay.

J.B.- I am sorry to hear about your ordeal. I already addressed that way up top. This thread is too far down, I almost didn't bother to scroll all this way but I wanted to see if I missed anything.

Have a good day everyone, and God bless.

wildcat

[susanlea]

He called 4 times today, saw it on my caller ID. No message. The 5th time I answered. I swear I don't know what he wanted he preceded to give me a hard time, that the reason he hasn't seen or called my boys is he thought I would want him to stay away.  Excuses, excuses.  And I told him this, I am not afraid of him, he got really angry, defensive, because he just could not get a reaction from me. Somethings changed, he can't get me to fight back. But stupid me, had to put a dig in there. Told him that the girls at the Drs office said he was back on oxy's, just voluntered it. I know he will not say anything to them for fear of being cut off from the dr.  Anyway he blew up, and then HUNG UP!  I'm sure he waited for me to call back....but I just started laughing....he is losing his control over me.......So I took my kids out for dinner. How juvenile to hang up on someone who was not yelling or acusing.  People who lie, can't take being found out.....see ya guys, Love Susan

[Kerrie]

(this thing suddenly posted for no reason. I tink it's trying to tell me to shut up !)
  As I was saying, not for the high but for how desperately I need relief from this pain at times. But it's a blessing I can't take very much without ill effects. I come from a long line of alcoholics and drug addicts. So I thank God for that. Your going to do it !!!!!
    God Bless, Kerrie

[Kerrie]

Hi Hon. I  was so taken by your dertermination to register your son yourself with being in the middle of your detox. You see. Thats why your going to make it because your a strong and caring person. It's not just addicts that have problems with depression hon. There are days I could stay in the bed and not speak to anyone. Everyone here knows what your going through with the detox. I don't know about it personally except for what I've learned here. But Angelica and I and other chronic pain sufferers, know how addiction happens. We know it doesn't mean your a failure or anything of the sort. It eans your human. I know if it wasn't for the fact I've always gotten throwing up sick by much pain med, that I too would of crossed that line and took more than I should. Not for

[jennyfla]

Stay strong Susan, and cindi is absoluately right with all she said... listen to her, she is an extremely smart person, and has one of the most loving hearts i've ever seen in a person...
Please try to detach from your ex completely.  No more asking about him or listening to anything about him, detach completely, it's the only way!!
Good luck sweetie, and again, i'm sorry i had to jump off the phone so quickly, i look forward to talking to you again soon.
Lv Jenny

[susanlea]

Oh guys! I could never be upset with any of you.  I love you all dearly.  I got obsessed again with him I know.  It was a bad day, and my exhusband called me to talk like he always does.  Then he proceeds to tell me my ex was at his house last night to have a long talk. They are on good terms with each other.  But my former husband tells me I need to go back with my ex, and stop dumping the men that love me.  My exhusband knows nothing about my ex's drug habit.  If he does I would be surprised. My exhusband is former DEA.  So that is why I got upset and the girls in the Drs office are so clueless when they tell me about him.  I think they want me to do something and that's why they tell me everything.  I think I will get a new Dr., I've lost all respect for him now.  My ex has called about giving me money but no show.  I told him I was ok, I don't want him connected to me.  He's left everything here to get at his convience. Somethings I will keep the others I will give away.  He has not said anything about getting his stuff, so it's been about 5 months. Possession is 9/10ths of the law. It's mostly junk anyway.  I see him more as he is.  I believed he was clean, I believed him that he would get better, his life better when he left. I believed for awhile it was me.  But now I know the only life that got better was mine.  I can't believe a grown man is living with his parents.  It's such a convience for him, someone told me he's just staying there until I beg him to come back home to me.  To except him, believe him, and not ask any questions.  I will not and have not.  He's got 4 kids, and he seems to be such a loser!  I don't believe it ALL has to do with the drugs.  He's always been on the Oxy's, I know that now.  He lies and lies.  I'm sure my exhusband told him I'm seeing someone else.  My exhusband wants me with my ex because it makes him feel like such a winner, and that I went down in life. Which I did. This new man is so different.  He will have maybe 3 or 4 beers in one week. He works top security clearence, so he's never done any drugs. Just normal and so nice, so far.  It makes me want to escape my past. I can't believe I gave my unconditional love to a man who took what he could from me and never gave back!  I know I am still vunerable but I do see that a 38 year old man, should not be in his situation, living at home, 4 kids, and the worst thing is he looks terrible.  His hair is sooo long, down to his waist now. He looks very unkept. I was so worried he would find someone else.  When he was on the Oxy's he had no interest in sex or anything, plus he couldn't if he wanted to, so I don't believe anythings changed there.  I will be ok, my life is definately getting better. I love all of you for being there for me, listening all these months to my tears and fears.  He can't fool me anymore, and I think he knows it. He knows I see him for what he is, and that he's diminished in my eyes. When I spoke to him the other day, he was so on guard with me, I kept it brief and said goodbye. I believe he's lost the best thing in his life, me.  He is going nowhere but downhill.........So it wasn't me, he told me he is surviving.  I will keep you posted, and Jenny I will try to call you tonight...Love you guys.....Susan