Going to in-house detox in a few days and don't know what to expect!!! Help!

[InRecovery04]

I have been on here beofre, and asked questions, and even tried to detox on my own...but I'm finally going to do something about my addiction to pain pills. I broke down and told my husband the other night of about three years of secretly taking them and how I'd gone so far downhill. It all makes sense to him now and he is SO supportive...I just cried my heart out to him...and he listened and held me while I cried. I need to know what these detox centers are like.

The lady I talked to on the phone today told me it would be about a 7 day thing...another told me about 3-4 days. What meds do they give you? What is it like in there? Do you have any privacy and get good support? I am so scared...crying right now but I feel like a ten-ton weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My husband knows, supports me, and I'm so tired of being a prisoner to these stupid pills. He really understands what I am going through because 17 years ago, he was addicted to crack and has been clean ever since he went to treatment way back then (we were dating then). My problem all started with several surgeries and now...well...you know. Plus, a bad back.

Please, any advice will help me a lot. I need to know what to expect when I go in...I didn't ask the lady on the phone for a lot of details but thank God I have good insurance. All I have to do is walk right in and I'm assessed, and placed in treatment. NO methadone... I DO NOT want to trade one addiction for another. I WANT TO BE FREE!!!

Hugs,
MM

[broker1]

It's ok, ......really, just put yourself in thier hands and do what they say, they have your best intrest at heart

[OxYmOrOnAGAIN]

Hey recovery...I do have some advice for you. Last year I checked into a detox. Is your a medical or non medical detox, that really depends on how things go. If you are in a non medical enviroment, you will be required to bring your own meds, like immodium, and anything, that your doctor gives you like, clonidine, for example, would be worth looking into. Clondine, is the only reason i made it through. It lowers your blood pressure, and acts as a hyper-antitensive.

As far as the detox places go, its like this. I was lucky enough at the one i went to, to have my own room. That was great, because i was really hurtin.......but, the staff were very supportive, and I was free to roam around and eat when ever i wanted, and have a smoke. Most of the people in this detox were there for cocaine, and alcohol and they all seemed to be able to eat together, and all that, not me. I was required to be there for 72 hours, and I left right after that, and I was clean for 3.5 months. In reflection, I would say that when I detox again , i will do it at home, just because i will be more comfortable. I hated the bed. I didnt like the smell. But , it was my first time detoxing like that, and i wanted medical help if i needed it. That was a non medical, detox so, i had to bring my own meds, and they gave them to me exactly like, the script said.

If you go to a medical detox, they will administer narcotics to you like, valuim manly, 10mls, every 4 hours, and they will give you stuff to help you sleep etc. etc. I would recommend this type of detox, however, there are usally, wait lists.

But, another good thing about them, is that, they will pretty much convince you to stay, so in those first few vital days, when we can relasp easily.

Often since, i have relapsed, i think alot about that detox, and I can smell it everytime, i try to detox myself at home...its crazy...I hope that helps..

[OxYmOrOnAGAIN]

One more thing.....If you do make it to the other side, it sounds like its your first time around, you will not believe the feeling and life you will have back. It will feel like you have been dead, for the duration of your addiction, and you wake up feeling refreshed as hell, and ready to rock.

The timeline is something like this.

days 1-5 really rough, achy legs, sweats, uncomfortable as all hell, fidgety, and lots of anxiety(get something, for the anxiety, and you will be much better off)

days 5-10. things start to look up, and around day 6 you start to get pink clouds, and you start to feel like, this is going to be ok, and around day 10, you shoudl feel normal, and better, and slowy, day by day, you come around, its a miracle, really. Its unreal. I noted that around day 21, all was good, and sleep was back to normal, and i felt great. I have no idea how i let myself relapse, but I am on day 1 of my home detox, and roughing it out....

Good luck.....

[InRecovery04]

Oxymoronagain:

Thanks for your input! This IS a medical facility...they will be slowly weaning me down and giving me meds as I need them, plus monitoring my blood pressure, etc. I have WD myself before and I KNOW that wonderful feeling of freedom....coming out on the other side and all. And, I went back to the pills. No more....never again. Once this is over, I will STAY free.