HELLO,
I am a 32 year old father of 4. I have been a steady user of hydrocodone for a number of years. I suffer from major spine problems. Have sciosis, found as a child, and have had 4 major fusion surgeries since I was 16 years old. I now have 18 spinal levels fused. Pain killers have always been a major factor in my life. I've always been what some would consider an "addictive personality". The last 2 years have been especially hard on me as I have had a handful of problems arise in my back that stumped most of my doctors. Nevertheless, by it taking so much time to discover the origins of the pain I have been on very high doses of opioids. I am currently only 2 weeks from the final surgery which should get me on the pain free track for a while, we hope. My problem is between what I've been on, and the post surgery medecines, I have allowed myself to increase my tollerance levels to what I consider to be unbelievably high. When available I am taking anywhere up to 18, 10/125 hydros a day. I have never been in a position where I needed to seek out pills to feed what I believe is gross abuse. I always knew that eventually I'd have an appointment or call in a refill. It has occurred to me recently, that my levels of abuse are really starting to catch up with me, both physically and socially with my family. I've went from necessary pain control to feeling like I can't operate without them. I have made the decision to take myself off of them. I am currently on day 2. I read in the forum about folks with 6 month to a year issues but not many people with my amounts or duration. I am concerned about health affects, anything for assistance with withdrawal symptoms, and also what options I can look into for pain control after my upcoming surgery. This one is a cervical fusion and is quite a bit easier than my previous procedures. In two weeks I should be pain free and I want to be out from under this influence. Any help, advice, incouragement, or just plain info would be helpful.
Thank you for your time.
Code:
I am a 32 year old father of 4. I have been a steady user of hydrocodone for a number of years. I suffer from major spine problems. Have sciosis, found as a child, and have had 4 major fusion surgeries since I was 16 years old. I now have 18 spinal levels fused. Pain killers have always been a major factor in my life. I've always been what some would consider an "addictive personality". The last 2 years have been especially hard on me as I have had a handful of problems arise in my back that stumped most of my doctors. Nevertheless, by it taking so much time to discover the origins of the pain I have been on very high doses of opioids. I am currently only 2 weeks from the final surgery which should get me on the pain free track for a while, we hope. My problem is between what I've been on, and the post surgery medecines, I have allowed myself to increase my tollerance levels to what I consider to be unbelievably high. When available I am taking anywhere up to 18, 10/125 hydros a day. I have never been in a position where I needed to seek out pills to feed what I believe is gross abuse. I always knew that eventually I'd have an appointment or call in a refill. It has occurred to me recently, that my levels of abuse are really starting to catch up with me, both physically and socially with my family. I've went from necessary pain control to feeling like I can't operate without them. I have made the decision to take myself off of them. I am currently on day 2. I read in the forum about folks with 6 month to a year issues but not many people with my amounts or duration. I am concerned about health affects, anything for assistance with withdrawal symptoms, and also what options I can look into for pain control after my upcoming surgery. This one is a cervical fusion and is quite a bit easier than my previous procedures. In two weeks I should be pain free and I want to be out from under this influence. Any help, advice, incouragement, or just plain info would be helpful.
Thank you for your time.
Code:
I think that there is no need for you to go through all this alone and I hope you are not going. Substance abuse isn't something that happens only to some people - the fact is if most of us were given the chance would get ourselves in far worse situation than you have and most of would even have the character to say - it's enough like you have. So, I think that you should talk to your physician about what you are doing so that they could give you some help and medications to ease of at least some of the symptoms and maybe some advice about how to handle the whole withdrawal. Please, if you catch time, keep us posted on how are you doing and wish you the best!
I agree, don't do it alone. It's not like a cold turkey thing. There are physicians and nurses that can and will help you do this. It's very apparant you have no choice as to do it. If you continue you are not going to have a liver, sorry, but that's the truth. DO NOT COLD TURKEY!!!! Wouldn't it be great if we could just stick to one or two a day, that's how it starts, then they don't work, you take more, then that doesn't work, then you take more. Been there, done it, lived it. You can do it, just might take a couple of tries. Just don't give up if the first or second go around doesn't get you off of them. You can and you will. Pain sucks, addiction sucks, and people who don't understand suck more, lol. Good luck, you can do it.