when will i be normal again

[freedomlover]

i am a 55 year old man addicted to lortab 5/500. i have been on them for 7 years. had a back injury,
surgery, all that. doctors prescribed meds and never stopped prescribing them. 120 a month for all
this time. i usually took them as prescribed, 4 a day as needed. they really helped me to be able to
get things done that i couldn't have without them. then came the time that i wasn't in the pain so
much, however i kept taking them for the kick they gave me. i guess somedays i took up to 8 pills.
i wanted off these things so bad for the last two years, but you all know how hard it is. i have been
reading the posts and stories of success and encouragement you all have. so i started with some
of your suggestions, tapering, vitamins, hot showers, so on. i am now down to 1 pill today. it will
be a half tomorrow. then hopefully none on dec. 3, 2008. then i know i will have to flush 120 down the
toilet. gonna be hard, but i want to be clean so bad. i want to be me again, no drugs. i don't drink or
smoke, could be a very clean life if it works out. pray for me, i have lots of respect for you all, living
clean is possible, lots of people do it. hope to post again, thanks

[freedomlover]

thanks for the reply, i tried ct about two years ago, it was hell. i went for 14 days though, then went back on them for no reason, maybe for the kick, i don't know. wish i hadn't though. this time with tapering off, it still has been hard, i have muscle pain, bone pain, all the aches, sometimes dizzyness, but, it's getting better by the day. i look forward to the days of freedom. i sobered from alcohol in 1991 stayed sober for over 10 years in aa.
then came hydro with the back injury. same thing, different drug. i'll make it, got faith

[dele]

I am tapering off of pills as well.  I was taking up to 15 tramadols a day.  I have tapered down to a 1/2 pill over the last month.  I am taking my last 1/2 pill in 3 days.  
I am choosing to go with the amino acid protocol because I really believe that these substances have wreaked havoc on our brain chemistry.  I purchased my Omega 3, 6, 9, vitamin B, L Tyrosine, etc. etc. etc. yesterday.
While tapering, I have had a lot of insomnia and depression and a couple nights of RLS.  I hope to avoid full blown withdrawal because I have a job and 3 kids.  But, I am resigned to whatever comes.  
I attended my first 12 step meeting last night.  There wasn't a NA meeting close by so I went to an AA one.  It was a good experience.  I am going to find a good NA meeting though because there are a lot of social differences between alcohol addiction and narcotics.
Good luck to you and let us know how it is going.
Deb

[troubleinohio]

hey thats great you are successfully tapering. Im not much of a tapering advocate, I believe in CT but thats because in my own experience, and witnessing many others- it usually is the only way to do it. For most of us, tapering is not an option as we eat the pills up as fast and furious as we can and cant control our daily intake unless there is a loved one in your home who can lock them up and dole them out to you accordingly. Anyways, best of luck to you and keep us posted on your recovery.