I am new and need some answers

[jerrip]

I am 66, and have many health problems and therefor many different doctors.  I have just been taken off Soma and dilaudid after several years.  Taking one of each every night,  and then as needed.  I have never abused them. He kept me on the trazadon and added tamazapam.  We both knew I was addicted, and now I am going thru what I presume is withdrawl.  I have not taken any soma or dilaudid since wed night.  I have diarreah, shaking, much of the pain I was taking them for (fibromyalgia, and back spasms)  I am a diabetic and my blood levels are all up and down.  My question is ........would taking ---one of either the soma or dilaudid --- help with the shakes, pain and potty problems, or would that just prolong the withdrawl symptoms?    Thanks for  any and all answers....Feels kinda funny for a grandmother of 17 to be in this shape, but I guess it takes all kinds to make up this role of an addict.  please help me.  Love and blessings to all     Jerri

[wannabefree330]

seeksolice offers some good advice.  Shes right.  There really is no reason to suffer through.  Fact is, you will probably need one every now and then to relieve your pain.  If you really aren't psychologically addicted, and they don't affect other areas of your life (ie: consume your every thought, putting pills before anything else, counting, hiding, sneaking, lying....) then you are probably just physically dependent on them.  Yes your body is addicted but your mind isn't.  Much different than most of us on here.  Sorry you are getting mixed opinions but it's nice to have different ones.  decide WHY you need to get off of them.  Is it your doctor's choice?  Do you really feel you need them?  Can you function without them?  Whatever you decide, hang in there.  You're almost through the physical w/d.  

[avisg]

jerri,
I know you have some health problems so this is defanitly be something to dicuss with your doctor there is a med called clonidine that helps with WD symptoms it is a bp med so you want to dicuss it with the doctor .I never used it but others have said it works very well.You have been doing very well stick to it .There is a light at end of the tunnel .

[jerrip]

Well I made it thru last night with no dilaudid. SeekSolice,
the dr did give me the trazadone for "help" with the withdrawl....I did get 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night.  I am still shaking, but not as badly, and no diarreah yet today.  Maybe I am over the worst.....well anyway if not, I am glad to be feeling a little better.  I am supposed to go to a brunch at the neighbors with hubby and friends....I haven't decided yet if I will go, but doubt it. Yes I am on about 18 meds...mainly for heart related problems.  They have been telling us for 16 years that I have anywhere from 1 to 5 years left.....I have 5 stents in it, and am not a candidate for a transplant.  I say I am too mean to die, and when God is ready, I will go.  He is the only one who can tell when the time is up.  Besides I have 14 grand children, 3 great grands and another one due next month....I sure don't want to leave them!!!   LOLThanks for last nights help.....Love  Jerri

[seeksolice]

I read your other thread, so I am taking that information into consideration with my above post.

[seeksolice]

I'm gonna go against the grain here, but it's what I think. Do as you will jerrip, and recognize that this is only my opinion.

I am noticing many people are basically saying that since you are already in the clutch of full blown withdrawal, or just about, that you should not take another Dilaudid no matter how bad you feel.

This is where my opinion varies...

You don't somehow "deserve" to suffer through the withdrawals. It is NOT necessary to suffer through withdrawals, in my opinion. In fact, if you were to discuss this with a doctor that has first hand knowledge of addiction and opiate withdrawal, coupled with your state of poor health (you said you were on 18 different medications), they wouldn't be pushing you to cold turkey off the meds.

In my humblest of opinions, if you are feeling terrible, take a pill. Or a half a pill. Withdrawing can be DANGEROUS for someone who is already in a state of ill health.  I would recommend a quick taper, if you're anxious to get these things out of your system.

But, I just wanted to say that BY NO MEANS do you HAVE TO GO THROUGH FULL BLOWN WITHDRAWAL no matter how many folks here tell you that you have to.  I'm sure your doctor wouldn't advise you to just cold turkey off of one of your blood pressure meds (assuming they are like anti depressants where you have to wean)- so why do you expect that since you are on an opiate, you somehow HAVE to feel pain and suffering because you are taking opiates... instead of a beta blocker, or an anti depressant? Or an anti psychotic? Or a anti convulsant? The list goes on. There are so many drugs you must wean off of that are non narcotic, but for some reason this forum is very popular when it comes to suffering through withdrawals. People actually encourage it- no matter what you have going on at home, with work, even if you are in poor health! Boggles my mind.

Gimme a break. In your state of health it's a bad idea. I mean, you aren't a young, supple, healthy 21 year old. You said yourself you cannot take a bath or exercise for medical reasons, and you narrowly avoided being bound to a wheel chair. And on top of that you are taking 18 medications.

Common sense prevails on this one, for me, and it sounds like full blown withdrawal would be a bad idea for you.  

