Hello Everybody,
I am surprised myself I said that so enthusiastically, but I am feeling a little better everyday, now have gained 11 lbs. Taste buds are getting pretty active now, somethings taste the same some don't. Took nurses advice and am drinking Isosource in the morning now instead of feeding tube, can't wait to get it out soon. Have appointment with Radio Dr. on 7/18 for soft tissue scan and scope of throat, hope all goes well. In case anybody is wondering to make Isosource tolerable to drink I pour two in a glass, add two teaspoons of vanilla flavoring and a little sugar, it's not too bad.
My main dilemma right now is I want off the Norco (hydrocodon), I tried cutting them in half and took as prescribed 1 every 6 hours but the withdrawal symptoms became too strong and didn't take any for 2 days and really got sick. I started taking 1 every 6 hours and am feeling OK, Radio Dr. said that he would help me get off of them. Plan on getting appointment with addiictive pain specialist in the near future that Radio Dr. suggested. Has anybody been through such a ordeal? I have heard several stories of getting a prescription to take at home to substitute the Norco (maybe Librum) a little at a time but other people are saying that maybe I will need a few days in the hospital for monitoring. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Hi Murphy,

Great to hear you're doing well. I have put ice cream as well as honey in the Ensure to make it tolerable. But it's important to brush your teeth well afterwards.

If you cut the hydrocodone in half, you're really taking only half of the prescribed amount; maybe that's why you couldn't do it. I have heard of people who shave a little off a pill, they do this progressively, so that they are very slowly taking less and less. Maybe that will help while you are waiting to see the addictive pain specialist. Hydrocodone, I have been told, is ten times stronger than morphine. That's why it's difficult to get off it all at once.

Murph -

Wean the pain meds away slowly. Ten percent reduction for a week or ten days, followed by another ten percent reduction for ten days and so forth. It will take some time but you will avoid the issues with sudden decreases or just stopping cold.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist and ask them about what they would consider the best way of getting off the hydrocodone.

Good Luck and glad to see that your are recovering

bjmpittsburgh,

I would not be afraid to do a 10% reduction in hydrodon for a week or 10 days and so forth as long as they would keep filling the prescription ( I imagine they would) and there was a special tool that could slice a hydrocodon tab in 10 equal portions. Waiting for a call back from the radio Dr's nurse via addictive pain specialist Dr.now. I am really surprised that the radio Dr. does not have some sort of plan to help patients wean themselves all the pain meds. I can't imagine how many patients that probably get addicted to pain meds during their radiation treatments!