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Have an important question about quiting Vicodin/Darvon
I have been addicted to opiates such as Darvon and Vicodin for five years. I stopped taking them two weeks ago. I went through some very painful withdrawals. I feel much better now but I still have no energy and am restless at the same time. I am not able to work. I know that my body will eventually start producing the necessary endorphoins to give me energy again. Until then, I started taking Ritalin. It gives me energy while calming me. (It's the only way I can work) My question is: will taking the Ritalin retard my body from starting to produce its own endorphins to give me energy again. I am not planning to continue taking it. Only until I get my energy level back. I am sure I won't get addicted to them becasue I really don't like the way the way they make me feel. I just need some energy to go about my normal tasks. If they are going to affect my body starting to produce its own endorphins then I will stop taking them. I appreciate any info on this as I haven't found an answer any where else.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Hello all. For anyone that does not know, there is a LEGAL herbal pain reliever that has similar properties to opiates; meaning it acts upon opioid receptors in the brain. This herb (plant) is called Kratom. Many people use Kratom to ease the pain and discomfort of narcotic withdrawal (even heroin and oxycontin) and they say it helps them TREMENDOUSLY. Kratom is not as strong as prescription pain killers, but it works in a similar manner and has similar effects! Some equate a 1 teaspoon does of Kratom to taking a Tylenol 3 (higher doses would produce a stronger effect). Best of all, Kratom is 100% LEGAL to buy in the US! I think there are a few states where it is not legal to purchase, please check your local laws before buying. You will see Kratom referred to as "incense" because the websites which sell it are not allowed to promote ingesting (eating) the herb; you do not burn Kratom, you must eat it to gain the effects. I myself use Kratom on a fairly regular basis strictly for pain control (not recreation), simply because I don't have a doctor who is willing to prescribe narcotics for my near-daily pain (really frustrating!). Athough there are many people who do use Kratom for recreational purposes. I find that Kratom works best when a very small amount of alcohol is consumed about 30 minutes after taking it. When I say small, I mean about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of wine. The wine after the Kratom has a synergistic effect which feels very similar to taking a couple of Tylenol 3's or Vicodin (although oddly enough, Vicodin does not work for me - it's very strange, almost like taking a plain Tylenol). There are several different strains of Kratom. The one I like the best is called Maeng Da. It's one of the more expensive ones, but by only a few dollars. In my opinion, Maeng Da gives good pain control without causing drowsiness. Some people say they feel too energized with Maeng Da and they prefer the cheaper "Bali" strain of Kratom (Bali is also known as "Premium Commercial" Kratom). Many people say Bali feels most like Rx pain meds, but it makes me drowsy - but I have narcolepsy, so that may explain it, lol. The Maeng Da gives me a little extra energy which I like. Anyhow, sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share this tip with you all because I understand how miserable it gets when you have no meds for your pain! The company I always order from is Kratom.com. The use Priority Mail shipping so my order usually arrives 2 days after I place my order. They also have next day shipping if you're really desparate! If my post has helped you, perhaps you would help me by using me as a referral. If you use my referral code, you will receive a $5.00 discount on your order. Here is the link with my referral id: http://kratom.com/donna-kp3588.html - The coupon code to save $5.00 is SKCV5A (enter at checkout). The coupon can be used 3 times. This company will also send you a $10.00 coupon for your birthday, good on any size order. :) Thank you in advance if you use my referral link! :) Their referral program will give you 15 points for each person you refer that places an order. When you reach 50 points, they will give you $50.00 in free Kratom! I just need 5 more points - been stuck at 45 points for about a year. I'm not just sharing this info to get referral points (I'd share regardless!), mostly I just want to help! Take care all! :)
Since my last post I have started to have some really bad shoulder pain. It only lasted a couple of days, but I went to the ER, and you got it. I got some pills vicodin at first. Then a scrip for 100 percs. Now this three week waiting period befor my next scrip turned into only one. It was a good week tward the end I felt so good to be doing things without the meds. I woke up thismorning and went as long as I could. Then finaly about 1:00, after a morning of just laying in bed a I caved in. I should have known better as long as I have them in the house I will take them. Oh how I look forward to the day that my doctor hands me a scrip and I say "no thank you I don't need them anymore". I don't see me runing out of pills till the first week in Jan. That will be a bad month for me. I know I have to beet this thing. What is it going to take for me? When will I just say I have had enouph? I hate who I am. I eaven feel I only love my wife and daughter and friends because of and, when I am on the pills. My daughter is so sweet. We adopted her right out of the hospital. She is 6 now and everyday she jumps out of the shcool bus and runs tward me with open arms and almost knocks me over. We have a very good relationship. No body knows what I am going through (exept now all of you) and it has been this way for 20 years, and through the raising of three other children. I don't want them to know untill I am ready to really stop and start living a reall life. They all know I take pain meds but they don't know what these drugs are really all about and what they can do to you. I leveled with my wife about a year ago but then I started to tell her I was better. I just wasn't ready then. You all know what I mean. I know we all have our stories to tell. So lets start sharing them with one another. I will be gone in about a week and a half for three weeks. We are going on a cruis to the Bahamas a trip we have been saving for and looking forward too for some time. Of course I have a doctors appt. right befor I go so I have enouph meds.
