everytime I drop a level, I feel fine for a few days.... it's not until about 4 days in when I start to feel bad.

Dropped down to 2 pills/3 times a day this morning.

At one point over the past 14 years, I was actually taking 15 pills/3 times a day. I did this for several years.

The last 2-3 days of the cycle are fairly tough. I start to get headaches and stuff.

I still can't sleep. The Gym stuff is still going strong. I feel pretty good.

The lower I get, the more I start to forget even taking the pills. I don't think there's any going back now. I don't think I'll relapse this time.

In all reality you're probably ready to just stop altogether. You could at least try cutting down the 3x/day to 2x/day or even 1x, although there is some merit to sticking to 'your plan' if only for psychological reasons. Once you cut your dose down by this much it's more of a psychological thing and you seem to have a good handle on that. There may be some physical stuff too but probably not much more acute than what you've already experienced. I've known many addicts and a lot of times as they get older they just 'mature out' of it and are just so f'ing sick of it that they can just walk away from it. Of course many are on the lifetime plan. You got into it for different (yet somewhat common) reasons and now you're ready to make the final break.

Going forward, you have to really keep a close eye on yourself around opiates. I'm not 100% in the camp of you can never touch them for any reason again, even though that's definitely not a bad idea. However, you do have to be kind of vigilant about not
getting complacent about it--very easy to slip back into it, this gets easier over time. But it's always going to be there to some degree. There was a guy at my last program that had been clean for 19yrs. then hurt his back and got some pain meds--boom back on dope when the script ran out. You have to be able to be honest with yourself and those around you--so if you find yourself slipping you can talk to someone about it and try to get yourself back on track instead of letting it slip out of control.

Thanks for the advice.

I probably could stop right now, but I would hate to need an excuse to go back once I've stopped. I doubt I'm actually taking enough now to make a difference.... but yeah, I think I'll stick to my 'plan' for now.

I think that's what happened to me... I matured out of it and just wanted to stop. I don't feel like the pills were helping me for pain and I was rarely every getting that "high" anymore, so I figured why not stop?

I appreciate all the advice I've received on here

Thanks again to everyone who've stuck with my posts.

dropping to the 2 pills at a time 3 times a day is as tough as the 6 to 5 level.

I am definitely feeling it... whether it's pshychological or not, who knows.

KEEP IT UP!!!

good thread.
keep up the good work cj

day 5 at 2 pills/3 times a day and feeling better...

This level, like the 6 pills to 5 pills, was tougher than any other. Even when I dropped from 12 at a time 3 times a day and dropped immediately to 8 pills/3 times a day i felt almost nothing.

Every level in between was fine. 6 to 5 and 3 to 2 was tough.... but not for the first 2 days either. Only after day 2 is where I felt small headaches and minor withdrawal symptoms. It very well could be in my head too.. who knows.

BUt I haven't cheated once, and am debating on going an extra week at the 2 pill level. I'll know more on Monday.

I'm still going to the Gym almost every day too. Feeling great.

Awesome job man.

OP,

I'm grunching here a bit, but I just wanted to say that you WANTING to stop puts you 100x better off than other addicts.

Definitely see a regular doctor and ask how you should be weened off - it's dangerous to come off any kind of drug that quickly.

One more thing I'd like to point out -

Quitting an addiction is sort of like dieting. One of the reasons people fail is that once they slip up, they just say "oh well, that's over with, guess I'm back to doing it again".

Fight it as a day-to-day battle. Don't be afraid to tell your wife - she can be your biggest cheerleader in fighting this and taking your mind off things.

Congratulations on the progress so far. Please keep us up to date.

OP i have nothing to add to this thread in terms of medical assistance... but great job... keep up the good work and i hope it improves your life greatly!

Just checking in before I hit the road to get back home.. glad to see you're still doing well.

Take as much time as you need. You're doing great

for whoever is still interested, here's where I am.

Today I was supposed to drop to 1/1/1.

well.... I went golfing on Saturday. I took 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at noon. I had no more pills on me. I got home and realized I ran out. This would never happen before. I'd make sure I had some in stock.

So I had no pills Saturday night. I went to the store and got some on Sunday morning. I realized on Sunday morning that I didn't really need any - so I didn't take any.

Sunday at noon, I didn't take any either. 24 hours with no pills. Sunday evening came around and I felt since I already came this far, I wouldn't take any again.

It's monday at 10:25 am and I haven't had any since noon on Saturday. I can definitely feel it today though. It may just be in my head, but who knows. The bottle is on my counter and not opened yet. I don't think I'll need to.

We'll see towards the end of the week though...

30 x 80 = 2400 mgs? really? Granted i was always a snorter but i thought that was like LD many times over

Great update - glad to hear you are starting to have times where zero is acceptable. That is kind of a great sign, imo. Getting back to a place where you actually take them for pain as needed, as opposed to out of compulsion/habit.

Kudos, sir.

good for you. this thread is amazing.

Very good job. Enjoyed reading about your success. I guess its a life time commitment though. GL.

Wow. You came along way in a very short amount of time...

Good for you this is a major accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself.

I wish you continued success in your battle and in your lifes journey.

Keep us updated on your progress and on your life. It is very inspiring to read about.

GL TO YOU SIR AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!

day 3 and i'm feeling better....

it seems to be getting a little easier

[x] Thread Delivers

congrats CJ! Keep us updated

wow congratulations! excellent job, I'm amazed at what you've done.

Maybe a tough question. Have you thought about how you are going to handle certain tempting or stressful situations that might cause you to want to relapse? I would think that considering those situations ahead of time would be good.

Great job, keep it up.

Seek professional help.

Yes I have.

I have come close a few times already. It's not easy to not take 10 or so when I have them in my house. I still have an unopened bottle in the house right now.

When I came close the last few times, I just thought about my son and my mind changed surprisingly quick.

I just quit a 14 year, average 36-45 pill a day (EVERY DAY), on my own without any professional help.

I'm pretty sure I have a little bit of discipline.

almost 6 days now without any pills and I am starting to feel good. Still have kind of a headache but it's getting better.