Is there any way to get URGENT help?

[hormonejunkie]

I am so tired of the cycle of always worrying about pills and if I'm going to feel like ****, both detox and underlying medical issues. I'm to the point where I would even go into treatment if my insurance covered it. Outpatient places seem to either not help with meds/detox or have huge wait lists.

Is there anything you can do if you have no money and don't want to detox at home? I can't reach my primary care doctor (who ***** anyway), I can't afford to pick up the last few subs I have. My only option seems to be to scam the ER or something which isn't what I want to do.

Please don't flag or remove this. I am trying to be on the up & up here. It just seems like there are no resources unless you plan a stay months in advance which just isn't realistic.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hun....please don't take this the wrong way.  I don't want to be mean or anything close to it.  If all you are wanting to do is figure out how to get your drugs and you don't want to get clean then you are in the wrong forum.

Here our fight is to get clean and stay clean.  Click the Forums tab at the top of the page and look for the forum that deals with your main medical issue.  That is where you need to be.  That is where you will get the advice and support you need.

If at some point you want to get clean and stay clean...please come back here and we'll give you all the support and advice we can with CT withdrawals and any information we can to help you get through WD's.

I will keep you in my prayers...and hopefully some day down the road we will see you again when you are ready.

The very best of luck to you dear lady!

[hormonejunkie]

How do you think that other anxiety drugs work exactly? They ALL numb you. Zoloft had intolerable side effects. Drugs like Xanax and Ativan are more addictive than opiates according to many people. That must be lovely if you can deal with anxiety with happy thoughts and talking about your feelings but that isn't a reality for me.

Also not sure how opiates kill you if you aren't upping your dosage much. I don't take more than prescribed. How is that dangerous exactly?

I thought I made it clear that I wasn't scamming the ER. Not necessarily saying that I wouldn't to avoid detox but I wasn't lying when I went in.

Would I love to not need pills to feel good? Yes, I would love that more than anything. Am I willing to be constantly fighting and miserable just to remain "clean"? No, I'm not.

[msdelight]

HJ, do you want to quit drugs or not? Please don't go to the ER if you are looking for a legit way to continue using with an ongoing script. They will kick you out the door.  Drug seeking behavior will get you nowhere. Didnt you say you wanted to get clean? Perhaps you're not ready yet. Perhaps you have a bit more thinking to do. Opiates do not treat anxiety. They numb you to reality and kill you.

[hormonejunkie]

I have a toddler and a preschooler. I don't think I could make it through even 30 days dealing with the pain I am feeling now, brain trickery or not. I've never been depressed or suicidal but the way I feel when I have no meds to help, I can't imagine feeling that way for even a few days.

[hormonejunkie]

I'm looking into thyroid issues. Could be something else. I'm always tired. Feels like my body hurts all the time. My back seizes up a lot and I get headaches but it's the widespread pain that is the killer. If I work out or even go on a long walk, I feel wiped out for the rest of the day. Doesn't help that my weight has gone up even though I eat healthier than I ever have... one more reason I suspect thyroid. Finally in process of getting it tested after my doctor thinking it was post-partum depression and other things.

I know that a lot of it is psychological of course. I like feeling good. I have a lot of anxiety. It seems like opiates are safer than taking Ativan or Xanax everyday.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

I mean that the brain pattern is now abnormal.  Shoot...not only do I put foot in mouth talking in person...I can't even type straight!!!!

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

I started on opiates at first because of surgeries...I have a lot of underlying issues including degenerative arthritis, RA, bone spurs, diverticulitis (very painful), I also currently need ankle and shoulder surgery.  My issues were exacerbated because of hubby's problems.  He's 6'4 so every time I had to get him out of bed, off the floor, into the shower, etc it created worse situations for me.  That is one reason I got clean...I needed to know how much of my pain was real and how much was my brain trying to trick me into taking more drugs.

If not for my recent bout of diverticulitis I could honestly say my pain has gone down a bit....but I'm just over 30 days clean.  I'm expecting it to get better in the next month or two.  Yes, I use all of the non-opiate solutions I've listed to you and they work.  I work on the computer...because of my shoulders if I could not manage the pain I could not work more than an hour at a time.

Oh yes, a good massage helps too.  I'm lucky I have a couple of nice ladies that I met over Joe's surgeries and I get a massage a month gratis...just had one today.  I bake and can goods plus make them home-made pesto in exchange because I don't like to take advantage.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

I'm not sure what your medical issues are but if you share with us you'll probably get some good input.  For instance:

Arthritis, Degenerative or RA:  Lidoderm Patches (uses same med that dentists number your mouth with), Voltaren Gel (an anti-inflammatory via skin so no tummy upset), thermacare heat patches (portable for while working), different kinds of heating pads now...including for the shoulders, hot yoga, hinges and twinges water aerobics at your local Y.

