addiction to pain killers

[mlg2911]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I'm writing to ask if anyone has had success trying the Thomas method(I think that's what it's called), started using vicodin after a c-section to deliver my son. Due to further complications they kept me on the meds. Now two years have gone by and i don't want to take them anymore, trying to do it myself by slowly tapering off. 4/ 7.5mg per day. Didn't think it would be that hard, I'm on my 4th day of taking only 2 pills a day.  I'm having a really hard time with withdrawl symptoms. If anyone has had success with this method I would really appreciate any advice that can be given.  Thanks.

[IBKleen]

Hello and welcome!

Congrats on wanting to get off the meds, and congrats on your taper. Tapering is always hard. I do not have personal experience with the recipe, I am simply bumping this up so others who have can answer you. Good luck hun!!!!!!

[avisg]

mlg, Welcome ,
I tapered down I think it really helped me recover faster in the end . If you can do it thats great !!!!! You will have some discomfort but it wont be as rough as CT ..... You can do this .There is alot of support  here ...... post often .
avis

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

I didn't find the thomas recipe to help at all but other swear by it. I tappered from 30 hydros a day down to one half a pill then CT over a month. I still had horrible WD for 2 full weeks. It's different for everyone and depends on how long and how much you used. You will have WD no matter what it just may not be as bad as some. I used xanax when I couldn't stand the WD and ambien to sleep for about 6 months only one at night. I'm clean for almost a year. Never felt better

[mlg2911]

Thanks for taking the time to write your thoughts and advice. Today is my 5th day and for some odd reason, I woke up this morning and didn't feel the urge to take any of my pills.  I had a rough night and thought for sure it was going to be another day in this horrible hell.  I'm not sure what happened or why my body is not craving the meds as much as yesterday.  The only ingrediant that i was able to obtain (so far) for the recipe is the vit. B6.  I haven't had the strength to get up and go anywhere, however my husband takes a lot of vitamins(he's very much into keeping his health in check) so I just asked him if I could have some of his.  He does not know what I am going through and  hopefully I won't have to tell him.  He is the most wonderful and amazing person I know, and I would hate to dissapoint him, therefore I am on my own.  This is the only place I have that I can be totally honest and ask for help from others in the same situation.  I only had a habit of 4/7.5 vicodin a day. For anyone who doubled or tripled that amount and is fighting to kick the habit I have nothing but respect for you, for this is a debilitating situation and anyone trying to regain control of their lives is worth being commended. Thanks again and hang in there.
     Oh, by the way, I've also been taking hot baths and steamy showers. It really, really helps with the restless leg sensation.

[localcelebrity]

This is the place for help.  Just reading these posts help me more than anything.  This is a great group of people who truly care and never pass judgement.  I check this forum more than my MYSPACE!!!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Well hopefully you can tell your husband. It helps so much to have your spouses support. I like Epsom salts in the hot baths. It forces magnesium into the muscles. Good job on day 5! The worse of the withdrawals are over.

[mlg2911]

Thanks for the recommending the Epson salt.  I hadn't thought of using it.  I have so much on my mind. My baby is constantly asking to be held and the awful feeling that i am experiencing in my legs is really making it difficult to carry him or let him climb on me as he's used to doing.  Unfortunately, telling my husband is not an option at this point.  He is a very healthy minded individual and I actually think he would be confused by what I'm going through, especially because I've been able to keep it from him for so long.  I'm going to keep posting and reading everyone's comments.  Day 5 of tapering off is almost over and hopefully I won't have to been looking at the clock every hour on the hour tommorow.  That's what I started doing on day one.  I tried to go a couple of hours each day without taking the meds. Slowly I was going longer and longer without the urge.  It's been 21 hrs. since I had a half a pill( 1/2 of 7.5 vik).  I'm watching the clock and planning on giving myself a little pat on the  back for clearing 24hrs. I can finally say  I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.  For anyone who is just starting whether it is cold turkey or tapering the way I did, please hang in there, it does get better.  

[toxictome]

Welcome to the forum. It's a great place to get help, support and advice...or experience, strength, and hope!!!
Congrats on your taper..i tapered also ...7.5 vics.  The wd's were tolerable .. rls was the worst...and i still have it..but it is getting better. I am on day 16..so you're doing great!!!

Keep posting....

