There isnt any other advice anyone can give you as it has all been said. Now it is up to you. We have become a threat to you as we have hit a nerve and that is okay. Please take a long hard look at your journey here.
Hi!
It is NOT all about getting hooked on these pills or doing street drugs. Addiction is a Disease and it comes in many forums from gambling, shopping and so fourth. Tolerance, Social Anxiety, Trauma, Depression, Lonely, Environment and I could go on.. It all comes down to the Brain Chemistry that gets Changed while we use. Even if YOU are NOT a Addict you still use them for other reason?? WE did not choose to become Addicted or get so out of control on any substances. It is just the Chemical makeup in our Brain that can cause this to happen.
Right now you are lucky..however, right now these opiates are changing your Brain Chemistry. They suppress or lower all those "happy chems" and surge those dopamines to the pleasure part of the brain. YOU are very lucky at this point, but things could change if you continued to use. Please try to understand Addiction and in a more Scientific way.
Thanks
Ok. Yes. Sure. You ain't no stinking addict like the rest of us. Oh so clear. Please reread all your posts since 2014. You sure about that channahbracha? Idk, your brain has all the answers and nifty comebacks, but let me tell you baby. You are NOT in charge, the drugs are. Period. So with stacks full bottles of percs around you, you're detoxing. You're doing it your way for 2 yrs now. Hows that workin for ya?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pj9g1...
This Rabbi has 3-4 yideos about detoxing....he talks fast and seems a little crazy....but he is RIGHT ON w/ the method for detox w/ OTC meds.
I can't find your drug forum.....please tell me how to get there?m
Plus if you read my 1st message back some 8 mos. ago I wanted (tried) to detox, Thanz
I suggest getting a "pill cutter", that's how I weaned off the Percocet. You can also cut MS contin, too. Start your taper with 1/2 dose less once a day but take your others. I was able to cut back by 1/2 less per day.( I was prescribed 4/day) I didn't have ANY w/drawal symptoms. If you do take a "rescue dose" like 1/2 pill. Let me know how it goes. It took me 2 weeks to get off the Percocet!
L'Chaim !!!!(to Life)
I see they moved your post. I thought you were hesitant to post here - but this is the right place for the type of help you are seeking.
This community is very supportive and has much more knowledge in weaning and detox than we do at pain management.
Please feel free to return to Pain Management for any questions regarding your pain. As Phil offered - you may also message me.
Best of Luck,
~Tuck
What a thorough, informative, thoughtful, wonderful post!!
Dear ChannahBrancha.
The good folks at MedHelp notified me that your post was again active and has been moved to the Detoxing from Pain Meds forum, which is not my usual sandbox.
First, thank you ChannahBrancha for keeping us informed. We are concerned about you, and would like to help you if we can.
If it is your decision to stop you opioid therapy, then I support you. I believe that I shared with you that I have some experience with this in my own pain care.
With long experience, I understand the problems of this therapy, and resonate with your desire to be done with it.
Let me share that in my experience, and in the medical literature, weaning slowly is the best way to go.
When you've been dependent at a relatively high dose of opioids for a length of time, then safety demands that you wean slowly.
And when I say slowly, I mean 10% a month, or longer.
Many physicians do not agree with weaning this slowly.
Please remember that I am not a doctor. I am a pain patient, just like you.
But I've been at this for so many years now that I sometimes feel like a pain doctor, so please excuse me if I sound like one at times. I am not offering medical advice, and my suggestions sometimes fly in the face of medical wisdom.
So please use a good deal of skepticism when considering my advice. I am not a doctor. What works for me may not work for you. But I would not mislead you intentionally.
So please, wean slowly and stay comfortable. Use medical means of support, like the clonidine, the lomotil or lopramide for GI distress (I prefer good old fashioned Pepto Bismal), the decongestants for runny nose -- whatever it takes.
I find that small amounts of benzodiazepenes are useful, in particular, clonazepam for anxiety. Some people like alprazolam (Xanax), but that medication has certain problems -- a short half life, a slight buzz that can instigate a psychological dependence. You don't want to trade one drug for another, but for some people, feeling good enough to sleep during withdrawal may not be a bad thing.
But nothing in my experience helps with those myoclonic tics -- the restless legs, as they are called, that can come on like electric shocks in the legs and arms, especially when you're trying to sleep.
They are insidious. The seem to wait until I am just falling asleep, and then -- ZAP. They wake me up. It's like torture.
Clonidine and benzos might help, but not for me. I need to move when this happens. Exercise is sometimes the only way to get relief.
Now I'm going to something controversial. Addiction doctors and recovery people will disagree with me on this. They'll tell you I'm either the Devil incarnate, or that I'm terribly mislead.
