Mamahawk

I need to quit Vicodin. I can't get past the withdrawal symptoms. I take 12-14 10/325s (at once) everyday. I'm tired of living like this. I'm on the verge of losing my family. How can I make withdrawal easier? The diarrhea gets me the worst. I can deal with the mental, maybe. I need to get through the physical part first. I'm 41 and have been using since I was 21.

Dee74

Hi mamahawk - welcome

I have no personal experience to share but I know others will.

Immodium may help, but if the diarrhœa is really bad, I think you should consider seeing a Dr?

D

Mamahawk

I'm so scared. And tired.

new star

Hi, can you try tapering? I did cold turkey and it wasn't great.

Try paracetamol and non addictive pain killers.

Oh and yep a Dr is a good idea they can probably give you something to help x

Lenina

mama hawk, I have no personal experience with opiate withdrawal but from what I've read on the forums, folks seem to treat the symptoms as they come. you might call your doctor or narcotics anonymous to get some recommendations. If you are going to self treat, which isn't always the best idea for the greatest safety and comfort, what would you do for a bad flu? Stay hydrated, lots of water as you can. hot baths help with muscle spasms, I've used Imodium for diarrhea when I've had the flu.

I hope this is helpful until you can get some face to face support.

The forums are more busy after about 06:00 am ET it seems to me. Hang out and maybe check out the chat room for support right now.

Don't give up. We have lots of good recovery going on here and very nice, supportive people!

love from Lenina

FeenixxRising

Is rehab possible? What about a medical detox somewhere? Drinking is my issue, so I don't know much about opiate addiction, but I know there is help available in most countries. Are you in the US or another country? Have you tried Narcotics Anonymous?

I know you're hurting right now, but understand that you can get better if you really want it bad enough. Yes, the first few weeks are rough, but it does get better. I suggest working up a plan of action. Doing some research for addiction help in your area is a good start. Also, have you talked to your Doctor about your issue with opiates?

Mamahawk

I don't get them from the doc anymore. I don't really have a doctor. I tried rehab. Came home after one night. People screaming. Guys sneaking in the girls rooms. Felt unsafe.

Mamahawk

I'm spending all my hardworking husbands money on pills. He's about had it. I feel like super mom when I take them and worthless when I don't.

Lenina

Mama hawk, I'm sorry that was your experience with rehab. Have you ever done a medically supervisored detox? how's your health, otherwise?

you might want to get set up for a few days while the worst of it passes. Fluids, maybe pedilyte to help stay hydrated. Easy to digest foods like broths, mashed potatoes, bananas are good for the potassium. make a nest on the couch and watch some DVDs or Netflix.

Read the forums here. see about getting face to face support. It's very very important.

love from Lenina

Dee74

Feel free to join our Class of May support thread mamahawk - there's lots of support there too

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...2014-a-12.html

D

Upward2Enlightenment

Mamahawk, I don't know if you can make the withdraw any easier I am sorry to say. I had a REAL bad percocet addiction and I quit 30 days ago. I can tell you it is SO much better on the other side, just not a fun trip getting here.

FeenixxRising

The worthless feelings will stop once you get through the withdrawals. It's time for you to summon as much strength as you can and beat this thing. And don't be afraid to seek help. I suggest seeing a doctor ASAP. If you're spending money on pills, you can spend some money on a doctor. You have to start somewhere. Whatever you do, don't give up on yourself. You know you can't continue like this; otherwise, you wouldn't have posted here.

Of course, keep posting and reading here, you will find a lot of support.

Mamahawk

Thank you all. This is helping. What can a doctor do? I have insurance. I can go. I just have to do this at home. I can't leave my family. Even though I've had this problem I've been a good mom. They depend on me. We have a chance to start over. I have to prevail this time. I'm taking such a dangerous amount for my liver. I don't want to die.

Mamahawk

I'm just so scared. I'll be starting withdrawals by tomorrow morning. I've been reading. I need to get liquid Imodium.

Mamahawk

The diarrhea and the aches and sleeplessness are the hardest. If I could just get through the first three to five days. Then I'll have to deal with the mental. Ugh. I'm just do tired of this controlling me. Vicodin is like air and water to me.

Lenina

Mama, the doctor might give you the comfort drugs for nausea, diarrhea and recommend something for the aches. They might know an addiction specialist for you to see. My best understanding is you just have to get thru it and then work the real life stuff.

You can do this. A few days. We are here for you!

Love from Lenina

Adnamaeel

I tapered off of opiates over 3 weeks, and I think it made the withdrawals easier than quitting all at once, but it was still hard, and it still hurt. Like you, they made me feel superhuman, now I just feel human, but that's ok, since that's actually all I am.
Imodium will help with your intestinal discomfort quite a bit. Hot baths are very soothing, and helped me with all of my symptoms. I took a lot of baths.
You can google the Thomas recipe, I used all the over the counter stuff from that, and I really think it helped. I know the thought of any kind of exercise is horrible while you're going through this, but it helps tremendously. Even just walking around the block helped me. So did simple sun salutations, if you're familiar with yoga at all.
You mentioned having kids, did you give birth to them? That's physically way harder than withdrawal, and for a lot of women, every bit as terrifying, there's just no choice but to go through it. Try to approach this the same way.
I spent a lot of the time I felt sick from getting off of opiates trying to tap into the rhythm of the sensations I was experiencing while detaching from any value judgements about them. Does that make sense? I tried hard not to register them as either good or bad, but to sort of just surrender to them in a physical sense, like if a muscle started to cramp, rather than tensing up and resisting it, I just tried to relax into the rhythm of it. That's how I got through 3 days of labor without drugs, and how I got through withdrawal. I approached them in kind of the same way, as inevitable and unavoidable.
I took my last pill on April 1st, and now I really feel like myself again. You can do this. It's hard, but you're worth it.

Upward2Enlightenment

MamaHawk you might benifit from seeing a doctor but I wouldn't go on suboxone, I have seen someone taking it and they are no better off, now they are hooked on it and when they come off it they still have to go through withdraw.
Also you will probably get a flood of emotions as your brain starts to clear.

An important thing is to cut all ties with whoever you were getting your pills from. They WILL try to suck you back in, I know, they don't want to lose your business. If you have to tell them you will call the cops if they don't stop.

Adna 3 days of labor, you poor woman, you are a saint.

Mamahawk

I'm not taking suboxone. I really can't take anything. Vicodin is my choice but I will abuse any pill. I'm just going to have to do it. I'm going to get some liquid Imodium and just survive it.

Lenina

remember to get plenty of fluids to sip on! Maybe some Epsom salts for the hot baths to ease the spasms. And know you be here with us any time you need to be!

love from Lenina