Definition of an addict

[JACEM5]

I don't know why,but after newglasses post to me,It really got to me and I couldn't shake the feeling,I just kept thinking about it and couldn't get it out of my mind.I was soo irritated.I poked around at several sights for the true definition of an addict.I am now convinced from all the information out there on the web,that though many of us are addicted to pain meds due to prolonged use,those of us who take them as needed,as prescribed,and don't convince ourselves the pain is worse than it is to continue use or get more from our DRs are not addicts.I think many of us that need these meds are irresponsibly labeled as addicts,and we start believing it ourselves.That's my 2 cents and I feel much better now.

[wait2long]

oh, because it is illegal...DUH..i get it..

[slideshow]

Well, when my wife does not have a script, I should not really share mine with her.

[wait2long]

if you dont mind me asking, what do you mean legal reasons?   you dont have to answer this...

[slideshow]

Well in any case, he just has to stand his ground.  I love my wife, but I can't equally share my pain meds with her (she has her own script occasionally she just had a hysterectomy) for legal reasons but mostly because I need them myself.

[wait2long]

i am not 100% sure about the 4 day thing...that may have been someone else..i dont know...i have been kind of sticking up for jacem5, but he hasnt really responded to any of my posts...i know they are gone way before they are supposed to be...which is why she steals his...i gues i will stay out of this one for now...

[slideshow]

120 pills gone in 4 days.   Sheeeeeeesh.   Waaaaaaay too much.  Thats a months supply fo hydro for me (Norco).

He has to be strong and just tell her to stop taking his pills because he needs them.  My wife wants to borrow half dozen of mine during the month too, so I understand a little, but she would NEVER steal them.  She will be mad at him, but he has to stand his ground.

Jacem5 stand your ground man, tell your wife to STOP taking your pills like that, you need them.  It sounds simple, but its the only way.  She will be mad at you, but you will have to live with that.  She'll come around, and if she doesn't, then.............you'll have to deal with that.  I hope it doesn't come down to a choice between you and the pills for her.

[wait2long]

she gets her own meds..and has 120 pills gone in 4 days, then steals his and he goes without, his original post was asking for help on how to help her and what should he do, maybe you have some good advice for him...his back issues cannot be fixed, hers has healed according to her doc., she is also bitter at him because he gets more meds than her and stated that in a sense he was lucky to be in pain because she wants more meds and i guess she cant get them...he could probably use some good advice from you if you have any ideas pertaining to that...   otherwise, how are you this fine morning? i think we had our first frost here last night...uuggghhh!  winter is coming, time for me to hibernate....

[slideshow]

Has your wife addressed her back issue with her doc?  She should NOT be stealing your pills for any reason, no excuse for that, but she may have her own real pain that none of us can be the judge of...That said however she should not be taking yours...........I have not read all your posts, so won't say anything else here.  Good luck dealing with your own pain.  You are right that it is harder to deal with the pain at work than at home, but pain is pain, whether you are washing dishes or loading a truck.  I am in no way justifying her stealing your meds, but if she hasnt she needs to see her own doc to get her own pills if she needs them.

[wait2long]

there is no way he could be an addict even if it was his goal...because his wife steals all his meds,so he goes without quite often...jacem5-when your wife steals your meds and you are left without...do you get sick, with withdrawals, flu-like symptoms? if you do then you have become "dependant", but your wife needs to address her addiction, then if you feel its necessary, you can face yours...but unless you have a major support system there (family,friends) to help  with the kids, then you will have to address it seperately, my husband and i are both addicts, with no support system to help with our 3 boys...so we are doing it one at a time, i am the stronger willed one, so i stopped methadone in may and am now on suboxone..when i am off the sub. and hopefully my husband will be approved for his surgery, then we can try to get financial aid to help pay for it (we are uninsured) and then it will be his turn to get clean...he needs the methadone right now for pain,  i too have pain (fibromyalgia) but my problem is not as severe as his, and mine is lifelong so i have to find different ways to deal with the pain or just submit to being an addict for life...which i refuse to do...

[cherokee_gal]

Well put Kim. The basic thing is this. If we have to ask ourselves if we have a problem, there is a high probability we might just have a problem. Once we admit we have a problem, that is the biggest battle already won. Just think about it for a bit.
Deb

[LIZZIE LOU]

this is just my two cents...not that they mean a hell of beans...lol.

i think alot of ppl here are talking to you through their own experiences.  there are some here who have walked in your shoes and they are drawing from that.   what they have learned is that what started out as severe, legitimate pain, turned into addiction.   what they have learned is that the same pills they took for their pain, ended up being the cause of the pain.   does that make sense?   it is known that long term opiate use, will muck with your pain receptors.   someone who has been on opiates for a long time, can no longer distinguish what is real and what is not real...meaning that the opiates "trick" your brain into believing that you are in severe pain, to get more of it.    the more you use...the worse your pain is.   on a scale of one to ten...three years ago (before opiates), their pain may have been a 4...but that same pain (after opiates) will be a 10+.   same pain...different rating...all because of the pills.

i am not judging you in any shape, form, or fashion.  i am only stating what i have learned from some well educated ppl ...but only you can be the judge of how you feel things are for you.  i guess the only way that you would ever know for sure is to try and taper down some and see how it goes...but remember that short term...your brain will be fast at work...telling you NO...I NEED MORE...MY PAIN IS SO SEVERE...I NEED OPIATES...ALOT...AND I NEED THEM NOW.  if you are comfortable with the amount of drugs you are taking and are sure that you need that much...then so be it...that is your decision...and yours alone.

i wish you well and wish you were not suffering...mentally and physically.

