getting off oxycontin

[apexman]

since a severe accident in january i have been on oxycontin 120 mg per day i am now down to 15 to 20 mg per day i cannot sleep and have diahrea

[apexman]

hi well been back to work for 6 weeks now it is going well,pain is tollerable mostly in the ankle bum is fine no donut for the last 3 weeks. surgery is going to be in october, sleep is totally back to normal. thanks for listening                                                                                                                                                             darren

[avisg]

Darren,
you have come so far .I am gald you are doing so well .Plz stop in everyonce just to say hi ..Good luck ..Let us know how sugery goes ...
avis :)

[apexman]

hi work went ok not really that sore so i am going to leave today and give it another try. slept realy well last night about 8 hours up only once,i am even doing some driving without the dounut i probably will not be posting much anymore i think i am well on my way to living kind of normal again. i must say thankyou so very much for giving me the support and guidance it helped me so much,people like you are hard to find so thankyou again                                                                                                                                         darren

[apexman]

hi work is going well drove about 900 km today and feel fine,could you tell me why diarea comes back when ever i stop taking medicine for it. does have anything to do with me having an ostomy thanks for chatting                                              darren

[vicki595]

Darren~  Good! You found the pillow!  They are wonderful!!    Hope the insomnia is better.  Things should rapidly improve for you now.  Good job!!  I'm happy for you!

Vicki  xo

[apexman]

hi no do not sleep during the day, I went and got one of those donuts like you suggested and your right very comfy.I think work will be allright. thanks again for chatting                                darren

[avisg]

Darren,
you have done so well.The sleep will get back to normal but as you have found out it takes the longest .Keep in touch let us know how work goes and when you have surgery .
avis

[vicki595]

You've done so well, Darren !!!    You should be proud!!

Sorry about the sleep thing...you don't doze off during the day do you??

You know...you can buy a cushion called a "donut" to sit on...I think they still sell them at pharmacies...very comfy!

Vicki  xo

[apexman]

hi day 23 now everything is fine now except the sleep. I am going to attempt returning to work on monday if i can sit without getting to sore then it will all be good, still no date on next surgery I may delay this will see how work goes. thanks again                                                                 darren

[vicki595]

Darren~  Sounds good!  Wow...3 weeks!    Sure...going back to work would be great!
You've done so well...be proud!
Let me know about the surgery date...

All the best!
Vicki

[apexman]

hi day 21 wow hard to believe things are going really well, sleep is still not normal but it seems every second night is better then 1 not so good. but i do feel over all everthing is going well, my surgery is not booked yet will phone tomorow and check again, i am even starting to think about returning to work i own my own semi and delever cars around alberta canada. thanks again for chattingwith me                                                                                                                                                                                                darren

[vicki595]

Toketeeman~   Don't worry. It gets better everyday. When you hit the 2 week mark you
should be back to your old self!   Just get out the house and do all the things that make you feel good!
V.

[toketeeman]

Thanks so much for such a quick response to my question, Vicki. Knowing the real facts ahead of time really helps me to face the situation better.

Oh yes, I am practically done with the physical therapy. My knee is strong, mobile, and practically painless, I "run" up/down stairs - so I have been very fortunate on the medical healing side. It's the mental withdrawal that still has me seeing a gray world each day ... so on now with day 6 and hopefully I will be back to my old self in just a few more days. Yep, I have been taking the vitamins and have an exercise bike that I use daily. And my PT guy told me also about the endorphin effect, too.

- toketeeman

[vicki595]

To Toketeeman~  Hi!   Yes...the mental aspect of being without the meds is common
and is the last to go away.  Are you able to move around/walk with that knee yet?
Exercise gets those endorphins releasing and really helps!! Also.it's very common to experience depression after orthopedic surgery. Many doctors warn of this.  Just try to push through. If it doesn't pass,call your doctor. There are meds he can prescribe for you.  In the meantime,be sure you're taking vitamins. Especially all the B vitamins.
Good luck and keep posting~  You can post your own thread at the top,if you wish~

Vicki

[toketeeman]

This was a great thread to understand more the progress of an oxy withdrawal. And I think the help that was given to the original poster was wonderful.

I recently had knee-replacement surgery and used oxycodone on average of 15mg daily for 5 weeks. I jumped off 5 days ago, just now starting into day 6. My biggest problem is not with the typical physical ailments of withdrawal which I can tolerate and endure quite well, but the mental part: axiety, depression, and especially the loneliness (I live alone, but I often see and contact my daughter who lives nearby).

The physical problems are pretty much over with, but I am still feeling the lonliness and dis-connectedness at the present time. It is driving me to tears at times.

I do wonder whether if the mental part takes a lot longer that the physical part, or would I typically be only just a few more days away from regaining my mental security and just need to be patient.

[vicki595]

Hey!!  Great on the 7 hours of sleep AND 18 days!!  You've done it!!

Has the June surgery been scheduled yet?

Vicki

[apexman]

hi da, y 18 things are going well slept last night for about 7 hours  up only 2 times, got my hot tub going maybe thats why,just happy to finally get sleeppppppppppppppppp thanks again                                                                                                                                                                   darren

[dominosarah]

Keep us posted on how you are doing.......Stay away from the Sub...sara

[avisg]

yes Darren you don't need sub you have done fine .you are not addicted .Keep letting us know how you are .Things will continue to get better .I have surgery this week so I wont be around as much but I will continue to check and see how you are ...

[apexman]

hi I am taking vitamin c multi vitamins full spectrum minerals still taking 2 hot baths once after physio in morning and one before bed. exercise in the afternoon.                                                  darren

[vicki595]

Darren~    Just wanted to say:  I disagree with the above poster.  You don't need Suboxone.  You're doing fine and it will interfere with your future post op pain management.  Just keep doing what you're doing!
V. xo

[cherry750]

Hi Darren,and everyone else, I to, was addiccted tp loratabs for 5yrs, I have been clean now for 45days,I had to have help though,I coulkdnt have done it by myself, there is a new drug called Suboxone, its nothing like Methadone, but takes away all your withdrawl symtoms, and makes you feel normal, some say it is addictive as well but i can go days without taking it and so just fine, but I would have never been able to stop without it, I was up to taking 20 loratab 10's a day,this medicine is great and they have a website and any pain management doc can perscribe, you do not have to go into rehab, but you do have to have a support group, these last 45 days have just sailed past for me and i havent craved tabs at all, so if you are struggling I suggest you check it out..

[vicki595]

Darren~   Good! Glad the GI stuff is gone!!

For the RLS:  Are you taking the vitamins? Calcium and magnesium? OJ?  Also,drink tonic water. It has quinine and that helps a lot!    Sorry about the sleeping trouble.It
takes a few weeks for that to become normal again.  How's the pain?

Vicki  xo

[apexman]

hi  wow day 16 direa just about gone sleep still not normal, and still have the restless feeling in my legs.everything else is going well. thanks again for chatting with me                                                                                                                                                                                       darren