OH NO!!...HERE I GO!..the wd's - Pain Management Message Board

painintheneck2 · 07-12-2003, 01:54 PM

Withdrawels have already started and I can't get a refill until the 22nd.

I went through my prescription (lortab10 @ 4per day) in two and half weeks...shoulda lasted me a month. I've got one left and I'm not looking forward to whats coming.

Before you all start admonishing me, I know what I did was stupid. I self medicated, I took too many, I took more than was prescribed....shame on me....I knew better!

Now here I am, been here before and it still sucks!

I know that my body built up a tolerance to them, which is why I took more than allotted me. The smart thing to do would have been to go to my doc and explain this, but hell, I feel lucky just being able to get what I'm getting....don't want to push it, if you know what I mean.

Sooooooooo, any advice on how to deal or if I should talk to my doc about what I've so shamelessly done, would be helpful!

Thanks for your support!

------------------
:gabby: Wendee

~head on collision in 1999 (car totaled)
~badly sprained ankle, bruised chest cavity, whiplash
~month later, recovered
~month and one week later, couldn't move neck LOTS of pain and crying. Tingling in right index and middle finger. Pain down right arm, pain always in neck and in upper back between shoulder blades (burning). Legs also hurt at times.
~went to various docs, prescribed muscle relax. and pain meds on and off whenever I got a "flare up".
~found my doc 1 year ago, prescribed lortab. insurance wouldn't cover preexistin cond till 6 months lapsed
~doc said "you are having muscle spasms and will prob be on pain killers the rest of your life"
~later, doc started to question my pain
~told him to schedule MRI
~MRI showed herniated disk, bulging on right side at C5 & C6
~kept me on pain meds and referred me to a wonderful chiro.
~now seeing chiro and taking pain meds
~next step is epidural shot if chiro doesn't work.
~I'm a work at home mom with 3 kids. I need my pain meds now just to function as a "normal" active person.

littlelulu1937 · 07-12-2003, 02:46 PM

Hate to sound like a broken record on this, but please look into "trigger point massage therapy" for pain. There are two books that I know of for the layperson out there that tell you exactly where your muscle pain/spasms are likely emanating from & where you (yes,you, not a massage therapist or a chiropracter) can do massage daily for pain relief. It's really not hard. I get rid of my occasional lower backaches very quickly since I now know HOW to do it. It can really put you in control if you stick to the program.

Pippin31 · 07-12-2003, 03:26 PM

First and foremost, I one hundred percent believe in chiropractors!
Secondly...TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION....
Withdraw will feel like the flew for up to 8 days, but I am sure you already know that. I have read that taking Immodium AD helps with withdraw symptoms because it helps with diarrhea and it has a mild opiate in it. That is what I have read, I don’t know for sure. If you can get through the weekend....one more day to go....then I would call your doctor and tell him your are out. Tell him you ran out when you call (Monday), that way it looks as though you have stretched your meds out at least 2-3 more days then you really did.
I know, I am sure I will see a comment made about that, but we have all finished early once in our lives and had to resort to a little white lie. It’s not that we are seeking drugs, but as we all know, we have one or two unbearable days (or even weeks) in any given month and do what we have to do to keep us from losing our minds!!!
When you do speak to your doctor about being out, tell him you are really struggling with your medication and it just doesn’t seem to be effective with pain relief. Maybe he will prescribe you something long lasting (12 hour) that would be of some benefit.
I know you will make it through the weekend...like I said it’s just one more day...But I know you are going to feel like hell. That’s just the facts. We are here for you should you need to vent or need support to get through this next day or two.
Good luck.

painintheneck2 · 07-12-2003, 03:36 PM

Pippin: Hi. Thank you for your kind response. I will try the immodium, but not sure if I will call my doc. I feel embarrassed about it and I'm afraid my doc will cut me off completely if he knows I am out already. I've been honest with him in the past and he's been great about it.Even upped my dosage from 7.5 to 10's, then from 3 a day to 4 per day. I ran out once when I had the 7.5's and his nurse told me "well, you should have been more careful with your medication" and ever since that reprimand, I've been scared to push anything with them. But your right, they weren't working for me like before and I was having to take more to have any pain relief. I even looked into getting them online, but smartely decided against that.

I guess if I feel bad enough on Monday (and I will) then my husband will convince me to call me doc and explain things. Ugh! I hate this!

Thanks for your post, I appreciate your kindness and advice.

Soleil11 · 07-12-2003, 07:30 PM

After reading this, sounds to me like you need to ask if they can switch you to something that is a patch so you have continuous medication. I do not have that, but in reading this, sounds like oral pills aren't effective enough. It is just a thought.. Soleil