Hello, this is my first post. Wow, I never realised why I was sneezing so much recently. I've recently come off co-codamol 30/500, and on to co-proxamol, which I am slowly trying to ween myself off of, and I've been sneezing quite a lot! I wonder why that is?
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I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has posted here. I didn't even realise you could get addicted to codeine - why on earth do they make it so easy to get?
Anyway, I realised that I was addicted a few months ago when I had run out, and suddenly thought, "Wow, now that I think about it, I've probably had codeine every day for at least a year, maybe 18 months, or longer".
I decided that I wouldn't get any more tablets and just deal with the headaches I was having every day. Within a day I was asleep on the couch, suffering headaches and nausea. I begged my husband to go get me some (which he did), I took them, felt better and then got onto the internet and researched codeine addiction - and to my surprise discovered that it is very real, and there are many of us around the world suffering from it.
My husband and I decided that I'd stop at a good time, when it suited both of us, and that I'd do it sensibly. At first I tried the taper, but eventually during flu season I'd end up back at pre-taper levels. The only way to do it was by cold turkey. I decided I'd do it when I was on my annual leave, but then my husband suggested I do it in the week before Christmas, when work was winding down and that way I'd be clear for our holidays.
For some reason, when I ran out earlier this week, I thought 'screw this, I'm doing it NOW', and so now I'm on day 3, and it's so heartening to read the other sufferers symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, shaking, hot/cold sweats, fatigue, depression, general disorientation, dizziness, etc. But the strangest one, and the one I LEAST expected was the SNEEZING. What is that about?
My recommendations, if you can do it, are:
1. Get some imodium or other non-codeine diarrhea preparation
2. Get some toilet wet-wipes, anesthetic haemorrhoid cream, to ease the pain down below from the diarrhea
3. Ice packs - for the headaches
4. Get yourself some really good audio books, so you can put them on your headphones and tune out and listen to something to take your mind off the symptoms
5. Caffeine to deal with the lethargy and to help with mental alertness
6. Lucozade or other eletrolyte to help with dehydration
7. Aloe-vera tissues, for the sneezing and runny nose, so you don't end up with chafed nostrils in addition to the rest of the issues
Prepare well in advance, don't try to do it when you have something important right in the middle of the week - clear your schedule.
I'll post again when the withdrawals are over to give an update on how long they lasted for etc.
Thanks again to everyone who posted - it's valuable information.
Anyway, I realised that I was addicted a few months ago when I had run out, and suddenly thought, "Wow, now that I think about it, I've probably had codeine every day for at least a year, maybe 18 months, or longer".
I decided that I wouldn't get any more tablets and just deal with the headaches I was having every day. Within a day I was asleep on the couch, suffering headaches and nausea. I begged my husband to go get me some (which he did), I took them, felt better and then got onto the internet and researched codeine addiction - and to my surprise discovered that it is very real, and there are many of us around the world suffering from it.
My husband and I decided that I'd stop at a good time, when it suited both of us, and that I'd do it sensibly. At first I tried the taper, but eventually during flu season I'd end up back at pre-taper levels. The only way to do it was by cold turkey. I decided I'd do it when I was on my annual leave, but then my husband suggested I do it in the week before Christmas, when work was winding down and that way I'd be clear for our holidays.
For some reason, when I ran out earlier this week, I thought 'screw this, I'm doing it NOW', and so now I'm on day 3, and it's so heartening to read the other sufferers symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, shaking, hot/cold sweats, fatigue, depression, general disorientation, dizziness, etc. But the strangest one, and the one I LEAST expected was the SNEEZING. What is that about?
My recommendations, if you can do it, are:
1. Get some imodium or other non-codeine diarrhea preparation
2. Get some toilet wet-wipes, anesthetic haemorrhoid cream, to ease the pain down below from the diarrhea
3. Ice packs - for the headaches
4. Get yourself some really good audio books, so you can put them on your headphones and tune out and listen to something to take your mind off the symptoms
5. Caffeine to deal with the lethargy and to help with mental alertness
6. Lucozade or other eletrolyte to help with dehydration
7. Aloe-vera tissues, for the sneezing and runny nose, so you don't end up with chafed nostrils in addition to the rest of the issues
Prepare well in advance, don't try to do it when you have something important right in the middle of the week - clear your schedule.
