Codeine addiction and surgery

[rhondak]

First off I just want to say that I have been a very long time user of codeine and have just recently made the break from using codeine. I was taking about 160 to 200 mg of codeine a day. I did, however, have a 3 year break so I guess it's really only 14 years. Anyway I quit pretty much cold turkey with no medical intervention. I took lots of Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants for the pain. The mental part wasn't as hard as it had been in the past because this time I was really done with taking it. I have just received news that I will now require surgery and because of the severity of it I will have to be on some pretty major pain meds. I feel like I will lose everything I have gained up until now. And I don't want to start over again. I am tired of being an addict and I want to start living my life again. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[MROBI]

tell your dr. just what you said here....

[singaporegirl]

Hello Rhondak

I am at the tail-end of your position. If you are still around and have opportunity to read my posts regarding my codeine addiction and surgery, please do so.

It is very very difficult. I really dont know what to say except when I went into it I had orignally told medical professionals why I didnt take pain meds - because of prior addiction. Then when the time to take them came - my addict self kicked in. In discussing it with friends - we said deal with the addiction once I was at the other end - once the surgery was over.

Well I am here now. And addicted again. My advice, if not too late for you, would be to continue to go to NA meetings if you are able to get to them. I stopped going once the pain set in (I was waiting months for my opertion). I think in hind-sight I should have kept going. At least to stop the self-medicating.

I intend to return to NA tomorrow - it seems the only way.

Let me know how you are doing....SG