I had a win yesterday!

DX'd - Other
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Yesterday I was due to see the psychologist at 11am. But my wisdom tooth had been giving me pain for a few days, and I was using more codeine for the pain.

Well, you know how my psychiatrist and I worked out the plan to have 4 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon? I almost stuck to it. Listen to this…

I woke up in severe pain. I took my 4 at about 4.20 am. The pain stuck around so I texted Mr Turtle and asked if he trusted me enough to let me know where the rest of the codeine is so I could take two more later in the morning.

I told him I would eat first so I didn’t get high and would keep the packet out for him to see how much I took when he got home.

In the meantime, I called the dentist and got an emergency appointment for 11am, so I cancelled the psychologist.

Mr Turtle let me know where all the codeine was hidden and I was still in a lot of pain, so I got it out and took three. One generic and two name branded ones (because there was one lose generic one floating around and I wanted to clean up the hiding place of it).

I took out a full row of ten branded pills and took two of them. I left the branded pills out on the bench. And I knew how much was still left in the hiding place.

I really wanted to get high about an hour later so I started listening to some music and reading the forum. I had a lollipop (no wonder I need the dentist so much) and tried to use my deferral tactics that I talked withe the drugs nurse about.

About half an hour later I didn’t have the urge to get high. I ate something so it would be pointless trying anyway.

Then I went to the dentist and had the wisdom tooth pulled out. I came home and Mr Turtle (who works an early morning shift and gets home about 12.30) still wasn’t home. And the pills sat there looking at me.

I didn’t take any more. So by midday I had only had my allowed seven pills for the day! And not all at the same time so as to try to get high.

I kept a diary for the day and tracked the amount of pills I took and exactly when and why, yesterday it was for pain. I also wrote down the moment when I really had a strong urge to get high and had the stash right there in front of me.

I’m so pleased with myself. It was really hard, but I got through it. I did end up taking two more later in the afternoon for the pain when the anaesthetic wore off.

So today I am taking the whole seven to work with me and will take four when I first get to work then three in the afternoon as planned with my psychiatrist.

Thanks for reading, I just wanted to share my win with you! :blush:

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I kept focusing on things I want to live for, like seeing my kitten grow up to be a strong healthy cat.

I don’t want to die from acute liver failure caused by paracetemol overdose.

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Well done turtle. That was difficult, but you handled that situation extremely well. Keep going.

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In Nicotine Anonymous, we’re suggested to deal with cravings with the five D’s: delay, distract, discuss, drink water, and deep breathe.

Jayster

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I will try the five D’s today, thanks @Jayster :blush:

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Good for you @anon84763962 :relaxed: How’re you doing after the wisdom tooth extraction? — sounds painful! :grimacing:

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My gum is a bit sore today, but nowhere near as painful as when I still had the tooth in :slight_smile:

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Defiantly time for a reward, you earned it. Frivolous but not too frivolous.

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How’s it going turtle? Are you still following the plan?

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Interesting to read just how much an addiction can takes up the time available in a day, no small wonder why lives and relationships get left out in the cold, and eventually unravel.
How to best redirect the focus on something else is what has been the prescribed answer all along, but without much success.

How do addictions get granted Carte Blanc to steal time and take over?

Jjust woke up and trying to think, not working so far, so please forgive this rambling to no one in particular…

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Thank you @everhopeful I am still following the plan. Today I only get four tablets, then tomorrow and for the remainder of the week I only get three.

I am going away on Thursday night to my Mum’s, travelling interstate and I am currently ‘in negotiations’ over whether or not I can take the pills with me to have three per day while I am away. The decision is up to Mr Turtle now, I have stated my case.

Honestly, and this might be psychosomatic, but I think the pills are making me feel sick when I take them now. This illness will help getting off them entirely.

Thank you @Csummers you are right, in the mind of the addict, the addiction comes first over all other relationships. It’s not fair on the people surrounding me and I recognise that and want to change that.

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It is all right to ask the God of your understanding to remove the obsession with whatever. I get help from such prayers.

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I realize this is water under the bridge, but have you ever tried the 20% benzocaine solution? They sell it over the counter in most stores, including Wal Mart. It really helped me when I had a molar that was decaying. It is better if the afflicted area is in the lower jaw, because then you can put a little dab in the hole in the tooth, and it stays there. It works well to remove the pain. If you can’t get the paste form, get the gel form. You put the benzocaine on a q-tip and put that on the afflicted place. They probably won’t know what you mean if you ask for benzocaine, so it is better to ask for “tooth ache medicine”. I also found that when I have a toothache vigorous activity seems to increase the pain. Acetomeniphim might have helped you with the pain too. Using these med’s together with the codeine ought to help.

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Thanks @crimby I might go to the chemist to ask for it, my gum is a bit sore where the wisdom tooth was taken out on monday.