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.

I’m so proud of you. I know that might sound daft as I don’t know you. But I really am. You’re doing brilliantly.

You should feel rightly proud of yourself !

Fantastic! So much achieved in just one week. Well done, you really should be proud as it's a damn hard thing to do. Keep it up!

This is so inspirational op. Congratulations on taking control of your future!

Awesome OP. Well bloody done!

I went through withdrawal from Venlafaxine (antidepressants) and it was the worst experience of my life. So I can totally understand what you've been through. You've done amazing

You are amazing. What a difference a week can make.

It's crazy but I can't believe I've spent the last few years basically stoned. I know it's early days but husband is being really supportive. We don't have any outside support and apart from some quiet days in at the start I've pretty much snapped back into days at the beach, pool, cinema etc.

The support on this thread has been amazing and I hope I can be as supportive to anyone else who is going through it or planning too.

Really well done OP!!! That is brilliant!

@FrisbeeParty awesome - very well done. Never, ever go back!!

You have done so well. Amazing.

I knackered my back last year ,chemist gave me some similar to nurofen plus ..oh my god ..
I’ve never got on with antidepressants ever ,but these tablets were amazing,I was so chilled and upbeat with none of the woolyhead from antidepressants.
My back was good too.
I do not understand why they available over the counter, it took all my strength to throw the remainder away after my back was better ,as I knew I would use them as a pick me up.
I don’t get why they can’t use them ,or what’s in them as antidepressants

Well done Frisbee. So happy for you.x

Well done. Super pleased for you.

You’re doing so well. I had a prescription morphine addiction which took months to wean myself off and that’s with help from my dr. I did then stumble a bit when I had an accident and ended up on co-codamol for a few weeks and that’s when I realised I have to be very careful with prescription drugs for the rest of my life. I love them but know they are not good for me long term. Seems wrong to admit that but it’s true.

I missed the relaxed spaced feeling but made myself fill that gap with distractions like podcasts or baths or anything and as time went on my confidence grew that I’d be ok. I also didn’t and haven’t really told anyone how dependant I was on them.

The twitchiness and restless legs was worse than feeling sick. As others have said try magnesium spray for your legs as apparently the body absorbs it better through the skin than orally.

Keep going, you can do this. It will get better I promise.

Oh well done OP, you have done the right thing. I work for the ambulance service and once went to a woman who was addicted to codeine and had stopped breathing. Doing chest compressions on her with her children watching is not something I will ever forget

@LokisLover I fear I will be the same and I'm considering asking for it to be added to my medical records that I'm not to have anything in future with carries a risk of addiction/dependency. This has terrified me and made me so ashamed that it's taken me so many years to face up to it.

I haven’t thought of doing that but it makes sense.
I understand those feelings of shame too, I felt a failure because it was something I had been legitimately given so was hard to admit I was misusing it and quite honestly didn’t want it take away from me. It became a crutch when I was struggling mentally I suppose.

I couldn’t see all this at the time though so I think you are bloody amazing for getting to this point and facing it. If i can help at all please dm me.

Today marks two weeks!

How are you feeling now?

Hi @LokisLover I'm fine which is crazy to say. My sleeping is pretty much settled and it's hard to believe I ever was in a situation where I was an addict.

I hope everyone else is doing good this thread was such a huge help in my recovery it helped to be able to air how I felt without judgement. This showed me how amazing mumsnet is

Hi all I’m day one of a dihydrocodeine withdrawal I’m really ashamed to ask for help as I started taking these when I was was in a really violent relationship but never been perscribed them always got them from friends.my children are older but due to what’s happening this has given me the excuse I needed to stop . So took my last yesterday tea time but god I’ve not slept I’m sweating feel sick really don’t know if I can go through with it I want to but feel panicked.

@Tarrot - why don't you start a new thread? I'm sure you'll get more replies then.

Good luck!

I have done now thank you x

I know this is an old thread but I’ve read it all. So helpful and of course I’m wondering OP how are you doing? I hope all is well with you.