I'll post again when the withdrawals are over to give an update on how long they lasted for etc.
Thanks again to everyone who posted - it's valuable information.
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OK, I'm back (guest from 12/16/08) for an update:
I'm on day 5 now, and feeling much better. The only remaining symptoms are the occasional hot flush and cramps in my calf muscles.
I would say that symptoms peaked at about 48 hours, remained fairly steady till beginning of day 4, and then started getting rapidly better through day 4. I noticed that the symptoms were then only coming in waves - I'd have a bad hour, then a good hour, and so on. I also found I could not eat for a couple of days so I've probably lost a couple of pounds. My appetite was better towards the end of each day. The sneezing was gone by day 4.
For anyone that is considering detoxing, do it sooner rather than later - it's certainly no worse than a stomach flu - and we all deal with those at various times.
I'm on day 5 now, and feeling much better. The only remaining symptoms are the occasional hot flush and cramps in my calf muscles.
I would say that symptoms peaked at about 48 hours, remained fairly steady till beginning of day 4, and then started getting rapidly better through day 4. I noticed that the symptoms were then only coming in waves - I'd have a bad hour, then a good hour, and so on. I also found I could not eat for a couple of days so I've probably lost a couple of pounds. My appetite was better towards the end of each day. The sneezing was gone by day 4.
For anyone that is considering detoxing, do it sooner rather than later - it's certainly no worse than a stomach flu - and we all deal with those at various times.
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My withdrawal experience.
I've been taking Nerofen for about the past 3 years, up to 80 tabs a day but I slowly reduced down to 16 a day (4 x 4 spread over the day).
Nerofen has around 12.8mg of codeine per tab.
Anyway i've been preparing for this for a long time, i took a month off work to work through this habbit.
I've previously been addicted to herion and methadone (methadone to help me kick the heroin) so I knew what i was in for.
1st day wasnt too bad, better than i thought it would be, no real signs of intense withdrawl.
2nd day was hell, really sore bones, headaches, very cold all the time (its summer here in Australia so its actually really hot but i'm freezing). Lots of anxiety, diarrhea, cant sleep yet very tired.
3rd day much the same as the second but the pains in the bones had gone and just feeling very tired but still not able to sleep.
4th day (today) no pains (thank god) but stll very tired and cold. I feel much better but I'm still feeling very tired. For anyone about to do this thats basically what your in for up until the 4th day, from then on it gets better. Happy days i'm through the worse of it.
Good luck anyone about to try this, you can do it, just make sure you have someone with you to help you.
I've been taking Nerofen for about the past 3 years, up to 80 tabs a day but I slowly reduced down to 16 a day (4 x 4 spread over the day).
Nerofen has around 12.8mg of codeine per tab.
Anyway i've been preparing for this for a long time, i took a month off work to work through this habbit.
I've previously been addicted to herion and methadone (methadone to help me kick the heroin) so I knew what i was in for.
1st day wasnt too bad, better than i thought it would be, no real signs of intense withdrawl.
2nd day was hell, really sore bones, headaches, very cold all the time (its summer here in Australia so its actually really hot but i'm freezing). Lots of anxiety, diarrhea, cant sleep yet very tired.
3rd day much the same as the second but the pains in the bones had gone and just feeling very tired but still not able to sleep.
4th day (today) no pains (thank god) but stll very tired and cold. I feel much better but I'm still feeling very tired. For anyone about to do this thats basically what your in for up until the 4th day, from then on it gets better. Happy days i'm through the worse of it.
Good luck anyone about to try this, you can do it, just make sure you have someone with you to help you.
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I've been taking codeine for nearly two years now and ran out the day after Christmas. I'm feeling really depressed and lethargic and have no appetite at all. I'm lucky to have a very supportive partner but I feel like a burden to everyone. I know the depression is from the withdrawl but it doesn't make it any easier.
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Just hang in there, it gets much better. I'm up to my 9th day now (i think) and i'm feeling much better, not 100% but a billion times better than 5-6 days ago.
The tiredness still remained a few days after the majority of the symptons left and I just had to fight through it, I was feeling pretty depressed too and started to think of taking some codeine, i was telling myself "just 2 tabs and you'll be fine" (I live next door to a chemist so pretty easy to walk outside and get more) but then I would run through all the pro's and Con's of taking more tabs.
