Hi everyone.. so glad i came across this site.. i have been addicted to vics for 3 years now.. no need to take them anymore for pain but i do.. i am so tired of being tired.. i want my life back.. i am tired of alianating everyone i love..i have maxed out at about 10 a day and am trying the taper down method today. i have 15 left and am going to do 5,4,3,2,1.. i don't know if i need that suboxone i am hearing about or not.. been thru the rehab, meetings for crack and have been clean from that for 5 years. What should i expect for withdrawal symptoms? How long will it last?
well so far today i am on track with my plan of 5 vics.. just a few chills. nothing unbearable but i am scared of what's coming... i got my epsom salt (anybody know how to use it? and what for?) i also picked up some immodium and chamoille tea.. why isn't anybody writing me?
Hi fear
congratulations on deciding to come of the gear. Detoxing is not an exact science and everyone is so different but tapering should make things easier than jumping straight off cold turkey, not many can do that though. The best advice I had heard from the recovering addicts and coucellors I know is that the ones that keep busy and plan purposful things into there day are the ones that suceeed. Get out of bed early, wheather you are knackered or not, have regular hot baths (with the epson salts) take lots of exercise, see people and go to meetings if AA/NA floats your boat. Go to bed at a regular time but dont lay there tossing and turning if you cant sleep get up and have some warm milk and read a boring book. Might sound stupid but it worked for me. If all fails you could concider sub but I would try everthing else first. oh and be carefull about taking too much imodium it is an opiate diridative sp.
God bless
Peace
Paul
congratulations on deciding to come of the gear. Detoxing is not an exact science and everyone is so different but tapering should make things easier than jumping straight off cold turkey, not many can do that though. The best advice I had heard from the recovering addicts and coucellors I know is that the ones that keep busy and plan purposful things into there day are the ones that suceeed. Get out of bed early, wheather you are knackered or not, have regular hot baths (with the epson salts) take lots of exercise, see people and go to meetings if AA/NA floats your boat. Go to bed at a regular time but dont lay there tossing and turning if you cant sleep get up and have some warm milk and read a boring book. Might sound stupid but it worked for me. If all fails you could concider sub but I would try everthing else first. oh and be carefull about taking too much imodium it is an opiate diridative sp.
God bless
Peace
Paul
epson salt in a hot bath think 2cups helps with muscle pain but you might not need that until you totally stop the pills the tea is suppose to help you relax if you are a girl could do the lavendar in the bath guy here no lavendar for me thanks walks really helped me start now while you feel kinda good keep it up durning the bad days good luck
Thanks for responding to my post.. you guys are my lifeline right now.. yes i am a 49 year old woman.. lavendar sounds much nicer for the bath.. last night i forced myself to go shopping and to mcdonalds with my daughter and 3 grand daughters who live with me.. it was fun and i could sense what my life used to be like.. no need to take the immodium yet cause i am still constipated .. i am on track with the tapering and feeling fine..i am so lucky to have a job at QVC where i am very flexible and can work as little as 3 hours or as many as 10. i hope to be able to work more and more as i get clean..i have a doctor appointment tomorrow and am torn between cancelling it or going.. naturally i don't want to break my connection in case this does not work.. the addict talking i know.. thanks again oh and thanks bad attiude for the advice on walking.. i love to walk my dog.. but i hate the cold..lol
Everything will be okay! Just keep fighting you get were you want to be. We all have had to go through withdrawals. It is hell I know it does get better. keep posting you get the support you need.
You friend
Marina~
You friend
Marina~
Keep your appointment but ask your doctor for help not for more pills. He can make your w/d more comfortable and therefore you might be more successful. Tapering doesn't have great success for most. Support from your doctor and a 12 step group does.
There's no reason to go through this alone. You deserve love and support. You have an illness that needs treating.
Cowgirl
There's no reason to go through this alone. You deserve love and support. You have an illness that needs treating.
Cowgirl
thanks for your support cowgirl and marina! i am feeling very optimistic.. am i crazy to think i might get by with very little withdrawal? i am so hoping.. i am still torn about the dr.
As addicts we want to protect our sources... but it is so empowering to take control of our beginning recovery. I called all of the area pharmacies and told them I was an addict and to please put my name in data base that requires the pharmacy to call the dr. and question any script I bring in. It keeps me honest and is so less embarressing than having them bust me. I did this after telling my dr. (who by the way already knew but continued to give me what I wanted). Just make sure that you tell your dr. that you are a recovering addict.
It's all a mind game but it made me feel better. Shame will kill you if the pills don't.
Take a leap of faith. You have the opportunity to do this right.
Good Luck
Cowgirl
It's all a mind game but it made me feel better. Shame will kill you if the pills don't.
Take a leap of faith. You have the opportunity to do this right.
Good Luck
Cowgirl
Welcome, fear....
I echo the other posters, especially none, he gave you good advice...
welcome to getting your life back..
keep posting and hugs to you....
kerry
I echo the other posters, especially none, he gave you good advice...
welcome to getting your life back..
keep posting and hugs to you....
kerry
Kerry..did I miss something here? Which post was None's?
