How long does this pain last?

[cloudhaginglow]

Wanting to get my life in order but having problems along the way. How can i fight through the pain that I'm about to feel. I know this will be day one since my last pill but it's going to drive me crazy.

[showsover]

I'm going through the same thing, its day 2 for me. At least you know you have a problem. Thats the first step, instead of being in denial. If you don't stop, let me tell you what will happen. Your tolerance will increase. Imagine taking 80 pills in 3-4 days. Sounds crazy right? Well I have been there and done that, and its terrible.  Eventually your tolerance will be so great, what the doc gives you will NOT be enough. Then you will have to go to "street vendors" which is illegal, eventually you can end up in jail. You will run out of money. Its happened to many on this forum, and me too.
Imagine what your life was like before the pills.  You could function just fine, right?  That sense of "happiness" of the pills is very temporary. Your mind plays tricks on you, making you think you need the pills to be happy. NOTHING could be further from the truth.
Imagine how much you have missed out on in 5 years?? You have no idea. There are so many things you did to numb the pain of reality. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, but just telling you the truth.
Its time to stop, but you have to want to. Please write down all the reasons why you should quit. Everything. The list goes on and on. I assure you, someone knows about the addiction in some way. Someone has noticed a change in you. Or if they don't know, they will find out very soon.
To answer your question, physical withdrawal at its worst is about 3 days. You will feel much better after that. Its the mental things that are worse, because you have to face everything you have supressed for so long. But its worth it. YOU are worth it.
YOU WILL feel happy again. Everyday you will get better and better, I swear. And you will feel better about yourself. Waking up being able to think clearly is amazing. Do you want that? I'm sure you do. Make the decision and go with what your heart tells you. Peace.

[caepain]

Read my post above, I was definitely in your shoes a few days ago.  And yes I felt the same way, with the same questions.  Would i ever feel normal again? happy?.  The answer to your questions is YES.  Like I stated please read my above post, it will really help you. You can do this.  It is really doable. After the first 72-96 hours you will really start to feel better and yes normal.  I'm now on day 7 and feel so happy today.  I'm really pulling for you, take this thing headon and get after it.  Good luck and stay strong.

[shelliAS]

I started on hydrocodone for intense back pain; this was several years back.  The was MRI'd, CT-Scanned, x-rayed, (I was determined to NOT be a candidate for surgery, although i do have arthritis in my thoracic spine); I have been epiduralled, facet jointed, trigger point injected, etc etc, and nothing helped.  Meds were a last line resort.  Then my life began falling apart - very close family members died, which devastated me; my career was upended; I almost lost my child; and my marriage was on the rocks.  I found that the hydrocodone was the only thing in my life that made me feel a little better.  I'm sure by now all of you can see where this is going - I have found myself addicted.  I take 10/500 4X day.  I know by some standards, that isn't much, but I can tell that I am craving the stuff.  I get prescriptions for it, so I do not have to deal with "street vendors," which must be hell.  I wake every morning feeling like hell - aching, exhausted, sick to my stomach - because I have not had my "fix" for 12 hours or so.  It has gotten progressively worse.  I need to get off.  My cognitive abilities have become impaired; I can't remember anything, I can't recall common words when I am speaking.  I have been on hydrocodone (and tramadol and Soma) for years - at least 5.  I need to quit.  I am addicted.  And I am frightened.  I am scared of the withdrawal process, and mostly I am scared that I will never feel good again.  Meds were all that made me feel better, if only for a couple of hours at a stretch.  Once you are through the physical withdrawal effects, do you ever feel good again?  Is there happiness to be had again?  I also take antidepressants and do therapy, but nothing gets me "up" like hydrocodone.  But these days, it is just bringing me down.  I only take it to off-set the symptoms of crashing.  I would greatly appreciate hearing from those of you who know how it is do be addicted to hydrocodone, and how it feels to be clean of it.  Will I ever feel good again?  I am shopping for the items recemmended in "Thomas's Recipe" today, and thinking of throwing the pain meds out tonite and starting detox tomorrow.  No one knows about my "problem" - not my spouse, my teen child, my friends, my doctor even,  I have not told him that I take the meds for more than pain.  This is a big secret I have been carrying with me, so I have turned to this site for support.  I am telling no one anything, except that I have a flu.  Thanks,
Shelli        

[Hellweek]

Day 4 things WILL be better, not perfect but better.  Most people doing the CT route find that after the 4th day things get better.

