In the midst of Hell

[lindhorst]

I am now 50-something hours into WD. I had been using 2-3 10mg lortabs per day for at least 3 years. I'm finding it hard to even type this.

My first reaction to the symptoms was to try every source i know to get more. Thankfully, i could not get anything.

However, I'm still in major pain. I have klonopin and am taking a steady diet of those. Also taking mirapex to counteract the RLS, but that only works occasionally.

At this point I just hope no one calls me back telling me they have some. Not sure I'd be able to say now with the utter pain I feel.

[FlyFisher100]

That what I called it too.  Hell on Earth.

But at around day 6, no sleep issues and felt alot better.

Listen to the experience (not me) on this board.  They know what they are talking about.  It will get better.  You're almost out of the woods.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Just take small bites or sips of things. Bananas are good too. This will pass. The vitamins and supps should start when you can hold food down. Gatorade helps restore electrolytes.

[lindhorst]

yeah, just had some ensure that my friend brought over...almost made my vomit, but i was able to hold it down. i think the fact that i'm also a heavy drinker didn't help things much.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Try drinking some Ensure. It provides nutrition and is easy to digest. Time to introduce vitamins and supps twice a day too, and amino acids.

[lindhorst]

Day Four.

Still have symptoms. I get a break from them every now and then, but most of the time I'm still trying to knock myself out into sleep with the aid of klonopin and mirapex. I know I should be eating, but in about 10 hours from now I'll have had nothing to eat in 4 days. Part of it is the extreme lethargy that comes with sleeping so much. It's very difficult to get up and go get something and the prospect of delivery food makes my stomach churn even more.

I suppose I'll have to slowly reintroduce food into my system once this is all over.

On another note, I didn't start on hyrdrocodone. I was addicted to methadone for over a year before I switched to hyrdo. I was taking 5-7 10mg's a day, then finally moved down to 3mg a day for the past 3 years. Just a bit more info on my experience.

[lindhorst]

Starting day 4 now. Waking up, I felt a bit better. It seems things are on the upswing. Hooray!

Thanks all for the advice. When I go back to my doctor I will definitely mention the meds you guys recommended.  As far as being prescribed hydrocodone for RLS, it is a fairly common practice these days if anti-parkinson drugs don't work (and for me they didn't). Even the mirapex I take right now only works for about 2 hours, then I have to re-dose. When I was on hydro, I had absolutely no RLS symptoms.

So it seems a bit like a Catch-22. I guess I'll just try to find another doctor who might have better solutions. While it is definitely not the most trustworthy of sites, wikipedia has drugs such as oxycodone and methadone as potential medicinal remedies. Crazy, I know, but after doing a little research, it seems like opiate derivatives was the only thing that worked for some people.

After this experience, however, where I was constantly trying to get more than my prescription allowed, I think I will try every other possible route.

Thanks again for all the support guys. I'll follow up again in another day.

[soreadytodetox]

im with worried there are meds for the rls dont understand why they gave you hydrocodone for rls crazy! but you are 1/2 was there give or take a day or two! and you was taking a low dose, just the long time frame! id get your dr. to get you something better for rls as worried & kimmieb has suggested. hang in there your doing a good job.i had a 4 year snorting habit(percs) i just ct used a few meds for anxiety & sleep i now have 39 days clean. the health pages are full of stuff, use the amino acids and the recipethey will help. 50 hours in thats a good start you should only have maybe say 4-5 day left? you will feel like you have a bad case of the flu and the rls systems. hot baths are graet too!!!! good luck be strong  keep posting sherri

[kimmieb]

i, too, have problems with rls (determined this in the while still in the midst of taking lortabs).....my doctor has put me on one iron tablet before bed and something called "Pentoxifylline" 400 mg, one tab with dinner and one tab before bed.....it's NOT an addictive medication....what it does is increase supply of oxygen to all red blood cells in your body....anyway, i would typically be able to fall asleep ok, with the help of stuff i took for sleep (including 1000 mg of magnesium every night before bed), but would always wake up about 4 hours later with terrible rls....last night was the first night i added the iron tab and the additional pent. tab to my regimen and actually slept for six hours and when i woke, i didn't have the rls symptoms....will try it again tonight.....but just wanted to share that info in case you wanted to question your doctor about it....it's certainly worth a try if the rls really becomes an issue and you don't want to go down the road of requip or other such medication (which CAN be addictive)....good luck to you and hope that helps!   blessings, kim

[worried878]

there are meds for that   otc and rx...also there are some supps u can take...in my journal there are the results of a study at my hospital on rls

[lindhorst]

well the worst part I think was that I was on the hydrocodone for RLS in the first place. I didn't realize at the time that coming off it also aggravates the condition. I suppose I should have done some research first.

[worried878]

I was at 80 mg a day and it took about 4 days and the worst of the physical stuff was well over...back to work day 5...read the thomas recipe and follow it   it helps...get out for a walk...force urself

[MJOB]

I am on day one and feel your pain.  I'm coming off taking 9-12 10 mg lortabs a day.  Hang in there - I'm sure am trying too!

[cathy5841]

sorry you are going through thiss.  but, we all had to endure the w/ds to get clean.  if you accept pills now, you will eventually have to start over and go through those 1st 2 days again.  you can get through this.  wont be easy, but i promise you it is so worht the pain for that 7 days or so.  suck it up and be strong.  if i can do it you can too.  lol

[mimi1313]

I know its hard. At 2 days you are about halfway there. it will get better. Some people feel better after 3 or 4 days. Some a little longer. You didn't take a lot so it might be quicker. Take hot baths and try to eat, even if its ensure.

It WILL get better. Just hang in there.

[mr.lucky66]

you can get over this with too much problem or sub. You weren't taking much hydro but were taking it for a while. You can do it with the clonipin but not for too long. The hard part is saying no to other pill people. all best