[sancho26]

Hi this is my first post here... I've been taking norco 10/325 for almost 2 years and I take 120 a month but have just run out today. I have no idea what this "thomas recipe" is but would really like any ideas that could help. I was thinking about doing it with out anything just toughing it out but do you guys really think it'll be easy like that? hope you guys can help me out... and sorry i can't help the first person on the thread because i can't even help myself lol

[sancho26]

120 pills a month sorry for not being specific

[mlg2911]

Welcome to our forum. I was reading your post, but I wasn't quite sure what you were taking.  However, Ito answer your question; Ie did take some of the ingrediants that the "Thomas Recipe" suggests and they did help quite a bit.  I take the vitamin B6 that is rec. and I also just went to the health food store and bought the broad spectrum mineral and the L-tyrosene.  I have had so much energy today even my husband was asking me if everything was okay.  I said, "better than you know, sweetheart! " I was lucky enough to be able to live through the withdrawals all by my self at home, my hubby was at work and my son at daycar.  Believe me I cried, screamed, prayed and did just about anything I could to stop the pain my body was in.  Had to act as normal as possible once my husband and son came home.  By far the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
    I am now on day 6th with tons of energy (was dragging the first few days).   Another odd thing that is happening is that my skin is clearing up so quickly.  I never put the two together, but I think the toxins from the meds. were making me break out.  Never had them before and now my face is soooo clear.  This was the best decision I've ever made for myself and my family.  My husband has his wife back and my son has his  mommy back.  Please hang in there, it really does get better and people around you wull start to notice the difference in your personality .  Maybe not during the first week, but soon after you will start seeing the sunshine and the sky in a whole different light(so to speak)  I took my first breath of nothing but fresh clean air today and boy did it feel so good!  I'm here to help anyone that may need to chat.  I think I'm pretty much out of the w/d phase.  And I can't believe the change in my spirit, mind and soul.  Freedom Tastes so goood!   Keep trying please, don't ease up.  You can do it.

P.S. Still taking hot baths and steamy showers, it really helps with the restless leg sensation.  I also use a small  electrical  heating pad that i keep next to my bed, so I can warm my legs up a little before I fall asleep.

                                                         Hope some of this has been helpful,

                                                                         Good Luck

[adog]

Congrats.

I cant wait to get to that point I have decided to start weening today. I just hope I am tough enough, I really want this but I cant even imagine life without them. I'm sure after a few days, I will and also Im hoping I remember how good it was. I wish I never ever started but like everyone I thought it could never happen to me. Oh well no pupose for crying over spilled  mile I need to make this happen. Your post is an inspiration it good to not fell alone

[sancho26]

I'm glad you're getting a lot better and I hope you get completly away from the meds for good!!! I still haven't seen any light at the end of the tunnel though... I was saying that I take the 10mg norcos (vicoden) but I wanted to try to quit without using any vitamins or anything just trying to tough it out but I think I'm going to go out and buy the vitamin B-6 and L-tyrosene. I honestly still can't imagine living the rest of my life without the painkillers, it still seems like life was a lot better with them. I hope I can start feeling better like you do and your story is a huge inspiration. Thank you so much for your help and I hope we can all get through... The big problem I'm having is the Restless legs sensation, it's so painful.  I try taking hot baths but it only goes away for a little bit. Does that begin to get any better? because I don't know how much I can take it anymore...

[mlg2911]

Hi glad your back.  I'm glad you're thinking of going out there to buy the vit.  I think the B6 is what really helped me get out the door after I spent almost 3 days completely trapped in my house.  It hurt so much to even get out of bed, much less brush my hair and make myself look presentable.  After taking the B6, i had an immediate surge of energy (remember,this is after the 3 days that i was at home) I eventually was able to go out and get the rest of the ingred.  I am now on day 7th and....wow! I was hit hard once again.  I've had a pretty rough day. (still nothing like the first few days) I've been really struggling with the Restless leg syndrome.  It's horrible, so I did a little research and I know they have a new med out there called ("Lyrica")sp?? I''m going to make an appt. with a neurologist and find out if he/she can prescribe it to help get through this phase.  It's the hardest part for me because I can't sleep and I have a 2 yr old son with lots of energy and needs to be taken care of.  My husband has been doing most of the work, because he thinks I'm sick with flu like symptoms.  I decided to take an over the counter sleep aid to help me sleep last night. BAD MOVE!!! I ended up getting the opposite effect of the drowsiness, I ended up with the hyperactivity instead.  That has never happened before, so I'm assuming it's just the fact that my body is going through so much right now, with the detoxing and all. I really screwed my self up.  Now I'm scared I won't be able to sleep, due to the RLS.  It seems to be getting a little worse.  Some one posted on this link just a few paragraphs up from yours( toxictomi) they said they were on their 16th day and still experiencing the restless legs. So, I decided to seek some help for that .  I'll let you all know how that ends up.  Need a little help so that I don't relapse due to this horrible sensation.
      Keep your spirits up, we are all different, therefore we won't all suffer EXACTLY the same.  I'm just telling my story incase anyone out there is also having a little trouble getting over that last little hump.  However, I'll tell you what I'm not gonna do.... I am never touching one of those pills again.  And believe me, they are on my counter staring at me whenever I need to use my vanity.  I keep them there on purpose.  I quietly tell them they aren't going to win. (my own little way of feeling stronger) HAHA!

