Withdrawing from pain meds

Hi Everyone,

This is a bit personal, but I just feel so alone right now and was hoping someone else out here in Hyster Land is going thru the same thing or something similar.

I had my Novasure (uterine ablation) procedure done in December 2008. I was put on Percocet, then Vicodin and Darvocet for the pain. Most people weren't supposed to feel much pain from the procedure, but I was one of the unlucky ones. My pain was awful. It continued for months... not excrutiating pain during the month when I wasn't on my period, but it was still there. During my periods it was awful. I landed in the ER a half a dozen times.

Needless to say, I stayed on narcotic painkillers and I am still taking them after my total hysterectomy (Da Vinci) on July 6th. So I am addicted to them... it's been almost 2 years that I have taking at least one pill every day. On the handful of days I went without, I had bad withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, sweating, aches like I had been hit by a truck, restless leg syndrome and crawling skin) so I know I am definitely addicted. I count my pills everyday and think about when I can take my next dose all day long.

I decided since I am no longer in any pain from my hysterectomy, that I will wean myself off the narcotics this week. I am down to four pills and will take them over the next 5 days, then I will be done with them! I know this will be very hard for me to do. But I do not have any reason anymore to be on these pills and I am sick of obsessing over them all day long every day!

Anyone out there going thru this? I joined a NA website and will be going to weekly meetings at the church down the street starting on my first day of sobriety... this upcoming Monday. Would love to hear from anyone for some withdrawal tips and support! Thanks so much for not judging me.... this is a hard thing to admit and I feel ashamed

You should not feel bad. You had real pain and needed a real solution which is what caused the problem. It is proven that these pills can become habit forming but I feel it is worth an end to the suffering at the time. I had to take vicadin for headaches due to hairdressing for a few years until I changed careers.2- 3 a day. When I asked my dr. if I would notice side effects when I stopped getting the headaches and was ready to stop he said probably not -too low a dose and I didnt.I do know that I have had some really achey legs after this hysterectomy though.Did take a lot of pain meds for 7 weeks with it ,but tapered off slowly as the pain subsided gradually too.Not sure if that might be causing the achy legs-mostly lower.Was on much higher doses after surgery then w/the headaches.Anyway perhaps some of it is a MINDSET. If you can tell your dr. what you are doing I know they can help you if they think withdrawl symptoms will be a serious isse to help ease the transition.(like gradually reducing the amount or other meds to calm the muscles) Anyway congrats on the desision and being pain free now.

i was an alcoholic for 11 years and had to quit cold turkey for my own health... that was 10 years ago last march... i still feel tempted, but have stayed away from it... its hard to do, but its so worth it... good for you to make this decision to get help from NA... i'm proud of you!

I lost my sister at 41 to prescription painkiller abuse that she had used over some 15 years.

You took the first step getting help with NA and admitting the problem, my sister denied to the day she died. Stick with it, you can do this.

Don't feel bad about yourself, I firmly believe that there are people who are addicts the moment they take their first pill just as there are people who are alcoholics the moment they take their first drink. My husband doesn't do drugs or drink and never has but I can tell you that in times of stress he will watch people drink a beer or smell a beer and just CRAVE it--I can watch him watch them and see the desire. Odd huh? He considers himself an alcoholic or prescription pain killer addict just for the sake of prevention.

If you are serious, find a doctor and a good friend or family member you trust. Make a pledge to tell that doctor your problem and work with him/her (only him/her don't doctor shop) to beat the need. Take the friend or family member with you to all of yoru appointments and let them handle the prescriptions for you for any narcotics.....they get the slip, fill it, dispense it, and hide them from you. Think about it, you can't get hooked in a hospital because someone else is managing your prescriptions for you.

I will be praying for you. It will not be easy but it is doable...you know you have a problem, which is the first step. Find good support and don't hide things---if you have a bad day tell someone. I can tell you from experience that it will not get better on its own and isn't something to deal with on your own. You also don't go through this alone, you drag your family with you.

I'm proud of you for admitting it, although it isn't something to be ashamed of. It's your body reacting to something pleasurable and nothing to be shamed over. Everyone is addicted to SOMETHING: TV, food, alcohol, sex, etc. but some have addictions that can kill them. The only shame would be doing nothing about it.

I love you and am praying for you,
LL

Good for you Kathleen! You can do this!

You are a brave woman, Kathleen, and I applaud you for taking this step to make yourself healthy again.

I am wondering if you should talk with your dr and get medical advice as to how quickly or slowly you should be stopping the meds. He/she should be able to help you pace yourself so that the withdrawal is not too severe.

My very best wishes and positive thoughts go out to you. Take good care of yourself in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Drink plenty of water to flush the toxins out of your body and eat healthy foods. Good luck!

The day that I decided not to take another Percocet (roughly 10 days after surgery) I looked at the bottle and felt fear... fear that the pain would come back and become unmanageable. I even told my parents (who were with me for two post-op weeks) that I understood how people could get a psychological addiction. I found that I was still in pain but able to get myself comfortable using pillows and continuing to take the naproxen (Aleve) which I was prescribed in combination with the Percocet. I also used a heating pad on my belly.

Best wishes to you for the start and continuation of your recovery! You have already taken the first step.

Kathleen, you should NOT feel ashamed. Good luck! I'll be praying for you. ANYONE can get addicted to these pills.

Everyone is right: you have nothing to be ashamed of. You needed the pills and it's not your fault you became addicted. I have become addicted to pain pills in my past before, once when I hurt my back and once for the endo, and I probably will be again after I am healed from the surgery. Coming off the pills is so hard to do, but you can do it. I would highly recommend weaning yourself off slowly because going off cold turkey really, really sucks.

Thank you everyone for your prayers as well as suggestions. I have been weaning myself for a couple of weeks and then this week will be my last. Saturday and Sunday I will be down to taking a half pill a day...

I do realize I needed these pills all this time, especially after my pathology report showed endometriosis, which only got worse after the ablation. But they do make me feel good when I take them... warm, fuzzy feeling that I've come to love.

I am a pretty strong person, been through alot in my life. If I can quit smoking after doing it for 15 years, I think I can do this.

Again thanks everyone. This was the support I was hoping for