I'm day 2 of codeine withdrawl

[FrisbeeParty]

I've nc because everything about my life is a contradiction to this. Please excuse grammar etc because right now I feel like I'm having the worst case of flu ever, which is made worse by restless legs.
I've been in denial for so long. I was prescribed cocodamol 30/500 4 years ago for probable fibromyalgia. But I've been abusing them and just take them for how lifted I feel. On friday I had a wake up I phoned the surgery to see if my prescription had gone to my local chemist to be told as it had only been 10 days the doctor would not issue it. I had 4 tablets left from 100. At first I thought no problem I will go to two different chemists and buy cocodamol from one and nurofen plus from the other and take 4 of the nurofen plus and 2 cocodamol. Then I looked at the kids who were waiting to go to the beach and were so happy. It dawned on me that this is addict talk. So I took 2 cocodamol at 1 on friday afternoon and I haven't taken anything since. I don't drink alcohol ever or smoke so it's crazy how this has become me.
So far the rest of Friday was ok in terms of withdrawl I was thinking about them constantly though.
Saturday was tough in the morning but I managed to take the children to the cinema ar dinner time and didn't feel too bad. I started to get ahead of myself and think maybe I wasn't addicted. But by tea time I couldn't stop sneezing my whole body was aching and my nose was like a tap. I hardly slept last night every hour I was up and my legs were driving me crazy.
Today well fuck me what the fuck is happening my stomach is in agony I'm sweating and my tongue is covered in ulcers. The sneezing is so intense it's honestly like the time I had flu.

So husband took the children out for the day and I've watched a film on the sofa (the vanishing with kiefer sutherland it was bloody good). I'm living off tiptops, squares of bournville and ready saltes pringles.

There's no going back now I will never take another tablet again. Husband is phoning the surgery tomorrow and telling them.
I know this isn't the recommended way to do this but I needed to act on my feelings at that exact moment and make this decision. Thanks to anyone who has read my jumbled crap and to anyone else suffering from an addiction fuck this is hard but we are worth more and we can do this.

@Blankspace4 hats off to you and everyone else who has gone through this. I don't want to take anything at all but I have paracetamol here if I need it.

That's what I'm looking forward to the clear head and not waking up and taking tablets. They became the highlight of my life

Keep up the good work dealing with addiction is horrible I have witnessed it from family members just try to keep yourself busy sending love and hugs your way x

Good for you. Don’t give up. Do whatever it takes. Your kids will be grateful forever (not that they know, but you know what I mean!) xx

Keep going op, you are doing really well! I had a codeine addiction for about 10 years and like you, it suddenly dawned on me I was dependent on it. I used to wake in the night with restless legs and have to top up. I took it during the day to take 'the edge off' and in retrospect, probably used it to deal with my grief over dc2's disability.

Before I used codeine I used alcohol to block out a shitty childhood, but kicked that before I had children. Like you I considered myself very straight.

I haven't taken any opioids for four years now and don't miss them at all. It makes me feel sick to think of how stoned I was all the time.

@MrsBobDylan that's such an achievement to be free after 10 years on them. @GoodStuffAnnie @aintnutinchanged and anyone else I've missed the positivity from you all is keeping me going.

I'm feeling not as bad right now, I'm having hot flushes and my legs still have the weird sensation in them. It's not quite pins and needles but feels like a fizzing in them (really don't know how else to explain it).

I'm going to sleep downstairs tonight I'm predicting little sleep so this way I can potter about and not disturb anyone. One of my cats isn't leaving me alone so I have company

Hi, day 2 here of tramadol withdrawal. Similarly to yourself, my prescription wasn't ready on Friday as it needed reviewing. IV been prescribed 8 a day for nearly 3 years. IV tried before but caved in on day 3 due to the lack of sleep. I have 4 children so it's so hard. Truthfully I haven't needed to pain relief for a long time, but kept them going as they gave me a happy energy, a permanent mental hug, Im a better person, a more playful and tireless mother, and sleep well on them. This is hard, it's hard to find words of encouragement, but it will be great to be normal and know that we can be happy and functioning without them x

@HugoAvril I have 4 children also. What you have said about the feelings it gives you is exactly how I feel. I too haven't needed any pain relief for years but I love the warm uplifting feeling they give me. But it's false and I know that now.
How are you feeling now? Please stay strong we can both do this.

