Detox while working

[Redjens45]

I have started the tapering off program. I am also gathering all the items I need for the Day I take no pills and detox. My question is, I will have.to work through the process. I just started a new job, work 6 days a week. My boss will not only understand, there is no one to replace me if I take off. I'm in sales, so I need to be on my game. Again, can't loose my job. I am a single mom. Please any insights, on how to get through this work issue? Thanks

[Sweetness91]

Hi there...I agree with Evolver...for 8 years I took methadone because the back/hip/leg pain was just "unbearable"...but I got to a point that I didn't really know WHAT kind of pain I had because I had been on the meds so long. So I decided to taper off and see where I stood. 95 days later I can honestly tell you I don't have 25% of the pain that I did ON the meds! My pain was actually worse all those years. I also have 3 herniated discs, moderate degenerative disc disease & arthritis in my hips..but it is tolerable and manageable with OTC meds. Please don't let the thought of possibly being in pain keep you from at least trying...I truly think you will be surprised should you decide to stop using them! Good luck and God Bless you both!

[EvolverU]

Hey! me again,
I'm so sorry to hear about your back, That's tough! It's always more difficult when it's a couple because we tend to play off each other as addicts. I've been there...a bunch of times. Each one of you has to do it for yourselves first, and for each other second.
Re: the pain - you might just find that w/o the opiates the pain is bearable. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but many people who started opiates for reasons like yours report that they feel less pain after kicking. You might also consider going to a pain clinic where they teach you to strengthen the surrounding muscles & exercises to distract the brain to ease the pain signals. Bodywork might also be an option but I'd research this carefully - I'm certainly not a doctor and wouldn't want you to be further injured.
Try not to be anxious about your detox. Look at as an unpleasant but necessary initiation into the life the two have always wanted for yourselves. You can own this if you want it bad enough, plan ahead and have enough patience w/ the process, yourselves and each other. I'm wishing you all the strength, love and grit you'll need to beat this!

[toothfairie]

hi....so glad your boyfriend is going to stop as well...you guys can help each other....just stick together and ride out the next few days of having the "flu"....you can do this....i would suggest getting rid of all the pills you have tho....maybe talk to your doctor about some diff non-narcotic pain meds that will help you both?  Just stay strong and you will get thru it....it is so worth it to reach the other side of this.  We are pulling for you both!  keep posting for support and we can help.

[Redjens45]

I had.a conversation, with my boyfriend. He hadn't mentioned it before, but he wants to get clean, too. He is going to do it with me. He said he.had got his head right, to move  forward. Thank goodness. When I stopped drinking, he quit, too. His.only concern, is that he is in pain daily, due to boating accident. I too have.major.back pain, 3 slipped disc on my spine. That's how it.all began. Do u have any.advise on what to do.next? My pain gets.so bad that, I cry. We both don't know what.to do. As far as work. I told my boss,.a white lie.  Mentioned before  I dont lie well, but I gave it a shot. Told him my doctors were taking.me.off a.medication and I wouldn't feel well. He gave  me Sat. off. My plan is exactly what you said. I have.meds to knock me out.for.Sat., Sun ,.and.for the.rest.of.next.week. I also go 3 muscle relaxes.from a friend.  I'm already feeling.the.anxiety.

[EvolverU]

You CAN do this, especially at your dose. I would suggest that you take your last pill on a Thursday. Then go w/o Fri, Sat & Sun. Monday will be tough but it should start to ease from there on in. What throws a spanner into works is the fact that your boyfriend is using w/ no current plans to quit. Can you ask him not to use in front of you and to keep the meds out of sight? Do you have any kind of support system - i.e. have you told anyone about your dependency who can help you? Wishing you all the strength and grace you'll need to whip this!