Here was the list that kept me going
Pro
1. Nothing
Con
1. Liver
2. Kidney
3. Heart (from the ibprofen, i had some regular heart issues)
4 Bowel
5. Stomach
6. Money
7. Having to go to a Chemist and ensure I have tabs everyday
8. I'd already come so far and I was so close if I could just hang on, if I turned back now in a few days i would be kickin myself and I'd just have to go through it all again at some other point.
The energy is back now, not 100% but about 90% and thats a huge improvement on a few days ago, the emotions are basically back to normal now too, no more feeling like crying over nothing (I'm a guy too so that was hard to deal with but I expected it).
Not cold anymore, diarrhea still remains but emodium does wonders for that and i highly recommend it. Still a little bit of anxiety everynow and then but not all the time, just randomly at night and its nothing I can't deal with.
Anyone reading this thats at the first few days, just hang in, it feels like its never going to end but it does and you feel so much better for it.
The tiredness still remained a few days after the majority of the symptons left and I just had to fight through it, I was feeling pretty depressed too and started to think of taking some codeine, i was telling myself "just 2 tabs and you'll be fine" (I live next door to a chemist so pretty easy to walk outside and get more) but then I would run through all the pro's and Con's of taking more tabs.
Here was the list that kept me going
Pro
1. Nothing
Con
1. Liver
2. Kidney
3. Heart (from the ibprofen, i had some regular heart issues)
4 Bowel
5. Stomach
6. Money
7. Having to go to a Chemist and ensure I have tabs everyday
8. I'd already come so far and I was so close if I could just hang on, if I turned back now in a few days i would be kickin myself and I'd just have to go through it all again at some other point.
The energy is back now, not 100% but about 90% and thats a huge improvement on a few days ago, the emotions are basically back to normal now too, no more feeling like crying over nothing (I'm a guy too so that was hard to deal with but I expected it).
Not cold anymore, diarrhea still remains but emodium does wonders for that and i highly recommend it. Still a little bit of anxiety everynow and then but not all the time, just randomly at night and its nothing I can't deal with.
Anyone reading this thats at the first few days, just hang in, it feels like its never going to end but it does and you feel so much better for it.
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I have been using Panadein { 8 mg codeine phos . 500 mg paracetamol } for twnty year due to a damaged spine . I used 30 mg codeine phos 500 mg par acetamol . for eighteen months . I quit cold turkey just befor xmas 2008 .
The usual discomfort for two weeks . I was ready for it . I kept myself comfortable . Two showers a day change bedding every two days . warm milk and a nip of scothch at night .
I was nt expecting the tiredness after thirty days though . I am prepared to endure this tiredness for another two months . Some say it can last up to six months .
one thing about doctors . Be carefull . these quacks are the same drug pushers who got you hooked on this sh*t to start with .
The drug companies made plenty out of your addiction .
f**k them .
The usual discomfort for two weeks . I was ready for it . I kept myself comfortable . Two showers a day change bedding every two days . warm milk and a nip of scothch at night .
I was nt expecting the tiredness after thirty days though . I am prepared to endure this tiredness for another two months . Some say it can last up to six months .
one thing about doctors . Be carefull . these quacks are the same drug pushers who got you hooked on this sh*t to start with .
The drug companies made plenty out of your addiction .
f**k them .
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I started taking over the counter codiene (co-codamol) for toothache about 5 years ago, my wife had some really strong pills for her back and they were 30/500 strength i took some of them and found that i got a nice feeling from them, gradually my addiction grew and i found i was taking a whole packet in one go to get me high. when i got to this stage i realized that i was in danger of quickly killing myself from the massive amounts of paracetamol that was building up in my liver, so i found a way of extracting the codiene from the paracetamol, this made things a lot worse.
in my head it was now safe for me to up my dose :-(
now 5 years later i go down to one of the many chemists around and buy 2 packets (64 tablets) of 12/500 mg solphadine max everyday (764mg codiene), 7 days a week. I have read that 800mg is what is known as the 50% kill dose, as in 50% of test subjects who have taken 800mg of codiene die from overdose. i tried stopping using them about a year ago and caught phnuemonia, which nearly killed me, so i started using again, i have put off stopping for fear of catching phnuemonia again but loss of my will to these drugs is unbearable.
i have sstopped again for nearly 48hrs now and i feel like my brain is being electrecuted. movement sends waves of pain through my body from my brain right through to the ends of my fingertips. i have a seering headache and cannot keep my temper, so am locking myself away as best as possible from other people.
reading here is good to see that im not alone in this agony of drug addiction, but more so makes me sad that im not alone in this hell.
