Pain Killer Addiction

[Evie.Lou]

Pain Killer Addiction

Startsy, You are such a brave and caring woman and so much stronger than I am...Giving up AL was a huge deal and it took everything that I had to beat it...I don't know how I could have ever done what you have done...you are MY HERO !!!!

[Joanna]

Pain Killer Addiction

Sobered!

Oney

That article is very SOBERING particularly as only the other week I wrote to my GP asking if I could have the tablets with 15mg of codeine in instead of those with only 8mg. When he prescribed them I felt safe; like they are a kind of security blanket. I don't think I'm addicted as such over the longer term but I can have spells when I take a lot over a short period and I find them comforting; its reassuring to have them in the house.

I never realised it was possible for people to swallow so many pills in a day and not OD. It's an eye opener and has made me think. Thanks

[Joanna]

Pain Killer Addiction

Jade

PS I just had my first smear in 8 years; partly hopefully because I am learning to take better care of myself but also definitely because of what has happened to Jade Goody. I read somewhere uptake has gone up by 20%. If she leaves that as a legacy, she has done more than the NHS, the Government and whoever else in educating the public. The power of the media!

[startingover]

Pain Killer Addiction

Evie, thank you. You would have done this if you had to I have absolutely no doubts about that.

Joanna, yes, they were my security blanket too. When I gave up alcohol that need became much greater. Please be careful.

[fickle]

Pain Killer Addiction

Just thought I should chip in and add this one about a supposedly harmless drug I am on.. that I am now giving up too.
:FDA warning on non-opioid painkillers (Celebrex, Mobic, Naprosyn, Voltaren etc)

[startingover]

Pain Killer Addiction

Ficks, how are you doing without your painkillers?
Sadly I think every single drug will have side effects.

Today I went into a chemist and I think it was the very first time that I didnt think about buying painkillers. Its been just over 3 months since I took my last one, and I finally think my brain is letting go.
Yes, I know I had cravings last weekend, but they went as quickly as they came.
I just wanted to say that we can beat all these horrible addictions, I thought I would always be chained to some ritual, crutch, helper...I am now really beginning to feel free.
What a blessing, I am so very grateful.

[startingover]

Pain Killer Addiction

Bump

[fickle]

Pain Killer Addiction

Hey Starty,
Thanks for bumping this thread.. I kind of lost track.. have been so busy!

But this is a very serious issue. Only the other day I had a conversation with a drug & alcohol counsellor who basically said BE VERY CAREFUL when mixing these things. She told me heaps of people die every day from over the counter and prescription drug overdoses or by mistakenly mixing them either amongst other medications or/and/or with alcohol.. unfortunately the media is not very interested in it because it is not 'illegal' or sensational enough so mostly nobody hears about these deaths. They are common enough to be boring (chilling but true).

I am riding the see-saw of needing to work, needing my brain (so can't take lots of painkillers) but also living with chronic pain means I need something.. and I notice that during times I don't drink the pain is heaps worse.. to the point where I sit on the couch and cry.. and that's no use.. so really am treading a fine line here.

I don't know what the solution is but for now I am modding and taking as small a quantity of panadol and mobic as I can and hoping for an operation soon.

Best wishes to those who posted earlier and apologies that I am a fly-by-nighter that seldom has time to read.

[rolypoly]

Pain Killer Addiction

thanks starting over,
I've seen the occasional ? about pain med posted...answered....can never find what I'm looking for again.
Pain meds are a real drag when you haveto take them to have a life.
I was badly injured in an accident...subsequent surgery left me with nerve damage that has not responded to anything.
Common suggestions: massage--hypnosis-accupuncture-physical therapy-cognitive therapy. I have been down all those roads more than one time. My chronic pain is well-documented.

The only options left for me are a spinal cord stimulator -get to plug myself into charger to keep that o
one operating(more surgery in that very scary spinal cord area) Morphine pump...also implanted into your body(periodicaly go in for a fill up).
no to both of those-very invasive.....so oral meds it is. Talk about stigma.
More background than needed probably.

I cannot allow alcohol hang around and destroy my body.
When you have a lot of pain there is not the slightest high involved in treating it. Crummy side effects...trial meds.

If anyone has gone off pain control successfully. To me that means you can still walk, move around have a life...months later,I would surely love to hear about it.

