Aa
Done, Done and Done!
Hi All!
Remember me? I was the one who first posted exactly one month ago that I was about to start withdrawal from Oxycontin (40mg per day) and wanted to know how to take Temgesic (Subtex). I live in Mexico and was having a difficult time finding an English speaking doctor.
Well, after an entire month of hell, I think I'm coming out the other side. For the past week, I haven't taken any drugs except those originally prescribed for my rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, none of which are pain killers. When I first came to Mexico some 10 years ago, I was amazed at how my pain faded after a month or so, and I was determined that the same should happen this time. It did! I found out that I don't need any pain meds at all, once I was truly off the Oxycontin. In fact, I didn't even take any Temgesic ... not one small tablet.
I'm so excited! Now I can resume my active life, although the past month has shown me that I will never, ever subject my body to another withdrawal. My blood pressure dropped so low that I was hospitalized; the sweats still bother me at night, but sleep is gradually coming back. I can finally go back to work on Monday, feeling human again.
I just wanted to thank you all for your wonderful support and encouragement through this entire ordeal. Now, I can say I'm a survivor! "I am woman. Hear me roar!!"
Remember me? I was the one who first posted exactly one month ago that I was about to start withdrawal from Oxycontin (40mg per day) and wanted to know how to take Temgesic (Subtex). I live in Mexico and was having a difficult time finding an English speaking doctor.
Well, after an entire month of hell, I think I'm coming out the other side. For the past week, I haven't taken any drugs except those originally prescribed for my rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, none of which are pain killers. When I first came to Mexico some 10 years ago, I was amazed at how my pain faded after a month or so, and I was determined that the same should happen this time. It did! I found out that I don't need any pain meds at all, once I was truly off the Oxycontin. In fact, I didn't even take any Temgesic ... not one small tablet.
I'm so excited! Now I can resume my active life, although the past month has shown me that I will never, ever subject my body to another withdrawal. My blood pressure dropped so low that I was hospitalized; the sweats still bother me at night, but sleep is gradually coming back. I can finally go back to work on Monday, feeling human again.
I just wanted to thank you all for your wonderful support and encouragement through this entire ordeal. Now, I can say I'm a survivor! "I am woman. Hear me roar!!"
ChronicPain and Mindlink,
I struggle with nicotine addiction too. I smoke very little but I do smoke. Though I have quit several times the most recent for 7 years I always seem to return to it. As you both know it is not socially acceptable in the US and we are made to feel lower than whale doo-doo. I have seen what nicotine addiction can do to your health, I do not think anyone should smoke.
However my sports car was struck by a loaded dump truck, ending my life as I knew it. The driver was high on THC and was never even charged for it. I could have and was almost was gone is a split second and nicotine would not have played a part in a young woman's death.
We'll all make it when the time is right. I'll get the strength up again and so will you all. Hopefully my next quit will last longer than 7 years. You're right Mindlink, ChronicPain shouldn't be so hard on himself.
And I am so very sorry that you lost your daughter so tragically and by such a senseless act. My heart goes out to you.
I struggle with nicotine addiction too. I smoke very little but I do smoke. Though I have quit several times the most recent for 7 years I always seem to return to it. As you both know it is not socially acceptable in the US and we are made to feel lower than whale doo-doo. I have seen what nicotine addiction can do to your health, I do not think anyone should smoke.
However my sports car was struck by a loaded dump truck, ending my life as I knew it. The driver was high on THC and was never even charged for it. I could have and was almost was gone is a split second and nicotine would not have played a part in a young woman's death.
We'll all make it when the time is right. I'll get the strength up again and so will you all. Hopefully my next quit will last longer than 7 years. You're right Mindlink, ChronicPain shouldn't be so hard on himself.
And I am so very sorry that you lost your daughter so tragically and by such a senseless act. My heart goes out to you.
I am so glad for u! Posting ur story on the addiction forum may be a good idea..u r lucky to be able to control ur pain without meds...good luck to u
Tuckamore: I hear ya! I never meant to say that there are not those who NEED to stay on their opiates to relieve their chronic pain. I have some very dear friends who have had to take this course of action or suffer needlessly when opiates are the only way they can get relief. I was one of them for a time, and I may need them again ... just not now, luckily. Mom has a very caring doctor ... it's just that I, personally, don't have much confidence in her. But since my Mom does, who am I to question the Dr's motives, I guess. I just have to hope, when the time comes, that the Dr. will help Mom taper slowly so she doesn't suffer. I had no such support here, except for this board, so my w/d made me very scared and could have been much easier had I started with the correct regimen and proper medical support.
tropicalsoul: I adore your user name! I'm living two blocks from the ocean on the Mexican Pacific Riviera. No place better, in my opinion, to sluff off all that pain! Where are you at the moment? I think the change in attitude you mention certainly does play a part in the fading of chronic pain ... the pace of life and the warm-hearted people contribute largely to my success too, thereby relieving my stress. Yes, stress has been proven to cause some symptoms of RA and FMS. Let's hear it for the tropics!!!