God bless you,
kim  

[cherokee_gal]

The following link is a great way to help you think about whether you are an addict or not.
Deb




http://www.na.org/ips/an/an-IP7.htm

[JACEM5]

It was a little ovewhelming at first,but I realize everyone has an opinion,I know how I fell,and I know I'm under the care of a licensed physician who has been practicing for more than 25 yrs.I do have to address retirdrn,though.Tossing a ball 5ft. or doing some dishes,laundry etc,is a lot different than working 8hrs a day,and if your back bothers you you can stop and finish later,try doing that at a job.

[wait2long]

dont worry about what the people who have not read ALL of your posts say, they read 1 post and think they have the right to respond harshly to you without knowing anything about your situation, i have followed your story from the beginning, you shouldnt feel the need to explain yourself to anyone...unless of course you are really doubting yourself, or are you doubting yourself because of what people say?   people did that to me also when i first came here, and i found myself always defending myself,defending my path to recovery to a stranger that has never even shared a post with me in the past...its called uninformed opinion...and you should just ignore it...i do now...best wishes hun!!!

[wait2long]

his wife has told jacem5 that she wished her back hurt like his did so she could get more drugs, she is bitter about that...her doctor said by looking at her x-rays that it was healing, she didnt do anything she was supposed to do like physical therapy or any other recommendations, she just swallows 120 pills in 4 days. and then steals his....i hardly think thats holier than thou...

[wait2long]

i always thought an addict is one who takes more than prescribed..runs out before next refillis due, takes it is excess for the high.and buys it illegally..people who take it on a regular basis, take it as prescribed to improve quality of life are called physically dependant...because you are dependent on this medicine to improve quality of life by reducing the pain...i always thought and was told that it is 2 totally different situations...so physically dependant does mean addiction but for a valid (and may not have WD's like a true addict?) reason...again quality of a pain free life...am i making any sense...lol!   sue that freaking hypocrite of a priest,those priests, i wonder,do they go to hell, or just cause a living hell for altar boys...i am so sorry jacem5,  that **** really gets to me... hypocritical religious freaks, priest...they have ruined enough lives...i say unload all of them...they knew what they were doing when they decided to become a "priest" and then they chastize us for our sins, confessions, yeah right!!!  they should be shot..but no just move them to another church....no one will know...BS!!   i am so sorry jacem5 for my ranting...i know of a few who have also been through this and it has destroyed their lives...did you ever get therapy??? i am not a religious person AT ALL  i will shutup now....sorry for my mouth

[slideshow]

I don't agree with you because of the generalizations others have that are very hard on folks who suffer from Chronic Pain.  Heck even the drug tests don't distinguish between herion and prescription pain pills.  I have a sister in law who judges me for taking my prescription all the time, but only says it out loud after shes had 18 bud lights............

[JACEM5]

It started with percocets only,then he was worried about the tylenol intake so he switched me to oxy Irs with no Tylenol,after a year we went over the tollerance issue and he suggestead MS Contin,I guess there is less of a tolerance issue if you change your routine slightly every 2 weeks.I'll takke 2 in the am,2 in afternoon ,and one at night with the perc.10s in between,the after 2 weeks 2am,1 afternoon,etc.As for the valium,ativan,etc.Those are from my shrink,which is a whole other long story.Quick version,poor kid no father,behind our projects was a church,mom thought it was a good idea to be an altar boy,age 7 to 12.Enough said?Alcoholic mother,never around,etc.Anyway I have been on the same dose of pain meds for about 8 months,minus the situation w/my wife.

[retiredrn]

As a health care professional, we are taught that when a pt complains of pain, then we are to accept their perception of their pain.  If they say their pain is 9 on a scale of 0-10, then we should treat that pain as a 9.  No one has the right to tell someone else that their pain isn't real.  Your wife's pain is real, even if she has no control over her usage.  For you to act as though your pain is so much more than hers-----I know  people with degenerative discs(we all will have degenerative discs) and bulging discs, sciatica,etc, and they have no pain--does that mean we shouldn't believe you when you say you need the pain meds to have a life?  If someone is so disabled that they need all those drugs, and then they talk about throwing the ball with their kid and cleaning house--some people would say that if you can do that, then you can work.  I'm just saying, you're an addict, you take drugs to make your life livable, you don't take too much, but then neither did a lot of us for a long time, so who knows the future, I just feel for your wife, going though addiction and her husband takes drugs and is holier than thou.

[exhostage]

One of the ways we become addicts is by dr's who hand out pain meds excessively, agreed? Also,I would be interested in knowing what the definition of an addict is,according to your research.I see on your post that you say one way to tell you are not an addict is if you take them as prescribed and my question to you is have you asked your dr why he thinks you need so many of each one and why he has you on so many different kinds of drugs. I am worried about the sheer numbers he has you on.

[hydrofusion]

Defintely agree with everyone.  And the crazy thing is opiates have been around for hundreds of years.  Asian countries have records that date base to at least 3000 BC where they would use them in lots of different situatoins.  And for the entire time since then there has been abuse...  I read not too long ago when the germans invented hydrocodone in the late 30's they did vast testing to try to find a non-addictive opiate or effective pain killer (mostly for use in war time).... but they never could.  To me, that says a lot about our human nature.

[JACEM5]

Not to mention I haven't been on them all that long and that's the first time anyone has ever said that to me.

[JACEM5]

They do when they are constantly being labeled as addicts by society.People like me who is a worrier and constantly cares what people think of them have it even harder.

[tooklastdose]

I think if a person spends a lot of time wondering if they have a problem / addiction,
They probably do.

If there is no problem, the person does not give it much thought.