percoset

[marionreid]

Can discontinuence of percoset(cold turkey) cause withdrawal symptoms(nausea, vomitting)?

[Telby]

Yep it sure can.  Depends on how much you are taking and for how long.  You may feel mild flu symptoms for a day or more severe for several days.  If you have never gone through withdrawl before you should get over it pretty fast and it usually isn't as bad the first time.   Never gets better, only worse.   I wish you the best of luck - keep reading this board as you will find others going through the same or worse, much support and wisdom can be found in these threads.  Your in my thoughts, Telby

[shane]

Hello,Merry Christmass and God Bless all of you fighting this terrible addiction, as I am. I started again and Have another mountain to clime. I will say a prayer for all of you. Wiz my friend how are you? I don't post much anymore, iv'e so maney prolems. Witchy women I read all your posts,and there so helpfull. God bless you.Jenny, you and I are always having the same prblems stopping this ****. Mabey we'll make some day! Kip. Thanks, you so thoughtful. All I didn't name, your in my prayer's. I'm really scared this time.please pray for me also.  Love to all of you.  Shane

[alchemist]

Sorry to "highjack" a thread but I couldn't get a question in.

I've been reading the forum for sometime and always found some of the comments both helpfull and interesting (Especially Thomas's detox receipe).  I have been taking oxycontin (20mg bid) and oxcodone (5mg tid) for breakthrough pain as a result of a car accident some years ago.  Although it was a "daily thing" I never took my meds unless they were abolutley needed (recall someone on this forum refering to people like me as common as $3 bills).  Recently my pain doctor did a procedure known as an ablation,were the nerves are deadened, thus no pain trasmission is felt. Although I had false hopes about this in the past (its my 3rd), this one seems to have worked.  I am now in the process of going "cold turkey" I'm on day 3.  I can make during the day with all the aches, chills and sweats but what gets me is the SEVERE restlessness at night that makes sleeping next to impossible on top of this is the weir sensation under my skin, like it moving, very uncomfortable.  I have 2 question for all of you.  First how long does this typically last and have I passed the worst?  Also how do you'all sleep, I've tried muscle relaxants and benzo's they help but don't do the job, the only way I can get some sleep is to take a 5 mg oxy then I sleep like a baby till almost morning.  I know somone on this forum is against taking any oxy's to help with sleep, cause it only proplongs the whole process, but what choice do I have.  I have also started taking the vit-B and tyrosine from thomas's recepie, and have been virtually living in the shower for the past 3 days.

Happy Holidays!

[skipper]

merry Christmas:
especially all of you  brave detoxers! the first time i ever
cleaned up my hand was Christmas od 1978. i had nothing but a broken leg and all the misery i could stand (a lot). in retrospect, it was one of the best christmas's of my life! i believe that sometimes a person has to lose everything to get what they need the most!
Marionreid: nausea and vomiting can be components in any opiate
withdrawl
alchemist: sleep is the tough part for me too. at present i am being treated for restless leg syndrome. my doctor is giving me 1 mg. of klonipin (a long acting benzo) a night. for some reasion it seems to work beter than any of the other benzo's.
Telby: i can't express how glad i am that you are sticking with us.i believe things wil get beter for you. just remember, it will happen in it's own time and speed!
Shane: it's good to see you posting again. you just kind of dropped off the surface...you know addicts are real good at hiding (at least i am). i don't think any of us addicts on this forum should hide our selves away until the rest of us get a whole lot beter at finding each other!
everyone else: may peace and joy seep into all the empty spots
in our souls. also perhaps some acceptence and understanding for
one another and ourselves would be nice tonight.

keep and angel on your shoulder
kip

PS: i'm going to love and care about you people and there isn't
one damm thing you can do about it. (when i was first told this
it scared the living **** out of me... now it makes me feel real
good!)

[Witchywoman]

Alchemist,
I know how you feel...it is just how I felt when I detoxed (and it will have been four months on the 26th that I've been through it).

