Clean days ahead!!!!!

[LEFTY LES]

I have something I need to share with all of you. I especially want our younger guys here on the forum to read, this is mainly for you. I know a lot of you guys have struggled with various different addictions throughout your lives. I admire the courage it takes to face them and I love hearing about how you overcame them. I have just 3 days ago began a down a new road in my life. A road that I hope I can continue on for the rest of my life. A road void of my particular vice of choice, pain killers. I have been pretty well hooked on pain medication for the better part of 6 years now. My happy little pills of choice were Norco (10mg Vicodin) and xanax. I ate them by the handful at times and others times just to maintain. I got them either on the street or for the last 3 years had legit scripts for each. I never partied with them or sold them. I simply took them to maintain. Sort of a closet junkie if you will. No one knew I took them except my best friend and my wife. You see, pain pills are easy to hide. Its like Heroin. You don't look loaded, you don't really show any signs of being fucked up all the time so its really easy to hide. And its really easy to get hooked. It starts out just like anything. One here or there, then two and so on. Just as recently as a few months ago, I was taking a lot. To many. Over 150 Norco a month. Finally I have had enough. I was tired of feeling sick all the time. Picture barley being able to get out of bed, EVERY MORNING because your body hurt so bad it was hard to move. My routine was this. Wake up an immediately eat 3. My body hurt so bad from not having anything in its system for 6 hours or so.Then every two or three hours pop 2 more until I get to bed around 7am every day. I have a full time job that I can count how many days I've missed in 17 years. I'm a father and a husband. I know that I'm a good person. But I had this crutch. And it was killing me. But now I'm good. Clean for 3 days and never to walk down that path filled with pain and darkness again. I want to live and enjoy my life. Guys I'm telling you, I'm 35 and If Id have continued they way I was I don't think I would have seen my boys graduate high school. It was something I had to do, for them, for my wife and ultimately for me. So all I can say to you young and impressionable kids here on the forum is to say away from that shit. It starts out innocently enough, just looking for a quick high. But it turns into something much worst. Much more ugly and a lot of people don't make it out of it.

So here I am 3 days clean and next week, I'm gonna have a beer. I haven't had a beer in years because of the pills. The two never mixed right so I stayed away from the booze. I've never been a drinker but from time to time on these hot days that I have out here in Phoenix, its nice to feel like a normal guy, cook up some burgers on the grill, jump in the pool and crack and Ice cold brew. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

Thanks for everything all of you guys have done for me. You know who you are. I consider a lot of you guys family and I appreciate it very much. I hope you don't think less of me because of this story but I felt it was something that I much share. Thanks again

 

[Cookie-boy]

Be lucky, Lefty!

I'm proud to call you a mate!

 

[broke_player]

Good luck and congrats

It may not be easy but hang in there.

 

[kspeed]

Best of luck, it ain't easy. Like they say, "one day at a time", you can't think of it as years or a lifetime...just do what you do to get through today.

PS, really interested show on A&E Monday nights called Intervention. It documents addicts and their recoveries, their families, etc.

 

[steadyriot]

Good luck man!
You'll get there.
Thats one big decision to make, and you should be proud of yourself!
Have a Beer for me wont 'ya, i can't drink that much(still drink a beer now and then) 'cuz it makes me sick!
Enjoy your new and improved life!

 

[C Squared]

Here's to you living your life without the crutch!!! Congrats man

 

[stuagu]

hey, hope it all goes well for you. well done!

 

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Sorry bro', when I read through your post I immediately had to think of this guy!

Anyways, all jokin' aside, it's hard to beat the deamons of any addiction.
I wish you good luck on your way, bro'.
Stay strong!

 

[69GTLP]

Lefty I can relate big time. I've been down that road with Vicodin and oXy.
Been there with Blow and weed, Acid, and as of last week after a gig in WI, I've decided to stop drinking. I'm 40 and have been drinking for 28 years.
I have four kids from 8 to 16 and realized I've missed way too much. It's tough to admit you are an addict and it takes some serious balls to get yourself clean. I wish you the best of luck and will keep you in my thoughts.

 

[chasenblues]

taking that Much medication for that long and stopping cold turkey,and trying to detox yourself could be dangerous. I applaude you trying to get clean i have 4yrs sober but it is something i couldn't do by myself. Think twice about having that beer....Good luck

 

[The_Sentry]

Wow.....Jesus Les, if you would have asked me that in a million years....there is no way in hell I would have ever guessed.

