Done...and this time I need to do it right.

[Ashelen]

So some of you know that I'm a pain management patient and I took a "drug holiday" earlier this month (stopped my meds for 2 weeks in order to restart my tolerance)...I wasn't sure if I was going to refill my script or not, but I did. I don't have a problem abusing my medicine (I take 5mg Norco 3x a day) but I'm tired of having to take them around the clock or end up with withdrawals.

So...I'm done. I'm in the middle of my script and when I woke up this morning I got the awful withdrawal-haven't-taken-a-pill-in-a-long-time feeling and I decided that I'm done.

I made an appointment with my GP tomorrow and I need to know what to ask her..I'm going to ask for some medicine to help me deal with the withdrawals. I'm stopping cold turkey this weekend. We're moving into a new house and we're goin to be painting and putting down carpet and moving...but this is the best time for me to do it. I need to keep busy or I will start having panic attacks - I take the medicine for legitimate pain reasons and the thought of dealing with the pain without medicine has me panicked even now, so I know that I need to keep busy or I'll cave and start taking the medicine again and I just don't want it anymore. But by the same token I can't completely shut down, and I have 2 small children who rely on me (my husband will be home 4 days this weekend as well, which is why this is a good time for me to do it) so I need to be somewhat functional.

what do you guys recommend? I know I"m going to get some multi-vitamins and protein shakes...I was thinking of asking for clonodine and something for anxiety, as well as something for RLS and sleep - when I've cut my meds out before the RLS and the interrupted sleep been the worst part of it for me.

does anyone have anything else to recommend? my GP is very helpful and I think she'll give me whatever I feel like I need because I mean it's pretty much every doctor's dream to get their patient off of 24/7 pain meds right?

anyway..I'm terrified. I really am. I've lived with pain meds for 5 years because my pain level is so high, and while I've stopped taking them before for weeks or months at a time...this time I'm really done. i want to be done. I know my pain is going to be back, but I don't know that it's not better than dealing with pain medicine 24/7 and all the appointments and side effects that come with it.

please help me..I'm so scared. I need to do this NOW before I chicken out and continue the cycle. I already called and canceled my PM appointment for next month where I was supposed to get another refill, and it takes a long time to get an appointment so at this point it's do or die. (not really lol but you know what I mean).

help..can I do this?! will the medicine help me?! I know I'm on a low dose, so I should be able to function...right? i know I need to buy immodium too....omg, I'm so scared, but I'm so ready.

help...I know I'm not an "addict" but I'm physically dependent and you guys are the only ones I can think of who can help me...so please do. the pain terrifies me, it really does, but i'm done.

[Ashelen]

also - I have Toradol (ketorolac), flexeril, robaxin, phenergan, and zofran...and that's my arsenal, tell me if any of those will help me. oh and like 2 bottles of nyquil because when we had a cold last time my husband bought them buy 1 get 1 free, lol.

what about chamomile tea...does it really help? does valerian root REALLY help with anxiety? and hyland's....I've heard it's kinda crap...how well does it really help?

we don't have a bathtub in this house and unfortunately because of my FIL we won't be able to get into the new house right away so I will have to take showers instead of baths :-(

[Ashelen]

Ugh so my doctor wanted to help me today, but she said that the way my insurance works...she can't. I have to get my PM doctor to taper me down, and he won't. he was inthe process of referring me to a doctor who solely does pain medicine....that's why I wanted to stop the meds now because I realized I was getting to a place I didn't want to be (with a doctor who wasn't trying anything BUT medicine).

I'm in tears now because I'm so afraid...I'm still determined to do this because I'm done being dependent...but now I'm a lot more frightened because I thought I would have clonidine and something for anxiety at the very least to help me through this. At this point I'm going to do a rapid taper until next week and then go cold turkey...

any suggestions for that ? I've heard that nyquil helps you sleep at night when you're going through this...thoughts?

and thank you so much Vicki and Mellie you guys are wonderful - does anyone know if a beta blocker will do the same thing as clonidine? I've done research about it, and I have a bunch of beta blockers that they've given me for a heart problem over the past two years and I KNOW that self-medicating is bad...but if I can't get my PM doctor to help me taper, then I'm going to need all the help I can give myself.


My doctor said basically I can get my PM doctor to help taper me or I can get put into inpatient care...since I'm not an addict I refuse to do the inpatient because I know it'll go on my record.
UGH i'm so frustrated:'(

[addictjen]

That was a very helpful message for me.  Thank you for taking the time to write it!

