Hi, I'm so glad I found this board, and hope this is the start of the end of my addiction. I have been using opiates daily for the past year, anything I could get, oxy's, oxycodone, percs, etc., and have just admitted to my husband yesteday that I have a problem. I called my insurance company today to see about starting an outpatient program, and the facility they referred me to said I would need to go through detox first. It has only been about 8 hours since I used anything, so I know I am no where near going through the painful withdrawal symptoms I've heard/read about. Is it really that dangerous to go through the withdrawal on my own? My husband wants me to go to detox, but I don't know what to do? I probably use between 100 to 200 mg daily. I have twelve 10mg methodone pills, and was going to try and use those to ween myself, or should I just quit cold turkey, and flush the pills? Or should I go through detox. Anyone with my similar history go through detox on their own? Any replies would be greatly appreciated. I no longer want to be a prisoner to opiates.
wannabeclean (kim)

Hi....first of all Congratulations and Welcome!!! : )

Secondly....I would go to your doctor if you're planning on getting off the pills. Your doctor will be able to guide in the right direction and also give you something that will ease the withdrawals. I'm not sure about the Methadone's but making an appointment right away to see your doctor should be your first step.

As you've seen on these boards the first 1-3 days are the hardest. My hardest day was the second full day of being clean. The first 1-3 days you should plan on staying home, resting, sleeping if you can, getting plenty of fluids.

Good luck and we are proud of you for admitting your problem and looking for help. Call your doctor immediately, you'll be happy you did!

Wow basically going thru the same thing I am. welcome, i just joined yesterday...this place is pretty hot tho. i think you should use those methadone pills to get yourself off, gradually...take them when needed, only when in pain... if u relapse and take like 4 or 6, etc. then damn. everyone falls into that, doesnt mean you're weak... keep your head up, say **** it... and get back on track. its really important to try... you did a lot so far, came out, spoke about it...etc. im glad u have someone by your side and this site is def. here to help. no one can do it on their own, trust me, its extremely hard. and if they can, and dont go back, id call them Superman to their face.

the withdrawl from OC's is extremely painful, more so then the others, but all in the same boat and different for everyone. how long have you been on these opiates? percs is easier and methadone gets harder, etc. but helps a lot of people out in the long run. i dont mean, like... used OC for the first time, but daily...or in routine etc?

we can all get thru this, all we need is the proper support and confidence in ourselves. im also getting off of Oxycontin. have been clean a few days, using Dr. prescription to Vicodin (7.5mg) suppost to take 1 AM and 1 PM but its NOT enough. i take 2 AM and 2 PM atleast... im gradually getting off of them and taking less and less everyday so I can be clean in about 10 days, I am hoping. It's hard...staying off, withdrawls, everyday life, people around us, things we used to/want to do and so on... we gotta realize, we messed up and we gotta get back up and into the regular life--not being addicted and controlled" as you said, by opiates.

i think you should try it yourself before you spend a few days, or weeks in a detox. ive never been there, but recently (Thurs/Fri) told my mother/sister and doctor, along with doing something about it..now im trying to get off and succeed. my classes start tmw and i dont know how im going to go thru till the begining of next week--hopefully--and then be good. remember: it will only be 3-4 days, then few hard days, but not much pain... id say a week or so and then you're fine!

i do a lot of different ish, lately have just been sittin back and opiat'ing around, until now... its never too late to do something. a year, 2, 3, 10, people everyday try to get off of habbits and addictions they have. we're no different. the same bond you feel with drug users and friends, you gotta feel with people who are quitting--in a nutshell it's the same. theres too much stuff going on around us that we should/could/and used to be a part of. we need to get back into everything, things that we enjoy doing and always keep everything along with ourselves under control. so, with that said...

Goodluck, Be safe...and...holla back.

If you were only taking opiates then it is really not dangerous to detox on your own. Although the docs at detox places can give you meds to help you through it. That was the reason I always checked in. Can we say drug addict? Lol. But really they did help. I have done it both ways. At home and rehab detox centers. Honestly I found that adding a little to help ween myself down only postponed the inebidable. You have only been on a year so it should not take all that long. Flush the methadone. That is the true poison. I came off 200mg cold turkey. That hurt. If you can take one pill before bed it might help. If you are anything like me I would never be able to do that. Just bite the bullet and get it over with. When it is over it is over if you do not choose to pick up again. You will live. It is just like a bad flew for a week or so. Take hot baths and try to drink a lot of liquids. Try to gather some energy to get a little exersize cuz that will help muscle pains. If you can't do it check in somewhere. Good luck. It gets dangerous if you were detoxing on your own from alcohol or benzo's too. Any tranqalizers are dangerous too. Opiates are not really dangerous unless you have a heart condition or were mixing. They feel like death at times but they are not.

Thank you both for replying. lmwxoxo, I just called my doctor, and had to leave a message for the nurse to call me back. I hope they don't treat me like **** and just direct me to the facility my insurance company did, the one that insists I go to detox. Waiting for a call back, and will have to see.

