Withdrawel

[Broken Bones]

Hell-o, Life is a living hell,years of bad injuries, had to take Lortab,ect. It was so bad I made the mistake of getting on Methadone. Traded one nightmare for one that was much worse. I've gotten off methadone and went right back to Lortab 10/650, about 25 a day.I cut back to 14 a day and really want out of this nightmare but it seems the more times you quit, the harder it gets each time and cold turkey is not an option. A bullet would be better.The lower I get, the harder it is.IF I ever get off, the pain from injuries makes life unbearable. Anyone know if there is any way out? Can't take much more.I almost died from the cold turkey method.Also out of money, job, ect. Also, I wanted to say thanks, BEFORE I CRAWL OUT OF MY SKIN...Broken Bones

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Thanks for the kind words of support as usual!  Marty is doing really well these days considering the fact that she has to take care of me for a change.

My cellulitis flared up again and I had some problems.  I'm glad I don't live alone!  I need help getting dressed, on and off the toilet and can't drive,etc.  Kind of scarey for sure.  Marty bought me a Lazy Boy over the weekend and told me to stay there.  It's hard to do...stay off of my feet, that is.

I hope you are doing okay with the benzo situation.  I am still on narcotics for pain but have resigned myself to the fact that they really are necessary.  No buzz like when I was using them for fun...just pain relief.  Hug Bobby for us!  J.B.

[rtrain]

Hello people.  I'm one of those on my last leg.  2 years ago I went out into the shop to try to help catch up and got all 8 fingers 3/4 severed on a big machine.  Many operations later I still have them but they don't feel and don't bend and STILL hurt.  After each operation they gave me hydrocodone.  I would take it for 3 weeks and then it would be gone and... no big deal. Then after my last operation the Dr. wanted me to take ultram so I would not get addicted to the real stuff.  Since then I am so addicted I cannot function.  Lately it doesn't even help so I am trying for the 5 or 6th time to quit.  I did not know you could be so sick.  Everything you've all discribed.  My everything hurts.  My eyes, my teeth, my legs hurt so bad I can barely stand and oh my god my stomach problems.  I have a job.  A lot of people depend on me.  I cannot just stop working and go to some detox.  I cannot quit alone.  I do not know what to do.  I really don't feel this life is worth living anymore but I can't go yet.  It would hurt so many people.  Thought I was strong.  Have been all these years.  But this... I can not do.  Cannot believe the doctors don't know about this ultram.  Like I said... I never had any trouble with hydrocodone.. but this stuff is going to kill me.

[Thomas]

witchywoman, thanks for the kind words. It really helps to know I'm appreciated ... Your words made me feel good. By the by, I think you're pretty cool as well ...

katie r, curious thing, but even when i was butt miserable from withdrawal, two benedryl put me right to sleep (over the counter, of course). But do, do try to get some benzos like valium or xanax to see you through your detox. Surely, you've got a grandma somewhere who took two valiums and left the rest in the medicine cabinet(!). We can only live in hope ... wish it were legal to send you some, but unfortunately it isn't it. Also, I've read that it takes a month of Kava to realize its effects. I wouldn't count on that stuff for the short term.

Thomas

[Thomas]

I know witchywoman already warned you about tapering off the ativan. But there's more to it than that. Take it from a guy who's had three Xanax-related seizures this year (xanax is almost identical to ativan). First, a little background, all benzodiazepines (valium, ativan, xanax, librium, klonopin, halcion, dalmane, etc) are all metabolalized in the body into the same substance, benzodiazepine. The only difference is the speed at which the drug is converted and delivered to the benzo receptors in the brain. There are basically two kinds of benzos (short half-life and long half-life, meaning the amount of time it takes for the drug to leave the body). Xanax and ativan have half-lives of as little as 8 hours, depending on the individual tested. This means when you try to get off of them, you put your brain, that has become used to having the benzos, on a "dosage rollercoaster" that can result in some cases in potentially fatal seizures (complete loss of consciousness for 5 to ten minutes -- imagine this happening while you're driving a car). The problem with tapering off xanax or ativan is that they're already so potent that the normal dose is as little as .5 of a milligram -- that doesn't give you much to taper with, does it? My life changed for the better when, curse me for not remembering who, but either Francoise or Milo told me about Doctor Heather Ashton's web site devoted to safe detoxing from benzos using Valium. It was the best advice I've ever gotten. Not only can you get Valium in 10, 5 and 2.5 mg dosages to make it easier to taper, but, much more importantly, Valium has a half-life of as much as 200 hours per dose! Compare that to the 8 to 16 hour half-lives of Xanax and Ativan ... Valium's 200 hour half life means the drug leaves your body very, very slowly (it takes more than 8 days for half the dose of a single Valium to leave your bloodstream, regardless of the actual dosage). This means your brain has plenty of time to gradually and safely adjust to, first, the lower dosages of benzos, then get used to eventually doing without the benzos completely.

DO NOT TRY TO TAPER FROM THE ATIVAN! ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE BEEN ON IT FOR A WHILE.

Go to a search engine and search for Heather Ashton. You'll find an excerpt from her book that you can take to your doctor when you ask him/her to switch you to Valium. It saved my life and, who knows? It might save yours, too. Good luck.

Your Friend,

Thomas

PS: whether it was Francoise or Milo, I hope you both know I love you both for your friendship and your loyalty. Along with my brother JB, CHAD FROM PHILLY, Jennyfla, cindi, angelica, kerrie, and many, many others, you two are both permanent members of my "A" list of cool people. I haven't communicated much lately, and for that I apologize. But all of you have been in my thoughts each and every day. JB, you've been in my prayers as I pray every day for your recovery. You're one of a kind, my brother, and I simply can't do without you. (give Marty a big smooch for me, while you're at it). I've forgotten to mention so many, but I hope you forgive me and know that you're in my thoughts as well,

Your friend to the end,

Thomas

[susanlea]

Have you ever tried Toradol?  It now come's in a pill form.  Last year when my now ex had kidney stones and was in the ER with them,  the Dr. gave him shots of Toradol,  it took his pain a way.  I think the ER Dr. knew he was addicted to opiates because of the way he looks.  Long hair, very massy looking.  Toradol is a non narcotic and has a very high success rate... Let me know.
On another note, I will email you about my son's interest in being a pagan.  I will get him that book that you suggested.  His interest lies in good spells and that kind of thing.  I am paying attention when he is on the internet, and so far it's pretty much kid stuff, so I am not too worried at this point.  He asked me to light incense for him tonight, so he could free his mind and get to sleep (first day of school tomorrow)  I am interested in making sure he sticks to this side, the good side.  He is only 12 and I do not want to squash him in any way, since he is really against formal religion, but I do want him to have a belief in himself.  Any info would be appreciated.  Thanks and I will pass on to Jenny later this week your regards....Susan

[Witchywoman]

Hi Katie,
Yes, I did get your email last night..and sent you one back in response..did you not get it?

That is amazing that you are doing so well!! I'm really happy that you are not suffering with withdrawals..are you also using the zinc/magnesium supplements that pillpoppa recomends?
I did all that..all the supplements, and started before my detox, and still had bad withdrawals.  Please let me know if you continue to be off the meds without the bad symptoms, and let us all know exactly what you've done to get this effect.

love,
WW