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Day 18! Oh well done SoWeary! That is just fantastic to hear. So glad you’re beginning to see progress, It definitely takes another while to feel perfect again but from here on in, it just gets better and better.
Thinking about pills is quite normal. Your brain is still craving them. People dream about pills even! Your brain is used to codeine for such a long time it just takes time for everything to go back into place but it does.
Well done SoWeary! You’ve got this now!
Xxx
Glad to hear you’re feeling a little better again today SoWeary! Day 17 is such an achievement! You should be so proud xxx
You’re doing so well!! Well done! That’s a major victory taking the kids to school!
I was on them 6 years and it definitely varies from person to person as there are so many factors in play with withdrawals such as how many you were taking, duration of use etc as you say. I felt like you at this point and although I got so much better from day 18 on, I struggled with motivation for awhile longer. I just accepted it and went with it. Music can honestly help so much with energy levels.
Those glimpses of normality you’re seeing is the starting point to feeling like you again. Cling to those moments when you feel overwhelmed by it all and repeat to yourself, this is temporary! The house will be here to clean in a few weeks. I’m doing this for a better life that I deserve and so do my family. At this point, it really is a mental battle more than anything else but you’ve got this!!
Here if you need to chat xx
Hi SoWeary, just checking in to see how you’re feeling today? X
Hi Shazza, oh I feel for you! It’s so hard. Tapering definitely seems the best option for you. Without your husbands full support, a full withdrawal is going to be too much to handle and sustain. To avoid withdrawals, you can taper a little slower than you are doing. It may take longer but that doesn’t matter. It’s the end goal that counts. Please do join the group and you can get better support as you taper. It will help you stay on track talking to us.
I’m so sorry your husband doesn’t understand. I’m glad he’s been fortunate enough not to find himself in the position we have. My own parents were alcoholics. I watched addiction destroy lives and it happened to me. I saw them as pain meds for my back. I never thought I’d end up addicted. They lure you in and it’s too late once you realise.
Please don’t feel like a failure. You are trying your best and you will succeed. You just need time and support xx
Thank you SoWeary, it genuinely means the world to know we’re helping you through this. When I started here, I was on day 4 and I was so desperate to hear from someone that it would get better. Maggie got me through that first week and I’m eternally grateful for her and all the friends I’ve made on here along the way.
Those glimpses of feeling better is how it starts. You’ll see more and more of them over the next few days! In the meantime, the washing can wait until you’re feeling better cause you will feel better very soon I promise!
Be proud of yourself! Look at your strength to keep going even when the days are hard. Hope today is a better day xxx
Hi SoWeary, always reach out to me. That’s what the group is here for.
I totally understand how in this moment it feels you can never feel ‘normal’ again but I promise you will. I was still not feeling great on day 15, although my restless legs had subsided, I felt weak and I had zero motivation. I couldn’t think straight and I hadn’t the energy to even play with my son. I felt like the worst wife and mother ever but in reality, I was being the best wife and mum cause I was getting myself better. They deserved the version of me that now exists. I’m so much happier I can’t even begin to explain the difference in me. You’re doing the right thing no matter how difficult things are right now, you will get through this slump honestly!
If you look back, a lot of us took until day 18-20 to feel real improvement so you’re still on track. The lethargy will pass shortly but in the meantime don’t feel guilty. This is all temporary ( although I know it doesn’t feel like that right now!)and the end goal is so very close for you. Drink lots of water, take hot baths for your legs just to soothe them, blast music and instead of a walk while you’re this weak try and dance with the kids so you can sit down for breaks inbetween( I did this and it helped get some endorphins going, got me some light exercise where I could sit when it got too much and my son saw it as playing so I felt like I was doing something with him).
You’re doing amazingly well. Be proud of yourself. The journey takes time but you’ll be so glad you stuck it out ❤️X.
Hi Shazza, it can take numerous attempts to give up before it all works out so I totally understand. It’s extremely hard to do with no support at home also but well done for wanting to try again!
You’re tapering quite fast so you’re going to experience some withdrawals straight away which is what you’re experiencing with the restlessness. Once you completely stop after the next days, you’ll be feeling physically rough for a week and without support, this might be hard on you. A taper would allow the withdrawals to be less severe. With a taper, you have to be committed to the plan and I just couldn’t ever stick to it so I went cold turkey. A taper is definitely a less harsh way of stopping though, it may take slightly longer but that doesn’t matter as the end result is still you’re pill free.
You sound like you’ve reached the point where you really don’t want these pills anymore and that’s where you need to be when you start the process of stopping. You can do this I promise. It’s crap and it all seems unbeatable but it’s so worth it on the other end. Every withdrawal is temporary and what you gain once you’re pill free is just amazing. You deserve your life back.
Only you can decide which way is best for you but I’ll be here rooting for you either way! And as always for anyone reading this, there is a WhatsApp group for anyone that wants additional support.
Best of luck Shazza xxx
You did it really well Ruby. It took some strength and discipline to taper! I think slow and steady is the best way to go to ensure it’s maintainable at whatever level you find comfortable Flo. Sometimes people drop too much at the start and they end up in withdrawals for just an extended period of time which isn’t what you want either. You can change the amount you taper as you go depending on if you find it too difficult or if it was actually really manageable. You’re in control with a taper and it doesn’t matter how long it takes you cause the end result is the same X
I didn’t taper as you know but the guidance is to reduce by a maximum of 10% a week and it says if you still aren’t feeling comfortable with that reduction after a week, then wait another few days until you feel totally ok again to taper further down the next 10%. This minimises bad withdrawal apparently. Some people can taper quicker than others as it depends on your own body etc. Start with whatever you feel comfortable with. If reducing by 4 makes you feel awful, then do less. It’s all about making the process manageable for you to maintain xx
You can do this! I can feel a sense of determination from you that you’re done with these pills now and want to be free from it all! Definitely keep chatting to us for the support. I promise there is never any judgment here. We’re here for the good and the bad days! ❤️
Tapering sounds like the best option for you and while yes it may take longer, it’s definitely not as harrowing as cold turkey especially when you are recovering from COVID too.
Oh the money I wasted! It’s horrifying when I look back! Each week during the first few weeks of giving them up, the money I would have spent on pills, I bought something I really wanted as a kind of incentive to myself. The health aspect is scary with these pills but once you stop you feel so much better!
Best of luck with the tapering! I’m here if you want to chat at any point ❤️
Hi Flo! Firstly, well done for taking the first steps to gaining back control over these pills. It’s a tough journey but very worth it I promise.
Tapering is definitely an easier approach when you’re disciplined enough to follow it through. You seem determined that you want to stop and thsts the key ingredient to it all really. Taper slowly at a pace you’re comfortable with and withdrawals will be so much less than you experienced in Spain. Ensure your body is used to the lower dose before tapering to the next tapered dose and so on. During the tapering process, ensure you eat well, drink lots of water and get some light exercise in so that your body is in good shape for when you stop the pills altogether. It will help you manage the withdrawals you do get from stopping completely.
And you don’t sound silly. Talking to people who understand really helps. It’s a very isolating life at times where you feel nobody but you are struggling but as you see from this forum, loads of people are in the same boat! You can do this!
We’re all here to help and support you if you need it ❤️ X
It’s great you told your husband for support! You’ve got this ❤️ X
No problem, happy to help anyway I can so if you need to chat along the way, I’m here for support x