Seeking help for son

Welcome to the forum. I hate to say it but he's going to be in for a rough ride for a while. I would definitely get a doctor to help him through withdrawals. There are certain medications that they can prescribe that will help. Going cold turkey is never recommended as it can make a person very ill. You will need to have some type of anti nausea medicine, anti diarrhea medicine, something for restless body syndrome etc. etc. I have gone through this and believe me after two days, I thought I was going to die and even wished for it on the third day. I was unable to sit still for more than 5 minutes, was constantly throwing up and having diarrhea and then unable to sleep for three days due to the restless body thing going on.

Having said all that, I do know that people can get through it but I wouldn't recommend it without some help. If you take him to the er and explain what's going on then they most likely will help him but it will probably go on his chart that he is an addict and then getting help from a doctor to prescribe anything for his pain will be very hard. I may be wrong on this and others will chime in soon to give their opinions.

I wish the very best for your son and hope that things will work out for him and that he won't be too miserable. Keep us posted on how things are going.

Much love and hugs,
Lynn

Nothing notable but for disc, ankle, knee, and last year was told he has liver issue starting so to stop Tylenol for pain. Metabolizing problem developed.

The fact that he has taken these meds that he was not prescribed, may make it difficult, if not impossible, to find a dr who will treat him for his pain. I don't mean to be negative, but beprepared to hear the thought that if he could afford to buy these meds off the street then he could have afforded health insurance or to see a dr. Drs do drug screens, pill counts and have you sign pain contracts now. He may stand a better chance getting into a Methadone program. The only problems is that they don't treat pain in those programs, they treat addictions. If he is working or going to school or anything along those lines, he will be missing days. Also finding a dr who will treat him at his first visit with what he has been taking and that often, is highly doubtful. He will have to have his medical records from his previous drs. Although, if he is able to find a dr, they will more than likely want new diagnostic tests. If his insurance is very good, the chances of finding a dr, may be a little better. If you call and just tell the person that answers the phone the situation, please be prepared to hear that the dr won't treat him. The illegal activity he engaged in is the reason chronic pain patients are having to go without treatment and be undertreated. It is also the reason that the drs amd government have the tight restriction that they now have.

Regarding restless leg syndrome ...

His withdrawl will have flu like symptoms- lots of sneezing, running nose, severe stomach issues, fever, lots of sweating, etc.

I have kicked Exalgo (dillaudid) before I took my company drug test and went through all this. I actually got through it in 4 days. The first 48 hours was horrid. I should have tapered down but once I stopped taking it I didn't want to take anything. Figured my mind was stronger than my body and in time prevailed.

He will too, I did it by myself so at least you're helping him. Give him cold medicine and Immodium. It'll just take time.

I agree with each and every comment as it lines up with what he said. After the accident he was prescribed opiates for the pain (couldn't walk to even use bathroom, had a bedside urinal. It took a few months to heal enough to mobilize and then he continued opiate because he "felt sick couldn't function" without. Jpjr yes. He's stubborn as well and says once he goes through it ( he wants to just get past the week or two) he will be able mentally to face it Down and get past it. Regrets his self treating and knows he's addicted and feeding that rather than pain management. So here we go. He insisted on today being the day over waiting for researching out a physician. Says if it doesn't do it, then he will seek out a center but doesn't want to mess his internship upcoming if he can just go through the cold turkey process. Doesn't want to switch to another maintainence med and still have dependence. I bought coconut water, immodium and cold medicine for the congestion in lungs. I'm buying some magnesium today as my mother who nurses says it will help with muscle pain. Has anyone here used magnesium to ease the muscle issue?

Vitamin B complex helped my restless leg syndrome, that and lots of water with the vitamin and through out W/Ds. Personally, BB, I agree with your son on letting him do it cold like he wants to. This might sound awful but he really does deserve what he is going to get over the next 4-5 days. It's really like the worst case of flu you've ever had but you got over it. I have helped others through this and seen the results. Also, if medical help is sought he will be SOL if he tries to get on a pain program later. . . . Q

Quincy yes, aversion therapy and a real view of what relapsing will do ie the horror of withdrawal. Might be the best subconscious lesson that prevents relapse after.

