hydrocodone addiction

[blueline]

Thanks Sugah, I appreciate your story. It's very inspirational.

I'm on day 80 this morning. I had a really bad night last night with my back. No sleep at all because of the pain. I think the weather change causes more pain than normal. My wife got up about 3:00am and rubbed my back for me for a while because she knew I wasn't sleeping and that I was hurting. She's a good woman and I am lucky to have her. I hope tonight will be better.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Blue

[Got It]

Blueline

Day 80 - YES !!!! Congratulations!!!

[xjunkie4u]

Blue, your a trooper, no pun intended and there should be something non-narcoric that can give you more relief. Chiropractic, pain block something? It's good you have the wife you do.

[blueline]

Thanks xjunkie, I can't do the Chiropractic thing because of the metal in my back, but I do go to a Chiropractor friend and he lets me lie on his roller-bed for a while about twice a week. It really helps me relax, at least for a little while.

(Actually, I'm not a trooper, I'm a city cop...I carry a bullet in my shirt pocket and everything)

[ccgirl]

Hey Blue, sorry you're not feeling well physically. You're doing great thougth.

I made it through day 60 (and 58, 59 and 61) with a horrible stomach virus I caught from my kids.

The week before, they were home with it and I have to tell you. Being home for a week, trapped in my house, really fed into my mental addiction. I kept thinking it would be so much easier to ride out the boredom with some pills, but I got through it. Whew!

[blueline]

Ccgirl, I know exactly what you are saying. I've been there many times lately. I have been tempted many times and it is really hard to stay strong. My job really helps me get through the hard times though because it keeps me busy. I don't have time to sit and dwell on the hydrocodone and that makes it a little easier. If I had to sit home all day I don't think I could do it. That's one reason I refused to take my disability retirement. I'm only 45 and I don't want to sit around all day and do nothing.

But you are doing great, ccgirl, so keep it up. Life is good.

Blue

[xjunkie4u]

Good to hear that people are struggleing but making it through! It (pills) always will make you feel better, but are you willing to pay the price? Like we read in a recent post, sometimes you have to take it under supervision but not for the everyday mundane things or for regular aches and pains. It's always worth to look for another way.

[ccgirl]

Hey Blue! I'm 45 too!

[weroisafl333]

It seems as though opiate addicts are everywhere. Every walk of life, race, sex, culture. It's interesting. It's a universal drug. Not many people hate it.

[blueline]

Originally Posted by ccgirl

Hey Blue! I'm 45 too!

I think I've got you beat, I'll be 46 in three weeks.

[ccgirl]

Yup, Blue, you're old. I don't turn 46 til May!

[weroisafl333]

You guys are more than twice my age. Interesting.

[Smyle]

this disease does not discriminate.....

[blueline]

there's only one way to keep from getting old....that's to get dead first. I'd rather get old.

[blueline]

Good morning everyone. I'm not too smart so I have a question for all of you edjukated people out there. I went to the Doctor yesterday for a checkup and she (the doctor) suggested that I try something call a fentanyl patch. Does anyone know anything about fentanyl (I hope I spelled that right)? I probably don't want to use it because is is probably an opiat, but I wanted to check.

Blue

[kj0975]

Yes I would be very careful with the patch. My fiance has been on it for over 2yrs due to back pain. I have heard that it is stronger than morphine and very difficult to stop. It is a pain patch that normally you would wear for 72hrs then change so your body is always getting a supply of fetenyl. He is on 50mcg's so every hr he gets 50mcgs of that through the skin. He can tell when it starts to wear off cause he gets the chills and shakes. So I would stay away from that. Harder to stop than the vics for sure you will have to be weaned off. He was also sick when he first started it too. It is for chronic pain for patients that are opiate tolerant. Since you have been off the vics you might not have that tolerance and it can make you feel very ill even if you remove the patch you will still have some in your system. Hope this helped you. KJ

[blueline]

thanks kj.....I appreciate the info....

Blue

[Smyle]

Fentanyl is Duragesic Patches...a class 2 narcotic...they are for chronic pain..I do know that as an addict I would be real careful if my Dr wanted to put me on them. You might as about Lidoderm patches the are prescription but not a control...and I do know that they work well. Good luck....

~B

[xjunkie4u]

What you say about the fentynl patch is true but it can be used for severe or chronic pain in some addicts, one I know of. He is a guy who I was in rehap with who has a condition and is now a therapist a a half way house. He's on the patch and isn't high. He may be an exception to the rule.

[ccgirl]

Blue, don't do it!!! My mother-in-law has addiction problems, and she was squirreling away pills, so her doc put her on that patch. She is addicted to it physically and mentally. She is no longer in pain, but lied to the doc to get another month's worth! She was away for a few days and it ran out and she had w/ds all over again. The SAME kind we did. So, I plead with you, unless your pain is soooo bad, please don't do it!

[blueline]

thanks cc, I didn't know anything about the patches, that's why I checked with you guys (and gals) to see if you had any info about it. I won't be using the patches......Thanks a million...

Blue

[Buzz Kilowatt]

Hey Blue,

If you're considering the transdermal patch, you must still be in considerable pain. It is a very potent, long-acting pain reliever, often used in hospices as well as hospitals.

Fentanyl, the active ingredient, is between 75 - 100 times more potent than morphine. It is the DOC and the demise of a lot of health-care professionals.

Some bright experimenters cut the patches open to release more of the active ingredients and wake up dead.

Apparently, you're still suffering. Your injuries were acquired in the line of duty and there is no character flaw or moral turpitude should you decide that some level of opiate use is appropriate. It is really and truly a quality-of-life decision: it sucks to be dependent upon pain meds, but I'm sure it sucks a lot more to be in pain!

I have a buddy who has been prescribed methadone for his chronic peripheral neuropathy. Methadone has its detractors but my buddy wouldn't be able to function without it. Allegedly, it takes care of his pain without the high.

Maybe you could consider finding a competent and respected pain specialist -- someone who will not dispense meds willy-nilly and who also will respect your dislike of pain medications.

I really think acupuncture is worth a try . . . I don't know how many practitioners there are in your area (there are lots here because we have a large Asian community).

Anyway, I think about you from time to time and hope your situation is improving.

Buzz

[Smyle]

again I recommend the Lidoderm patches....

[angelgirl]

Hi Blue...

Hope you are feeling a bit better.. I haven't really posted here, and just read a bit here on this page.. But I am grateful that you are here at SR..

I hope your pain gets better. You have alot of good help, and advice here.
Lots of wonderful caring people are following your thread.. That is wonderful.
You hang in there... Keep working with your doctor, and please keep checking things out..

Prayers,

Becky

[trammy]

Hey blue-I have seen tons of pain patients treated with fentanyl and yes its about 100 times stronger than morphine pound for pound-however the one upside it has even in junkies is that you cannot abuse it as easily. It is a controlled release for I believe 12-24 hours and Even 2 days for some patches. Anything that is time released will never achieve as high a peak concentration as abusers are probably used to-atleast I know myself most things I took lots of them and the high was very high and then you drop-but sustained release will never give you the extreme high-just a lower high for longer-also wont bottom you out. So I would say your doctor knows what he is doing. However not to give you bad ideas but many poeple are now chewing the patch and all sorts of things to get it to release its contents faster and get high-so if you are completely without willpower than youll find a way to get super high off it-bottom line is if you have the will power you may be able to handle it.