The trick is making it past the 4th day.  Alot of people tryng to CT give up on day 3 or day 4, the 2 worst days of WD's.

Letting someone close to you know what you are doing makes it easier.  I do suggest that you let someone close to you know what you are going through.

Stay strong dont use.

[caepain]

Hang tough, the worst usually last 72-96 hours.  At least thats how it was for me and I was on the same stuff you was for 4 years.  After that each day gets considerablly better.  Day 2 you should start to come out of the fog and notice how bright and clear the world is around you.  It really is a great feeling, stay with it.  You really need to sit down with your family and get them on board.  My wife and kids were truly great and understanding.  At night we would all go for a drive and listen to music, this really helped.  Try to talk with them, they could be such a help.  Stay strong and fight through this.  It is worth it.  You will be so happy.  Just set your mind to making it.  Stay strong brother.

[vicki595]

Yes,helping others always helps. Sometimes posting with some one else who is at the same date in dtoxing really helps.

But,remember,withdrawals are different for everyone.  Some folks do just fine.Not comfortable but okay.

Just keep posting.We'll try to help~
Vicki

[cloudhaginglow]

Yeah i have been reading through some post but thats what freaks me our. I hear people struggling with stuff only using for 4-7 months. I have been on it for at least 14-16 months every single day. I need to just stay positive and try to help out others rather than pitty myself. Maybe that will be of some help.

[vicki595]

Okay...sounds good.   Get some Nyquil without the decongestant. It helps the edginess.   I hope your house is cool...hot baths really help the aches.

Oh...and get some Hylands Restfull Legs for the RLS. They have it at Walgreens...
you can get everything there.  One stop shopping.

Hang on and try to push through...it gets better. The worst thing would be to cave and take pills. Read the other posts on the forum...they help!

V.

[cloudhaginglow]

Yes i am out of all pill that i normally take. I have other stuff that really don't do nothing i.e. IB Prophen and such. Yes i want to quit for good. I have a wife and three kids that know nothing about this. If she found out if would be over. I don't want to wreck that. Most of my friends agreed if i try to quit they wont come around or would not sell to me anymore. I am on the ready to just blow up you know with everything running through my head and the body aches and can't sleep but tiered as all hell. I heard of the immodium i have read other sites they say it's a must. I will go get some tonight.

[vicki595]

Are you out of pills? Do you want to quit for good?

You're at about 100mgs per day of hydro plus whater oxy you take. Not great but not
horrible. You could quit forever. Do you want to?

You also need to stay away from all drug contacts,including friends. Can you do that?

What you need to do now for the withdrawals is: drink tons of water,take vitamins,eat well,get some mild exercise,drink apple or orange juice,gatorade,and get some Immodium.

You're going to need support. Try some NA meetings in your area. Those folks can help you.


Keep posting~
V.

[cloudhaginglow]

IBKleen: I have only had the night time RLS, for now. I start to yawn and stuff and runny nose stuff like that. But i know it's coming.

vicki595: I have stopped before but I was much younger about 15 when i started and almost 17 when i quit cold turkey. Now i am 26 been back on with the monkey on my back for over a year. I usually start my day off with 20mg of hydrocodine and continue popping 1 or 2 every two hours until i go home. My wife don't know nor does any of my family. I have friends that provide what i need. If i can i get a hold of 15 mg tablets of oxycodine and usually use these with the Hydros

[vicki595]

Hi~  Well,attitude has a lot to do with this.  Have you stopped before? What do you take? How much?  How long?
Give us more info so we can help..

V.

[IBKleen]

Are you feeling withdrawal now or are you waiting for it?