12 DAYS OFF VICODIN COLD TURKEY - NO TURNING BACK!

[IAMOVERIT]

After reading many of your posts, and having thought about it for weeks, I realized that what I was taking, prescribed by one family MD,  was putting me on a trajectory that would end up damaging my health. Hydro is awful in what it does to you. Starts out legit - just as the dr. ordered. Then the pain won't be controlled by the prescribed dosage. Then, you are up to foolish amounts. Where does it end? What's your life going to look like in 5 years? In 2?

That's what I asked myself. I was under dr orders, but 3 weeks ago started waking up aching all over. Taking 6-11 10/325 per day, and pain still barely controlled. This is not going to end well. I have small children, not yet 40, and at some point it had to change. Either now before it gets bad, or after something bad happens (did you know that hearing loss is a side effect?). That time has come.

So, 12 days ago I realized the facts and faced them. No more. I have not looked back. God is good and will give you strength through it all. I had all the w/d symptoms, which made me angry, since I didn't even realize I was getting to be dependent on this garbage. I took ambien to sleep, which did not work the whole night - restlessness was bad. Am now getting past the, ahem, "gastro-intestinal" issues, can sleep well, and I have to admit, the joy of being done with pain meds is better than anything. I took 5 hour energy to help with the fatigue (no more than 2 a day!), tripled my vitamins, including loads of B6, and I must drink a gallon of extra water a day. I started exercising immediately, and that has been a tremendous help. Also, you have to sleep as much as you possibly can, even if it's with something like ambien. And - going completely cold turkey is doable. If I can do it, anyone can. The one thing that fueled the cold turkey is that I will never again get near the stuff, and was so happy to be free from it. I didn't even realize how enslaving it is - can't go out for errands with the kids without a dose in my pocket, waking up aching till a dose made things "better." ETC.

It's over. Thanks for posting. This forum made me realize that I was going down a bad road. The Lord used it to open my eyes. Vic actually was causing pain, and then aching when I would go too long (like, while sleeping) without a dose. Unbelievable.

So, get pissed off. This stuff does not have to take your life. And, get rid of it all. Only a fool would keep a few back while trying to get off of it.

Hang in there. Day 12 is awesome.

It gets easier every day, so take it one day at a time.

IAMOVERIT (and you can be too!)

[haley726]

you have made one of the best decisions in your life, and it sounds like you are feeling great. Good for you!!! I have 39 days off methadone so I still have some of the fun intestinal and sleep issues, but around day 15 I just was flooded with pride and happiness that I had survived the acute w/ds. I started out like you with docs orders and ended up with methadone, so I agree that in many cases the docs prescription is more like a death wish...lol. You should be so proud of what you have gotten through so far... I hope the best for you. Stay strong and God bless you and your family.

[thisisreallygettingold]

You are totally right on all of it. Nothing else needs to be said. Congrats on day 12, I'm on day 6.

[LeaAnn807]

Yaaay!  Congrats!