Opioids detoxing after hospital stay - advice?

[IllicitOne]

It sounds like you're not in that bad of shape, where the withdrawal is very manageable, albeit uncomfortable. If you actually want off for good, then just stop now. Taking more opiates at this point will just end up prolonging it, and getting you even more dependent, therefore causing even more severe withdrawals.

Take loperamide for stomach issues/diarrhea, ibuprofen for aches, diphenhydramine for sleep, and a benzo or some clonidine if you can get ahold of any to help relax.

You will feel much better in about a week.

I do have a question for you, sounds like you're somewhat experienced. I didnt have to use a single thing this w/d besides valium to help sleep and take the edge off yesterday. Havent taken anything today and I feel fine (temp regulation might be a bit off as I said, could just be mental tho).

anyways, why do you think they were so mild this time? I was on some super heavy shit for a week or so, stuff I hadnt even heard of fentanyl? diluded (cant even spell it)? and then oxys for like 3 weeks. By all of the standard "use for 4 days after having had an addiction youll be in full blown withdrawals"....i should have gone through hell and back. Why were mine SO minor when compared to others?

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

The doses they give you in a hospital setting, are much lower than what you would use of opiates recreationally. So that could have had something to do with it. That and it was only a week, so I wouldn't expect your detox to be that bad after such a short time. How much oxy were you on for the 3 weeks and what dose did you come off at?

 

[IllicitOne]

Well it was 3 weeks of drugs in the hospital. Youre right about recreationally use tho. i was pretty high for a while on them, I guess that comes with the numbing of pain. But wouldnt 3 weeks be a lot, even at a prescribed dose, for someone with a history? I dont even know if my history even really counts. I say 2 months and others come back in terms of years. and it was over 5 years ago now..? Just thinking, its strange theyre so much less than they were way back when

 

[sarajenni88]

Hey just be happy they r so mild. Everyone's body is different.ut plz believe that if u continue to use they will get much much worse. Ur welcome for the support btw
We all need some from time to time""!

 

[The Doc.]

I agree with Mr S did you take the pills by mouth last time? Cause the route of administration can have a big influence on how bad the withdrawals are any quick acting road is gonna be more addictive than a slower one such as eating the pills the way your supposed to. And you went on them very long that's probably why you feel this way this time around.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

I think you're looking a gift horse in the mouth. Hah. Whatever the cause, be grateful and take it as a sign to not go back to that shit, and risk having the horrible withdrawals you escaped this time, because you know they'll come.

 

[IllicitOne]

it was IV fentanyl/diluded for the first 5ish days and then all the meds were by mouth as the pain subsequently got less and less. i didnt think about that. my other habit was railing them, this time was by mouth as perscribed..sometimes took an extra one or two as the 5mgs wasnt cutting it for walking around more and more

 

[The Doc.]

yea, my withdrawals were super manageable. 2 days of feeling like i was sick and lethargic. only thing left is a bit of temp regulation issues. i mquit all due respect trainspotter, but you and i sound like we are at drastically different points of an opiate love affair as you call it. i do enjoy the drug, albeit less than i used to. weird how that works huh? used to be the best feeling ever, now it kinda just numbs me out, makes me content with boredom...kinda like weed.

my w/ds aren't worse this time, these are in fact the most minor theyve been. granted ive only gone through them twice. maybe three times? messed around with oxy for like 4 days back last year and i had trouble sleeping for a day or two after but that doesnt even count when compared to other stories i hear

when i do use them for recreation i can stick to a day or two and then just not do it. i will never forget that week of hell 5 years ago, but i have used opiates both prescribed and recreationally numerous times since then in a way as to not fall into the trap. this instance was inevitable and out of my control as i had (quoted from my ICU nurse) one of the most painful injuries a human body can sustain.

thanks for your advice guys, falling back into that trap is something i will never do. people say once and addict, always an addict. i dont believe this is the case. sure, you are predisposed to use a substance that you enjoy if you have used the substance before...but there is no part of me that believes moderation is impossible for ALL people. For some, yes, it is impossible. But to pigeon hole everyone who has had an issue with weed, alcohol, etc is simply unrealistic. I used to drink heavily and be into the party scene senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Now I enjoy a couple beers now and then. Was I an alcoholic back then? I drank enough to be *labeled* one by every definition of the word, but I have no issue drinking to get a slight buzz now and then.

