Help! I'm desperate to get off percocets FOR GOOD!

[EmbarrassedK]

Hello everyone! I'm going to give you a little back story....about two years ago I had a procedure done to my back that ruined me for life. Anyhow, I was prescribed 10mg of oxycodone and Valium to help with the pain (about a year after suffering through daily pain)  Needless to say I became physically dependent on it and when the scripts stopped, I starting buying them wherever I could find them. I have a great job, 4 children, and a husband (very supportive) No one other than him knows about my addiction. I've come to a place where I'm tired of working to basically feed my habit. I have taken a week off of work to completely detox. I am currently taking about 7 10mg pills a day just to function. I am so scared because I know the hell that lies ahead of me. I guess my biggest fear is after having the seven days to get the medicine out of my system, I fear the psychological effects I will experience and the lack of energy. I work full time, my children are in extracurricular activities (everyday all four of them) and unfortunately, what has helped me feel normal is those damn pills. I have made this decision to finally give up this awful habit up for good, but I extremely scared. Any suggestions or advice to get me throuh this week and after also? My last dose will be today around 5pm. This is something I am so ashamed of and really want out. Please help! Thank you in advance for your support. I know I got myself into this mess and it's going to be a longggg road before I get back to being the old me!

[EmbarrassedK]

My biggest challenge, I guess which has and is almost everyone's worst struggle is the mental part. Daily fighting in my head, knowing how easy it would be to just give up. I don't want to and i am really trying, the worst part of this ordeal is not being the mommy I normally am. It's only been since Sunday and they miss me. Even though I'm in the same house, but I've missed their games, homework, bonding time. It's killing me and hurting them. This is the worst thing I have ever allowed into my life. As I've said before, if I could go back to that day, I'd refuse them all together.

Also CONGRATULATIONS. on your 58days! That is truly amazing. I am so happy for you and can imagine it has not been easy, but keep up the fantastic work! XoXo

[msdelight]

One is too many, and 1000 is not enough. If you take one now its just going to wear off in a couple of hours. Then what will you do? When the cravins come, just think it through past the initial "relief" thought. If you just wait on the feeling, it will pass. And as long as you don't have anything in the house or on order somewhere, you will be okay. If your friend who buys for you is a real friend, he or she will not give in to your pleas. Otherwise, delete and block the number.

[Langer413]

Hang in there! I'm on day 58 off of a long stint on hydrocodone. The reality is, I have much less pain today than when I was on the pain meds! It is so totally worth the withdrawals. Also, you eventually will have to quit - one way or another. You're already on day 2 and in the middle of withdrawal - and you're still alive! I know it's tough, but get outside and take a short walk. It will make you feel amazing, at least for a bit. All those natural endorphins have been asleep for a long time and by getting out, you're body will help wake them up. I had a mantra going through my head during my detox "I can do this, it's not that bad." The next thing I knew, I was through a whole week. I started feeling a lit better between day 3-4. Not great, just better. Every day since then has gotten better and better. I'm not saying it don't have a bad day here and there, but I remind myself that people who never took pain meds have bad days too. Aftercare is essential and will help with the mental part of withdrawal. Keep posting - we're all here praying and rooting for you!

[EmbarrassedK]

I honestly am beginning to feel defeated. Just the thought about how long the craving will last, kills me. I am dealing with the normal w/d symptoms, sweats, chills, runs, aches, sleeplessness. And I feel like it just doesnt seem worth going through this all if there is a chance I may relapse. I am not strong enough mentally. I know i need to think positive, but waking up everyday, my routine would be get up, take one to relieve my excruciating pain(slightly) then wait for a second dose to completely relive me pain. Yesterday, it was just day 1and i wanted to cave. Just wanted one for this morning to get the kids ready and off for school. I just don't know what to do. I'm torn...

[NeverAgain127]

Hi sweetie:

You might still have cravings after 7 days, but lets get you through this first week.

I, too, was prescribed opiates by my well-meaning doctor, with NO exit strategy.  In fact, he was so woefully ignorant of withdrawals, that when I said to him, after EIGHT YEARS of taking prescribed oxycodone every day "I want to stop taking these pills" , his response was "Well, just taper down by 1 a day (I was taking 4-10 mg pills) and you'll be fine.

I was NOT fine.   The first 4 days were rocky.  It was like having a bad tummy flu.   On day 7, I remember so clearly coming on here and writing "WHY am I still having symptoms?"  

It all depends on length of use, age, your health, etc.   I'm older than you, and took the pills for much longer than you did.   The honest truth is, I didn't turn a corner until day 14.   However, I developed a new symptom, a cough, that scared the bejeezus out of me. It lasted for MONTHS.   I went for xrays, had pulmonary function tests, all normal.   Just a side effect of my brain waking up after being stoned on pills for so many years.

It really is an outrage that the medical community doesn't have more training on the potential risks of prescribing pain medication.   There should be mandatory counseling before anyone is given opiates; people need to be WARNED about what can happen, and how NOT to fall into the pit of dependency and addiction.

But then again, I find most MD's to be pretty stupid when it comes to pharmacology.   Most doctors get their info from drug reps, and will give you the latest drug because they receive incentives to do so (Big Pharma companies send physicians to the Bahamas, get them box seats to their favorite ball game, take them out to expensive dinners, etc. JUST in an effort to get the doctor to write "X" number of scripts for the latest-and-greatest drug.)

We end up having to be our own advocates & gate-keepers of our health.

That voice in your head telling you "just take one, and you'll be whole."  That is an EVIL voice...it is named Mrs. Addiction.  (I'm making your addiction female, 'cause you are!)  When you hear that voice, tell HER to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.  

You'll make it; you're smart, informed, motivated, and you have things to distract you.    Keeping busy is SO important, once you're over the initial physical symptoms.  Down-time is dangerous....trust me.  

Good luck to you hon.  Stick around here...it's a great place with wonderful people.

Hugs
-Robin

[EmbarrassedK]

Good afternoon everyone. I have heard day 1 isn't that bad, which it hasnt been yet, I'm fighting psychologically with myself. I knew I'd have an issue with the mental aspect. It's as if I have the two voices in my head, one telling me "just one will make you whole again" and the other one saying "remember why you made this choice." I knew the mental aspect would be my worst enemy. I'm home alone and have slept most of the day but I really hate this. I hope after these 7 days I've taken off and gone through this mental anguish, I don't ever have to go through this ever again.