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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Is this hydrocodone withdrawal?

bo108

Greenlighter
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
3
Hello, I am new to this site. I have had to deal with chronic pain for the past 8 years. I have a condition called Pudendal Nerve Entrapment, many doctors don't even know what the pudendal nerve is: is goes to the genitals and when "entraped", cause electric shocks to the genitals, especially when sitting on the sit bones. The science is sketchy, I had an unsuccessful surgery, there is no way to treat it, only mange the pain.

For the past 4 years, I've taken between 10mg and now 30mg (for the past 2 months, up from 20 due to another injury to the nerve) of hydrocodone, 20mg starting at 3PM, and another 10mg dose at 8PM. For the past several years I have had stomach discomfort in the morning, it now being severe. 5 mg of hydrocodone mostly takes it away, I have no other symptoms of withdrawal.

My pudendal pain generally doesn't come on until 3:00 P.M, which is why I wait to take the med.

2 months ago my morning stomach discomfort became acute, vomiting every day.

After going through a comprehensive series of GI tests and so far finding nothing, I am wondering if this could be withdrawal in the morning until I take my dose, the last 10 mg having been taken at 8:00 P.M. the previous night. Doctors say both yes and no, the GI doctor says it could be "narcotic bowel syndrome, a form of hyperalgesia. I doubt that, as the drugs do not cause more pain when taken, just give relief. However, I am unable to do the "gastric emptying test" that would give a definitive diagnosis because I can't hold down what they want me to eat and so far, the docs have not come up with an alternative.

So even though it's "just" 5mg in the morning, I am now "on" all my waking day. I have tried to avoid this. But I have to face my chronic pain and I do not feel that any other treatment will keep me out of this very severe pain,certainly not tens, anti-depressants, or the horribly addcitive Xanax. It seems to be a question of what you choose to be addicted to.

On top of my condition, I'm a little embarrassed to put everyone around me through all of this "crisis" - basically I really need to find out, just so I can rule out some other potential conditions that the hydrocodone may be masking.

Anyone: is severe stomach upset with vomiting, without any other symptoms of withdrawal, after using hydrocodone for 4 years in the afternoon and evening with a low dose, actually withdrawal since it's been 8 hours since my last 10 mg? How can I tell if my stomach discomfort is because of temporary lack of hydrocodone in my system or is because of something else?
%)
Thanks.
 
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Is the stomach pain accompanied by diarrhea? It really sounds like it could be withdrawals but without any other symptoms, it's hard to really know for sure... You're not experiencing any leg or back pain in the mornings? Is it always only in the morning? Have you tried holding off on your hydrocodone dose in the evenings to see if you get the same symptoms?
 
Sounds like it could be opiate withdrawals because it goes away when you take your medicine right? For many people, the first symptoms could be your nose running, eyes tearing up or yawning excessively. Or like shady mentioned, cramping and diarrhea. But that's happened to me before many times when I ran out of pills, I would wake up with the urge to spit, (like phlegm) and end up vomiting.
 
I have diarrhea but it goes away if I add flax seed to my diet - for the past week I've had none but still have the stomach problems. And it's not really "pain", hard to describe, "upset", uncomfortable" can eventually lead to vomiting, or not. If I held off my dose in the evening (all I have to do is wait...), I get the electric shocks in my genitals, which makes it so I have no idea the condition of my stomach, the pain is so intense. But yes, the later I take the dose, the more my stomach acts up.
 
Yes, that's what one of the docs is saying. However, if I have another condition (pancreas, malfunction of digestion), that could be the reason things calm down with the med, it could be masking something else.My high lipase and amalyse levels makes further inquiry necessary. But I'm still interested in what those that have gone through it might have to say.
 
Sounds like interdose withdrawal. Our body is constantly trying to reach homeostasis which is why pills make our bodies unstable. If you need pain management with opiates ask about time release medication.
 
I'm not qualified to be answering this question.. So I thought I'd throw a couple "thoughts" out there..

This doesn't sounds anything like withdrawal to me. Sounds more like a reaction to a medication. What else are you taking? I would say that the hydro is covering up the pain. Is your hydro mixed with anything? I've heard of people having complications with the Tylenol mixed in some painkillers.. I would definitely asked your doctor to change the painkiller just to see what happens..
 
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