Aa
34th Hour.
Wow! This is so much harder than I thought it would be. I have been on prescription Vicodin for the better part of 5 years. It started when I ruptured my L5-S1 disk, and I have had 5 surgeries since then. I have realized several times during the past few years (aside from back pain) that my body is addicted to the meds, and decided to stop.
I figured the 1st couple of days would be the worst until last night and this morning. Yes yesterday I felt pretty bad… Last night I couldn’t sleep at all. My body can’t decide rather I’m hot or cold, stomach cramps and several visits to the rest room. My extremities feel like they are on pins and needles, and my head hurts bad!
Most folks here probably know where I am at right now. The big decision I need to make is rather to continue thru with this over the weekend? I have been off work the last few days, but have an interview for a promotion at work on Monday morning. I can’t feel like this come Monday. I can get a couple of weeks off work regardless, just not until after my interview.
What should I do?
I figured the 1st couple of days would be the worst until last night and this morning. Yes yesterday I felt pretty bad… Last night I couldn’t sleep at all. My body can’t decide rather I’m hot or cold, stomach cramps and several visits to the rest room. My extremities feel like they are on pins and needles, and my head hurts bad!
Most folks here probably know where I am at right now. The big decision I need to make is rather to continue thru with this over the weekend? I have been off work the last few days, but have an interview for a promotion at work on Monday morning. I can’t feel like this come Monday. I can get a couple of weeks off work regardless, just not until after my interview.
What should I do?
Best Answer
I am going to stay off of the Vicodin and suck up for the interview... both need to happen!
Hey Jandy, Glad your body and mind has settled some. Clean_in_ks has said it well. Good for you on calling a med hotline for direction. Half of what is hurting you is the anxiety of coming off these meds. Find a source (prefer Doc) you trust and stay with their advice. The numb, tingling , heart racing is all w/d and as much from opiates as it is from the benzo's. One thing at a time. Once you get a Doc on board , your mental will relax. Your going to be ok.....Our bodies go into a severe state of mayhem when we alter what it has been given for many months/years. It is resilient though, just go easy till tomorrow. This will take some work, but will pass in time. xx
I had no idea that Valium or Gabapentin were both addictive. I took some advice and called a nurse hotline type thing. They advised me to take the Valium and Gabapentin, then call 911 or go to the hospital if not feeling any better in 30min or so. I didn’t have to call back and am still off of the Vicodin!
Tomorrow off to see a Doctor to get myself on a monitored program and off of all this crap. For now I’m feeling better and really appreciate all of the help here.
Tomorrow off to see a Doctor to get myself on a monitored program and off of all this crap. For now I’m feeling better and really appreciate all of the help here.
BUT...as an additional thought to my post above...that does NOT mean you have to take your opiates ever again.
You can start with opiates......wean down the valium......and eventually get clean.
Getting rid of your sources for opiates and valium is CRITICAL!
The anti-inflammatory and gabapentin are not critical in the whole scheme of being addiction free at this moment.......IMO, of course.
But if you already have clean days off the opiates....do you?
START somewhere.......
If you are already clean from opiates.........STAY CLEAN FROM OPIATES!
It is a beginning.......and doesn't have to be a continuation or an ending.
We addicts tend to be people of EXTREMES and we set ourselves up for failure many times.
You can start with opiates......wean down the valium......and eventually get clean.
Getting rid of your sources for opiates and valium is CRITICAL!
The anti-inflammatory and gabapentin are not critical in the whole scheme of being addiction free at this moment.......IMO, of course.
But if you already have clean days off the opiates....do you?
START somewhere.......
If you are already clean from opiates.........STAY CLEAN FROM OPIATES!
It is a beginning.......and doesn't have to be a continuation or an ending.
We addicts tend to be people of EXTREMES and we set ourselves up for failure many times.
To be honest with you I have done the same before came off for 2 days then back on again and felt worse as it took days forum body to get used to if again please percervere I have reduced my intake this week and suffered horrendous withdrawals and now suffering side effects of my drug taking ie feeling light headed all day know I'm pot calling kettle black at the minute but carry on babe :-)
I too have been on gabapentin....it was originally made as an "anti-seizure" med and is used a lot for nerve damage and nerve pain. I've even read some posts on here about people using it to sleep, lessen their w/drawals from opiates??? and more.
It totally affects the gaba receptors in your brain (electrical signals) so going off all of those meds together could definitely make you pass out.
I weaned off the gaba 44 days ago.....and have been clean 121 days now.
But I still have pins&needles, light head upon arising quickly and other physical issues I'm dealing with. My personal take is.....it isn't safe to quit opiates, valium, gaba AND an antiinflammatory ALL together.
I have stopped all my RX's at this point, but am still feeling strange physical and brain things.....and I spread them out. I would definitely talk to a doc about easing off the valium and gaba's.....don't think your brain is very happy and it's telling you so...
Rootin for you~~
It totally affects the gaba receptors in your brain (electrical signals) so going off all of those meds together could definitely make you pass out.
I weaned off the gaba 44 days ago.....and have been clean 121 days now.
But I still have pins&needles, light head upon arising quickly and other physical issues I'm dealing with. My personal take is.....it isn't safe to quit opiates, valium, gaba AND an antiinflammatory ALL together.
I have stopped all my RX's at this point, but am still feeling strange physical and brain things.....and I spread them out. I would definitely talk to a doc about easing off the valium and gaba's.....don't think your brain is very happy and it's telling you so...
Rootin for you~~
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Valium is addictive......opiates are addictive.......That's where I would focus....but good advise from the nurse IMO. (FOR TODAY)
Gabapentin is NOT addictive......but it does affect gaba electrical receptors and is prescribed as an anti-seizure med too......therefore.....that = wean.
And you hopefully also know that gabapentin is prescribed to lessen nerve pain and damage.......but is NOT an addictive pain medicine. A tool for those of us w/nerve damage and/or nerve pain. (I just wanted off it.....to see what a post surgery, healing body might eventually feel like and to see how much permanent nerve damage I still have.....like a totally numb foot)
Good on ya for staying off the opiates!!!!! You said Dr tomorrow to correctly and safely develop a plan to get off ALL this.......good deal)))
What have you decided about your interview tomorrow?
Not going to "cave" on the opiates to do that are you?
I pray not........sounds like you are correcting your course.....
Blessings~