[wannabefree330]

Welcome and keep posting!  I agree that you should takle one beast at  time here.  You are already into w/d from the dilaudid so don't take anymore of it.  In a few days, the w/d from that will be gone.  Then you can wean yourself from the soma.  Watch your blood sugars very closely.  W/ all the diarrhea it's very likely you'll get dehydrated and that will throw your sugar levels all over the place.  You are going to have to decide which doctor you are going to follow here.  Sounds like you're going w/ the family doc,which is totally fine, but as a word of advice only allow one physician to prescribe pain medication for you.  Make t a promise to yourself right now.  Later down the road it will be so much easier tocave in if you have multiple doctors you can shop around to.  You may not be psychologically dependent on them RIGHT NOW, but it can happen at any time, and before you realize it, it's too late to change.  Talk w/the doctor about what your options are for pain management fom here on out.  You need to have a plan prepared for when it happens.

The trazadone will help you sleep you may find yourself waking up quite a bit, but it's better than nothing.  Immodium is safe, but again, watch your blood sugars.  Take vitamins, and make sure you get plenty of fluids.  Best of luck my dear.  We're here for you

[seeksolice]

I have heard of dilaudid but wasnt sure what it was. Looked it up online, and read this quote from Wikipedia:

"Dilaudid is 3 times stronger than heroin on a milligram basis"

I had no idea. This is definitely some strong stuff.  Makes me feel like a wimp for being so afraid of hydrocodone withdrawals.

[lucyred68]

our pets know when we don't feel well and want to help us.  so sweet.

[jerrip]

I am feeling so much better.....OK well lets just say some better :)  I am going to lay down and try to relax some if not go to sleep.  Aren't cats funny.  every night they go to bed with chuck ( husband) for the last 2 days they have not been more than a few feet away from me..bet they could use the rest too.  Tonight my orange cat came next to me on the couch and laid down, and stretched his paw out so he could go to sleep touching me.....sweet things.   Love to all    Jerri

[swtbreezie]

Jerri,
I know the feeling I lost my daughter too, it is a tough row to hoe.  It has only been 3 years seems like yesterday.  And I hope you hang on and wake up for a good long time from now many many years!
swtbreezie

[jerrip]

Yes, I know every 4 mg pill is equal to 32 mg of moraphine....My primary care told me with all the narcotics I was taking I would not wake up one morning....After losing my daughter...I could not put my family thru another drug OD death.

[worried878]

heavy duty narcotic and u r lucky that ur doctor stepped in and helped or u could be in trouble big time later on...dilaudid is a drug of abuse to the max as it can be injected where as many drugs can not...pure narcotic and very addicting even orally...it is stronger than hyros, oxycodone, even morphine...tough drug....it is the reason u feel ill...hang in there

[jerrip]

no - no....I took that every night but some days and nights I took it as often as every 2 hours....see above post.   I am so confused, the dr. at the pain clinic wants me to take it....my primary care doctor finally took me off it.....to tell you the truth my mind is kinda foggy.  I don't think I ever had a day when I took more than 4 dilaudid and 4 soma the same day...always spaced 2 hours apart like the pain doctor told me to.
Thank you Thank you for helping me tonight

[worried878]

K..so u have a high tolerence...and after years og taking a certain med or meds...it would be expected.... Trazodone would be totally safe to continue in comparison with the other 3...diaudid being the number one addictive drug that u r on as it is an EXTREMELY strong narcotic...the s/s u descibe r from cessation of the dilaudid....temazapam being second as it is a benzodiazepine then soma/not a benzodiazepine but kin to that family of drugs..it has been 5 days...if i were to choose soma or dilaudid i would choose soma to help right now if ur goal is to get clean...soma should be tapered and not quit cold turkey...soma is a drug of abuse but not in the same category as narcotics or benzos...and should be quit slowly....like 1/2 pill at a time...I am taking it that ur goal is to come clean and these 2 were ur drugs of choice...again...if i had to choose i would take the soma....with health problems like diabetes, tapering is often suggested.....if ur highest dose was 4 mg of dilaudid and 1-2 soma per night u should be fine...if u r not honest about doses then it is hard to help...be safe

[jerrip]

Thanks for the fast answer worried.  Some days I took just the night ones at bedtime, on days when I hurt ALOT I took a(350 mg soma), then 2 hrs later a(4mg dilaudid,) then a soma....etc...etc after about 10 hours of this I finally stopped hurting enough to sleep.   My tolerence built up enough that I could take one of each and then drive to the store and do the grocery shopping. I NEVER got high from them...even when I was taking so many. I am NOT mentally addicted, but physically.  I would never get mentally addicted, because my daughter was an addict.  About 4 years ago she died from an overdose.  She shot both heroin and cocaine, then died.  She was 38 and had 4 daughters, and a grandchild. I ended up raising one of the girls the others were adults....if you can call 18 an adult. Since she lived in another state I didn't know about the addiction, and she told the girls since I was a heart patient it would kill me if they reported her to me.....sigh enough of that .......Love to all    Jerri

[worried878]

Tis probably the dilaudid causing the symptoms u desribe here....i see u say dilaudid each night/and as needed...what was the average dose concerning the "as needed? " Dilaudid is a very, very strong narcotic and it is rare to get to this drug overnight...i realize u r a g-ma///as i am too...does not make us immune to this kind of stuff...temazepam/clorarazepate can help alot as it is a weak benzo....habit forming tho...soma is not as addictive as temazepam but it is addictive,,take an inventory but ur main complaints sound like narcotic wd which would be diaudid...keep posting