In the first four nights of my WDs, I took a small dose of hydro to let me sleep, 'cause the restlessness was horrible. I took half a 7.5mg pill, and that helped. After day 4, I didn't get the restlessness at night anymore, but I still couldn't sleep. It took several weeks before my sleep got back to normal.

Hang in there..it is worth it on the other side!

love,
WW

[alchemist]

Thank you for your post and congradts on being clean so long.  I don't think staying clean will be a big problem, I don't have an addictive personallity (and no craving either) but did you have to take that hydo every night to get to sleep? or could you stop with some sleep after day 4?  I can honestly say I do feel alot better today, just a little run down, I forgot about keeping the Imodium (immodium) on hand.

Merry Christmas!!

[Telby]

Kip, thank you as always for the words from your heart - I always perk up when I see you've posted.  Alchemist, the sooner you can stop all opiates the better you will feel.  Even that little bit before bed keeps the brain on alert for more, it will stop nagging for more when it figures out no more are coming.  YOu are doing so well, I think you are well on your way to getting this thing behind you.  Success stories are such good medicine for me, I know if others can do it then I can do it to.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas, don't you dare let yourselves be loneley today, get on line and stay on line and you'll know that people from all over the country are with you.   love to you all, Telby

[alchemist]

Thank you for your words of encouragement; but with 2 little ones running around I just have to get some sleep, it seems nothing else works.  My car injury is killing me right now, I thought that I was finally done with it, but I've come too far to go back.  I don't know who said it here on the forum, but I firmly believe that opiates actually lower you pain thresh hold, making "normal" pain unbearable.

[Durty]

alchemist - your story sounds just like mine.  I have been having cryo-ablation procedures as well.  They do help. Mine resulted from having an heart catherazation where they go into your heart (to see whats goin on) via the femoral artery in your leg.. anyway they messed up the entry site and filled my insides up with blood and caused nerve damage in my groin area.  That was 2 years ago and I still have pain and a limp when I walk (except for 4-6mos after each ablation)  As far as taking a "little" so you can sleep, it will prolong the process some, but I feel if you are not using in the day, you can gradually cut back what you need at night to sleep.  I ended up using like 1/8th of a pill or smaller near the end but it worked down zip.  I too lived in the shower - literally.  Seems like the only thing to get rid of the creepy crawlies. The L-tryosine and a good multi really helped.  One note: if you start using again while taking the large doses of tryosine it may (did for me) cause you to be a little hyper and itch like you've never itched before... 10 fold normal opiate itch. Anyway, glad to hear the ablation works for you.  As long as they know exactly where to go they can kill the nerves for awhile.  Unfortunately they regenerate over 4-6 months and the pain comes back, although usually not quite as intense.  Good luck.  Durty

[alchemist]

Thanks, you aree actually the first person who I have talked with that knows what an abation is.  Its been about 2 weeks and I felt much better, so I cut the pills out completely instead of tapering, just something I wanted to do and to prove to myself why I was taking these.  But damit I really hurt tonight, just like old times, I would normally pop an MScontin but now I'm under a heated blanket (cause I can't seem to get warm)with an ice pack on the sore spot.  I have considered taking my nightly pill early to kill the pain and help me sleep.
  P.S I havn't eaten a nornam meal for days but cant stop eating sweets for some reason, I don't normally eat sweets is this part of the detox process??

Happy Holidays!!

[alchemist]

right now is day 4 for my recovery, I can't describe to you the way I feel excpet those of you who have experienced the agony of WD would only understand.  My only goal in this is to stop looking at people with envy all the time because they are opiate free.  It might sound strange but since being on my meds I have divided everyone I meet as opiate free or not.  I can't tell you how I long to be opiate free, free of that "feeling" that I get, making me from a shy person to one that is willing to say almost whatever is on my mind.  How I want that fog to be lifted from mind.  I do very technical work, and I actually avoid talking to people because I always afraid they will be able to tell that I am on "something" by saying something absurd or the pinpoint pupils that always occompany me.  Today I finally got to see my puplils, they were abit larger due to the WD (like when they do an eye exam)but they were a welcome site notheless.  My mind hasn't been this lucent in 4 yrs, but my body aches and aches non stop and that dam skin "crawling" not so bad during the day but I dread it at night, it always fortells of another sleepless night that non stop tossing and turning, its enoght to drive one mad.  Sorry to rant and rave, just some thoughts to those of you that understand, I try to explain it to my wife, but she doesn't get it, she just thinks I'm sick or something, sadly, in away she is right.  Does anyone else out there also looks at people with envy because you know they are opiate free? or is it just me.