[suffernomore]

I had the same problem with any kind of pain killer...hydrocodone, oxy's, percocet's, ultram, etc.  When I was unable to get the pills from the internet (which I easily spent thousands of dollars on), I would fake a cough and then spend more money at an urgent care clinic to get some form of cough medicine with hydrocodone in it.  I eventually fell in love with Tussionex, which is the strongest from of cough med out there.  It is also the most expensive!  I won't go into detail about how I almost went bankrupt and ruined my life, but I almost did!  I was so constipated, I looked like I was pregnant.  My legs and feet ended up so swollen. I would stuff my huge feet into my shoes and endure the pain, get home from work, and take more once I got my slippers on.  No one knew about my addiction, and no one knows to this day.  I finally got help.  I read a post on the internet just like this one about Suboxone.  Only certain doctors can prescribed it, so I googled it for physicians in my state.  I found a great doctor who listened to me and treated me without judgement.  I have been seeing him for two months now, and he is tapering me off slowly using this life saving medicine.  I have lost 40lbs, saved my friendships that were almost done because I was such a hermit, and I feel so good.  Do I crave it?  Of course, but I tell myself "NO" because it was no way to live.  It's almost like I was asleep for the last 3 years.  So many things are just a blure to me.  So, now it's your turn to look up who prescribes Suboxone and get help.  My visits are covered by insurance and so is the medication.  It's much cheaper than what I was spending.  Once you get sober, you will remember how good life is.  Even the air is different.  I will never be ashamed of what happened because we all make mistakes and learn from them.  I know I learned probably the most from my addiction and it makes me cherish life twice as much. Take care

[mlg2911]

I have only ever taken Hydrocodone, i guess this was the reason I thought getting off of them woul be no problem.  That was definitley not the case.  I'm on day 7 and was somewhat upset that i was having a bad day, because yesterday I had one of the most wonderful days I had had since all this started.  So I was somewhat surprised that I was feeling that low, I thought things would only get better.  Oh well, I dealt with it (especially the RLS) and all though I wasn't the nicest person to my husband(doesn't know what i'm dealing with) I made it all the way through the day.  Now I'm ready to turn in and I hope tommorrow will be a good day.  
   What kind of physician did you talk to. Can it be a regular MD like my family dr., or does it have to be some one that deals with detox specifically.  I'm not sure what qualifications a doctor must have in order to perscribe the Suboxone.  I'm still trying to do it on my own, because i don't want to trade one med for another, but just incase I relapse I would really like to know what kind of DR. you went to.
     I look forward to reading your post and finding out how to go about doing this with help if necessary.

                                                    Good Luck and Take Care

[GoingToMakeIt]

A sub Dr has to be approved to dispense it. Go to naabt.org and or suboxone.com. There you can find Dr.s near you. If you are already on day 7, (Congratulations) you don't need the sub to get through the withdrawals.

[toxictome]

If your're on day 7 you DO NOT want to get on suboxone..
you are over the worst of the wd symptoms.  You will have good days with some not as good days mixed in.
You may have rls for a while..everyone reacts different, but it takes time to get all the  toxins out of our systems..you are doing great...hang in there and keep posting!!!

