Withdrawls....

[enerzemog]

I thought I was the only one going through this! Wow, this forum has been very helpfull. Good luck you you all!

[enerzemog]

Hi again,

Thank you for the kind words! Yesterday was day #2 with just 2 percs. Like you, I was on at least 12 a day (10/325mg) for at least  4 to 5 months. I've been taking them since 2006. It wasnt until my last two surgeries, (1 week apart) that I started doubeling up on the doses. This has been tough but it's folks like you and this forum that's really helping me along. At first I thought I was all alone during this mess but it's really a blessing to see a lot of us have something in common and are able to help one another. I've been off the morphine and Lyrica for 3 weeks now.

It's amazing how readily the Dr's prescribe this stuff. I hear you  ref mood swings and diminished quality of life. I'm married with a 10 year old son and a 14 year old daughter. My kids and wife have not seen their dad / husband since 2006.  Those are years I'll never get back.

They are the biggest reason I AM going to quit!

Is your brother still with the department?

I'll be retired, after 25 years, by the end of next month. You're right....it takes a special person to do this job.  I will truely miss it.

Stay safe my friend.

Rene

[oompah54]

Hope your taper is still going well.  Rebound pain and jitters kicked in during the last two weeks of tapering.  Nothing I couldn't handle.  Sleepless nights and restless legs lasted for about two weeks after stopping.  Takes a little while to get energy back.  Still get cravings but try to stay busy and pray for strength.  Reading these posts helps as well.

Had two spinal fusions after about a year of alternative pain management.  So I would say I was using percs for about a year and a half.  At my worst I was taking 12 to 18 10mg. percs per day.  Changed my  personality and just made me a miserable person.  

So you are a retiring police officer.  Thats a tough job.  My brother was a motorcycle officer in Baltimore.  Takes a special person to serve.  Use that strength and conviction to get off the pills.  I'm pulling for you.

Peace and strength . . .  

[enerzemog]

Hey, thanks for replying.  I really appreciate it. How long were you on the percs? 17 days off the percs is outstanding! Congratz!!! Do you still have withdrawls? If so, how bad?

Thank you for the support. It's feedback like this that gives me the strength to beat this demon.  

Stay safe.

[oompah54]

First of all . . . Good for you for recognizing you are having a problem.  Percs were also my drug of choice.  Its been 17 days since my last.  The fact that you have tapered down to three a day shows great control and determination.  I would continue to taper until you are ready to jump off.  For me it was half of a ten in the morning and half in the evening for the last three days and then just stopped.  Still had some withdrawals, but no near as bad as when I tried cold turkey.

Wishing you continued success in your fight.  This is a great forum.  So many people with so much information and experience.    

[enerzemog]

I've had 5 shoulder surgeries, 2 this past September,  that did not fix the problem. During this time I have been sent to a pain specialist that has me on 15 mg of Morphine, 10/325 mg of percocet, and 150 MGs of Lyrica. The shoulder is shot so I'm taking a medical retirement (after 25 years as a police officer, I have no choice). I've been on percocet since 2006 and it wasnt until this past September I started taking 2 tabs every 5 hrs.  

I've come to realize that I have to live with the pain and decided to try weening off the meds. I stopped the morphine and lyrica but the percocets seem to have these claws that's hard to get away from. I tried quitting cold turkey and wound up with nightly  sweats and flush feelings like I'm going to explode. I thought there was something wrong with me  then came to realize it's the percs. I started 12 percs after my 2 surgeries this past September. Now, as of last week, I'm taking 3 a day.  I still get the sweats at night.

I'm hoping to starting cutting these pills in half and eventually quit altogether. I was told the percs would be very easy to get addicted on.  Man, were they ever right! Anyone know how long it takes to feel sort of back to normal, if that's possible,  after you've been off these pills for a week or 2?  I had no idea others were in the same boat as me.

This is an awesome forum.

Thanks for sharing!

Good luck tou you all!