Vicodin W/D & Addiction. HELP

alice06 · 10-01-2006, 12:11 PM

My problem first started when i gave birth to my son 9 months ago. I had some health issues after his birth, and ended up being a bad case of gallstones and turning into something alot more serious like pancreatitis. Point is i was in the hospital for a month, and super hooked on demerol. i would ask for it every 3 hours. knowing i had to wait 4. But my pain was so unimaginable that i couldnt bare the thought of having to go through it another minute. So after leaving the hospital, i had some moderate pain when i would eat , so they put in a feeding tube (which really , REALLY, sucked) and lessened the pain. They prescribed me the usual. Vicodin 5/500. and i slowly but surely started feeling its effects. and i got really hooked. So i went from taking maybe 3 or 4 , to taking 6-7 a day , i kept going in and out of e.r's JUST for the painkillers. In my mind i knew i had a problem, simply because my pain wasnt THAT bad. and i knew a tylenol or advil would help but i just couldnt stop. So i went to a G/I doc for my gallbladder removal and she refused to give me any type of narcotic. I left a little furious because i knew she saw right through my lies. So she refered me to another g/i doc and once again complained to him about my so called "pain" , so he gave in and prescribed me 60 + 1 refill , 10/500 tabs. which was double the dosage as before. It was pretty sad that a bottle of pills could make me so happy. When in reality it was my biggest downfall. I never saw it coming. I tried going cold turkey for a week. But ended up faking another pain for some more vicodin.

I see now that it has taken an effect on my personal life. i would take them secretly, count them to see if i had enough for the week, constantly think about what time i would take them, and stress and cry if i see i would be running out. Most normal 20 year olds go out have fun with friends , go to college , and work a average job. I had nothing, I would just stay home and make excuses not to go out just to take more pills. I hated myself and i hated how i felt.

Im on my 4th day with NO vicodin. I feel like complete crap. I had been taken the 10mg 3 times a day for about 6 months. So im wondering whats next? What can i do to get at least ONE NIGHT of good sleep, My legs for some reason are really sore and i feel like a ghost just mopeing around the house. Its not as bad as i thought it was, but i just cant seem to cheer up? What can i expect for the next following weeks/months? I just want to MOVE on with my life and not let this ugly addiction ruin my life & family.

Any suggestions on eating habits? or what worked best for w/d symptoms and NO sleep? any advice, stories, or help, would be of tremendous help.
Its good to feel im not alone anymore.

God bless

InRecovery07 · 10-01-2006, 01:28 PM

Hi Alice,

DON'T give up! 4 days clean and you are almost there hun. You will feel your spirit brighten, I'd say, by tomorrow or tomorrow night most likely. Everyone is different, but you have got to be very VERY close to finally feeling good again. Read my story...I know just what you are going through. Believe me I do! I too would exaggerate a pain or illness to get more pills from thre Dr. and when that stopped working, (most docs in town know me) I'd buy them off the street for ridiculous prices.

I know you prob don't feel like eating, but you need to eat a little something to feel better. Immodium for the runs, a multi-vitamin...and I also took Unisom sleep gels to be able to sleep. Hang in there hun...you WILL begin to feel better very soon....JUST DON'T TAKE THAT FIRST PILL!!! Run from them as if they are the Devil. THEY ARE.

God speed to you. M

kim4074 · 10-01-2006, 01:47 PM

Also for the legs mine were terrible hot baths would help right before bed or whenever also I would rub some icy hot or bengay on them yes you will stink from it but at least it is some relief yes unisom for sleep works good or some melatonin all over the counter. I know how you feel but it will soon pass. Try some soup for food you will feel better soon. Kim

RestlessInTexas · 10-01-2006, 05:31 PM

if you could get vicodin from docs, then its just as easy to get Klonopin(Clonazepam) which is a very weak benzo & for me, non-addictive....they worked wonders on my 3rd time in recovery & although i have to take Dilantin for the rest of my life for all the seizures ive had due to my prescription drug use, i feel a million times better & have been clean for going on 5 months....

Librium works great too, its a benzo also, but , as with the Klonopin, gave me no high what-so-ever....alot of people may look down to doing it this way, but for me to cut cold turkey wouldve definitely given me another seizure....and i'd watch out for the sleeping medications, cuz they do carry a sort of mental dependency....Seroquel worked the best for me....

but if youre already 4 days strong, keep on doing it the way you are, i wish i wouldve had the mental & physical capacity to do it on my own....GOOD LUCK!

kim4074 · 10-01-2006, 05:51 PM

I believe that all benzos are highly addictive and even harder to get off of than the vicodn the w/d's can take up to several months just to feel better. Also you shouldnt stop taking a benzo cold turkey most people have to be weaned off of them due to siezures and other horrible things. SO some wouldnt recommend using a benzo they are also controlled substances and should be monitored closely. Good luck you can do it. Kim