Justine's all done
- Thread starter Justine
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Justine
member
Hi
I've just seen my GP and he has confirmed that my symptoms are tramadol withdrawal. I was pretty upset to have this 'made official'.
He did say that it's rare for someone to have withdrawal like this after such a short time taking the drug, but coincidentally, he had another patient this week in exactly the same circumstance.
Anyway, he has given me a prescription of 20 low-dose diazepam (spelling?) pills to wean me off over 5 days. He advised to take paracetamol for pain relief, if necessary.
I'd never have thought this would happen to me , although I do feel better that it'll be all over in 5 days.
As always, thanks for the support!
Justine x
I've just seen my GP and he has confirmed that my symptoms are tramadol withdrawal. I was pretty upset to have this 'made official'.
He did say that it's rare for someone to have withdrawal like this after such a short time taking the drug, but coincidentally, he had another patient this week in exactly the same circumstance.
Anyway, he has given me a prescription of 20 low-dose diazepam (spelling?) pills to wean me off over 5 days. He advised to take paracetamol for pain relief, if necessary.
I'd never have thought this would happen to me , although I do feel better that it'll be all over in 5 days.
As always, thanks for the support!
Justine x
Hi Justine,
I also thought I was being clever stopping taking my pain meds. The result, not quite as severe as yours was, but I became severly uncomfortable. As Josephine describes really, my scar burned, the muscles spasmed and became really sore, everything went stiff and I ended up back in bed for most of the day as couldn't sit up properly. I had a 'weepy - sleepy' day and only realised why once I discussed it with my husband, who as an ex-nurse saw what was going on straight away.
Today i am back on a cocktail of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen staggered throughout the day and not at night - seems to work for me. I was just so keen to come of the meds...learned the lesson the hard way there. I find that I can then relax the muscles, exercise and overall feel better.
I'll worry about my stomach and liver etc later, after all the doses I took pre- op I'm being fussy really! But meanwhile am drinking Nettle tea (reduces inflamation), and taking homeopathic Arnica and Hypericum, both of which help reduce inflammation/ bruising and stabbing pains.
I hope you are feeling better and have found a way through to less pain.
Fondest wishes
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Justine, please remember this is not your fault! Nor does it mean you are weak in anyway. Just make sure you don't ever get prescribed that again.
(I think he's wrong, though! :wink1
(I think he's wrong, though! :wink1
NYLiz
member
Hi Justine - I do hope you are doing better and the diazepam works. You have come so far and just when you are gearing up to be weight bearing, this hits you, so I can just imagine how hard this 'blip' in your recovery must have affected you. Saying a prayer that in 5 days this will be all behind you.
Liz
Liz
OP
OP
Justine
member
On a positive note, I am now weight-bearing on my op side. Feels very strange, but good. It's like it's someone else's leg. I really need to build these muscles now! Surgeon said I could use cross-trainer for short times (10 mins) no resistance. Does anyone have any advice/tips on this?
I had another sleepless night last night. I took 2 diazepam but suffered terribly from twitching, under-skin itchiness, now stomach cramps (and what often comes from that), and emotional, panicky feelings. I'm hopeful that this won't last too long - it's getting me down.
Anyway, I'm going to try having my first bath today to try to relax. A couple of months ago I was given some lovely Arran Aromatics bath 'stuff' I haven't been able to use, so by lunchtime I'll be smelling lovely!
J x
I had another sleepless night last night. I took 2 diazepam but suffered terribly from twitching, under-skin itchiness, now stomach cramps (and what often comes from that), and emotional, panicky feelings. I'm hopeful that this won't last too long - it's getting me down.
Anyway, I'm going to try having my first bath today to try to relax. A couple of months ago I was given some lovely Arran Aromatics bath 'stuff' I haven't been able to use, so by lunchtime I'll be smelling lovely!
J x
HaggisWhisperer
member
I have used the cross trainer a few times since my op - the first was about week 9. As you said, I used no resistance and I did about 15 mins. I did find it more comfortable to use a very slight incline setting - I started out "flat" but my muscles seem to protest more. No idea why. I also used the exercise bike on a no resistance setting - that will only work once you have your restrictions lifted though as you would probably break the 90 degree rule.
I've now started work with a personal trainer (he is cheaper than a physio) but he is experienced and does GP referrals etc (his girlfriend is a physio as well so he runs his ideas past her first). He has been working on putting together a cardio workout for me that is low impact, I can do at home (I have time issues getting to the gym) and doesn't strain my still healing muscles. It is going well and I'm starting to feel fitter. I have always been a keen walker but unfortunately it was never much of a cardio workout for me - I do swim, but I was wanting some sort of weight bearing exercise.
Nancy
I've now started work with a personal trainer (he is cheaper than a physio) but he is experienced and does GP referrals etc (his girlfriend is a physio as well so he runs his ideas past her first). He has been working on putting together a cardio workout for me that is low impact, I can do at home (I have time issues getting to the gym) and doesn't strain my still healing muscles. It is going well and I'm starting to feel fitter. I have always been a keen walker but unfortunately it was never much of a cardio workout for me - I do swim, but I was wanting some sort of weight bearing exercise.
