ready to get my life back

[freefallingsj]

I've been on vicodin 5/500 for 6 years now.  I started with one a day and am up to 5 a day.  I know this does not seem like much to many of you but I think it's too much.  I started for pain now it's just part of my day to get by and numb my life.  My marriage is failing, 3 kids to keep track of and financial problems.  I suffer from major depression and am on several meds for that.  I have no coping skills even with the meds.  I want the old me back, even off the vic I don't know if it's possible but I want to try then work on my other meds.  I have to taper, ct won't be possible with the family to care for.  I go to therapy once a week so will have support there but I need someone to lean on who has done this and help me keep going.  I'd love to check into someplace and get off all meds and start fresh but that's not possible for several reasons..  I have no one to turn to for support and just need someone to be here with me to talk to, check up on me and urge me on.  Have I come to the right place?

[LarryNorco]

Yes and no.  You can get some advice here, but its not like some other support communites that I have experienced.  I am 38 married with three kids and was a vicodin junkie for about 7 years-up until about two weeks ago.  You have yourself a decent little drug habit-I won't downplay that.  I tapered down until I finally quit.  It took about a month, and I still had mild withdrawls.  It's hard to taper, but the other option is cold turkey.  Im sure you know what that is like (bad flu for a week).  Also, when I decided to quit, I started taking amino acids and and vitamins.  These will help your body to re-regulate and repair.  Exercise if you can, and its alot easier to start when your still taking the drugs because of the pain.  Drink LOTS of water.  Set up regular sleep habits of 7-8 hrs a day on a consistent sleep/ wake cycle.  Start taking hot baths when you feel achy and cold.  Drop your use down right away to one pill less for 4-5 days, then drop another, then a half, and another half etc. When you get down to one half pill, take that only between 6-8 pm(or two hours before you go to bed).  It will help you sleep and not be so restless.  In fact you will want to funnel your use down to that time period.  If you take in the morning, it will be harder in the evening.  The evening is always the hardest in my opinion.  Oh yeah-don't drink coffee, or eat junk food or fatty stuff.  All of this type of activity will interfere with the healing process.  I personally don't believe we need alot of the drugs we are prescribed, but I am not a doc.  You will have to talk to your doc about the other stuff.  I can only speak for vicodin and I know you can live without it.  It may take at least a few weeks to start to feel better(physically).  As for your financial problems and marriage, they can only stand to improve with you losing this drug addiction.  You will end up beeing a better dad too :)

Be blessed in recovery and IM me if you need more,

Larry

[Ronnie152]

YES! you have come to the right place! Just look around you will see. I was taking12+ vicodins a day 30 more mins it will be 48 hours without. I to wish i could go away and i have no one to talk to. This form has helped so much, please saty with us and everyone will help u. It is going to be hard but just think you will have your life back. Good luck! keep posting

[kim715]

Welcome and yes you have come to the right place.Lots of encouragement and support here.Congratulations on the decision to take your life back.Peace...Kim