carolm, I am telling you if you can do it without the percs DO IT. I was clean for 8 years and went in for a root canal. The pain was bad but I could have done without the vicodin but I didn't. I took the pills and the rush of great feelings all came back. I absolutely was out of control for the next year. I spent a lot of money that I didn't have and hurt a lot of things in my life because of it. DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF!!! STAY AWAY FROM THEM. You cannot handle it no matter what you think. I really thought I could handle it this time because it had been so long and I was much older and wiser. NOT TRUE.