OK EARLIER MESSAGE POSTED IN THREAD "LIFE AFTER OPIATES": THIS IS AS IT WAS WRITTEN WITH NO REVISIONS OR CHANGES:
I have been taking Hydrocodone for severe lumbar (lower back) pain. I did not think I woud ever overuse them...but recently I reconnected with relatives and was on a three week vacation at my sisters house....I didn't have my tranquilizers...and I took the Hydrocodone to help my mood. I didn't do that for very long but already I can see that it is having a bad effect...and recently had a lumbar injection of cortisone so I really shouldn't need the pain pills anymore. So I decided to stop taking them. I always have insomnia problems anyway, so.....that isn't just because of not taking the Hydrocodone. Weird thing happened though...my blood pressure shot way up and I ended up in the ER with extremely high blood pressure (199/108) and cramps in my lower right leg. And TERRIBLE constipation!!!!! Just AWFUL for over a WEEK!!!!! I did not tell the ER doctors about the Hydrocodone.....I don't want that on my record if I can help it. So. Finally at 4 am this morning, after 3 days off the Hydrocodone, I was finally able to poop...had taken stool softeners for days on end and finally broke out and took ExLax, it finally worked. I had even used suppositories and enemas without relief! But finally at 4 am I was able to poop, and have been every couple of hours since. Feeling somewhat nauseous too, but able to eat a little bit. Oatmeal helps a lot...oatmeal cookies too.... I do have Ativan now, but don't want to over use those, so only taking one or at most two a day. But I have taken acetominophen and a sleep over the counter med called "Simply Sleep", still almost impossible to sleep. My blood pressure has been slowly coming down, but it is still high. Right now it is: omigod it is up again, it is 201/105...I'm gonna go for now and come back later...