Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Tony,
The purposes of inpatient detox is more for safety concerns as opposed to them making it easier or more painless. People go though the same w/d symptoms, the same hurting, restless legs/body, etc. as do folks who do it on their own. With some people and the levels of meds they are on, it's just not safe to try and do it on their own, or if you have other med. conditions, that can be a problem to.
I'm glad your doing well and hope that your time on this journey is not much longer.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spaz50
So, a better day today than yesterday. A peak on my roller coaster ride to recovery. Hopefully in a week I won't have much left to say except that I am well, and happy without taking pain meds.
good to hear. positive encouragement to others who may be trying to quit also.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Hey Spaz its Tinkerbell45 here and i just now came across a couple of your posts and i wanted to ask you a couple of quetions if you don't mind answering them.If it makes you uncomfortable and you don't want to talk about it i will understand. I was wondering if you would mind sharing how you started taking drugs and how did you decide to quit? The reason i ask these questions is my brother is also an addict and i would LOVE for him to quit and i thought maybe just maybe if i had something in black and white that he could read from another person instead of just me "preaching" to him all the time that maybe he could catch a clue before he dies WAY TO SOON!!! I really appreciate your input take care of yourself and know that we are all rooting for you!!!
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Hi tinkerbell,
I have been on pain meds for about 10 years. I think it started years before that, the pain,
When I got rear ended by a drunk. For years they couldn't tell me why I hurt so much.
I have degenerative disk all through my spine. Neck curvature is opposite what it should be. So the whiplash started it all I think. Stated on oxycodone and oxycontin a few years later, and after about 6 years finally had surgury on lower back for double sciatic pain. SSpine was unstable and had fusion in lower back 3 years ago. Still deal with pain but don't like what the meds are doing to me. Physically and pychy. So decided a month ago to look into quitting. So started checking into tapering. Did very little taper, and quit 2 weeks ago yesterday. My new friends here have helped more than they know. Answered alot of questions and gave me strength and knowledge. I would imagine your brother has the same questions. I am still struggling physically but have never craved another pill. I thank God for that. Have him read this post from beginning and maybe he will have his questions answered. I pray he quits and becomes ther person he once was. I am on my way and will be really glad when I get thru it. Its been rough, but so worth it. My prayers are with you and your brother.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Day 15.5, or 13.5 with setback of 15 mgs oxycodone.
Last 48 hours have been a valley in this roller coaster ride. Insomnia is back due to the restless leg thing. Headache is constant, diarhea is persistant , but better since taking immodium. was up all night sunday night with restless leg and general aches and pretty severe lower back pain. I took plenty of sleep aids last night so got some sleep and at work today. Headache isn't bad, just annoying, and stomach is better than yesterday. Still ache in neck and shoulders, but not severe. Lower back feels ok. Seems laying down is worst thing for it. Seem to be waking due to the pain when I don't have insomnia. Soo, will see what happens next. Didn't do much of anything over weekend. Went to movies Saturday night and church Sunday. That is it.
Preparing for the work week and recovering for working last week. Wore me out. lol
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Tony,
I'm impressed that you made it to the movies, church and are at work this morning! You are doing amazing for where you are at in your recovery. I know it may not seem like it at times, but you really are.
I hope things get a bit easier for you today and as the week goes on, keep up the great work!
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Thanks Kat,
I guess it's my impatience showing. I am ready to feel normal again. With pain and all. Find out what my baseline is and make decisions on my future. It's amazing how time drags when you feel lousy most of time. Today has been a pretty comfortable day. Just the aches and pains and very minor headache. I guess it worked out that the 2 bad days were my weekend. If it had to be.lol
Take care Kat.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Kudos to you on getting off pain meds! It sounds like you have had a struggle in the past many years. I am trying to heal my body at the cellular level by taking a redox signaling molecule supplement. Our bodies are pretty much made up of cells, and if cells don't have enough signaling molecules to detect, repair, and replace, we start having a lot of problems. This is a scientific breakthrough. There are many med articles on redox signaling molecules. I know this sounds extensive, but it has helped many people get a better quality of life. Let me know if you want more info. Take care. Chris
The Following User Says Thank You to seaspray For This Useful Post: Spaz50 (10-05-2011)
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Day 18,
Gradually I am feeling better. Headaches still annoying, but not as bad.
Aches and pains not to bad through the day, but when I wake up and try to get out of bed the stiffness and back pain is worst. After being up a few minutes and walking it's not to bad. At this rate by the weekend I should, should be past the wd's? Maybe then I can see what I can start doing to strengthen and get my body conditioned. Since starting quick taper to today has been difficult. Can't say I crave the oxy's in the least. All I have craved is to feel better, and get past the wd's. Still fatigued and a little foggy for lack of better word. i am hoping that diminishes and I can feel normal. Whatever that is. It has been so long I may be to optimistic as to what that feels like.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Well, Tomorrow is 3 weeks since taking meds.
