Any addicts here??

Hi all
I am not sure if this is ok to ask here .. but here goes.
I got my HEP C from IV drugs, way back in the day (ok, well, at least 10 years ago).  Was active in my addiction unitl 2000 aug 8- and have been 'clean' ever since.  Other than have crappy veins that don't EVER want to give up blood for tests (great fun while Tx) the other MAJOR Sx of addiction is that i got HEP C.  
so, for me it is natural to ask if there are any other addicts here ...or any other recovering addicts?

[debnevada]

There prolly are, Albany, but to tell the truth, at this point, it doesn't matter a darned bit.
All I'm saying, is that we just don't care how we got it, but that we are all here in support of each other.

of course it's okay to ask though!

[jmjm530]

I don't know much about people's background when back when, but what's interesting is how few people here seem to have a current drug problem, given the fact that IV drug use is one of the major causes of HCV. Maybe HCV positive people with current drug problems just aren't interested in treating, not sure. Maybe others have some insight here.

-- Jim

[albany]

ya, guess thats true- 7 yrs ago i woulda been self medicating, not stressing over everything i put into my system.  it was just a stupid question, i guess, but thanks.  

[beamishboy]

it wasn't a stupid question ...this is an internet 'SUPPORT" forum and WELCOME! how was the turkey? y'all get the pick of the flock eating early and all.....

[dlr2007]

I got Hep C thru IV drugs too- I'm a recovering addict. I'm not into NA anymore cuz I'm on medication to help me with opiate addiction, but I consider myself to be in recovry because I don't use illicit drugs anymore and I've also changed my lifestyle to a "clean" way of living. I'm sure there are many more like us on this site. I sometimes go to the Addiction Forum here- it's interesting but I find a lot of people to be very against medication assisted recovery, so I don't post much.
  I used drugs all thru my teens years until I was 24 and pregnant with my 1st child- I was dx'ed with Hep C during that pregnancy. I knew I'd lose my baby if I didn't get my sh$t together, so I got clean and stayed completely clean for 7 years. Then, following the death of my kid's father to drugs, I began drinking again and developed a narcotic pill habit. In 2004 I pulled myself together, got on medication to control my habit and began picking up the pieces again.
  I agree with Jim on the theory as to why we don't have more active addicts on here- I know when I was using, I simply refused to deal with my Hep C. I think when we get clean, we become more likely to take care of our health.
  Congrats on being clean, Albany, and on dealing with your Hep C. You're in good company here, that's for sure :).
  -Dee

[nygirl7]

Clean now but full blown hard core addict yes that would be me.  I could stand at the front of that line.

There's lots of us in here you know.............we are everywhere (even though you can't tell by looking cause face it the 70s and 80s were a LONG time ago ;)


I don't believe that someone who is currently using is allowed to treat unless they have been clean for a year.  The docs monitored my friend closely and made him wait. He did eventually die of the disease though - waited too damn long.  Transplant didn't work AND he started getting high again. Idiot!  That has always been my understanding (although people can lie it's usually pretty apparent where you have IV drug use going on, although my doctor had told me (my Suboxone Doc) that I was what was considered a "functional" addict meaning I could clean up and go to work and nobody knew) now I'm still an addict but sober thank God.

[debnevada]

i don't think it is a stupid question at all....i hope i didn't give that impression.

i think what i was saying is that it doesn't matter to any of us here how we got it and that we are here for you, Albany.

[sfwandwow]

allthat matters is we keep learning and trying to get better and be here for support

[gauf]

Guilty. Had it bad back in the day.  Clean and sober since 1987. Met my wife at an AA meeting, been together ever since.