Im deeply sorry for your issues trainspotter, I hope that you are able to overcome this addiction. You were on the path much, much, much longer than I was. 2 months does nothing to compare to the years. Stopping cold turkey after 2 months sucked, but only for a week. I cant imagine what you went through after trying to stop after that many years. I do know that you can do it, after all, everything has a price. Have a fun night drinking? suffer from a hangover. Have a love affair with opiates for years? Well thats yeras of fun, the hang over will last quite a while longer. Hope you are able to get through it one day.

Thanks for the kind words your dam straight we are at drastically different points in our love affair all I'm saying is I've been in your position before man ive said everything you just said i had the same cocky additude about how everything has a hangover and if you put your mind to it you can overcome it but to compare a night out drinking with your friends to having 200 different kinds of opiates in your medicine cabinet opiates are a whole different animal cause they just make you feel good with hardly any side effects and nobody can tell your on them you can function fine on them so taking one before school when your tired or whatever is more appealing than say coming to class reeking like booze and stumbling around. The more the chemicals enter your body the more likely it is that they will change your brain and rewire it to become a full on addict.

I used to have a bottle of 120 oxys in my cabinet and only take one or two once in a blue moon when in pain or with a couple friends for fun i mean dam i did this for a couple years but then it just started to change my mind for the worse and took my soul and I was always good at controlling drugs I could stop cocaine like that booze weed and Meth MDMA and what not were all nothing to me and I thought anybody could quit there addiction no problem and anybody who couldn't were pussies. Its just so easy to fall into it I'm not trying to bunch you up on with every other addicts I'm just saying not many people can chip on a bit of heroin here and there and not get addicted sure a few can but think about it is going through withdrawals and trying to maintain recreational use of a very addictive substance without falling into addiction really that much fun?
Like I said I don't expect you to throw away all those pills I get it kinds like a crutch you know there there I'm just saying it sounds like your medicine cabinet could be quite a source of temptation for somebody with a history of opiate addiction nobody really needs a whole bunch of narcotics in their cabinet but hey if you want them there who am I to say you can't keep then for when you want to do em again after all im a junkie myself I would do the same thing. I always thought I wasn't really an addict cause I held down a job and I didn't beg MY family for money I supported my mother I can go through the dope sickness if I had to blah blah blah I've heard all the excuses but once you get a taste for the stuff 9 times out of 10 the person is gonna become hooked.

Its hard to withdrawal off opiates but its also hard to stay off then due to the phycological addiction its real hard when its all your mind can think about sometimes why do you think so many people take methadone or suboxone for their whole life.

 

[The Doc.]

And by the way I don't mean once an addict always an addict in the sense that every addict will relapse at some point but I mean the addictive part of a persons brain can never go away once its there your always be at risk for becoming hooked on them bad again doesn't mean everybody will but every addict once they get clean will have a lifelong struggle of being clean it just gets easier over time. Like my doctor says we don't have a cure all for addiction once that part of the brain is established then its always there if somebody made a pill to erase the addictive part of our brain then they would be very rich. And when your as bad as I am its not as easy as you it a month of complete hell followed by years of cravings and minor withdrawal symptoms called p.a.w.s. these symptoms can last for years. Yes I know it can be done and I'm a strong person been through a lot in life I believe I will one day beat this but it will be one of the hardest things I've ever done.

 

[IllicitOne]

no doubt it will be one of the hardest things ever. my habit was shorter, but i just decided it wasnt for me any more. i was going from high school where drug use was rampant to a fresh start in college where i knew no one and wanted to feel shit out and not immediately go into that kind of scene. you will definitely have a longer w/d than i did but nothing is impossible man - it was a week of hell for me and i didnt use any of the vitamins or any of that shit on here, only xanax. not recommending it as for some it is highly addictive, but it got me through the worst of it and back to a functioning sober person. best choice i made, saved a bunch of money and got back to myself. pills are fun but theyre an artificial fun. best to be stoked in your own skin - its scary, but everyone can get through it

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

And by the way I don't mean once an addict always an addict in the sense that every addict will relapse at some point but I mean the addictive part of a persons brain can never go away once its there your always be at risk for becoming hooked on them bad again doesn't mean everybody will but every addict once they get clean will have a lifelong struggle of being clean it just gets easier over time. Like my doctor says we don't have a cure all for addiction once that part of the brain is established then its always there if somebody made a pill to erase the addictive part of our brain then they would be very rich. And when your as bad as I am its not as easy as you it a month of complete hell followed by years of cravings and minor withdrawal symptoms called p.a.w.s. these symptoms can last for years. Yes I know it can be done and I'm a strong person been through a lot in life I believe I will one day beat this but it will be one of the hardest things I've ever done.

