My MIL had a terrible time with pain meds-she had three operations in one year-hip replacement, hysterectomy, and abdominal surgery for perotinitis. She had terrible constipation from the medications. I felt so bad for her. She spent that whole year in pain and fear, and constipated besides! Don't know how or even if she got off the meds. She died in 2005 , so I can't ask her. Sorry.

I have a friend who is going through the same thing. You just have to stick it out...it does get better. He is just now starting to feel better after a couple of weeks.

His doctor also prescribed a non-addictive pain reliever. It does help.

thanks both of you any one else can help would be greatly appreacaited.My body craves the meds and I am going thur the withdrawls and they are so so bad.

Just stick with it Judy. I think your Dr. should have gone over this with you. Did he tell you what to expect, or how long it would go on. Hang in there. I remember my Mom coming down off her pain patch after she broke her arm, and dislocated her shoulder a couple of years ago.
Leslie

Judy, last year when I had my knee replaced, I was on some pretty powerful pain meds. I worried about it because I had been taking them for around 3 months. I spoke to LorifromUtah, as she had been in the same place a couple of years earlier. She suggested that I start taking only 1/2 a pill instead of a whole one. I did that and found that at that point in my recovery, 1/2 pill did as well as a whole one did in the beginning. Within a few weeks I was able to take a 1/2 pill only once a day, and then I sort of forgot to take it. Whattaya know? I didn't need them anymore! Does this make any sense? I hope it helps you.

((((Judy)))) You summed it up with My body craves the meds...the withdrawals are so bad....

Even though you are NOT a drug addict, you are going through drug addiction withdrawals just as a self-made addict would. Your body is sabotaging you, thinking if it makes you miserable enough you'll give it the drugs. It's just like an extremely spoiled child; don't give in and you'll win.

I had an aunt in the same situation. You literally have to take it one day at a time, or one hour at a time, and it will get better and then the addiction cravings and pain will go away.

Can you talk to your doctor, or some other professional, to help with the withdrawals. More pills probably won't be the solution.

I'm sorry I can't offer any real help, but you hang in there. This will end and you'll feel alive again.

I have a cousin that kicked a 15-year heroin habit. That was 25 years ago. Then he kicked alcohol and cigarettes 20 years ago. Clean, sober, pain free, happy, and healthy is his current situation. You can kick the pain meds!

Following my lung surgery they gave me pain killers that I really needed but I have been very careful with them ...I just don't allow myself to abuse them. I like the 1/2 pill idea..I might even try that just because. Any way I just wanted to say good luck and just to force yourself to go without.

While you are weaning from a narcotic, it helps to take a stool softener to combat the constipation, and a light-dose Ambien or generic to help you get a night's sleep without taking the pain med. (Do not take BOTH a pain pill and a sleeping pill!)

Talk to your MD for more help. NOW, before it gets worse!

You're making a good decision here. Even though it will be hard, you need to stick it out. I agree you should speak to your own doctor, if comfortable. If he is not helpful, you need to change doctors. I have strong opinions on this subject. Some doctors prescribe narcotics more freely than others, and show less concern for the patient when they feel that it has become a problem. I've spoken to my own doctor about this because in my job, I see that virtually ALL the clients that I have who are addicted to prescription medication have the SAME physician (we live in a small town-there are about 15 doctors). My point is that if you don't feel that your doctor will be helpful to you about this problem, you should find another one.

Good luck to you. You can do it.

When I had my wreck and several broken bones they kept me drugged up. I remember that feeling. You feel like ants are crawling all over your body. I was on Morphine in the hospital and then Demerol and then Ibuprofen. They stepped me off of the drugs carefully and by the time I went home I rarely needed the Ibuprofen.

Have some Carmelle Tea! That should help.

Thank you all for all your replys and knowing you care means so much.I called and I am going in tomorrow to a rehab center.My bags are packed.Greg went got me some new pjs and things I need.The drs just keep giving me more when I asked them to help me come off.Since I have a stint in my heart they say I need to be weaned off.So I feel I am doing the right thing.Noone is making me,I decided I am so tired of depending on pain meds and you do not know if your dr will write it next time so I said I have to get help.I tried taking one a day but my body craves more.So you want hear from me for awhile.They say greg and ashley want be able to visit right away.But they are glad I am making the step to come off.I been on some type of pain killers for a Long time after all the back surgeries and other surgeries.Thanks again and when I can come home I will post a update.I love you all.Thanks for not judging me but caring,Judy

Try cutting down the dosage a tiny bit every day,until you are only taking a speck...it should make the withdrawl symptoms a lot easier to handle.

Judy, you will be in all of our prayers. You WILL come home drug free! We all love you.

Tami

This is why I did not take the pain meds after the first two weeks of my injury. I stopped because I did not want to become adicted. It must be hard to come off of them.

I have various strength pain meds because of my RA, but I keep them for the very rare occasion when the pain is so unbearable that I'm almost ready to go to the ER.

I avoid the ER, because they would just give me a shot of Demerol. It felt real good, the pain went away...but I don't want to risk dependency, ever.

I'm glad you are going for help Judy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

You are very strong to make this decision and in my opinion you are being very wise. I hope Ashley can keep us informed as much as possible.

Hugs to you

ivamae

Judy, you are doing the right thing. Prayers for your rehab!

Judy, you are so brave and you have made the right decision going to get help.
You are, and always have been, in my healing thoughts and prayers.
Give hugs to Ashley and Greg for me.
Love you!

I agree completely with Lyndy. This is not directed at Judy, but to anybody facing surgery or medical problems that involve pain. You MUST take responsibility for your own health, and be sensible to avoid this type of problem. I've been prescribed narcotics before and I've refused to take them. After my shoulder surgery, I refused morphine, demerol and anything like that. The surgeon came back to talk me into them, and I flatly refused. He finally made me agree to tylenol 3's, which I agreed to, to shut him up. Then I took OTC pills instead, and suffered somewhat, but I lived and it was not as bad as becoming addicted. There were other times narcotics were recommended to me, and I refused them. I do not ever want to be addicted to anything, and I make my health decisions accordingly. I'm not saying that nobody should have them ever, but according to the doctor I have now...most people (not ALL, but MOST) who do need them, should only have them for a very limited amount of time.

Judy, you're very wise to do this with medical supervision now because you are physically addicted. Going to rehab is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself, it's a rare person who can do this on their own. Learn to take control of your life, so you can overcome this and then make the decision to never get in this position again. Once you have gone through withdrawal, remember that nobody can force you to take this type of medication again. There are alternative options available to you.

You're taking charge now, and that is very, very good. And I think you know that you will always get a lot of support here at the KT, while you work on your addiction. Now that you've identified the problem, there's nothing more important than for you to do than to focus on than recovery. Good luck tomorrow, and keep us posted.

I'm praying for you Judy. You're doing the right thing, hard as it may seem (and probably is).
One step/day at a time.
Leslie

Judy, my prayers are with you. I was given vicodin in Sept 2007 for severe shoulder pain. I had to very slowly wean myself from it, cutting it into tiny pieces until I was barely taking it anymore. I am proud of you for getting help. We are here for you!

Many good wishes, Judy. You are such a smart person to recognize that you need help and are actually doing it!

I admire your courage to take this step. Good luck!

Read my post about going to my folks house for a week. I am facing the same problems. Reading the advice given to you and other's experiences has helped. The only problem is that they took all the meds away (good) took me and the kids to my folks, and now have lost all the meds, including my zantac, birth control pill and decongestant, not to mention the prozac and pain pills ) (not Good)