How do I live with out Hydrocodone ? I need help to stop

[ClimbingWalls]

I've been prescribed Hydrocodone for 4+ years now. An went from a happy go lucky personality, taking 2 per day, to now taking 5 a day. I have become so aware of what has happened to me over the last year and I am sick of it. I used to care about my home, my hobbies, my job and my appearance. Now I look around my cluttered house and unambitious self. I find I am only content with staying home and reading. I find it a hassle and a stress to even attend functions or simple invites. I have no interest in other peoples lives or relationships. It seems I am completely satisfied being left alone and under no commitments to anything.
WHAT HAVE I BECOME? I know better than living this way. This is  not functioning whatsoever, it is simply existing.
Like so many out there, the pills made me happy, energetic, and blissful in the beginning. FALSE REALITY!
Of course, because I was HIGH. and PAINFREE

Now I am being honest with myself, and know I must stop these pills.
I see posts from years ago, and wonder if anyone out there has some advice on helping ease some of the mental and painful symptoms that I will surely have to face.
Like anyway to sleep through the next 3 days?? Ha!
I'm just trying to find possible bandaids to help me through what I am about to face?

Thank you for any advice...

[gnarly_1]

Hi.......well good to hear your feeling better....now is the time to check into aftercare  it is a critical step to recovery for me N/A has been the magic bullet it is free the meetings are only a hour long and are every where get involved work the steps and stay clean without some form of aftercare you stand less then a 10% chance of making it long term long after the pills stop your still stuck with the addict in your head keep posting here for support  
...........................................Gnarly....................................

[Paul_free]

First of all congrats on getting it fixed now. I was where you were 5 years ago and instead of getting off I accelerated to MS Contin. Dont go there. Vicoden is much easier to get off than where I went. It can take a couple of weeks days to feel better which is where I think you are now. Just take pride in what you have  done and do something healthy like getting in shape or what ever you like to do even if its some small yoga. You are in great  shape now and there is no reason to go back!! Congrats again.

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well congrats on day 4!!! your doing ausum  as for the body twitching it is a form of restless legs get up to walgreens and pick up some stuff called highlands restful legs  it is homopathic so you cant od on it take a few b/4 trying to go to bed...also there is a tea called traditional medicals nighty night  it is great to help sleep and ez the nerves seap 2 bags for 20 min  then add some honey for flavor you will notice improvements  you can find it at walmart other then that you just got to go threw it to get to the other side...YOU GOT THIS!!!
......................................Gnarly.....................................

[ClimbingWalls]

Thanks so Gnarly....I am feeling sooo much better. Yesterday I started feeling so hyper and chatty. I was talking to everyone I bumped into!...What is up with this? It's good and I'm not complaining. Just feel hyper! I did go get a box of the Hylands and it is really helping now. I have a ton of nervous energy right now.

[jerry4664]

you watch come this weekend things will be better but the sleep thing takes time don't know why it just does best of luck,,

[ClimbingWalls]

Thank you..

[gnarly_1]

Hi....let us know when you make the jump....posting helps
.......................................Gnarly..............................................

[ClimbingWalls]

I have made the jump...I haven't had any in 3 days now. I feel better mentally, I am not craving at all, which was a fear. But, I am having issues at sundown. I have had to take hot baths 2x at night to warm up, and try to relax my muscles. For some reason around 6:00pm or so, I start feeling my muscles go out of control. Last night was rough trying to get my body to just relax and sleeping comes in fits, tossing and turning due to muscle movement. That's what is driving me crazy. But I guess this is quite common.

[Danny111]

Getting a good nights sleep will be about the last physical thing to return to normal.  You just have to accept that it's gonna be hard to sleep well for a while.  After a week or two you'll notice that you're getting more sleep each night.  Hang in there.  Every minute you get through is one less minute of wds to deal with.

[ClimbingWalls]

I'm hanging in there. After the first 2 taper days I have decided to just quit taking them. I am feeling the symptoms like crazy but nothing that I cant bear. Id like to be able to eat a meal with out running to the bathroom! LOL..

Just keeping busy with drawing and watching youtube videos on art !

Thank you for asking.
good luck to us all...

[jerry4664]

well how we doing today??

[gnarly_1]

Hi.....well tapering is one way  to do this  just know there is no way to get around the withdrawals tapering just spreads them out over time there not as sever but your going to feel c rapy wile your doing it ...thats why most people just quit it is over in a week.....we will support you in what ever you decide....the real key to tapering is to stick with the scedual you cant yo/yo your dose up and down and you cant just take a extra pill to feel better.....your dose is not that high  if you find it to hard to taper  just jumping is a good option....keep posting for support..............................Gnarly............................

[jifmoc]

Well, it's really up to you. If you want to give tapering a go, try it. We can walk you through wds regardless.

[jifmoc]

Hi Climbing. Like the others have said, your story is the same ol story we've all had. You haven't ruined yourself permanently, that's the good news. For most of us addicts, we cannot taper. If we could "resist" then we wouldn't have a problem in the first place. Honestly, I would listen to fellow addicts regarding detox before I would listen to a doctor. Many seem to be uninformed about the reality. I did cold turkey off 10 to 12 per day. Many folks have cold turkeyed from much higher doses. I can be done. It's safe, it's just very uncomfortable. The desire to give up during detox is strong in everyone, but that's the challenge. Detox sux and it's uncomfortable but it's the way you'll get back to your old self. It's the bridge to becoming that person who is engaged in life, the one you described.