Nancy
forbesy
post-grad
That sounds pretty good nancy and my visits to the pool have been dropped as all my clients have changed and I am now doing more work out the town and can't gt to the pool like I used to :hissyfit:
HaggisWhisperer
member
He covers Edinburgh if you want his details :biggrin:
forbesy
post-grad
Justin
Now I know this will sound a strange what honestly helped me with my walking was that my wife used to babysit for our grand children and when the wee one stated to get tired she suggested I take her out for a walk.
When out I found the buggy kept me at a steady pace and with it being directly in front of me it gave me the reassurance I had something to hold onto as well.
Feel you might be past this stage but it did help.
Now I know this will sound a strange what honestly helped me with my walking was that my wife used to babysit for our grand children and when the wee one stated to get tired she suggested I take her out for a walk.
When out I found the buggy kept me at a steady pace and with it being directly in front of me it gave me the reassurance I had something to hold onto as well.
Feel you might be past this stage but it did help.
OP
OP
Justine
member
Hi everyone
Good news finally!
I actually feel back to normal now. Those awful tramadol withdrawal symptoms have gone. My GP said it'd take approx 5 days and 5 days it was! Mind you, during those 5 days it feels like it's never going away.
I haven't had any painkillers throughout this time and am quite stiff, particularly in the mornings, but I can cope with that. It was the horrible 'cold turkey' I couldn't cope with!!! I can honestly say that was one of the worst times of my life!
If I need it, I'll take paracetamol but I am just so scared to put anything in my body right now.
More good news regarding my hip!
I am walking with one crutch outside but in the house I keep forgetting to use it and I am almost limp-free when I'm not tired. I do use my crutch indoors when I get tired, to keep me 'straight'. Also, I can easily walk around the block (I'll try a bit further this week) and have been doing a little exercise (3 x 5mins per day on cross-trainer, for now - 10 or 15 mins at once is definately beyond me for now, but I'll build it up).
All in all, at almost 7 weeks out, I feel good, considering. I've had tough times (who hasn't) but I'm feeling very positive right now that the only way from here is up!
Thanks to all for the support you have given me.
J xx
Good news finally!
I actually feel back to normal now. Those awful tramadol withdrawal symptoms have gone. My GP said it'd take approx 5 days and 5 days it was! Mind you, during those 5 days it feels like it's never going away.
I haven't had any painkillers throughout this time and am quite stiff, particularly in the mornings, but I can cope with that. It was the horrible 'cold turkey' I couldn't cope with!!! I can honestly say that was one of the worst times of my life!
If I need it, I'll take paracetamol but I am just so scared to put anything in my body right now.
More good news regarding my hip!
I am walking with one crutch outside but in the house I keep forgetting to use it and I am almost limp-free when I'm not tired. I do use my crutch indoors when I get tired, to keep me 'straight'. Also, I can easily walk around the block (I'll try a bit further this week) and have been doing a little exercise (3 x 5mins per day on cross-trainer, for now - 10 or 15 mins at once is definately beyond me for now, but I'll build it up).
All in all, at almost 7 weeks out, I feel good, considering. I've had tough times (who hasn't) but I'm feeling very positive right now that the only way from here is up!
Thanks to all for the support you have given me.
J xx
Suzieslips
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Hi Justine,
I've just caught up with your thread and see that you've been through a bit of a bad time. But I'm so glad it's over now and you are feeling a lot better and more positive.
Are you a small-built person, by any chance?
Just wondering, because I am and have to be really careful of med doses which would be well within the normal range for most people.
Usually it takes a long time to become addicted to meds, but it can happen over a relatively short time. I know. It happened to me (with diazepam 2mg doses by the way... Took them for a month and took months to get off them!).
But the tramadol withdrawal is in the past for you now, which is great and it sounds like you are really making great progress with your new hip.
Onwards and upwards now.
But don't be too impatient. :wink1:
I've just caught up with your thread and see that you've been through a bit of a bad time. But I'm so glad it's over now and you are feeling a lot better and more positive.
Are you a small-built person, by any chance?
Just wondering, because I am and have to be really careful of med doses which would be well within the normal range for most people.
Usually it takes a long time to become addicted to meds, but it can happen over a relatively short time. I know. It happened to me (with diazepam 2mg doses by the way... Took them for a month and took months to get off them!).
But the tramadol withdrawal is in the past for you now, which is great and it sounds like you are really making great progress with your new hip.
Onwards and upwards now.
But don't be too impatient. :wink1:
OP
OP
Justine
member
Hi Suzie
No, definately not small-built (although I'm not that large either)! I could do to lose a pound (or 14!!). I'm quite robust; it takes a lot to get me drunk (as I used to find in my younger days, although I haven't touched alcohol in so long I'm probably a real cheap date now :hysterical: ).
Justine x
No, definately not small-built (although I'm not that large either)! I could do to lose a pound (or 14!!). I'm quite robust; it takes a lot to get me drunk (as I used to find in my younger days, although I haven't touched alcohol in so long I'm probably a real cheap date now :hysterical: ).
Justine x
Hi Justine, glad things are settling down for you. Please don't feel bad about reacting to any drugs. I over react to everything so I do understand.
So glad you are weight bearing now. That's real progress. Keep up the good work!
So glad you are weight bearing now. That's real progress. Keep up the good work!
forbesy
post-grad
Well done Justine you seem to have reached the stage were things are starting to come together, It was about the nine or ten week mark I felt I could cope quite well and decided to return to work.
Mind not push yourself to hard and take care.
Billy
Mind not push yourself to hard and take care.
Billy
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