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MedHelp Member's Question

Long Term Effects of Oxycontin Abuse

by GeriP, Nov 15, 2001 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
I have recently discovered that my 23 year old son is addicted to this drug.  He is in the mental health unit of a prison awaiting trial for crimes commited while under the influence of this drug.

He is being treated for hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks, and general depression.  I do not know the names of the drugs he is being given but he is slowly returning to normal.

The doctors do not know if these symptoms will be re-occurring, and what the long term effects are going to be.

i am trying to find out what I can do, and can be expected in the future.  What are the chances of beating this????
Member Comments (34)

by ?passive_aggressive!, Nov 15, 2001 12:00AM
To: jbear
.....so jb,

how r u?

..i`ve managed to be "straight" 4 a week!

...but my biggest enemyz still R my nervz,

my hands shake i dont know what to do with

my self..........IM NOT HAPPY...!



I cant stop thinkin `bout "it".....



i wish i can remember what was my life like before i started

hittin yellow pillz...but i cant...i only remember my crisis

time.....i dont know what to do with da #@!$ feelinn i have,

all tha time,i sleep all day tryinn to forget and my dreamz

r pretty sick! "i ride bicycle all night"if u know what im sayinn and i know u do!



your havy times compadre,

?P_A!



by ?passive_aggressive!, Nov 15, 2001 12:00AM
To: jbear
...hey jb,

we r gonna make it,

im sick of feelinn like %@#$!



PA

by jack26, Nov 15, 2001 12:00AM
I have been taking 80mg of oxycontin for 5 months. How long will it take to get off the stuff?

by crookie, Nov 16, 2001 12:00AM
To: GeriP
How your son goes from here depends mostly if not entirely on him.  He's young, which is a good start and if this is his first imprisonment it may shock him into doing something about his drug use.  Again, it really depends on him and his attitude towards it all.  You could maybe learn up some more about drugs and be willing to discuss family issues or other issues - if he raises them.  But look after you too.  All the best.

by GeriP, Nov 16, 2001 12:00AM
To: crookie
Thanks for your kind words.  I have been reading everything I can find regarding Oxycontin.  I know it's all up to him, and right now, he still needs to take that first step.  It's just very painful to have to sit on the sidelines and watch him slip further and further into the abyss.  Several people are trying their best to convince him to "see the light".  I just hope it's not too late.

by jule1, Nov 18, 2001 12:00AM
To: PA
Congratulations on staying clean a week that is a big step!!  Keep reminding yourself everyday that you have come so far and that should help the dragon as wizard used to say.  It sounds as if you are having anxiety though do you have any therapist you could see or at least talk to about this?  I am proud that you are trying to work through our language barrier for help it is frustrating for all of us.  Do you understand us more than we understand you?  Keep on taking it one day at a time as they say that makes so much more sense to me now than ever!!  Julie

by jule1, Nov 18, 2001 12:00AM
To: Geri P
Hi Geri, I don't have any experience with Oxy but have learned a lot about it from being on this forum.  It is a drug from heaven or hell depending on its use.  Its sad that so many people have had such great relief from chronic pain but its so easy for others to abuse. I hope the drug companies find a way for it not to be abused I know they are trying.   I just want to send you a little cyber hug and tell you that you are a wonderful mother!!!  Your son is lucky to have a mother who cares.  I am a mother of a 20 month old little boy so I can appreciate other moms love!!!  I hope you aren't too hard on yourself and I wish the best for both of you.  I don't have a lot of wise adivice but here is your hug and I will always be an ear here for you if needed (((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))!!!!!  Your new friend, Jules

by Cindy, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Frank Lee
Dear Frank,



We are disappointed in your attack on Dr. Steve.  He has donated countless hours and expertise to this forum for the past few years, asking nothing in return.  



We don't think you realize that there are thousands of people who visit this forum, without posting and find it very helpful.



We would have preferred to have you work with Dr. Steve & Med Help to improve this forum, rather than opening your own forum.  However, we wish you well and would appreciate it if you would not use this forum for free advertising of yours.  



Cindy Thompson

Med Help International

by kstuebin, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindy
I thought what Frank said was very well put.  Even restrained, given the cavalier treatment we've received from Dr. Steve. And I would venture to say the overwhelming majority of the people posting and lurking here agree with him. The problem is Dr. Steve is not helpful.  He's not even here most of the time and the truth is sometimes lives hang in the balance. Literally. We have no other way to let people know that there is an alternative except by posting our URL. And they want an alternative. If you truly care about the people here and their recovery, you will let us advertise our forum.  If one person commits suicide because they couldn't reach someone here or their post was deleted, wouldn't that bother you?  It would me.

by kstuebin, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindy, PS
We've post your forum's address on our site.  We don't have a lot of ego invested in this.  We're primarily concerned with people recovering and we don't care where they find the help to do it.  I wonder why you would.

by Frank Lee, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindy
Cindy,



So the logic is because Dr. Steve has put in countless hours, and thousands of people visit this site, I have no right to be critical? Come on Cindy.



I think I was constructive - if you read the post I noted Dr. Steve has done some great work in the past (I've read his stuff). It just seems like this has become a bothersome chore rather than a labor of love.



Dr. Steve at this point is not posting substantial advice. I would like to ask anybody who has recieved advice from him in the last 6 weeks to go on record as recieveing substantial advice. His answers are pat. You would be better off in my opinion, going back to your original format and letting people visit and share. If someone wants specific medical advice ( with your caveats) they could ask Dr. Steve and then he wouldn't have to come in weekly and give meaningless refains.