I have worked really hard to get down as low as possible....but I do want to function. I don't drive. It is either meds or pain and both render me a menace on the road.

talking in circles, cause one thing pain patients never ever cop to is having had -just a teeny glass of wine risk losing treatment.

I will post a lot and hope to gain a lot from this site. Probably won't put this sort of thing up again.

I often chime in on all the anti-seizure/epileptic med because they have all been tried out on me.
The side effects of those meds has far outweighed pain med problems.
That I am happy to talk about.
Seizures--withdrawal effects that are active in your brain years later----

longwinded, love to see this page...though I may have to develop code words:k

[rolypoly]

Pain Killer Addiction

sorry for spreading this around,....I really want to have contact with the folks involved in this thread.

hanks starting over,
.
Pain meds are a real drag when you haveto take them to have a life.
I was badly injured in an accident...subsequent surgery left me with nerve damage that has not responded to anything.
Common suggestions: massage--hypnosis-accupuncture-physical therapy-cognitive therapy. I have been down all those roads more than one time. My chronic pain is well-documented.

The only options left are a spinal cord stimulator -get to plug myself into charger to keep that o
one operating(more surgery in that very scary spinal cord area) Morphine pump...also implanted into your body(periodicaly go in for a fill up).
no to both of those-very invasive.....so oral meds it is. Talk about stigma.
More background than needed probably.

I cannot allow alcohol hang around and destroy my body.
When you have a lot of pain there is not the slightest high involved in treating it. Crummy side effects...trial meds.

I have worked really hard to get down as low as possible....but I do want to function. I don't drive. It is either meds or pain and both render me a menace on the road.

talking in circles, cause one thing pain patients never ever cop to is having had -just a teeny glass of wine risk losing treatment.

I will post a lot and hope to gain a lot from this site. Probably won't put this sort of thing up again.

I often chime in on all the anti-seizure/epileptic med because they have all been tried out on me.
The side effects of those meds has far outweighed pain med problems.

That I am happy to talk about. neurontin topamax pergolide klonopin
Seizures--withdrawal effects that are active in your brain years later----

longwinded, loved to find this page..

[rolypoly]

Pain Killer Addiction

hanks starting over,
I've seen the occasional ? about pain med posted...answered....can never find what I'm looking for again.
Pain meds are a real drag when you haveto take them to have a life.
I was badly injured in an accident...subsequent surgery left me with nerve damage that has not responded to anything.

The only options left for me are a spinal cord stimulator -get to plug myself into charger to keep that o
one operating(more surgery in that very scary spinal cord area) Morphine pump...also implanted into your body(periodicaly go in for a fill up).
no to both of those-very invasive.....so oral meds it is. Talk about stigma.
More background than needed probably.

I cannot allow alcohol hang around and destroy my body.
When you have a lot of pain there is not the slightest high involved in treating it. Crummy side effects...trial meds.

If anyone has gone off pain control successfully. To me that means you can still walk, move around have a life...months later,I would surely love to hear about it.

I have worked really hard to get down as low as possible....but I do want to function. I don't drive. It is either meds or pain and both render me a menace on the road.

talking in circles, cause one thing pain patients never ever cop to is having had -just a teeny glass of wine risk losing treatment.

I will post a lot and hope to gain a lot from this site. Probably won't put this sort of thing up again.

I often chime in on all the anti-seizure/epileptic med because they have all been tried out on me.
The side effects of those meds has far outweighed pain med problems.
That I am happy to talk about.
Seizures--withdrawal effects that are active in your brain years later----

longwinded,bit lonely I am.. love to see this page...

[startingover]

Pain Killer Addiction

Roly, my heart goes out to you reading this. What a dilemma.
I have never been in a positiion where I HAD to take them long term. I just did because I liked the effect. And then of course living without that effect is not nice. So for you and I know of others, it must be dreadful to go through this struggle on a daily basis.
I admire you very much for trying to get this under control. I hope that there is enough inspiration and support here to help you through the tough times.
Keep posting, its great to see you here.

[startingover]

Pain Killer Addiction

fickle;608297 wrote: Hey Starty,
Thanks for bumping this thread.. I kind of lost track.. have been so busy!

