Codeine withdrawl bites :-)

[Jumperk2]

Well Im a 43 ....excuse me while my nose explodes yet again :-) anyway, 43 and been on codeine here in Canada for 12 years, over the past couple of years I had graduated up to 12 pills when I get up, again at 1130 for lunch, 1500 when I get my 15 month old baby and then after she goes to bed at 1900.  What a life!  Im currently in hour...let me think...51 and 32 minutes.  Im sneezing like a SOB, cold, chills wicked dreams....when I sleep....knees ache like hell, back and shoulder muscles friggin ache! and Grumpy Dwarf has nothing on me!  I actually feel a bit better than yesterday, spent the night on the couch and my wife thinks I have a real bad cold.  We have only been married 3 years so she really nver noticed how bad I was hooked, and too be honest I can hide it well :-)  My wife works late and I just put our daughter to be an hour early cause I felt I was losing my mind so better safe than sorry.  I really want to be around at her wedding and the way I was going it would not happen...I can feel my right side growing...liver inflamation or kidney problems me thinks but we will give it some time and see how things work out.  Probably pickled myself real good over time.  I really hope this gets easier soon.  I'm going to take a day off work tomorrow cause, well to be honest I spent most of the time on the crapper today!  14 times and counting!  Now that can stop any time thiank you very much!  Cramps...well I think I can finally understand PMS...guess that is the best way of putting it :-)

And to think we can get this OTC here in Canada!  a druggies heaven!  Till they wake up!

So who else has had the wonderful gift of going through this lovely process?  Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance!  

I feel better writing anyway.....Gotta run...litteraly!@#

Ken

Peace to all

[Jumperk2]

It is brutal but I found that the worst part only lasted a couple of days then tappered off quite fast.  Th first 3 days was the toughest then it got easier.  Keep at it, it the end it is without a doubt worth it!

Peace

[MICHAEL_777]

Glad to hear you're doing well.  Me, I've just begun.  As of Friday 11-16-07 I've left behind 20-25 Hydrocodone, along with 10-15 Loricets a day.  That's been going on for about the past 7 months.  Before It was about 20 Hydrocodone each day for about 3 years.  Wish I had read a little more on the withdrawal's, as I would have certainly bought more stock in Charmin.  I'm still clenching my cheeks to get to the toilet.

[Jumperk2]

Quick update...Well All is wll and Im over a month now and **** great.  All the smptoms are gone except for the sneezing and it is tapeing off a bit as well.  Just wanted to stop by and pass on my thanks for the help during my down time.  Great advice and support.

Thanks all.

Ken

[Jumperk2]

So far so good, nagging headache but all in all pretty fine.  Last night was brutal but Im goona fight the urge to sleep today so I can get a good nights sleep tonight.  At least I can function today :-)  Looking forward to getting my daughter and seeing my wife tonight.  All will be well.  Thanks to all for the advice and support.  

[kyjobr]

how are you today?  drinking lots of water right?  PMS cramps are nearly as bad (for most of us) as the gain pains you are experiencing.  Gas pains are horrible!!!!!  You really should take some immodium or gas x for that.  I had gas pains so bad after my hysterectomy (yeah, no more pms) that I thought I was dying.  Anyway, check in and let me know how you're doing!

[Jumperk2]

Living on imodium feel pretty good at the moment, a bit of a headache but no more visits to the toilet for the past few hours.  All in all pretty good so far this am :-)

[jenny8575309]

Immodium for the diarreah, and ibuprophen for the pain, and maybe an otc sleep aid.,,,  works for me, i'm on day 5 no vicodin

[Jumperk2]

Sleep....Oh I cant wait for sleep!  It is 5am and I have been living on the toilet most of the night :-)

Ladies, I promise never again to make any PMS jokes as the cramps I have had tonight are horrible.  Not to be rude but I dont know weather to fart or poop and sneening just makes it worse!

Must try again to lie down,,,

[Jumperk2]

Thanks Kyjobjr now I'm in bouncing around mode :-)  Gotta move but dont want to stray to far from mr Crapper.  A good run would be nice as I have not gone running since I stopped.  The OTC thing is bizarre.  I went down to Ft Wayne a few years ago now and asked the pharmacist for some and he said I needed a prescription.  Really says I.  Anyway, like a good druggie I just rationed the remaining couple of days and hit the pharmacy when the plane landed in Calgary.   Welcome home! WooHoo!

