I am thrilled that you are going to see an addiction specialist! Great choice. I believe here solid help will be found. :-) Great choice.
There is no doubt of the conviction in your desire. You are absolutley right that each of us must follow our own path to sobriety. Glean what is helpful for you as you read through the postings, deciding what is accomplishable for you and your strategies.
Keep posting. Your journey gives others the hope that we can face our addictions with resolve and helps those of us who have achieved sobriety to remember why we did.
Thank u Reach! I neded those hugs!!
Update: have appt on Thursday with specialist to start detox program feeling hopeful and strong went to a meeting at 12 today, found it somewhat helpful......and will go again tomorrow.
Again, ur support is honestly one of the things keeping me hopeful....ill keep u posted!
And big hugs back to u!! Thanks again
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Wishing you well at tomorrow's appointment. I am sure there are a million thoughts and feelings going through you, but I pray the biggest is hope. As I faced my own withdrawal, I was scared out of my mind to do it, but, thankfully, even more scared not to do it.
You are going to be okay, Chris. You really are. I don't know anyone who has determinedly followed through on a recovery plan and is not okay. We regain our happiness and esteem once again and remember how to live life without the drugs. Retain all the lessons you will be learning... all that information is gold for the rest of our lives. You are so worth a full and happy life.
Thank u Reach I have gotten myself down to every 3.5 hours between meds on my own since Monday. I used to just take them every 1-2 hours. I spoke with the addiction doctor over the phone yesterday and he said this "Chris, u don't have to live in this pill prison any longer", I felt like that was a good way to put it.....I cried, and he said "I CAN help u!" I am scared....though also feeling uplifted by the words I read from your support and my doctors encpouragement, as well My appt is at 2pm tomorrow and should last about an hour......I'm not sure what happens after that......but I will post again once I have seen him and a plan is in place.
Thank u again, the encouragement from ur words remind me everytime I read them that I CAN do this!!! I deserve my happy, loving, laughing, smiling self back! I miss her!!!!
Hugs again, for everytjhing!!
Chris
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How did the visit go today? I hope you found more encouragement to know that you are going to be that happy, confident self again. Boy, I sure remember feeling that I had so lost myself and wondering if I would ever find myself again. Well, I did! In the process, I learned to hone the good parts and work on the parts that needed improving. I learned to let go of all the control I thought I had to have in all things. Life is gonna happen in its own way many times no matter how we try to control a situation. I have learned to let go and be much less hard on myself.
Hey~~ good to see you have started stretching the times between doses. Really good.
Have you and the doctor worked out a plan for you? Share with us when you can.
I am going to sign off early tonight... had a rough day with some tests at the heart doctor's office and am ready to call it a day. Everything went fine, but it is still a pretty emotional thing when they run me through the paces. :-).
Hi reach,
I don't know how I feel......I was a little pout off by this guy. He wants me to be in full withdrawal (no taper) and start suboxone in his office. He wanted to take my meds yesterday and have me come in this morning. Matybe I'm not ready? That scared me.....I made the appointment for Thursday morning next week.....I need to be without vicodin for 24 hours and in full withdrawal and that is frightening. When he wanted to take my pills......that sort of made me mad......I don't know what I'm feeling? Any suggestions?
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This is a tough one for me. My decision, for me, was not to take suboxone or any other new prescription when I began my own plan. Matter of fact, when I saw a psychiatrist in the begining, I actually wrote a letter to him and presented it ( I was so deep in depression by that time that I could truly not speak, words just wouldn't come out. In that letter, I emphasized to NOT even suggest any ther drug as I would not take it. What did he do each time I went for 3 weeks? He wrote out a script for a drug. DUH! I just handed them back each time. He finally decided he could not wotk with me at all and sent me to a licensed clinical social worker and she was the one who helped me a great deal with the depression, the withdrawal, etc. My family doctor prescribed my drugs on a tapering scheduler and she helped me working with hypnotism and behavioural therapy. These were the things that worked for me. I was blessed in that sober thinking became a part ofg my life long before my tapering was done, very early on actually.
I have learned, mostly from this site, that suboxone can be a very useful tool for some who have difficulty reaching and maintaining sober thinking. It does take away all withdrawal immediately and has a ceiling effect so that no high is going to be reached. One of the drugs in the suboxone compound actually was used for many years to treat alcoholics. I would never condemn in any way anyone's choice to use it as long as it is done with full knowledge of the drug and it's properties.
Sub is addictive. Unless you intend to take it lfe-long, there will come a time that a withdrawal must be made and coming off of it is like any other opiate withdrawal. Sub does contain an opiate, so withdrawal will cause symptoms. Sometimes it is used very short term to help with withdrawal, but withdrawal symptoms will still present to some degree. Often nowadays, it is prescribed long term and there are many stories on this board of coming off of it. For some, it has been a lifesaver; for others, it has been a horror.
This is a decision that will have to be made according to your own thinking, Honey. It is really a hard decision. My advice to you is to spend the next week really researching all you can find concerning it. Perhaps you will need to talk to the doctor again, making sure to tell him of your fears and all other emotions about this path. If you do decide to take it, fine. If you decide it is not the path for you, voice your objections and do not be coherced into anything that does not feel right.
Hi Reach,
Good to see yor words today. I have been thinking, crying, shaming, blaming, hating, myself all day for this mess! Guilt so deep for what I have done to myself and those around me. I
Funny thing is, this doctor did not mention any other option except SUB....I don't know why?? I will take your advise and take the week to really contemplate my decision here.....I don't want to gwt off one substance to then be hooked on another....I am continuing my own "taper" at home.....now at 4.5 hrs between, and. 10 hours between bed and waking up......
