Hi everyone.

Like many people, I have been lurking for some time. I've always been amazed by the large number of people viewing a thread, but the small amount of people actually 'talking' on the thread. That shows me that there are so many of us who want help, but haven't gotten to the point of wanting to admit it. We'd rather read and listen to the few people who are actually able come out and talk about it on these threads.

anyhoo....I've gotten to the point where I'd like to introduce myself and work towards recovery. So here's my quick story and introduction...

I'm A 25 year old female. I was given painkillers in July 2002 for a neck injury (got drunk at the beach and decided to play in the waves, and got whiplash from being knocked down by the waves..yiikes!) and there began my saga. I went from taking 2 5/500 Vicodin a day, to (at the worst) being on a 50mcg duragesic patch, and taking 10-15 Norco (10/325 vicodin) a day. I am now trying to work down. I asked my doc last week to lower my patch to 25mcg, and am trying to take the Norco only as minimally as possible (about 8-10 a day) to keep my body out of withdrawals from lowering off the patch. Man, the withdrawals from stepping down from the 50 to 25 patch are unreal. Way worse than trying to come off a 10 a day Norco habit. Thats why if you are lurking reading this board, and are only taking 8-10 hydrocodones, PLEASE detox now.

I think the addiction started when I was working in social services, and realized what a stress relief they were. I was working in a group home, which was a house where 8 teenage girls lived...all of them came from broken homes, and were taken into custody of the court....many of their parents were in jail, or dead. Incredibly sad. I came home from work crying on a regular basis. I just couldn't fathom living in that environment. It was so institutional, and the exact opposite of feeling like a home. Especially around the holidays, it was almost too much to bear. Anyhow, I would pop a couple pills at work, and it helped me deal. I could talk to the girls without being on the brink of tears, and became a tireless worker. When I got off work, it would be 11PM, and I was so wired, I immediately had to have a couple more, along with some beer. So thats where it started getting out of hand. Good example for the kids, huh? As if they didn't already have to deal with drug addict parents, now their caretaker comes to work on pills. Needless to say, I had to quit.

Anyhow, just wanted to share my story, and begin talking to everyone.

You guys have all been an inspiration, and have helped me come out of the woodwork and start talking about this. Thanks!

TryingtoSmile,

Congratulations on recognizing there is a problem and taking the first steps to do something about it! I hope you can "nip this" now, before it gets worse. I ended up with a 25 a day habit and the withdrawals were horrible. I eventually turned to the subutex (if you have been lurking, surely you have read some about the "sub") and getting off of that is just as hard if not harder than the hydro's!

Do you have a "plan?" Are you going to continue to taper or eventually just go cold-turkey? My thoughts and prayers will certainly be with you and good luck on your decision- I definalety think it is a wise one!

Keep me posted and talk with you soon,
Michelle

Thanks for the welcome guys.

To answer the question about whether I have a plan to taper, or go cold turkey....I plan to taper. I know this is going to be extremely hard to do, but I am going to try. It was very hard to make the phone call to the doctor asking to lower my Duragesic dose from 50 to 25, because I knew there would be bad WD's. But I plan to stop the patch completely in about 3 weeks once my body gets used to the change. From there, I will taper off the Norco.

What I hate about these patches is that you can't slowly taper off them. The dosages are so significant, its not like you can go from 50 to 40 to 30, etc. Its 50, 25 and nothing. So at least I am half way to nothing! :)

Anyhow, you guys will be seeing me around. Thanks for listening!

Hello TryingToSmile
The hardest part is over now for you. Take courage and believe you can do this. You will never regret it.

I have heard, but I don't know for sure, If your going to taper for durgesic, you can place something over part of the patch, like plastic, then apply it, it doesent let it all in and you don't have to cut down the full 25mcg.
Just a thought,
Chronic pain board my be able to assist you.
Sam

I don't know anything about the patch, but my father in law has used it and he did cover part of it up while trying to come off of it (he had cancer...not abusing it). Good luck!

Again, great on taking that first step. Keep posting for support. We'll be here!
Michelle

Yep, I've heard the same thing about covering up half of the patch, but I think I'm going to just hit it hard and completely drop down. It will remind me why I am doing this when the week of feeling crappy happens! :) The hardest part is making the call to the doc, because as soon as I leave him the message telling him I no longer need the patch, there's no going back. And thats a good thing, although tough.

Well, I'll be hanging in there and checking back often.

Everyone have a good day!