How do I tell the gp the mess I'm in

[pleasedontjudgemeidontneedit]

I'm hugely dependent on codeine, it is prescribed but I take way over what I'm meant to 500-600mg daily which means I run out early every time. This means I can't taper done properly because I run out then have to buy otc and then it starts again. My husband has forced me to call the gp and tell them, I'm just waiting for them to call. I'm terrified though. Terrified they're going to call ss on me. I'm a normal person, I'm not a druggie on the streets, I'm not a scumbag, I'm a young mother of 3 kids who are my whole life.
I have my own home, job, husband etc but I am addicted to codeine through being prescribed them years ago for back pain which was never investigated. I now know that back issue is a herniated disc and it causes sciatica. I can't stop taking them as I get horrible withdrawal symptoms and I can't function. Please help me I don't know what I'm meant to do

Best of luck. You should be proud of yourself for recognising you have a problem and doing something about it

It's as if just because someone abuses Codeine that they aren't like ''Other addicts'', and are ''somehow better''

Literally me when I sat down in the waiting room for my first outpatient rehab appointment. 😂 I wished up pretty quickly.

You should get your kidneys and liver tested

Apologies if you have already come across these resources but they are used at opioid reviews in my area- just in case they are interesting to you.

Livewell with pain website https://livewellwithpain.co.uk/

An Australian YouTube video called Brainman https://www.tga.gov.au/chronic-pain-management-video-resource-brainman

Good luck

well done, they are great and will be absolutely unjudgemental

😆 There used to be a magnificent Drugs worker who gave people REALLY short shrift if they pulled the ''I'm not like them'' routine.

She'd say ''Well shall we tear your scripts up then? Think you will soon be like them then.

and ''I don't care if you swallow tablets, sniff, smoke, inject or stick it up your arse, you are all addicts here''

She was so right.

Not sure we need such tough love on this particular thread.

Picking up the phone and going to the first meeting takes a lot of courage.

Have they called back, OP?

We don’t, it’s not the time for it. Later, maybe, but not at this stage in its very infancy.

Hi everyone it's op, I have name changed.

So they called me back, but unfortunately they can't help me as I'm just outside of their catchment. So they've give me the number for my local service which should be better as it's in my town I think, I don't drive yet so this will make things easier for me to get too if I have to make frequent visits.

Had some weird voice in my head last night if you read my other post I've just made that's creeped me out, think it's just a falling asleep thing though and being stressed atm.

I am going to call the service in the morning, knowing there is a medication that can help me come off the codeine makes me feel so much better. I do want to do this, I've had enough now if my life being controlled my tablets and the fear of running out etc, it's no way to live.
I want to also focus on my fitness and start doing exercise like Pilates and jogging as I think this will help me relax on an evening? Also it would be nice to lose a little weight !!

Oh how weird my name is the same 😐

Good luck OP. It's not too unusual to hear things as you're falling asleep

Your username reverts back if on a thread you already posted on under the old username

Absolutely. Exercising is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health - it will help you relax, feel you are in control and improve your self confidence and resilience. Good luck, you've taken that all important first step and it sounds like you have a plan in place.

That's great OP, it's fantastic to hear you sounding so positive about the possibility of change. Were you able to make contact with the local service?

I'm going to ring them this morning. Shitting myself now 😐😐

You can do it OP.

You absolutely can do this OP. The GP is there to help, not judge and they will have seen this all before. You are strong enough to do this.

Well, I've done it I had to do an online referral but it's done. I spoke to a lady on the phone first of all who was very nice and understanding, I explained the mess I've got into and how/why. She recommend u would have subotex rather than methadone, not sure why ? But she also reassured me how common this is and that I should be very proud of myself.
She said to carry on taking what I would normally take in a day until they get in touch and can properly prescribe what I'll need based on that.

That’s fabulous!

She recommend u would have subotex rather than methadone, not sure why.

I don’t know about subotex but methadone is very addictive and apparently the withdrawal symptons for that are worse than heroin.

What a lovely update. You’ve done the hardest part so well done. 💕

She recommend u would have subotex rather than methadone, not sure why ?

Like a PP posted, subutex would be the best choice here. They'll get you onto a dose that "holds" you, once you feel stable they'll make a tapering plan with you. Well done for making those calls and referral.

Voices when dropping off/nodding out - I would get this sometimes when addicted. Possibly a side-effect from opiates?

I see you mentioned pilates/yoga. These will benefit you mentally as well as physically. Will also stimulate your body to start producing its own endorphins again. If you don't want to do a class, I can rec. Lottie Murphy on YT - classes from beginner to advanced.

Do speak to GP about a referral to mental health services when you feel up to it - addiction doesn't happen in a vacuum. BDP and C-PTSD often have addiction as a symptom (as is the case with me)

Wishing you the very best luck OP.

Methadone is generally for those with significant opiate tolerance- It’s also much more physically addicting than even heroin.

To use Methadone for a Codeine habit is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Many people have been on methadone for 40 yrs or more and find it incredibly difficult to quit.

Subutex is way more suited to codeine .

Also, with Methadone and as a parent of young children you’d have to do supervised consumption every day.

Methadone is deadly to children, and children have died in the past for accessing their parent’s Methadone.

Well done OP! The only way is up 💐