Lets all keep our heads up and just know that we CAN BEAT THIS THING. Have some faith in that God given will to live. And thank you for all your support. What a great gift we have in eachother.
I will be reading and maybe posting till I leave so till then.
SUCCESS TO YOU ALL
PS I post my posts in many diferent areas on this site because everybody I want to talk to is all over. Thanks for reading. John B.
Dan, the problem seems to be you generalize too much...
:my bandaids won't stick to my skin any tips?, your answer usually is you are an addict or an addict in denial, methadone is the only thing to help you..If you read my post, you would have seen that I was not asking for advice on my headaches, I was mearly replying to a man that said he had lots of headaches and i wanted to point out that maybe he should find out if they could be cluster headaches, as men seem to suffer mostly from them and he shouldn't be afraid to be labeled a drug addict because he gets many headaches in a row,as that is the nature of cluster headaches,, I then went on to ask him or others if they have had any experience in being treated differently with headaches in the ER versus being male or female, and told how i was treated..I never once asked for any advice as to how to get rid of these headaches, or implied that I didn't know what causes my headaches or anything like that,,in fact i even stated that most of the times i had to go in for a treatment of a headache that was the only time i would have been given meds(narcotics) all year, yet they rarely would treat them with anything other than compazine, which is worthless for stopping a migraine.., then you came back with your post saying migraines shouldn't be treated with narcotics, don;t be ashamed to admit you are an addict, you need a physical they should be looking for the causes of your migraines, like i was getting them every week....so i replied saying I was rather annoyed by your answer and stated not everyone comes here because they themselves are addicts, i said some have family or friends, some may be doing research, I stumbled across this site and wanted to find out what it was with the drugs and why I have been treated so horribly in the past by doctors when i go into be seen in terrible pain, what makes them think that every person in the ER with a migraine is addicted to drugs? after explaining all of this to you, you come back once again and question why i was using this board instead of the chronic pain board for my headaches..(i wasn't asking advice on my headaches, only stating how badly i had been treated in the past) you asked again why i was on an addiction board if i wasn't an addict( i had explained that previously) you questioned why i hadn't mentioned the causes of my headache(i'm female, hormones at certain times of the month are enough to trigger migraines, also not enough sleep or not eating) and you told me once again not to deny it to myself that I am an addict..okay, i must admit I must have been a pretty big addict back then because once a year or so i would head to the ER with a blinding migraine and expect to get treated with narcotics as I know they can knock out a bad migraine for me.....maybe i should be sent to rehab asap..
:my bandaids won't stick to my skin any tips?, your answer usually is you are an addict or an addict in denial, methadone is the only thing to help you..If you read my post, you would have seen that I was not asking for advice on my headaches, I was mearly replying to a man that said he had lots of headaches and i wanted to point out that maybe he should find out if they could be cluster headaches, as men seem to suffer mostly from them and he shouldn't be afraid to be labeled a drug addict because he gets many headaches in a row,as that is the nature of cluster headaches,, I then went on to ask him or others if they have had any experience in being treated differently with headaches in the ER versus being male or female, and told how i was treated..I never once asked for any advice as to how to get rid of these headaches, or implied that I didn't know what causes my headaches or anything like that,,in fact i even stated that most of the times i had to go in for a treatment of a headache that was the only time i would have been given meds(narcotics) all year, yet they rarely would treat them with anything other than compazine, which is worthless for stopping a migraine.., then you came back with your post saying migraines shouldn't be treated with narcotics, don;t be ashamed to admit you are an addict, you need a physical they should be looking for the causes of your migraines, like i was getting them every week....so i replied saying I was rather annoyed by your answer and stated not everyone comes here because they themselves are addicts, i said some have family or friends, some may be doing research, I stumbled across this site and wanted to find out what it was with the drugs and why I have been treated so horribly in the past by doctors when i go into be seen in terrible pain, what makes them think that every person in the ER with a migraine is addicted to drugs? after explaining all of this to you, you come back once again and question why i was using this board instead of the chronic pain board for my headaches..(i wasn't asking advice on my headaches, only stating how badly i had been treated in the past) you asked again why i was on an addiction board if i wasn't an addict( i had explained that previously) you questioned why i hadn't mentioned the causes of my headache(i'm female, hormones at certain times of the month are enough to trigger migraines, also not enough sleep or not eating) and you told me once again not to deny it to myself that I am an addict..okay, i must admit I must have been a pretty big addict back then because once a year or so i would head to the ER with a blinding migraine and expect to get treated with narcotics as I know they can knock out a bad migraine for me.....maybe i should be sent to rehab asap..
