Hi everyone and let me start with a special thanks to all of you-Christin,Wind,
Lynn,Lisa,MJ,BC,GG65....you all are simply the best and I will take all your
suggestions/words of wisdom to heart..Pre Plan/Contract I was using 1.
Benzos - alprazolam 0.25 mg 3 x day/valium 30 - 40 mg/day.2.Muscle relaxers - 1 Soma
350 3 x day 3. Opiates -on average 150 mg hydrocodone a day ( depending
on the the day maybe alittle tramadol or 10-20 mg oxycodone - some days none of these )...but always the 150 mg hydro a day...Day 3 for me I realized
after last night dehydration was indeed a concern so I paged my Dr. and had
him call in some Zofran ODT ( a non-sedating rather selective receptor blocker
and a big gun when it comes to anti-emetic properties )..ODT formulation as
it as fast dissolving on the tongue as opposed to the tablet formulation...and
my ex-lover picked it up this a.m. along with some Pedialyte and oatmeal
and ho-hos for me...so far the Zofran is working wonders !! Okay so I am
still on track with the taper - taking 105 mg hydo today , 34 mg valium today,
one Wellbutrin XL 300 and the Zofran...-NO OTHER DRUGS!!!---..However,
I have considered the warnings/advice from all of you concerning the benzos
and seizure risk and I will look at my taper plan again and maybe hold the
valium dose steady for awhile at 34 mg or at least taper much,much more
slowly with the valium as Phil even suggested...I will keep you guys posted
quite honestly I just wanted this physical w/d process to be something I
NEVER,EVER forget...Looking forward to my first NA meeting next week...
Yeah for me it is day 3 and so far I am making it again..and guys tears
come to my eyes when I think about how much support/kindness I have
received from every one of you....there are no words to express my
gratitude to you all....

Peace and Recovery to All....Chris

Hey gang...I hope this night finds everyone well and at peace and on the
road to recovery...Just a quick update here on me...I took a 8mg Zofran ODT
tablet this morning prescribed from my doctor ( that I paged ) and I am happy, enthusiastic to report I am NOT experiencing and nausea/stomach
discomfort and have NOT thrown up at all today...YEAH !!!...I have eaten
3 ho-hos , a twinkie , and just recently polished off a box of pizza rolls..drank
a bottle of Pedialyte, a couple a mountain dews and lots of water...no
headache today either or muscle cramping...still having cravings tho to
take an extra valium or hydro but I have a written plan in place and actions
I take and so far I am still 100 % on my detox plan/contract and writing
EVERYTHING down and what time....every tablet I take and what time and
also everything I eat and drink and what time so I stay accountable to
myself ! I know I have a LONG way to go and it is only day 3 but I cant
wait for day 4,5,etc...and I just know my first meeting with the therapist
next week about my depression and my first NA meeting next week WILL
ROCK !!!! ...Tonight will be great..I called the bookstore and my ex-lover
is picking up the book Noonday Demon Lynn recommended and also a
bannana cream pie for me....by the way what is up with me eating/craving
all these sweets ???? ....I stepped on the scale this a.m. and realized I
had lost 43 lbs in the last 4 months - I had no idea I had lost that much
weight and I was never really that big to begin with...Before,I would be
grilling some salmon or a steak on the grill ,etc for dinner and I really
never ate dessert or liked sweets before...now I am dreaming about pop
tarts , marble cake with butter cream frosting,etc...Anyone out there when
they detoxed ever crave sweets ????...Anyway I hope to put some weight
back on as my mind , body and soul begin to heal from this addiction...Hey
Lynn- I think the Wellbutrin FINALLY started to work as I feel the darkness,
despair and fog I was in slowly beginning to fade as light and happiness
slowly creeps ever so softly back into my life...As Always you guys-everyone
here-All I can say is your all are SIMPLY THE BEST PEOPLE !!!!...and I truly
appreciate all your wisdom,words of encouragement ,prayers ,suggestions...
Someday my only hope is to help someone here ,anywhere along the road
to recovery and a life of SOBRIETY!!!....

Peace and Love to All....Chris

Hey gang...Just wanted to thank ya Wind, BC, Lynn ,Christin for cheering
me on and all the kindness,concern you have shown...As I write this day
4 is almost here and I truly feel the worst of the physical withdrawls are
behind me - the Zofran has truly worked wonders as I am NOT sick to my
stomach at all and my appetite has returned with great force...no throwing
up anymore,no headaches,etc....I DO know I face the physchological part-
cravings and all but I have a written plan in place for those with actions to
take so I do NOT deviate from my detox/taper contract...I am still on track
100 %....However, I have since developed a great propensity towards ho-
hos,twinkies and I even asked my ex to pick up some Hostess cherry and
apple pies for me tomorrow morning...hmmm - maybe it is time to review my
financial portfolio as 2005 approaches and buy some stock in Hostess...Anyway guys thanks again for all your support and help and I am
sticking to my recovery plan till the cows come home....and living in wisconsin
there are certainly a lot of cows....( just some bad midwest humor here )...

Wishing you all the best.....Chris

Real chocolate milkshakes are so good at this stage. Don't try to do anything heavy(steak, fried foods) right now cuz your guts are tender. I'm happy that the worst of the physical part is over for you. I've never heard of Zofran but it sounds like good stuff. The psychological part can be battled with meetings and a good (ex-opiate addict) sponsor. After you are done with your taper it boils down to choice. Please remember how bad the withdrawals were....burn them into memory.