In the middle of withdrawl, need help!!

[G'Kar]

I

[Scorpio]

Hi...I was doing research on the web for a friend of mine who admitted to me today he is hooked on Tylenol 3's taking 15 at a time....This is a potential love interest for me and it's taken 37 years to find this guy but all my friends are saying he's not worth it due to his unreliability caused by his drug addiction.  I don't want to give up on him but don't know what to do for him.  Two days ago he told me his problem and asked for help and i offered any support in any capacity.  Today after taking 15 pills he was all messed up, broke a date with me and told me if i'm fed up to walk away.  How can I help him without being pushy or imposing on him.  I'm worried sick.  15 Tylenol 3's is suicidal to me.  I am a recovered drug addict myself.  I'm an addictive personality so I keep replacing my addiction with something else whether it be smoking, candy you name it.  I understand what he's going through but feel helpless since when he's stoned all he cares about is his pills and not about me, his friends or family.  But when he's straight he wants help and someone to tell him what to do.  I don't understand the mentality even though I went through it.  I never took pills over a loved one.  What do I do?  Do I stay in his face or back off?  Do I leave him alone or be there?  Can you tell me about the mind set of a tylenol 3 addict?  Does he have to hit rock bottom before he gets help.  Do I offer help or am I asking for trouble?  All me friends want me to walk away.  But I think I love this guy and need to feel like I'm doing something to help and not stand by or ignore it.  Please any advice from you wise and incredibly honest people would help.  I've spent hours going through your letters and will say prayers for all of you to be successful in your battles.  Thank you...Scorpio

[niccee]

You may want to repost your question up at the top. Most people read those first and sometimes don't make it back down here. I had the same problem. I went to a methadone clinic. I am now detoxing off the methadone. I tried it without the methadone and just could not handle the depression. I have also started taking the supplements that some of the others here recommended. They have helped me alot. I also take Zoloft for depression. If you look through the forum you will see the supplements I am talking about. I wish I had a miracle for you, but my counselor told me that I didn't get myself into this mess in a day and I was not going to get myself out of it in a day. Good luck.

[arlmom]

Same story, different day. I know I am addicted to lortab. I have been taking 80mg a day for 4 years. I manage to keep it a secret but decided to tell my husband last night. I have fibromyalgia with really makes it hard because I truly hurt but I have severly abused the drug. It makes me have energy. I know it makes most people sleep but I stay busy and happy when I am on them. I have tried to quit numerous times. I can only go about 2 days. I get weak from the withdrawls. Right now I have 2 left. I tell myself that this is it, no more. How do others make it through the withdrawls and how long will it last. Is there any dangers of going "cold turkey." Such as seizures or high blood pressure? I have 2 kids, one with a disability and I don't want them to see there Mom in bad shape. I have been praying, almost without stopping, any suggestions? Please?

[cindi]

We do have to stick together...man the stress,  Your LPN"S don't pass meds and IV's....here they are allowed to do all of that..meds, start Iv's etc..Even charge nurse in the nursing homes...maybe Ohio is different...now the aides here in the homes are good...but they are in high demand...everywhere it seems is so short staffed.....sucks to be us sometimes...I left the profession for a few reasons..now when I move to florida things may change  i may find a job that does not have narcotics  etc..that would be a Godsend.....hang in there       love to all          cin

[nurseebol]

Thankfully, I have never diverted drugs from a patient who needed them, have done some tricky things, but no one has ever suffered in my care.
The only problem I do have is that without a "little something" I have so little patience, all the screaming, crying, pounding......I lose all ability to deal with it. I admire so much those nurses who can deal with the demented so patiently. But we are so short staffed, this week, the DON is away, so I am DON, we are short aides, so we use LPN's, which means I pass meds, and I do charge. I am doing 3 person's jobs. I know I should start exercising, and getting healthy, but the meds work so easily. I can't always get them, and I know my work varies. So to me, my only problem is lack of drugs, ha ha. There is nothing good on my cart to borrow either, probably a good thing, ha ha. I have been reading Andrew Weil, I really think if I could do the 8 week thing, that I would feel great. Just need motiviated.
It also doesn't help that my mom was schizophrenic, and my grandmother, and I worry daily that I will be next. So far so good.
We nurses must stick together!

[cindi]

God love her.....I love talking to retired nurses....i work with one at the center and we could sit and talk about it all day.....nothing like the nurses from the old school talk about wisdon and taking care of patients...the would just as soon get in there and give a bath then do all the paper work and bull **** that goes on now,,,alot of nurses think they have it bad now....technology has really helped   I rememeber having to count the drops on a IV and dividing and all that other ****...now we have machines that do it all  LOL   love cin