going from 6 to 1 a day is great but you didn't quit. when you get to zero a day you are no longer taking drugs. period. anything less is well...taking drugs.
i wasn't able to completely get off of it until I was down to one a day; it was then that I cut the ONE down at 1/8th at a time until I was completely off. I have been completely off for about 3 weeks or so. Sorry if I wasn't clear about that.
more than anything- i want my life back. How did i get here? pray for me- my family- my husband- and bless you for sharing.
;-) I wrote a comment about 9 months ago describing my greatest fear which was lack of control especially when I might need ligitimate medical care. I'm responding again to get my progress report to those who my be discouraged or anxious as I was. Last August I was feeling horrible. I blamed everything on "menopausal symptoms." My OB/GYN went beyond her specific field and recommended I see a metabolic physician. Long story short and after a handful of lab tests, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Insulin Resistance. Within about 4-6 weeks I began to feel better. The Physician's Assistant that worked with me was amazingly encouraging! Once I got my system more balanced, I felt better about tackling the Oxycodone dependency. I spoke with my pain management doctor who was more than willing to help me wean off. I'm finally down to only 1 Vicoden daily, sometimes 2 depending on my pain levels (instead of 3-4 Oxycodone 15mg daily). It's been slow progress, but slow and steady is the only safe way to get there, along with the oversight of a physician who you trust and a good support system at home. My husband is a God-send! Thanks for all of your encouraging words! Even when you don't realize it, you're input is helping someone who may not have gotten there without you.
14 years ago I was diagnosed with 'stage 4' colo-rectal cancer and was told by the first three doctors that I had approximately 2 months to live. One month after diagnosis I started the first of 58 chemo treatments over the next two years. One month after beginning the chemo I underwent 28 massive treatment of radiaton. I learned later that the radiation treatments were basically trial and error and were mostly for pain management. I have undergone one major surgery for the cancer (two months after finishing those daily radiaton treatments) and 40 plus others for complications resulting from the damage caused to my kidneys by the chemo and the damage to my colon and spine from the radiaton.
I have been cancer free for 14 years. When I came home from the hospital following the first colon cancer operation the doctor had me taking morphine three times daily. After two months I begged to get off that med and was placed on lortabs and after the kidney problems surfaced my med was changed to oxycontin. I did the oxycontin 3 times a day for seven years and then that was changed to oxycodone.
I tried to get off the different meds everytime, but the pain in my back and hips was just too much to enable me to walk, sit, or sleep. Now I have had a surgery that was associated with some nerve damage in my lower back and my pain level has improved so much that I am now able to walk and go places. I still drive a car and a John Deere tractor without any trouble. I told my pain management doctor to get me off the meds. We have been working on this problem together for the past year and seven days I decided to go 'cold turkey' and whip this.
It has been the toughest thing I can remember going through. I have not ask how long a soul has to go before he has whipped it, but I'm determined to do this. I knew many people who take the pills I have been taking forever and they do it because it makes them feel happy. I never experienced 'happy'.
was on 240mg a day and over the last month i've tapered down to about 40-60mg a day now. I'm going to keep going till I'm off this stuff but after 12 years on it I thought I'd take as long as I need to be successful. My back really hurts in the morning but I can't stand the side effects / hassle of being on this stuff anymore. Hopefully another month and I'm done.
Thanks so much for your forthright recommendation. I had a knee replacement on Jan 22, 2014, and today (Feb 5, 2014) I am starting my tapering off Oxycodone. I hate the drug, and what it does to me and my brain; it makes me feel nothing when in fact there is pain. I hate the false signals I get from taking this drug, and the false sense of security...nothing is wrong. I KNOW that there is pain involved in surgery, and that it is necessary to diminish the sensation of the pain...to a point...but at some point you just have to say no..., enough is enough. I have decided to adopt the Nancy Ragan style of negotiation with the drug....just say "NO" and start my tapering today.
At present I am taking 5mg Oxycodone tabs, 4 times per day, two per time, i.e., 8 tabs per day. My plan is to delete 1 tab per day for the next week, then 2 tabs per day during the second week, etc. until the 8th week, and I may speed up the process as we go along.
Wow that comment was very judgemental and discouraging.