[sancho26]

I'm really sorry and sad to hear you weren't feeling too well today, I thought that everyday was going to get better for you but these pain killers don't want to go away with out a fight huh? lol. Well I hope you feel better tomorrow (probably today when you read this). I'm on day 2 or 3 i can't really remember because the days seem so long and I don't even want to think about it lol. I took some advil PM to sleep and it worked fine with me, might be something that'll work for you too who knows...  You know I have a couple of bottles of "Lyrica" my doctor gave them to me for nerve damage but I didn't know they were good for RLS. If you go to the doc please let me know how many you're supposed to take. It doesn't say on the bottle and I can't remember. I have the 75mg and 150 mg. They told me I had to start with the lower dosage and work my way up to like 200mg. but that was a while back so I can't really remember. Well I look forward to reading your posts and everyone elses who are going through the same or have went through it at some point. PLEASE PLEASE if you find a way to get rid of the restless legs sensation let me know because that's what's really killing me. keep posting everybody let's get through this..... I'll keep posting too to let you all know how i'm slowly proggresing.... I guarantee when I'm through with this i'll be on here trying to help ppl going through this but sorry I can't really help now because I'm still in the begging of it....

[mlg2911]

Well, as you read yesterday(day7) was a nightmare for me.  I don't know how I made it through, but I did.  I think I'm going to hold off on the suboxone, I was feeling so desp. yesterday I didn't know what else to do.  I'm feeling a little better this morning, but I'm still somewhat feeling the hot/cold w/ds.  I woke up this morning and realized that I was putting my needs and wants for the meds. in front of my family.  I couldn't believe how horrible I was treating my husband, but I couldn't help it.  Everything he said or did rubbed me the wrong way.  I ended up calling my in-laws and they came and took care of my baby.  I locked myself in my room and didn't come out until this morning.  What in the world am I doing? This stuff is taking over my life.  I'm going to end up without a husband if I don't straighten up.  Well, on to dealing with day (8).  Not having the best start, but at least I managed to peel myself out of bed.  Please write in with any advice, I could really use it.  I'll be checking in during the day, so that I can see how everyone else is doing.
                                                                      Take Care

[oneeagle]

I am so sorry that no one could tell you that it was easy - but remember now, you put a couple of years effort into getting here - it wont be over in a few days. I had a long (back to nam) habit and it took me longer than most to take care of business. Glad you peeled yourself out of bed today! Congrats on that and your effort - you are so very close you gotta stick with it - yesterdays anxiety will be subsiding bit by bit also - and tomorrow will just keep getting better. Good luck to you

[mlg2911]

It's been about 2 hrs since I last checked in.  My hubby is off to work and my baby in daycare.  I've got the whole day to  think about what I've done to myself and my family.  I have never been addicted to anything in my life and always prided myself on being a strong indep. woman. Realizing that I had a problem was a big step.  I thought it would take little to no effort to stop the meds.  I don't get a high from them, they don't make me feel euphoric in any way.  All they did was stop the pain I was having.  I've had friends tell me how good vik. makes them feel. I don't get that. Never did, which is why I think I didn't see this as a problem in the first place.  Well, high or not, now I'm dealing with the horrible w/ds just like everyone else.
I don't know about anyone else, but I have not had much of an appetite.  I just realized I've had almost nothing to eat for 2 days.  Is anybody else having this effect?  I forced myself to put down a piece of toast, and I do mean FORCED.
I am now off to enjoy a little bit of the nice weather we're having.  Just reading everyone's advice and experiences is more help than you will ever know.  I have to say my mood gets a little better every time some one posts a new comment.  
Thank you all again, for EVERYTHING. Can't tell my husband, can't tell my family, so this forum has truley been a blessing.
   Stay strong and hang in there.

[Jacqui805]

While on day 23 I'm still in w/d, I will tell you that not being able to eat ended for me at about day 7, and I was able to force down some small bits of food over the next few days.  After that, it was gone, and I became super hungry and still cannot get enough food.  I cannot seem to hydrate myself despite drinking something all day and all night long, but I'm not in danger.  The rls thing took me by surprise and at first really drove me crazy.  I still have it, a little in one leg only.  That definitely improved, and is improving.  I still sneeze, in three's.  I have a weird cough.  Those two things are the same.  The wicked headache I had is SO much better.  The wicked body aches are better too.  I lost the diarrhea, nausea and vomiting after 7 days too.  I can relate to your comment about not getting high from the med.  Mine (fentanyl) did not do that to me either, so I never became addicted, but did become dependant.  Either way w/d sucks.  The anxiety/sleeplessness/restlessness is the worst for me.  I have heard from others like me who're going through this on a much longer basis than some.  The length depends entirely on the drug that was used, the length of time on it, the dose, and the person.  It's hard to say how long you'll be going through this, but you're heading in the right direction.  Bravo!!!!!!  We're here for you.

[Jacqui805]

sorry, the above post, I meant to put your name.