Take that little bit of opioid of a different stripe and allow yourself to get a few hours of sleep. For example, if you were dependent on Fentanyl patches, this is a phenylpiperadine type of opioid. So try a small dose of morphine, or oxycodone to sleep.
Likewise, if you were on an opiate, like morphine or codeine, or a semi-synthetic opiate like oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, etc, then try a 5mg (small) dose of methadone to get some sleep.
Always use a different class of opioid that uses different metabolic pathways from the medicine you are most dependent on.
Unfortunately, we've lost a few opioids over the years. We used to have more choices. I was able to break an oxycodone dependence in 1991 with the help of an old addiction specialist, by using a combination of propoxyphene and chlordiazepoxide.
Today, we don't use propoxyphene anymore because it has a toxic metabolite.
We're too focused on safety, imho. The amount of propoxyphene I needed for a month to detox and settle down a 60mg / day oxycodone dependence in 1991 was irrelelvant. My liver is just fine today. In fact, I used propoxyphene in its compound with acetaminophen called Darvocette-N for years in the 1980s when I had only mild-moderate pain.
And I'm here, still alive, to tell you about it.
My wife's grandmother used to say you can eat a peck of dirt before it kills you. The same goes for a healthy liver and propoxyphene.
Remember -- this is NOT medical advice. Just the ravings of an old desert rat whose brain is rotted from excessive sheep dip inhalation.
ChannahBracha -- we care for you and want the best for you. Please message me personally (right click my name, open my profile, and send me a Message.) I will come and help.
God bless you. Withdrawal is a time for positive self-talk, belief in miracles, and prayer.
May angels visit your bed nightly and softly whisper sweet soothing secrets in your ear as you sleep.
My advice is free -- it is not medical. I don't wish to treat you -- only to help you find peace.
May God bless you and keep you in His arms.
Best wishes.
Hi, Channa! Like Tuck said, if you want some support and some tips as you get off the pain meds, the substance abuse forum would help you.
Here's the link, and if you just post a new question by clicking on the green box at the top of the forum, many in our forum will help you with opiate w/drawals. Hope to see you there:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77
Hi Channah! :)
I'm so sorry for your struggle that you are going thru, trying to get off of your prescription meds for your numerous pin issues. I'm glad that you are on the PM (Pain Management) Forum but I truly feel to be able to get the help you are seeking the Substance Abuse Forum would give e you the support that you are seeking. I know the name itself gives the stigma that you are abusing your meds but that's just NOT the case as I, as well as other members on here such as Tuckamore and Philnoir know! You have always taken them responsibly and have nothing to be ashamed of. We have had MANY people on here that have either reduced their intake of meds or done what you are in the process of doing and when they do they use our great Substance Abuse Forum. They are WONDERFUL and COMPASSIONATE on their Forum. They will give.you loving support EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! So PLEASE don't be stigmatized by the name as, BELIEVE ME, they are there for EVERYBODY. You will find exactly what you are looking for. Not only that but you won't just have 1 coach, you will have MANY coaches. SOMEONE will ALWAYS be there for you. If there was a cure for my DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) and I could stop my meds, that's EXACTLY where I'd go for help when I needed it to help me in getting off my meds.
PLEASE know that you are ALWAYS welcome on the PM Forum also. We hope you will be an active member on the PM Forum also as a contributing member. Unfortunately, you're very well acquainted with CP ( Chronic Pain ) and that's what we're all about. With your knowledge, you would be very helpful in giving support to our members that suffer so much with pain daily.
I wish you the very best in your quest to being able to get off you pain meds. I HOPE you will come back and keep us updated on your progress.
BEST OF LUCK, Channa! ..... Sherry :)
I'm usually here everyday - though my best friend is visiting. I will do my best to check with you everyday.
Being a Coach is not my forte - but trying to help is.
Peace,
~Tuck
You are more than welcome here. I know you are NOT and addict. I truly understand your want to be rid of these opiates and the stigma that accompanies them.
I don't understand why you can't get in another forum. If you'll explain which one and what's happening I'll be more than happy to help you. When you say "drug" forum which one is that?
If you check my last post and follow that like you'll be able to get support with withdrawal, etc. If want our support we'll certainly do our best. Just remember we are not withdrawing and may not be as knowledgeable as other forums - but we're here for you.
I wish you luck and know that if you want something bad enough and your pain is controlled by other non-opiate measures you'll make it. Have you cut your usage is half - or a third- where are you in terms of reducing?
Shalom,
~Tuck
Well, I have my pain meds to fall back on in case it gets REALLY bad. I have a whole arsenal .....and I do NOT want to take anymore. I'm REALLY going to get off the pills this time.