I feel dreadful, and stressed knowing I won't sleep well tonight. I'm going to have an Epsom salt bath, and take magnesium and paracetamol, but it won't do much. My joints ache and I need to constantly stretch out my arms and legs in bed. Constantly thinking how on earth did I get here. My weekends is that I struggle to accept that IL be better off. IV read many articles of people getting through and giving positive messages, but really, given the chance, I'd stay on them until my children were a bit older and I could have a few days to myself to tackle this. I need to stay strong, by Wednesday my prescription will have cleared, but by then I should have passed the peak of withdrawal, so would be ridiculous to collect them and go straight back to square one. I hope you get some sleep, I think that's the worst part, I'm trying to think that everything I'm feeling is the drug clearing from my body, so every minute is a step closer to freedom from feeling like this. Stay strong 💐 x

My weakness not weekend!

I'm here with the fan by my head and eating a tip top. I just want to sleep but I can't my legs are exactly the same. I'm feeling quite irritable now I can't concentrate and I feel like I will never get used to not taking them.

I managed to sleep around 2ish I've woken today very shaky and weak. I feel sick and I can't concentrate on anything.

Hang on in there and roll with it. You know what it is, you know you're not "ill", you know it's perfectly normal.

There's no harm in telling your kids that you don't feel too good today so you're going to take things a bit slower than normal. There's all kinds of bugs and viruses going around atm so you can say you feel like you're coming down with something.

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks that's exactly what I plan to do. I'm going to buy them shazam on sky and let them eat whatever meals they fancy and I'm going to take it easy.
I have the weirdest feeling, I feel homesick I don't know how but it definitely feels like homesickness. Plus I'm very overwhelmed. The tablets seemed to slow things down and I felt happy and chilled but I'm now very awake feeling.

Does anyone think it would be ok for me to take flu tablets or lemsip? I'm tempted to get a bottle of night nurse. I'm so hungry but my stomach is cramping.

I would speak to GP, withdrawal can need medical supervision. Plus there might be something you can be prescribed to ease this difficult part.

I would speak to GP, withdrawal can need medical supervision. Plus there might be something you can be prescribed to ease this difficult part.

I wouldn't take anything. As awful as it is it's codeine not crack. It's not that dangerous or it wouldn't be for sale otc. Give it a few more days, you've got this!

You are amazing. Keep going.

Please bear in mind that it would’ve ok to go and see your GP and ask for support. This could mean them prescribing some more co codamol as you are weaning yourself off GENTLY.
And it’s ok to recognise that. Stopping any medication like this, eso with the amount you were taking IS hard!

Following along supporting and getting up the courage to follow suit. Also prescribed for my Fibro and partially terrified of the pain if I can't take them anymore.

So as the day has gone on I'm feeling calmer. I don't plan on taking cocodamol ever again but I am taking on board what you all say and really appreciate it
I'm into my 4th day now (only just) but flipping heck the longest I have ever gone before is 4hrs so I'm so proud of myself right now.

@PotterHead1985 when the time is right you can do this too

@PotterHead1985 - I was originally prescribed codeine for a back injury and like you I was scared of the pain. But, day 4(ish) I thought "oh christ I've got to do something" so I took 2 paracetamol. And they worked 😲. Obviously that's me and totally anecdotal, but you may find something that works but doesn't have the same risk of addition.

Good luck.

I'm waiting to see my pain specialist.

My appointment was April (1 1/2 years after the last) a week before the appointment I got a letter pushing it back to the 12th of this month. Couple days ago I got a letter pushing it to the 28th September. To say I nearly cried is an understatement.

I KNOW the codeine is bad for me. I am pretty sure I am addicted. But I am too scared to have nothing for pain.

But OP I am like you. Counting the hours until I can have more. It's not good.

Day 4. You rock.

Dare I say it but apart from the restless legs and not being able to sleep or shut off (or concentrate) I'm feeling good. I'm missing the tablets but only now because I want to bloody sleep. But I think I've done it. There's no going back.