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How To Get Off Of Opioid Painkillers

8/24/2017

16 Comments

 
He said with an authoritative urgency in his voice, "You've got to listen to me! You cannot just stop taking your painkillers. You will experience a huge crash! Right now you feel great and ready to get back to being yourself, but if you stop taking your pain medication cold turkey, it will knock you down, fast. I know what I'm talking about, so I need you to listen to me! I don't want to see you go through what I did!"

"You've got to listen to me! You cannot just stop taking your painkillers. You will experience a huge crash!"

That was the voice of warning from my dad after all three of my surgeries. The first two were C-sections with my sons, happy occasions despite the two recoveries. The third surgery was a little more sobering with an appendiceal cancer diagnosis. That surgery lasted approximately seven hours followed by a ninety minute hot chemo wash and two week stay at Emory. I was told to expect a three to six month recovery time. As I started to feel better, my father again stressed how I needed to be very careful in how I came off my pain medications. He was right, I felt like Superman on the medication, but  without it I felt Kryptonite weights wrapped around my body.

"Right now you feel great and ready to get back to being yourself, but if you stop taking your pain medication cold turkey, it will knock you down, fast."

To be transparent, I had an extra incentive to get off the pain pills ASAP, because, well,  (okay, this is the part where I sound like my maternal grandmother who would openly discuss bowel issues without hesitation). Anyway, pardon the honesty, but I needed to have a bowel movement and opioid painkillers cause constipation, which creates a pain that painkillers not only can't stop, but make worse. In weighing the scales of what was more painful, I decided to get off the pain pills early. Looking back that intestinal pain was a blessing in disguise because it gave me great motivation in getting off of the painkillers. Thankfully, I had a coach in my father, who knew the ugly side of opiates and had my best interest at heart.

Below is a message that I pray gives hope to those already struggling, and a useful exit strategy for those facing an upcoming surgical procedure followed by an opioid prescription. 
​"I know what I'm talking about, so I need you to listen to me! I don't want to see you go through what I did!"
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My father's advice . . . 

​* Get a calendar and talk with your doctor and a close family member or friend.
​* Decide on a time to wean yourself off of the prescribed pain medications.
​* Ask your doctor about cutting pain meds into fourths, and go from one pain pill to three fourths.
​* When you feel leveled out (may take several days to a week) cut dosage to one half and try for several days until                  you feel you can go to one fourth of a pill for several days.
​* Once you feel stable, then you can stop taking the prescription.
​* Give yourself another two weeks to realize that you may still feel down, with low energy. 
​* Circle the day that ends that two week period and see how close to "normal" you feel. If still struggling, notify your              doctor and share with a friend, so they know to check in on your progress.

​One thing to remember is that millions of people pay money to put stress on their muscles in order to get stronger physically. Stop and think about that for a minute. When we go through extreme challenges, something inside of us spiritually has the opportunity to grow stronger and produce deeper roots, so never give up, even when it seems too much.

I also want to personally share that the most painful experiences of my life have caused me to cry out to God for help. Looking back I can see where He met me in some very dark, scary, painful places and delivered me.  He also gave me gifts out of those painful places. Most importantly, Jesus Himself identifies with horrific pain and sorrow. He willingly went to the cross on our behalf to save us. 

Isaiah 53:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
If you are curious to know more about Jesus, click here.

​I want to thank my earthly dad for his hard earned advice, and for his pointing me in the direction of our heavenly DAD!

With love and prayers for those dealing with pain,  

Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

To check out my testimony click here
To like my facebook page click here 
Find me on twitter @humble_bold ​
​On Pinterest at humble&BOLD by Christina
16 Comments
Lori link
8/24/2017 06:05:10 am

My husband is a pharmacist. He always tries to help his patients wean off these meds. They are necessary, but scary as well. Glad you had help.

Reply
christina@humbleandbold.com link
8/24/2017 06:32:25 am

Lori, so thankful your husband is aware and is able to advise patients. So many in the health care industry for a long time didn't realize how hard it was for patients to wean themselves off of these painkillers.

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Tracy link
8/24/2017 01:22:03 pm

I love the line you wrote "the most painful experiences of my life have caused me to cry out to God for help. Looking back I can see where He met me in some very dark, scary, painful places and delivered me. He also gave me gifts out of those painful places. Most importantly, Jesus Himself identifies with horrific pain and sorrow". What a beautiful picture that is. Beauty in pain. Beauty out of suffering. Thank you for such a heart felt post. What a blessing.

Reply
Christina link
8/24/2017 05:05:14 pm

Tracy, you're welcome and thank you! Yes, He takes us from ashes to beauty.

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Lisa Brooks
8/24/2017 10:33:10 pm

Tina, It was so awesome to hear your voice. This is such a powerful message. The painkiller epidemic is scary and it tends to leave people in this place where they are not sure what they are feeling. I have met many older folks that thought they had the flu but it was the feelings of coming down to quickly from a painkiller. For some the will power is so weak that they tend to fall back into another prescription after another making it harder to come away from. I admire you so. Miss you all very much! Thank you for supporting the need for education in this dark pit that so many have fallen into!

Reply
Christina link
8/25/2017 09:46:12 am

Lisa, oh how we miss you guys! Hope and pray you are feeling really well. Love seeing pics of the boys! Thank you for your encouragement. It is alarming and painful to see how many people are struggling with this issue, and I hope this post will help many.

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Susan Shipe link
8/25/2017 08:38:19 am

Christina this is such valuable information and I am so proud of you for sharing it. Our family has MUCH experience with this.

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Christina link
8/25/2017 09:54:00 am

Susan, thank you for being an encouraging cheerleader! I'm sorry for what your family has been through. It is awful! Ironically,the very pills used for taking away physical pain, have caused a great deal of it for so many.

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Lindsey link
8/25/2017 09:08:52 am

Opioids are nothing to mess around with! They are SERIOUSLY heavy drugs. So important to stop taking them once they aren't necessary anymore...incredibly addictive and destructive to many. My ex became addicted to them, shattering his life (as well as mine and my son's) in the process. BUT, as you talk about...it's crucial to wean off of them correctly! Thanks for the post!

Reply
christina@humbleandbold.com link
8/25/2017 10:36:33 am

Lindsey, I am so sorry for what you and your son went through, and for your ex as well. There is much heartache surrounding this issue. Thank you for commenting and sharing part of your personal experience concerning this topic.

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Ggmandy link
8/25/2017 03:36:33 pm

Excellent post. Esoecially for those of us fighting chronic pain. Thanks!

Reply
Christina link
8/27/2017 06:33:28 pm

Mandy, I'm sorry to hear you have been dealing with chronic pain. Praying for you right now. Also, thank you for the encouragement!

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Kathleen
8/26/2017 03:33:20 pm

Addiction. So prevalent and so deadly.

Thanks for being transparent and sharing this advice.

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Kathleen link
8/27/2017 06:34:51 pm

Kathleen, thank you for reading and commenting!

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Christine Carter link
8/29/2017 07:47:38 am

Christina, this is SUCH an important message and you and your dad's wisdom and insight into getting off painkillers is critical now more than ever. I'll be sharing this on my page.
I am so sorry you have had to experience the pain from what sounds like a grueling surgery and treatment for your cancer. I pray you are healed and recovered completely now...<3

Reply
Christina link
8/31/2017 12:34:53 pm

Christine, thank you for your words of encouragement, thank you for sharing and thank you for your prayers! I very much appreciate all you do!

Reply



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    Christina is an
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