Dude...stay tough on this. I know how this is, too...I used to be that way for years with weed. And be careful about it too. If you're one of those folks where you're going to have to replace one kind of addiction with another, be very very careful in what you choose to become addicted to. (It doesn't even have to a substance either. But there's good and bad things to get into on that level.)

~S

 

[EtriX]

good job lefty!
As far as I've understood it painkillers are among the easiest to get caught on and among the hardest to quit. I admire you will and spirit. Stay strong man!

 

[GrouchyDog]

Thanks for sharing - that takes guts. I hope it goes well with you.

To follow up on ChasenBlues' comment, have you spoken with a medical professional about this? I'd bet there are ways to make the transition easier, even if it's no more than having someone for accountability.

 

[jeff_farkas]

Thanks for sharing Lefty!! I can understand where you're coming from. I too have addiction issues and I've been clean and sober for over 4 years now by the grace of God and AA/NA.

Do you go to meetings?? If not.. GO!! 90 meetings in 90 days is the general rule of thumb for new comers. Oh and get a sponsor! FAST!!

I really want to say the best of luck to you and I hope things work out. If you need to talk to someone I'm here for you. Jeff jeff.farkas@gmail.com

 

[LEFTY LES]

Thanks for all the support guys.

taking that Much medication for that long and stopping cold turkey,and trying to detox yourself could be dangerous

I understand the dangers but i have to kick it on my own. I don't know why, its just something I gotta do.

Wow.....Jesus Les, if you would have asked me that in a million years....there is no way in hell I would have ever guessed.

Like I said Sen, its not something I talked about I just did it. It was a normal part of my life. Never thought of myself as a Junkie. I don't look like a junkie, don't act like a junkie you know? I have a great job that I make a ton of money in,a great family, house, cars, dogs, cats you name it. Pretty much the whole sha-bang. That's whats so scary about it. If I didn't stop I could lose it all. I've been lucky up to this point. I'm sorry I didn't tell you bro, your a good friend.

Here's to you living your life without the crutch

AMEN BROTHER!!!! Thanks C !!!

Think twice about having that beer....Good luck

Never had a problem with alcohol, but thank you

Lefty I can relate big time. I've been down that road with Vicodin and oXy.
Been there with Blow and weed, Acid, and as of last week after a gig in WI, I've decided to stop drinking. I'm 40 and have been drinking for 28 years.
I have four kids from 8 to 16 and realized I've missed way too much. It's tough to admit you are an addict and it takes some serious balls to get yourself clean. I wish you the best of luck and will keep you in my thoughts.

We got a lot in common bro, thank you for the support!!!!

I wish you good luck on your way, bro'.
Stay strong!

Thanks Shifty, your a class act bro!!!!

Again thanks for all the support guys. Your all a part of whats gonna make this work!!!!

 

[FrankieOliver]

Lefty, feel free to pm me anytime. Listen, I hope your under the care of a physician for withdrawal. Are you weaning off slowly? This concerns me a great deal.

 

[Jason]

Wow.....Jesus Les, if you would have asked me that in a million years....there is no way in hell I would have ever guessed.

Dude...stay tough on this. I know how this is, too...I used to be that way for years with weed. And be careful about it too. If you're one of those folks where you're going to have to replace one kind of addiction with another, be very very careful in what you choose to become addicted to. (It doesn't even have to a substance either. But there's good and bad things to get into on that level.)

~S

Spot on, right there. I'm the type of person who needs an obsession of some kind. Take it easy with the alcohol, Les. It could turn into a problem quicker than you think. Play your guitar as much as you can. Try to turn music into your main addiction.

 

[diceman]

We're here for support! Congrats on the decision to get clean!

 

[The Mick2]

Well done. Eye have been off drugs for 14 years and Alcohol for 6. Eye truly wish you the best.As well you can PM me if your having problems. Eye went through all it all without any AA or NA just myself. It can and will have it's rough times.

 

[ToothDecay]

I can relate, Lefty. My dad has been in trouble a few times with alcohol, and over a year ago I found out he was also doing drugs. I don't know what kind, and I don't really care to know. He got caught and was sent to the state prison for rehab for a little over a year. After that, he was sent to a halfway house downtown, and the first weekend of living in the halfway house (about mid-May), he stayed home, and I kept telling him to go back or he'll be in trouble. He didn't listen to me, and he's still in jail because the people at the house though he was using again (even though I was with him the whole time), and it could be months until he comes back home when he should've been home the first week of June.

Long story short, I would advise everyone here not to use or drink heavily, because it could give your family a lot of trouble they don't deserve. And those who are getting over their addiction, I respect that. Keep trying to get out of it and it will pay off. I myself will never do drugs that aren't prescribed by my doctor