[Redjens45]

One more thing, I forgot to mention. My boyfriend is on pills. He always says he wants to quit. I don't think he.is ready. It's gonna be hard if he.comes over. Even he doesn't have them on him, I know they are somewhere, close. I have already come to the realization, that if he.does stay on them, it will strain, if not end our.relationship. That part *****, too. I wish I could run away for.a couple of weeks. I know it's one day.at a time. I'm crying, because the future is unknown and scary. I lost my husband to alcohol. He died at 42.   This is not a choice, to quit. My children need me. I need me, if that makes sense. I am strong around my 16 year old, son. He doesn't know. I feel like I can't let him down after, his father passed away. I just the whole withdraw part was over. How long do I taper, till I completely stop. I like the idea of the Thomas R., when do u put into action?  Thanks Vicki and everyone. I am so grateful for all it words.

[Redjens45]

Can't tell u guys how helpful all this feedback is to me. I've never blogged. I worked 10 hours today. I wanted to blog earlier, but I didn't even have time for lunch. As. soon as I came home, made sure kids were good and now I'm here. I took 3 pills today. I was fine til I got in the car. Now I'm anxious. Gonna eat and try to sleep. My biggest fear ,besides the withdrawal, is my boss. He has no comparison. If I loose a sale, he will be all over me. This guy even listens to me on a baby monitor, while I'm with a client.  I am not good at hiding how I'm doing.   I  think that's why I am good at selling. I care about my clients. Not a good at lying. So that's my challenge. How do I overcome dealing, with him. Maybe I'm just over thinking it. I can't stay on these pills, yet I can't.loose my job:(

[selfinduced]

Just wanted to chime in for support. You can do this , work and all. The work may actually be a good distraction. Try to make sure your home responsibilities are well managed before you start (easy meal prep for the kids, house organized and comfy, laundry done). Attitude is everything, think of the times your body was in detox mode and you didn't even realize it and you still did your day to day. The protein drinks are really important in the first few weeks. Watch the caffeine for the first week or so as it may make you anxious. Keep us posted and many kudo's for kicking the drink and now pills. How great your world is going to become!

[VICourageous]

Hi My Hats off to you for quitting the Booze..I go to both meetings..I have the up most respect for the alcoholic...That one is a tuff one and it so easy to find...So it sounds like you were doing 40-50mgs a day for the last 4yrs...Well I have seen alot of Blessing on here..It is so short lived the detox sate compared to the years of use...Stock up on all the vit/min. Keep your self hydrated with lots of water and drinks with eletrolytes and protien drinks..Magnz is a good one at night..I did see you went into a thread were I was talking about all of this..Did you see the Thomas Recipe on the R hand bottom..I did not do it becuase I was on the Methedone for a long time after the hydo/oxys..It works great for the opiates you were using..Try to get some out side Support too. This is a powerful Disease and it wants to continue being your friend...Look up the info on the 'Disease of Addiction" It is one of my Life Savers today..You can undersatnd a bit more what happens to our brains and the Pleasure part of the brain that keeps wanting to play the tape back again and agian...I have so much Faith
in You because you got off of one of the hardest substance know to man kind(Booze).....
God Bless
vickie

[Redjens45]

Thank you, for it.encouragement!!!  Thank you for faith!!!

[Redjens45]

I've been taking all types of pain killers, for about 4 years. Vikes, hydrocodone, loloritabs, etc. No Ocys  Take 4 -5 pills a day. 10mg. I'm an alcoholic. I haven't had a drink in 22 months. I devoted and was in rehab do 40 days. It was easy to there. I was knocked out for 4 days. I didn't' go through pain and.discomfort. I have faith I can stay clean one.day at a.time. But, I'm really scared and.anxious. Especially, the.thought of work on top of everything. Thank you for asking. Any advise.,  would be awesome.

[Jimmy1975]

Hi and welcome . Can you tell us how much you were taking a day and for how long ..It will give us an idea of were you're at .  Jimmy

[Bubulous]

I know that having to hold a job, especially a social job like yours, adds another aspect to the whole thing but you can have the power to do it.  All you can do is your best and at the end of the day if you know you did your best you will be able to lay down with a smile on your face.  Something I liked to tell myself when I was detoxing was "don't try to impress anyone, try to impress yourself".  
Like I said just try to stay positive and any break you get:
Close your eyes and take some deep soothing breaths.  Don't brood on the past nor worry about the future.  Live for that moment and open your eyes, look around and try to imaging you are looking at things like a kid would.
Good luck and check back for more support from others.
Larry