Those who are higher doses than me i cannot imagine your anguish, and those on lower - stop now - it will get worse as you can see from all the testimony here.
good luck all.
in my head it was now safe for me to up my dose :-(
now 5 years later i go down to one of the many chemists around and buy 2 packets (64 tablets) of 12/500 mg solphadine max everyday (764mg codiene), 7 days a week. I have read that 800mg is what is known as the 50% kill dose, as in 50% of test subjects who have taken 800mg of codiene die from overdose. i tried stopping using them about a year ago and caught phnuemonia, which nearly killed me, so i started using again, i have put off stopping for fear of catching phnuemonia again but loss of my will to these drugs is unbearable.
i have sstopped again for nearly 48hrs now and i feel like my brain is being electrecuted. movement sends waves of pain through my body from my brain right through to the ends of my fingertips. i have a seering headache and cannot keep my temper, so am locking myself away as best as possible from other people.
reading here is good to see that im not alone in this agony of drug addiction, but more so makes me sad that im not alone in this hell.
Those who are higher doses than me i cannot imagine your anguish, and those on lower - stop now - it will get worse as you can see from all the testimony here.
good luck all.
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Hey this's my first post so be gentle with me ;-)
Ok - here goes...this has been a long time coming, believe me
I'm a 31 year old woman in the medical profession...
I badly sprained my ankle 9 years ago and was prescribed Distalgesic for pain relief by my GP. The beginning of the end! Some years later this drug was discontinued and replaced with Tylex which im now on, i was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis 5 years ago and Neurontin (Gabapentin) was added in.
But im taking WAY over the amount of these drugs im prescribed...im taking over 50 tablets a day...here they are -
4 Tylex every 2-3 hours
Neurontin 1200 every 2-3 hours, 4 300mg tabs
3 Neurofen every 3-4 hours
Im absolutely terrified of the withdrawals after reading all the posts here, im going to go cold turkey cos i haven't the self discipline to taper - i'd just end up taking the usual amount, God i never realised what i was getting myself in for and still cant believe that im actually facing up to it and admitting it cos ive hidden it for so long even to myself.
It's 9.30pm and i've only taken 8 Tylex and i would normally have taken over 20 by now and i really feel it. I havent taken ANY neurofen in 72 hours i just stopped it completely, next im stopping Tylex completely and i have to wean off Neurontin safely...
Thanks for reading and any advice would be appreciated
A
Ok - here goes...this has been a long time coming, believe me
I'm a 31 year old woman in the medical profession...
I badly sprained my ankle 9 years ago and was prescribed Distalgesic for pain relief by my GP. The beginning of the end! Some years later this drug was discontinued and replaced with Tylex which im now on, i was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis 5 years ago and Neurontin (Gabapentin) was added in.
But im taking WAY over the amount of these drugs im prescribed...im taking over 50 tablets a day...here they are -
4 Tylex every 2-3 hours
Neurontin 1200 every 2-3 hours, 4 300mg tabs
3 Neurofen every 3-4 hours
Im absolutely terrified of the withdrawals after reading all the posts here, im going to go cold turkey cos i haven't the self discipline to taper - i'd just end up taking the usual amount, God i never realised what i was getting myself in for and still cant believe that im actually facing up to it and admitting it cos ive hidden it for so long even to myself.
It's 9.30pm and i've only taken 8 Tylex and i would normally have taken over 20 by now and i really feel it. I havent taken ANY neurofen in 72 hours i just stopped it completely, next im stopping Tylex completely and i have to wean off Neurontin safely...
Thanks for reading and any advice would be appreciated
A
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It is Hell. I know. I went through it. Apparently the symptoms are like someone going cold turkey on any opiate-based drug. Yep. Codeine cousin of heroin.
But stick with it, it is worth it. Though it took me three attempts. And the early death of a relation due in part to doctor prescribed codeine was the final straw.
But stick with it, it is worth it. Though it took me three attempts. And the early death of a relation due in part to doctor prescribed codeine was the final straw.