[SHOTSY]

No, It's not strange at all. It's like that commerical. Does she or doesn't she?

I found your posts really interesting familiar. I toss an turn all night too. But I feel sore all over. I typically say like someones beating the heck out of me. Just a deep down achiness. If I've slept more than a stretch of 2-3 hours without waking in the last 14 years. I can't remember. Except once, after delivery, they gave me 2 little white pills. I slept for 6 hrs. I couldn't believe it.

I'm starting to wonder if I've sort of been spending the majority of my life in w/d. My dose hasn't ever been high. Just consistent.

I guess part of the problem for me is figuring out what symptoms are related to the med. And what symptoms have nothing to do with the med? I find it rather confusing. I guess the best scenerio is 'WHEN' I get off of it. Maybe in enough time everything will go away. God, I hope.

I find you a very brave person ( sorry, don't know your gender) to tackle w/d thru Christmas. I'm the wimp. I've done an extreme slow taper. Probaly time to tirate down some more. I wanted to be able to kinda hide out to complete mine.

Keep us posted on your progress. I believe the worst is past for you from what I've heard here. And hopefully in the future you can champion the others of us on thru your strength.

Hang in there, baby
Shotsy

[alchemist]

Shotsy,

fist, thanks for your comments, I really apreciate them.  Second, I'm a guy.  Third, it was an accident that I'm getting off the meds at Christmas, I had the ablation about 2 weeks ago and its just starting to take, Doc says 1-2 weeks is typical.  But damit, I was determined not to be a slave to the wims of my docs or the pills.  One doc in the practice was especially sadistic, she changed my meds to something that didn't work for me (my car accident pain) and kept me in agony for nearly 2 months.  I tried to get a note to my regular doc but she would intercept them, I called her repeatidly, but to no availe, she would just said "just give it time".  Today I'm starting to feel much better, but I feel very nauseous (spelling?)even the thought of food makes me feel sick.  But atleast the back pain and the skin crawling have tapered down to almost nothing.  The pain that started me on the meds comes and goes but I'm trying not to take anymore pills, I'm terrified that the whole thing will start all over again.

Happy Hollidays!

[monalisa]

I commend you for getting off percocet. I was on them years ago and had a terrible time getting off. I thought I was off, but continiued having pain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which I now know was not fibro, but prescription pain med. addiction. First of all don't take benzo's to get off the percocet. You will just addict yourself to something that is worse than percocet. I know because I am trying to get off klonopin, a benzo. If it is intolerable, either cut your percocet to every other day or try claritin. That helped me sleep. I had the sweats, burning pain, couldn't sleep, etc. It does go away, but may come back and bite you again. Just hang in there. At least you know what is causing the symptoms. They should bother you less and less. I don't know how long they will last, but they will go away. Hang in there, many people are suffering with you and support you in your quest for LIFE!!

[monalisa]

Please don't take klonopin. It is the worst medicine in the world. I am trying to get off of it and it has been hell. Two weeks ago I drove myself to the hespital the withdrawal was so bad. Read some posts on www.google.com  Type in klonopin and read the 4th post on the 4th page Klonopin-the nightmarre that never ends) There are more links from there that will let you know what klonopin is all about. It is incredible how so many people are unwittingly addicted. Tell your doctor to give you soemthing other than a benzo. Please read the page. Good luck!!!

[SHOTSY]

Sorry to hear it wasn't by choice. That must have been hard.

I'm on a tear today about dr.'s Let me tell you. I think something should be done. What I'm not sure. But sometimes I wonder if they're really all their cracked up to be.

