Coming Clean: Diary of a Painkiller Addict Paperback – May 9, 2017

This book is different than other "addiction memoirs" I have read in that it deals with fentanyl lozenges that taste like cheesecake. Who wouldn't have a problem getting addicted to a delicious tasting opioid lollipop. The only thing I really didn't care for (although it was most likely necessary to set up the addiction portion) was all the chapters about the vomit and pain and vomit and pain. You really feel for the author as she was simply seeking to kill her horrible pancreatic pain and then found herself at the mercy of the drug. It's no different than someone on heroin. She would go through the same withdraws. This book is worth reading and if you can get past the ill portions of the book it gets pretty interesting . RECOMMENDED.

I've read many addiction memoirs, not because I'm an addict, but because I've been in relationships with addicts. How this memoir differed from the others, was how she got there.I never want to give a book away. Which is why I didn't say why she was relatable to me. I will admit that I had to push myself a bit through the beginning. I'm glad that I stuck with it, because it was worth it. There's even an epilogue, although there are a few more twists if you read beyond that...which would have been great for her to include.She's honest about what she goes through, which is very intense. However it also makes her adminerable for sharing such a dark time in her life. What I admire most, is her determination while getting help. She's a trooper for sure.

Oy. What a disaster! I appreciate the author's honesty- but maybe not in the ways you'd expect. For example, I had no idea the NHS was so disgusting in their hospitals.I didn't feel much was glossed over. Her pain in reducing by the amount on her schedule at the rehab seems impossible.I also wanted to know what happened with the pancreatitis? Why did it stop acting up the way it was in the first half of the book?Maybe I'm getting a little tired of hard-drug memoirs. Not the author's fault I read too much. I hope when I write it, mine will be of interest. The market is saturated with these now.I do admire the courage with her parents and the ending of the book. The boyfriend (ahem) seems almost made up. Is anyone really that patient? Does unconditional love like that really exist?

A brutally honest look at how highly addictive prescription meds are. It's reaching epidemic proportions and anyone who thinks it can't happen to them, needs to read this book. Cathryn's writing style is unique in it's ability to draw the reader into the horrific abyss she found herself descending into. You can feel both her physical pain and horrific growing dependency on the drugs prescribed to alleviate it. As the parent of adult children who fell into the same horrific trap, her story gives testimony that prescription drugs are as highly addictive, and can wreak as much havoc, as street drugs. And this problem is swiftly becoming a worldwide epidemic. Excellent read. I couldn't put it down!!

This book gives me hope. I choke up just thinking there may be hope for me too. My pain is both physical and emotional too. This book resonated so much with me. I've not gone to the depth this book describes but only because of God's grace. I can't see my future course but a little glimmer of hope is now lit within my soul. Thank you for sharing Cathryn!

I cried through most of this book. The strength, determination, and unwavering dedication to sobriety of this author is inspiring and uplifting. If you wrote this book to help other, then you achieved this mission. I appreciate your candor; and your journey brought me full circle. I spent the first half heartbroken and desolate, only to be pulled up off the concrete and put back together again. Thank you for your courage, struggles, and hope. Just... Thank you.

This reveiw is about the e-book from wreckage to redemption This isnt a fuzzy feel good read .It follows the addiction process through taking your first pill usually a prescrptin from the dr all the way throughthe duration of addition prcess and recovery, or i should say the beginning of recovery, ive beemn down this road myself i recoverd but as the lead charctter in the book it was the hadest thing ive ever done. Tina Lovell Lake Jackson Tx I puchased this ebook for my kindle fire at amazon .com

This book was written with unflinching honesty. Told as if you're an intimate friend. The suffering the author has endured, from her severe illness to her horrible addiction, is almost more than anyone should have to take.

Although I could identify with much of this book, having had chronic pain and taking opiates myself, including fentanyl and oxycodone, for many years, I have some doubts. She calls liquid morphine Oxycontin when it's called Oramorph (Oxycontin is modified release tablets of oxycodone). She describes methadone as 'fizzy pink liquid' when in fact it's a dark green syrup. Her relationship with her GP was convincing as was her anxiety at the chemist (I've been there!) but I simply don't believe any doctor would prescribe as much as she claims - that would be malpractice - nor would a reputable chemist supply such amounts. She is a tabloid journalist, remember, and I think she cranked the volume up to 11 for dramatic impact. Nobody could reduce from 60 lozenges of fentanyl a day to zero in five weeks. No rehab clinic would oversee that. Also, after a while, opiates lose their euphoric effect and high doses merely make you itch and sweat (I speak from experience). If she didn't eat for weeks how did she survive? As for having sex while withdrawing... don't make me laugh. The boyfriends, being her therapists initially, were creepy.So, I believe about half of this book. She undoubtedly was an addict and kicked her habit , but I think she exaggerated to maximise the sales of this book.

I'm a 36 year old woman and I've been addicted to Morphine for over 5 years (a dosage that has gradually increased to a huge amount).As I have no support from my G.P and no chance of funding for rehab I read this amazing book in the hope that it would help in some way. I related to everything Cathryn wrote and although I don't have Pancreatitis I do suffer from chronic pain from spinal surgery. At some point though, the medication that is supposed to relieve the pain becomes a bigger problem than the original condition. I can relate to the constant battle of managing prescriptions and pills and I have wasted the last 5 years of my life under the duvet cover.Her story has re-assured me that recovery is possible and that you can have a life at the end of it. The scary part is the suffering of withdrawal. Having run out of medication one weekend I ended up in A&E in withdrawal (where they refused to help). I went home and that night held a knife to my wrist. I just didn't have the courage to end it. The whole experience traumatized me and although my addiction still continues I would love to be free of this demon. I've lost so much to Morphine - my business, my motivation for life, my health and almost my Husband and children.There is not much help for people wanting to be free of prescription opiates. As in Cathryn's case you need huge amounts of money for a good rehab centre. On the other hand if you are a heroin addict or alcoholic there are free treatment centers in my area.Thankyou Cathryn for sharing your very personal journey. You truly are an inspiration and one day I hope I can also return to a life worth living.

I have never read such an in depth portrayal of being in both A&E and as an inpatient on the wards, the first third of the book is dedicated to Cathryn's various stays in hospital with acute on chronic pancreatitis and she really bares her soul of the emotions that you go through when staying in hospital with a mystery illness and how she is treated by medical professionals, some much nicer than others. Whilst in hospital in order to reduce the pain (pancreatitis is second only to childbirth on the pain levels), Cathryn was given copious amounts of morphine and discharged with a plentiful supply of Fentanyl, a synthetic opiode said to be 100 times stronger than Codeine. Cathryn doesn't realise it but she soon spirals into addition, the NHS guideline for the maximum amount of Fentanyl lozenges is 10 per day, Cathryn soon gets up to 60 a day and is close to death when she finally checks into rehab, what follows is an honestly painful portrayal of detoxing symptoms both mental and physical. I found this book compelling, I couldn't put it down I had to find out how it ended. The story unravels at a fast pace and at no point did I feel bored or bogged down with science. It is told in such a way that I felt I was there in rehab with her.

I could write an essay to review this book. Here, I cannot begin to describe everything that's wonderful about this book, but I will say this: it's beautifully written, and brutally honest in more ways than one. I must offer profound thanks to the author for sharing her story. READ THIS BOOK - it will blow your mind.

As someone who suffers with chronic disabilities and takes regular painkillers I related to so much in this book, not the addiction side of things - although that is so sad and fascinating- but the very well documented spiral into losing her health and redefining herself as a person with a chronic illness. Not enough books are written about this and I found this so refreshing and engaging. One of my favourite recent books I’ve read.