hydrocodone addiction

[chloe06]

had a horrible night again...so sick of not sleeping. Went to bed after midnight and woke in th emiddle of the night and I am up at 5.50...going to be a long day. Tonight I start taking amitriptiline, so hope so much that it is going to help.

Jane I am having to force myself to eat, have no appetite at all and just feel so listless, have diaerroah every morning, yesterday it was for most of the day, I am hoping that is because I stopped my ssri as it was just first thing for the last week. My husband has to go out for aoucple of hours today and I am so scared to be on my own.

Chloe

[blueline]

hi Chloe, I've had a bad day too...I've been up since 4:30am and am extremely tired. I was busy today so that helped. It's better when I stay busy, keeps my mind off things and helps time to pass more quickly. I think tomorrow will be better...think I'll go home a bit early today again

[Smyle]

I am so proud of the 2 of you...I too am trying to beat a 20 yr addiction to pills...mainly hydro's and am always reminded of how crappy getting off them feels....you both hang in there and keep supporting each other..

Hey Blue... I will be in Eureka Springs with my 6 yr old at the end of the month..Girls weekend away for my birthday.....we always love coming to your beautiful state...especially the rivers !!!

[chloe06]

I am feeling pretty desperate this morning..so low, was wake so early and tried to lay back down but my heart is racing...this is going to be a very long day. Just dont know how much longer I can take this.

[Smyle]

you can do this....rest if you can...

[Jane63]

{{chloe}}
I remember feeling anxious too the first couple of times my husband left me and went back to work after I left rehab and came home. It seems everything took awhile to get back to normal but it will and you will be fine again!
I ate alot of "comfort foods" while I was getting my strength back...like popcorn, blueberry mini-muffins, saltines with butter and my fav, toast with peanut butter and bacon {LOL!}. Sometimes I would practically have to force myself to eat, knowing that I would get shaky/anxious if I didn't so that was a big incentive for me!
I would give it some time, but if you continue to feel awful I seriously would go back to the doctor and let him know your symptoms. Maybe he will have other suggestions or options.

I was at least a couple months or so before I felt better and had my energy back. Yes, that is a long time but believe me it was worth it and you can do this too! My rehab doctor told me detoxing off opiates was comparable to having major surgery and that I just had to give my body time to heal afterwards...and so this is what I did.
{{blue}}
Staying busy is GOOD! Just remember to rest when your body tells you to!!
Jane

[windysan]

ya gotta eat.

[chloe06]

I suppose I have more or less shared everything with you guys so I can tell you that eating is a bit of a problem for me because almost 2 years ago I had a gastric band fitted as I was over 100kgs/226lbs, it limits the amount of food your stomache holds so I can not eat alot. I managed to get down to 150lbs then was put on steroids because of the virus I had(it affected my joints) and gained 30lbs...I have lost that in the last 3 weeks, I am not concerned about weight gain but just have no appetite, I am literally forcing food down which is weird for someone who hardly ever ate. I am probably eating more now than I have for a long time. I feel like my body needs it so badly so I am working really hard at it and making sure my fluids are kept as high as possible so I dont get dehydrated and end up with a migraine..I am so scared of getting a migraine...I have also decided today that I think I should change my gp...I am seeing a psychiatrist next week and I read my referral letter today and my dr doesnt seem to get what is wrong with me at all. I have taken my husband with me and he agrees that my dr just doesnt listen.He actually wrote I was having palpitations the last time I saw him and I didnt mention my heart at all? He said to the psychiatrist I had come off of my meds because I have had a skin reaction??wtf...I have psoriasis but I have never mentioned my skin...wondering now if maybe he is on drugs or another planet, scared to start off with someone new and having to confess to abusing drugs but think its something I have to do.

sorry for rambling on.
chloe

[notkernels]

I'm not in the medical field but could your dr be trying to cover his Axx and not put into your records that you became addicted to to PM???