I think one problem is they don't spend enough time with their patients. Yeah, we all know about the bottom line.But hell, it's almost like they want you to not get well. Hey, maybe I'm on to something there. Would be nice to be able to create your own job security. HMMMMMMMM.....

Well, it's not fair of me to throw them all in the same fish bowl, I guess.

Just stick around, you'll find out more info as time goes on. I for one have. Ignorance isn't always bliss.
And the people here are great!

Hang in there, dude
Shotsy

[alchemist]

Thanks for the Klonipin link, what an eye opener.  I did go to my pain doc today and told him that I stopped taking the pain meds and what was happing to me since.  He said that I put myself into WD and yes gave me Klonipin (and some other things) for the skin crawling.  After reading the Klonipin story I'm tempted to not take it, but I got only a few days supply.  Unfortunatley, the pain has returned today, I thought it was gone for good.  I did breakdown and took my meds, I couldn't stand the pain (from my car accident) for another moment.  The only thing worse than the WD is to have pain on and off and to go through WD purpertually.  P.S anyone else have a strange craving for sweets and crying at the drop of a pin during WD?

[monalisa]

I'm sorry that you have to deal simultaneously with WD and car accident pain. It seems that doctors will dole out pain meds very liberally. Awhile ago they would not give them out so readily, but then people said that with all of the great pain meds that n one should expereince pain. What is a patient supposed to do? How bad is your pain on a scale of 1-10? Will it ever go away? The skin crawling will go away. I have it from he klonopin withdrawal. I was taking the klonopin to keep the crawling and burning pain from returning. It was a vicious cycle. When I first stopped/tapered the klonopin I had the burning/skin crawling/agitated/stretching horrible pain constantly. It subsides, comes back and then the crawling attacks in patches. I have had some good days, some days so dizzy that I can't walk straight. I don't know how bad your pain is. There is a pain killer Toradol. I'm not sure if it is addictive, but it worked for me. I don't take it now, but took it for a short time after kidney stone surgery. I would not take Klonopin for skin crawling, because WD from Klonopin causes the same sympton. I know that you can't call your doctor everyday and ask him about different painkillers. Just be aware that using one addictive med to curb another one's WD is not the answer. I think that when in WD you have to make sure that you don't go into seizures, as you can from cold turkey WD from benzos (klonopin). Tolerate all fo the pain that you can and know that it has to stop. We are only given as much pain as we can tolerate. HAHA. I don't know who said that. I look at it as the devil coming and biting me in the butt. Hang in there. Just wanted to let you know about Klon, as I had no idea what it could do to me. Good luck and wait as long as possible before taking a pill. :>)

[alchemist]

pain varies from no pain to 5-7, never any pain when I sleep, (thank God)its been a daily thing for the past 5 yrs.  The doctors have said its everything from Myofacitious (spelling?) to disk problem, nothing really shows up in tests except 3 very small buldging disks.  Most doc's look at the films and say the buldging isn't enough to be causing the pain, but nothing else shows up.  Its very frustrating.  When I see a new doc in the practice I always get a strange look when I tell them I have much daily pain with nothing to show for it, sometimes I think they don't believe me, but I have never abused anything in my live, I don't even drink or smoke.  I always worry that they will discharge me or cut me off, there is noone left in my city that can treat me, I've been to all the "specialists" (atleast it seems like it).  anyway, if this ablation takes, doctors will be a thing of the past.

