Well I can not believe it has been so long since I posted last- I apologize for that.

I wish I was able to report my taper is complete but I have been pretty much stuck on the same dose for close to 2 months now- I had a set back the first week of May (minor surgery) and my doctor felt it would be better for me to maintain on this dose for at least another month if I insisted on continuing with the taper. I go back next week and I fully expect to start up the taper again. I also must report that I have since started an anti-depressant that is prescribed for anxiety because even though I have always had a minor issue with anxiety, when I began the taper from oxycodone my anxiety shot through the roof and continued to be a major issue for me. Anxiety has always been something that brings me to my knees and it really was beginning to get out of control. I can happily report that the med is working wonders for me and I have not suffered any type of anxiety/panic in weeks now. In fact I can report that even though I had this hiccup with the taper, I have not felt this good in quite some time- I am more positive than ever and mentally, feel amazing. We shall see what impact the taper makes next week, but I really feel positive about it. My doctor would like to convince me that I need to remain on this dose but I don't want to and have been searching/trying different things to assist with managing my pain like exercise/activity, massage therapy, vitamins/minerals, diet, relaxation/meditation, etc.

I just don't like opiates and the person they made me become- lazy, emotionless (is that a word?), uncaring, unhappy, overweight/unhealthy, the list is really endless for me (I actually think they made my somewhat "normal" anxiety worse- I know that is an oxymoron but the truth). So hopefully all will go well once I resume the taper. I don't want anyone to think I am kidding myself because I do realize there will be some discomfort and it will not be easy (that is a word that should never be associated with withdrawing from any substance no matter the method) but I think the difference for me now is my mental wellness- I am in such a better place now than I was even a few weeks ago and I feel totally ready to pick up where I left off and work very hard at reaching my goal, no matter the price (read- uncomfortable consequences). So that is my update. I hope this post finds all my ole friends happy and in a good place in their recovery. I have missed you all- reach, harmony, jk, withdrawals, etc. I will do my best to keep checking in on a regular basis and post with updates. Take care all!
........and remember,
Always stay strong and be positive (much easier for me to say now),
Snoop :)

Hi Snoop,

Glad to hear how well you are doing! I hope all of us can get to that point. It's a long haul, but it can be done!...right?

Don't let the doc detour your plans for ridding yourself of the opiates for good! It sounds like you have a really good plan and a great head on your shoulders, so I bet if you keep that up you'll do just great!

Shay
:cool:

Hey Snoop..Glad to hear your ok. keep up the good work!

Hello!

"Snoopee-doo-bee-dooooooo
Lallalalalalalala...." (singing Frank Sinatra style via reach)

Hoping the surgery was successful.

Snoopee, for what it is worth to you, I believe you are handling the taper exactly right. In my estimation from experience now, the biggest key in tapering is not to up a dose once a cut is made. The time between cuts is not as important as the cut being made permanent. Actaully, in my own oxycodone taper, my cuts were finally established at every 10-14 days. At one point, however, the anxiety began to be such a constant that my doctor suggested maintaining the latest dose for three full weeks to give me time to regroup mentally and allow the anxiety to level off somewhat again. It is not a bad thing at all but rather a smart thing. We strive for final success at detoxing, and when we chose to taper for success we are opting not for speed, but consistency.

Because I followed this course, I understand exactly why you need to make a more prolonged pause before the next cut. The brak did, surely, give me the needed time to have the anxiety abate to a large degree before I tackled the next cut. Please, though, a word of caution. Do not get arrogant as you stabalize and think you can conquer the world by making the next cut too big or thinking you can just jump off like a superhero. I mean, you can just jump off, but, not only will all the time tyou have put in thus far have been for naught, but, in your own words about a particular word, it will not be 'easy.'

I am so very glad your mental state is stronger now. Again, I understand so well. I began the oxycodone taper in deep depresssion... horrible walk in life. But by the time I started tyhe Xanax taper, I was so much stronger mentally! The Xanax taper was no cakewalk, but I understood clearly what was happening every step of the way and it made such a difference! The biggest mistake I made in the Xanax taper was pushing the 'wobbling' of the last dose too fast. (Superhero complex?)... But it is a done deal now and everything in life is so much better again... so much better than it has ever been in many ways. Smiles.

From the berry patch
reach

HEY!

I just looked at the date from snopee's original post... it is 3 weeks old! Snoopee.. are you still with us??? I sure hope so. I wouldn't have wanted to waste my song on a ghost!

Oh, well, I am happy anyway to have read this... must have missed it along the way. Chuckles from a chucklehead here. Hahaha

Still singing my song and hoping to hear live and direct from Snoopee from the Land of Cyber Singing

reach