Drug free now!

[tjrox]

This isn't a question, but I've been reading the forum and see a lot of questions on how to stop taking prescription pain pills.  Since a lot of the posts are older, I don't know which people are still in need of help.  However, I have been able to get off Vicodin and Fentanyl patches with help.  (I was taking Vicodin for 5 years and Fentanyl for 2 and when I stopped the patches I had to take up to 35 pills a day just to calm some of the withdrawal symptoms from the patch, they were horrible).  But I'm posting this to anyone who has questions on how to get off pain meds, I'd like to  help if I can by letting you know what helped me.  It's not an easy thing to do, so be prepared, but I'm clean now for almost 2 months and I feel damn good.  I'm finally back to my normal self and am able to enjoy life again.  These pills will affect your life, make you isolate yourself, and cause depression, but you can stop.  Send me an e-mail if I can help in any way.

[Kimham72]

Hi All,

I was taking Percocet for 3 months ( 8/day) for back pain.  I had surgery last week , and my back feels great.  I stopped taking the meds the day after the surgery.  I had WD symptoms up until this morning day # 5.  I feel for anyone going thru WD.  It was a horrible feeling, but it does pass!!!  May God Bless all of you!

[liscamdave]

I have been an addict for over four years and tried every thing I could to get off. You have sparked my curiosity, how did you do it.

I am clean now, and have been since December 31st to be exact. And am again, loving and enjoying life. I wake up and I embrace the day and not dread it.

Congrats to you, it will keep getting better...

Lisa

[tjrox]

Thanks.  I just remember when I was trying to get off the pills, I looked everywhere for someone who had gone through the same thing and survived it.  I wanted help so bad and couldn't find it anywhere. Once I did get through it I wanted to let other people know that is IS possible, and even though it might feel like you're going through hell at first, once the first month goes by you really start to forget how bad it was.  I have forgotten how bad some of it was but I definitly haven't forgotten enough to allow myself to go back to them.

[worried878]

great of u to post....there are always people here needing help...just read the posts and respond to them when u have time...people will come to u for help....people who have knowledge and clean time are much needed...it also can help us stay clean as well  (:

[tjrox]

I don't want to discourage you, but my body pains lasted for a few weeks actually, off and on.  When I was at the detox place they told me I had the flu, LOL.  The pains were in my calfs, my arms, my rib cage and my neck.  I took Ibuprofen 800mg a couple times a day and that helped.  I had headaches for a few days too.  The pains in my arms went away first, then my legs, but my back and ribs hurt the longest, I'm not sure why.  I only took the Ibuprofen for about 6 days total in my 53 days clean, only if it was really bad.  It starts to get better once you start eating more and putting on some weight.  Even though I hated the withdrawal symptoms, I spoiled myself by staying in bed if I wanted, ate whatever I wanted, did whatever I wanted for a whole month and let the family know that I was sick and needed to recover so they were on their own until I felt better.  I know people with children can't always do this but if you can, look at it this way... You're sick and you need to get better, so it's about you now.  The thing that helped me the most with aches was getting in a jacuzzi or hot bath.  But I also had to have my husband massage my legs and back for a while (that helped the most)  We're all different so the time frame will be different too but don't give up.  My counselor told me I would start feeling 'normal' after about 30 days, that seemed like forever to a 10 day sober me, but I had to believe in that and she was actually right.  I felt pretty good after 30 days but felt even better the next week.  After 5 weeks I stopped counting my 'sober days' and I was over the hump, I got back to living life like I used to.  

[jennyneedshelp]

I am on day 5 of no Lortab.  I am feeling a little better but the body aches are about to kill me.  How long did they last for you and what did you do for them?  

[Mandapanda17]

honestly I feel like my mood has already improved..I feel like crud, but I think I was soo sick of those darn pills that anything is better than living like that. the pills were literally making me feel sick every day anyway! I just hope the chills and aches go away soon. thanks! :)

[tjrox]

That's great! Hang in there, it will all be worth it when the symptoms go away and you'll love life again.  I do.  It's great to be able to go anywhere I want and not have to worry if I have enough pills to last.  They rule, and ruin our lives.  Stay strong!  Terri

[Mandapanda17]

I'm on day 4. just got home from work, but I'm still alive!! :) thanks for the inspirational post. I know I can do this...gotta keep truckin!!!