[Durty]

Saw all the "bitchin" about docs and had to say my piece.  If I would have just stayed home and NOT gone to the hospital 2yrs ago I wouldn't be in the spot I'm in now.  Had chest pains, went in, they "say" I failed a stress test and needed a heart cath.  They said was very simple and common procedure.  Anyway, they messed up the entry site in my groin (femoral artery) and over then next 3 days after I slowly bleed interanlly and filled up my insides with blood.  I went back twice to the cardiologist who blew my off saying I was a "wimp" in so many words.  1 week later I was rushed to the hospital in shock with a massive hematoma in my mid section and groin.  By that time it was too late to put a drain in and all they could do was let me wait it out.  After they decided there was nothing more they could do they put me on percoset and oxycontin and sent me home. All of this could have been avoided if they would have listened to me the day after the procedure when i came back in agony.  They actually laughed at me because my groin was about 5 times normal.  Sorry to rant but it all comes back to me.  That was 2 years ago and I still deal with the perm nerve damage and now have to deal with addiction.  All because I went to see a doctor.  I know not all doctors are this way but I was so mishandled it makes my cry especially when i look at where I am now.  Like Alchemist, Cryo-ablations have started to help but I will need them every 4-7 months.  Again, sorry to rant. I'm just ticked off all over again after reading the posts.  I feel better after venting...sorry.   Durty

[Witchywoman]

Hi Alchemist,
I just wanted to offer some words of support while you struggle with this..everything you describe about WD is what I experienced too, especially the crying at the drop of a hat.

Like you, I also struggle with pain on and off.  It never falls below a 3, usually is at a 5, and sometimes spikes to a 7.  I decided to detox when my pain was still really high, only two months after my back surgery, but I had been abusing the meds for so many years they were not killing the pain anyway.

And I know exactly what you mean about looking at people who are opiate free with envy.  I still am awestruck that I made it into the non opiate dependant group. I remember looking at people and thinking to myself "she/he is so luck to not have to take a pill every 6 hours to avoid sweats,chills, and feeling sick"

For me it got to the point where the pain of addiction, and what it was doing to my life, was worse..way worse, than the pain from my back.  But I think those of us who are in pain physically and are also addicts are in a really tough position. I wish that I could trust that my addiction was beat and I would be able to take opiates for pain only as needed. Ha.  I know I can't.  I'd be down that road chasing that high in two seconds flat.

Today is my fourth month of clean time and it is the best gift I've ever given myself. Yes, I do have bad pain sometimes, but motrin takes the edge off and it does tend to subside.

Sleep still is hard for me at times, but I deal.

Just know you are not alone, and we are here for you anytime.
love,
WW

[monalisa]

Why did they give you Percocet and oxycontin? I think that they are basically the same type of medication. I can't believe that doctors are giving people these extremely addictive medications and not letting the patient know how addictive they are. I read that there is a book out called "The Accidential Addict." I think that's what the majority of the people on this post are. Two years later, and they still have you on these strong medications? They must have no conscious. I think when you go to the doctor they feel that they have to give you some type of medication or else we feel that the doctor didn't do anything for us. One doctor tried to give me Norco (tylenol & Vicadin) to help get off of vicadin. I never filled the prescription. There is an electronic petition on one site to get klonopin off the market. The stories of "accidental addicts" is incredible. Reading other's experiences seems to help much more than a doctor. Im not saying don't see your doctor, just combine all of the information that is out there for us.It is comforting to know that other people have experienced the same symptomes, but WD is something I would wish on my worst enemy for only one day. I hope that you can get off the pain meds and put all of what you have been through behind you. There was a special the other day on CBS news about Vicadin addiction. Most of the people were ordinary people, that had some kind of accident or sickness that, like you, that left them addicted. I don't think that the doctors instill into their patients that these drugs are HIGHLY addictive. Doctors seem to think that people don't know when something is wrong with their bodies, like you tried to tell them. I'm sure that you can get off those meds and hopefully the abation will releive your pain for a very long time!!!  When the devil bites, fight back!! Best wishes!

