Hydocodone withdrawal

[Apachesan]

Hello. So, here I am contemplating (on on the forced edge of) withdrawing from hydrocodone. I am a moderate to severe user. I burn through 75 10/325 in less then 2 weeks plus 90+ tramadol 50s and as many 5/500s I can get my hands on. Yes, I have chronic pain. I have disc degeneration, recurring debilitating sciatica, scoliosis, severe curvature of spine, chronic migraines etc etc etc. I do require the meds I take but I realize I take WAY more then necessary. I am only a 47 year old female and I recognize the down hill spiral I'm heading into. Plus I have a history of dabbling in more serious drugs for pain relief and have found myself on the wrong end of a staw sucking up heroin as it burns down aluminum foil. Who am I ? Anyway, my question really is to ask for any advice or support to detox safely and thouroughly so that I can maybe come back to pain management of my issues appropriately. Oh forgot to mention, I am early stage RA as well. Lucky me. Any help?

[YesLife4Me]

Hi Dahlin!!!    So glad to see your name too!!!!   You sound fabulous.  :)   Big hugs!!  XOXO

[YesLife4Me]

oh Hunny, I know that vicious cycle  ether than anyone.  I want the pain meds  ease they help with the pain.  But they come with a cost.  One I cannot afford the luxury of anymore.  Pain is subjective, true.  Many of us live with chronic pain issues and realized that the discomfort we have now is better than the cycle of addiction.  I seriously woukd reccomend you discuss with your pain management dr alternatives to opiates.  Let him know you want off them.  They WILL help you.  They see this every day.  I know it is scary, but for me, I was more scared of the anxiety I built up in my mind about going through Withdraw.  Once I accepted I really wanted this more than anything, then I accepted each 24 hrs for what they were.  And at times, I had to break it down into hours or minutes.  And as each minute, hour and day passed, I knew I never had to do that day ever again.  You are worth it.  T h e other side is much more beautiful than being a slave to pills.  Aftercare is huge too.  Surround yourself with people going through recovery and you won't feel alone.  This place is great, but it is no substitute for real people that will love you til you can love yourseLf.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.  We do care.  

[Apachesan]

You post is so smart because it begs the real question, do I really want off them. Yes no I don't know. Such a vicious circle. On the one hand, I see the road I'm heading for. On the other I see chronic pain. I don't want either! I know I must choose. Being drug riddled is no way to live. Being pain riddled is something people live with every day

[Apachesan]

Thank you so much. You're very encouraging and speak from experience. I do want to not be an abuser but know I'll need some pain management in some way with my body issues. Thank you for your amazing feedback! I look forward to being a new clear friend of yours.

[VICourageous]

Time & Patience as you remove many layers off during this detox.
The longer we have used (40+s off & on for me...Dumb but it is a progressive disease too) the longer it will take the Brains wiring and so forth (so much to it) to fire up again. It is like waiting for your brain to flip back.
Support, Support and all and Any Support you can get!!!

PS. This post brought out some old time friends on here that I had not seen on in yrs..Yahoo and Hi Girls!! lol

We will walk with you and suggest things to help the w/ds but that is the easy part it is staying clean that take SO much work and so many behavioral changes like life style changes. We can not do it alone. Good Luck!!
Bless

[justhefiveofus83]

Yes I agree we are in some ways in the same boat. Feels good to know I'm not alone in the fight! Ill be praying for you also....... And that we can make it through this stronger and better people. I'm scared for sure! But I am ready to leave this all behind me. Ready to take my life back into my own hands. I can do this, and so can you!

[BluCrystal]

I would recommend in-patient behavioral and mental wellness program - for 90 days, at least.  That SHOULD get it all in one go.  And that is the idea: long-term in-patient, then halfway house, then daily therapy, working on getting less frequent therapy.  I have found that this SINGULAR 'hammer-down' approach works well if you are truly dedicated to coming clean.  Any doubts in your mind, and it WILL NOT WORK, so be sure first!

[BearsFan1966]

Hi and Welcome! First off you have to decide if you want to stop this roller coaster you are on! I was also on the same meds minus the H you were on for over 10 years! You can do this but you have to realize that you will have to live with the pain. It does decrease once you get off the pain meds, but it will never go away.
The with drawls will start to decrease after about 3-7 days but then you have the mind games to deal with. You can do this but you have to want to do it, it is hard but a life off pain meds is worth any amount of pain I have to be free of this roller coaster I was on!
You can do this if you truly want to! Stay on here and post for help!

[YesLife4Me]

Hi There.  I haven't been on here in many months and your post jumped right out at me.  I too suffer severe pain issues, but what I found out is that no matter how much I want to believe I can manage pain meds, I just cannot.  Once your chemistry has been changed, you are forever altered.  Putting the chemical in our systems triggers thr physical allergy that turns into that craving for more and more.  I had 9 months clean and threw it all away over some stupid pain pills. I had been to treatment, working my steps, got a sponsor, attended meetings daily and was even chairing.  At first I had my SO dole them out, but then I got the bright idea this time it would be different.  That is the great lie th is disease tells us.  It tells us we don't have a disease.  So here I am 6 days clean, starting over again.  But the great news is that I didn't unlearn all the tools I have.  I just chose not to use them.  If you can tell your pain Dr you want off the meds, he can prescribe you clonodine and hydroxide to help ease withdrawals.  It is.not easy, but the mindset is a HUGE part of coming off the meds.  That is, do you really want off them or are you being forced off from running out.  If it is the latter, then for me, once it came time to get more, I could endure the withdraw knowing I had more coming.  Get the necessary items from the Thomas Recipe, tell someone you need help, and it will make it easier.  Especially someone knowing what you are going through.  Then it isn't a secret and that monkey is off your shoulders too.  Dont be ashamed above all.  It happens and for me, it was a huge learning lesson.  There are other treatments that don't include opiates.  The pain will be intense for about a week, but then your nervous system will start to adjust when your mind has to start creating it's own natural pain relievers.  It's going to be ok.   :)   It helped me to say the serenity prayer many times throughout the day too.  I reflected on what that really meant to me.  I cannot change that I am an addict.  I have the courage to change by getting off them and I have gained more wisdom from the relapse.  Good Luck hunny.  :)