[Astreia]

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...

[Astreia]

Oh dear....went to the ER again and they brought my blood pressure back down with medications....they were very nice. I asked them about the hydrocodone without saying that I think I am in withdrawals and they were reassuring, said that the hydrocodone was what caused the constipation...."Simply Sleep" is the same as Benadryl. So we came home and everyone but me went to sleep. I thought I was going to be able to sleep but I just couldn't quite. And I had read here about people tapering off, so I took just ONE hydrocodone and thought it was going to work...almost went to sleep but then my legs started feeling jumpy and crampy and so I went and sat in a hot bath to relax the muscles of the legs....and kept going to the toilet in dribs and drabs and it was green in color, ewww. And just as I was putting pajamas back on to try to go to sleep....mind you, it is almost 6 am now...I began to vomit. At first it was dry, but then it turned brown and so now my bathroom rug is covered with this brown ickky liquid, thick and viscous, I couldnt' clean it up so I turned the rug over on itself, the rug is undoubtedly ruined now...put on undies and came back to bed...rinsed my mouth with water and spit in a little dish...lying down now, really scared. I made a lot of noise vomiting,but it didn't wake up my son and daughter-in-law so that at least is good...but they will know later in the day when they see e and see the bathroom....luckily they have a separate bathroom.....I think this must be some sort of withdrawal, it just doesn't make sense any other way. But if I tell the doctors then someday if I need pain medication again they will not give it to me, so I don't want anyone to know.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I usually take opiates for my mood too. I'm desperately trying to quit but if I go a few days I turn into a complete *****. Puts me in a full on mood swing and I'm bipolar. Fun.

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[Mygrandjourney]

I hope you all find healthier solutions!

[Jewelsmom]

The stomach issues are definitely due to the hydrocodone use. Try not to use a pain killer as a mood elevator since that's not what it's prescribed for. These sorts of drugs can lead to harder drugs, including prescriptions. I broke my femur a few years back and received 90 percocet for a month and knew how the pills would affect me. Since addiction runs in my family I knew that I would need to have a routine and a schedule for weaning off. I started out with a 8 a day then a couple weeks later I lowered it to 6, 4, and finally 2. After the pain had subsided I chose to find more holistic ways of dealing with pain and started to become physically active. I hope you're able to find a better alternative for your sleep issues, mood, and pain. I'm sure there are several holistic ways to help with your sleep habits.