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Husband in intensive care
This is not so much a question as just letting you guys know the latest. I have just returned from hospital, my hubby (Gixerboy) was taken by ambulance there about midnight.
He was on Oxycontin 8 80mgs a day for almost 3 years due to a severe back problem. Anyway, he has been tapering over two months (got down to about half that) due to pressure from the doc and the fact that it was beginning to affect him badly etc
When the doc and pain clinic started telling him that rapid detox and drug rehab were options he got really scared. He didn’t want to leave our daughter and me, instead he wanted to stay here. Hence the decision to go cold turkey on Wednesday night (his last dose).
It all started at around 5pm Friday night when he lost the ability to speak verbally, and instead we were communicating on paper. He told me that he kept going into massive spasms, hot, cold etc. He was in soooo much pain and just wanted it to end. But he didn’t want a tablet, and kept telling me not to panic and not to call an ambulance, he would be fine!
This went on and on for hours, until about 9ish when I went to get our daughter from youth club. He wanted me to get tablets downstairs that we had that would help him to sleep, and hence combat the withdrawals. I did this and had to dash off for our daughter…. When I came home he was suddenly speaking again and told me that he taken several sleeping tablets as he needed to ensure sleep. About half hour after this, he started having massive involuntary movement in his arms and legs. These got worse and worse, and we now had no communication at all, as he could not speak and could not write as his arms wouldn’t stay still. I tried for about 2 more hours to help him but it did not stop and just got worse….. he kept falling off the bed, banged his head etc…. It got to a stage where he was endangering himself and everyone around him. At this point, despite his wishes, I had no choice, I called an ambulance.
Sorry for the ramblings guys, I just need to talk to someone, I am so scared, keep thinking that I am going to lose the guy that I love sooooo much. Been so strong all night so our daughter didn’t get any more upset than she already was, now I can’t help it. I am supposed to be getting a few hours sleep as they have sedated him now and will let him sleep until 9ish when they intend to wake him up and see how he is. Daughter is asleep but I just can’t. The hospital seems to think that this has been caused, not by withdrawals, but an overdose of sleeping pills. Will not really know anything else until later this morning but will keep u posted.
Thanks for listening guys.
Karen (Gixerboy’s wife)
He was on Oxycontin 8 80mgs a day for almost 3 years due to a severe back problem. Anyway, he has been tapering over two months (got down to about half that) due to pressure from the doc and the fact that it was beginning to affect him badly etc
When the doc and pain clinic started telling him that rapid detox and drug rehab were options he got really scared. He didn’t want to leave our daughter and me, instead he wanted to stay here. Hence the decision to go cold turkey on Wednesday night (his last dose).
It all started at around 5pm Friday night when he lost the ability to speak verbally, and instead we were communicating on paper. He told me that he kept going into massive spasms, hot, cold etc. He was in soooo much pain and just wanted it to end. But he didn’t want a tablet, and kept telling me not to panic and not to call an ambulance, he would be fine!
This went on and on for hours, until about 9ish when I went to get our daughter from youth club. He wanted me to get tablets downstairs that we had that would help him to sleep, and hence combat the withdrawals. I did this and had to dash off for our daughter…. When I came home he was suddenly speaking again and told me that he taken several sleeping tablets as he needed to ensure sleep. About half hour after this, he started having massive involuntary movement in his arms and legs. These got worse and worse, and we now had no communication at all, as he could not speak and could not write as his arms wouldn’t stay still. I tried for about 2 more hours to help him but it did not stop and just got worse….. he kept falling off the bed, banged his head etc…. It got to a stage where he was endangering himself and everyone around him. At this point, despite his wishes, I had no choice, I called an ambulance.
Sorry for the ramblings guys, I just need to talk to someone, I am so scared, keep thinking that I am going to lose the guy that I love sooooo much. Been so strong all night so our daughter didn’t get any more upset than she already was, now I can’t help it. I am supposed to be getting a few hours sleep as they have sedated him now and will let him sleep until 9ish when they intend to wake him up and see how he is. Daughter is asleep but I just can’t. The hospital seems to think that this has been caused, not by withdrawals, but an overdose of sleeping pills. Will not really know anything else until later this morning but will keep u posted.
Thanks for listening guys.
Karen (Gixerboy’s wife)
Hi Karen,
I just read all the posts. I am so sorry for what you are all going through. I sincerely hope that everything is gonna turn alright for your hubby, but it seems he's in good hands and with the love of a great wife like you and a beautiful daughter he can only get better. Keep us informed.
Sending huge hugzzz your way.
XXX
I just read all the posts. I am so sorry for what you are all going through. I sincerely hope that everything is gonna turn alright for your hubby, but it seems he's in good hands and with the love of a great wife like you and a beautiful daughter he can only get better. Keep us informed.
Sending huge hugzzz your way.
XXX
Hi again all,
Thank u all so much for the thoughts and prayers, you are all wonderful and are helping a very difficult situation easier.