I simply feel, and I am not alone, that he has done more to hurt this board ( threatening to close it, posting simply "delete") than to help it - that is my criticism.



Yes, I want to help people. If that means occasionally letting them know there is another site, so be it. You can call it advertising although it's a little odd. We sure ain't making money off it, it's labor intensive as you know, and we only started it because your Dr. Steve threatened to close this one. And, as Kstuebin says, we have listed your site on our board and we will continue to do so. God, this is not about competition. I just feel he is doing this place, which I said has helped me, a disservice.



So that's my two cents worth. I will stay off your board for a while if that will help. But I must tell you, I still care about this place. That was why I posted.



Frank

by Cindy, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Frank § K Stuebin
Dear Frank & KStuebin,



Geez!  This is getting frustrating!  I believe I said in my previous posting that we would have preferred that you work with us to make this a better forum, rather than taking public pot-shots at Dr. Steve for thousands of people to see!  



Regarding publicity for your forum - you do not have any qualified medical professionals working with you and therefore, Med Help cannot, for the sake of our commitment to medical quality, support your forum.



In addition, we told all of you that if for some reason Dr. Steve chooses to leave the forum, Med Help will do everything we can to see that it continues, yet you decided to start your own forum.



As for the "delete" comments you see under Dr. Steve's name, these are software errors - not Dr. Steve being arrogant! We're working on correcting these.



This is a week during which America traditionally gives thanks -

We ask all of you to take a moment and really think about the words you are putting out for the world to see. How would you feel if your credibility was being attacked by annonymous people?  Wouldn't it be kinder to offer suggestions for improvement?



Think about the thousands of people who have been helped by Dr. Steve and ask yourself, doesn't he deserve better than remarks like:...



"His rash of short brain-dead responses this weekend, coupled with is audacity to post "delete" ( I thought that was up to you) has sounded the death knell for your board."?



Dr. Steve has supported you - now is your chance to give a little something back!  Talk to him - support him!  



Cindy Thompson

Med Help International



by Frank Lee, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindy
I said I would quit posting for a while, so shoot me, but your misrepsentation of my input set me off. Criticism is a way of life, you are going to have to deal with it, especially when your "qualified medical source" has been less than helpful or positive. Regarding what qualifications exist on the other site, you frankly don't know. An MD following a name doesn't mean somoeone with real substance problems will get the help they need comming to a site where the same two sentences are repeated. I dare say there's a lot more support lately elsewhere. It's thanksgiving in America, I believe that means we celebrate freedoms like, starting our own forum if we choose, (again, you won't address this but especially when someone threatens to take this one away.) Take it as valid criticsm if Dr. Steve's posts were construed as delete and it's a "software error" - really, odd, that's a new software error, eh? Moreover, I stand by my criticism of Dr. Steve's responses. Finally, Dr. Steve hasn't supported me, he threatend me.



Good luck with the site.



F.

by kstuebin, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindy
Why don't we just let the record speak for itself.  I personally have only had experience with Dr. Steve the past couple of months and he just hasn't been helpful and responsive during that period. Maybe he was before. What's the advantage to giving  medical advice if it isn't useful? The only help I got here was from the other users.



I don't think Frankie's remarks are pot shots. They're legitimate criticism. And they're shared by most of the people who post here.



And for the record, we started our forum prior to your suggestion for a new Medhelp venue.  It was already up and running with great success when you posted that offer.  I think Frankie has pointed out more than once that there's certainly room for as many forums as will be supported.



You're right about one thing. It's time to let this issue die and get back to the business of helping people.

by cindi, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Anyone interested
The new forum that has been started is not an addiction MEDICINE forum with doc there to answer questions,,,we are a group of addicts helping each other......who better than to do that than those who have experience....one addict helping another...as for the medical professionals,,,,we do have some Medical professionals on the other board,,,,I, myself am a nurse, we have a professional therapist, another Medical professional and a pharmacist,,however, upon checking the archives I do see that at one time there was a nurse that was anwering medical questions,here on medhelp.,,,of course as a nurse I am not permitted to make a medical diagnosis however, I am permitted to point people in the right direction,,,,,the same as the other professionals on any board....but like I said,,,,the experience of being an addict is adequate enough.....so , as far as being on that board as being the med professionals  that is not what it is all about...it is support for the fellow addict,,,and us as a family sharing our experience, strength and hope.....i agree,,why do we have to nitpick and argue,,,it is time to put this to rest.let it die and as k said  get on with helping each other,,,,cindi

by Francoise, Nov 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindi/Frank Lee
Cindi, I have to agree with Frank. This forum seems to have become just another chore for Steve. I've frankly NEVER seen a substantial, well thought-out answer from him. Never. And I don't believe that one must have a medical degree to be helpful. That kind of elitism has killed a lot of people.



I am also a permanent denizen of a melanoma bb. And I can tell you for a fact that many doctors don't know their butts from third base when it comes to that disease, one of the most deadly and most frequently mis-diagnosed cancers on the planet. The "non degreed" yet well-informed regulars on that site have saved many lives in the four years I've been on it. Those people helped save my life. And there's not an M.D. among 'em.



And as desparate as addicts can become, I'm all for telling all who post here about the new site. The fact that you don't want Frankie Lee to advertise the new site on this one leaves me absolutely breathless. I cannot believe my ears! Um, eyes