Several weeks ago, I decided that it was time for me to see what my life would be like if I discontinued my prescription pain medication. I have been taking hyrdrocodone 5/325 for more than a decade (yeah it was 5/500 before they decided that acetaminophen was so dangerous). But since my back surgery and the physical therapy have reduced my pain, I have felt an increasing amount of pressure to stop taking the medicine. The docs don't want to give it to me and I don't want to beg them for it. So last Friday I took my last pill and I have not taken another one since. My pain level is just fine with acetaminophen alone. I even went to the sports center to watch my middle grandson play basketball yesterday. That was a rather strenuous trip for me and I expected to be in great pain today. It did not happen.
Are things going this easy because the drug is still in my body? Have I seen the worse of the withdrawal or is that coming in the following days?
Well Ann, i thought about the same thing also , but for reason am always find myself refilling and going to pick them up !! LOL HOPE that you make the right decision and PPLEASE talk wit your doctor also, yeah the meds., are in your system , but for how long can your body actually go with out them ??? I've tried it for the most of 3days only , and was fine , but i reallty don't know how it would do if any longer ??? Be careful , okay .... Beverly L.
It sounds like the drugs still in you, as it won't be out your system yet but with certain illnesses and lupus would be the same it may have come to a point in your life where it's eased up more than before.
You may still get withdrawals coming off it but i hope you don't and it would be lovely to see one member at least in a remission stage. xxx
I have tried not taking my pain meds on my days off from work. But it always sneaks up on me and it's very intense and unbearable and takes longer for the meds to kick in. once i stopped taking plaquel for a week and i felt like i had the flu. I take about twenty or so pills a day, I hate taking meds, it's toxic and posion to the body. I take abou twenty pills a day before lupus, I was in great health and very active. Now i'm alawys exhausted. I can't do the things i use to be. I pray you will no longer need the pain meds to funchion in your daily life, asia
I'm ever so pleased with your pogress within 5 days and i really hope it keeps going that way but if they can sort the issues out you need doing all the better...that's why i've had 6 operations to stop certain issues before they get worse.
You know my prays are with you mate and your progress. Love Terri xxx
Like yourself years of experience with different things and then it comes abit late in the day to find out what was actually causing it all but like yourself it's better late then never.
I do laugh though sometimes because before my mom ever died she used to say when you hit your 40s your seizures etc will slow down and you might have a better life from there on and at 39 diagnosed like i told you with Lupus causing it all.
Ann your mind wanting the opiate is like a kind of withdrawal and craving but no giving in as helped your body.
It's such lovely news to hear though and ireally hope it keeps going my friend. xxx
Hi Ann, so it has taken tim to responsed back !!! HOpe that everything is well for you -smile Well today wed., was a horrible day for me , after dealing with the changing of the weather here in Ga., i was scheduled for an MRI , well i get to the provider office to take it and they tell me that my low income discount has expried !!! Oh boy i was like REALLY on FIRE, with this planning system of theirs ( which caused me to flare with alot of PAIN that ran down my legs -which am scheduled to see the primary doctor tomorrow 5/1/2012 and then suppose to see the LUPUS doctor next week 5/22/2012 and both have been waitng as long as i have to have this TEST done !!!!- AND it's not going to happen - i really don't want no problems ) , it was nothing that they could do - because i didn't bring no paper work along with me to have this MRI visit after waiting for months to take it today!!! LOL what else can happen ?? Well my son picked me up from the trainstation close to my house and we gothome and tried to figure out the months , which their count was wrong , but of course my son completely snapped and told them that i was going to find another doctor to go to , NOW at this point am in the bathroom on the other side of the house ( have no clue to what just happened or to what was said ) , i come to the kitchen and my son says, MOM you are going to find another LUPUS and Rhemy doctor !!! My reply was NO, NO, NO, NO- what have you DONE ??? , thoses doctors are great for me !! He goes well it's not going to happen with them anymore so get ove it !!! What !!! the HELL ???? Am not understanding , THIS illness is about me- RIGHT ??? And they made a simple mistake . WHY ? do i have to be the one who has to give in ??? Am going to call the doctor office back tomorrow and try to figure out What went wrong , because after all that - I WENT TO SLEEP AND just woke up to read my e-mls , and the office was closed ... But sorry to carry on about totally NOTHING but i had to say it somerwhere , thanks for listening .... talk with you later... Beverly L.
