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Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
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As a non-using addict I am all too familiar with the problem.
You will no doubt need some sort of narcotic for post op pain.
You must be honest with your doctor / surgeon and yourself about your past and potential abuse of any mind-altering substance.
While you're in the hospital, there should be no problem.
You will not have control over what and how much they give you.
When you get out of the hospital, you cannot have personal access to percoset or other narcotics.
The ideal situation would be to use a non-narcotic pain reliever.
If you absolutely need a narcotic, have someone who knows your abuse potential give you the correct does at the correct time.
This is still a tricky situation because we will bargain with and try to manipulate anyone to get what we perceive as "relief".
The biggest weapon against the drug is Honesty.
That along with a support group of other addicts and you will have no problem.
I would personally recommend getting involved in NA before you go for the surgery.
An addict alone with a bottle of percs will "use" them.
I've been there and done that.
You don't have to go there.
Of course, the decision is utlimately up to you.
We choose to "use". Nobody else does it for us.
You can do this the right way.
Give yourself a break.
Good luck.
On the other hand, have you ever quit Vicodin and a good time later popped a few without ending up in the same old mess? I did that with Oxy a few times, one night only, and aside from a few days' depression, stayed off them. Getting a few days' supply was something I should have turned down, but migraines incapacitate you.
So ... there are a few non-narcotic painkillers out there if you want to play it safe. Only you know if you can handle a few shots of Demerol -- I'd certainly let them know beforehand.
Good luck; it's a very tough decision.