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Woke up today and realised that I am an over the counter drug addict. After a bladder op (10/02/08) I was given codeine phosphate 30 mg & told to take one or two 3 to 4 times a day. The strength of the pills blew me away but did ease the postoperative pain and allow me to work. Over the past 10 years I have become accustomed to taking Paramol around 3 - 5 times a day. I usually take one with a cup of tea or coffee rather like you’d take a lump or 2 of sugar. Yes I have a problem but it was only this morning, when the prescribed codeine wore off and had adversely affected my sleep the previous night, that I realised I just can't go on this way.
Like hitting a wall I am stunned. Lied to myself for years believing my problem wasn't serious. Yet the unnecessary buying of over the counter paracetamol and codeine is a huge problem as this site demonstrates. Amazed at all the posts I’ve read detailing other folk’s misery and physical discomfort. I have aches and pains now, my legs & lower back hurt, I can’t concentrate, my eyes are streaming and I feel hollow but not hungry. I feel especially wretched to miss a day at a job I love but this morning just couldn’t move and the bladder discomfort was back big time. The over the counter codeine I usually take makes my bladder pain increase so I can only assume my ill health is strongly associated with my paracetamol and codeine use.
Logically I think the best thing is to gradually reduce the codeine but this site suggests “cold turkey”. Ultimately it is time for me to stop taking codeine in any form, physically I feel dreadful but know there is no turning back. Any thoughts from someone who “been there” and ” overcome it?
Like hitting a wall I am stunned. Lied to myself for years believing my problem wasn't serious. Yet the unnecessary buying of over the counter paracetamol and codeine is a huge problem as this site demonstrates. Amazed at all the posts I’ve read detailing other folk’s misery and physical discomfort. I have aches and pains now, my legs & lower back hurt, I can’t concentrate, my eyes are streaming and I feel hollow but not hungry. I feel especially wretched to miss a day at a job I love but this morning just couldn’t move and the bladder discomfort was back big time. The over the counter codeine I usually take makes my bladder pain increase so I can only assume my ill health is strongly associated with my paracetamol and codeine use.
Logically I think the best thing is to gradually reduce the codeine but this site suggests “cold turkey”. Ultimately it is time for me to stop taking codeine in any form, physically I feel dreadful but know there is no turning back. Any thoughts from someone who “been there” and ” overcome it?
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I have been taking OTC codeine plus anti inflam for 3 years on and off. I took it for period pain, then just keep taking it without pain. I kinda wanna stop, but then dont. I mean what do I do to get a rise I not into anything else?
I know my pharmacy must be suspect by now. But WTF, i should just stop. It makes me feel gud though, and I know I will get board. I member last time I stopped I had no with drawl, just missed the high. I understand it can be very addictive. Its gud with caffeine too lol. But I must stop. I think I will try the slow way of decreasing it. And then take some vitamins, perhaps energy drinks?
ANy other ideas?
I know my pharmacy must be suspect by now. But WTF, i should just stop. It makes me feel gud though, and I know I will get board. I member last time I stopped I had no with drawl, just missed the high. I understand it can be very addictive. Its gud with caffeine too lol. But I must stop. I think I will try the slow way of decreasing it. And then take some vitamins, perhaps energy drinks?
ANy other ideas?
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Hello All,
I'd been using OTC codeine / ibuprofen for well over a year, in the early days mixing with paracetamol / codeine and then latterly just ibuprofen 200mg / codeine 12.8mg.
I'm a Finance Professional with a team of people working for me so I had to keep a lid on the whole thing during working hours, taking just 5 or six pills of a morning & then the same during an afternoon. Following this I'd take between 10 & 18 pills of an evening (so 28 day during the week) & up to 48 / day over the weekend.
The inevitable problems arose - I was neglecting the important parts of my life and really not getting the "hit" from the pills that had first attracted me to them. The only way to chase the effect was to keep increasing the doseage. Ultimately this means taking so many pills that they either kill me or permanently damage me.
Having kicked smoking 3 months ago (which I have to say was not as bad as I had anticipated) I decided to have a go at kicking the codeine habit - well to be honest the wife finding yet another packet of pills in my dry cleaning may have had something to do with it.
Anyway, I am now on day 3 of the cold turkey approach and it has not been much fun, particularly the restlessness & lack of energy, but I fully intend to go ahead with it - I have a tendency towards self pity which always makes this type of exercise SEEM much worse than it is & I really can't face the alternative of being a slave to this lifestyle. Good Luck all.
