weaning

[marcia6]

HI, I am 60 years old.  I have been in severe chronic pain from multiple things since 1997.  I was homebound for years in pain so severe I cant describe.  Over the years, particularly this last year, I have noticed my pain problems have changed. I spoke with my pain managment Dr and we have decided to begin a weaning program from oxycontin.  I am in the second week of a eight week step down.  The first week  is difficult to say what symptoms I was getting because I also had a horrible summer cold that began before detox.  Entire week I was hot cold etc.  Like a rotten summer cold.  Yesterday I stepped down again.  Now I feel restles all the time.  I can stand this but my husband is very very short on tolerance. What I am saying he gets upset very easily if I say something he thinks I shouldnt.   I think I am suppose to be the only person who goes through this without saying one short tempered word. I dont fear the weaning.  I fear my husbands reaction.  I was wondering at what point does this get really bad?  Right now I am down 50% and my pain is no greater then when I was taking my prescirbed medication.  That is strange to me. Imagine that will change too. I would like to talk with someone who has gone through this after being on this for an legetimage reason.  I dont mean our bodies react differently however we got on this stuff.  I have never had a high or craving for the medication.  I took if because life was so unbearable from pain that I had zero quality of life.

[marcia6]

thank you Terry and sara, I am on a 8 week week wean. Today was step down day.  I have now decreases 2/3. Doing pretty good except the cold turned into a sinus infection and bronchitis.  Think it is enough to go through the weaning time without something else going on too.  I have found that the second and third day of step down is the most difficult then I am okay again. I was on 120mg a day and now on 40mig a day.  That is a big jump.  Pain remains the same.  Mildly restless.  Not sure of other symptoms because of the on going infection.  I try not to think about the medicine so I dont get myself upset emotionally.  Just try to see how I actually feel at the moment.
My question is once the medicine is out of my system how fast do I feel well?  does it take a few more weeks or after I take the last pill am I done with this after three days?  I dont seem to have any craving for this medication.   What have others felt after weaning?  Marcia

[dominosarah]

Welcome to the forum.  You will find alot of support here.  I am really happy you are working with your doctor on a tapering program.  Most of us found that once we stopped using the pain meds our pain actually got better.  Didnt happen overnight as it was a gradual thing.  Keep posting!!          sara