Withrawal question

[gd147]

Hi,
   I need some help with my situation. I have been taking Hydro 10-325 for about three years now. Currently taking about 240mg hydrocodone a day. I have to stop. I am so sick of spending everyday obsessed with taking Hydros. It is taken over my life completely. I have to stop cold turkey because I don't have enough to taper. Also, I can't get any real time off from work right now, just one day. I was thinking about starting the process on Friday and then taking Monday off from work. I know everyone is different and there are no simple answers but is it possible to come into work on Tuesday and at least function? I really don't have much choice right now. Please help.........GD

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Everyone is biologically different so no promises can be made....but some stop using on a Thursday - - the first day isnt usually too bad so thats Friday. Then Sat/Sun/Mon would be days 2,3,&4.... most indicate that days 3/4 are the worst.....so you can probably make it to work on Tuesday and not be in very bad shape.......Best of luck to you in your effort.............

[dominosarah]

I agree with theeagle........Keep posting and letting us know how you are doing       sara

[gd147]

Thanks for your comments. I will post over the weekend as I go through hell. I have to do this. Even in the past when I had enough to taper, I could not do it. If I had hydros available, I would always convince myself that somehow I could take them and still have enough to start the taper later. Bottom line, if I have them, I will take them. Cold turkey is the only way for me. I don't know what will happen with work on Tuesday, but as I said before, I don't have a lot of choices. Thanks for your encouragement. GD

[bobby139]

I agree with eagle and domino keep us posted we r here to help anyway we can

[DrewBoy7]

Whats up Bro I really fell your pain on that if they are there I WILL get them! Are you formiliar w/ methadone or suboxene? I have been taking Sub now for 7 days and still think about my addiction to Oxcycotion and Oxcycodone but I have NO desire to take them! This medication is subbing my addiction but oh my god its great! I went the withdrawels for 3 days before I went to my 1st app. to get on the sub and I didnt taper or nothing! Just STOPPED and if i could of i would have done something really bad! I did OC'S AND PERC'S for 2 straight years everyday allday and your diong Vic's so work hard you can do it! I would have to take atleast 10 Vic's at a wack just to get the feeling! Take what you can get right!! Stay strong and  if you can't taper then see about a sub clinic it has worked for me know 7 days, and pills are around me @ work-home and everywhere I go and I have no desire! YOU CAN DO IT!!!! DrewBoy7 Good luck!!!

[worried878]

240 mgs is substantial..for sure...but u have a plan..and u will survive...like eagle said may be easier to start on thursday but truth is it aint gonna be easy...work is important  but so is getting off of 240 mgs of hydro....i thin the latter is more important and i cant see how anyone would fire u for being sick...and u r gonna look sick by friday for sure....if u plan to work and go ct then i would definitely talk to my dr bout some meds to help u like clonidine...sumpin for sleep etc....i dont usually agree with sub or methadone for hydro habits but ur dose is high and if u absolutely can not get off work and will lose ur job if u r sick, then it is an option...People sound so dynamic when they r on sub so I would take any post about how wonderful someone feels on it with a grain of salt/course they feel great cos they r still on narcotics and chances r it is a more powerful dose than before the stopped their doc...talk to them later when they r getting off of it bout how great they feel

educate urself on the ways u can do this and make a plan...sub is the way to go for some..and not for others...everyone is different and u have to decide cos only u know what ur needs r.but there is lots of support here so keep posting

[gd147]

Hi again,
   Once again, I really appreciate the support. For me, having this support is crucial. I don't feel like I'm alone. I do have about 55 Valiums to help me sleep through the next week. I will stop the hydros on Friday as recommended and pray I get through work that day. I have already arranged to take Monday off but I really can't take more than that. I know I will be sick on Tuesday, but I am going to try and suffer through. I don't have any illusions about trying to do this cold turkey and then try to go to work 4 days later. I know it will be hell. That is why I really appreciate the support of this group. I am so sick of worrying all day, everyday, if I have enough hydros to get by. That is all I think about and has got to stop. I want my life back. With support, a lot of praying, and some Valium, I have to get through this. Thank God for this forum. I will post through the weekend. Thanks again for the support......GD