It's confusing because you come to an addiction forum for pain issues. Do you know about chronic pain forums? I am truly sorry for any pain you suffer. I think pain medicine SHOULD br given to people who suffer pain. I am not saying you do not suffer with pain. You did not answer other qusetions I posed. Have you ever determined what causes your migraines. There is a pattern to the disease of opiate addiction. Try not to follow that path. I just wonder what your reasons for coming to an addiction forum if you do not worry a little about addiction. Just watch out for denial. Best of luck with your chronic pain. I hope your pain leaves with Godspeed.
Dan (substanse abuse counselor)
Dan (substanse abuse counselor)
Dan, Yes, I am being honest with myself, I am not an addict, sorry but I will tell you right away, the way you put across your post makes me feel like you don't believe that I went to the hospital for a migraine, but for narcotics..that to me is offensive, since there was nothing in my post to allude to that(everyone that goes to the ER needing a narcotic is not an addict) I also go to the ER for narcotics when I get a kidney stone, that doesn't mean i am an addict either,most people that get kidneystones, get narcotics for the pain relief, that doesn't make them addicts either. I am also angry that I am treated like that when I come into the ER wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night because the light hurts so bad from the headache and I'm not given the proper pain control.. My husband can go to urgent care with a sinus infection and he is offered a shot and written out a prescription for vicodin, anytime i've ever been to an urgent care for a sinus infection, I'm given a prescription for an anti-biotic and told to take tylenol..
I have tried many kinds of preventative treatment and treatment for migraines over the years, it doesn't mean that I never get another migraine again, midrin is the stupidest excuse for a drug to kill pain of a migraine that there is! Imitrex was given to me once and I thought i would have a heart attack, felt like something huge was sitting on my chest and my heart started racing if that's not enough, it did nothing for the migraine!! I was told by a doc that those types of medicines usually only work if you use them at the very beginnings of a migraine.. I could say that I end up in the ER on average once a year for a severe migraine.. if they were to give me narcotics those times that would be the only time that whole year i had taken a narcotic, if they would give me a narcotic for the pain which most often they didn't..does that make me an addict? looking for a narcotic once a year?? it's been very recent that i have been on daily narcotics for chronic pain(not migraines)...I am glad that you are not an ER doc with your bias against narcotics, and a few of those ER docs also shouldn't be there, just because you had problems controlling your intake, does not mean that every person that takes them or comes into the ER with a migraine or other severe pain is "drug seeking" well yes i was drug seeking, i needed relief from the pain!!! I ask a question about what people thought if men were treated better than woman when they come in with a headache because I have rarely been treated seriously or properly, and from that you want to tell me to find causes and take preventatives and other painkillers that do nothing without knowing how often i am stricken with migraines how severe are they and don't be afraid to admit to yourself that you are an addict!! that is utterly ridiculous!! not only do i feel like i'm laughed right out of the ER when I come in and they treat my severe migraine with compazine and benadryl, but don't you think I would really be laughed right out of an NA meeting when i told them I didn't take any narcotics, but I think I must be an addict, because usually once a year I get a severe migraine and go to the ER for pain control...
that's kind of like someone joining NA saying I am here because I had my appendix out and they gave me narcotics afterwards because it hurt so bad, so i must be an addict because i didn't just suffer, I let them give me the shot..It's people like you in medical fields that perpetuate this whole thing and give someone in pain a bad name... Don't assume everyone that reads or posts on this board is an addict, they may have a friend,spouse or other family member that is an addict(I don't) or they may have other reasons for coming here...I came to see what it is all about, as I have been treated so horribly at times by doctors and hospitals, now I know why....
