Weasel
Stranger
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2
Loc: Minnesota
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I've been using about 10 10/325 hydros per day following a car accident last year. I want to drastically reduce or stop quickly as they have become a little too important to me. I have a week off from work so I can concentrate on relaxation, etc. Can anybody tell me what I can expect in terms of w/d symptoms? I've noticed that when I have gone a day or two without I had a feeling of tightness and constriction in my throat and excessive sneezing and yawning. Is this typical? How miserable will I be, and for how long should I expect to be miserable. Any insights would be appreciated.
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STARCHILD007
Journeyman
Reged: 03/03/04
Posts: 72
Loc: EAST COAST
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2-3 days, mostly gastrointestinal problems(some diharia and cramping) use amodiam AD. Yes sneezing is one symptome. see my post on witdrawl and dependance.good luck. Steve007 
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Julz
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/17/03
Posts: 222
Loc: NJ Shore
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Weasel~
To me, the worst Hydro wd symptoms are those dang restless legs at night!!!!!!! That in itself is enough to drive me over the edge!
Honestly, if you've been taking 10 10's a day for the past year, you WILL have wd's- the worst of them by days 2-3 and easing up a bit after day 5.
I highly recommend the Thomas Recipe, which I have posted here before.
Keep in mind that wd's vary for everyone- the younger you are in age, the easier it is to handle, but let's face it- wd's are horrible for everyone!
You will find much support here at DB regarding this- please feel free to PM me anytime if you have any other questions.
Best of luck & God bless~
Peace,
Julz
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Love never fails. 1Cor 13:8
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kimbuka
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/14/03
Posts: 217
Loc: Midwest
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The best thing about the w/d is getting the advice through this forum...it can also be the worst thing because hearing some of the horror stories can scare you to death!!!
You will get alot of advice, but always remember that they will definately be different from person to person. My w/d were not voluntary...I had run out and this is what I went through;
Extreme weakness...kind of feeling like the flu. Cold, then some sweating, feeling absolutely useless.
Sleeping was the worst, it was awful. Once I fell asleep, I'd get barely a couple hours in, then toss and turn, hot and cold, sit up, lay down, try different lying positions, but still couldn't get much sleep. Try to get a sleeping aid/med, it just might help. I almost felt like I had poison in my blood. It didn't matter whether I was standing, sitting, or lying down, I was still very uncomfortable. I got headaches.
One thing that helped me (a little) was I'd run a very hot bath (like jaquzzi hot) and lay in it for about 20 minutes or so. Even though I felt terrible, it seemed to put some relaxation in my bones for awhile.
I had to forget about work...it just wasn't going to happen. It was bad enough taking care of chores (as minimal as I could get away with), taking care of the kids and dinner...etc. As for the pain, it will still be there, but I was so miserable that the pain just became pschological for a few days. It did seem that after about the 4th or 5th day that the w/d seemed to be getting better, or going away. It will take alot of self control and believing that you can do it in order to quit. Like I said, I didn't want to do it (not ready yet) I had to because I ran out.
I wish you the best, and you'll be in my thoughts. Good luck and remember...when you are done with the w/d, life will start to become much better. You'll see and live things like you did before you became a pain sufferer.
Kim
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Greycie
Old Hand
Reged: 07/08/03
Posts: 461
Loc: Pacific NorthWest
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Lots of good info. here- as Julz said- w/d vary from person to person, so what one person experienced may not be the same for you. For me, there was the pain that the drug was prescribed to relieve as well as emotional turmoil. I was upset over everything but mostly about feeling as though I *needed* the drug to function. The rest was a cakewalk in comparison. Good luck to you!!
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"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
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JOJOM
Banned for off topic discussions, confronting mods in public, and being unpolite to members and mods
Reged: 08/16/03
Posts: 358
Loc: Yankee
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I personally became really, really emotional! I mean crying all the time... I lost my appetite, RLS at night, sweating, weakness and so this lasted for about 5 days total and then it got better. Take hot baths, take OFF work, eat light, try to walk, take Vitamins C is the best and just relax and you will get through it! We all have been there at one point and were still standing!
Good luck to you
 
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Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief she is beautiful.
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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First I just want to say congrats on making a very difficult decision. It's good that you realized that it's time to take a break. It will only get worse and worse if you don't try now. As a couple of people said, it is different for everyone, but I think most would say that the mental wd is the absolute worst. You are going to have to spend ALOT of time convincing yourself that you DON'T need this medication to survive. Problem is, you are going to feel really badly for a few days so it's hard to convince yourself of it. Just remind yourself - CONSTANTLY - that what you are feeling is temporary. Many people here, and elsewhere have taken holidays or stopped completely and are glad that they did (once the first week is over!).
For me, the absolute worst part of it was the EXTREME fatigue. The stomach issues can be managed very well with immodium or another similiar otc. It's the feeling that you can not drag yourself out of bed or off the couch even if your life depended on it. That does improve after a few days. Once you hit day three - FORCE yourself, and you will have to force yourself to do SOMETHING. Even if it is a 10 minute walk you will be amazed at how much that helps, and trust me, you won't want to do it but it really will help.
YOu already said that you are taking the week off from work and that is a good thing. I don't know if you have kids, but if you can arrange a sitter or if they will be at school that will be good. You will be too exhausted to deal with everything and take proper care of them at the same time.