[worried878]

u r a very determined person and congrats...u know sometimes staying busy can be easier than laying aroud thinking about how bad u feel...u will make it on tuesday and u will survive this...and it will be over..plead the flu..no one will know..thing is u need to be relaxed so u can move forward..i know jobs are hard to come by these days but nuttin is worth losing urself like u do with pills etc...no job in the world is worth it but u will come thru with ur job intact...sounds like u r ready for this and u r gonna carry this thru...post and keep us updated cos it does help lots...those valium will help alot..that is what i used..course dont get carried away with em but i can tell u already know that....hang tight

[gd147]

Well, it's 2:30pm on Thursday and I just took my last 5 hydros. I'm already scared but determined. I have never let myself run out on purpose so it's a wierd feeling. I have a work meeting in the morning which makes me a little nervous but I have  been through the 24 hour routine several times in the past so I have a little expectation of how I will feel in the morning. It's what comes after the 24 hour period that worries me. I have no access to hydros so I have to do this. I do feel ready but definately scared. I will keep posting as much as I can through the weekend. "I can do this" keeps running through my mind. I will appreciate any support I can get through the next week. Thanks again for all your encouraging words and support. GD

[Kevin_Bacon]

Since you're going ahead with this, all I can suggest is ust the Valium as much as you have to -- you can sleep through some of the w/ds, and you won't be clawing the wallpaper off.

Please keep posting -- I'll be in the same shipwreck in a week (it's not too pleasant right now, on the taper), and it will be helpful for those of us who find ourselves in the same situation (or are already where you are) as well as for you. Best to stay connected, if you're up to it.

Cheering from the cheap seats ...

[gd147]

Hi,
   Made it through my meeting this morning. Already am starting to feel really crappy. Just want to go home and go to bed. It's been almost 24 hours. I took 1 valium to get me through the afternoon at work. It's really all the anxiety that I think is the worst part. The aches and pains are already starting and I just want to lay down. I will keep you posted....GD

[gd147]

I feel like a truck ran over me. Does regular tylenol help the pains. My body is one giant ache. I'm going back to bad...I will post later, thanks. GD147

[gd147]

I mean back to bed gd147

[road2recovery]

Yes you can take tylenol...I used naproxen, and rotated ...Please take many hot baths., drink lots and lots of fluids...

So proud of you!!  YOU are doing it...I was doing up to 20-10mg of lortab a day and went c/t...It was not easy,  but doable....Keep your mind busy..Don't let it play tricks on you...
Also, immodium Ad liquid helped the whole body for me..
HANG IN THERE!!!!
r2r

[corey411]

Hi, Just read your thread for the first time and wanted you to know that I will be chearing you on. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Corey

[gd147]

Hi,
   Just woke up again. The tylenol seems to help the aches somewhat. I am very spacey and it is hard to move. It feels like my insides are wrapped up in plastic wrap and keeps getting tighter. Thanks to all of you for your words I will get through this. It is day 2 and my hope is to sleep as much as I can before I run out of Valium. I will dry the hot soaks for the muscle pains as well. By the way, it has taken me 15 minutes to write these 5 lines. I will keep posting.....Thanks again...gd

[Greatgreebo]

It's not going to be that much longer that you feel like dirt. Stay positive. Look on the bright side!! You're getting your life back. This is no worse that a case of the flu--don't psych yourself out :-) You can do this. Be glad you are tired...I couldn't sleep for 2 weeks when I first went CT!!
The mental aspect are what you will need to prepare yourself for down the line. You have a HABIT and need to get yourself ready to change your bad HABIT. You are almost done with the physical dependency part (yeah!!)...now start preparing to kick the mental/addict part of your problem......Go to my profile (Greatgreebo) and read up on the PAWS (post acude withdrawal syndrome) part 1-3 (obviously start with part 1 and work your way up through 2 and 3 :-)
You can also find stuff online or at the library also. Read the stuff so you can get yourself a plan together to deal with all the nasty little tricks your addiction will play on you in an attempt to get you back on the drugs......You can do this.
stay strong and think about how much better everything is already. no more counting the pills, taking the pills, hording the pills, searching for more pills....and the constant worrying about 'do I have enough pills?!?"
Kiss that goodbye!!
Keep posting
Greebs