Beanie
I have tried many kinds of preventative treatment and treatment for migraines over the years, it doesn't mean that I never get another migraine again, midrin is the stupidest excuse for a drug to kill pain of a migraine that there is! Imitrex was given to me once and I thought i would have a heart attack, felt like something huge was sitting on my chest and my heart started racing if that's not enough, it did nothing for the migraine!! I was told by a doc that those types of medicines usually only work if you use them at the very beginnings of a migraine.. I could say that I end up in the ER on average once a year for a severe migraine.. if they were to give me narcotics those times that would be the only time that whole year i had taken a narcotic, if they would give me a narcotic for the pain which most often they didn't..does that make me an addict? looking for a narcotic once a year?? it's been very recent that i have been on daily narcotics for chronic pain(not migraines)...I am glad that you are not an ER doc with your bias against narcotics, and a few of those ER docs also shouldn't be there, just because you had problems controlling your intake, does not mean that every person that takes them or comes into the ER with a migraine or other severe pain is "drug seeking" well yes i was drug seeking, i needed relief from the pain!!! I ask a question about what people thought if men were treated better than woman when they come in with a headache because I have rarely been treated seriously or properly, and from that you want to tell me to find causes and take preventatives and other painkillers that do nothing without knowing how often i am stricken with migraines how severe are they and don't be afraid to admit to yourself that you are an addict!! that is utterly ridiculous!! not only do i feel like i'm laughed right out of the ER when I come in and they treat my severe migraine with compazine and benadryl, but don't you think I would really be laughed right out of an NA meeting when i told them I didn't take any narcotics, but I think I must be an addict, because usually once a year I get a severe migraine and go to the ER for pain control...
that's kind of like someone joining NA saying I am here because I had my appendix out and they gave me narcotics afterwards because it hurt so bad, so i must be an addict because i didn't just suffer, I let them give me the shot..It's people like you in medical fields that perpetuate this whole thing and give someone in pain a bad name... Don't assume everyone that reads or posts on this board is an addict, they may have a friend,spouse or other family member that is an addict(I don't) or they may have other reasons for coming here...I came to see what it is all about, as I have been treated so horribly at times by doctors and hospitals, now I know why....
Beanie
Joedice, the above message was in response to a message by Beanie. Concerning migraine headaches and emergency rooms.I read a post above that I thought you wrote. Well, anyway I hope this message did not offend you. I quess if this does not apply to you scratch it, sorry.
Joedice did you know that 10 year addicts could be helped by methadone or LAAM?
Dan..
Joedice did you know that 10 year addicts could be helped by methadone or LAAM?
Dan..
Opiate adiction is a vicious disease that attcks the endorphins or natural pain killers in your body. If you continue to take these substances on a regular basis they will deplete these natural chemicals. Without a normal supply of these chemicals in your body you will experience depression,cravings,nervousness, insomnia and all the symptoms of withdrawals. And you will have a lower tolerance to pain. Treat opiate addiction as a disease and you will get better results. The substances that keep this disease alive and well in your body is vicodin.percodan/percoset.lortab,hydrocodone cough medicines(tussionex,hycotuss,hycodan) and many more. The only way to replinish these chemicals in your body is through abstinence.I know you already know this.
Joedice,I think you already know that abstinence is a very difficult procedure. You must get all the help that you can find. Without this help this disease will stay active and you will have a constant battle. HAVE you tried all the medicines that are specifically for migraines. Cafecort(sp)? inderal,imitrex,midrin and others.Opiates sometimes can CAUSE migraines. Narcotics do nothing for the causess for migraine headaches. You need to have a physical if you haven't already done this to determine that you do not have a medical problem that is causing these headaches. Doctors as you know do not like to keep treating migraine headaches with narcotics. This does nothing in determining what is causing the headaches. I know that you are probably having severe pains to warrant pain killers. You must find out what is causing these migraines. Men or woman who go to the energency room for pain killers are treated the same. Usually. Be honest with yourself. If you are addicted to pain killers do not be embarrased. It can happen to anyone. This disease does not discriminate. Buprenorphine is a opiate pain killer used to help people through withdrawals and pain issues. It also does wonders for depression that goes along with withdrawals. Not all doctors know about this drug yet. You would have to enquire to find out which doctors in your area use this medication. It is much safer for pain than vicodin like drugs. Good Luck, be Spiritual, God bless. Dan..
