You are choosing your life and that of your child - the most important contribution you can give to this world - over someone elses drug - you should be SO proud. I have never been addicted to any drug (over the counter or under it) as my parents are medical providers (Dr and nurse), but I have witnessed the destruction that drugs can do. Your son with thank you for being such a strong mum, and a mum he can be proud of. Truly, WELL DONE!
My story is as follows:- I broke my shoulder 8 months ago, and was in a great deal of pain with it. My doctor prescribed co-codamol 30/500 for the pain, and these worked wonders, I was able to function on a low level of pain with them. Although the fracture healed within six weeks, it has left me with a frozen shoulder, which was in many respects is a lot more painful than the break. I receive physiotherapy for the shoulder problem, and have been told it will take many months to heal. I am up to about 75 mobility in it.
To assist the co-codamol, my doctor suggested I take up to 600mg of Ibuprofen as well, the latter reducing the inflammation in the joint.
So, I was taking 8 x 30/500 co-codamol and 3 x 600mg ibuprofen per day. I have never exceeded that doseage, because I am well aware of the problems the paracetemol can cause, especially to the liver. I have been very uneasy at taking pills every day, so I made a decision to stop taking them.
I was off work last week, and mid-week I stopped taking the co-codamol, and am going cold turkey. My goodness me, I was not expecting the withdrawal symptoms to be so bad. I feel truly terrible.
I am now up to day 5, and still feel as bad, if not worse, than the first day I stopped. The first couple of days I had the runs, and achy body and headache. And couldn't sleep at night.
The runs have gone now, but I have hardly slept at all since I stopped the pills, when I do, I wake up half an hour later with restless and painful legs, and have to get up and walk around for half an hour.
I feel like I have a very bad dose of flu, but I know I haven't. Every single bone and muscle in my body aches. No exaggeration.
Will try to take some paracetemol on it's own this evening to see if this eases the pain.
This is certainly no walk in the park. It is a horrible experience, and I just hope I can stick it out until the symptoms subside. So, here am I, at day 5 and I feel as though I am dying.
Am going to hang on and not succomb to taking any more co-codamol.
I was on Tramadol a few years ago, I stopped taking them and due to withdrawal symptoms I was put on co codamol 30/500 2 years ago for knee trouble. I had a knee op 2 years ago.
A few months ago I realised I was taking them more out of habit. The littlest ache and I would take them.
I was made redundant at the end of April, last week I thought enough is enough. I'm on day 8 now and I feel worse than I did last week.
I've been awake since 4.50, I have hayfever but the amount of sneezing and snot is ridiculous. I went to bed last night wrapped up and unsurprisingly woke up in a sweat this morning. I'm still frozen. I know I have to keep going as I need this all out my system before I start a new job.
I haven't been able to tell my hubbie yet and this week things have been a lil strained between us and i'm wondering if I should tell him.
I knew it would be tough but nothhing like this :o(
When can I start to feel a lil more human??
I laughed when I heard people got addicted to painkillers, but I now know how easy it can be to fall into the trap.....
I had been taking solpodol for 3 years, not for any other reason than I enjoyed it im ashamed to say! But hey ho here I am day 4 of cold turkey! Day 1 an 2 I coudnt sleep but now feel slightly better, still hav nausea, body sore an runing to loo. I can cope with that but the most challenging for me is anxiety, taking propanolol for that which helps slightly but long way to go! Thankyou take care n god bless us.....
Hello to people reading this, i thought it about time i shared my love affair with codeine to others in a bid to help myself i suppose.
My habit started after my GP prescribed me cocodamol for pain which turns out was stress related anyway, the first time i took it i felt amazing, a hug, took away all my worries, i had found the answer to my prayers! So everytime i had any stress in my life, popped a pill, felt instantly better! Justified this to myself and others by comparing it to say someone having a glass of wine, nearly everyone i know drinks alcohol, i dont, so its ok if i pop these pills, and so it goes, then whenever i needed to relax id pop a few pills, going on a date id pop pills, going to university pop more pills, work pop pills. In the end i was comsuming around 40 doses of 30mg per day it whatever form i could, going to the docs with fake pain, over the counter, borrowing off people, even stealing them from family and friends.
So ive stopped before when i was taking around 120mg per day, so it will be easy, WRONG! I dont realise but i'm now taking 1200mg per day and without a second thought for my health especially with the amount of paracetamol i was consuming.