Bone Spurs:  Good shoes with thick soles (and they look nice if you shop around), the Lidoderm again and learning to be careful about walking on rocks, gravel, etc.

This is just from my experience.  Let us know what your issues are and I'm sure you'll get other advice....like acupuncture for headaches and other issues.

Another thing to remember ... almost everyone in here who has been clean at least 60 days will tell you that there pain level has gone down.  That's because your brain is tricking you...the opiates have now changed how your serotonin, dopamine, pleasure portion of the brain have been changed and are not abnormal.  In other words, your brain is telling you that you are in more pain so you will feed it more of that "pleasure drug".

Please don't let fear of pain stop you...there are lots of options out there!!!

[hormonejunkie]

Are your husband's health issues part of why you started using? Just curious. All of my problems definitely started when my husband started dialysis.

[hormonejunkie]

If you go in and your only complaint is withdrawals, will they admit you? My underlying pain issues aren't life-threatening by any means. I'm sure it varies by hospital. Has anyone done it or know anyone who has, and how it went?

[hormonejunkie]

Thanks for so much input! I did end up going to the ER, because underlying pain stuff WAS getting severe, and hopefully I bought myself enough time to get something figured out. Honestly, opiates do help me with anxiety and physical probs but I want to be on them in a legit way, with an ongoing prescription.

I am pretty familiar with detoxing at home but have never been OK doing it without comfort meds including ativan and muscle relaxers (from my doctor). I wish I could just come up with a good plan of meds (and lifestyle changes) to replace opiates longterm. So frustrating.

[msdelight]

City hospitals accept, must accept, all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Its the law and notice is prominately posted or jacho will will not pass them. Try it.

[vicki595]

Do you have a way to pay for an ER or Urgent Care visit?  If not, you'll need to detox at home. Do you have support at home?

Also, you can follow Gnarly's suggestion and contact your states mental health office. You could try Google for the phone number.

Many here have detoxed at home and have done very well with support from the forum and an outside agency. You can also get yourself to an AA meeting for inspiration and motivation.

All it takes is a strong desire to get clean. Good luck.

[msdelight]

I think if you go to a large city hospital ER you can be totally honest. Most have a short term in house detox that will help you through the first week or so. They will refer you to further inpatient/outpatient treatment after that. Let them know you are in acute w/d and do not wish to continue subs or any drugs at all in the future.  Good luck and feel better.  Keep us posted. Love, MsD

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well dont feel helpless go to your states mental health board there is funding for detox then once detoxed you can get in a 30 day in pacent recovery program if all else fails you can come back to us and we can walk you threw a detox from home  this has many advantages your in the comfort of your own home we do these all the time.. then if you think you need it you can go to rehab try on line first just know you are no longer alone in this we can help it is always worst in our minds then it turns out to be weather you go in or not ''you just got to be ok without being ok'' personally I opted for doing it at home but I was on methadone and it took 8 1/2 months of tapering but at least I had the comforts of home we will help you ether way
I wish you the best of luck in what ever you decide.........Gnarly

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Okay now I'm going to address the detox part of your question.  Without your doctor, without being able to go to rehab (which seems to only be for the rich anymore) and without your sub I can't see any way for you to easily deal with the detox except do what we all do.  Use Thomas Recipe, and all the other stuff we do to try to ease the symptoms.

You could call around.  Some hospitals ER's will accept someone who is in withdrawal and send them to detox from there.  Usually under those circumstances there isn't a charge or if there is it is based on income. They usually won't tell you on the phone so you have to do something I don't usually agree with...but you have to be a little less than honest.  Call a hospital, tell them a family member is sick, it may be withdrawals, you aren't sure but you are worried because of underlying medical issues...can they recommend what hospital to send him/her to.  

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

There are only two things I can think of.  One is to contact the pharmaceutical company that makes the sub and apply for indigent pharmaceutical help.  Most Pharm companies have programs for that.  In fact one company sent my husband his anti-rejection medicine free for a year!  It was not generic at the time...ran something like $989 a month which we couldn't afford.

The second is to go to urgent care, tell them your doctor is out of town and you can't afford the meds.

A few years ago my hubby ran out of his meds, doctor went out of town for a week and didn't tell anyone ahead of time.  Hubby wasn't early or anything.  The nurse sent him up to urgent care and they were able to look up on the computer about his meds and they gave him enough to hold him out till our Doc got back in town.

The first option will take a few days though....but something for you to look into if you are wanting to stay on Sub and can't afford it.

Hope that helps!