Joedice,I think you already know that abstinence is a very difficult procedure. You must get all the help that you can find. Without this help this disease will stay active and you will have a constant battle. HAVE you tried all the medicines that are specifically for migraines. Cafecort(sp)? inderal,imitrex,midrin and others.Opiates sometimes can CAUSE migraines. Narcotics do nothing for the causess for migraine headaches. You need to have a physical if you haven't already done this to determine that you do not have a medical problem that is causing these headaches. Doctors as you know do not like to keep treating migraine headaches with narcotics. This does nothing in determining what is causing the headaches. I know that you are probably having severe pains to warrant pain killers. You must find out what is causing these migraines. Men or woman who go to the energency room for pain killers are treated the same. Usually. Be honest with yourself. If you are addicted to pain killers do not be embarrased. It can happen to anyone. This disease does not discriminate. Buprenorphine is a opiate pain killer used to help people through withdrawals and pain issues. It also does wonders for depression that goes along with withdrawals. Not all doctors know about this drug yet. You would have to enquire to find out which doctors in your area use this medication. It is much safer for pain than vicodin like drugs. Good Luck, be Spiritual, God bless. Dan..
i think the depression that goes with the withdrawel is worse than anything in the world..if it wasen,t for that i think i could make it...does anyone think like me...thank and best of better days to come....joedice..
Prayer is all that helps me to get off vicodine. This is not my first time to quit. I have Chrones Disease (inflamation in the colon) and have been taking vicodine for three years every day. It starts out with half in the morning and half in the evening and in a few months four or five a day and wanting more. This cycle is crazy. So now I am down to two a day and struggling to to stop. But given the real pain of my colon I fear that I will be back on the merry-go-round again. The phisical addiction is worse than the disease, if I can really belive this maybe I can stay off for good. It is difficult when you require pain pills for real pain and also suffer with addiction.
okay I think i know how this posting thing works, if i want to address it to somone in particular i have to put it in the line that says my name..i think
this message is for darryl,
this is my first post so not sure if I am doing it right, but will try anyways..
I have been lurking for a couple months now and have found some invaluable information. I know this is an old post and am not sure if Darryl is even reading it anymore, but I wanted to comment on his post about "being afraid to tell his doctor about his migraines because he gets so many of them so often". Have you researched the possibility that you are not having migraines at all,but instead cluster headaches?? I know men do get migraines but from what I have heard the majority that get them are women. but men do get something called cluster headaches. I do not know alot about them and you probably could do some internet searches to find out about them. But i guess they are similar in pain levels to migraines, happen usually on one side of your head and they get their name because they come in clusters, several in a period of days or whatever. I'm not sure on the types of meds they use on them but they tend to happen to men in their 30's and 40's alot. so Darryl don't be afraid to tell your doctor about the frequency of your headaches and ask him if they could be cluster headaches., your doc shouldn't be surprised at all with you telling you get them so often because that is the exact nature of the problem. if have these and lie to him that you don't get headaches very often he can't diagnose you with them properly and you won't be able to get the right treatment/medications to prevent them or make them go away when you have them. I'm also curious to know if men are treated better in the ER when they come in with a bad headache? Do they treat them more seriously than a woman, ie. not like a junkie or it's the typical woman, it's all in your "head" so to speak. I have made several trips to the ER over the years and for most of them have been treated horribly when i come in with a migraine. i've been told they don't treat migraines with narcotics in their ER and i can have a shot of Compazine, which does NOTHING for the headache, or told that Compazine will take away the headache on its own. Last year the doctor went to the trouble of putting an IV in my hand to give me "quick relief" and then proceeded to give me benadryl and compazine in it, which left me with a horrible reaction ( I can no longer take compazine) I thought I would go right through the roof, my legs couldn't stay still, i was panicked, felt like my skin was crawling. I imagine it's what one would feel like on speed. the headache was still there but at that point it didn't matter, I couldn't get out of the hospital fast enough. I told the doctor yes the headache was better and I needed to go home. I did tell him how i felt and he said I had some kind of reaction, can't remember what he called it, but he gave me some ativan in the IV site to counteract it and make me feel better. I guess my point is, if I am in enough pain to go through the hassle of waiting a couple hours at the ER I've already tried my meds at home and benadryl and compazine is NOT going to take away a headache that severe. especially because I would never go to the ER for a minor migraine. It is severe by that time and I am at the end of my rope, but I usually end up leaving without receiving the proper treatment and feeling no better. I was just wondering if this is a woman thing as woman are often treated less seriously about their pain. they think we are whiny wimps who can't handle a little hurt. Beanie
this is my first post so not sure if I am doing it right, but will try anyways..