I'd been using OTC codeine / ibuprofen for well over a year, in the early days mixing with paracetamol / codeine and then latterly just ibuprofen 200mg / codeine 12.8mg.
I'm a Finance Professional with a team of people working for me so I had to keep a lid on the whole thing during working hours, taking just 5 or six pills of a morning & then the same during an afternoon. Following this I'd take between 10 & 18 pills of an evening (so 28 day during the week) & up to 48 / day over the weekend.
The inevitable problems arose - I was neglecting the important parts of my life and really not getting the "hit" from the pills that had first attracted me to them. The only way to chase the effect was to keep increasing the doseage. Ultimately this means taking so many pills that they either kill me or permanently damage me.
Having kicked smoking 3 months ago (which I have to say was not as bad as I had anticipated) I decided to have a go at kicking the codeine habit - well to be honest the wife finding yet another packet of pills in my dry cleaning may have had something to do with it.
Anyway, I am now on day 3 of the cold turkey approach and it has not been much fun, particularly the restlessness & lack of energy, but I fully intend to go ahead with it - I have a tendency towards self pity which always makes this type of exercise SEEM much worse than it is & I really can't face the alternative of being a slave to this lifestyle. Good Luck all.
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Hello All (again)
I posted on the 26th as a guest & now I'm registered I thought I'd come back and post an update. The update is partly, selfishly, for me but also a chance to share the experience with anyone who reads this board and is either contemplating or actively kicking a pill habit.
It's now day 7, a full week since I last took a painkiller with codeine in it so the plan is still working. I can't, in all honesty, say it has been as easy as I would have liked but it is becoming easier every day.
During the first few days I found sudden onset depression probably the hardest part of the process, made much worse by sitting around watching sad films (esp "The Diving Bell & the Butterfly") and reading a less than upbeat short story compilation. On the plus side the experience has reminded me that life is about a range of emotions and that both good & bad need to be present in order to appreciate the variations - a marked contrast to the "steady" almost emotionless state that the pills left me in.
The down sides as at day 7 are pretty limited to insomnia (I can get about 3 hours max before I start thrashing around trying to get comfortable) and a bit of mild depression. Another symptom which may or may not be connected is unusually sudden sneezing. I appear to have contracted a bit of a stomach bug which has confused the issue and is adding to my discomfort so I am rather hoping that the next few days will find me feeling considerably better.
The only other cloud on the horizon is an imminent visit to the Doc's to discuss some kidney function blood test anomalies - naturally I hope to hell this is a) not serious, and b) not mixed up with the old habit - time will tell.
Finally, I should say that I would not have liked to go through with this purely by myself - in my case I have a wife who is caring, sensible and practical (and even mildly sympathetic although, as she keeps reminding me, I have done this to myself). I therefore suggest that anyone thinking about kicking this habit takes a bit of time to hunt down some support if possible just to make the process easier.
Anyway, good luck & a happy life to all, :-P enq.
I posted on the 26th as a guest & now I'm registered I thought I'd come back and post an update. The update is partly, selfishly, for me but also a chance to share the experience with anyone who reads this board and is either contemplating or actively kicking a pill habit.
It's now day 7, a full week since I last took a painkiller with codeine in it so the plan is still working. I can't, in all honesty, say it has been as easy as I would have liked but it is becoming easier every day.
During the first few days I found sudden onset depression probably the hardest part of the process, made much worse by sitting around watching sad films (esp "The Diving Bell & the Butterfly") and reading a less than upbeat short story compilation. On the plus side the experience has reminded me that life is about a range of emotions and that both good & bad need to be present in order to appreciate the variations - a marked contrast to the "steady" almost emotionless state that the pills left me in.
The down sides as at day 7 are pretty limited to insomnia (I can get about 3 hours max before I start thrashing around trying to get comfortable) and a bit of mild depression. Another symptom which may or may not be connected is unusually sudden sneezing. I appear to have contracted a bit of a stomach bug which has confused the issue and is adding to my discomfort so I am rather hoping that the next few days will find me feeling considerably better.
The only other cloud on the horizon is an imminent visit to the Doc's to discuss some kidney function blood test anomalies - naturally I hope to hell this is a) not serious, and b) not mixed up with the old habit - time will tell.