[kyjobr]

I can't imagine how hard it is for people who are addicted to stuff you can just go and get at any store.  I'm a smoker so I kind of have an idea but alcoholics and you guys who can get codeine from the grocery store, really have it hard.  At least I can cut off my suppliers but you don't have that.  I'm so sorry and am amazed at how strong you much be.  Good luck!!!!

[Jumperk2]

In a word to the availability....no ****.  Im retired from the Canadian Army and anyway to make a long story short...I was in our Airborne regt, did a jump, my right leg, at the knee did a 180 and I woke up hooked on morphine....Love the military!  anyway, as we cant get that OTC and the codeine we could it was an easy transition.  Now I work for a defence company....being from Oz you might have heard about us....we just lost a big one down under...anyway...Yeah it sucks!  But honestly I have to laugh and take responsibility, there was not anyone else here force feeding them to me.  The ones I took were acetaminiphen, 8mg codeine and caffeine....forgive the spelling and I cant remember the amount of acetaminiphen, who cares really...that was not the "fun" part :-)

So I have some OTC sleeping pills on the way and some Immodium...THANK GOD!!!  Holy Charmin Batman! Up to 15 times today and counting.  The worst part is the *****, and the light headedness and irritability.  The aches and pains are nothing new and I can force them away most of the time.  

I loved Oz, I was there a couple of times, Canberra, Sydney and my favorite...Darwin...Loved diving there!  Anyway, like Ga Guy said, have a plan.  It appears you have done this before...well then I guess you know better than I :-)  It bites.  

Time to cuddle up to the couch with a blankie and watch some hockey!  A red-neck Canadian!  Love it.

Keep the smile!

[kimmiek]

this is my 1st day with none after a 9 day taper.  i can relate to ALL of the symptoms you have!!  I can hardly believe that someone else in the world is going thru the same **** i am!  I wonder how long this will last.  it was way better to taper.  i had to ct before and i really BIT!!  i was in an auto accident i have neck pain.  c5 and c6 are flattening my spinal cord, i have muscle spazms and i have buldging discs in cervical spine and lower lumbar.  how long do you think it'll last, i hope to be feeling better soon.  i have 4 children who need me and my house is looking pretty bad!

[alexandra fox]

Hello and welcome! I read your post with great interest, I too am addicted to OTC codeine here in australia, about 36-48 pills per day, each about 12.9mg codeine/200mg ibuprofen - I am guessing our dose of codeine is comparable, so it is with dismay that I read how unpleasant your w/d symptoms are - that is waiting for me Nov 15th, my CT date. I think that in my mind somewhere I have this patch of denial, that because its an OTC medicine, I won't feel bad withdrawals - this is toatally BS of course.

Hang in there, what a terrific step you are taking - I know from past narcotic withdrawals just how yukky they feel, but also that they do get better, gradually you will emerge from this swamp of misery, and restore your physical wellbeing.

I would very much like to hear how you get on, how you feel day after day - you are ahead on the same road that I am travelling, so any information would be welcome. The OTC availability of this stuff is something that I will need to take into account after I detox, all too easy in a moment of weakness to just drop into a chemist.

Keep going, well done to you!
Alex

[Jumperk2]

Thanks I just called my better half and asked her for the Immodium AD her shop is next soor to a drug store....convient ain't that!  Well if anyone is interested in a hot stok tip....by Charmin!  Im glad I have a great sence of humor.  Ga Guy thanks for the advice as well and I did read through your profile as well.  Good advice and yes I do have a plan as well.  I have given this a lot of thought...as we have through our time im sure.  With day 3 on the horizon I was kinda hoping this would get better but I can handle another 24 hours.  No worries there...I just wish it was not so damn easy to get this here as I really...and dont take this the wrong way please....can not see myself on the streets looking for a fix if you will.  That is what I loved about this drug!  No one had a clue...sigh...like I said time to grab a hold of reality real tight and kick myself int he *** to get motivated some more in this fight!

Peace to all

I'll keep you updated!

[narc-vet]

get yourself a LARGE dose of Immodium AD.  Your rear end will thank you..

[GA Guy]

Ken, most of the people on here have experienced just what you're going through. There's some information on my profile page that may help you. Just click on the blue GaGuy link to the left of this post. The best advice I can give is clonidine. It's a BP med that lessens WD symptoms.