Update on taper

[BigWill79]

I'm down to six 10mg hydros per day.  Good, considering I was at 18 or more daily.  I've had very little withdrawals as I drop down and was able to stay on a dose a few days longer than planned if I needed to.  My girlfriend has control of the pills and as of last week I gave her control of my money.  She set up a new bank account for me, in her name, so I can't go to the bank and get cash and have no checks to cash with the new account (this keeps our money seperate), she has the credit cards too.  I give myself an allowance of 50 bucks per week in my old account so I can't afford to buy pills even if I wanted to.  This may seem extreme to some of you, but I would suggest trying this to anyone who continues to relapse.  Based on advice from my therapist, I'm putting as many obsticles as possible between myself and the pills.  I even wrote a good bye letter to the pills and getting high, just like I was mourning the death of a loved one.  Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well with their situation and I will keep you up to date as I finish the taper and begin the real battle of staying clean.  

Will

[BigWill79]

You are not alone.  There are good people on this forum that have a lot of advice and experiences to draw from.  The letter writing was a great idea.  My therapist said and I agree that we must mourn the end of our use in order to remain sober.  For most addicts, our drug of choice was our best friend for a long period of time.  When it is gone, we have to mourn the loss in order to heal, just like it is person who dies.  Makes perfect sense to me and I found the letter writing to be great.  I still write about it from time to time.  Also, posting on here helps to get it out in the open with people who understand and don't judge you.  Anyhow, good luck.  Feel free to send a pm if you want to, so that way we don't tie up the forum.  

[miss_tiffany22]

Congrats it sounds like you are doing a great job. i just joined this forum as I am addicted to hydro & morphine, I have bought tramadol and plan on weening myself off. I am so glad that you have your girlfriend to help you, my husband is still in the dark. he sees substance abuse as a personal weekness and i just know he would not understand. but we are trying to have another baby, and i need to quit before that happens. i quit when i was pregnant with my son (and smoking too!), but went back to the opiate use immediatly after having him--- i was given annexsia 2 hrs after labor so i was right back in the frying pan so to say!!! I joined so that i couuld meet people like you, good people that are struggling to get sober. I am a social worker and all my friends are either people that don't use and wouldn't understand, or people that use and are unhealthy for me. So, I am at a loss for support. I like the idea of writing a letter, did that help you? I think i will do that to. Sorry to write so much, i am just  trying to reach out to people because I feel so alone in this battle, and I really want to win. GOOD lUCK!!!!!!!!!

[BigWill79]

Thanks for all the kind words.  I'm hoping things continue to go well and I'm actually looking forward to trying life pill free.  If anyone has any questions about my taper or any of the ideas I've been using, let me know.  I'll be happy to help.  Thanks again.  

Will

[worried878]

i dont think it sounds funny at all...the set up u have made...u have set yourself up for success....would someone who does not understand addiction think this is a bit drastic...perhaps...does another addict think this drastic   heck no...sounds extremely intelliegent and well planned to me

[kimmieb]

hey, i know EXACTLY what you mean about writing that good-bye letter and actually mourning a loss....it's what i've talked about to someone on here all along....when someone does this, gives up pills, it IS a loss....a HUGE part of it is learning to accept that loss and going through the grieving process and mourning that loss....i didn't think anyone else on here ever thought anything of that....but i sure did!  it makes absolute perfect sense to me....good for you!  glad to hear you're hanging in there!  best of luck and continued success.....
blessings,
kim

[SFgirll853]

Good job!  I am on day 2 cold turkey from 10 10/325 a day and the ONLY way I have strength this time is because my husband is behind me.  I tried tapering twice and just found myself slowly creeping back up after a week or two so just be careful.  

I really like the letter idea.  I might try that myself.  Please keep me posted as to how you are doing.  We are in a similar place!

[fedup4now]

Good for you, I know when I relapse - it is because I haven't closed all the doors.  It's like I need to leave a few open just in case.  To have the courage and determinations to take the steps you have is fantastic - you are setting yourself up to succeed.
Smart decisions lead to sucess - keep going!

[sadinmichigan]

I say..good for you!!! Whatever works right? keep it up and you will be free from them before you know it..