Day one

[RebeccaM]

Hi everybody. I have a question. I am going cold turkey off of a big norco habit. Today is my first day, I am scared but I am so ready to stop living this way. My question is this...I have about 7 Ultram and about 10 darvocet. Would taking one of those per day help to ease my withdrawal symptoms? If so, which one would be better to take. I'm afraid if the withdrawals get too bad I will return to my old ways. Thanks for any advice.

[feelingblue222]

You mentioned in your initial post that you still have some pills, Ultram/Darvocet.  If you are real serious about getting clean it might be a good idea to flush them.  If you have pills lying around the house your brain will play tremendious mind games with you and you will be at a greater risk to relapse.  It's like a little devil sitting on your shoulder trying to convince you that one little pill wont hurt. Your mental cravings will be a much tougher fight than the physical withdrawls.  Glad to see you are serious about getting clean and your doing a great job.  Keep fighting!

[nooneknows214]

I have no clue, but it's driving me up a wall.  I have to be up early for work and have long days, hence the help with the pills.  It's day 5 for me, last one Mon night.  Still toss and turn, but I haven't had a pill :-) !!  Stick with it !!!

[paranoidnut]

how long till the insomnia goes away?  It is driving me crazy!  My last pills were on Sunday (4-5 Days ago), and I have not had ANY side effects but Insomnia.  Any help would be appreciated!

[RebeccaM]

Thank you so much everybody!  I can't express how much your support means to me. I am going to take the dogs out and then I'm off to bed. Thanks again.

[Charetti]

I remember how horrible it was, and it absolutely will end..I promise.  There are many challenges during recovery but the extreme illness is temporary. Take the time in 30 minute increments, listen to music, distract yourself in any way possible, read posts and posts.  Dont bother laying in bed and concentrating on your inability to sleep, lay on the couch and watch tv.

It will take about 5 days and it will feel like forever, but its not.  You can do this!

[mom037]

Stay strong.....you are NOT alone.

[RebeccaM]

Thanks Mom. Every time it gets bad, I keep telling myself it will get better.
  I'm a big reader and I figured getting into a good book would take my mind off things, but my eyes are so blurry I can't see to read.   I keep coming here every few minutes and reading. Thanks again.

[mom037]

I had the chills, sweats, tremors, dizziness, nausea and diarrhea for the first 1-1/2 to 5 days.  But I swear, it gets better.

Hang in there.....talk to us.....we've been there and we'll be here to help you.

[RebeccaM]

It has now been 26 hours since my last pill. Not feeling great but I am determined to stick this out!    I am hot and cold at the same time and haven't been able to eat anything.  Back2me...there is no way I am leaving my house for the next couple of days either, I looked in the mirror and I look like death right now. We can do this!!!

[Back2Me]

In the middle of day two for me and it is way worse than day one. No way I am getting out of the house
today. Just hope dAy 3 is better for me.

[mom037]

Well you and I sound like we are in the same age bracket.  But I don't have any grandchildren, but all my kids are grown.

First of all, I also live in a very tiny rural town and community NA meetings are NOT an option for me.  My secret is very, very buried and I understand your need to keep your addiction and WD out of sight.

Therefore, use this site for support.  It has been amazingly helpful for me.

I see lots of people post about aftercare, but there is no way for me to get aftercare because the only NA meeting is in my very small town and the only other meeting is in a town 2/1-2 hours away.....and I can't do that.

So I am relying on this site to help me beat my demons.

Keep posting, we'll help you and stay strong.  You are not alone.

[RebeccaM]

I am looking forward to a life without pills. My daughter wanted to bring my granddaughter over for a visit, any time she wants to do that I have to calculate if I will have any pills that day or not. If I wont have pills, I make up some excuse for her not coming over...what kind of Grandma/Mom is that???  A bad one. I can't wait for the day that pills no longer run my life.

[RebeccaM]

Taperme, I am so serious about getting clean.  I thank all of you for taking the time to help me.

Nooneknows, I can't even think of a walk right now, I am having a hard time staying out of bed. I will make myself take the dogs for a walk tomorrow.  I have told my husband that I am coming down with the flu, so I will be able to rest for a few days, hopefully until the worst is over. Thank you all so very much.

[nooneknows214]

Tuesday I walked on the treadmill and it did me a world of good.  Today, I tool a brisk walk outside.  What they say is true.  Walk if you can.  Lay down when you have to.  The endorphin rush truly does help.  You will feel crappy, but I put in in my mind anything I've wanted I've had to work for.  This is the same.  It's a right of passage, but you know what you'll live.  It feels like death, but it's much brighter on the other side.  That's what I believe.