I am really in a brain for fog, like I forget something in just a few seconds. I
...................So, the "Plan" is to reduce slowly down to where I'm taking 0.
I just get all panicky and nervous about quitting. YOU MUST QUIT!!!!!! If I come on here everyday, can I get some support....I need a Coach.
Shalom, Channah
I can't get into the Drug Forum. Help???
Congrats and good luck. Detox is a tough road.
Here's a link to another MedHelp Forum that I think may offer better support. They understand detox better than we Chronic Pain Patients.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse
Keep up the great work. I know it's very, very difficult.
Peace,
~Tuck
Well, it's been about 30 hrs. OFF all opiate meds. If I get too jittery I have medication for "Restless Leg Syndrome; I also have medicine. You always need to keep a "rescue-dose". That legs-a-jerkin' is THE worst. I also have some Clonipin which is like valium and they do help. I am prescribed these meds.
I feel pretty good today and I'm using Aaron Cohens method if you are detoxing. He's on YouTube. He talks really fast but you'll get his drift.
Shalom, Diana
Sorry Channah,
I don't see a post from BrokehGirl since August 8, 2014. I doubt she will see your comment.
~Tuck
It's been about 12-16 hours w/out any opiate meds. G-d, Hashem, PLEASE make this as easy as possible for me.
The reason I have chronic pain is because I broke my L hip in'09 and I've had a complete reverse shoulder replacement (R)....and a plate in my wrist.
But I STILL want off the opiate drugs. I am using "Aaron Cohens'" (see youtube) which consists of using several OTC meds to reduce the w/drawal
: Lopramide,cimetadine(Tagemet) Robotussin regular cough gels and grapefruit juice. You have to see the yidio to understand it all, I know he talks fast but he speaks the truth. I think we have more fear of w/drawals!Here is the web address
https://youtu.be/ciICwalNOjE? OTClist=PLbtDDd07DXqGWwQR2BLK9S_Sb9kF4iqrZ
So glad your pain management physician is helpful and supportive. I admire your intention of exploring the option of experiencing what may lie ahead with less or no medication. That said, I'm very concerned about your pain.
Here's my two cents (input) :) I hope you might consider waiting. Discuss your situation with your doctor with complete honesty. My ears perked up reading that you were "trying to put off last pill of the day until bedtime" even though you were hurting pretty bad.
On a cautionary note, if your doctor suggests a switch to Methadone or any other similar synthetic narcotic, say "Thanks but no thanks". When the time is right, i.e. your pain is stable and in good control, decreasing or tapering will be much more tolerable on your current medications. Say "NO" to Methadone.
With love and support,
Bokeh Girl :)
Yes my pm dr is great, I am lucky cause I have had horror stories, of people that are not happy with theirs. But I have been taking these meds non stop since September 2009, after my back fusion, so just wondering, how much I hurt without them completely out of my system. My pm dr support me, my meds as prescribe as needed anyway. But would love any input, or support. I'm hurting pretty bad right now, using heat pad, trying to put off last pill of the day until bedtime.
Hi there ~
It makes me happy to hear from you :)
Chronic Pain is so unspeakably difficult. It affects every facet of daily life - the pain itself is devastating :( :( :( Equally or more damaging is the shame and despair from not being taken seriously and misunderstood/labeled as drug-seekers. Too many physicians are under-educated about pain and their knowledge (compassion ?!!) deficit often lead to under-medication, shame and more pain.
You have so much to offer! I hate that you are suffering from Chronic Pain and hope your MD is knowledgeable and compassionate and helping your pain with medication and concern.
Always with love,
BokehGirl
You are not an addict, so I wouldn't have your dr to cut you off, cause you know those flare ups are awful, I don't think I could taper in the winter, every cold front kills me. I have talked to my dr about my concerns and they never have wanted me to just stop, they said taking less is ok, never take more In less they tell you to though, lol, but they know I need them. But just want to know life without them right now if I can,so please pray I can. I am taking 1 less for a couple of days now. So far so good.
same stigma here. have had my daughter's dad steal mine before and i now have to lock them up. i am struggling with the same thing. i go to the dr tomorrow so i really have to decide today. as much as i want off of them, i KNOW i cannot be free of them. i do myself more harm than good. instead of 1600 mg of motrin and 440 mg of naproxen i just have 1 patch on and only take up to 4 percocets per day. also take regular aspirin as well. i compromise with myself by trying to stretch out my dosages when i can. say on a saturday and sunday, if i do not have to do anything then i won't take more than 2 breakthrough meds and will try and make patch last 72 hrs often. (not just on weekends) if the pain is unbearable then i change the patch.