[Telby]

I agree you are a very brave soul and I admire you for coming as far as you have.  You were right about the pain after opiate addiction, since our pain/pleasure centers are on hold due to the external use of opiates it takes a long time for the brain chemistry to kick back in.  The use of supplements like L-Tyrosine with B Complex helps to move the process along.  It seems to be a trick of the drug, causing the most pain where you are most vulnerable.  The stronger you get the less power "it" will have and soon you will be able to determine what hurts and what doesn't.  The drug will tell you many lies to get you back on pills, you have the real truth don't listen to the lies.  YOu are doing great and we are all cheering for you.  love, Telby

[Telby]

I agree you are a very brave soul and I admire you for coming as far as you have.  You were right about the pain after opiate addiction, since our pain/pleasure centers are on hold due to the external use of opiates it takes a long time for the brain chemistry to kick back in.  The use of supplements like L-Tyrosine with B Complex helps to move the process along.  It seems to be a trick of the drug, causing the most pain where you are most vulnerable.  The stronger you get the less power "it" will have and soon you will be able to determine what hurts and what doesn't.  The drug will tell you many lies to get you back on pills, you have the real truth don't listen to the lies.  YOu are doing great and we are all cheering for you.  love, Telby

[monalisa]

Your pain seems to be very high. One thing you said was that you don't have pain at night. Could that mean that it is related to some type of pressure being put on your back or spine while you are standing or sitting? Maybe it is the disk and the pressure is relieved when you lay down. Just a thought. Hope you are doing well. Another interesting thing that you said was about the pain meds making us intolerable to normal pain. I think that is what happened to me. After I got off the percocet I was  hypersensitive to pain. They then prescribed hydrocodone and diagnosed me as having fibromyalgia, a terrible muscle pain syndrome. In retrospect I don't think I have that. Things get put more into perspective when hearing other people's thoughts and experiences. Thanks for the insight!!!

[alchemist]

A physical therapist once told me the same thing that maybe lying down is the key to helping my pain since I don't have any when I sleep.  Unfortunately, once the pain starts, I cannot stop it by simply lying down, only ice or pain meds work.  I have some limited success using a TENS unit to electrostim the spot in my back

[monalisa]

How about an anti inflammatory? Maybe the nerve is being inflamed, which may explain why the ice helps. Naprosyn or clinoril may help. It's to bad that no one can find the source of pain. Obviously you're not faking it!

[alchemist]

When this all started I when to my family doc, who initially started me off on 800 mg ibuprofen, when that didn't work I when through a series of different antiinflams, nothing seems to work very well except the opioids.  My pain doc has also tried the new cox-2 antiinflams, still no dice in helping with the pain.  I still carry around the 5 mg oxy's just incase I can't stand it anymore.  I don't want to go through WD again, but I don't want to be in agony either.  The pain that I had today really got in the way of enjoying an outing with my family, it can really wear you down physically and mentally.  I hated it when I told my little ones that daddy can't pick them up, they allready understand why, its all old news to them.

[Durty]

Thanks for your kind reply.  Yes, they did have me on Oxy and perc's at the same time.  Put at that point I was in such pain I could barely speak.  Things have calmed down a good bit since then with the cryo ablations.  Now I'm on Zydone which is hydro. But you are right, if I never went thru that I would not have gotten addicted.  I certainly share the blame for being so weak.
There needs to be some type of mandatory counseling whenever they put someone on opiates.  People need to know exactly what they are dealing with.  Sure wish I could go back and do it all over differently.  Take care - durty

[butterbeans]

Hi Wiz and WW.  I haven't heard from you in a while and that is my fault.  I can't figure out how to get into new ezboard forum.  I went through some registration process, but, it never did say I was registered or what to do nextI need to post to ya'll to keep healthy, even though I am taking my meds because I absolutely have to for the pain.  I am seeing my ex some and we enjoy each other's company.  He knows I take these meds.  I just have so much to tell you and want your advice/help/empathy , etc.  How is the world do I get into the board.  I am going to try in a minute to put in www.google.com that someone says brings up topics about meds.  My pain doc told me to take remeron, an anti-depressant in place of the paxil, because it would really help me sleep at night.  He was right, but, I am really having a lot of short term memory loss lately, but, this has been going on for two or three months.  I miss you two mostof all because you were always kind and there for me.  Telby, I miss you too.Please email me step by step directions to get to the forum.  I thought I had it, but, it would not let me in.I miss you guys.  I had wonderful Christmas and hope you all did too.  My children mean so much to me, and I still have feelings for ex ! Hang in there both of you, you too Telby.  Just remember how special you are!
Love Butterbeans

