Cruznolfart Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Something as small as an inappropriate emotional response or sleeplessness. I'm not talking about property ownership. I'm talking about addiction. This month, in humble celebration of 20 years clean and sober, I decided to take myself off the pain pills I've been on since last February. I started weaning myself a few weeks ago, hoping the pains wouldn't reappear quite so dramatically. As it turns out, recurring pain hasn't been much of a problem. Being somewhat hooked on the damn Tramadol HAS. So, after having recognized what I considered signs of withdrawal on the occasions when I would skip a dose, I decided I wasn't gonna be owned again. This is the 5th day of no script and I'm hoping to get a first full night's sleep. Even my appetite is coming back on line. Whew! When I looked this stuff up on the Health sites one of the first warnings was that it should not be used by those with addiction history. Now...I TOLD my doctor I'd been sober for 20 years and didn't want something that had a high addiction potential. WTF? I resolved, long ago, to never be owned again. I wish that same resolve on anyone...ANYONE who finds his or herself in the prison of addiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Do you still smoke weed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 I don't generally smoke it when I use it. I've found that a vaporizer is a much more effective and benign delivery system, eliminating the actual combustion process and the resulting carcinogens and irritants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Well, I for am glad for you Cruzn'. While I've never been addicted to anything, I've known many people who were. My best friend up and quit drinking 16 years ago. Just went cold turkey. He did the same thing when it was time to give up a very nasty cocaine habit. He just quit and never went back. Some people have a great ability to realize when they're bound by the chains of addiction. I'm glad for you. Good job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Thanks, Todd. Wish I could package it and give it away. I'll tell ya, the last 20 years have been much nicer than the previous 20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikko18 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Good for you! also I gotta say R.I.P. Layne Staley :'[ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Thanks Nikko. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmurray Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I don't know how you could function on Tramadol. I had some a while back for an ankle op and every time I took some I'd be asleep within 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepblue Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Well done Cruz. I know it wasnt easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 I don't know how you could function on Tramadol. I had some a while back for an ankle op and every time I took some I'd be asleep within 10 minutes. Oddly, it used to have that effect on me. Within a few weeks of starting the regimen, however, I was functioning "normally". Loss of appetite was one of the first signs for me that it was more than "just" a pain-killer. Still not sleeping a full night, though...obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Well done Cruz. I know it wasnt easy. Thank you, deepblue, it's still tryin' to kick my butt. I should still be snoozing. Ah well, give it time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWP37 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 It took about 2 weeks to get over the withdrawal symptoms of the Hydrocodone I used to be on. I felt almost like I had the flu for 2 weeks. Try an otc sleeping aid. I recommend one with doxylamine succinate as the active ingredient. Wall-Mart makes one under their own brand (Equate). It's about half the price as Unisom. Diphenhydramine didn't work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 It took about 2 weeks to get over the withdrawal symptoms of the Hydrocodone I used to be on. I felt almost like I had the flu for 2 weeks. Try an otc sleeping aid. I recommend one with doxylamine succinate as the active ingredient. Wall-Mart makes one under their own brand (Equate). It's about half the price as Unisom. Diphenhydramine didn't work for me. Thanks for the suggestion DWP, I've been using Advil PM, Diphenhydramine citrate 38 mg, for awhile with mixed results. On a good night it'll let me get to sleep but after a couple hours I start waking up. Sometimes it seems to have no effect at all. I'll look for the Equate or its ilk next trip to Wally World or nearest pharmacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I wish you the Best of Luck, Cruz, and I'm sure you'll get through it; You certainly seem to have the requisite character! (I mean that in a nice way.... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 I wish you the Best of Luck' date=' Cruz, and I'm sure you'll get through it; You certainly seem to have the requisite character! (I mean that in a nice way....:- ) [/quote'] Thanks, Pip, I took it in a nice way. I appreciate that. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Warning: I am in no way implying that my experience was or is even close to whatever substance you were addicted to 20 years ago... That said, I can relate to not wanting to be owned. For about 15 years I was a heavy smoker...2 packs a day. loved smoking. But then you get to the point where all you think about is how to get the next smoke in. I would panic when flying. I would miss flights because I would run outside to get a smoke and then have to make my way through security again. I would have to take a break from work every hour. It got to the point where smoking dictated how I led my life. So I quit. Good luck Cruz. I can relate to not wanting to be owned by a substance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 As a side note...I am still a chronic masturbator. But I've managed to control that for the most part. That's the last addiction I have to beat before I am completely clean :D Just kidding...it's not chronic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks, Blue. Truth is addiction is addiction. Tobacco or juice, smack or crank. Collateral damages can be unique to the substance but the general damages are the same. It owns yer arse. Glad you could kick. Tobacco was the WORST thing for me to get off of. Absolutely THE most difficult! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 As a side note...I am still a chronic masturbator. But I've managed to control that for the most part. That's the last addiction I have to beat before I am completely clean :- Just kidding...it's not chronic. :D Crap! That's an addiction, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 It is only considered an addiction if you do it in public!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 It is only considered an addiction if you do it in public!! LOL! I don't think that's what it'd be called here if you did it in public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I am still a chronic masturbator. ....That's the last addiction I have to beat... LOLOL!!! No Youtube links' date=' please![/u'] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 This just reminded me. Jan1st 2010 makes 20 years since I dropped my habit. And the 5 weeks of "sick" that followed it. Now Marlboro's and Whiskey are on the short list. Here's to you Cruizy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Dennis, I really admire your strength and dedication to your sobriety. A couple of years back I fell very ill and had several surgeries which required a lot of pain medication to get through. I didn't realize I developed an addiction till it came time to come off the meds and the withdrawals kicked in. This is an experience I do not care to go through again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks, AXE®, and props to you on your anniversary. We went to the same school in different places. BTW, as I said before, between all ths crap I got unhooked from, tobacco was the hardest, longest battle. Not the sickest but the longest, most challenging. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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