deadlamp

This is my first time here. I am trying to get off of hydrocodone. In the last year i have had both hips replaced. it took a year before that to get the Dr's to do anything. I have been on hydro's for 16 months now. The Drs was glad to write the scripts but not one of them even mentioned the addictive propertys of the drug. I do not know where to start the process, I do not want to go into a rehab unit. I do not a drug user, street drugs. It was for medical purposes. What do i have to look forward to in the process of quiting and what is the best way to do it. I feel like i am climbing the walls when i do not take them.. I take 2 or 3, 7.5 mg a day. Thanks for any help that u might be able to give me. I am 50 years old have COPD, and lower back problems brought on by the unactivity with the hip problems.

Greenbug

You could always just try taking less and less everday until nothing. Since you have no prior addiction issues, I would try the easiest first.

split the pill in pieces etc.....

Consult your physician, see if there is something else to assit with withdrawl. Might just get one pill for another.

NA meetings if that dont work. Sounds like you have some mobility issues as well?

~GB

Sugah

Welcome! Physical dependence and the disease of addiction are a little different. I'm not a doctor, but this is the way I understand it from my reading and research: if you're physically dependent, the body craves it. Once that ends, the mind should not. If you're suffering from the disease of addiction, the cravings continue beyond the end of physical withdrawals. YOU are the one who will have to make that determination, and honesty can save your life.

The good news is that at your dose, it shouldn't take more than two or three days to get over the physical symptoms. The "other" news (it's not bad...just different ) is that, if you're suffering from any kind of chronic pain, you're probably going to want to learn to deal with it differently so you don't have to face this situation again. There are non-narcotic pain relievers on the market; whether the narcotics have lowered your pain tolerance, you'll know soon enough. I'm an addict, and I have more than one chronic pain conditions. I learned meditation techniques that both raised my pain tolerance and help me to "detach" from it when it gets to the intolerable level.

First thing I would suggest someone ask themselves in your situation is, "Have I ever had trouble with any other substance?" That includes limiting intake of alcohol - if you drink, are you able to stop at just one? Do you reach for a drink to handle life's ups and downs? The second thing I would ask is, "Has my behavior or thinking patterns changed since beginning this drug?" I just posted in another thread that there are those who believe (and from what I've seen, rightly so) that the disease of addiction develops over time. All I know is that I've never been able to control anything. If your morals have changed (do you hide your pills? lie about how many you take? make excuses to take them?) or your attitudes towards those you love or your general state of mind - then maybe you have developed the disease of addiction and require what we call a "psychic change." I found mine through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous - both of which practice the twelve steps for recovery.

Like I said, your ability to be honest with yourself is paramount right now. If you're not sure of that ability, ask those around you what they think - have you changed dramatically since you started taking this drug?

Keep coming back, and please - whatever you decide, let us know how you're doing. Through reading the experiences of others, you might relate them to yourself. Only you know.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

deadlamp

i have not had to take more and more of them like some have did. I have come from a addictive family, and have always been careful not to get into that lifestile. one dr even prescribed to me 120 #10 hydros, 90 somas, and 90 15 mg morphine a month, I knew that that was way to much so i never even started the morphine, it scared me from what i have heard about it.
I am ready to stop all of the pain meds i feel that i can cope without the narcotics in my life. it is unreal the amount of people here in my town that take for fun. they could not believe that i would not get the morphine and sell them to them. thanks for the replys, i feel that i am alone in this mess. i have no suport base or family to talk to about the situation.

Sugah

You are not alone!

We're still here to help you climb out of the fog - the withdrawals are no fun, and the pain of withdrawal goes a long way toward weakening the resolve. If you accept this forum as one means of helping you through, we're behind you. Keep sharing, deadlamp...you don't have to be alone.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

P.S. Are you a Stephen King fan?

deadlamp

I called my Dr this morning, We are going to try the reducing doseage method. I am getting a script of 7.5 which is less than i am use to taking. and with time i will start to split them in1/2. I hate that i have become dependent on them but I could not have got through the Total Hip Replacements with out them
When i got my first new hip a year ago Nov 23 2004, i was at the point of using a walker because my right hip had already collapsed. which means that the femoral head of the joint was non exsistent from the degeneration. The only thing that was holding my leg together was the muscles. I live alone and still had to drive and do all what hadd to be done to get around. One Dr could not believe that i was driving and still walking around even on a walker.

Thanks for ur replys and I will be back to ask ???????? mabey some support and information that will help me get my life back. PS yes i do like Stephen King.

Kenneth

Sugah

Kenneth...

Glad to see you back again today. I feel for you, brother. I've got osteoporosis, and at 37, the doc says I have the bones of an 80 yr old woman. When the bones start to crumble, it's very painful - so I know some of what you're going through. Two of my four kids are distance runners, and I watch them whistfully, remembering my track and field days a million years ago.

You said you're upright and ambulatory. That's wonderful. I parked my wheelchair in August of 2003, just a little over ten months clean and sober. I'm sure, with what you've got going on in your body, that you appreciate the gift of walking. Are you working with your doctor to make sure that you're healing properly and not doing more kinds of damage that will hurt you in the long run? Physical therapy & that sort of thing? I'm no doctor or PT technician, but I've pushed it before & screwed myself up worse than when I started.

Sorry if I'm being motherly - it's a bad habit from being surrounded by my teenagers who need plenty of it. The reason you came here was for the hydrocodone problem - and it sounds like you and your doctor have come up with a plan of action. I wish you lots of luck and ease with it - but please, keep sharing and let us know how it's going. We're here for you.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

deadlamp

Hey Sugar How is ur day going? Me making it, went to the casino tonight to get out of the house. did not loose any $$$$$$$$. Well I am going to do this little by little. With the hip replacements I was in an wheel chair for 3 months X2 once for each surgery. Sure was glad to get rid of the chair. Know anyone that needs a chair cheap He He. I am getting around pretty good after the surgerys. My Lungs will not let me do much at a time, but I make it. I am also the one that takes care of Mother's affairs, she is in a nursing center. She does not understand why I do not run when she calls as fast as before. But I forgive her. I am all that she has left.

Me feeling pretty good, wish that I could sleep more tho. about 2 hrs at a time is about it. I will be back as it is good to have somewhere to vent where the people that are ther know what is going on. Thanks 4 being there. Kenneth

Sugah

Hi, Kenneth,

Sorry you're having trouble with sleep. I couldn't sleep last night, either. It will get better, but it seems those nights still come once in awhile.

Thanks for asking about my day. Aside from being tired, everything's good. Just wanted to say a quick hello before I head out the door to school.

How are you doing with your dose-down? I know it's only been a couple of days. Hang in there!

Peace & Love,
Sugah

deadlamp

Hello Again. I am having to find out just what doseage my addiction is before I cam start to cut down. When I got to the pharmacy the DR had prescribbec 10/325's instead of the 7.5/500 that I thought that I was getting. Which is good and bad at the same time. The doseage is larger but there is less tynol in it so it will not be as bad on my liver. I have decided to start a Journal so I will be able to go back and recheck out things that I might forget. I think that it will be a good thing as martha says. I am doing ok i guess, hopeing to be able to sleep a little more tonight. I know that it will take time but sure wish it was over. I cannot believe that the Drs did not warn me about the consequesces of the Hydros. Or even try to help me get off of them. But that is life i guess. Pleasant Dreams Kenneth