How many do you have left? If you have any other pill contacts, make sure you cut all those asap as well.

[ClimbingWalls]

I have about 50 left. they are 10/500 ...on any given day I took 4-5 per day. Sometimes up to 6 pills a day, but nausea would get to me. I know that its not a major amount per day, but it was every day for 4+ years.

[ClimbingWalls]

I have approx. 50 left.

[gnarly_1]

Hi........well you will start to feel again I promise  and no you dident screw yourself up mentally for good the damage is reversible but it takes work....aftercare is a critical part of the recovery process... you can see a therapist or a substance abuse counselor the pastor of you local church or one of the many 12 step programs   I have tryed all of the above but the N/A progam has been the magic bullet for me  it is free the meetings are only a hour long and will give you some place to share where the people will understand any way will talk more about that after we get you detoxed.....now you need to pick a day to start  it would be helpful if you could take some time off work a lot of people take friday and monday off giving you 4 days to get there the worst of it  now your going to need to cut your tyes of your supply... this includes doctors friends or any source of pills you need to have 0 access to pills when you start the process  most people will use pills to feel better wile detoxing  so clean out the house..no safety nets no pills no access to pills is critical  let us know when your ready to start  pick a day and stick to it .. there is always reasons why we cant and there is never a perfect time  at least you found the forum this was priceless when I detoxed  so post and post often you have already begun the process we look forward to helping you...............Gnarly

[ClimbingWalls]

I have started today, by not taking my 2 pills this afternoon. I went to the Doctor and he said he preferred me to do the taper down method. He thought it would be too severe and I might want to give up by day 3. Will I be detoxing myself too slowly now, if I start cutting down instead of sudden cut off?  Can the taper method be successful?

[jerry4664]

welcome , and the saying goes you did not become addicted overnight or for that matter over a month so it will take time you will feel better once your body is fully clean 7-14 days then the mental part comes in you have to be strong and hold on for the next two weeks while your mind and body hunt for the meds that gave them that " Up" feeling the best thing for the low energy is make yourself get up and move you will find that activity mentally is hard to get started but once moving it has huge benefits I wish you the best in your recovery stay around and this spot will help

YES IT WAS COPY PASTE ,

but once you make the decision to jump be prepared have a plan and once you start don't stop take from experience it will plant a mental wall that if your have to start again you will need to climb again an its a *****.. I wish you the best.

[ClimbingWalls]

thank you for the good advice. I appreciate it.

[SunnyDaysAhead12]

Your story sounds very familiar... I'm off 10 mlg 4x a day. It's inly day six but I'm moving along... Slowly... The first four days were the worst. Once you get past that physical part it's not so bad. If you are determined you can do it!!! I'm so done with these pills I'm never looking back! I too wonder what happened to my old life. I have none now... I'm hoping that will change! Best of luck to you. YOU GOT THIS!!!

[ClimbingWalls]

Thank you for your story. I am so glad I found this site and can know others are going through this journey as well. I did go see my doctor tonight and he wants me to do the taper down method. He feels the cold turkey way is too severe and said many times people just give up and go back because the symptoms are too rough. I wish all of us luck, no matter what route we take.

[gnarly_1]

Hi and welcome to the forum.....well your story is familer you just get sick and tired of being sick and tired....you have come to a good place for help we do home detox's every day here on the forum....you have been taking them for a wile but you have kept your dose low...the first part of the process is detoxing....it is kinda like having the flu with some added anxiety and insomnia.....it last around 4 or 5 days....  this is 1/3 phyical and 2/3 mental so be ready to fight it out on both fronts  the best thing you can bring to the table is a positive attitude it makes the difference from being uncomfortable and suffering....suffering is a choice.... right now you need to prepare ...pick up a case of gatoraid your going to need to force the fluids...pick up some ez meals for the next few days your not going to want to cook....pick up some Epsom salt for the bath ...a hot soak goes a long way it re-leaving most of the symptoms you may need several a day....rent a bunch of funny movies it will keep you bizzy wile your up all night most people dont sleep...they make a homeopathic medicine called highlands restful legs you can get it at walgreens it really helps with the restless legs that often accompany detox....try not to let fear into the equation it is always worst in your mind then it turns out to be....I have said this a million times but ...'''you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile'''  this should be your mantra for the next few days...just know the symptoms are only temporary....detoxing is no fun but it is doable with some perseverance and resolve.....read the other posts it will give you a good idea of what to expect....post often we can walk you threw the whole process...if you have questions just ask we have a lot of regular members and we all want to see you get clean  just know it is so so worth it to not be chained to a bottle of pills we all look forward to helping you..........Gnarly

[ClimbingWalls]

Thank you so much for responding. I know this will be rough, but I want my old self back. Will I care about things again? I'm so afraid I've damaged my mental state. I feel like I have been in this FOG for several years and I'm just now seeing its damage.