ChronicPain1: You and I have talked about that nicotine addiction and, like you, I am addicted to cigarettes. While I don't recommend starting smoking to anyone, many of us know grandparents who have smoked all their lives and lived to a ripe old age. Down here, it's still socially acceptable to smoke, and I can relax in a restaurant or on the beach with a cigarette, as many do with alcohol in Canada and the US. I'm sure you've shaken your head at those who cough and sputter when you light up, while at the same time, they are drinking themselves stupid and then get in their cars to drive home. My daughter and another child were killed by one of those people ... just plowed down like road-kill. Now, you may understand why I think smoking is the lesser of those evils. Don't beat yourself up, ChronicPain1. You will eventually have the strength to quit, but until then, be easy on yourself.
tropicalsoul: I adore your user name! I'm living two blocks from the ocean on the Mexican Pacific Riviera. No place better, in my opinion, to sluff off all that pain! Where are you at the moment? I think the change in attitude you mention certainly does play a part in the fading of chronic pain ... the pace of life and the warm-hearted people contribute largely to my success too, thereby relieving my stress. Yes, stress has been proven to cause some symptoms of RA and FMS. Let's hear it for the tropics!!!
ChronicPain1: You and I have talked about that nicotine addiction and, like you, I am addicted to cigarettes. While I don't recommend starting smoking to anyone, many of us know grandparents who have smoked all their lives and lived to a ripe old age. Down here, it's still socially acceptable to smoke, and I can relax in a restaurant or on the beach with a cigarette, as many do with alcohol in Canada and the US. I'm sure you've shaken your head at those who cough and sputter when you light up, while at the same time, they are drinking themselves stupid and then get in their cars to drive home. My daughter and another child were killed by one of those people ... just plowed down like road-kill. Now, you may understand why I think smoking is the lesser of those evils. Don't beat yourself up, ChronicPain1. You will eventually have the strength to quit, but until then, be easy on yourself.
I'm just glad I've never had any withdrawal issues with the opiates. It's all relative for me, my nicotine addiction is HELL, opiate withdrawal doesn't come close to being a problem in comparison. No craving, no wanting it...just a few days of feeling iffy and it's gone.
Not everyone is so lucky though.
Not everyone is so lucky though.
What part of Mexico did you move to? I also notice a HUGE difference in my pain whem I am either in the desert or close to a beach. I've been to the Caribbean several times as well as Belize and Hondurus and each time I have noticed a drastic change in my attitude as well as my pain level.
Can I ask what took you to Mexico?
Can I ask what took you to Mexico?
Hello Mindlink,
I have commented on your posts and have been following them also. You've faced a lot and have conquered your pain demons. I am super happy to hear that you have had such a great outcome. I'm so happy to hear that you will be able to return to work. Your story is truly one of success and determination.
Not everyone can function without opiates due to various painful, debilitating conditions. I do want everyone to be happy for you. I just don't want those that do require opiates to feel that they are just not trying hard enough to deal with their pain......and that they could have the same results that you have had. Nor do I want you to feel "bad" if down the road your current regimes is not enough to control your symptoms.
I'm sorry to hear about your mom but hopefully she has a competent physician that will monitor closely. My 76 year old mom required a fentanyl patch for 7 months. She was able to gradually discontinue it (with her physician's approval) and did not experience any major withdrawal symptoms. She was able to return to her hydrocodone (severe DDD) and did not require any medication support during the change over. As you know fentanyl is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine. So hopefully your mom will have a good outcome also.
Again good for you. And I'll second your roar!! You go girl!
Peace, Tuck
I have commented on your posts and have been following them also. You've faced a lot and have conquered your pain demons. I am super happy to hear that you have had such a great outcome. I'm so happy to hear that you will be able to return to work. Your story is truly one of success and determination.
Not everyone can function without opiates due to various painful, debilitating conditions. I do want everyone to be happy for you. I just don't want those that do require opiates to feel that they are just not trying hard enough to deal with their pain......and that they could have the same results that you have had. Nor do I want you to feel "bad" if down the road your current regimes is not enough to control your symptoms.
I'm sorry to hear about your mom but hopefully she has a competent physician that will monitor closely. My 76 year old mom required a fentanyl patch for 7 months. She was able to gradually discontinue it (with her physician's approval) and did not experience any major withdrawal symptoms. She was able to return to her hydrocodone (severe DDD) and did not require any medication support during the change over. As you know fentanyl is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine. So hopefully your mom will have a good outcome also.
Again good for you. And I'll second your roar!! You go girl!
Peace, Tuck
Correction: I didn't take dramamine for stomach upset. (That was one drug I rejected.) Sorry about the mistake ... I took a motion-sickness OTC drug called Gravol.
And the w/d took a whole month ... from April 22 until today, May 24. I still feel quite shakey, but I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow, part time. It may take a long time before I'm fully functional, but each day is better.
Now, I just learned that my 78-year-old Mom's doctor put her on morphine to ease sciatic pain! Jeeezzzusss! It's going to kill her if she has to come off it!