[gd147]

Even though I am hurting bad, for the first time in two years, I am not obsessing about how many hydros I have (none). I am just concentrating on getting through these several day. Of course, I thing if hydos were in front of me I would have a major fight on my hands that I would lose. I can do this, I am doing this. Thanks so much for your wonder feedback.....gd147

[gd147]

day 3: Valiums didn't work so well last night. Having trouble putting thoughts together.Feels very much like the flu at this point. Please tell me this gets better.I know I can do this. any one else about this stage. Misery loves company. All I can post for now. be back later gd147

[gd147]

At this point, I can't imagine what it would feel like to get through a day just feeling normal. Everytime I needed to do something important, I needed to be high. How do I function day to day. I just can't remember what it was like. I hope it comes back to me.  

[ronny3]

Hey buddy!  im right there with you...im starting day 5 today...this is really hard i know but we need this to save our lives...if you want to talk please feel free to msg me or email me at ***@**** i did this 6 months ago and was clean for 100 days till i relapsed...i should have gone to aa or na meetings...i know how bad it feels at the moment but after day 4 it starts going to get easier and easier..

and believe me life gets better...there are ups and downs and also PAWS to look for, but it will be great...i know where i went wrong i needed aftercare for those though days and i didnt get any...i am very dissapointed in myself because i was so determined and ready, but i know that life gets better...remember one week for the rest of your life...and so on and so on..

p.s.  i got 2 hours or sleep and i fell asleep at 4 in the morning...i hate it but itll get better i already know :)   keep it up!!  your almost there!!

[sw9281]

Hello - this is my 1st response to you. I took way less hydro than you did probably maxed out at 50-60 mg a day. I could always get my dr to give me all I wanted so I never had a supply problem. I tried to taper several times but never had the guts to go cold turnkey as I always could get pills. So all my taper attempts failed. So I took the SUboxone route and that worked for me.

But I am writing to address your last couple of posts. I am almost 50 days off subs and feel great. I am no longer a slave to a pill. I have regained my personality and aggressiveness that I lost for so many years.

The point I want to make is that you must know that you will feel better. Will you be able to return to work Tuesday at 100%, who knows. But I can tell you whatever price you have to pay for the next few days to get off these things is worth it.

Do not allow yourself to fail. Keep your eye on the target and know the pain and suffering will subside in the coming days. Your number 1 priority should be getting off these terrible pills. I do not know your situation but do not make going to work on Tuesday more important than getting off these pills. If you need an extra couple of days I am sure somehow your employer will survive.

DO NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER OPTION THAN COMPLETE SUCCESS. For you know what the alternative is.   Hope this helps and best of luck   Steve

[gd147]

Steven, It's great to hear that you got yourself back. That is what I need to hear most. Also that I am almost through it. Ronny, I am truly proud you are at day 5. I will be there tomorrow. I plan to do follow up after the physicals go away. Maybe N/A. I will NOT take my eyes of the goal no matter how much I ache and hurt. I must beware of tricks my addiction will play on me do I don't relapse. I will stay on the board for good. When I make it, I hope to inspire others the way you all of of you have inspired me. Nobody said you can't do it, only that I can. Thank you thank you.......Tomorrow is day 5

[gd147]

I know this is only my 4th day but I  am already starting to feel better, is that possible. Ronny,
you're email address isn't coming through on the forum so I can't email you. I will keep going, if this feeling better is any indication of the future. Day 5 tomorrow and I will try work. Even if I'm sick. I have to go, but now I feel like I cam make it Keep praying as will I..gd147