Test run with codeine sulfate
I took one codeine pill after my last journal entry. It took roughly 25 minutes to kick in. When it did kick in, I felt slightly nauseated. About 20 minutes after that, I noticed it was difficult to breathe, which added to the nausea, and on top of it, I got the munchies pretty badly.
I’m at the 2 hours, 45 minutes mark right now, and the codeine is still full on. The hunger keeps increasing and I’ve done nothing to sate it. The breathing becomes more laborious. As a result, I feel like I’m suffocating. I get this same reaction on oxycodone (only it’s worse on oxy).
On a good note, I was able to act normal enough that my man didn’t notice any difference until I just told him I’m on codeine…so I’m highly functioning on the stuff. I was able to continue working after taking it, right up til I ended my workday at 11:30pm.
Oh, also important to note: The feeling of intense hunger, mixed with the feeling of suffocation makes me VERY aggressive. I want to start a brawl with my cats or my man but I am severely restraining myself. Not sure how much longer I can hold out, especially with the ever-needy cats. If living things weren’t in the house, I’d probably want to trash the house.
But I’m not clenching my teeth like I do on vicodin (or as of last month, like I do on Tylenol3).
I expect to have nightmares tonight due to the suppressed breathing. Trying to be very conscious of every breath. The breathing is faster than normal. I can’t take it slow because of the feeling of smothering.
A little thing you didn’t know about me:
I tend towards holding my breath normally - it’s a defensive mechanism to avoid being found by my brother cuz I would always hide from him. If I scrunched up, folded in on myself and didn’t breathe, maybe he or anyone who picked on me wouldn’t notice me. That’s why my posture sucks and I’m hunched over.
…Well, that and genetics - all the women on my Ma’s side hunch.
Anyway, I often have to remind myself to breathe. Taking meds which suppress already suppressed breathing isn’t so good.
Based on the above, I’m calling the test run with codeine a FAIL.
So my question is -
What can I take when the pain hits that doesn’t:
- suppress my breathing and give me nightmares (Tylenol3, vicodin, codeine, oxycodone)
- make me grind my teeth and therefore bring on the TMJ (Tylenol3, vicodin, oxycodone)
- make me want to choke a bitch (vicodin, codeine, oxycodone)
- kill my liver (Tylenol3, vicodin, probably oxycodone)
- send me into severe depression (oxycodone, muscle relaxers)
- kill my stomach or GI tract (Ibuprofen)
?