There is light at the end of the tunnel

Is your life consumed with fedex deliveries and pill popping? I haven’t been in pain for two years now; meanwhile my addiction had run wild. Before I stopped cold turkey I was taking 20-25 10/500 daily. I was your high-functioning addict with too many secrets. I worked, I played… but it was all through a shroud. I was spending more money and time acquiring pills then I was doing for anything else in my life. What is it that compels us to use these drugs? What are we lacking in our lives that we are supplementing with meds? These are both important questions we need to ask ourselves when we are really ready to kick the habit. Also, remember that this is not your fault. Turn on your TV and watch for 5 min… all the commercials are drug commercials saying how you are unhealthy and need this pill or that pill to be normal. This is crap. Prescription drugs are big business.

Cold Turkey
First you need to take about 4-6 days off from whatever it is you do. This is essential. You will feel pretty much crappy for this period. Before you stop you should stock up on a few essential items you can acquire at any CVS. (also, I feel I must add that you are coming off a chemical dependency and I personally believe that any other prescription drug supplementing will only hinder your recovery in the long run. It is time to cowboy-up and put your life back on track again. You can do it. And the last thing you need is more drugs)
This is what I used:
- Imodium Ad (Take as little as possible)
- Benadryl – Take 2-3 before bed for the first 4 days only (this is the best over the counter sleep aid – my wife is a counselor in a phyc ward and this is what they give patients having sleeping problems.
- Vitamins – a good multivitamin twice a day
- A serotonin booster – Something like 5-HTP or Sam-ee
- Liquids, and plenty of them all the time
- Soup and toast (just like if you were sick)
- You will most likely be parking yourself in front of a TV for a couple of days so I recommend your local library for free movies. You will probably be surprised by their selection and you can always take out a lot at once. (For me this was crucial because commercials drive me insane)
- Do not underestimate the power of being prepared. It will help.

Day one: awful, terrible, agonizing, sleep as much as you possibly can. Fluids and hot showers or baths (hot water is your best friend)

Day two: repeat day one

Day three: not as bad. You begin to feel you can do it. Try to eat consistently

Day four: Better still. You will still feel crappy but less and less (mostly in the A.M. in my case). Try to get out at some point. It is crucial that you get up and move around a bit, see the sun, breathe some fresh air. (I went to the movies) Best night of sleep so far in my case. I actually felt good in the evening… normal

Day five: Mornings still suck but your back. Go to work. Go for a long walk on your lunch break. You are home free.

You will have bouts here and there but stick it out, you’re worth it. This isn’t as hard as it seems, you can do this. Good luck.

Great post!
Don't forget the rice in your diet for bulk and to rid toxins, you are going to be reacquainted with the toilet

Insomnia: This for me, the worse part, after several day's you will feel a little loopy, just try not to worry about it too much, if you can't sleep, get up, write a PW post, there are usually other folks on the board with insomnia, helps reassure yourself that you are NOT going crazy. I just READ til, I am exhausted, then I pretend like I am sleeping, hopefully, eventually, like a locksmith opening a lock, your brain will "lock" into "sleep mode"...even an hour is good. As was stated, EAT, you wont have any apetite, eat something anyway, even if it is just ice cream and a few crackers, force it down.
Remember, you are NEVER alone, someone is sharing this "sickness" with you RIGHT NOW!
Encourage others!
Good luck!
David

BTW: Diversion! I never watched so many movies in my life, helps keep your mind on something else, I think I have "Pirates of the Caribbean" down pat!...just a thought.
David

To me the first 3 days was the morning depression and anxiety combined.. I was getting a pinch of depression for the first two weeks but it tends to disappear if you keep busy.

Tell you what? detoxing/wd is probably what hell feels like the first 2 days. It's horrible.. True, it's hard to eat as you have no appetite. The sleeplesness the first 3 days, uhghhhh.. Fortunately your body just gives up and say "body, sleep now." Then you get into your normal sleep mode..

Lastly, if you can please get a full body massage because your body/muscles are tight. Also what I did was cardio work out on the Gazelle.. Detoxing from this hydro dranes you as you have no energy at all.. Working out will help bring energy back..

I've been reading these posts with a feeling of dread. I know I must go thru this and very soon - as it looks like the sites are toppling a couple a day. I've wanted to do it - I just dread it so much because I've gone thru it before and know how bad it is. All these suggestions are fine - but I can't sit still while going thru WDs. My skin crawls so badly I feel I'm going to go insane. Yes - the warm/hot bath works somewhat, but I can't stay in there for 48 hours till this all passes. I'm on way too much and don't think there's any way I can go cold turkey. I'm currently tapering a little on some cough syrup with hydrocodone in it - when I can decrease the dose little by little. Question one; How do I get xanex to help? I cannot go to my regular doc for them. Question two; what does everyone else do for the skin crawling? I couldn't sit and watch a movie or get on the internet to save my life, when I go thru this. This is the one thing that has stopped me from doing this much much sooner. I dread it so.

hey roseanna i was dreading it too and yes it does hurt but im on day 4 of no oxycodone and i think its getting better now. taper, taper, taper. its like this--your at an amusement park and youve been ridin the tiltawhirl. get off that ride, walk over to the nice little merry go round that goes slower (this is your taper) then just step off the horsey. trust me you wont crash as bad if you taper than if you just throw yurself off the crazy tiltawhirl pm me anytime good luck

You're a better woman than I am, Roxanne. I'm not strong enough to get thru this by myself. You're to be congratualted - being on day 4 off of oxy's. You've accomplished something major. I did order some of that Katom - in another thread - and after being in hell all morning - am feeling fantastic - considering I haven't had any hydo's for a while. But - I have to be careful now not to get addicted to this stuff instead. But, I think I may have found my tool to get thru this finally. I honestly wish they would make it illegal to get hyro on the internet, (sorry folks) - because then it would force me to do it for good. Knowing it's there isn't easy for me to stay away from. I have zero will power.
Thanks for the support.

hey roseanna can you actually get addicted to kratom? I thought it was an herb. makes me curious..but noooooooo wayyyyy am i getting addicted to anything else. as it was i was taking oxy exactly as prescribed and it was very hellish (still is--in 1 hr day 4 will be over. i dont feel all there yet though i did go to work today. lots of cold sweat, weak from no appetite but im going for it. good luck on your kratom!

Kratom works quite well. I keep a nice stash of powdered leaf and resin. As far as WD I wouldn't know (never experienced it). However, some report that any WD effects from Kratom are minor at most.

BTW, I haven't seen Hydro available on the net for months except for an occasional spam email with dubious background and no feedback from sites like this. Besides, Trammies and Soma work well for immediate pain and muscle spasm issues (tho still have a good stash of Hydro left from the good ole days for super bad pain days).

You sound like me Gekko. I have a stash of zanaflex and pain meds and even some requip. The kratom is working for me right now.