how long does it take to get off vicodone & how to?

[psychdegree]

I've been on & off hydrocodone for 2yrs (on more than off..starting bc of two knee surgerys in the past 2ys now can't stop completely) . I've never taken (regularly) more than 3 tens a day. I've been thru withdraws b4 but only made it a couple days bc the leg cramps were unbearable. (That's the worst besides anxiety) & being so fatigued. Plse if any1s been thru this I need help. I also take valium at night so that helps..but other than that idk what to do to get off these & really need to. Ive tapered off as much as I could but I'm gonna be out probably tomorrow. so any advice? More the withdraws & how to keep myself from taking them again..ever. thanks

[psychdegree]

Well this is to you all! (yall) lol.. Ok day 2..middle of the day & on lunch! Im surprised how my mind seems more patient (yet foggy & forgetful) dispite how im feeling. These body aches & weakness are pretty bad! I slept last night till 4 then got up took 1/2 a muscle relax. & the hylands. Then slept for an hour b4 work. But gotta be there till 6. Im so proud & happy I can still work like this, when b4 I couldn't leave my house. I think I can do it..but my mind is screaming LITERALLY that I need something to stop these withdrawels! obviously my little freakin pill! I am starting to go to the bathroom..which *****. Some how having IBS is kinda a blessing thru this bc I have constipation w it so when I go its normal not having to run. But still going regular like this isn't normal for me. My legs r ok but my arms are now getting weak. Im just so nervous & want this to end asap. I woke up this morning feeling good in my head but now im on a lunch break I see it all hitting me! just like when I got off work yesterday. I just hope so bad I can do it. I never had b4..yet I also never turned down a pill thru wds when ppl saw me struggling & this time I did. Idk my mind is everywhere. I cant remember where ive put what at work & my assistant is leaving when I get back so its gonna be a crazy day there anyway. Oh when will this end. I wish I could have put this off till after my 2 week notice was up but ran out of pills, no refills so obviously I had no choice. :( but God has given me amazing strength & power & blessings. Ive asked him to plse take this dependency away from me for so long, yet I never followed thru on my part & actually stopped. I think this is a trial in my life I must have to go thru & I know maybe Ill learn something (besides not to over take pain pills for so long!) I really already see it feels good not to watch the clock, or make sure I have the pills b4 I go to work. My psych told me last year the 1st 72 hours will be the worst for me. So this is my 1st 24hrs I believe..yet I had a half early yesterday which did nothing so maybe its my 48hrs..not quit sure bc not last night but the night b4 I had a half & already had the wds b4 bedtime. Either way im gonna trick myself into thinking its almost over each day..hour..second or Ill lose it! haha. Im sooooo thankful I wasn't at a higher dose bc I couldn't take what my bro-in law went thru going 4 hours w out his pain med..think opana or something. He was violently sick, mine I think is at least manageable. Thanks for the support! Hope to hear back b4 I go back to work

[ariley13]

You got it! Hang in there. You are doing great. I hope that you have a good day today!

[psychdegree]

I made it thru another night! I'm driving to work so gotta make it short..yea I'm working a 2 week notice so I can't take off..but maybe best..I feel pretty proud so far..fill ya in on the rest later..prayers for strength Plse!

[VICourageous]

Hi! Yes it is not a fun ride but the rewards are so so Awesome when we give our selfs time to heal. Just think you will be feeling innocent and normal like those Kids..How Sweet. The Potassium and Magnesium is good for the RLS. I heard Bananas on here alot. I remember way back in my first few months I would take the bath with the Epsom salt and go lay under a heating blanket. This was mostly for the body aches.Coming off the Methadone & 2 other meds I did not have the RLS this time like I did with the other opiates.That was my worst fear so I did pray & pray not to get it. The high anxiety is what got me. Yes the hot or cold is normal.There is so so so much about this diseases of being addict that I really do believe that Time is the Greatest Healer. Try your best to just ride with the wave. I promise if you do not fall you will be walking in the sand soon. Just keep pushing forward and take it as it comes. You will be so happy in the long run. Some of us bounce back quicker then others. For me each Month turned a new corner. It seems so unreal but it is a reality in a much better way. Cheering for you all the way!!
Bless

[clean_in_ks]

Hey, girl.....you are doin it, see?  You'll have 24 hrs with no opiates at 8 am tomorrow, right?  And you worked today?  That's fabulous!!!......do you have the option of "not" going to work right now?  Days 2 thru 4 or 5 can be some of the rougher days....so it'd be nice, anyway, if you had that option. But seems like we've had quite a few people lately that HAVE worked all the way thru their w/drawal....so you certainly can do it (I guess)....I would not have been able to....but I was a mess!

You are more than welcome to say, "hey ya'll" to us.....we're from ALL over the globe around here.....my hubby is from SC, so we say ya'll some times.
In Kansas, they say "you guys"......in Oklahoma they say "you all" and in the deep south...."ya'll come back now, ya hear?"....LOL  I had a hard time actually understanding my SC in-laws many yrs ago.  I even say "cut on or cut off the light" now.....and I'm "fixin to go".....when I leave my house..LOL

Since you are on 5 meds for your bi-polar......maybe your w/drawals will be affected in a postive way by being on those meds.  You can at least hope, right?

Hope you have some dry cotton clothes, some epsom salts and some of the vitamin/mineral/amino acids that are suggested in our health pages.
I also used a full body-size hot pad for weeks.....I would lay it right down my middle....it soothed my heart rate, helped my tummy, and relaxed me, too.  Plus surrounded myself with LOTS of pillows.  Clean sheets and towels are good to have, too.
And be sure to drink, drink, drink.....and have some kind of protein drink if you lose your appetite.  I wasn't hungry for a longggg time....but my appetite came back with a vengeance.....the protein feeds our brains and helps build us up nutritionally.  Fourjays "turned me on" to Revive Vitamin Water......it says fruit punch flavor on it....and I hate fruit punch....but I LOVE this stuff!  Still drink at least one everyday....and even put it in the freezer for a bit....get a slushy that way LOL  

Hope you'll check back in here whenever you need to....usually some one is around no matter what time it is.  We have a lot of forum peeps still not sleeping.  This too shall pass~

[ariley13]

All of your symptoms sound normal to me. I was freezing cold, like I had a bad fever. Then at night I had horrible sweats. The fog that you feel is very normal too. You will be a little 'off' for a few days. It sounds like you are starting to get into the thick of it. Hang in there! You can do this! Stay on here and keep talking with us. It really does help.