Still withdrawing from percocet after 5 months?

[summer31]

Due to undiagnosed pain my rhumy prescribed 40 mgs. oxy + 3 percocet daily.  I was on this medication for one year(august 2008) and then went to pain management where I got an injection and my pain subsided.  This doctor weaned me off the pain meds and ever since then, I have been suffering  I have ZERO energy, had to take medical disability am pretty much homebound and most days can't even function enough to do any housework or cooking.  If I take my 17 daughter to a dr.'s appointment it takes the life out of me for days.  I also suffer from daily headaches along with a constant running nose, flu like symptoms and general aches and pains.  In February 2009 , I had to have back surgery and yes was back on the drugs (percocet) for another 5 weeks.  Even though I had pain from the surgery I did more activities during this time than all the months prior was actually out of a brain fog and didn't have to go from one chair to the next. When I stopped taking the pills went back to previous condition (lzero energy, etc.) Went to Virginia with my husband this summer and thankfully had a script written for 30 percocets or I never would have made it.  When I took the pills 3 l0 mg. a day I was an active human being again.  Here I sit now back in the previous condition depressed, and wondering what to do.  Does anyone know if this can be a normal reaction to being off pain pills and if so how long does it last?  Is there anything I can do to help myself?  Are there questions for my doctor?  Is there hope in the future?  What do I do now, I feel I am going mad.  Get up (barely) every day and do NOTHING and am exhaused doing that.  I miss my life soooo much.  Can anyone help?  Thank you for listening!!!!!
Kaitlyns Mom

[mama23babies]

I have been on the forum clean for 57 days and I still have the anxiety and depression alot of days that started when I quit hydro's. From my experience this can last along time and I have been told that it can take 6-12 months for our brains to go back to normal. That's along time I know but I am hoping it happens for me before that. I have good days and bad but the bad are almost unbearable. Good luck to you and just keep moving forward. Everyday is another day that you are clean and closer to getting over this. (This is also what I tell myself) and I haven't went back down that road again. I don't like the emotional rollercoaster that it has put me on. I hope you can get through this. Post on this forum it helps ALOT. If it wasn't for the people on here giving support and advice I don't know what I would have done.

[summer31]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You have explained things to me in a way I finally understand!  If you look under my journal entry, you will see the physical and emotional challanges I have faced.  Probably not as bad as a lot but bad for me.  I have come to this website after exhauting all other websites  trying to diagnois my "condition".  I thought, maybe I have Epstein Barr, RA, muscular dystrophy and what I really have is a DRUG ADDICTION.  I can't ignore it any longer and don't want it.  It is really tough to have no life though.  You have given me HOPE that I will overcome the symptoms of withdrawal and maybe have a life again.  I can't thank you enough for the time you spent educating me and your unselfish willingness to help a complete stranger. You hang in there too, I will help you in any way I can.  I will go to your journal entry now.  Thanks Again, Eileen (Kaitlyn's Mom)

[whitie]

your in a tough spot. but the problem is your brains receptors are currently been living off narcotics, strong ones. you actually feel more pain when your on pills, or atleast I did. only time off the drugs will truly solve your problem with pain. as you know most of the major wd's are gone after a few weeks. but the fatigue one may take 2-10 months depending on how long and how hard you used. you were prescribed oxys,thats all there is too it. so it will be longer.

what you describe is exactly why people  continue to use.............to  just live a normal life. but over long periods, the brain will create more receptors to handle the huge amounts of opioids they are recieving. so only more drugs will achieve the  feeling, then it will take more........just to feel semi normal.

in the end,like the famous song writer for the band the verve,once sang, "the drugs dont work anymore"  great song, I love it. read my journal entry about my injuries, then you will know I am not just ignoring your pain.

one time in an airport down inft.lauderdale,FLA. after a week of raising hell at bars , and house parties.  I used up all my pills, but a few, and was injured from falling out of a convertible. the next day I could barely walk, I reinjured my old back injury.  It was horrible, I was hunched over in unimagineable agony. I like to think I am tough, but I was about to cry on the airplane !!

[summer31]

Thank you so much for responding, this is my first post.  What do you mean by brain receptors?  Does your body ever make endorphins again?  My doctor is reluctant to prescibe pain meds, may be he is on to me but hasn't said anything directly.  Is there a medication I can ask him for to help me just live my life without pain meds?  I am not looking for the meds at this point to get "high" (been there done that) but I am in so much pain (physical & emotional) I don't care anymore, I almost feel as if pills let me get my life back for 5 years that would be a better option than 20 years like this!  Again, thanks for responding it has already made me feel so not alone.  Kaitlyn's Mom

[whitie]

ok, you did say you have been on and off them atleast two times since feb,2009 right? 5 weeks of use, will reinvigorate the old dormant, or never quite had a chance to be dormant brain receptors. especially the new ones that came from the addiction and the fact your body nolonger was making natural endorphins. I would be curious if your doc knows anything at all about wd's. I bet he or she dont, because otehrwise they would not be giving you oxys.

fatigue is the longest wd symptom to over come, and you are on strong narcotics. teh doc should not be prescribe the percs which is teh same thing basically as oxy's......