[albany]

beautiful, and thanks guys.  Just struggling with the usse of medicaiton for Sx, and wondered if anyone else had the same issue.  gravol has become my new best friend in these few weeks, although i DO try to NOT use it unless i HAVE too, but am finding I have to more and more often.  
thansk again, and nice to meet you all :)
Albany

[l-horn]

I've shot everything under the sun. Been clean from that for a long time but it was still too late. I just took up a major John Daniels habit after that, which didn't help. I had about a 6 year stretch after about the billionth chemdep tx that held up. The greatest one was in a state mental hospital. Oh my...I got tossed out. Me and some of the 'crew' drank some 151 where I passed OUT and busted the VERY tooth that is missing from my face. They laid me down and I woke up the next morning with puke all over me. Could have easily asphixiated but the lord was looking over me that day. They put me on a bus and sent me home to appear before the man, who stuck me in the pokey. Whew...I swear, my poor parents. If my son led the life I lead,it would kill me.

[l-horn]

This takes me back to dancing with the schizophrenics. Man that place was a riot, honestly. Really, take 'Cuckoos Nest' and multiply that by aboot 10. Just mentioning it brought back so many memories that I guess are 'bad memories' but no at this point. I just look back at the many things in my life and think, MAN. I could go on .....and on.....and on. I don't even tell people about because a: I'm ashamed of it and B: They wouldn't believe it anyway.

[Reree]

I started using IV drugs when I was 15. I eventually got clean for 13 years and then started using again. I am now 41 and was diagnosed about 6 mos. ago. I 'm off the needle now, but still use prescription meds and alcohol, even though I know it's bad for my health. It's my emotional escape. Trying to cut down, but it's hard. Endeavor to persevere. May God be with us all.

[nygirl7]

I'm really surprised more people didn't say AYE on this thread I thought there was a ton of us - I guess the old 'crew' is all SVR and gone now. Good for them :)

Albany - just know no matter what is going on with you with disease...there is probably someone on this forum that understands exactly what it is somewhere and those that don't...will try to help too.  There really isn't any of the judgement that comes at us from the outside world (although there are some kooks who come in and stir up the pot usually it's a pretty quiet place to be).  But like any public forum...you just gotta weed through the bad and ignore them.

[ladywhy]

AYE..
I thank God every day..... I played around with IV drugs, gosh, 18 years ago...and walked away..with out pain or withdrawal...but always had my vino. Gave it all up for 9 years and went back to alc...coke, and whatever came my way (no IV).....sick...sick...sick. Today...by the Grace of God...I know there is much more to life...and it's a beautiful world out there. Recovery is where it's at!
p.s I also had blood transfusion in the 80's...so I attribute (when asked) that to my HCV status. My family never knew that I had used heroin. I want to leave it like that. Bottom line...who knows?

[MrsOckert]

Did I or didn't I?

When dx the first question the doc's asked "Blood Transfusion?".  Second question was always "IV drug use?".  Since the answers were always no blood transfusion and IV drug use - ONCE!!  I was 24.  All doctors want to blame it on that ONE time and question no further.  

Of course, I will admit that I've blamed it on that one time also, but only because prevailing med theories are IV drug use and that way it's your own fault.

[ksk3926]

Aye! I was in my 20's and very into partying. I even know exactly when I got hep. I was group of people and the lady even told me she was ill. At that point I could care less about any illness and so years later when I found out it was not such a surprise. Thankfully, I've been sober for 14 years.

[albany]

thanks friends.  my addict question came more as I have been struggling with using meds for Sx.  I KNOW it is ok, it does NOT mean that I am "using" or "relapsing", BUT ... damn, I can be stubborn.  
Went for 4 wk f/u with RN, and she gave me Ativan ... which IS  abenzo, a narcotic.  Also said for me to go to GP and get on anti-depressants, said I was quite anxious.  so, I guess that's what i will do.  But being me, I had to call my sponsor, a few friends in recovery who are also in / done HEP C Tx, and speak with some other supportive staff / friends.  And the end result ..i WILL do what the doctor asked, and stop trying to 'deal with everything' on my own.  
thanks
ALbany

[nygirl7]

There were a couple of times that I had to take percocet during treatment.  But I have to tell you - during treatment it would have been EASY to get strung out on them to "feel better" with that warm fuzzy feeling.  I gave my mother the bottle (I'm in my 40s hee!) and told her ONLY during emergency no more than...