SO this is my account of cold turkey from 1200mg per day, i had been warned against this and my gp had given me some codeine to taper, but i knew that wasnt going to happen! So i started my own little crusade with a handful of sleeping tablets and a pack of Ibrofen not really knowing what was in store. Last dose 4pm have now run out, feel ok and sleep.
Day 1 - flu like symptoms, aches in joints, pains down legs, restless legs, constant sick feeling, diarhoea, weakness and lethargy, amazingly psychologically i felt ok, could cope with visitors and chatting on the phone etc, went to bed having taken a sleeping tablet and managed 7 hours, pretty good.
Day 2 - 10 minutes after waking from my sleeping tablet induced slumber it hits me like a ton of bricks, body not liking this, neither is brain, still have the aches and pains, feel strange but manage to go to the shops and go for a coffee without losing it, sleeping tablet at night, no problems gettting off to sleeep.
Day 3 - Wake up with a jolt, pains easing off, now comes anxiety, tried to busy myself in the knowledge that i still have a few sleeping pills to get me through the night, anxiety all day long, heart racing, de personalisation, sick feelings, guilt starts kicking in, feelings of being ashamed and embarassed, start to withdraw, friend who is supportive and knows whats going on drags me out for a walk, feel generally terrrible, have the quickest walk ever, all i want to do is come home and hide. This is the worst day by far surely, try my hardest to get benzo's, no joy, have to ride it out. Body exhausted by nightime from the adrenalin, take sleeping pill, no problem getting off.
Day 4 - Now today i wake up and feel a moment of calm wash over me, all aches and pains now gone, have a slight feeling of anxiety, have slept all the night before though and can feel my old self peeping at the world, ive been missing for a long time i now realise, still feel some anxiety but can cope with it, i'm starting to feel better. Had a nap during the day, felt pretty good, no sleeping tablets left but am encouraged by the nap so expect to sleep at least somewhat that night.
Day 5 - OK no sleep, restless legs all night, paranoia sets in, more guilt and shame, up and down all night, only one thing can make this better, have come so far and had a good day yesterday so try and keep this in mind, am now shaking from head to toe, have a huge panic attack, but push on, decide to go into my local town with a trusted friend, feel terrrible but do it, get home, am wet with sweat and fear, this is the worst day of my life in my head, although im sure it wasnt. Manage so get one dose of Benzo's from friend, take that, drop off no problem.
Day 6 - Ok wake up expecting the worst, yesterday was terrrible, start to realise just how much of this stuff ive actually been taking, sat and worked it out 1200mg, my word, done a right number on myself, acceptance kicking in now, have a good cry, in fact cry for most of the day, cry for the person i turned into, and the person and life i now want, realise i was existing, a shadow of my former self, what happend to the girl who used to socialise, cook, enjoy life, big reality check! Still feeling somewhat anxious but can cope. Ok now know i have no sleeping pills or benzos, panic sets in, distract myself with anything going, tv, music, reading. Go to bed, drift off to sleep.
Today - Well slept for 7 hours with the help of some herbal nytol, woke up feeling good today, no aches pains, panic, just calm, have a long way to go i know, but this is the worst of it, am attending a NA meeting as soon as i can find one, will need help staying off, this has been my security blanket for years. Actually feel reborn, i am me, have felt better in life yes, but ive done it, the sense of achievement is amazing, feelings of guilt are replaced with feelings of acceptance, calm and control over my own life which seemed to very far away!
Anyone reading this just starting their journey, be proud, you have taken control, yes you might find it difficult, just keep in mind that it will pass, if i can do it anyone can, i have zero will power, but i wanted my life back, and i am now finally getting if after years of poisoning my body. And just to show that this can happen to anyone, i am a NURSE! I hope if you read this it will give you some courage, 7 days and im feeling ok, thats just a week out of your life feeling c**p to actually get your life back.
I'm now on day 16 I had the worst panic attack ever this morning, my chest was so tight and I could feel my heart racing! At least I don't feel as bad as I did on day 8 :o)
I am now trying Kalms to try and help, while I was getting them this morning at the chemist someone asked for over the counter co-codamol I had to stop myself going up to him and saying "Don't"
Stopping smoking was easier for me than this!!
This website has been a god send it's good knowing i'm not alone.
Keep going everyone, I almost caved on day 8, but I didn't and if I can do it you can do it!!