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Best of luck Ruby x
Hi Ruby, it’s hard to take the final step of stopping completely especially when you’ve ongoing issues with migraines. They’re awful things so I feel for you. I hope the meds you have work. I will say once you get over those initial few days you’ll be so happy to be free of it all. We’re here to chat to and support you through the harder moments. You can do this xx
Hey Steph, Glad to hear you’re feeling good! As you say, it’s hard but so worth it when you’re out the other side and finally free of those pills. I’m 3 weeks in now and feel great! We’ve done it and we have our lives back! xx
Sorry to hear your partner isn’t well. That makes this extremely tough. However as you know, Codeine only makes things seem better for a very short time. Staying strong is for your future and by being out the other side of all this you will be able to help your partner more. X
I’m the same, forever grateful to the people on this forum( Maggie you were my saviour that first week). I’m really so happy for you Betterlife. The future is bright! We’ve done it ❤️
Ah that’s amazing!! That’s just the best news. You can now move on knowing you’re ok from all of this and get on with your life. I’m so happy for you x
Hi Trouble, it appears your message was deleted. As was my response. But the main point was it’s a hard couple of days for a better life. It’s liberating to be free of those pills. If we could do this, you can too. You’ve got your motivation! We’re all here for support ❤️
Good luck! Sending you all the positive vibes and keeping my fingers crossed all is good! Let us know, I’ll be thinking of you x
Hi Trouble, we’ve all been where you are right now and if we can do this, I promise you can too! You deserve a better life. Life is much brighter without these tablets in your life. It’s honestly liberating!
The first week is hard. It feels relentless and never ending. But it does! Take one day at a time and be proud for everyday you are fighting through the struggle!
As Betterlife said, stay hydrated. Try eat if you can. Take magnesium salt baths for the legs it helps for some reprieve. And hot water bottle for backs of your legs when trying to sleep can really help too.
You’ll do this and we’re all here to support you❤️
Hi Betterlife,
They must be ok honestly. Work up the courage and try and ring for them. It’s the last piece of your journey to know you’re ok. The anxiety will ease once you know everything is fine. I know it’s hard. We put our bodies through hell but someone would have contacted you if anything showed up. You can move on with your journey once this is sorted ❤️
You can do this! Once you decide that you really want to stop, you find the strength to keep going even when it’s the harder days. You are obviously very determined to have cut down by that much already.
If you don’t want to tell your partner, I understand. It’s hard if the person has no idea at all what’s been going on but don’t be embarrassed. We find ourselves stuck in a cycle that’s so hard to get out of. Codeine lures you in and it can happen to anyone. Think of it more how strong you are to now overcome it despite how tough it is! We’re all here for support so chat anytime you need to x
My heart actually breaks reading this. We are just so unaware of the pain we cause to loved ones while we are in the midst of it all. However, you are not selfish to want to live your life!
I’m sorry the GP wasn’t more helpful. Yes it’s the diazepam is what’s making her zombie like especially if she’s combining it with her codeine pills. They both have a sedation property which will conk her out.
I think you have to be honest and put it to her that if she wants to tell the truth and get help you’ll support her all the way but you can’t stay and watch her destroy her life and ultimately yours too. You deserve to be happy so please don’t feel guilty for this. The fear of you leaving might just give her the motivation she needs. Just remember she has to want to do it herself or she won’t be able to get through it.
You really have tried everything but the ultimatum. Addiction is so hard and it really impacts on everyone around the person. I really hope you can get through to her. And please, anytime you need to vent or have a question, message me. You need support too.
Hi Sleeping Beauty, believe me you are not letting her down. It’s tough to watch the person you love do this to themselves. My mother was an alcoholic and I felt like walking away many a time! There is only so much you can cope with.
My husband always knew I took them as it started with a serious back injury. Before I knew it, I was taking more than recommended and couldn’t stop. That part he didn’t know for awhile. However, he has known for the last few years and tried his best to help me. The only thing he asked of me was to be honest about how many I was taking which I was from then on. For the last couple of years, I was taking codeine to feel ‘normal’, I wasn’t getting any euphoric feeling really anymore. Have you any idea how many she’s taking to get into that zombie state every evening?
As for my husband, we’ve been together since we were 17 and married for 10 years. I’m 39 now. We’ve 2 kids and I suppose it wasn’t easy to simply walk away. I’m absolutely certain though he struggled with it all at times. The thing with addiction is it’s all consuming. From the moment you wake, you’re thinking about pills. It can lead you to be irritable and frustrated with yourself and the person closest to you bares the brunt of it.
You mentioned she has family issues which she struggles with. That’s a huge trigger and realistically she needs a coping mechanism for that or she’ll continue to use even if you get her to stop for awhile. Codeine dulls your feelings and it’s an escape from it all.
If you could get her to go to GP and maybe talk through how she’s struggling emotionally and come up with a plan for that first? I know she probably won’t though if she’s in that much denial still.
Finally, if she’s in too deep to go cold turkey there are many replacement therapies to substitute opioids that will prevent the withdrawal effects. This gives a person time to deal with their emotional need for the drug before eventually weaning off the replacement therapy in a controlled way. She wouldn’t be like a zombie or get any high feeling from replacement therapy but it sits in your opioid receptor so withdrawal doesn’t happen.
Sorry for the long reply. I’m not really sure what you can do until she’s ready but these are options for you to try and talk to her about when she lets you. Please don’t be hard on yourself and mind your own mental health. x
Hey Terry, that must be hard to be around pills all the time. That takes some self control and strength so well done!
The excessive sweating I had in general for the first week and then it went away. I was having a couple of baths a day to help with the aches and to stop feeling so clammy all the time.
Best of luck Terry. We can only go one day at a time but we’re all getting there! x
Thanks for the continued support Maggie. It is crazy we feel ashamed about all this. There is a sense of people bring it on themselves but, in reality, It creeps up on you and before you know it, you’re in too deep to simply stop. You do wonder if GPs were more helpful when told you’ve a problem with meds, would more people get off them? There are so many medications that help with withdrawal symptoms and make it more bearable but must doctors don’t seem to know much about it. The advice is taper off but for most people they haven’t the strength to stick to that. I certainly didn’t!
I’m so glad your friend was so supportive. It’s good to know who your true friends are. I haven’t told any friends yet but my husband is amazing. So understanding and has been incredible to me the last 3 weeks. I feel very grateful to have him.
And yes, we all should be so proud of ourselves for breaking the cycle ❤️