The latest is, as mentioned above he was taken off sedation and off the breathing tube this afternoon and didn't thrash around this time as he was before, so they left it off for a while. During this time he actually opened his eyes whilst we were there and although he couldn't speak due to the tube in his mouth still, he was able to smile at my daughter and I, and nod his head which is a massive improvement! He definitely knew that we were there and knew who we were, he also squeezed my hand a couple of times.
It is now 7.45pm here and they have sedated him again just to ensure that he sleeps tonight. Then tomorrow morning about 8ish the doc will be round again to assess him and they will take the sedation and ventilation off again. If he improves enough tomorrow then they will be able to leave the tube off.
They are currently drip feeding him an opiate liquid of some sort to take away the withdrawal. They had it on quite a high dose earlier today after he started jerking etc again this morning, but now they have reduced it back down again. I guess the fact that as soon as they started the opiate liquid the withdrawals eased proves that this reaction must be from withdrawals. In answer to “lovemypillhead” they were ensure originally what the problem was, it was either oxycontin withdrawal or a reaction due to taking too many sleeping tablets that he used to try and sleep through the withdrawal. Hope that makes sense. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad, my thoughts are with you too.
In answer to luppygirl, yes that thought crossed my mind too. I am hoping that this is going to turn out well, and if it does then it should help him get through the oxycontin withdrawal. I have no idea what liquid they are giving him, but it can’t be as strong as Oxycontin, so I guess that it won’t mean that he effectively has to start again with the withdrawals when he comes home. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it I guess.
Anyway, I am now home for the evening and night unless there is any change and the hospital call me. I am now going to eat something (hopefully), then relax with my daughter, and hopefully get good nights sleep later.
I may come on later tonight, but in any case I will post again tomorrow and keep you informed.
Thanks so much again for all the posts.
Karen
Thank u all so much for the thoughts and prayers, you are all wonderful and are helping a very difficult situation easier.
The latest is, as mentioned above he was taken off sedation and off the breathing tube this afternoon and didn't thrash around this time as he was before, so they left it off for a while. During this time he actually opened his eyes whilst we were there and although he couldn't speak due to the tube in his mouth still, he was able to smile at my daughter and I, and nod his head which is a massive improvement! He definitely knew that we were there and knew who we were, he also squeezed my hand a couple of times.
It is now 7.45pm here and they have sedated him again just to ensure that he sleeps tonight. Then tomorrow morning about 8ish the doc will be round again to assess him and they will take the sedation and ventilation off again. If he improves enough tomorrow then they will be able to leave the tube off.
They are currently drip feeding him an opiate liquid of some sort to take away the withdrawal. They had it on quite a high dose earlier today after he started jerking etc again this morning, but now they have reduced it back down again. I guess the fact that as soon as they started the opiate liquid the withdrawals eased proves that this reaction must be from withdrawals. In answer to “lovemypillhead” they were ensure originally what the problem was, it was either oxycontin withdrawal or a reaction due to taking too many sleeping tablets that he used to try and sleep through the withdrawal. Hope that makes sense. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad, my thoughts are with you too.
In answer to luppygirl, yes that thought crossed my mind too. I am hoping that this is going to turn out well, and if it does then it should help him get through the oxycontin withdrawal. I have no idea what liquid they are giving him, but it can’t be as strong as Oxycontin, so I guess that it won’t mean that he effectively has to start again with the withdrawals when he comes home. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it I guess.
Anyway, I am now home for the evening and night unless there is any change and the hospital call me. I am now going to eat something (hopefully), then relax with my daughter, and hopefully get good nights sleep later.
I may come on later tonight, but in any case I will post again tomorrow and keep you informed.
Thanks so much again for all the posts.
Karen
What is going on tho? Why is his body going thru this? I am kinda confused......what is the diagnosis? Maybe I missed it above.
Regardless, good luck and my prayers will be with you.
My dad just went thru severe alcohol withdrawl/detox. He was heavily sedated and put into a coma. sadly, tho, he didn't make it and passed away Jan 19. again, tho--he was an alcoholic..........that is a different tyoe of withdrawl than opiate withdrawl. point is....i am here for u. been there. it is hard. i know.
Regardless, good luck and my prayers will be with you.
My dad just went thru severe alcohol withdrawl/detox. He was heavily sedated and put into a coma. sadly, tho, he didn't make it and passed away Jan 19. again, tho--he was an alcoholic..........that is a different tyoe of withdrawl than opiate withdrawl. point is....i am here for u. been there. it is hard. i know.
Prayers are there for you and your husband as well as your daughter! The hospital will take good care of him! Hugs, Janet
Just wanted to say i am praying for you and your husband...He is in the best place he can be right now...you need to rest and take care of yourself, and your daughter as much as you can....He is one tough guy and will be fine...God bless....
r2r
r2r
So sorry to hear about this, hopefully they will also be able to help get through the detox as well as getting him better. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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