needing some encouragement

[mak17]

i have been tapering my vicodin intake over the past 14 days.... it is had not been hard up until right now when it is my second day of not taking any more vicodin.  i had been taking up to 15vics a day.  so, my doctor put me on a taper method for 14 days.  thursday was the last day of the taper.  up until thursday it was not so hard as i always had a dosage to look forward to....no matter how small it was.  but yesterday and today are my first days without any vicodin at all.  i have read all about this but need to hear it from you guys.   how long are these w/d going to last and when will i be able to get out of my house and enjoy my life.  i am basically crying all of the time, feeling really down, scared as hell, sneezing, shaking, irritable.  does this ever go away? i am going into a pretty hopeless state of mind where i feel like i am never going to get back to who i was and get a normal life. i am so scared, i also have a clonidine patch and i am sure it is helping but i am also scared to know when i should take it off.
i never ever want to go through this again. it is awful

[corey411]

Physical wd is over around day 4-7 with opiates bc that's how long it takes to get the poison/opiates out of your system and your body wants it. You will probably still feel some physical stuff but not so bad. For me the psycological is worse but it gets better after day 4 (for me) and a little better everyday both physically and mentally. We,ve altered our system and minds and spirit for years with these things and our mind, body and spirit need to heal and that takes time. Bad days are normal after youve been better. Expect them and know they are normal. Try to read the Health pages in the upper right corner...esp PAWS 1,2,and 3, Thomas recipe, and one on avoiding relapse and cravings. They will help you understand and prep you. Lots of luck and love, Corey

[mak17]

thank you so much.
Corey...i totally understand getting back into this... it is a lot our minds too, huh?
i do have supplements that i am taking.
i think it is good to focus on positive but i cannot beieve how hard that is to do!
i also just got a message about getting immodium for my stomach? is that helpful? is it normal for my stomach to be such a mess even thought nothing tastes good to me so i hate eating right now?  maybe a dumb question, but how do you know the physical wd are over?  is it just sudden or little by little?
thank you all so much ... the feelings i am having are indescribable.
newman...you always have the nicest words.

[newmanagment]

i think the clonodine patch is for bloodpressure, maybe hit up goingtomakeit, and see if he can help with when to take it off.. we know your hurting right now, but it will so be worth it when you finally get control of your life back.. so keep ya chin up, stay focused, and much luv...

[worried878]

Good for you...stay focused and keep moving forward...have you gotten the supplements/vitamins that you need?  Tapering is extremely difficult for some...was for me...if u were able to do that successfully then u r gonna win this battle..hang in there and keep posting

[corey411]

Just hang in there. Day 2 s never good. Day 4 has been my feeling better day. Ive had alot of relapses. You need to be careful cause Ive said way too many times I never want to go through this again. Ive even caved after 3 mos. when I was feelin great again. If you can go to NA/AA and keep posting. We need others to help us through it and more importantly you will probably forget how bad you feel and crave pills later. That's normal. It gets better over time. Grasp any positive thoughts you can and hold on. Good luck, Corey

[mak17]

thank you all so much for your responses. they are so helpful.
r2r...i was taking 1/2 a pill 4 times a day on THursday.  i had about seven more vics left and i emotionally :) flushed them.. i had to do it or i knew i would be right back where i was.  
i think you are so right about the hot baths and showers.... they are amazing.
do you suggest the l-lytrosine?  over what OTD meds for pain?  i am trying to stay away from the xanax, etc. as i am afraid i will like that too much as well.
some posts say 48-72 hours but i am guessing there is more to come.:)
all of your words mean so much to me.
i cannot even explain it.   you are all strong and wonderful.
as i am sure you all know, this is just scary and so far i do not see a light at the end of the tunnel, but i know it is there!  
is the tapering supposed to help with these symptoms?  te tapering took more self control then i have had in a long time.
thanks and love to you all.

[toxictome]

CONGRATS ON DAY 2!!!     WOO HOO!!

I know you feel like you're going to die...but you WON'T!!

Take a HOT BATH...that helps w/ alot!
Some OTC meds for pain....
LOTS of fluids...

Everything you are feeling is normal...and it shall pass..
.try to do something to occupy your mind...read a book, put a puzzle together, watch a move....if you can pretend  you have the flu, and not wds...it seems a little easier...if it was the flu, you'd get thru it!...and you'll get thru this.

The emotional part is hard, but we are here for you...post away....oh yeah, staying on here occupies your mind, also!

If you can get out for a walk or some mild exercise, that helps also!!!

Good luck...sound slike you're right where you're suppose to be on day 2!!

Hang in there...keep your eye on the prize!!!

[cathy5841]

the physical side of the w/ds last about 5-7 days with days 3 & 4 being the worst.  and yes it does get better it just takes time.  soak in  a hot hot bath with epsom salt if you have it.  it helps witht the rls and such.  also eat bananas it replaces potassium.  you can take a cold flu med it sometimes helps with the flu like symptoms.  lok in the health pages here for the thomas receipe it really is a life saver.  and be sure to save this post so when the mental cravings start you reference it and hopefully remember the gratifications you get from taking these darn pill will lead you back to w/ds.  keep posting and reading here...it really helps.  wishing you much luck and a HAPPY EASTER
cathy

[road2recovery]

welcome----and congrats on 2 days...for me my worst days were 3 and 4...Everyday after that got better...it does take time, but we have to realize that our bodies and mind have been pretty much sleeping, and everything is waking up, that is why we feel so much when coming off of this poison..
since you did a taper it will be alot better....you are very strong for being able to follow a taper for 14 days
how much were you taking on your last 2 days???
remember hot baths..
we are here for you
r2r