Finally, I should say that I would not have liked to go through with this purely by myself - in my case I have a wife who is caring, sensible and practical (and even mildly sympathetic although, as she keeps reminding me, I have done this to myself). I therefore suggest that anyone thinking about kicking this habit takes a bit of time to hunt down some support if possible just to make the process easier.
Anyway, good luck & a happy life to all, :-P enq.
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Hello again all,
Well I'm still with the program - at night I occasionally think "maybe just one or two pills, just to help me sleep...." and then remember it was this sort of illogical drive to medicate any feelings of discomfort out of my life that got me here in the first place.
I am reasonably hopeful, for a number of reasons, that there is nothing seriously wrong with my kidneys although at my age I accept that all my major body parts are somewhat "out of warranty". I could worry about it but then I could worry about a lot of things if so inclined however I suspect the key to success with what I'm doing here (and with so much in life) is a bit of positivity.
Anyway, I thought I'd write a day 8 update. Still suffering from insomnia although strangely, even though I when thrashing about in bed last night trying to get comfortable I really felt that I had to cool down (kicking off the covers, moving to a cooler part of the bed etc) when I put a heavy towelling dressing gown on & got back in bed I went straight off to sleep. I suspect it may be some time before I sleep right through a full 7 hours although some physical exercise may well change this.
Appetite seems pretty well back although the internal plumbing still needs more time to recover from the year or so of abuse. It would be irrational of me to expect everything to go straight back to normal so I need to learn a bit of patience.
The mood swings are becoming less severe but I do now start finding that I am actually enjoying myself again, particularly when interacting with other people - I had reached a point where thinking, engaging and finding motivation to do anything was harder than parachuting (which for me, personally, did not seem possible until a few months ago). I am now starting to fight the feelings of guilt that arise as I think of how I've treated the people around me (family, staff, friends) but only because to dwell on it at this point may be counterproductive - I must not forget, in addition to the detrimental physical effects of a codeine habit, the damage it does psychologically both to me and the people I affect.
On the whole then I am very positive that the worst is now over 8) and that I will start enjoying life again - its kind of like being released from captivity (which may be why "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" upset me so much last week) so it looks like being an enjoyably long, hot and promising Summer.
Once again I hope that this helps anyone out there either withdrawing or getting ready to withdraw - certainly reading past experiences (thank you perfect angel) has helped me immensely. I hope to update again as and when the time arises.
Bon chance! enq.
Well I'm still with the program - at night I occasionally think "maybe just one or two pills, just to help me sleep...." and then remember it was this sort of illogical drive to medicate any feelings of discomfort out of my life that got me here in the first place.
I am reasonably hopeful, for a number of reasons, that there is nothing seriously wrong with my kidneys although at my age I accept that all my major body parts are somewhat "out of warranty". I could worry about it but then I could worry about a lot of things if so inclined however I suspect the key to success with what I'm doing here (and with so much in life) is a bit of positivity.
Anyway, I thought I'd write a day 8 update. Still suffering from insomnia although strangely, even though I when thrashing about in bed last night trying to get comfortable I really felt that I had to cool down (kicking off the covers, moving to a cooler part of the bed etc) when I put a heavy towelling dressing gown on & got back in bed I went straight off to sleep. I suspect it may be some time before I sleep right through a full 7 hours although some physical exercise may well change this.
Appetite seems pretty well back although the internal plumbing still needs more time to recover from the year or so of abuse. It would be irrational of me to expect everything to go straight back to normal so I need to learn a bit of patience.
The mood swings are becoming less severe but I do now start finding that I am actually enjoying myself again, particularly when interacting with other people - I had reached a point where thinking, engaging and finding motivation to do anything was harder than parachuting (which for me, personally, did not seem possible until a few months ago). I am now starting to fight the feelings of guilt that arise as I think of how I've treated the people around me (family, staff, friends) but only because to dwell on it at this point may be counterproductive - I must not forget, in addition to the detrimental physical effects of a codeine habit, the damage it does psychologically both to me and the people I affect.
On the whole then I am very positive that the worst is now over 8) and that I will start enjoying life again - its kind of like being released from captivity (which may be why "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" upset me so much last week) so it looks like being an enjoyably long, hot and promising Summer.
Once again I hope that this helps anyone out there either withdrawing or getting ready to withdraw - certainly reading past experiences (thank you perfect angel) has helped me immensely. I hope to update again as and when the time arises.
Bon chance! enq.
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