[chloe06]

I dont know but intend to tell the psychiatrist on tuesday. I am off to bed, had a bad evening, my joints have been playing up the last few days but tonight they have seized up in my hands. I am not in terrible pain but I am scared, this happened in january this year and the pain got really bad so I am feeling down that I maybe having a flare of psoratic arthritis, which is the last thing I need right now...I sound like such a hypochondriac...I dont want to get out the end of withdrawal to just face another illness, it is just too much to bear so I am trying to remain steady and positive that its just a minor blip...have just taken my amitriptiline so hope it helps me...I just want to have a "normal" day tomorrow and a good nights sleep...managed to eat a fair bit today.

Blue hope you are ok...I went to the site woops suggested and there are alot of people there with codeine addiction, at 16-17 days going through the same as us so it seems that the 5-7 days is probably not the usual time frame, also apparently the withdrawal process really varies depending on how long you have been on the drug and how many you were taking so it can go on for a bit...horrible, but reassuring at the same time...hope today has been a better day for you!

Chloe

[blueline]

hi Chloe, today isn't much better for me. Another sleepless night last night and I am very tired today. I read the book of JOB in the Bible and that helped a bit. JOB had it alot harder than I have it and he kept the faith and prospered. I'll make it, I guess. Just gotta be strong, and keep from going crazy...

[blueline]

I'm getting out for a while....talk to you later

[Smyle]

be careful Blue.....you can do this !!!

[blueline]

thanks Smyle, that's what I keep telling myself. Last night I had bad stomach cramps. Still pretty bad today. I don't know what's up with that but it is extremely uncomfortable. By the way, I was born in Missouri.

[Buzz Kilowatt]

Originally Posted by blueline

thanks Smyle, that's what I keep telling myself. Last night I had bad stomach cramps. Still pretty bad today. I don't know what's up with that but it is extremely uncomfortable. By the way, I was born in Missouri.

Blueline,

G.I. distress is a normal response to opiate withdrawal.

In the old days kids got Paregoric (opium & camphor) for diarrhea; Lomotil contains an opiate and atropine. Opiates slow down peristalsis, the contractions that move the food along the alimentary tract. Constipation results.

Waste must be eliminated, and thus the body tends to compensate for long term opiate use. When you stop the opiates suddenly, the gut gets overactive.

I have a theory that opiates depress the formation and/or release of bile which might tend to lighten the stool and change the way digestion works. A resurgence of bile & etc. might also cause distress.

No sense in being 100% stoic at this stage. You can wait until you feel a little better . . .

In the meantime, you might ask your doctor about (anticholinergic) anti-spasmotics for the cramping (e.g. Levbid). Immodium OTC works wonders and is cheap.

Stick with "smooth food" (e.g. rice, mashed potatoes, etc.) and keep spices to a minimum until you can tolerate them.

Sorry to be focused on the "nether regions." I guess it's because I've got a lower G.I. exam coming up tomorrow AM . . . .

Cheers,

Buzz

[Jane63]

Speaking of "nether regions"...I seem to have had alot of problems with my own recently and was supposed to have a Colonoscopy about 5-months ago when they did some tests and found what looked like a swollen bowel {sorry so graphic guys!}.
I chose not to have it done though and got all gung-ho about eating right, drinking lots of water and exercising...which really seemed to help 100%, but sadly, I seem to have "fallen off the wagon" here lately and let myself go and alot of the problems are coming back.
Good sign that I need to get my behind back in shape again!!!{no pun intended}

It irks me that I used to able to eat anything and never had any problems, but now....ugg!! I did have alot of constipation problems during my addiction to Vicoden but everything returned to normal about the one month mark after I quit.
I never had much of a problem with the direahea/cramping during detox so I am thinking the Catapress Patches might have saved me from that.{?}

Good luck with your tests tomorrow, Buzz, and I read that you were having a Colonoscopy soon too so good luck with that also!
Not a "pleasant" subject for sure but I definately wouldn't want to have one done without medication so I am glad you made the choice to not go without it! I am sure you'll be fine...minus all the "farting" afterwards! LOL!

{{blue}} Hang in there! The smooth food is a good idea for awhile and definately stay away from spicey stuff!!