I have been lurking for a couple months now and have found some invaluable information. I know this is an old post and am not sure if Darryl is even reading it anymore, but I wanted to comment on his post about "being afraid to tell his doctor about his migraines because he gets so many of them so often". Have you researched the possibility that you are not having migraines at all,but instead cluster headaches?? I know men do get migraines but from what I have heard the majority that get them are women. but men do get something called cluster headaches. I do not know alot about them and you probably could do some internet searches to find out about them. But i guess they are similar in pain levels to migraines, happen usually on one side of your head and they get their name because they come in clusters, several in a period of days or whatever. I'm not sure on the types of meds they use on them but they tend to happen to men in their 30's and 40's alot. so Darryl don't be afraid to tell your doctor about the frequency of your headaches and ask him if they could be cluster headaches., your doc shouldn't be surprised at all with you telling you get them so often because that is the exact nature of the problem. if have these and lie to him that you don't get headaches very often he can't diagnose you with them properly and you won't be able to get the right treatment/medications to prevent them or make them go away when you have them. I'm also curious to know if men are treated better in the ER when they come in with a bad headache? Do they treat them more seriously than a woman, ie. not like a junkie or it's the typical woman, it's all in your "head" so to speak. I have made several trips to the ER over the years and for most of them have been treated horribly when i come in with a migraine. i've been told they don't treat migraines with narcotics in their ER and i can have a shot of Compazine, which does NOTHING for the headache, or told that Compazine will take away the headache on its own. Last year the doctor went to the trouble of putting an IV in my hand to give me "quick relief" and then proceeded to give me benadryl and compazine in it, which left me with a horrible reaction ( I can no longer take compazine) I thought I would go right through the roof, my legs couldn't stay still, i was panicked, felt like my skin was crawling. I imagine it's what one would feel like on speed. the headache was still there but at that point it didn't matter, I couldn't get out of the hospital fast enough. I told the doctor yes the headache was better and I needed to go home. I did tell him how i felt and he said I had some kind of reaction, can't remember what he called it, but he gave me some ativan in the IV site to counteract it and make me feel better. I guess my point is, if I am in enough pain to go through the hassle of waiting a couple hours at the ER I've already tried my meds at home and benadryl and compazine is NOT going to take away a headache that severe. especially because I would never go to the ER for a minor migraine. It is severe by that time and I am at the end of my rope, but I usually end up leaving without receiving the proper treatment and feeling no better. I was just wondering if this is a woman thing as woman are often treated less seriously about their pain. they think we are whiny wimps who can't handle a little hurt. Beanie
To: Shayna and Joedice
I am glad we have each other to talk to. I got a scrip today for vicodin and now I feel much better. I am up and doing thins again. I wish it could be this way without them. I feel like I am cheating. Every one els has to work at feeling good and I just take a pill. I am really cheating my self this is going to get me one day. I have to stop before I hit bottom again. This is a big problem.
I am glad we have each other to talk to. I got a scrip today for vicodin and now I feel much better. I am up and doing thins again. I wish it could be this way without them. I feel like I am cheating. Every one els has to work at feeling good and I just take a pill. I am really cheating my self this is going to get me one day. I have to stop before I hit bottom again. This is a big problem.
Of all the posts i've read, and posted here, yours really struck a chord with me. I've been on the ride for about 3 years and what you said is so true. At first there is such euphoria and energy, etc. and then those emotions begin to replace your real emotions. I don't feel anything anymore without my little helpers. Then even the small things in life just don't seem to matter. It has become increasingly worse over the years (as has my intake) from 2 to 4 to 8 to 10 vic es a day. I just don't care anymore. Not about my friends, my home, my job, nothing not even myself. I don't feel anything. Just like a fake. I hate myself for this. I'm trying to cut back now, before I lose everything I've ever worked for, but most of all myself. Thanks for making me feel not so alone....
