Perscription drug addition and TBI
 

Because of my TBI, PCS and PTSD I have been on many meds for over a year including Percocet, xanax and other addictive drugs.

Now I am being weaned off of the pain meds and it is hell!!

I already have major sleeping problems, but now I can go days without sleep. I run a fever and am sick. chills, cant eat, all the things you are not suppose to do with a TBI.

Its like being insane, sick and panicked all at once.

Focusing and memory are impossible.

(To be honest given the choice I would just take the damn pills till I died- I know that's the addicted part of my brain talking.)

Has anyone else gone through this? What helped?

There is a quick detox system that some hospitals do. They put you into a drug induced and monitored sleep/semi coma and pull you off the drugs cold turkey over the next 48 hours. My BIL did it for Oxy.

Who ever prescribed the Percocet should admit you to a hospital for a rapid detox.

Has your prescribing doctor tested your liver enzymes with a blood test yet?
Your liver may also be in bad shape from the acetaminophen.

My Dr hasn't done a very a very good job of treating me. Its been over a year and I still haven't had a neurophyc test. All she has done is throw drugs at me.

My family has come and gotten me from CA and taken me out of the state to advocate for me. I have had x-rays and tests.

found out I'm hypoglycemic and have had my diet changed plus a ton of vitamins and supplements.

I'm now doing the things that should have been done Jan 2010!!

how are you feeling ...with the diet change and supplements?

Better- I feel like I'm evening out.

Our brains need more nutrition to heal and function than they ever did before. Plus there is weird things that I thought were problems of the meds but turned out to be my brain.

Did you know that people with TBI have a problem digesting food and with constipation- its because our brain isn't sending out all the signals to digest.

Getting my diet and blood sugar under control is helping some with sleep- a major struggle.

Our brains can get heal, we just have to help in every way possible. And be patient. Its not easy but its better than existing instead of living.

I had very similar frustrations with my medical system. I was just told to take a drug and wait it out. I'm glad to hear you're finally heading in the right direction.

what are your diet changes? More protein? What vitamins were you told to take??

Well I am now Gluten free- No wheat, oats. They release stuff in your body that makes it hard on our brain to heal faster.

no more eating candy. I can still have sugar but limited. I have to eat fresh foods and protein. no packaged foods. My body had enough toxic stuff in it I don't need to add more with the food I eat.

Tons of fish oil more than you think is possible, flaxseed oil, vitiman B & B6, Milkthistle for my liver, Folic Asid, Magnisium, and something called zypan that jump kicks your digestion.

Plus this "shake" I drink every morning and night that is full of vitamins and mineral and is working on fixing my liver and helps stabilize my sugar during the day and at night so I don't crash.

I do miss my unhealthy snack foods and at times its hard to force myself to take all this stuff but I am slowly seeing improvements- My eyes track better, my guts don't hurt anymore and my emotions are even a little less roller-coaster.

I don't eat gluten anyway...at least not in large loads. ..no bread or pasta. I eat either brown rice pasta or quinoa pasta. Have you tried quinoa...its sort of like a rice but tiny. LOVE it. Chop up some cucumbers and tomato and add quinoa...some oil and vinegar..

I eat pretty healthy...but need to add more fish...I eat a lot of salads..and getting sick of them.

reduced meds.
 

I am being weened off ms contin and zanix gradually. I did at first feel sick, and shakey. I lost my temper and screamed until I figured out just what was wrong and went back to the pain management doctor. He was wonderful and took the time to go slower in my pain meds. I am now down to almost nothing just 30mgs. The last months have been fine with 15mg reduction per month. If it is gradual, you should feel much better than what you are going through now. If your doctor will just decrease going down on the mgs. at a slower rate you should feel OK going through it. I did sweat alot too which drove me nuts. good luck and it can be done. ginnie