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Glad to hear you’re doing ok. I’m so happy your partner is supportive. It really makes such a difference if they’re understanding about it all. I’m 9 weeks in now and feel like a new person. I’m so much happier and just nicer to be around to be honest! It has been life changing. x
Hi Stem12, well done! That’s an amazing start! Getting yourself to a point where you’re comfortable taking just those 4 a day and then tapering further is definitely the best way to go to minimise the withdrawal symptoms. Take one day at a time. Let’s me know how it goes. Best of luck x
Hey Clab, how are you feeling? X
Hi Tjools, well done on deciding to get your life back. It’s hard to taper if you still want that euphoric feeling. I could never taper either so I had to go cold turkey. I’m now over 2 months codeine free and honestly it’s a revelation! Life is so much brighter without codeine. The RLS is awful. As Dotty suggested a weighted blanket can help. I bought one on her suggestion also and it definitely provides relief. Warm baths, light exercise, a hot water bottle on the back of your legs can all really provide relief also. Remember all these feelings are temporary. It will get easier. Take one day at a time. Talk to us if you’re struggling! You can do this xx
Hi Shazza,dihydrocodeine is just pure codeine so the withdrawals will be the same. Those pills just have no paracetamol or ibuprofen with the codeine. Best of luck starting day 1 tomorrow. I know you can do this. Just focus on one day at a time. We’re all here to chat x
That’s great you have a plan of action! Taper at a pace you’re comfortable with and it will make the process a lot easier on you. Best of luck x
Hi Clab, well done on taking that first step! So advice varies on tapering. Some medics say to reduce by 10% a week, others 25% but in general, do whatever you feel comfortable with.And if you’re struggling with the reduction by the end of the week, keep at that dose until your feeling ok to move onto the next reduction. This will avoid the worst of the withdrawals and help limit the anxiety for you hopefully. I’m not sure if you’re already taking antidepressants but they can help too.
The thing about codeine is you feel it’s helping you cope but in reality it’s not. Once you’re off it for a couple of months, you feel so much brighter and happier in yourself. You realise how the codeine wasn’t helping you at all. It just lures you into that way of thinking because if you don’t take it, you feel awful so you keep on going. You can do this and your life will be so much better without codeine. Best of luck xx
Hi Stem12, well done for recognising you need to get off these pills now. 7 months is a relatively short time to be taking codeine. Your withdrawal is usually based on how much codeine you were taking and for how long. However, Your body will be dependant on this drug so it will still be an uncomfortable process but hopefully it won’t take as long for your brain to recalibrate from it all. If you want to try and make the withdrawal easier, maybe try tapering down first if you think you can do that? I was taking codeine 6 years and I just had to do it cold turkey. I lost so many years of my life to codeine and I regret not giving them up sooner. I promise you can do this and you’ll be glad once you’ve done it! Every withdrawal is worth it to be free! Best of luck with it and we’re all here if you need support x
Hi Shazza, That’s the thing with codeine, you feel numb and get no joy out of anything but pills in the end. Once you’re off them and your brain recalibrates without the codeine, you’ll find you get happy from the little things again. You’ll enjoy things that you did before and want to do them. Happy New Year and I really hope 2022 is good to you xx
So glad to hear you’re feeling a little better this morning. Well done for not taking pills yesterday. This isn’t an easy journey but so worth it! Happy New Year to you also. You’re going into 2022 pill free so you should be so proud of yourself x
That’s such a lovely thing to do with your daughter for some quality time! I think other people find it hard to understand why we can’t just stop taking these pills. Unless you’ve been in this position, you’ve no idea how hard it all is. I’m glad your husband will help out with minding your daughter though so you can focus on yourself for those few days. It’s a tough time but so worth it! The tapering will hopefully make things a bit easier for you once you stop. This space is such a great place to talk cause you know we all understand. We’ve all been where you are now so just want to help. X
I know that feeling of thinking I’m a crappy person who can’t do anything with my children or husband because I’m too tired and feel horrendous. But this will end and you’ll be the best version of you without those pills in your life. Your family deserve that but more importantly, you do! I’m a different person now even in 8 weeks. Im happy and I laugh more. I’m finally free and it’s liberating honestly.
It’s good you’re off work until Monday. You need that first week off. It’s a hard week but you can do this. None of us are any different to you. You are obviously determined to do this and that’s the main thing you need. That’s the strength that gets you through xx
Hey Havehope, I really know how you’re feeling. I was you 8 weeks ago reading other peoples posts trying to get through it all. I thought I’d never manage as I felt horrendous. I just wanted to be the person who was 4 or 6 weeks in feeling normal again! I nearly gave up so many times but this forum saved me. Reading how other people did it made me realise I could do it too and so can you! The most important thing is take one day at a time. Focus on your present and deal with that. And remember this is temporary! The feeling of freedom from not being on pills will last a lot longer than those withdrawals. Keep talking to us ❤️
Hi Havehope, great to hear from you. This is the reason I had to go cold turkey also. I simply couldn’t taper as I didn’t have the discipline to do it. Day 3 is amazing! I know how you’re feeling right now and it’s hard. However, I promise it’s all worth it once you’re out the other side. If you want to talk, I’m here for support. Talking csn really help. You’ve got this ❤️
Hi Emma, I’m so happy to hear from you. Day 31 is just amazing. Sorry to hear you still have some stomach issues. I think that symptom can linger a bit due to the chronic constipation opiates cause as you say. My stomach probably wasn’t 100% right until 6 weeks in. Well done for getting through it, the end result is so worth it! X