Must do this

[GoodOldDays]

Hi everyone - been a long minute since I posted. Hesitated and then thought why not. I'm watching a grand opportunity go by each day I use. I had 5 weeks off between jobs and I've blown two already. My intention was to use this time begin healthy habits which includes stopping my abuse of Hydrocodone (2-12 daily for 5 years). Tomorrow has to be the start of a new me. I have everything in order to do this and have accepted that I'll not be well for a bit but thats what it takes. I know this is a pretty generic post (I'm tired) and I intend to post more as I go. Thanks for reading

[VICourageous]

Hi Good..YES! Exercise, Sun and Music are a few things we do push around here. These drugs have changed the chemical makeup of the Brain, so this is the part that will take the longest to adjust back after the removal of these Stims. By doing these things right away will re-direct your thinking and also help bring back up those "Happy Chems" that we have knocked down or suppressed during our using.

The physical will be over soon, it is the mental that can break us or make us..This is why we push aftercare. Support is a must and working on staying clean is a day to day chore. Maybe check out some AA/NA in your area too. WE will be here cheering for YOU all the way..Stay hydrated and make sure you do take some good vit/min and eat very health..Proteins/Amino acids are greatand Antioxidants..Magnesium and D3 will help you relax and sleep a bit at night. Almost 31/2 yrs later I still do all of this. The big thing is, is to make sure you build up a good immune system to help ease up on the wds, however, the wds are going to happen, but this should make it less intense if you do all of these things we mentioned...Just know that it will take some time for your Body and Brain to find a balance. Many of us metabolizes these drugs out in different time frames. Many factors play here. Take it min by min, then day to day, and next thing you know you will be months and months in. Make sure you do reach out and get SUPPORT along the way. Good luck..YOU can do it!!
Bless
Vickie

[GoodOldDays]

A question for anyone who has clean time under their belt. Did you find exercise to be a valuable part of your recovery? Did you exercise right when you started to detox? Thanks for any response!

[GoodOldDays]

Hi Sarah - I have a lot of reasons to believe this new job will cause less stress, but how exactly much is TBD. I'm staying in the same field which I love and was born to do. I was very burned out at my former company and definitely needed a change and short break. I'm extremely excited for the new opportunity. Is there a specific reason you ask about the stress level? Are you thinking it could adversely affect my recovery? My concern is time. Stress is kind of what you make it. I did find that the center I'm going to does evening and weekend appointments so that will be helpful. Thanks for the question!

[dominosarah]

Will this new job cause less stress?

[GoodOldDays]

Thanks again for the support. I know I can do it but I also respect the difficulty and work I need to put in. I have some concerns though...not about actually living pill free but the amount of time and priority I need to make this. After 22 years I resigned from my position at work. I start a new job on 2/1 which is 45 mins from where it's located. I'll be leaving for work at 5:45 and be home at 5:30-6:00 PM. I don't know how I can make this work without causing disturbances. I'll know more after my initial appointment and deal with it somehow I guess. I know I want to stop using and I know I need to, however throwing a new job in the middle of recovery isn't the best thing. There isn't ever a perfect time to quit so I'll make this work. Just another reason these pills have caused problems in my life. Thanks again everyone. I'll post again after my initial visit...

[dominosarah]

You can do this!

[GoodOldDays]

Hi all - met with my doc and I'll be attending a center a couple towns over as an outpatient. Should be receiving a call Monday for an appointment. So all of the right people know everything. Lots to look forward to. I expect a battle but with the resources and support I have I think I can get through this and start my new life free of pills. Thanks for all of the encouragement and kinds words!

[littlebit667]

great start to getting clean.  The only way I was able to get clean and stay that way was to let my doctor know as well as those close to me.  When I tried to stop without their support..I failed.  This forum and my doc and family made all the difference.  Good luck and keep posting it does help!