[taperme]

Take a few days to feel crappy, if you are able. Because the first days will be tough. By day five you will be feeling stronger. Then you may bounce up and down a bit. I am on day 11 and have been feeling pretty good the last few days. You can do this. If you want your life back just keep going. Also...I think it helped me to feel so rotten for a few days. I know it makes me never ever want to do this again. This board is a wealth of information full of very caring people, if you are serious, many will help you!

[RebeccaM]

Nooneknows, I am in kind of the same boat. I can't tell my family, I just can't do it. My online meetins and you all will have to be my support.   I was taking about 15 to 20 norco a day. I was spending my rent money on it and I am now behind on my rent. I ran out of refills from my Dr. and my dealer ran out as well. I have really been wanting to quit and figured this was as good a time as any to go for it.  I am starting to feel crappy and am just wanting to lie down, but I am forcing myself to stay out of bed.

[vicki595]

Yes...some have blurred vision...I know I did.  The whole body gets so out of wack!!
If any symptoms persist or don't change somewhat after 10 days get checked out. I don't know if you are generally in good health or take other meds so it's hard to tell what's normal for you.

Ga Guy will be happy to hear you have a sponsor.  :)      So am I !!

Vicki  xo

[nooneknows214]

FYI, I just read your post.  I'm having the vision issue to.  I'm not a doctor so I'd have to say yes.

[nooneknows214]

Rebecca:

     Please know many have been there.  The fear is overwhelming.  I'm a lot like you.  I was taking 5 to 7 Hydro per day for the past 2 years.  Funny, I got off of it once and went back about a month later.  No reason to, just liked the buzz.  Today I've been clean for 3 days.  I wanted to quit, but my "dealer" ran out.  I almost freaked then realized I wanted to really quit anyway, so I went cold.

     Day 1 (Tuesday) sucked I did get a Tyymodol from someone at work, but to be honest it's extended release and really did nothing.  Tuesday and Tuesday night were bad, last night, Wednesday was bad.  Today, I'm feeling half human.  

     One of the issues I've found in using this site is although the love and support is wonderful, everyone is different.  Everyone wants an hour by hour accounting and it just doesn't work that way.  I've been using for about two years, just as something fun.  Hasn't been fun for a LONG, LONG time.  Today, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My dealer texted me today and said he had my 20 for tomorrow,  I texted him back and said no.  That truly was scary and relieving at the same time.  I told him work was starting to drug test.  Oh well...  Anyhow, I promptly deleted his number from my phone, so I'm on my own, no pills around and no way to get them.  That was my only way.  I didn't do doc's or anything of the like.  

     At any rate, one thing I will tell you is this.  If Ultram is like Perc's, they DON'T tell you this,  I will.  Get some Tucks wipes and soft tissue, you're gonna need it.  I worked through most of my W/D and they have sandpaper at work.  Prayers and love to you.  I couldn't tell my wife, so I'm my support and the folks here are my support.

     I know it's difficult not to relapse, but I have a wife, and a 6 month old baby girl.  That's my drive !  I will not travel this path again.  Now only if I can get some sleep tonight.

[RebeccaM]

Vicki...At the online meeting, I have asked for a sponsor.  Is the blurry vision normal?

[vicki595]

Hi~   You can do it. Chills and sneezing are normal.  I would not suggest taking Ultram/tramadol or Darvocet.  They are both chemically different to Norco and just lead to other troubles.
Stay on here for support.  Try and get things you may need at the grocery store.  Get as comfortable as possibe.  Flush any pills you have.  Seriously. They will just call your name...
In aftercare,you need to be accountable to someone besides yourself. Is there anyone you know that you can share this with? Who you can call to check in with?

Vicki  xo

[RebeccaM]

I am literally in the middle of nowhere here. I have searched online for meetings and there aren't any around here. I don't drive so somebody would have to take me. Thank you all for your stories and advice. I feel the withdrawals starting...my vision is getting blurry and I'm starting to sneeze and get chills. I hope I can do this.

[Addict63]

Stick with us on here, on line meetings, what ever fellowship you can find with others who don't want to use drugs anymore. We're all here to share our experience strength and hopes, and to help others. This keeps all of us clean.

As for my aftercare, I've been going to AA for years. While on vacations in remote areas, which I love to do, I've driven 60 miles round trip to go to a meeting. I simply enjoy the fellowship, and my sobriety simply has to be the most important thing in my life. Without my sobriety,and now being free of prescription drugs, the rest of what goes on in my life wouldn't even be happening. I went to a meeting already today, I might go to another meeting tonight. All day my addictions make withdrawals, so I go to meetings to make a deposit.

[RebeccaM]

I have been through it before too and every darn time the withdrawals got too bad, I went back to the norco.  I am determined not to go back this time thats why I was asking about the ultram and darvocet. I was hoping one or two of those a day would get me through the worst of the withdrawals. I can't afford anything on the Thomas Recipe and am hoping the ultram or darvocet will help me get past the worst parts.