Journal - Fuck, Users from Northern Ireland Please? Starting to get clean, need help

[davestate]

Well, eventually this'll morph into a journal, but unfortunately I've no idea about addiction clinics in NI that prescribe methadone or subutex, preferably in Belfast, but I'll rattle on with SWIMs story anyway.

Ever since he broke his leg 3 years ago, tibia fibula and ankle requiring multiple sugeries, he's been in pain to varying degrees. Some days not noticable, others fairly painful to the point were walking became difficult. Then his other knee took a turn for the worse, cartridge and MCL damage.

Doctors initially prescribed a PCA with morphine, then tramadol, but this stopped after 6 months. For about a year, he ignored the pain, walked like a cripple for ages, wore out his new shoe in a month he was walking so retarded, but pushed on through with hard, heavy farming work (his part time job) when he wasn't at school, which although agony to the point of tears,honest to God literally, probably helped in the long run.

Anyway after a year and a half putting up with it, SWIM got some codeine 30/500 pills. Wow, to replicate the experince of popping 2 of those for the first time. Usage started as only being when he needed to work, then every 2-3 days, then once a day, then multiple doses of CWE'd codeine, 400mg's a pop 2-3 times a day.
He then moved on to poppy pods when he could afford it, not really thinking it was a problem, it didn't interfere with his life. Then he started noticing detrimental health effects: insomnia, lethargy, spending a little too much, not eating right, anxiety about stupid things and his liver. All because he was smashed all his waking hours.

Well SWIM wants more surgery to get the tibial nail removed in his left leg and the damage to his right knee repared, so he wants off the opiates for his own health and so that post surgical pain relief isn't comprimised. There is still constant bruising and odeama around the ankle and break following extended activity, so SWIM will have to be on painkillers after, but he wants a fresh, clean, controlled start if this is the case

It's been hard tying this, all SWIMs friends and his mum know he's a painkiller addict, but they also know it helps me get on with life. SWIM is studying chemistry and thinks the continuous high doses 24/7 are affecting his study, he works well after a dose, but if he's craving, forget it. Hell, SWIM just dosed prior to writing this!

Tried cold turkey, got 2 days before it was too much and he couldn't afford just lying around all day. So swI'M asking, are there any NHS addiction services that offer tapered detox in belfast, and what are the conditions and rules for getting on the program.

Thanks in advance

[yaba]

Just read your story and I feel for you, there will be help available everywhere you could ask your Doctor and be honest just say what you wrote down and you will see how understanding he/she will be (or at least should be)

Google drug help Northern Ireland, look in phone book and I think there will be a some info here.. Have a look at the addiction and recovery section on this forum here is a start http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56

Good luck to ya

[Leftöver Crack]

Originally Posted by davestate

Tried cold turkey, got 2 days before it was too much and he couldn't afford just lying around all day.

don't know if this would help swiy, as it's a completely mental thing, but when swim has had his most painful detoxes (cold turkey like swiy said), if he made it through 1 day, he made it through completely.

the reason, logically, is if swiy makes it 1 day, he made progress, and what's the point of using the next day if he got through the first day (made progress)? in other words, the only 2 options should be swiy either doesn't make it through the first day (which is ok), or he make it through the first day and follows it through to the end.

maybe swiy can try that when he next detoxes. i don't know, it's swim's trick to deal with the mental part of detoxing.

[davestate]

Originally Posted by Leftöver Crack

don't know if this would help swiy, as it's a completely mental thing, but when swim has had his most painful detoxes (cold turkey like swiy said), if he made it through 1 day, he made it through completely.

the reason, logically, is if swiy makes it 1 day, he made progress, and what's the point of using the next day if he got through the first day (made progress)? in other words, the only 2 options should be swiy either doesn't make it through the first day (which is ok), or he make it through the first day and follows it through to the end.

maybe swiy can try that when he next detoxes. i don't know, it's swim's trick to deal with the mental part of detoxing.

Cheers, the first day was hard, and when I made it, SWIM woke up and barfed, didn't make it to lectures, couldn't drive, cycle or walk because of the shakes and pain. He also knows his tolerance has dropped after 2 days and less pods gets him more high.

Still, easter is coming, and he has 6 pills of 2mg Clonazepam. Might take the route of sleeping off the worst three days. SWIm thinks a decent nights sleep would do him wonders too.

Cheers for the support guys

[duhduhduhda]

Originally Posted by davestate

Cheers, the first day was hard, and when I made it, SWIM woke up and barfed, didn't make it to lectures, couldn't drive, cycle or walk because of the shakes and pain. He also knows his tolerance has dropped after 2 days and less pods gets him more high.

Still, easter is coming, and he has 6 pills of 2mg Clonazepam. Might take the route of sleeping off the worst three days. SWIm thinks a decent nights sleep would do him wonders too.

Cheers for the support guys

those klonopins will certainly help but i have a small bit of advice thats helped me GREATLY

STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM DIPHENHYDRAMINE!!!

it will give you restless legs like a mother fucker and thats really the last thing you need hile detoxing
good luck

Reputation Comments on this post:

Cheers for the diphenyhydramine tip

[Sib]

CT is definitely doable as for IP (in-patient) detox I've been to Armagh, usually takes 2 weeks, they will give you Britlofex first but if like me it does fuck all then you can get subutex then on week 2 they take you off the sub and back onto the Britlofex.

I'm sure there's places in Belfast you can go to but I'll be back to Armagh probably next week for 2 weeks though this time I'll be doing out patient 10-5 Mon - Fri (they close for the weekend but give you sub to take home) my last stint I was in with a guy from Dungannon who was munching boxes of Nurofen, a few of the alcho's ended up eating them also so it takes you to watch you don't come out with more addictions than you went in with. Remember it's a lot more than just quitting the drugs but they'll teach you how to live without the drugs which helps.

