Snorting Percocet 30mg daily. Need help.

[bcjtt]

Hi,
I am a 30 year old female.  I have never struggled with addiction before, and consider myself relatively strong.  I never understood why people could get addicted to pain meds... until, I got my tonsils out, had two surgeries to repair two broken bones, then I shattered my collarbone last July of 2010, which prompted a reconstruction surgery.  I started with 5mg Percs, and then quickly went to 30mg's.  I got up to snorting 2 30 mg percs in the am, and 2 30mg percs in the pm.  I started taking them for energy.  I own my own business.  I work over 100 hours a day with no days off.  I have animals that require daily care.  I recently got engaged and we started thinking about having a baby.  I decided to quit as it was also creating a strain on my relationship~which is one of the most important things to me, along with my business.  I have been clean for 3 days before (at times this winter), but never longer than that since July 2010.  I had horrible w/d symptoms.  Runny nose, sneezing, runny eye's, absolutely no energy (getting up to go to the bathroom took too much energy), my only desire was to sleep, but couldn't b/c of restless leg.  I decide to quit today.  I was able to taper down to 15 mg in am & 15 mg in pm.  I am determined to get through this and I do not want anyone to suspect a problem.  How long will this last and what can I do?  In the past, I have had all the above symptoms, and when those wear away at about day 3, the runs kick in.  I also feel like a failure, and get depressed wondering how I ever let this happen.  I live with my fiance and I really do not want him to suspect a bigger problem.  I started abusing percs as a way to stay up longer and work.  Without energy, my business will suffer and I won't be able to get anything done.  When does energy come back?  When will I be able to eat?  I really don't want to tell my primary care physician as I don't want this on my medical record.  I seem to be accident prone, as I've had at least one surgery a year for the last 4-5 years.  My job is high risk for injury.  I can deal with the pain, but I fear the w/d symptoms and the lack of energy.  Please respond with suggestions, comments, etc.  I read this board and find it very helpful.  Thank you.

[justneedtotalk]

Dav125 your response was perfect!  I just wanted to add that the minute you can get off the couch.....start exercising....15 to 20 minutes or so to start out and work up from there....Your goal is to get 40-50 minutes of continuous exercise 4-5 days a week.....I promise you that you will shorten the over all length of detox considerably and it really helps with detoxification and curbing cravings.....I think a lot of people who stick to the vitamin regiment and exercise regularly have a lot higher chance of staying sober....Aftercare is also a must.....It is tough to get up that first week....find a meeting....actually go.  But if you just force yourself to go to one I promise AA or NA will really help.....It is comforting being able to go in front of a group of people and spill your guts without holding back.....They get it, because they were all there!  Well....I am sure you will have lots of questions and posting on this site helps keep your mind occupied during that first week or so.....Good luck and God Bless!

[Dav125]

First 3 or 4 days are really the worst for any hard physical symptoms like a severe case of the flu..After that, its underlying anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, emotions running wild at times for couple more weeks. Around the three week mark things stabilize some with energy and sleep coming back online so to speak..There may be lingering issues with depressed days at times as these drugs do knock a person's brain chemistry out of wack some. It takes time for it to get back to reproducing chemicals it was naturally regulating prior to the opiate use which changed the equations..Thats a quick overview of what your looking at..Get some immodium as you will more than likely have stomach issues..Advil, some good muti vitamins ,and drink plenty of fluids. Gatorade was what I drank alot of..In the side column to the right are somesuggestions on other vitamins etc that you can try as well. In a week you will be doig better but this does take some time to undo.During the second and third week you will not be getting the best of sleep and energy will be doing hits and misses. One day pretty good, the next feeling like you got run over by a train. By the 20th to 25th day you ought to be in pretty good shape with exception to some underlying anxiousness..Try to view the wd's as what they are..They are there and there's no way to speed up the process. Some recover quicker than others..The only common ground for all of us is that first 3 or 4 days it takes for the physical symptoms to back off. Then things slowly turn to the better..Showers are good. Short walks, busy work..I have to run, but thats a basic picture..Just do your best and try not to get caught up focusing in the ill feelings. Keep your eye on the prize....

[Jewels110]

I am just going on my 4th day without any Vics but I can tell you that everyone is different as far as withdrawing.  I wasn't on a very high dose and my wd's were so far pretty mild. I will say this. It is worth it to do this just for your health and family. I took them for a neck injury and then the energy and it started to lack when I stopped but I started taking the vit B6 and L tyrosine 2000mg twice a day and it really seems to be helping me. I can't advise you on a certain taper but that's what I did and maybe that's why my symptoms weren't typical.  I really want to wish you luck and keep posting that is what's helping me. Hang in there, you can do this. jewel

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

WOW, you have one hectic schedule! You stated that you work over 100 hours a day. I am sure you meant a week and even that is a lot. Doesn't sound like you have much down time.

You said a few things that concern me and I would like to address them. You don't want to let your doctor know what is going on. The problem with that is that basically your doctor is your "connection", for lack of a better word, and it is far too easy for you to get pills from him. If your plan is to stay clean, you need to cut off your supply. You said you can handle the pain and certainly he can prescribe something non-narcotic.

Secondly you stated you don't want to tell your fiance. I am not sure this is a great way to start a marriage--with secrets I mean. Addiction does not end when you put the drugs down and this is something you will deal with for the rest of your life. I think you need to be honest with the person you choose to spend your life with.

These are just suggestions of things I did---things that helped me.

There is no way to avoid the withdrawal and people are going to notice. All of the symptoms you described are exactly what you will feel for the first 5 or 6 days. Since you were snorting them this time around, you kicked it up a notch and your detox may be a bit more intense now. As far as the energy---energy and sleep are typically the last things to return and can actually take months. It varies by individual. Don't forget your brain chemistry has suffered through this process and it takes time for it to re-fire normally.

A lot of members here use natural vitamins and supplements to help them, I am not one of those people. Stick around until someone comes on and can help you with a regiment.

I hope you stick around and I truly hope you get and stay clean. It will take time and work on your part but it is all very worth it. Be good to yourself.