[Telby]

I just heard from the Wizard tonight.  He definatly wants to stay in contact with you although he is not posting on boards for now.  I will email him to see if I can post his EMail for you or if you can get a hold of Cindi on the other board.  We will figure this out somehow.  Try this - http://pub37.ezboard.com/fthenewaddictionmedicineforumfrm1  The "f"before the "the" is not a mistake, that is how it shows up. Try it and see.  love, Telby

[monalisa]

I firmly believe that there is a solution to your pain problem. Don't give up trying to find out what went wrong. The doctors can throw their hands up, but you shouldn't. You weren't born with the pain, and you shouldn't have to live with it. Your detminataon and perseverance should prevail so that you return to leading a normal life. Keep trying to find out what the problem is. I feel certain that some doctor can figure out what is causing your problem and your gut feeling should help.  I know it is terrible when you know something is wrong, but can't put your finger on it. I'm sending you my best wishes on finding a solution that makes you feel great, and you can pick up your kids up and the only feelings you have are wonderful. Good luck!!

[new@this]

Hello everyone.  I am new at this board and very new at discussing my addiction.  Didn't want anyone to know.  I have chronic kidney stones and there doesn't seem to be a way to stop them as they are cystine stones and not enough is known about them.  They are extremely painful and now my kidneys just plain hurt all the time so I practically live on the percocet.  I want to get off of it and start the new year off right.  It has been almost 37 hours since my last pill (5 mg) so the WDs are really starting to set in.  I found this site by the grace of God and have found comfort in all the messages I have read so far.  I am surprised at the how much you all relate to me.  Unfortunately I have not found any other substitute painkiller.  But what I hate is when I get another doc because my doc is out who decides I don't need any pain meds!  Sometimes I feel like they don't believe that I hurt that much to need the percocet.  I am a single parent with a full time job who cannot afford to take time off from work EVERYTIME I hurt.  What other meds would help my pain?  I hate the WDs with a passion and the lack of sleep thing is a killer too.  Anyway, thanks for allowing anyone to read your messages as they really do help.

[alchemist]

Sounds like you summerized every post that I placed above.  Today is day 7 for me and I havn't slept a wink in a week.  I keep waking up at 2-3 am and can't fall asleep worth a dam.  It that awfull almost shaky/creepy feeling that I get that in my arm and legs that keeps me up.  Doc gave me a 5 day dose of a "withdrawal cocktail" Ativan, Klonipin and Clonidine, still doesn't help.   But on a brighter note the fog that surrounded my head for the past 5 yrs is now gone, I'm me again! eventhough I still hurt at times I try at all costs to avoid taking those dam pills for the pain, but I wouln't torture myself, if I need one that bad for pain I will reluctantly take it

Good Luck!

[new@this]

Thanks for answering.  I slept off and on last night.  I read here where someone said to take a claritin and that helped a bit but not what I am used to.  One thing about the percocet is that you sleep like a log!!!  I am afraid to tell the doc about this as he might not give me the percocet the next time I really do need it.  I admit here that I have said I needed it when I didn't just to get the meds.  Thankfully my doc is on vacation till Jan 6 so I cannot go to him for a refill.  Hopefully by then the WDs will have subsided and I will be okay. However, the way I am feeling right now I am not so sure.  Mexico is not that far and I could get tylenol 3 or vialium maybe even some vicadin from there. The mornings are the hardest because I usually have one with a soda by 730 am then another in the afternoon.  I can tell today will be a very hard one for me.  Thanks for the encouragement.  I really need it!

[monalisa]

Congratulations on deciding to get off the percocet. I was on percocet for over  a year and decided to get off. I got off the percocet, but then was given hydrocodone and took that for years, never realizing that I was addicted to pain meds. Anyway it seems that after long term pain med the body is  hypersensitive to pain, so you can expect to have pain for awhile, but your body will take over and the pain will slowly subside. I think if you keep taking the pain med you will just prolong the agaony. Hang in there. The claritin does help with sleeping. I also had spent many sleepless nights, but you will sleep like a log again. Don't give in and go to Mexico. Try Xtra strength tylenol or ask your doctor for something that is not addictive. Good luck!!

