Time to quit

[dsny]

When I finally decided I wanted to quit I had 15 hydro's and 20 norco's left,I was going to try and taper but...never happened.I went throught them in a day and while I could have easily got more,I resisited the urge.I made sure that after I was able to stand up again that I exercised lightly everyday and it helped alot.You really have to change the way you think about the pills to help you think about them in a negative way.I dont know if I would have told the dr about my addiction because you tend to get labeled once you do but,you can always request non-narcotic meds and the dr will be happy to give those to you.Once you do start going through w/d's its a real mental/physical challenge and you really have to try and push yourself and tell yourself that you WILL be ok and you dont need any of these pills to rule your life anymore!I can't tell you how many times I had to say that to myself when I started to get cravings really bad.Good Luck and my prayers are with you!

Stay Strong,
Ken

[chefob1]

i always have hated those friggin w/d's....they make ya feel like doggie doo doo...i hate the most the insommnia,diahrea,goose bump rushes,mental anquish of what to do to fix the problem....walking the floors at night...wailin your arms about...smashin your head...brain runnin amok every two seconds.....makes ya want to take some more pills....know what i mean?...aaaaarrrrgggghhh....the pain of addiction..........chef

[Twinlynn]

Aside from figuring out what to do with my body on w/ds--even when my brain does give me a glimpse of how good it will feel without the pills--I instinctively think "Oh, I can feel better--but--let's just enhance this good feeling with a pill!!!" This constant need to "up the ante." Aarrrghhh.

[lisaaahubb]

Imthatguy----------GO FOR IT!!!! I would go to your doctor and tell him that you WANT off of the pills and you would like to get some clonidine for the restlessness, bentyl for stomach issues, and maybe some Valium...and then ride the storm out on your couch. Your pain will be INTENSIFIED during w/d, but i really think that it is our disease raising pain levels to try to get us to take more. But once you get to about day3 or 4 you will see a whole different view on things. I used to just sit and obssess about pills, and how was i going to function w/4 kids and no pain killers, and you know what.....I am doing 100% better off of those dam things. They destroyed my mind and body and i am so glad to be rid of them. One week of discomfort is a small price to pay for feeling good for the rest of your life!!!! As for your surgery....i am sure that there are other alternative methods for pain relief...what if you were allergic to pain meds????????? They must have other alternatives for those allergic or addicted to pain meds. Work with your doctor, i am sure that he will help and it sounds like you have the perfect opportunity to do this NOW!!!! You will be so glad you did this, i promise!!!!
Hang in there for now, and do your best to taper w/what you have. Call you Doctor and see what happens...i will be anxious to hear how it all works out for you. I will help with advice any way i can.
Try to have a good day,
luv,
LISA

[Banker]

I've always been an advocate of being entirely honest with your doctor... but in this case, since you will need narcotics for your surgery, can you tell him you are dependant on them and not addicted and that you go into withdrawals when you try to get off of them? If you tell them you don't abuse them, then he would think differently. Then again, I've heard someone on here you used to work in a pharmacy say that even if you are an addict, A doctor cannot let you be in pain, especially after such painful surgery and that they WILL give you pain relief. The only thing you need to worry about there is getting back on them and getting hooked again. I really think you need to tell your doctor that you want to stop taking them because you DON'T WANT to get addicted and could he give you medicine to help with w/ds. Please think about it--- otherwise, no matter what, addicts always hav excuses. Even though yours are valid, there are always ways to work around them. Trust me, after your surgery while your on pain pills, you will have other excuses not to stop taking them. You really need help. Please talk to him.