[mellie4]

I'm so proud of you (and a little envious that you're going cold turkey!)  I'm doing the same thing but with a taper.  I just can't handle the withdrawals.  (In addition to my pain issues, I do have some mild heart issues and I think, for me, a taper is best.)  But with the taper, the withdrawals are drawn out.

And, of course, you have your pain to contend with as well.  But I'm with you:  at this point, I'd rather feel the pain than be clocking pills.  (My pain management team is a big believer in "staying ahead of the pain."  So I have my long-acting and then high doses of oxycodone every four hours around the clock.

I have a good friend who just did this.  She had no computer access so I asked some questions here for her.  (She was abusing her meds but she's doing great and it's been several months.)

The things she found very helpful were the Hyland's Restful Legs.  It is in VERY small packaging and can be hard to see.  Ask at the pharmacy.  She also found someone massaging her legs helpful.  Clonidine could be a great help to you for a number of things.  It's an old high blood pressure medicine that's used in several ways now.  I was prescribed it for nerve pain.  It could help with some of your pain and it also helps with anxiety ... two for two.  And lastly, it does help with withdrawals.

Maybe try thinking of the withdrawal symptoms in a positive way.  Like having a baby; each pain, each contraction brings you closer to that ultimate gift, your brand new baby.  Well, in the same way, each miserable withdrawal symptom brings you closer to another gift ... freedom from your medication.  (Easier said than done but it's helping me with my symptoms.)

I find being a pain management patient really difficult.  Sure, I hate the pain and it IS debiitating.  But I don't like what the medications do to me.  

Keep posting and let us know what happens with your doctor.

[vicki595]

Hey!!   This is a huge deal!  I'll try to make you a good check list.  I just want to tell you that I'm so impressed by your thoughts and "plan".  A good mindset is the best...
Starting right now (as you read this) get something to drink and keep drinking. Withdrawing will cause dehydration and dehydration is responsible for many symptoms! Clonidine is good to ask for. It's a b/p med so follow directions. Some think that the clonidine alone cuts withdrawal symptoms in half...For anxiety try Visteril instead of a benzo. It's an Rx. Ask about it.

Crying,emotional,temperamental behavior- Very common.

RLS-   It may begin at any time on day one.Get some Hylands Restful Legs tablets. Take as needed(3 at once). It's an OTC that contains quinine.

Runny nose,sneezing A LOT,a dry cough are common. Treat as a cold.
Blurry vision- it may happen and it goes away.

GI- Get Immodium and pepto. You may have nausea,sometimes vomiting,often times diarreah.

Muscle aches-Motrin 800mg 3 x per day.

Anxiety-As above and also Valerian root.

Insomnia- Valerian Root and Melatonin. Don't force sleep,it doesn't work. If you can't sleep get up and try a different place.

Headache- Common

Lethargy- Common

Really...if you drink,eat,move, it will go just fine. It's not a large dose so don't be scared. Your pain may increase for a bit and then settle down. About a week.
It's great you're working with the doctor on this.  Message me anytime. I love hearing from you and for heaven's sake...keep checking in!!

[justneedtotalk]

Well.....I always take my last dose in the morning but only have enough pills or that morning dose....That way you have an entire day and evening without pills and on day one you are actually on day 1.5.....For me day 1.5 and 2.5 are the roughest.....If you are taking your vitamins and supplements and getting a lot of water down it will help.  You are going to probably sleep ok .5 night if you take the valarian and melatonin.  You are going to be restless on day 1.5 and you are really going to crave.....This is when you need to accupy your mind by doing medial tasks or watching some funny movies....Hot baths throught the day give you some piece and makes you feel better for an hour or so....Try to get the protein down as well which the sooner you can get everything down the sooner you will feel better.....Day 2.5 will be much of the same, you will probably not sleep very well but if you take the sleeping aids you should be able to get about 4 hours of sleep....Day 3.5 for some is the worst day but for other is a turning point day.....For me it was different every time.  This particular last detox I actually felt a little better on 3.5.....Day 4.5 is kind of a hump day.....You still feel crappy but it is better....You will most likely still have some lower stomach problems and appetite and sleep are not back to normal but you will be able to function and this is when you really need to start getting some light exercise......Each day from here on out will be better.....Yes, you will have bad days but as you get closer to the month mark you REALLY start feeling back to normal.....This is easily doable if you have the right mind set.....Best of luck to you!