[new@this]

thanks for your comments. I have pain all over my body now instead of just my kidneys.  Especially in my chest.  Is this normal?  Is this the pain you are referring to?

[monalisa]

I assume that the pain all over is from withdrawing from the percocet. I had a terrible burning, crawling, stretching type of pain. I think that it is a hypersensitivity to pain and other senses. It does go away, but seems to take a long time. Just hang in there and let your body heal. I'm up and down with the klonopin/ultram withdrawal, sometimes feeling good and then being zapped with pain. Slowly getting better though. Congratulations for getting as far as you have. Hopefully we're just around the corner to a return to normalcy!

[new@this]

I am sure you are right.  Don't know if I even remember what normal is anymore!  I am so thankful I found this site though.  It really helps to have someone to talk to about this.

[alchemist]

I was just reading your posts to new@this, you said that you take ultram, is it addictive? I just got off the oxy's but still have pain at times, I was thinking of asking for Ultram since it advertised as a non addictive pain med, have I been misled?

[monalisa]

As far as I'm concerned you have been misled. See the post "Weaning from Ultram Am I doning this right?" by Fairlight. It is close to the top answer your question loud and clear. I swithced from hydrocodone to ultram about 4 years ago. I never knew that it was addictive until I tried to quit. I told one doctor that the ultram worked better for my pain than the hydroconde. He said that was good because the hydrocodone was less addictive. Ha Ha!! Read the posts and let me know what you think!!!

[monalisa]

Fuuny you said that you don't know what "normal" is anymore. I think that we all go through that. I guess that's where the phrase in the song "been down so long it looks like up to me" comes from. I was there. Hope you are feeling better and better each day. The days really seemed soooo long to me for awhile, that is getting better. To better days!!! Keep up the good work and let your body heal. Lots of wonderful support here!!!

[bron]

Interesting posts on pain medications and their effects.  I broke my ankle several months ago and was initially given hydrocodone 5mg and tylenol.  I took these for about two months, and found a second doctor that would prescribe me 10mg/500mg tablets.  Well, rather than take one every 4-6hours, I took two, and liked the sensation.  This went on until this doctor would no longer prescribe me anything for the pain (keep in mind, I was still getting prescriptions for the 5mg vicodins from my original doctor)....which was mild to moderate at times and probably realisticaly not a candidate for pain meds.  My original doctor for my ankle switched me to tylenol 3 tablets (or rather his assistant did....I think a big part of prescriptions being filled on a whim is due to doctors' assistants.  They don't want to bother the doctor, so they just call in prescriptions for vicodin.)  Anyhow, I finally had sugery on my ankle after it did not heal correctly, and came home with a prescription for both vicodin and percocet.  I soon discovered that if I took two 5mg percosets, it gave me the equivalent of 4 5mg vicodins, and off I've gone on an addictive path to where I am have taken up to 5 percosets at a time.  I'm afraid of withdrawals, and I know my doctor is not going to keep prescribing me 35 tablets a month (which last anywhere from 7-10 days for me) as I am healing fine other than the pain meds.  I'm also afraid to confront the doctor with the fact that I've been abusing pain meds for so long (9 months) and would entertain any suggestions/ comments anyone has.  Unfortunately, I am one of those with an addictive personality, and should have never started taking anything in the first place!

[rattness]

Hello everyone,  I am trying to kick this habit of taking Percocets . I was prescribed them for kidney stone pain from a stent plaement and lithotripsy that I was having done every week for a month to bust uo a 9mm stone in the kidney.   Now my doctor has given me 20 vicodin to wean myself off of percs. Its not helping!  I finally took a perc and got some needed sleep now my body wants more and I only have a 6 left what do I do help me please?

[rue10]

You posted on an old thread.  I'm going to copy and paste your question in a new thread.  You'll get Plenty of answers for people who've been there and care.