'The NEW PLAN'

[madge23]

My cousin was with me today - she suffers from fibromyalgia - i gave her some painkillers which is going to set me back one day, so Sunday is going to have to be my 'plan' day.  I would very much like to write down my feelings etc here over the next week or two...............We have had the kids minded so we can go to a concert - Roger Water's The Wall  next week - this was booked months ago ....I dont even want to go. But reading everybodys experiences has reassured me  - I am going to keep a diary here for the next 2 weeks - you dont have to read it - but to me, any help is better than none at all. Luck and love to all.xx.

[madge23]

Hi everyone,
                   well as you can see, things didn't go to plan in September and I haven't been on here since, things have since changed dramatically. I have now been codeine free for 5 whole days!!!! My GP referred me to an addiction clinic and I started attending there on Monday. I go from 9am to 12pm everyday for 2 weeks. I see a nurse everyday and receive the drug Lofexidine - also known as Britlofex - from her. This drug is to make the withdrawals of codeine easier - although you do still suffer from some withdrawals, also it is neccessary to attend the clinic everyday as Lofexidine can make your blood pressure and heart rate drop - especially if the dose needs to be increased to cope with the withdrawals, as I am experiencing today as my dose had to be increased yesterday and today my blood pressure and heart rate were down significantly since I started Lofexidine  on Monday, when both were as they should be, also Lofexidine has its own side- effects too, but I view them as a neccessary evil and try not to think about it. The plan is for me to reduce this drug next week and then to start taking the drug Nalorex, which is an opiod blocker, so if I was to take any drug with codeine, I will not experience the 'buzz' codeine gives. I know its only been 5 days, but I truly never imagined id ever be able to go one day without my co-codamol 30/500 - Ive been taking them for 12 years, 14 - 16 tablets at a time, usually twice a day, but I feel very positive about the future and being drug free. Don't get me wrong, as I said, you still suffer withdrawals, the Lofexidine just takes the edge off them a bit, when im feeling terrible I keep thinking to myself, ' I could stop these horrible withdrawals in 10 minutes if I took a few co-codamol....'  . When im thinking and feeling this way I put something on TV and try to watch it for 5 or 10 minutes until the feeling passes - and trust me it does, even though im so agitated and have zero concentration right now. I just wanted you all to know that im still here, still having my problems with codeine, but hopefully on the road to quitting for good. I hope what I have said here will be of use to some of you still trying to beat the codeine and give you some more hope - just please don't give up, yes, it is very very hard to quit, but it is possible.

            Love and God Bless to all.xx.

[HappyDays2Come]

Hi and welcome! Congrats to you for making such a huge decision to take your life back! I'm excited for you!! Be sure to stock up on all the supplements and vitamins in the Thomas Recipe, Gatorade/Ensure, and bananas and saltine crackers. You can do this and it is so worth it!! Best decision I've ever made. Keep posting and letting us know how you're feeling / doing! :)

[Andie015]

Hi again!  I posted on your original post....just think of it as one day closer to being clean....

[ROSYouralright]

Congrats on your decision to quit! YOU CAN DO IT! You have a journal on your page that you can use as much or as little as you like.. You can make it private or leave it open to be read. As always you can also post out here if u need advice, encouragement or support also. Keeping busy will be good for you....stick with your plans if you can. You are going to do great and we will be here rooting for you...