Mercy no I haven't checked but will now. Nor do I know his physician's mindset but am considering options. I did see the MRI results and report re the two discs as well the X-rays of his ankle pre operation to pin it.

My son gave notice last month and moved from the condo back home in order to go through this process and not have a neighbor next door to get illegal opiates from while he withdraws. He's serious about being fed up with the cycle and states he's not going to go through life enslaved to a drug he regrets ever taking even though it initially was rx'd (though he states he likes that comfortable feeling, he feels trapped by it and sees where its going).

Thank you so much for your empathy and back. It's a rough day but he's making it. Just laying down and waiting it through. Heavy congestion and yes unable to eat. I'm giving ensure when he's out. Every little bit of nutrient helps. Coconut water. Immodium. Magnesium dissolved into cold and flu tea with Asian herbs ginger. So far his eyes still are accepting determined albeit pained and anxious. He's holding one end of the rope and me the other. If he falters I will continue because I know his heart and he wants this regardless of what the addiction says. I won't listen to an addiction dictate and have told him there's a difference between him and the addiction talking. We have to make sure we separate the two and back the person not the addiction trying to change his mind. Others have done this and that means he can as well. Focus on the release coming and count the hours down.

Thank you. What a thing, it reminds me of the bone break fever x2 and add swine flu alongside. Sweats chills aching fevers intestines lungs nausea in waves. It's a sad hard sickness. But not lethal. And runs its Course. That's a good thing.

Hi BB and THANK GOD FOR MOMS!! You asked about clonidine earlier, yes if you can get his Dr to rx it do so!! It also comes in pill form but with the amount of nausea that's difficult to do. Paying the fiddler is a good /bad thing because the easier this process is the more likely he is to get pass the want if that makes sense? The clonidine keeps his B/P controlled which is a major medical dilemma of child cold Turkey! It also lessens the stomach issues and controls the restless syndrome and general all over yucky feeling. Its an awesome med to have on hand, very inexpensive and non addicting.

Subutex is a med used for addiction and with proper, controlled take down he would not have suffered any w/d symptoms. Definitely don't want to go the methadone route since that's just trading issues!! A good Dr who understands tolerance, cp, and how we arrive at that point would have been good to have onboard and discreet so not to interfere with what ever future pain management he may require. If he has spinal issues there's a very good chance that somewhere down the road he will have to look at narcotics for a better quality of life and jeopardizing that would not be good.

If it comes to such and you have a family Dr or primary who understands such he can get around the addiction charting by stating only taking drug holiday to reevaluate his pain. When alls said and done and he gets through this he may find living with his original pain issues undoable! He can't really say to what degree that's going to be because for all this time he has had a analgesic onboard. We all would like to believe we can live without the meds if push came to shove but in all honesty if we could we would be doing just that!

I wish you and him all the luck I can.

I'm not judging your son in any way and I don't see him in the same category as a junkie because he got there honestly and I don't know the conditions of how or why he lost PM but if I am honest with you, myself, and everyone here I can't say I wouldn't take my pain management to the street if I lost it for some reason. I have no idea what point my pain would initially push me too!

Hi, I'm just worried about this since I read it. Detoxing from opiates can cause death if done without medical supervision ... :( aside from it being terrible on a person physically. I wish you had the opportunity to seek medical help.

ETA Vicki, I like your honesty in your post. I have thought about it in the past, what if something were to happen to make me lose my PM. I don't know what I'd do. I have other methods for pain relief but my meds provide me with a baseline level of pain relief without which I don't think I'd do anything in life other than basic subsistence.

Good luck to you and your son.

Post Edited (Backtolife) : 9/28/2014 6:04:06 AM (GMT-6)