But this is a very serious issue. Only the other day I had a conversation with a drug & alcohol counsellor who basically said BE VERY CAREFUL when mixing these things. She told me heaps of people die every day from over the counter and prescription drug overdoses or by mistakenly mixing them either amongst other medications or/and/or with alcohol.. unfortunately the media is not very interested in it because it is not 'illegal' or sensational enough so mostly nobody hears about these deaths. They are common enough to be boring (chilling but true).

I am riding the see-saw of needing to work, needing my brain (so can't take lots of painkillers) but also living with chronic pain means I need something.. and I notice that during times I don't drink the pain is heaps worse.. to the point where I sit on the couch and cry.. and that's no use.. so really am treading a fine line here.

I don't know what the solution is but for now I am modding and taking as small a quantity of panadol and mobic as I can and hoping for an operation soon.

Best wishes to those who posted earlier and apologies that I am a fly-by-nighter that seldom has time to read.

Ficks, that is so true, these drugs simply dont mix well with alcohol, yet the amount of people (including myself) who mix them is phenomenal.

Ficks its always great to see you when you have time, and know that you are often in my thoughts, I know how much you struggle with this and I pray that you get your operation soon.

[Captnjack2]

Pain Killer Addiction

Only the bravest of hearts as you are Starts would post this. You are right for years I have been taking a thing called Dolased to counter the horrible hangovers..... its over the counter stuff but apprarently more potent than some Valium type stuff. What scares me I have woken up in the morning to go to work popped a couple of these brain deadening pills and driven!!!!!! honestly sometimes I have nearly run up the arse of some one or not indicated I m so zoned out and you dont need a fucking perscription for these things. What scares me most is I have had Lucy in the car a couple of times I would never forgive myself if something happened to her :upset:

[fickle]

Pain Killer Addiction

Thanks Starty,
And Hi Roly.. I feel for you so much. I was always healthy as a horse so it was a great shock to experience pain I could not stand. I put up with it for years, but lately it's become unmanageable.
I have been learning that certain things exacerbate my condition and cause terrible pain. Now I avoid those things (like sitting down at work) it is more manageable and I'm mostly having trouble driving/sleeping (plus people at work thinking I'm weird for typing standing up).
Well I have learned a lot about what so many people have to live with. I always imagined there was a solution to everything. It's just not so and its truly dreadful to understand what so many live with. There are thousands of people out there suffering quietly.
I am scared if I don't get my drinking under control that the hospital will reject me and I'll not get my operation. I do try to mod but inevitably something difficult happens and the stress undoes all my good work. I feel like a completely powerless, spineless wimp sometimes!
Big pain can make you feel small and weak, grovelling and praying to god to help, and then having to depend on some drug to fix it that only screws up your mind & body makes you feel even more like a loser. It's a nightmare not even being able to poop properly! For me, trying to pretend to be normal and working a job and having to make excuses just compounds the feeling that I'm on a losing streak.
Oh hell, I've really had to vent and I'm sorry. I guess the bottom line is I am on my own with kids and a mortgage and the rest of the world doesn't care - I'm stuck in the bottom of the pile where if you show any weakness someone will go in for the kill. I came close to losing my job a week or two ago because I was late too often from lack of sleep.. it was only 5 or 10 mins but you know how they can be. Also, my kids are miserable, having a really bad time on contact visits, and there is more family court drama to come.
I hate sending them and I have nightmares when they are away. When they come home they have nightmares and wet the bed and I cant' sleep either.
I just pray I can find a way to stay calm and get us through all this.
I thank god for my kind and caring neighbours both next door and in our MWO cyberspace.
Sending best wishes to you Roly & Starty.
Roly, I hope you can find something to help - I know how hard it is. A dear friend of mine who was terminally ill had one of those morphine pumps and it was awful because of the nightmares & lack of sleep. But somehow through all the pain he was able to focus his mind on certain tasks at certain times and that got him through a lot of days. One project he had was writing a book for his boys and I worked with him on that and it was very successful, and a great legacy to his sons. Of course he had large times when he could do nothing, but on his good days he was very, very good. Another little habit he had was to decide to learn to cook something new. Even towards the very end where he only had about 4 hours in the day that he could function, he would look forward to getting into his cook book to find the very thing.
Oh well, he was an inspiration and I love and miss him.
Apologies for rambling so much.