15 yrs of Fioricet--how to let go of a constant?

[Fiori_cettogiveitup]

It has been 15 days since my last Fioricet.  There are nuances about this drug that, unless you are one of us who had the "love affair" with its charms, might not realize how difficult it is to get off of it for good.  This drug took away 3 day long debilitating headaches and made my heart sing!  Now it has become a roller coaster without a doctor to prescribe, going through withdrawals waiting for the mail delivery truck, etc.  You know the drill.  I took one every 3 hours for the past 8 years, usually no more than 8 a day.  I tapered for about 4 days along with 300 mg of Gabapentin every 4 hours.  Now, I feel ok, not great. . .my big question is how can I let go of such a constant in my world--one of the few things that was always there, always made me feel happier, awake in the morning and  capable at being a single parent while finishing my masters degree.  I can look within at the psychological potential for healing a different level of an unconscious wound by not deadening myself with this drug--but tonight I need a vision from someone who has really experienced how to feel great without it.  I can glimpse the energetic me without it--but barely.

[cork712]

well, I know what you mean about having it to look forward to, having the headaches, etc. I've nearly made it a year now and things DO get better. You may have felt better for a while, but probably some negative things were happening. I know I was very moody, reacted to things out of proportion, and had more headaches than when I stopped Fioricet. Once it was cleared out of my system, my migraines were easier to stop, less frequent. Keep on going on your path. "Great" will come. There's more to look forward in your life than having enough Fioricet to maintain a feeling that is truly not real.
If I can do it, you can do it!!!

[OxyTired]

My love affair was with oxycodone, not exactly same drug, but it really became a part of my life.
I am a teacher, and oxy made me a wizard in the classroom, high school or college, I teach both. My math was flawless and not a hint of anxiety.

Its taken me four months of clean time to see I was deluded, I only thought I was better. Now that some clarity, real sleep not drugged stupor, and returning natural energy levels make me see the nightmare I was truly living in. What I thought was a calm comfort zone, was actually a mental prison courtesy of oxycodone.

I almost cannot believe sometimes how beautiful life is without being shackled to any pill bottle. Its really my advanced schooling that makes my math teaching possible, not the d&@m pills.

And how did I get from there to here? Constant daily effort to work a program of recovery, keeping my guard up, my faith strong in finally getting it right, and laughing a little at myself along the way.