[gnarly_1]

Hey  good deal......we been wondering what happened to you...so let us know how the doctor visit goes  ...they may want to taper you  that is had for most addicts  you may find yourself just quitting and getting it over with  ether way we will be here to support you......Gnarly

[GoodOldDays]

Hi all - I came clean to my cardiologist Tuesday. She listens and genuinely cares. So she made some calls and got some info together for me. She sent a note to my PCP who I see tomorrow AM. He'll already know what's up so we can decide the right treatment together. It's all out in the open now so it's gonna be head on. The person who I was seeing and told about my addiction decided to support me. So that was cool. I want to stop using and find life without pills. I now have accountability and support. I'll touch base again tomorrow. Thanks for the support and advise.

[Helpinghand2016]

That was a huge step in telling someone that. Good on you! Like everyone else said we cannot do this on our own. It will be rough, doable!! Lots of potassium through good vitamins and Gatorade. Hot baths are wonderful. Good luck and keep posting.

[Katie_458]

Hey there - Did you take the leap? I was right where you are a week ago. I was popping pills for 15 years (tramadol daily). Norco every day the last two years though I would take norco whenever I could going back to mid 90s. Tramadol was to not get w/d sick though I liked energy and focus. Norco is my DOC and when I flushed the rest of my pills it was exhilarating. Scary but exhilarating!!

You can do this!!

As gnarly said - you will need a w/d kit. Immodium, Epsom salts (2 cups in hot bath) - take lots of baths - helps with aches, anxiety, helps if you take bath before bed for restless legs. Baths were more healing than I expected and Epsom salt is important. Ibuprofen. Emergen-C or other multi-vitamins. B6, B12. I have a concoction of many vit/min. I throw in potassium, vitamin D.

Stay on forum.. Keep in touch as you go through this and then when feeling better those of us early in process need to get to meetings (my next step).

It is hard but it's so amazing to be free of popping pills all day. You can do it!!

Thinking of you!!
Katie

[gnarly_1]

Hi...well first off you need to get rid off all the pills for this to work your ether all in or fail....next as soon as your up to it get to a N/A meeting to treat the addict inside you  we have many people show up detoxing and the support will help  this is the single best thing you can do for your recovery  keep posting here we can help...........Gnarly

[GoodOldDays]

Thanks for the advice! Good news and some bad news today. Bad news is of course I took pills. 2 to be exact. Good news is that I've come to see how the pills are actually ruining my life and others. Now that might seem silly because we all know the stuff that we do or don't do because of our use and how it affects us. We usually justify it, at least I always do. But tonight it went to another level. I had been seeing someone for 5-6 weeks and it was going really well and I normally don't date. But I knew I couldn't keep taking pills and stay in the relationship and I couldn't detox because they'd know something was up. So I dropped the bomb. I'm a painkiller addict. So we agreed to part ways and I was obviously bummed. Thought they'd want to help out. Wanted no part and I understood. I was feeling sorry for myself yada yada yada and then it hit me. I just wasted their time, their feelings, hurt their feelings and whatever else. Wow. That's seriously some pretty **** I pulled. Anyway for the first time I actually thinking about professional help. NA, aftercare, etc. I can't believe what I've become and I have to fix this. Thanks for reading

[gatorgirl47]

Goodoldays, I have just made it to 12 days clean and 5 meetings. Let me say when it got bad and I was ready to quit ( or not quit should I say) the people on this page held my head out of the water so I wouldn't drown! The hard part for me is still coming and I know it I an hour by hour struggle to not use, but the meetings are saving me. Thank you to many here.(gnarly) . When you feel a little better maybe day 4 or 5 see if you can get to one. Until then, we will be your support system anytime, any day. We can do this.

[jifmoc]

" I'm watching a grand opportunity go by each day I use"

That is a fantastic statement!! Please stay close.

[motye51]

Agreed...

[gnarly_1]

Hi and welcome to the forum.....your in good hands we do home detox's every day around here   just know it is always worst in our minds then it turns out to be  this is 1/3 phyical and 2/3 mental be ready to fight it out on both fronts....pick up a case of gatoraid your going to need to force the fluids  also some epsom salts for the bath you may need several a day I have said this a million times ''but you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile'' this should be your mantra for the next few days   post and post some more where here for you  so tomorrow is the day  so be it....this could be your last detox if your willing to do what it takes we will talk about that later right now lets get you detoxed  may God be with you
.............................................Gnarly..............................