The once an addict not always an addict thing sounds good, but we all know (just like you said) once it is part of who we are and that is established in our brain we can't really get rid of it.
I would say (not disagreeing with you at all, just a different way to word it) once an addict always an addict, but you can become an addict in recovery.

 

[IllicitOne]

The once an addict not always an addict thing sounds good, but we all know (just like you said) once it is part of who we are and that is established in our brain we can't really get rid of it.
I would say (not disagreeing with you at all, just a different way to word it) once an addict always an addict, but you can become an addict in recovery.

The definition of an addict is one who is addicted to something. When you are addicted to _______ you are an addict. When you are no longer addicted to the _______ you are no longer an addict. The once an addict always an addict is just a horrendous way to brand people who have struggled with something in their past. This is just my opinion though, yet I feel is is much more fair.

On a side note, took 30mg IR oxy. I think this is night of day 5? about 15mg was for pain, the other 15 was more recreational. lets see how i feel in the morning, im interested in how this will affect the w/ds as they were completely gone as i had said (im sure others would wonder as well)

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

The definition of an addict is one who is addicted to something. When you are addicted to _______ you are an addict. When you are no longer addicted to the _______ you are no longer an addict. The once an addict always an addict is just a horrendous way to brand people who have struggled with something in their past. This is just my opinion though, yet I feel is is much more fair.

On a side note, took 30mg IR oxy. I think this is night of day 5? about 15mg was for pain, the other 15 was more recreational. lets see how i feel in the morning, im interested in how this will affect the w/ds as they were completely gone as i had said (im sure others would wonder as well)

^ we'll see how you feel about the "addict" definition you just put there when you are not using ___ drug.. i've been off opiates for almost two years but yet am still labeled an addict and see myself and feel as I am one, just recovering.


And about it being horrendous, for people who have struggled with something in their past thing.. i have struggled with plenty (way too much) in my past, and still continue to get more shit piled on my plate faster than I can get rid of it. So i am in no way someone on the "outside looking in" per say in this situation.

Jusy my opinions, but the way some things work isn't always "fair".

 

[opiatekrzy]

If a hospital gets u physically dependent on opioid pain meds due to serious injury etc...don't worry they will give u a script to take home and a referral to specialist

 

[IllicitOne]

^ we'll see how you feel about the "addict" definition you just put there when you are not using ___ drug.. i've been off opiates for almost two years but yet am still labeled an addict and see myself and feel as I am one, just recovering.


And about it being horrendous, for people who have struggled with something in their past thing.. i have struggled with plenty (way too much) in my past, and still continue to get more shit piled on my plate faster than I can get rid of it. So i am in no way someone on the "outside looking in" per say in this situation.

Jusy my opinions, but the way some things work isn't always "fair".

i would label myself an addict for 2 months...that was 5 years ago. in fact, the addict was probably only for about 4-6 weeks time. after that, i quit completely for about 6 months and i used recreationally whenever I wanted until now. Did I suffer withdrawls? One time I had difficulty sleeping after I used for 3 days in a row. Did I crave for them? No. Was I dependent on them? No. Was I addicted to them? No.

Being clean for two years is something to be proud of. I consider myself clean for 5 - clean meaning not addicted. I'm able to use opiates recreationally. Just like I am able to smoke weed recreationally, or drink beers recreationally. These are not the behaviors of an addict.

HOWEVER, as I'm sure you will mention "you went through withdrawals, see, that is the behavior of an addict". I blew up my kidney man, and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I couldn't walk for 10 days. Now not once in that 5 year period did I pop pills for 3 weeks straight. I got withdrawals due to the length of time I was physically required to take pain relievers to relieve the pain of one of the most painful injuries a human body can sustain.

