HELP PLEASE :(

[mommyof4321]

I'm a mom of 4 beautiful kids and I've been taking vicodin for 7 years (more on and off) I was in a terrible accident and broke my neck and back in 5 places. I have been wanting to stop taking them for years and am needing more and more everyday. I'm very scared of what will happen if I don't stop, but I'm scared of what's going to happen if I do. I lost my sister 7 years ago to a herion overdose. She left behind 2 children. I don't want that to happen to me! I'm affraid of what the withdrawl will be like and if I will be able to do it with the kids home. I feel like I'm not a good mother because I'm always in a "cloud"
Can someone please give me some advice and honest answers?? I'm scared that I'm not strong enough to deal with the pain...

[Free_ovitall]

I'd also be more concerned about xanax.  You have to slowly reduce those over a long period of time if you want to stop taking those.
Personally, I don't know why so many people go on that stuff, it's a bad drug.
But this is America- everyone thinks a pill will solve all their problems, rather than reassessing their diatary needs that are 9 times out of 10 the root of their health problems, whether it be sleep, anxiety, depression, etc.

[Free_ovitall]

Perhaps you should talk to your doctor about getting on somthing else, preferably without acetaminophen or ibuprofen in it.

If you have chronic pain, there is nothing "bad" about having to take an opiate for pain management, even though it is unavoidable that you will develop a physical dependence to it.

I would be more concerned about taking all that acetaminophen  than a physical dependence for something you may need.

Dying of liver failure from acetaminophen overdose will leave your children without a mother just the same as a person who OD's on heroin.

If you do need the pain relief for chronic pain, then just make sure you switch off to different acting opiates every few years when they stop being as effective, rather than increasing doses. A good pain management doc will keep you pain under control without making you feel like a Zombie, and help you life the best life as possible where you can have maximum mobility, and enjoy life with your kids.

If you are miserable with pain, stuck in bed  and crabby, you won't be spending quality time with your children either, so if you need pain management, you shouldn't be afraid of taking an opiate just because of it's  physical dependence issue. Just be well educated about opiate use to make sure your doc is giving you the best treatment possible and helping you find another formulation when a particular opiate isn't working for you
anymore.
Many people live productive happy lives even though they need to use opiates for chronic pain, the key is to know when you need to change medications when you become to tolerant to the one you are taking.

Talking to your doctor should be your first priority rather than worrying yourself because of all the misinformation about opiates there is out there.

I would be far more concerned about the amount of acetaminophen you are taking daily. The amount of actual opiate you are taking for the pain your type of injuries can cause isn't really a whole lot, although you'd probably have better pain management taking a slow release single action opiate= oxycontin- (pills without acetaminophen or ibuprofen) rather than the fast acting form (oxycodone) that you are taking now.
Talk to your doc about it and see what he recomends. He may switch you to another considering you have been taking oxy for 7 years now.  You should not  have any withdrawal problems switching to another type of opiate.

[mommyof4321]

one more thing...I could NEVER taper either!! If they're here...I take them!! I wish I were that strong, but with me it's all or nothing. It might've been easier if I could cut my amount in half and THEN go ct, but I don't think I can

[mommyof4321]

I think that I have it in my mind that I will go through the same severity of withdrawl that I witnessed my sister go through...I'm expecting the worst. Will this be like heroin withdrawl?

[mommyof4321]

Oh no, I'm not pregnant!! LOL!! I already have 4 children, although I think if I were I would have that much more power behind me to do this sucessfully!! I would prefer not to contact my dr about this only because I have a "team" of dr's and do not want this in my file. Medicallly I also have MS, scoliosis, spina bifida aculta, deteriation, herniation, buldging disks, arthritis...the list goes on. I would rather do this on my own (in my own shame)???
Is that wrong?

[littlebit667]

I was not pregnant when I quit.  You will need about 5 days of down time.  The 3 and 4th day tend to be the suckiest!  :)  Actually, some people manage to work because they have to and most have said that work actually helped them keep their minds off of their w/d.  I am sure others will chime in with good advice to help you.  Check with your doctor about what in the Thomas Recipe you can take with pregnancy and get ready.  Get the gatorade and foods you like (easy simple things) in the house.  Some will tell you to taper...but you need to remember that a lot of us can't taper.  Man, I could not.  If you can GREAT.  You can talk to your dr. about a plan to do that.