Hello. First time here and I SERIOUSLY need some answers. I am not a long time addict. I have had NO problems with additions of any type so what I'm going through right now is very scary. I am 4 and 1/2 months pregnant and my doctor prescribed Vicodin for severe migraines that started right after I got pregnent. He said that the drugs weren't known to cause birth defects so because my migraines were unmanageable he gave me a limited supply. After spending the next month calling my doctor to get a 10 pill refill every 3-4 days, I explained that it was ridiculous and that he needed to give me enough until I saw him the next month (90 tablets). Little did I know what I was in for. After taking them the second month, 3-4 times a day my doctor and I decided to ween myself off and see if my migraines were gone. I had been concerned about taking them anyway so I decided to stop taking them at all. OH MY GOD. My question is: Are these withdrawals...light headaches, cold sweats..I'm hot but my skin is cold but I sweat everywhere all the way down to my wrists, diarreah (spelling??)tired, close to anxiety attack for which I have been diagnosed in the past so I know what they are, no energy, I scared I'm going to die, ACHY, everywhere, neck, arms, wrists, slight nausea, moody, cry all the time......today is day number 3 and I can make it thru if I know that what I'm feeling has a name or a known cause. It's been scary because I thought I was having a horrible pregnancy and I felt like my body might reject the baby. I'd feel light symptoms while I was taking the Vicodin but only when it came time for me to take another one. SO, I've been kinda yucky for the last 2 months and I thought it was because I'm pregnant. Please respond and tell me if I have hope....
Thanks for your reply joedice. I wish I had to wait only 4 days. I just was counting down the days for myself befor I read your reply. I wont get them till Dec 12 and I am going to hit him up for 100 pills instead of 50 this time. I don't ever want to go gack to the way I was befor. Taking so many. I know that is a dead end street. I have crashed so many times I know what that story is all about. So now I just pick up my precription and blow through it in a couple of weeks and count down till my next coctors visit, usualy in about 5-6 weeks. So now I just wait. What a life. Someday we will beat this thing.
SUCCESS TO YOU ALL:John
SUCCESS TO YOU ALL:John
yes indeed john, you have taken the same thoughts i have, as far as addiction... learning to do every thing without the pills, to be happy, to laugh, cry , motorvate yourself..on and on..i have been on this rollorcoaster ride for 10-1/2 years... on mostly,its a ***** and i guess we all know the rest...we seem to all think alike..my thoughts every minute of every day when i,m going to run out ...oh just the thought of it...anyway best of luck to ya john & all of us... yeah i just started up again after a 4 day hell on earth withdrawel our day will come....jo....;...
All of you sound like you have this drug thing figured out. And I can relate to all of you. I have been taking pain meds on and off(more on than off) now for almost 20 years, and befor that a pot smoker. For the last 3 years I have been taking percodan. I have cut way back on them now partly because I was fearful my doctor would cut me off and partly because I know what they are doing to me. I do suffer from migrains but very few, much less than I tell my doctor about or my wife. About a year ago I stopped taking them as much. I was taking about 120 pills a month. Now I take 50 about every two months. When I get them I will go through them in about two weeks. Then stay strait till my next doctors visit(in about 7 weeks)I have found that the bigest catch with these drugs are that they give you a way to feel, a way to stimulate your mind, and all you have to do is put a pill in your mouth. It is human nature to want to stimulate you mind somehow, to feel a certain emotion. Without drugs this takes reall work.
Without drugs- To fell a sence of accomplishment. One might take up a hoby, or seek a rewarding career. With drugs you can just take a pill and sit back or do something small around the house. That is just one of many examples.
After you take them for a long time you loose the ability to become self-motivated. The only way you know to feel anything is to just take your pill of chioce. Thats why when you stop them you don't feel anything, you just want to lay around the house and not face up to anything. When quiting drugs it is a whole reshaping of how you conduct your life. You have to learn how to feel happy, concerned, interested, motivated feel love. Any emotion you can posibly think of has to be relearned, all over again or sometimes even learned for the first time. It is a hard battle but I can say this. When you achieve happyness on you own rather than with drugs it is a deeper feeling, a feeling of treu happyness not the fake happyness from some drug.
My precription will come in 3 weeks and I will take it again. I am just now doing things without the drugs and doing well, but I look forward to that next fix. I hope some day I will get sick of this rollercoaster ride and quit but I am just not ready yet.
Success to all of you
Without drugs- To fell a sence of accomplishment. One might take up a hoby, or seek a rewarding career. With drugs you can just take a pill and sit back or do something small around the house. That is just one of many examples.