I know that many, if not most, people who drink heavily for years or use opiates heavily for years easily can fall back into the trap. I do not think of myself as "special" as so many "experienced users" like to say to us "non-experienced" ones, but every human body is different and some have the will power to remember what a severe withdrawal is like (granted, my withdrawal 5 years ago was miserable but nothing like what I've read about on here) and I can now enjoy opiates one day or two and then just not for an extended period of time. Is that addict behavior? No, it's not. Groups like AA and NA like to tell people that they will always be addicts. If you drink again you will plunge back into that darkness!! Never do it again!!!

This is ludicrous. People fall into these behaviors primarily due to depression, once thats gone *I believe* that some can use responsibly. This may not be the case for different substances such as H, or meth, or crack, or other hardcore drugs I have never tried... but this is the case for me with opiates.

My nurse actually laughed, but respected my choice. Sadly, I just couldn't bear it. This is while I have a push button IV of diluded (spelling?) in me and can take it every 10 minutes if I wanted to. Is that addict behavior? I'm going to go with no

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

^ so your post just basically said you've NEVER been an addict. There's a difference between being addicted to something and having an addiction to something WITH addict behavior. how can you have the hindsight of the latter if you've never experienced it? You can't.. you said yourself you've never acted as an addict, i started when i was a freshman in highschool and continued until 25 years old.. that's basically my entire stage in life of growing up and learning how to feel normal. Now i don't know normal, i only know what FEELS normal to me. And when i started it was for pain, then it became recreational after a couple years and then when i was cut off it became an unfortunate way of life for me to end up needing to seek something out daily to feel ok.
I have 2 kids and i can't work because i am disabled.. i feel like i failed at life, all because of my drug use. I had high hopes growing up, GONE cuz of drugs.

I've been addicted to opiates, benzos, alcohol and cigarettes since 12-13 years old. I'm an addict no matter how much clean time i will get, even if i was to stay clean the rest of my life those addict qualities of mine would stay with me.

In the 2 years i've been off opiates (which i used daily for 10 or so years) i have still had some PAWS symptoms. That would make me think im still an addict in recovery.
Look, im not trying to argue.. in fact im gonna stop here. It's obvious we have different views on this so lets agree to disagree.


EDIT: and about my kids, my son was born when i was 15.. had to work, now it's impossible due to mental and physical problems. I've got some disorders that i wont get into here, but i didn't always have them. I can function SOMETIMES. I can hardly leave the house though, maybe once or twice a week for an hour or so when i go to the doctor. And one of my dreams was having a nice car since i love driving.. i hardly even use my car now.. yes it's nice but not the car i "dreamed" and planned on getting my whole life. My friends who didn't do drugs that i went to school with since 1st or 2nd grade ended up getting everything they wanted, granted they've worked hard for it.. but i can't work hard for anything.. living is hard enough. (i know this was way off topic, just wanted to vent)

 

[The Doc.]

The once an addict not always an addict thing sounds good, but we all know (just like you said) once it is part of who we are and that is established in our brain we can't really get rid of it.
I would say (not disagreeing with you at all, just a different way to word it) once an addict always an addict, but you can become an addict in recovery.

That's what I said I worded it the same way you did I said an Addict will always be at risk of becoming addicted shall they ever try their drug of choice again even years after quitting but it gets easier over time. I also said not every addict will relapse when they are staying sober. I just never said the word recovery but what I was saying is when a addict starts there revovery it will be really hard and on their mind a lot at first then as the years go by it gets easier to live without your drug of choice but you will always be in recovery for as long as you live.

Once your an addict (I mean a real hardcore addict for years ) you will alway have that part of your brain that once it gets the drug its loved for so long your brain switches back to addict mode and you can't help but fall back to the place you were when you quit most of the time even worse because of the guilt. You may be able to get away with doing it once mabye twice in a row but usually by the 3rd time your already back to addiction and you can't help it.
This is what I was trying to tell the OP but I think he will have to learn for himself like lots of us every addict starts off thinking they will control their use forever but soon get overwhelmed with the desire to use.