Still a little foggy, and fatigued , but not to bad. Headaches are better. Pain is minimal which is surprising. My colon and digestive system have made a quick recovery so far. While on meds I would go 5 to 10 days with no BM.
I am past the Diarhea and almost normal. Sorry to be detailed about these things, but knowing what to expect helped me alot. So for those that are starting this process of being pill free, I hope this post helps. It has certainly turned into a month long journey. I actually, for last 2 days have felt great.
Not perfect, but after the past 3 weeks it feels that way. It wasn't easy but
it is doable for anyone that has made the decision. You will have to be determined and as I said before, don't have pills anywhere accessible. Flush them and
if you ask or read this post you will know what to expect. As someone told me, Reach i think, or Kat, this process has a beginning and it does have an end. The detox process. You begin to wonder after a while if you will ever feel better. You do. For me 20 days. The staying off pills part of it, after going through what I have for 3 weeks, is easy. No desire to experience the effects of pain killers or the withdrawals ever again. If you are reading this then your are or were in my shoes a month ago. Making the decision to quit. Nervous , scared and not sure if you can get through it. Wondering if you can
go a day without taking pills. With prayer and the support of the people here, you will succeed if you truly want to. You have my prayers.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Hello!
It is wonderful to read your testimony here today. :-) I hope many who are on the fence and full of fear get to read your whole thread here and see that we truly can get off the pills successfully. For me, it serves as a reminder of my own journey and the decisions I had to make along the way. It helps to keep my resolve strong.
I am celebrating your life with you today. Losing the fogginess and regaining a foothold in truly participating in life is a wondrous thing and well worth celebrating! Keep sharing your story for those behind you, Buddy. It is an important story
In hope always
reach
Last edited by reachout; 10-07-2011 at 01:31 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to reachout For This Useful Post: Spaz50 (10-07-2011)
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
It's weird how we're so alike. I too worked in manufacturing...shift work to boot, and had bad back problems. I was in my 30's and never touched drugs or drank. After a car wreck and some ruptured discs, the Dr. put me on hydros. It did wonders, at first. I took it every day b/c I hurt every day. Plus, I had all this energy and was in a good mood. Problem is, you will build up a tolerance AND become physically addicted after one year, period. I didn't know this and thought all was ok b/c it's from my Dr.! Long story short, I started taking more...first a half a pill extra, then 2, then it got crazy. After 18 mos., I was hooked. The withdrawls were horrible...literally hung myself b/c they were so bad and the local rehab place gave me meds that did nothing. So I went online (this is in 2004), found out about Suboxone, and spent a month in a rehab place out of town. I suffered NO w/drawls, and the medicine is a pain-killer too. Also a sabotage medicine is in it, so if you try to take any opiates while on it, it'll send you into withdrawls! Since I'm from a small city in TX, I had to drive 200 miles every month to continue to get Suboxone. I had to do this until this last year! Finally, there's a Dr. here where I live. Gee, it only took 6 years. The good news for you is that it's available at a private Dr.'s office, you don't have to go to rehab (that was just my choice), and after he evaluates you, you usually can leave with a prescription and go get it filled at a pharmacy. You won't have to take off from work, won't have to suffer w/drawls, and the thing I learned is that ironically the more you take painkillers, the less your body makes it's own. So when I quit the opiates, after a while my pain went way down naturally. My work did random drug tests, and Suboxone does not show up on a regular test, so that helps too. Switching will also probably help your poor liver, b/c Suboxone is melted under the tongue and into the bloodstream, and your body doesn't have to process a bunch of acetaminophen. Say bye-bye to nausea too. Wherever you live, there is a list of Dr.s who prescribe it, and I'm sure you can contact the maker, but I can't tell you how b/c the Admin. said so a long time ago. But they have a toll free number and I'm sure a website. They'll help you find a Dr. Most require a drug test at first, and some random ones occasionally just to be sure. They have to I think. Even though I have 7 herniated discs (5 in my neck, 2 in my back, inoperable), believe it or not, all I take now is a fourth of a pill and an anti-inflammatory. Also, my chiropractor is my hero. I get horrible spasms and migraines sometimes, and he fixes me right up. As for all these ppl. thinking changing to Suboxone is just going from one addiction to another, well, that's b/s. One is a never-ending nightmare where you are a slave and even weaning off is almost impossible, the other (Suboxone) is the cure and yes, you can easily wean off. After 5 yrs. on it for intractable pain, my Dr. asked me to, and when I did, he graduated me to Subutex. I do understand where you are. I've been there, and thank God for Suboxone, I'm OK today. I'm back to my normal self, and so what if I take 2mg. 2 times a day? I consider myself clean now. The pills don't give me any "high", and it truly is just for pain. The bare minimum now. (When I first started, I did take the full 8mg twice daily). This is the answer that will just be between you and your Dr. and will not interfere w/your work and you can get off the nightmare ride that is opiate addiction. In a way, becoming a "drug addict" helped me...I'm so much more sympathetic and understanding. My prayers are with you, and I hope this advice helps.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
You've always ALWAYS inspired me Ms Reach. Yes I'm still here, omg he's still here. I just wanted to say hi and I'll come back real soon to hopefully provide something that might be of value add. I'm or I use to be good giving a lil advice on tapering or just the positive side... Yep one of the old old people is back. I'm doing well and I'm managing the pain and the MS life has now thrown on top of my other fun stuff. Be good I'll provide more after my afternoon nap ha
The following user gives a hug of support to Philster2003: reachout (10-08-2011)
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
I would say thousands are helped, just as I have been, by Reach and all the others here.