I was very dedicated to treatment and don't want to get stuck out there again so I was ok. I am on ADs and have no desire to go off them - I actually found that they've helpedme more than I ever could imagine and maybe if they had them in the first place I wouldn't have ended up self medicating.

I didn't feel I'd broken any sobriety or anything taking a perc here or there.  That to me wasn't getting high. Of course...no everyone would agree but..........

You are 100% correct in all of your assumptions you know.  You just have to wrap your head around the fact that you got to do what you got to do right now. The interferon REALLY causes serious problems with depression and anxiety so....

Well I just want you to know others of us have battled this same problem but - we've turned out just fine. It's a lot to deal with all at once and you will get used to it.

I still like to see the AYEs in here cause it makes me feel better for some reason :)  I'm a very silly insecure person I guess!

[l-horn]

Anyone who's shot dope with Donnie Osmand is 'ok' by me. *wink*

[Still Living]

Experimented with IV drug use while a teen, ended up with Genotype 2. Husband did the same, 5 years older and across the country, he has/had genotype 2 also. 30 years later I often wonder how we both ended up with the same when we never did it together. My guess is it was from razors, toothbrushes or cuts. I have been SVR for 3 years now, hubby had a transplant in '04 and has been UND since week 4 and is finished in 2 weeks. Finally, we are seeing the end of the Hep C tunnel.

If I knew then what I know now...............

[Ellyana]

I thought I was free and clear of anything to remind me of my IV drug addiction.  I have been 100% clean and sober for 2 years, no prescriptions of any kind, then I found out that I rested positive for HCV while inpatient rehab, and they NEVER TOLD ME.  I found out from the dept of health sending me mailings about it so I went in search of my test results, and now im half way through treatment jsut about.  I felt really crappy about the IV drug use biting me in the *** after I thought it was all behind me.  Im starting to feel less guilty, like "it serves me right" that I got sick for using drugs.  It's still not something I want to go and tell my co-workers over a water cooler chat, but I am starting to be able to live with myself at least.

[ladywhy]

"It's still not something I want to go and tell my co-workers over a water cooler chat,"
Too funny!
There is no doubt..this can be tufff...but we all learn to deal with what we must. Forget blame...forget guilt...
We get one go 'round....today is where it's at. Ya do the best ya can...or just try to show up for YOUR life...today.
Here's a quote...(don't know from where)....."It's ok to glance back at the past...just don't stare."...somethin' like that.
Another one...."It's called the Present...because It is a Gift."
ok...I hear everybody....'nough with the cliches...but I believe these to be true.
Ellyana....one more..."One day at a time"....;)

ps...If there are any believer's in reincarnation out there...I mean no offense!

[ladywhy]

Someone told me a long, long time ago...."Be gentle with yourself"....I am still trying to learn this after many years......for some reason...this statement has whispered within me. Simple, yet profound.

[dlr2007]

I like that saying.. I think we are harder on ourselves than anyone else could ever be. Especially those of us with Hep C, maybe- we blame ourselves for getting it, get angry at ourselves for not doing more on tx, the list goes on and on. I am still learning to accept myself for who I really am, faults and all- I will think of that statement often. Thank you.
Best wishes and prayers,
Dee

[ladywhy]

I'm glad...and Thank You for the wishes and the prayers. That is the best I could ask for. I mean that.

I'm lifting you up in prayer right now...sister!
Yvonne

[crazycanuck]

yea. here too. the early teen years was a very experimental time. to say the least. surprised i lived through them.  when i got pregnant everything changed. best thing that could have happened to me. just too bad it took so long to conceive.(over 10 years)  i find i seem to have a addictive personality,. really still like my vino. i know it is bad for me and remind myself of that every day so i don't forget on the bad days when everything seems to be on your shoulders.