Ann A. said:
Beverly, I have a great pain management physician. Over the past two years he has used his skills (epidurals, ablations, tendon sheaf injections) and his ability to refer me to physical therapy to reduce my pain to level a that I have not experienced for at least 25 years. The only thing that I speak to this physician about is my pain and how to manage it. He has been wonderful. My body most definitely does not need the same amount of opiates that it needed when I first started to see him. We have come a long way together.
I know that if my pain level goes up, I can go back on the medication. But there is no need for me stay on it right now. We will see if I can manage to avoid filling the prescription. I have a few weeks before my cataract surgery. Hopefully I will over any hump by then.
I actually visited a forum that is devoted to opiate withdrawal. When I wrote how much I was taking they kind of laughed at me. Seems that when it comes to opiates, I am not what they think of as a heavy user. They said that my battle is not with physical dependency it is about my mind. So we will see - Pray for me.
Beverly L. said:
Well Ann, i thought about the same thing also , but for reason am always find myself refilling and going to pick them up !! LOL HOPE that you make the right decision and PPLEASE talk wit your doctor also, yeah the meds., are in your system , but for how long can your body actually go with out them ??? I've tried it for the most of 3days only , and was fine , but i reallty don't know how it would do if any longer ??? Be careful , okay .... Beverly L.
Well as of tomorrow am going to call back to the doctor and PRAY that they will see me !!! And Yes my son is over helping to make those decisions , but i talked with him very clamly and just told him , " I HAVE TO GO TO THAT DOCTOR " , no Exceptions !!! . And he just goies well we see !!! wHAT IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS !!! .... Beverly L.
Ann so sorry to read the rest of the story and your anger over the issue. Maybe find a close friend that can act a MPOA. However no ONE can make medical decisions for you unless you can no longer make them for yourself. Thats the law.
My Ausome AnnA. I am so happy for you. God is good and he will continue to give your body the strength is needs without the medication. God Bless You and your family. Many blessings and hugs
Ann A---- just trying to get caught up on all the posts. I admire your strength and very thankful to God for allowing you to have NO signs of withdrawal. Outstanding my friend. Keep us posted. God Bless and good health to you!
Hell Ann, after dealing with everyhng on WED. , i stayed in bed for 2days and just getting up todaySaturday . I hate getting stressed out it takes to many days away from US!!!! Well Mon is only a day away and i will handle things then . Am just not feeling NOTHING , along with the wether here in Georgia changing am trying not to really do anything ... LOL Oh Yeah i seen this ad on a cable channel for health insurance and i was able to call and they help with per exisiting health problems , so maybe on Monday my son can talk with the guy , this really seem okay and the coverage sounds good and they do help people with LUPUS !!! Well hope tha tthis works cause i don't want to stop going to the doctor nor stop taking my meds., not just yet (eventhough i've thought about it ) ... that number is 1 800 692 7201 or the rep. that helped me his name is Mr. Blair @ 1 877 902 1762 , ext.2078 tell him that Beverly referred you , that's if you need insurance ... Beverly L.
Ann A. said:
I am feeling you Sweetheart.
Beverly L. said:
Well as of tomorrow am going to call back to the doctor and PRAY that they will see me !!! And Yes my son is over helping to make those decisions , but i talked with him very clamly and just told him , " I HAVE TO GO TO THAT DOCTOR " , no Exceptions !!! . And he just goies well we see !!! wHAT IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS !!! .... Beverly L.
I HOPE t does also !! A tired of beng rejected as ifam not an taxpayer of this country , well use to be !!! LOL can't work anymore. Thanks for the thoughts and hope ... Beverly L.
Checking in...is letting us all know how things are going and it's still good news Ann and you've done so well over a week...such lovely news to hear.
((Large hugs to you Ann)) Terry xxx
Ann A. said:
One week ago today, I took the last hydrocodone pill in the bottle. This week has not been as tough as I envisioned it to be. I know I am not yet done with this. But I appreciate being able to check in here.
My little awesome AnnA. you do what you have to do to feel better sweetie. I support you and still love you whatever you decide to do, its all about you feeling pain free. Many blessings and hugs.
I think it's so great how Ann's coping and she seems such a strong willed person.
She's such a lovely woman. xxx
fighter said:
My little awesome AnnA. you do what you have to do to feel better sweetie. I support you and still love you whatever you decide to do, its all about you feeling pain free. Many blessings and hugs.