Jane

[Buzz Kilowatt]

Jane63,

Thanks for your kind thoughts. My exam is in a couple of hours. The Demerol is a concern, but I'm not going to exclude it. This is one time I'll be pleased to be in the Twilight Zone.

BTW, this is a screening test for me. They are a good idea, even though they are no fun (hint, hint).

As far as the decompression phase of the exam is concerned, I am concerned that the sound might be my ego deflating . . . .

Sorry. It's early A.M. and I've had nothing but liquids for 3.5 days.

Cheers!

Buzz

[blueline]

I went home about 11:00am yesterday...just didn't feel like working. I had nausea last night pretty bad. The past four days and nights I have also been very bloated. There is so much air in my stomach and it is very uncomfortable. My stomach feels like a baloon that is blown up as tight as it will go. I feel like poking a hole in it to let the air out. Gas X isn't doing much good. Tomorrow with be two weeks.

[blueline]

hi Chloe, hope you are well.....

[Smyle]

I went through that .. I think alot was to do with the fact I was eating on a somewhat normal schedule again...but I was so bloated... I ate alot of Gas X too...it passes..(he he)..The sleeping thing gets better too...I am at like 100 days and still have nights I do not sleep well but for the most part I am feeling much better...

Today being the first day in a long time that I woke up and actually FELT good..no blahs...did not just want to stay in bed...It is wierd and I am not sure how to explain it...but I slept like I always do...for like 5 hrs..but just feel at peace today ??? I am not anxious either ??? I hope this lasts..
just remember from one fellow user to another ...It will get better.... I hated when people would say that to me...but as usual they were right ....

where in Mo were you born ??? I was actually born and raised in Southern Cali but moved out here in 1991 to finish college at SMS and met my hubby and stayed...my family is still out there but I call Missouri home....My H is in Arkansas today/tonight to take some C of O students on a float trip..He facilitates them for the colleges around here...wish I could go but it is a work thing....oh well...rough life to get paid to spend 2 days on the river...

Well i will check in on you guys and try to eat some soft foods..yogurt..smashed potatoes...ramen...and I hope you have a good day...it is beautiful out .....Love it ..

Peace
~B

[blueline]

smyle, I was born in Hayti. Not to knock your state but Hayti is not a good town. Alot of crime and drugs. My wife is from MO so we travel through that part of the country pretty regular. Plus, I go to the St. Louis Cardinal's games when I can.

I don't like going to bed. I hate lying in bed when I just toss and turn, without sleeping. I get up the next morning feeling worse than I did when I went to bed. Mt. Dew and coffee keep me going, that and going home and lying on the sofa during the day (when I can slip away that is). Tomorrow is 2 weeks for me. I went to the health food store and got some natural herbs to help with the pain and sleep. They said it takes a few days to take affect. I only went yesterday so I guess it's too soon to tell any difference yet. Keeping the faith.

[Smyle]

Yes Hayti is not a great area....is that why you went into your profession ???

A Cardinal fan in the house....I take my kids to the games in STL sometimes but springfield has thier own Cardinal now ..and built a beautiful stadium so we go there....It is much closer.....

I am glad to hear you went and got some herbs... I used and still use supplements like that...I just took my vitamins...forgot this am...I take Glucosamine and it really helps my joints and just general aches etc... If I don't take it I can tell...It is a littlr expensive but I get it...
Get yourself some rest and I LOVE coffee but I can't do the dew... My Hubby likes it though....

Congrats on 2 weeks...the worst is certainly over....now just get through the other stuff......Be safe out there ....

~B

[blueline]

Smyle, that's not why I'm doing this job...I'm just not smart enough to do anything else. 20 years of this profession, plus my military time, guess I'm too old and grumpy to change now. I'm 45 but feel 65, at least right now. I changed my photo to match my mood, at least for the present time. When I get to feeling better I'll change my photo to something less aggressive.

I'm starting my weekend, guess I'll go home, change, and get ready to go to a football game. Take care.

[chloe06]

Hope your weekend is a better one than the last few days.

Chloe

[blueline]

Thanks Chloe, the past four days have been absulely terrible. Maybe when I come back on Monday I will be feeling better. You're a good apple....

Blue