Ill post more, as I progress and decide which option is best for me.....
Chris
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I'm supposed to start suboxone Thursday...and after reading the stories of people having to "get off" them, I wonder why docs even prescribe it? if you had it to do over again, would you skip the suboxone, and wean off norcos instead? Any advice helpful....thanks, christine..
Last edited by mod-anon; 10-10-2010 at 10:49 PM.
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I'm supposed to take my last pain med Tuesday night. I am allowed anti anxiety between the last pain med and the suboxone. What did the suboxone make you feel like when you were in withdrawal and how long did it take to feel the withdrawal stop?
Thanks so much for your help!
Last edited by mod-anon; 10-10-2010 at 10:49 PM.
Reason: Please use the Quick Reply button instead of Quote Reply.
You're welcome. Please let me know how you are doing on Thursday or even Tuesday and Wednesday after you have taken your last pills. I'll keep you in my prayers as I have been there done that. Blessings......
Hi,
My doc called this afternoon to confirm my Thursday morning appt. To start Sub.....he reminded me that I cannot take any opiates after tonight and I am sooo scared......I'm already thinking up excuses in my head of why I cannot do that....I need some advice.....uugg
Hi,
My doc called this afternoon to confirm my Thursday morning appt. To start Sub.....he reminded me that I cannot take any opiates after tonight and I am sooo scared......I'm already thinking up excuses in my head of why I cannot do that....I need some advice.....uugg
Don't be scared...you can get through this. I know this because I did it and you can too. You may be uncomfortable but joy comes in the morning...Thursday morning. Just keep reminding yourself that this is temporary. That's what I did. And look for the silver lining when you are no more a slave to your opiates. As the hours go by just keep reminding yourself where you have been, and where you want to be. You will be in my prayers.
Last edited by mod-anon; 10-12-2010 at 08:34 PM.
Reason: moved posts to a this thread
Don't be scared...you can get through this. I know this because I did it and you can too. You may be uncomfortable but joy comes in the morning...Thursday morning. Just keep reminding yourself that this is temporary. That's what I did. And look for the silver lining when you are no more a slave to your opiates. As the hours go by just keep reminding yourself where you have been, and where you want to be. You will be in my prayers.
I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a close friend that I've had for 7 years......is it possible to relapse while on Suboxone? I guess I will be at the doctors for a couple of hours while they watch and adjust my dose.....what questions should I ask? I'm really worried that ill never have that "euphoric" feeling the pills have given me all these years ever again....I know I sound sooo foolish....but I'm just nervous.....
I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a close friend that I've had for 7 years......is it possible to relapse while on Suboxone? I guess I will be at the doctors for a couple of hours while they watch and adjust my dose.....what questions should I ask? I'm really worried that ill never have that "euphoric" feeling the pills have given me all these years ever again....I know I sound sooo foolish....but I'm just nervous.....
Sweet girl, I totally understand that. They do become our friend, don't they? But they are not a good friend. Of course you liked that high...but do you really still like it? Do you like what goes along with it? You could relapse on Sub I guess but I have heard if you take an opiate while on Sub you won't feel the high and that is the real reason we used, right? I did anyway. You so not sound foolish at all. Your feelings are understandable. I really think that once you are on the Sub you will understand while we are all still on it and how it saved our lives. Mine anyway. I don't know any questions to ask your doctor...he will watch you for awhile to make sure you are doing OK. I really think you will like Sub. You won't haved that "fog" anymore. You will feel clear headed. You will be able to get on with your life. I hope I've helped.
Sweet girl, I totally understand that. They do become our friend, don't they? But they are not a good friend. Of course you liked that high...but do you really still like it? Do you like what goes along with it? You could relapse on Sub I guess but I have heard if you take an opiate while on Sub you won't feel the high and that is the real reason we used, right? I did anyway. You so not sound foolish at all. Your feelings are understandable. I really think that once you are on the Sub you will understand while we are all still on it and how it saved our lives. Mine anyway. I don't know any questions to ask your doctor...he will watch you for awhile to make sure you are doing OK. I really think you will like Sub. You won't haved that "fog" anymore. You will feel clear headed. You will be able to get on with your life. I hope I've helped.
Yes, you have helped! I've been extra tearful today. I guess you're right, I really don't know what life feels like not being "in a fog."Tomorrow will be tough.....withdreawals are gonna suck!I've been prescribrd xanax to get me through tomorrow.....I really don't know what top expect.....I may need some coaching tomorrow....thank you for all your support.....Christine
Yes, you have helped! I've been extra tearful today. I guess you're right, I really don't know what life feels like not being "in a fog."Tomorrow will be tough.....withdreawals are gonna suck!I've been prescribrd xanax to get me through tomorrow.....I really don't know what top expect.....I may need some coaching tomorrow....thank you for all your support.....Christine
You are lucky that you have Xanax. If I had that I would have done a whole lot better. It was the anxiety that got me the most. But....I made it and you will too! I will check back tomorrow to check on you. Hang in there...you will feel alot better once Thursday gets here. I know it seems like forever but it will be a short time considering the benefits of sticking it out. My prayers are with you tonight....
You are lucky that you have Xanax. If I had that I would have done a whole lot better. It was the anxiety that got me the most. But....I made it and you will too! I will check back tomorrow to check on you. Hang in there...you will feel alot better once Thursday gets here. I know it seems like forever but it will be a short time considering the benefits of sticking it out. My prayers are with you tonight....
feeling hopeful and strong