After you take them for a long time you loose the ability to become self-motivated. The only way you know to feel anything is to just take your pill of chioce. Thats why when you stop them you don't feel anything, you just want to lay around the house and not face up to anything. When quiting drugs it is a whole reshaping of how you conduct your life. You have to learn how to feel happy, concerned, interested, motivated feel love. Any emotion you can posibly think of has to be relearned, all over again or sometimes even learned for the first time. It is a hard battle but I can say this. When you achieve happyness on you own rather than with drugs it is a deeper feeling, a feeling of treu happyness not the fake happyness from some drug.
My precription will come in 3 weeks and I will take it again. I am just now doing things without the drugs and doing well, but I look forward to that next fix. I hope some day I will get sick of this rollercoaster ride and quit but I am just not ready yet.
Success to all of you
In your earlier post, you said that you needed to quit for yourself and for your children. Remember, my experience has taught me that if you quit for someone else, besides yourself, you will relapse eventually; this is probably not true for everyone, but it is what happened to me. In 1995 I went to in-patient treatment for 30 days. I stayed clean for 4 years. However, I quit, not for myself, but for my ex-wife(we were still married in 1995). I relapsed in late 1999 and it was worse than the previous times I had used. I think that, until you are ready to quit for yourself, you will not be sincere about your recovery. As far as using with your husband, I have never had that obstacle to contend with. If you plan to stay with him, I suggest that you have a heart to heart talk with him and tell him the truth about your feelings toward cleaning up.
CHARLIE
CHARLIE
It truly is sad when your spouse is in the same boat with you in addiction.
If I were you, I would look for an NA or AA meeting and spill my guts. No one will laugh at you because we've all been there and done that. Plus it is free and you can leave anytime you want if you don't feel comfortable.
If you have been able to go seven days in the past without using, you are probably psycologically addicted as physical withdrawals last about four days.
If you go into a rehab program, they will usually point you towards NA and AA anyway.
Your husband is hurting your chances of recovery as you are co-dependant on one-another in addiction. I hope this makes sense to you. Please think about yourself and survival!
If I were you, I would look for an NA or AA meeting and spill my guts. No one will laugh at you because we've all been there and done that. Plus it is free and you can leave anytime you want if you don't feel comfortable.
If you have been able to go seven days in the past without using, you are probably psycologically addicted as physical withdrawals last about four days.
If you go into a rehab program, they will usually point you towards NA and AA anyway.
Your husband is hurting your chances of recovery as you are co-dependant on one-another in addiction. I hope this makes sense to you. Please think about yourself and survival!
Thanks for the support. I do realize that detox has to be done, I have went up to 7 days with none then a "friend" (read husband) will find some, " just a few " and here I am again. Yes, I want help but when its not just me but my partner and neither one has any willpower it makes for a sad life. I really do not know where to turn, I also abuse alcohol and when I try to quit all I am like the ***** from hell to everyone I love. Any thoughts on this situation?? Thanks to anyone who has any ideas.
I can relate to where you are in your addiction, and it sounds like you really do want some help. I am currently attending an intensive out-patient program that has helped me tremendously.
However, you have to detox before you can try out-patient treatment. For myself, I detoxed at my home. I was taking anywhere from 30 -40 10mg. lortabs daily. Also, I was mixing oxycontin when I couldn't get any hydrocodone. Needless to say, detox was not very easy. For the first 3 days, I had chills, cramps, diahrrea, etc.etc. I knew if I could just get through the first few days I could make it; it's not easy though. I have been clean now for 37 days and I feel so, so much better. It's nice not to wake up in the morning and not be able to function until "the deal is done", and I have made my connection. Finances seem to improve overnight; every aspect of my life is just better! I wish you luck, which ever avenue you pursue to rid yourself of the drugs.
CHARLIE
However, you have to detox before you can try out-patient treatment. For myself, I detoxed at my home. I was taking anywhere from 30 -40 10mg. lortabs daily. Also, I was mixing oxycontin when I couldn't get any hydrocodone. Needless to say, detox was not very easy. For the first 3 days, I had chills, cramps, diahrrea, etc.etc. I knew if I could just get through the first few days I could make it; it's not easy though. I have been clean now for 37 days and I feel so, so much better. It's nice not to wake up in the morning and not be able to function until "the deal is done", and I have made my connection. Finances seem to improve overnight; every aspect of my life is just better! I wish you luck, which ever avenue you pursue to rid yourself of the drugs.
CHARLIE
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