Gangster, I literally cried my eyes out (for the hundredth time since yesterday when I admitted my problem to my husband) when I read your post. How can I not get off these stupid pills with you, and all these other people, doing it! :angel: You asked how long I have been using....too long. I did them here and there before I got pregnant and was able to stay away from them while I was pregnant, but after my beautiful baby girl was born, by CS, I was given tons of percs., and got completely hooked, and when those were gone, I was back to buying oc's and other opiates on the street. I have been using opiates everyday for about a year. My daugther will be one year old on thursday, 1/20, and I want so much to be a good mom. When I am on something, I have tons of energy, and feel like I can keep up with "life" in general. I want nothing more than to be normal. I am terrified to think I am going to be too sick to celebrate my daughter's b-day, we are planning on celebrating on Sunday. And then I need to be functional to take her to her one year check up on Tuesday. I've been reading up on posts and see where some have gotten through this, even made it to work while going through the withdrawal! I only hope I can do the same. How are you doing, otherwise, with no oc's for a few days? Is your tapered vicodin helping with withdrawals? I'm sending opiate free withdrawal vibes your way to get you through tomorrow, and next week. Thanks again for replying, and I will definitely keep you posted, and please do the same! :)

Thanks for replying jessy28. I know what you mean about "drug addict!" I almost had myself convinced to go to the local meth clinic, which I'm sure helps some people, but with me it would only be trading one poison for another. I know that in my heart I would just be going to get high, and just want to be done with it. I really appreciate your advice, and hope I have enough energy to play with my little girl as well as exercise. I did have some slight symptoms a couple months ago, when I couldn't find anything. I started getting chills and felt like I wanted to chop off my legs, but it only lasted a few hours, and I ended up getting something. I couldn't imagine exercising then, but will try and push myself to this time.
Thanks again!

I would strongly advise of taking a few days off of work for the first 1-3 days of w/d's and also seeing if someone can help out with your daughter. The first three days are the worst and hardest to get through. Good decision on making the call to the doctor. Don't let them just refer you to some clinic...tell them you have a family and that you can't got away to detox that you need something to help with the withdrawals. Ask for the clonidine patch and also something to help you sleep. You'll also want to take something for diarreah. Good Luck...don't forget to keep us posted!!!! I'll be thinking about you. How many pills do you have left to take or do you have any?

lmwxoxo....well, my doc office called me back and I told the nurse I was addicted to opiates and wanted to get off of them and going to detox just wasn't an option. She got me in today at 5:00....I hope this is a step in the right direction! Thank you for pointing me there! BTW, I have 12 meth pills left, and still am contemplating flushing those. I guess I'll decide after I see the doc. I

Good to hear that you'll get in to see the doc today. Be honest with them....they will give you stuff to help you. I wouldn't encourage using the meth pills either. Be sure to post more about what happens today at the doctors. Hang in there...YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!

Hi wannabe thanks so much for posting. It's the first step in your journey. It was for me. I posted a week or 2 before I had the courage to stop. I picked up the phone and got lucky connecting with an addiction councelor who is so good he lets me call him whenever I need to and I have my first face to face meeting with him tonight..


You really can do this on your own. If I caught you in time I would have suggested doing it on your own and to get yourself to a narcotics anonymous meeting ASAP. You'd be amazied at how helpful it is.

I was on a 50mg norco habit and I stopped cold turkey on Sunday. My WD hasn't been that horrible but it's no walk in tha park either. You can make it much better for yourself by not forcing yourself to stop. Get your dosage down the least amount needed for a few days and spread them out, break the pills in half and spread them throughout the day. Then choose a day that you decide to stop alltogether when it's good for you. There's no need to punish yourself for this. Just do it for yourself. It can be done trust me I am doing it and am already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Again get to a NA meeting right away you'll meet ppl going throught he same thing and you'll be greeted with applause and hugs and after the meeting you'll get help and literature to help your recovery. It's fascinating and a spiritual journey.

My thoughts are with you. Keep posting and don't beat yourself up over this.

Mike

If you can't do it at home then defiitely get a detox/rehab to help you. Many cannot do it alone. Detox/rehab is nothing to be ashamed of.

Hello, & welcome! You are going to find "your way" to get through this! You are already thinking about your child, calling your Dr. (fantastic!) & your constant focus on recovery is leading you in a very positive direction. We are ALL so different! Rehab, CT, etc. My "so far, so good" method of choice is a taper off Vicodin plan. It is NOT for everybody, but then - what is? It is constant adjustments to less Vicodin, with chronic back pain, sometimes pretty intense, and a taper plan demands total dedication & strict adherence to a very structured, very slow recovery. In your situation, (pain not an issue?) I would think you have several options. Every post re: a different method, can be researched & hopefully, something will just click! I NEVER state "don't try this/that" because "this/that" could be YOUR best choice!! - I think we know ourselves much better than we sometimes believe. You were going to see your Dr. - how did it go? I'm rooting for you, & I just have a gut feeling that you WILL find "your way!" - Pl. post your progress. Best wishes, Den

