How do I ask for help...

[annabelle825]

I want to get help with my painkiller addiction.  I've been on them for three years now and want to get off.  I've been reading that I should talk with my doctor, I just don't know how to go about doing this.  Please help, I am a mother of four and can't keep living this way..

[Lisalan51]

Hi Annabelle,  I'm new here.  I have been through all kinds of opiate withdrawals.  I was also on suboxone and methadone.  If you would like to contact me, let me know.  If not, i would like to know if you are clean since i didn't see any other posts after Aug, 2011.  Hope so.

[MaryfromPA73]

You are not a week person and I would only suggest having your husband do that if he can truly not give you more than your taper schedule. This is not your fault. Opiate addiction is awful and your brain wants the medication. Cold turkey ***** and I personally do not believe it helps. If you feel comfortable doing so, try taapering with your husbands help but if it doesn't tell him and seek help from another professional. Sometimes methadone treatment can really help if you are truly ready and it is something you can take and still perform you duties. Good luck.

[GACarol]

I sent you a private message.

[annabelle825]

I failed horriably yesterday.. this cold turkey thing is not working... any one out there do the taper off method.  My husban has a plan where I give him my scrip, we write a taper schedule and the he gives me my does every day until we get to zero.  The company that I work for now is too small for me to quilify for FMLA thus I can't take enough time off to enter rehab.  I WANT and NEED to quit despertley...I guess I am too weak to go cold turkey.  Just like yesterday, I could barley get out of bed to go to work.. took just two pills.. by 4 I was out of my mind, I still had to go home cook dinner, clean, do homework with the kids, and baths.. I don't have time to be down and out with WD. So I took three more and was able to function and get all that I needed done.  My life shouldn't be like this...I never was like this before..

[worried878]

Honesty is tough for an addict...cos in most cases it means ur favorite pass time will be taken away....dangerous pass time tho..If you tell ur dr..he will rpobabaly help u get off....but he will be aware so the party is over too.
I am a chronic pain patient...so it is easy for me to get pills if I want to...altho drs are getting stricter and stricter.  Mt neighbor is on 3 mgs of xanax a day/a high dose.  Her dr died and she is worried that this month the new one will not RX her that much...and she is probably correct.  She wants to let go of the xanax as it controls her...someone stole some from her and she just about died.  She was sick as heck.
Letting go is hard.  I dont know ur dose...some doses are harder than others..and most of it is upstairs...some people seem to suffer more getting off 30 mgs than another getting off of 200 mgs of the same drug.  We are all different.  It is good that u r seeking help...it is good that u want to stop as some nvr do and there is no good end to narcotic addiction.  Aftyercare helps bunches..as does educating urself on where u r at and what u need to do.  Getting rid of any leftovers and telling ur doctor are a great start.  Many hang onto pills and flushing serves a purpose other than getting rid of pills....it is a form of letting go and taking back control

good luck..look at the health pages...full of great info

[annabelle825]

I don't know how I would have made it thus far without the feedback for all of you.  I am just in the beggining of my recovery and already want to give in...I've been up since 4am with the sweats and chills and had to come into work like this.  I look and feel like ****.  I am still thinking of the rehab...just trying to plan it.  I am the breadwinner in the house so if I am not making any money its going to hurt really bad.  Plus I just started this job back in may (after being let go at my old job in December after 10 years).  It's been one of the hardest years of my life and now I am trying to do this.  My husband has been so supportive and I wouldn't be able to do this without him.  I had just 2 pills this morning and its helped just a little.. I am still sweating and got the chills as I sit at my desk and type.  

[donewitis]

Be sure that you don't get dehydrated. Drink as much water as you can..it is good to flush your system. Gatorade is good too. have you decided against the rehab? I tapered myself...though it was scary. I made a chart ('cause my mind wasn't trustworthy) w/time/dosage/date. It would be best to talk to your dr. about specifics..how much to taper, etc. No matter what you decide we are here for you. You've taken the first step, admting you have a problem, telling your family..this is a very promising start. keep posting to let us know how you are doing.
God Bless

[annabelle825]

I only had 1/2 of my normal dose all day today and can feel every bit of it.. can one person sweat this much?? Really??  My body feel sluggish and this is only the start of it...i am already dreading getting up for work in the morning....Lord Help Me!!!

[Innerstrength67]

I completely relate to what you are saying when you say you can't believe this is your life. That's how I feel. It blows my mind on how much money, energy, determination and acting it takes just to make sure we font run out of pills. Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we put all of that drive into something positive and healthy for ourselves. You can do this!!!!
Keep posting on this sight and read what people have to say. Everyone here "gets it".

[ImDONENoMore]

I think you should trust those instincts and find an inhouse rehab.  That sounds like a great idea - and it's really good to hear that your family/friends are there to support you.  That's going to make all the difference in the world.

[donewitis]

back up: The mental fog, the depression, the thoughts of wanting to die are alot worse than the physical pain. I don't think I was clear on that. :)

[annabelle825]

I was put on 500mg of vic three years ago for back pain that couldn't be explained.  So my doctor medicating me said he thinks its Fibro.  So here I am three years later with a huge monkey on my back.  I am up to 15-20 750's a day and can't quite cold turkey.. I just can't.  I've tried three times and the pain is just too much,  To be honest, I just came clean a couple of weeks ago and finally admitted that I have a problem.  My family and friends are doing everything they can to help me and I think in house rehab is my answer.  I want to kick this, I;ve always been a strong willed person.. I never thought there would be a time in my life that I was being controled by somthing like this.  

[donewitis]

As innerstrength wrote, it is a must talking to you Dr. I explained to my Dr that I needed to do this for me. I told her that at this point (4yrs) I didnt know what my pain levels were and that I wanted to figure that out and figure out if it was worse than the mental anguish these pills were causing me.(the answer is a resounding YES) This way, I cut off my only resource. After doing that, I was shocked at myself....but very glad that it was done. Scroll down to bottom of this page..to the right see Helath Pages..then Thomas's Recipe and Amino Acid Protocol. There are supplements, vitamins etc..that will help with the w/d either ct or taper. I'm in the the single digits when it comes to time so that's all the advice I have..no doubt others with more time will have more to say.  Good luck and God Bless.

[ImDONENoMore]

Well actually - you just did!!!  And good for you.  Starting to talk about it is exactly what you should do - so again, good for you!

And I think talking to your Dr. is a great idea.  And I think how you approach him/her depends on the kind of relationship you have with that Dr.  If you feel comfortable enough to totally open up about your addiction, I think, would be a good way to go.  And if you don't - then you can start the discussion by telling them that you no longer want to be on the pain meds and want a new and healthier way to deal with your pain.  Believe me, any good Dr. will be thrilled to hear that you're looking for alternative ways to deal with your pain.  However, since you didn't mention why you were on the meds to bein with - that's kind of a tough question to answer.  But at least from my experience, most Dr.'s are usually relieved and encouraged when they see a patient wanting to find healthier ways to deal with their medical issues.

What do you think?  Tell us a little more about your situation and I'm sure the members here can offer their experiences that will help you.  :) (and welcome to the forum!)

[Innerstrength67]

You can talk to your dr and be honest. There are a few different ways you can get off the pills but ultimately ypu will need to figure out what works for you. 1) Weening, hard for us addicts to do but it can be done.  2) Cold Turkey
There are a lot of over the counter things you can take which will help with the withdrawal symptoms. Keep posting and reading what people here have to say. We totally understand how you feel. You have to want it more than the pills. I'm not sure if I'm one to give advice but I know exactly how you feel.