Cold turkey

[KimmiC52]

I hope someone out there can help me. I was injured at work and am beating myself up over all the pain pills I've taken over the past 9 months. Everyday I would take (2-4) vicoden 7.5mg and about 4 perc 10s. I've been vomiting and experiencing nausea for month now do my dr said I have to get off these pills and clearly I want to too because my injury is better and I have no use for these meds except to feel "normal" so this morning I flushed all my pills down the toilet and am day 1 cold turkey. What am I to expect?!?! I'm kinda freaking out. I know what the dr has told me, but I'd LOVe support from people who have been in my shoes or similar. this is so horrible. I did not realize how dependent I was in these damn meds. I'm starting to pheen for them now. My dr called me in something for the nausea so hoping that helps. I'm guessing best thing is to keep busy. When will I feel better? When will the urge to want these pills go away?? I feel like I don't even know what it's like to feel normal anymore, what's that anyways?!?! Anyways, hope I can get some positive feedback here, as I'm sort. Of at a fragile point as we speak and not really with the clearest mind as I'm worried about what's to come. Thanks so much!!

[KimmiC52]

Thanks for your response, I do hope that this gets easier everyday. The worst part is this is all stemming from a workers comp case and my dr has cleared me as of today to return light duty to work ((iWork at an acute inpatient psychiatric hosp for adolescents)) so this is not good feeling this way and trying to work--- my general practitioner does not want me returning though and he said being off these pills is more critical than any job so he said I should not return to work for a good week as I may have the urge to use if under the stress and on top of not feeling well. How horrible to call out for a week after being out of work months from this injury. But I guess I'll have to get some medical leave to cover me. He is right though I need toget better. ESP because so many of my coworkers have injuries too and lockers full of pills. I don't need that :-(  thanks for your supporting words!!

[KimmiC52]

Hi Sara, thanks for the response!!! Last night was horrible, I couldn't sleep for the life of me and felt like I wanted to jump through my skin. It was horrible. I think all in all I had about one hour of sleep. I have a couple dr appts today and they aren't close by, I'm sort of nervous to drive but hate to canc last minute. At the time of making these appts of course I did not expect to make this leap off the meds. It was a very random decision, but needed to get done. I know I can do this as I didn't start taking them for recreational use... Although as one of my doctors said, I probably do have underlying depression that I could be unaware of and the drugs obviously masked those emotions and feelings. So next step is finding a psychiatrist. I'm thinking I may go to an NA mtg too. ((crazy enough, I am a social worker in the mental health/substance abuse field)) so I know too much and at th same time I feel helpless and like I know nothing. I have sent clients to NA and I have gone too previously (( I don't like to send my clients to groups or treatment without knowing what it is like myself )) and the meeting was a very positive atmosphere. My friends think that's a little extreme since I never did a ton of pills a day etc etc. but that is besides the point, point is my body is addicted to pain killers and I am no different the John Doe whose been smoking crack for years. Anyways, sorry for the ramble!!! I really hope people continue to respond, is there a place to go daily to chat with people on here?? I think that may help too!!! This is a very humbling experience, it can happen to ANYONE!!!! The face of addiction does not have a face, hair color, skin color, height, weight, social class etc etc etc. anyways until next time!! Let me know if there's chats on this site, as I am new, that I can go daily to just talk to people rather then posting questions! Thanks a bunch!! Have a blessed day!

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Hopefully the meds that the doctor gave you will help with the nausea.  Just make sure you are drinking some fluids as you dont want to get dehydrated.  Many people here use the amino acids or the Thomas Recipe for their supplements(those are listed in the health pages)  I just take Ester C,B-6 and B-12.  They do help as we need to feed our bodies something good after the abuse we put it thru.  These next few days will be rough but you will get thru them.  Try and stay as busy as you can, getting our natural endorphins working again is the goal.  Warm baths and music help a ton.  Keep talking with us as we know what you are going thru.  You can do this~~~sara

[KimmiC52]

Thanks guys!! @vicki- I am very healthy except these disc herniations from this injury. I am hoping because Im doing this sooner rather than later I will be ok, but I know it's still going to be a bumpy ride. As my dr said this is one hiccup in life's journey, I have my whole life ahead of me! Very true, but it's so much easier to be optimistic when not feeling like I want to pop some pills to feel good. But I'm tired of being a prisoner to these pills, thinking when can my next dose be. I'm tired of being lethargic or unmotivated as that's not my typical personality. Mostly, my poor family dealing with my moodiness and edgyness, thank God they are so supportive and non judgemental. Is there any supplements I should take?? Do you think I will be doing a lot of vomiting with the doses I was taking??

[fpvfem]

Hey mate I'm on day 3 without morphine its hard ya gotta won't it
Its good that ya flused them all I can say is a lot of batgs or showers n drink a lot of water

[vicki595]

First of all, welcome!  It's great that you're in touch with your doctor. It's always the best thing...

Keeping busy is good but you're going to feel like you have the flu for the next 3 or so days. Just go with it and treat the symptoms. The most important thing is to stay hydrated. Once your tummy settles down start sipping some tea. Keep a big glass of water with you all the time. Just rest,keep warm,take hot baths,watch funny movies,and you'll feel better in no time!

Are you otherwise healthy? On any other meds?