Start by going to your doctor who will then set up an appointment with a drugs worker who will then set a date for your treatment, you will have to go to treatment to get subutex for the doctors here won't prescribe it, this could take a while so the sooner you get started the better, good luck.

Sib added 7 Minutes and 24 Seconds later...

I see you've decided to to try and sleep through CT, I tried it, took 2 of the strongest sleeping pills you can get and they done feck all, what's good about CT is you will remember for a long time just how bad it was, I was clean for 7 months after my last CT it was that bad

Reputation Comments on this post:

Solid advice. Well detailed

[BumpBump]

swim often does cold turkey, or just uses codeine for a day or two to smooth things out... but this was/is off H and if swiy is fighting a codeine addiction this would not help.
Get some kratom, a load of beer and eat one or two of them kpins along side... no opiate withdrawl is nice but there will always be some pain... get it over with and in a week or two it will be the mental effects but you shouldnt be in much physical pain

[Sib]

Do over the counter pain killers help much SWIYBumpBump?

[davestate]

Originally Posted by Sib

Do over the counter pain killers help much SWIYBumpBump?

Staying away from anything narcotic, though when SWIM used to munch morphine sulphate pills, he found chewing some asprin and paracetamol helped, probably placebo but whatever.

Anyway today is day 1! No pods, pills or CWE! He went out with his mates, had a few drinks last night and stayed up till 9 today, by which time he was sobre and dropped 1mg Clonazepam...the journey begins!

He's slept until just there now and has a DVD box set of house to watch, 2-3bags of Sports Mixture sweets, his favourite comfy magners T-shirt to sweat in, Drugs forum to vent at, and airconditioner and electric heater for the chills and plenty of multivitimans, supplements and of course, junk food! His attitude is very positive so this might not be too hard. Anyway! Here we go!

[Sib]

That's the spirit, remember it only lasts a few days and you seem all set, keep us updated and do lots of venting

[davestate]

Originally Posted by Sib

That's the spirit, remember it only lasts a few days and you seem all set, keep us updated and do lots of venting

Fuck I feel ashamed writing this...for the first 3 days SWIM basically with the help of a friend stayed in a clonazepam induced sleep, sweated buckets without realising, apparently tossing and turning like no other, awake only a few hours a day. But on day 4 he stopped the clonazepam, felt great, it was a sunny day, sat out in the sun, went for a cycle, the works. Well today the weather was miserable, and SWIM was in agony. So he took 450mg of codeine...FUCK. His tolerance has dropped so right now he's monged and depressed. It's not that he craves it, he needs it

Thats it for self help, he rang shaftsbury square community addiction service, they said he needs a GP referal now. So he has an appointment with his GP on thursday. But it won't be for addiction addmission

SWIM thinks this isn't a mental thing mostly. He felt great coming off the drugs and having a normal, happy day. But when the pain flairs up, it's honestly too much. He isn't going to say about the addiction, but want surgery to fix his leg, want to try everything to get rid of the pain. Addmittidly there was a stage where he did it recreationally but that time is gone. He wants the surgery, but knows he'll need prescribed meds or he'll just go the illegal route, and that offers stonger things, he's worried he'll move from the opium/codeine/morphine to heroin, and throw everything away.

So basically here's the plan:

He's going to ask to a referal again to the hospitial for investigation into whether his tibial nail is giving him the pain, so probable surgery, week in hospital and another spout of learning to walk again, and ask for diclofenac sodium and tramadol. He's given both in the past, and tramadol isn't what you'd ask for if you we're scamming, so hopefully he will prescribe again. He'll tell him about good days and bad days, this is legit pain. So apart from this, any other advice from SWIMMers?

[Sib]

If SWIY needs to kill the pain then so be it, just try and take what you need and no more, it will help when SWIY is quitting. At least SWIY is doing something about it other than popping pills, If SWIY wants SWIM can PM a link to a forum with lots of people in the same situation who are dealing with pain on a daily basis.

[davestate]

Originally Posted by Sib

If SWIY needs to kill the pain then so be it, just try and take what you need and no more, it will help when SWIY is quitting. At least SWIY is doing something about it other than popping pills, If SWIY wants SWIM can PM a link to a forum with lots of people in the same situation who are dealing with pain on a daily basis.

That would be very much appriciated.


SWIM went back to the doctors, and got a referral for another set of MRI's with the high probability of more surgery. He couldn't even perform a knee reflex test because SWIMs knee is so sensitive. SWIM didn't ask or suggest for prescription of any narcotics, SWIM needs his doctor to continue treating SWIM like he is in real pain, refering him to specialists, bumping him up lists. SWIM actually denied the doc from prescribing him anything! Now thats willpower I personally think!

SWIM has started taking dl-phenylalanine, which honest to got, helps so much, but has the side effect of making him very chatty and anaylitical, someetimes innappropriatly so! He still takes the codeine now and again, but half the time more out of routine EG before his part time job (barman) or in the evening, times when he expects the pain. Hopefully this use will decrease. He also soesnt need the clonazepam for sleep, or Weed for sleep. He used to blaze every night, being a homegrower and all. But use is down to 1-3 times a week.

SWIM honestly puts this down to DL-phenylalanine and spilling his shit out on drugsforum, today was a nice sunny day, so we had a BBQ and swims a little drunk, which makes this easier, but TY to all who responded, you'll get your dues' one way or another!

Thank you especially to those who outlined the rules and regulations of methadone treatment. SWIM rang Shaftsbury squares addiction centre and you need a GP referal to get treatment...not a good route for me IMO.

Anyway, rambling, everytings doing ok, it's working, so thanks again!