I have tried for a year to stop the pain meds but had no idea how, Had no idea what
To expect. Not until a month ago when I posted the first time. Had made a tentative, half
Decision to begin tapering. Now, a lttle over a month later I have gone from 100 'mgs
of pain meds a day to none in 3 weeks today. Only with the help and guidance by our friends here would I have known how and more importantly gotten through the very difficult 3 weeks. The negative effects of the meds are falling away daily. Colon is working again. I had become numb, not impotent, but actually lost 80% feeling, sensation sexually.
That is back to almost back to normal. My wife thought it was her for yrs. Thought I had lost interest. When you are numb almost, it doesn't matter how interested you are. The fog is lifting, the fatigue is lessening day by day. So, I thank God first, as I have prayed for yrs to get the strength to stop, and I thank all here that have supported me. I am off pills and have no cravings. All within about a month. This, writing everyday, has helped me but more than that I wrote daily to help the next person that,like me has made decision, but has no idea what to do or how. Not all will be able to do without help from a Dr. As I have. We are all diffrent, physically aand mental strength. How you do it is not important. You can have your life back, your passion. I will but not quite there yet.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: Spaz50 reachout (10-08-2011), second go (10-08-2011)
The Following User Says Thank You to Spaz50 For This Useful Post: reachout (10-08-2011)
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
Hi
Yes, your story will help so many! It amazes me how quickly we bond as caring friends to one another on the board. People who will never meet in real life, but, never-the-less,have such an ongoing connection. I have shared things here that I have shared nowhere else, and it felt safe and right to do so. Whatever else might be said about adddicts, we are a caring, compassionate group of people. Maybe it is the struggles that we endure that help mold us into that? Whatever it is, it is real and I feel it whenever I come here.
Spaz, part of what I delight in is watching as you reclaim your life. You sure are more light-hearted than when we first met! Chuckles. As we rediscover what it feels like to participate in life again, it really is an awakening. Under the haze of drugs, life just doesn't seem too important and along the way we forget that we ever really enjoyed it. Then, slowly, we start to wake up again and start to grasp again that there is hope still, that we do want to be participants again and that it is all possible.
I was so sacred when I started tapering. I truly thought at times that I was going to die trying. It became a challenge to me, almost an exciting thing, to conquer each withdrawal symptom. When I was able to turn 'withdrawal' symptoms' into 'healing symptoms' in my mind, I turned a corner and the fear turned into hope.
Hope... that is what I see in you now. You are being restored. Awesome, Buddy, just awesome. Please continue to share with us here. I look forward to your posts.
Re: Time to quit pain meds but how to deal with pain without
No drastic changes since last post. I think this will be the last post. Will check in in case someone has a question. Will mention a couple surprises.
I have had a hietal hernia since I was 18, and for the past couple years I haven't had the need for meds for reflux. Always had constant heart burn before.
Well, that seems to be back. Not sure if the pain meds reduced the stomach acids or just nuimbed the pain of reflux etc. Surely its the acid levels . May well be part of the digestive issues associated with oxycodone,contin. Digestion not possible with acid levels reduced? Just a thought. Other than that I think its all positive. Pain levels are not bad at all most of time. Depends on what I do. Definately not bad enough to warrant pain management and meds. Way to many side effects to take for minor pain. Even severe pain I would figure something else out. I have slept well several nights straight . Stomach is ok, and head hurts like it always does. lol Response I get is a head like that ought to hurt. I disagree ! Bye for now. Thanks to all !!!!!!
The following user gives a hug of support to Spaz50: reachout (10-11-2011)