Good luck and post, post, post. So many of us know what you are going thru and if nothing else, we can give you our support and whatever little hints we may have to get you thru this.
Just keep reminding yourself that you can do it and how you are feeling will end.
One last thing - if you are serious about doing this, DO NOT have any hydro in the house. I'm sure that 99% of the people here will agree with me, if you have them, YOU WILL TAKE THEM. If you don't take them right away, you will eventually and just knowing they are there, just waiting will eat at you.
Good luck!
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mermaid72000
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 125
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i totally agree with gottadoit about having no hydro in the house get rid of all sources. I still have 2 big refills but i wont go thru this nighmare again. when you are tempted to use hydro and you have made up your mind to stop nothing else will matter , the change will come from within and those pills wont have their grip on you anymore. what has worked for me is remembering the worst wd day i had and that helps alot. i dont glorify using it or think of the buzz i got from it. i do miss it alot but i am a much happier productive person off the hydro. good luck to you andkeep us posted
carol
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Princeton
Newbie
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Frozen Tundra
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Be proud of yourself for doing something for yourself that you felt needed doing. Taking off work was the absolute best thing for you to do, actually it's the 2nd best thing - the 1st best thing would be to rid your home and access to hydro.
Try to keep in contact with the board, shutting oneself off from life and others is easy to do right now and is an unhealthy part of withdrawl. I'd much rather have us help you to cope than having you out alone and on your own. That of course is only my opinion, I am by far not an expert. As others have said we all have our own thoughts and advice. Take, utilize and keep what you need in support from us and you'll have the happiness of being there for someone else in the future.
Thinking of you,
Princeton
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so take me as i am this may mean you'll have to be a stronger man rest assured that when
i start to make you nervous and i'm going to extremes tomorrow i will change and today won't mean a thing
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piper65111
Member
Reged: 12/16/01
Posts: 105
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The problem is when Ive had wds just getting to the computor takes major effert.But if you do make it knowing that your not alone in your extreme misery does help.
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Pocahontas
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/28/03
Posts: 214
Loc: North
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I also have been taking hydro 10/325 for over a year for pain from a car accident....mainly 10-20 per day, depending on the day and the day's activities. If i am just home, I will take and take and take. If I am busy with my son's hockey, i will not take as many.
I've forced myself to go through MANY w/d just due to the fact that I am uncomfortable with my usage but if I have hydro, I am going to consume it.
My w/d are mainly diarrhea for which i prevent with about 10-15 Imodium AD tablets...really works great. And then I also tell my family I have the flu so I can lie on the couch and play dead. I don't have cramps but I do lost a few pounds and that i like! I can feel gaggy/nauseous but that's rare. However, my body just wants to rest and i allow myself to do that.
I have heard horror stories of hydro w/d on this board but for me it is not that bad.
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~Princess Pocahontas
Aim for the moon, for if you miss you will always land amongst the stars ...
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Unknowingly, you all have helped me with your comments to the original poster. I am in the process of a taper which is going okay. But, like alot of you said it is hard when you have the med around. But it is even scarier when you think about throwing your pills down the sink. But I am thinking about it. As for getting rid of the source, what do you do if you have refills? I mean even if you throw the pills out chances are you will refill when the hard withdrawals hit, or even worse refill later when you have been through your withdrawals. (Carol, you are strong to have those refills sitting there). I guess you could call the pharmacy and tell them to cancel all your refills. I guess you really gotta want this to do all of these things. This is a great, supportive forum....
Sam
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Greycie
Old Hand
Reged: 07/08/03
Posts: 461
Loc: Pacific NorthWest
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I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the poster who said do NOT have the meds around! I had to get rid of mine in order to take my break from it because I knew if it was there, I'd take it. I would lie around on the couch thinking even the pain of that made me want to vomit! It's tough, but as the other poster said, if you have it there, you WILL take it. You'll create excuses and because of the withdrawal, you'll believe with everything in you that you need it. I don't know if this is an option for any of you- but I haven't pursued a refill through an OP since this and I'm sticking to the contract of 20 percs which must last 28 days. That gives me pain relief approximately 10 days (or times, I should say) out of the month. Yeah it's rough, but not as rough as being addicted to the pill and needing more and more to ease the pain. Good luck to you all!
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"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
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Weasel
Stranger
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2
Loc: Minnesota
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As the original poster of this thread, I agree with Sam that this board is a wonderful place for support and that there is a lot to learn from the experiences of others. This has been my first post, and not only have I found the responses informative, I find encouragement and strength in the understanding and support of those who have posted replies and sent me PMs. Thanks to all.
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sassylady
Journeyman
Reged: 06/04/03
Posts: 69
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Hi there weasal...Good luck to you ! Have you thought of maybe just tamping off the doseage instead of going cold turkey, that might work best for you, I know that has helped me in the past, like taking only half a 10, once in the morning and once in the evening. And also Ultram works to help with w/d, but be careful and limit yourself to only 50 mgs once or twice a day till you start to feel better.
I wish you the best of luck and do keep posting and let us know how your doing and I`m sure you`ll get much needed support here. Also I have heard that sweets work when someone is going though w/d`s, I had a drinking problem many years ago and checked into rehab and they had the frig there stocked with icecream and believe me it really did help !
Warm Wishes and Happy Thoughts,
sassylady
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