Wannabeclean,
I hear ya with the exersize thing. The only one time I ever did exersize out of like twenty w/d's was because this lady at a recovery house made me. She forced me and I hated her for it and thought I could never do it but afterwards I thanked her. The thing about methadone is exactly what you said. I have a million friends that went on it too. Some are still on it. For me it helped me maintain my life for a brief time. I did not have to spend a bunch of energy everyday on getting my stuff and the methadone made me content everyday. The thing about that is you eventually have to quit that too ,so you are just postponing the enebadable. And the thing about methadone is your with drawl can get winged down so you don't feel the w/d but you will jonse really bad and just not feel right for a very long time afterwards. And once you want off you can't just stop. You have to let them take you down. And it is way stronger than anything you can get your hands on. That stuff is like 150 proof. Good luck. I am having a baby in May and I can't imagine trying to handle all of that with a baby.

Hi jessy28. congratulations on your baby! What day in May are you due? My b-day is 5/28 btw :D Is this your first? How wonderful for you. a baby is truly a blessing from above! I want another baby, too, as soon as I get this addiction of mine kicked...AND I WILL. I decided to go the suboxone route, and so far so good. I know, I am putting of the uninvetible, but it is what is best for me now, I truly feel that. I am going to try and stay on as low as mg as possible, and taper down. I'm going to see my dr again on 2/8, and hopefully decide when I might want to start to attempt a taper, but for now, I'm just enjoying my baby girl and my dh, without being clouded by "OMG..I'm gonna be outta pills in a couple days...or, I can't make plans to do (whatever) I won't have any pills and I'll feel like crap, etc. The freedom from the pills I use to scheme for is what I'm enjoying right now, and when the time is right, I will make that final jump....who knows, maybe I'll feel like exercising :eek: ....thanks for replying...I don't know too much about your history/addiction, but I will definitely be going go back and reading some previous posts. Now that I am not so self-absorbed with my "problem", I would love to get to know you, and a lot of the other wonderful people around here. Having a one year old making it hard to get out much, this board has been a godsend to me. Talk to you soon, I hope...

You got on suboxone???? Wonderful news!! Isn't it a great feeling to not have to worry about the weekend, not having enough pills to do this or that>?
How are you feeling today??? Sub. has been a life-saver for so many on this board. I am so happy for you!!!! Way to go!!!
Hang in there and keep me posted on your progress :)
luv,
LISA

Sub was not around when I got clean. I have actually heard good things about it. It has to be better than methadone. I am due on May 7th. It is our first. My husband and I are both ex-dope heads. How the powers on this earth brought us both to the point of being clean at the same time I have no idea. All I care about is we are here. We were both on heavy opiads for around five years. Whatever kind worked and kept us well for the day is what we used. We were both on a lot of methadone. I actually met him at the methadone clinic. I know that is wacked. We did a lot of heroin. I lived in Kentucky and did a lot of pills cuz there was no heroin. I have heard good things about sub and depending on the person do what ever works. The only thing is some things only work temporarily. But maybe you need some releif now and you will do the rest later. Enjoy your baby.

jessy28...congratulations, again. I'm sure you've heard this again and again, that a child changes your entire life. My daughter did exactly that, but also changed the way I think of life. There is no way to describe the feeling you and your dh are going feel when you first look at your baby....it is the most wonderous, joyous, beautiful feeling I've ever felt, and I feel it everytime I look at my daughter...you are so blessed... :angel:

I know I have so many other issues to deal with, but, yeah, right now I'm just enjoying life again, without the "street" opiates. I, too, would just take whatever I could get to get me through a day. It is an awful way to wake up everyday, and I don't miss it one bit. If you don't mind my asking, how long were you on the methodone, and how was it when you quit, did you taper? That's wonderful that you and your dh found eachother and got through it together. Hope you keep in touch...
kim

Wannabeclean,
You make me tear up just thinking about seeing our baby for the first time. I am so excited and scared at the same time. I am more excited and totally ready for yet another huge change that will come with the baby. I was on methadone twice. Once I was on 80 mg for like 9 months and I walked off the clinic. I did a lot of dope to do that. I was doing a lot of strong stuff and only maintaning. I have no idea what it is like to taper because i never did. I know that I tried to detox in a detox center a month later and left a day later when the pain kicked in. I decided to taper myself. I actually did somehow. Then I was on 200mg for over a year and a half. I landed in jail where they did not give me methadone or anything. You really don't want to know what that felt like. I thought I was dying. It hurt bad! It hurt bad and for a very exteded period of time. At the end of the physical w/d's it felt like I had been in a car accident and then had to relearn everyday things all over again. I slept for like 4 months straight and still felt not right. I do know people that tapered and it was not bad for them. The thing I gathered was the most important for them was patience. I felt the same as you. Relief from having to wake up every day and put my energy into keeping well. That was huge for me. You just get so drained from all that. With methadone or sub you don't have to worry about it for a while and can take a brake from your daily worries. I loved it. I did not love the way I felt like I was going to have to be on it for ever and could not stop anytime I wanted to. I did not like my detox. Good luck. Take a rest and worry about it later. Don't be in too much of a hurry.