change of plan - any advice?

[alexandra fox]

I was hoping to prevent detox until after my exams on 13 Nov but unfortunatley my body has other ideas - I simply cannot continue with that high dose of ibuprofen, the swelling is bad, but worse is a duodenal ulcer (or the beginings of) that has just be hurting two days straight. I have suspected that i have stomach lining damage due to the NSAIDs for a while now, very anemic at last blood test, and bouts of pain, and I'm scared of it rupturing. Fear, fear everywhere - god, when I was well, I used to want lots of things - to get good grades, to be prettier, to go travelling, whatever - now that I am physically unwell, the only thing I want is to get healthy and clean.

Anyways, a friend gave me some tablets equivalent to your T3's I think, 500mg acetominophen and 30mg codeine. I am stretching them out as much as I can, but my tolerance is about 150mg codeine twice a day (as a minimum to feel ok),  and consequently I am in mild withdrawals since yesterday. I have done no study, my brain is fluff, I feel exhausted and demotivated, and my next exam is day after tomorrow. My friend will try to get me more, but regardless I need advice how to deal with the motivation/dead brain component of w/d and also if anyone has detoxed while going to work or school, and being required to function normally, I would love to hear how you did it.

The weirdest thing too, I seem to have lost the ability to process the codeine or something, its like I'm not getting any relief even when taking a reasonable dose.

I hate this, but I am glad that it has become this bad - glad for the shame of taking my friends meds (he does not need them, I made very sure of that, but still - I feel like a heel), glad that my uni work is suffering, glad that the codeine is not working, because I want to remember vividly this hell, and admit/accept once and for all, that ALL drugs are out for me, I am an addict, can't use anything.

Please, please any suggestions how to concentrate? I have three more exams between now and next tuesday, and I have mountains of notes to get through - help.

Thank you

[anotherfinemess]

can you get the doctor to prescribe (or give you samples) of a COX-2 inhibitor such as celebrex or mobic?  These are powerful anti-inflammatories that do not irritate the stomach lining or cause ulcers.  Do you have blood in your stool?  If you do, you have a GI bleed and need to get to the doctor.  A GI bleed will also make you anemic.

[victoria1667]

Google-cold water extraction

[alexandra fox]

Oh, there is no doubt at all that I want to get through exams - absolutely, I've put in a whole semester, the financial and academic penalties for pulling out at such a late date are not worth it, its only 7 days I have to hang on for - and then I have 3 months all to myself on holidays (except work, but that is casual and flexible) in which to consolidate getting clean.

So for sure, I want to get through - but getting any kind of opiate at a doc's is very hard here in Australia, especially with no history of pain, (and track marks from previous IV heroin use LOL), and I am useless at lying and story telling - and I am scared to take ibuprofen regarding the ulcer - and I dont have access to any opiates without ibprofen or acetominophen. And there in lies my dilemma - no access to codeine except with ibuprofen attached. Hence the semi-hanging out.

And no, me too, I'm a wuss, not strong at all - I cant imagine how parents detox while looking after little ones, humbling.

[allaboutmary]

I was thinking the same thing as Victoria.(didn't have the guts to say it).lol   I think you need to get thru exams. Then make a plan to get clean. Make it so it is your priority and nothing else can get in the way. Take 7 days off from everything.  I just could not imagine taking exams while I was detoxing. Now there are many people here that have young children and have cared for them and did everything as normal while detoxing. I am not one of those strong people. I was down 5 days. Hopefully some that had to go on with day to day responcibilties will write to you.
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A BLEEDING ULCER GET TO THE HOSPITAL  NOW ! Don't take any chances with something like that.  My thoughts are with you !

[victoria1667]

I have horrible advice for you, you must get through your exams. You cannot blow this whole semester. Do what you need to do for the next week and get through this. You cannot, I mean, cannot take anymore ibupro or acetomin.  Can you get anything else just for 1 week?  I have my M.S. in speech path and know how important school must be. Try to stick to your plan, u already have it in your mind.