Must wean off Tramadol ASAP - help!

[cottonrichards]

I'm getting a tonsillectomy on the 28th (in 19 days) and have been taking 50mg of Tramadol 2x a day (every 12 hours) for about 6 years for anxiety.  Once I get my tonsils out I won't be able to swallow pills for a couple of weeks though, so I need to get off the Tramadol before the surgery.  Is this feasible?  Is this a doable schedule of taper:
9-11th:
50 MG AM / 25 MG PM
12-14:
25 MG AM / 25 MG PM
15-18:
25 MG AM / 12.5 MG PM
19-22:
12.5 MG AM / 12.5 MG PM
23-25:
12.5 MG AM only
26-27:
6.25 MG AM only
28:
Off

This is the only way I can imagine getting off without suffering miserably.  Any advice?

[cottonrichards]

This morning I felt particularly antsy, woke up early, had some restless "leg" syndrome (extends to my whole lower body, what's that called?).  Coffee and Advil helped, plus the 25MG of Tram this AM.  If it's just this I can manage, but am getting anxious about when I totally go off...will I feel like this non-stop?  For how long?

I'm also getting anxious because I'll be starting to taper down to a lower dose than I've ever had in 6 years during a newly arisen trip to be with a very old relative.  This will probably be the last time we all see him...and my mother will be there and being around her triggers these old scripts to run (to use a computer term...I can't think of a better way to describe what happens).  She makes me feel crazy, thankfully my husband, who knows what I'm going through right now and how she affects me, will be with me.  Does the serenity prayer really work...cause I may need it.

[cottonrichards]

I'm adjusting well.  I didn't wake up early and while I did feel a little antsy when I woke up I was okay.  Positive progress!

Tomorrow I start 25mg AM/PM, so we'll see how that goes.

tramahater - I am so happy to hear how well you're doing, it's very encouraging!  Since I've been on tram for 6 years the re-regulation of my brain chemistry is what concerns me most.

Did anyone feel kind of spaced out or A.D.D.-ish during detox?  I'm usually a very good speller and usually write the exact words I mean to write, but I've noticed I've accidentally left out words or put a verb in the incorrect tense a few times, which isn't like me.  Plus I'll be doing one thing, then I do 5 other things before I remember the first thing I set out to do.  This is mostly online, not in the "real" world, but still...

[vicki595]

Hey good!!!   Glad you just want to leave it behind. Keep posting here...tons of support as you've seen.
Good luck!
V.

[LeaAnn807]

I was on a VERY high dose. About 15, 50 mg pills a day at my highest!  I'm not proud of that, but I am proud of my progress since then!  You will be too.  It's so strange how we think we will die from WDs but were never scared of taking that amount of pills!  Crazy!  Or at least I was that way!

And to answer your question about how I am doing.....AWESOME!  The first week is awful.  The first month is rough.  And from then on I have been feeling great.  The insomnia and lack of energy and motivation last the longest for most people that I have seen on here.  And, it doesn't seem to matter if you are on a high dose or a low dose, the WDs seem about the same.  Length of time taking them seems to effect it more.

Hope this helps!  You can get your life back....withOUT pills in it!!! : D

BIG hugs to you!

[cottonrichards]

Thank you guys for this, really and truly.  I think you're all totally right, my ENT surgeon and anesthesiologist should absolutely know the amount of Tramadol I've taken in the two weeks prior to the surgery.  I will document this and present it to them at my pre-op appointment and the day of surgery.  I don't want people to know about this problem, but I also definitely do not want to die or have any complications with the anesthesia.

Vicki - in regards to your questions about whether or not I'll be able to take it after if I'm not off, I will if I want, I'd just crush it up and put it in some applesauce, like you say.  But honestly, I just want to be off.  I've gone down to 1/2 a tab 2x a day before (25mg/2x day), so I think I can do this and that it's time.  

tramahater, were you on a relatively low dose like me (I've only been taking 1 50mg at morning and night)?  How are you doing after the detox period?

Thank you guys...and I definitely will tell the docs about the Tramadol.

[LeaAnn807]

Hey!  I have tell you first that I agree with telling the anesthesiologist about the tramadol.  It could be life threatening if you don't.  

Also, to give you some hope, I have been clean from them for 3 months (little over) and feel great!  I didn't taper.  It wasn't in the cards for me.  I had no discipline!

Please tell the doctor!!!  It could save your life!  Good luck!