And the w/d took a whole month ... from April 22 until today, May 24. I still feel quite shakey, but I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow, part time. It may take a long time before I'm fully functional, but each day is better.
Now, I just learned that my 78-year-old Mom's doctor put her on morphine to ease sciatic pain! Jeeezzzusss! It's going to kill her if she has to come off it!
Yes, I essentially went cold turkey off the Oxycontin. There were times the Dr prescribed other drugs and I took one or two and had bad side effects, so I haven't taken any more. The drugs I was prescribed during the w/d were Neo-Percodan, Temgesic (Subtex), and finally Tramadol. I took two of the Neo-Percodan which did nothing to ease any symptoms, so they're now in a drawer. I took none of the Subtex because of the stories I read here about the w/d from it. I took one Tramadol and was so woozy that I thought, never again.
I relied on OTC drugs to ease various symptoms. I discovered natural hormones (HRT) for sweats; dramamine for stomach upset; Nytol-type tablets for sleep, etc. I still suffered hell-on-wheels until my blood pressure dropped dangerously low and I was hospitalized for about 28 hours near the end of the w/d. I took home gallons of Pedialite, and it helped tremendously.
Also, a friend came to blend fruit smoothies for me, just so I had something in my stomach, because I didn't have the strength to even open a can of soup at the time. (Of course, in Mexico, there's fruit everywhere, so she went out and picked it from my garden ... easy fix). I finally got onto more solid food, but kept to the easily-digestible stuff until I felt stronger. Exercising was so hard two weeks into the month's w/d, but I gradually built up from a trip to the kitchen, to a short walk with my dog, and finally to a walk around the town centre yesterday.
So that's the story ... not unlike many here. Except I have a slightly better ending than some, in that I don't have any of the pain I had when I started the Oxy because I am in a condusive climate ... hot and dry most of the year.
So just move to Mexico, folks! Miracles do happen here! ;-)
I relied on OTC drugs to ease various symptoms. I discovered natural hormones (HRT) for sweats; dramamine for stomach upset; Nytol-type tablets for sleep, etc. I still suffered hell-on-wheels until my blood pressure dropped dangerously low and I was hospitalized for about 28 hours near the end of the w/d. I took home gallons of Pedialite, and it helped tremendously.
Also, a friend came to blend fruit smoothies for me, just so I had something in my stomach, because I didn't have the strength to even open a can of soup at the time. (Of course, in Mexico, there's fruit everywhere, so she went out and picked it from my garden ... easy fix). I finally got onto more solid food, but kept to the easily-digestible stuff until I felt stronger. Exercising was so hard two weeks into the month's w/d, but I gradually built up from a trip to the kitchen, to a short walk with my dog, and finally to a walk around the town centre yesterday.
So that's the story ... not unlike many here. Except I have a slightly better ending than some, in that I don't have any of the pain I had when I started the Oxy because I am in a condusive climate ... hot and dry most of the year.
So just move to Mexico, folks! Miracles do happen here! ;-)
So I forget, did you go cold turkey off the meds? If your withdrawal was that bad I'm guessing that was the reason.
I wish I could get by without them easily, it's my biggest goal now. Of course I have to solve the reasons why the pain exists to get to that point, but it's considerably worse compared to when it started.
Very glad you're feeling better though, it's what we all wish for!
I wish I could get by without them easily, it's my biggest goal now. Of course I have to solve the reasons why the pain exists to get to that point, but it's considerably worse compared to when it started.
Very glad you're feeling better though, it's what we all wish for!
I am delighted to see all four of you commenting on this, because it was particularly the four of you who kept me going durinf all of this. Thank you for inviting me to stick around. I will be popping by from time to time, in the role you have taken on with me.... nurturing, and encouraging, and vigilant. Thanks again to EACH of you, Nick, ChronicPain, Sandee and Red. You were my saviours! Now I hope I can begin to give back!
R.
R.
Hi buddy,
glad you're through it now. keep looking after yourself and keep popping by every now and then, let us know how you are feeling. best wishes,
Nick
glad you're through it now. keep looking after yourself and keep popping by every now and then, let us know how you are feeling. best wishes,
Nick
Wow,
I am so excited for you! I really am glad you got past the worst of it and are on the road to a better more energetic and active lifestyle.
Please keep us posted on how your doing from time to time.
Also there are many others here that would greatly benefit from your experience and what you have learned from all this and of course your support too so I hope you will stick around:0
I am so excited for you! I really am glad you got past the worst of it and are on the road to a better more energetic and active lifestyle.
Please keep us posted on how your doing from time to time.
Also there are many others here that would greatly benefit from your experience and what you have learned from all this and of course your support too so I hope you will stick around:0
Good to hear mindlink! Do you think it might be the weather in Mexico that helps you? I've noticed my joint/nerve pain seems considerably worse when it's rainy or humid out. I live in New England so it's pretty much all the time.
I wish my pain was lessened so I didn't need any medications to help me...it would be nice.
I wish my pain was lessened so I didn't need any medications to help me...it would be nice.
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