i think he meant neontriffle cowgirl... yes thanks for all the advice. Since i am using this thread as sort of my daily journal to look back on i must say after day 2 (4 vics) i had an awful nights sleep of just a few hours.. today is my dr. appointment i am keeping it.. i am asking for some ambien and more vics.. i am more committed than ever but unwilling to suffer anymore than necessary. i am reading so much good information here to help.. if my withdrawal takes days, or weeks than that's just the way it is.. i am only human and have limits.. i am tired of being hard on myself.. the closer i get to my old my life the more i am chasing after it.. i can sense the laughter again and the genuine love for my family.. they deserve the best of me and i can't give them that when i am high on vics.. the past 2 days have reminded me of how much i need them and i actually laughed (inside) at something stupid.. i was courteous to my co workers and actually had conversations with my wonderful loving husband..i just know i am on my way..i am ready to live life on lifes terms again.. this past 2years has been hell and if the vics helped me thru it than so be it.. i went thru losing my job, bankruptcy, the loss of a son in law, health problems and 2 long years of my daughters being on crack..i was really grieving where i am in life and have had a hard time accepting my daughter(out of rehab) and her 3 little girls living with us.. now i am ready to accept it and embrace it and give it my all.. love to all
I am on day 10......I was taking 10+ NOrco (hydro).....do not ask you doctor for more pills. You will just have to start over again. Hope I don't sound mean...but you have to "nip it in the bud" sometime and be off the pills. 4 pills a day isn't that much to go cold turkey from. You will definitely get withdrawal....but it won't kill you. I would ask for the ambien but that is addicting too. Sometime you must not have any pills and cut off your resources. Easier said than done....good luck.
We can give you all of the advice and suggestions in the world..but it's up to you on whether you decide to take it or not. We only know what we have gone through and though it is so much like your own story, it is different for each and everyone of us. Please just remember that every day that you take a pill is a day lost. You talk about wanting to embrace life..you can't do it when your high. It's a false sense of serinity, a false sense of security.
You have an awesome opportunity to take control right now and KatBoyd was right, 4 a day habit of viks is an easier w/d than what most have gone through and lived to tell the tale. Adding Ambien to the mix is really stupid. Another highly addictive medicine. Try herbal teas, KavaKava or even benadryl. Much safer and not addictive. Yea, so you won't sleep great for a few nights, but it will get better.
Do what you have to do...and no matter what, we'll always be here for you when and if you decide to "come clean". It took me 25 years to finally do it. That's 25 wasted years.....
Love,
Cowgirl
You have an awesome opportunity to take control right now and KatBoyd was right, 4 a day habit of viks is an easier w/d than what most have gone through and lived to tell the tale. Adding Ambien to the mix is really stupid. Another highly addictive medicine. Try herbal teas, KavaKava or even benadryl. Much safer and not addictive. Yea, so you won't sleep great for a few nights, but it will get better.
Do what you have to do...and no matter what, we'll always be here for you when and if you decide to "come clean". It took me 25 years to finally do it. That's 25 wasted years.....
Love,
Cowgirl
Let us know when you decide to go off the pills. We have helped each other through it just through this site. Most people would kill to be in your shoes. 4/day habit isn't horrible. Yes, you still have a problem, but kicking the 4/day won't kill you. Sleep medication wouldn't even work for me. I could take ambien during the day and not even sleep. My tolerance toward medication was so high I could take 2-3 tramadol and still stay awake. I tried to get Xanax to help me through but my website shut down. I am day 10 with nothing. I am doing it. Feel freaky, but I can deal with that. I don't EVER want to feel what I have the past 10 days ever again. Get rid of the pills and be strong. Just pretend like you have a horrible flu bug .... eventually it goes away.
Stay strong.
Stay strong.
thanks cowgirl.. i am rethinking the ambien..?? i just can't justify adding not sleeping to the list of uglies when med is available..i have used them at hard times before and never felt the need to continue them any longer than neccessary.. well we'll see..yes 4 a day is not so bad but this is only the 3rd day have been that low.. actually today i am down to a plan of 3 and still very much on track...slow and gradual is my plan..i am clean from crack cocaine for 7 years now and grateful for it.. i will get thru this.. i have to... love and thanks
cowgirl, I meant neon. ooppss..
fear, listen to what cowgirl said.
That is really good advice she gave you about the pharmacies. I went to treatment, but ended up relapsing because I never told my dr who pres. the pills. The second time around I did and it keeps me honest.
Also, get some support. Good luck.
kerry
fear, listen to what cowgirl said.
That is really good advice she gave you about the pharmacies. I went to treatment, but ended up relapsing because I never told my dr who pres. the pills. The second time around I did and it keeps me honest.
Also, get some support. Good luck.
kerry
katboyd... hi.. did you read the new post from sally? i think you did because i think you responded.. i don't think its' the amount cause look at her trouble after 9 years of just 3 a day.. i think it is more the amount of time that we take them.. i have been doing this for 7 years..oh i went to the doctor (yes i got more vics but did not ask for ambien).. the funny thing was that for the first time in my 49 years of life i had high blood pressure! I am convinced it is from the tapering too quickly.. when they say detox is dangerous i believe it.. i am as determined as ever to stop but having never tried before i want to give myself the time i need.. i did not get this way overnight and i believe any attempt at ct will be a failure and add to my frustration..i am following a guest on the dr. Phil show who also has a problem.. he is sending her to a medically assisted rehab and i am curious how they go about detoxing her.. anyway it sounds like you are making it and i am so very very happy for you and wish you the best.. cowgirl i know you disagree and that' ok. we can still be friends?
hi little beach... i fully respect all the advice .. just wish it was as simple as just stop... this disease is complicated/ the advice about telling pharmacys is well taken but i am thinking about when i stopped doing crack.. it didn't matter if i told all my dealers i was done.. there is always another dealer.. theres' always another pharmacy or an online dr or a friend who has some vics for toothache etc etc etc.. this desire has to be within me.. and it is.. friends holding my stash never worked for me because it drove me more crazy than having it myself..i had a good day today.. actually held conversations with people at work.. the only problem was the lack of sleep... being tired just makes me want to take a vic.. i am planning to continue tapering at as slow a pace as necessary to enhance my chance of success
