Taper or cold turkey

[Nursey7]

I have been taking hydrocodone 7.5/500 for about 7 years after a major surgery and fibromyalgia. I want off this crap. I have to take way too many to feel good; it's miserable!!  1 have 15 pills left and am going on vacation in 2 weeks. I want to be off these and feeling better by then. I am on second day cold turkey and I have not slept, constant headache, severe muscle pain, resless legs, irritable, gi symptoms, crying constantly. I don't know if I should use these last 15 or continue cold turkey. Unless I take all of them at once they won't get me high. I have such a tolerance now it's terrible. I don't feel life is worth living right now and I hate that feeling. I am not one that would ever harm myself just feel awful. Help please!!!

[mary577]

How many a day were you taking?  Unless it was some obscene amount, I would continue on with the CT.   It is better to just get it over with, in my opinion.  That way you will have the w/d behind you when you get ready to go on vacation.   Just my opinion.   I am  65 years old and I quit Ct.  It is do-able.   You will feel rotten, but just take it easy for a few days and it is over with.   Stick with the flu story.   Lay around and rest.   Be sure and stay hydrated.

[ready4mylifeback]

hi and welcome:) i would continue on the c t you are through day 2 already that is half way.. 15 pills is NOT enough to do a proper taper.. if you take them you will have to start all over at day 1 as far as w d goes.. run with the flu thing.. that's all it is a few days of not feeling good.. it does take a while for the energy, sleep etc to come back a couple months prob before u r 100% but everyday gets better.. there is NO life on these things.. 7 yrs is a long time it will feel GREAT when u r all done and are not chained to a bottle anymore u will not have to worry about if u have pills to make u feel ok to go do something there is no better freedom and to feel REAL emotions again it is AWSOME that first REAL laugh is amazing.. keep pushing it is hard but doable,.,, u can do this.. keep posting there are people here who really care and will help push you through... blessings to you:)

[kyle505]

Welcome...Since you are on your second day of CT, I wouldn't bother with tapering. In fact, if you don't have someone you can trust to hold the pills and then give them to you according to the tapering plan, then you'll probably just take them, and these two days will be for nothing.
I'd suggest that you flush the pills NOW - if you keep them you will start feeding yourself BS about "I'll only take one to sleep...I'll only take one to get a little relief....", and on and on. Day 3 and 4 that voice gets louder and louder. Flush the pills - if you don't you're setting yourself up to relapse. Then keep your body nourished - eat lots of healthy food. If you can't eat, try drinking Ensure. If you're going to the bathroom a lot, then find a drink that has electrolytes added. IF you do this, you will be feeling OK by the time your vacation rolls around. You will not feel completely normal, but the vaca will be doable. In fact, getting away will be good for you.
Once you're done with the physical detox, then we need to talk about the mental aspect of staying clean - that is the hard part; makes the physical withdrawal look tame.
Keep posting.

[waterLilly7]

congrats on quitting!
yes, what Kyle said, and also the others who said you may as well do CT since you are on day 2. I tapered for two months due to my job, but it does drag the mental side of the symptoms out, boy does it! I would have rather just gone CT, and sicne you are already almos trhough the bad days for the physical, may as well start getting through the mental ones now, instead of dragging them out and having to deal with them later anyway.

keep your eye on the goal, you can do it. Today I am like 58 days or so clean and it feels great.

Keep posting, and stay hydrated, and drink Ensure when you can't eat, and take vitamins ok?

hugs,
Lily

[Nursey7]

Thank-you all so much. At first I thought this was kinda stupid and thought what am I doing? But I am so tired of hiding it from my friends, husband, kids, everyone. It's nice to be able to tell someone. I just wanna cry!! Kyle I flushed those suckers but man I wanted to reach in so bad and get those suckers!  I worked so hard trying to make them last to my refill. I took a good nap. I do have some great vitamins from the Thomas Recipe.

[kyle505]

I did the same when I flushed the last time. I waited to see if any pills floated to the top. I probably would have scooped them up and taken them. Gross - from toilet to mouth. Pitiful.