Withdrawal Again?

[surfcat]

I'm looking for some advice & folks who can relate to my situation:

I was hooked on vicodin for several years, average about 20-30 mg/day. (As so many, began taking them for pain and kept taking them to avoid the withdrawal & for the high).  I quit cold turkey in May, and even at that relatively low dose, the withdrawals were bad enough. I was off completely for only two months, and then had shoulder surgery & began taking them again as prescribed about four weeks ago, average of 15-20 mg/day

Now that the pain is not so bad, I'm facing cold turkey again and I don't want to refill and repeat the same long-term use pattern. BUT, I am worried about what to expect with the severity of the withdrawal.  If there is anybody out there who has been in a similar situation in which they started up for a short time and then went CT again (regardless of the reason for starting up again), could you give me your experience? I just want to know about what to expect regarding the withdrawals. It would be such a load off to know if it will be easier and shorter this time, or maybe (just maybe!) I'll avoid most of the symptoms all together. Or is it likely to be really bad again?

Thanks everyone.

[weezy360]

I know what helped for me is just keeping busy.  But I'm not a Dr. also I was takeing Suboxin to so that could be another route.  I would go for a run or ride my bike or just clean my house.  Just try to get your mind off it.  BUt you will have trouble sleeping no Appitite (can't spell) and I know that I was really depressed but I had great friends and family and they also helped me...So just hang in there and you will get through this.  I believe in you!!!

[IBKleen]

Great advise from the guys.

You may avoid severe withdrawal this time but you stay on this path it will only get worse. You are starting to see that now.

Good luck. I hope you get clean and stay clean.

[BIKERDAD1963]

First of all you should have told you surgeon about your past addiction. Other meds could have been used or he would have givin you short term use on the vic. Hopefully you may not withdrawal at all since its only been a month. After my first surgery i was on vics for about 2 months. about 25 mg a day and when I stopped i had no wd. Dont let the pain make your decision. Ask your doc for a non narcotic pain med and stop the vics. Once you do stop and you do feel wd, dont take the vics and get it over with while you are still on a lo dose of meds.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

You are playing with fire here......Cant make any promises - except that it tis good that your dose is low. Cold turkey does not get any easier the more times that you do it....If it did I would probably still be using today!