 

[The Doc.]

i would label myself an addict for 2 months...that was 5 years ago. in fact, the addict was probably only for about 4-6 weeks time. after that, i quit completely for about 6 months and i used recreationally whenever I wanted until now. Did I suffer withdrawls? One time I had difficulty sleeping after I used for 3 days in a row. Did I crave for them? No. Was I dependent on them? No. Was I addicted to them? No.

Being clean for two years is something to be proud of. I consider myself clean for 5 - clean meaning not addicted. I'm able to use opiates recreationally. Just like I am able to smoke weed recreationally, or drink beers recreationally. These are not the behaviors of an addict.

HOWEVER, as I'm sure you will mention "you went through withdrawals, see, that is the behavior of an addict". I blew up my kidney man, and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I couldn't walk for 10 days. Now not once in that 5 year period did I pop pills for 3 weeks straight. I got withdrawals due to the length of time I was physically required to take pain relievers to relieve the pain of one of the most painful injuries a human body can sustain.

I know that many, if not most, people who drink heavily for years or use opiates heavily for years easily can fall back into the trap. I do not think of myself as "special" as so many "experienced users" like to say to us "non-experienced" ones, but every human body is different and some have the will power to remember what a severe withdrawal is like (granted, my withdrawal 5 years ago was miserable but nothing like what I've read about on here) and I can now enjoy opiates one day or two and then just not for an extended period of time. Is that addict behavior? No, it's not. Groups like AA and NA like to tell people that they will always be addicts. If you drink again you will plunge back into that darkness!! Never do it again!!!

This is ludicrous. People fall into these behaviors primarily due to depression, once thats gone *I believe* that some can use responsibly. This may not be the case for different substances such as H, or meth, or crack, or other hardcore drugs I have never tried... but this is the case for me with opiates.

My nurse actually laughed, but respected my choice. Sadly, I just couldn't bear it. This is while I have a push button IV of diluded (spelling?) in me and can take it every 10 minutes if I wanted to. Is that addict behavior? I'm going to go with no

Oxycodone is heroin. Not trying to get you riled up just don't wanna see another person go down this addiction everything your saying to justify using every other addict had said at the beginning too but it never works out that way. Good luck to you I hope you don't get hooked but I don't see that happening since you never even made it through the withdrawals before you took more but we don't judge on here I hope you do keep your use recreational.

 

[sarajenni88]

Continuing to use especially with the mind frame u have will set u up for addiction. And honestly ur behavior is already going that way...u showed a willingness to get thru the w/ds but ended up rationalizing more use.
Once an addict always an addict IS correct. And count urself lucky that u haven't come to this conclusion yet. And by that I am not talking about an addicts actions or lack of moral character. What I mean is that once ur brain is addicted to opiates and u have suffered through w/d. Ur brain is now wired in a way that just one or two days of use will require u to again go thru w/d.
And each time, the symptoms become more and more severe. U learned this already by having to w/d after pain medication was prescribed to u in the hospital. And if ur w/ding again right now... I'm sure u understand. I hope u seek our support in that case. I am not judging u in fact I am trying to save u from further (and trust me worst ) suffering. Please feel free to PM me if u need some advice. I am no one to judge. I wish u a furthered successful recovery.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

That's what I said I worded it the same way you did I said an Addict will always be at risk of becoming addicted shall they ever try their drug of choice again even years after quitting but it gets easier over time. I also said not every addict will relapse when they are staying sober. I just never said the word recovery but what I was saying is when a addict starts there revovery it will be really hard and on their mind a lot at first then as the years go by it gets easier to live without your drug of choice but you will always be in recovery for as long as you live.

Once your an addict (I mean a real hardcore addict for years ) you will alway have that part of your brain that once it gets the drug its loved for so long your brain switches back to addict mode and you can't help but fall back to the place you were when you quit most of the time even worse because of the guilt. You may be able to get away with doing it once mabye twice in a row but usually by the 3rd time your already back to addiction and you can't help it.
This is what I was trying to tell the OP but I think he will have to learn for himself like lots of us every addict starts off thinking they will control their use forever but soon get overwhelmed with the desire to use.

I wasn't trying to argue or say you said anything wrong at all.
I completely agree with everything you have said, and can relate to almost all of it
I was just trying to reiterate what you said to stress it to the OP.
Sorry if i came off wrong with that post.