Anesthesia and Oxy Problems

[Van Lingle]

Hello all, I'm a first time poster here but I've gleaned a lot of valuable info just lurking. I had shoulder surgery on Jan. 21 of this year and was readmitted to the hospital a month later for a remanipulation. On both occassions I was given a general anesthetic and was placed on oxycontin after the second visit. After a 6 week tapering off session I've been clean of oxy (contin and codone) for 6 weeks now. I'm still experiencing depression and lethargy unlike anything I've ever known before. My question is, is it the oxy withdrawl or the anesthesia that's got me like this (assuming it's not something else)? A friend of mine who is fairly knowledgable on medical matters tells me that general anesthesia can leave you out of sorts for as much as 6 months and she thinks this might be the problem. Any opinions or experiences to share? Thanks, vl

PS I've been using the detox recipe found here from the first week of withdrawl.

[angst]

You see the drugs killing those around you.  That happened to me
as well.  That is why when the first chance happened, I ran back
to the methadone clinic.  I do not recommend methadone for most
addicts.  I have been on it before, and it is difficult to w/d.  
The half life is like 36 hours.  After being on for a year or two, you will find other coping skills.  I stayed clean for 6 mo.
the first time I detoxed by going to NA-90mts in 90days.  I got
involved in NA service.  My home group still welcomes me on methadone.  They know I am off the street.  To stay clean, you  
have to change people, places and things.  You have to get mean and strong about using drugs.  If anyone offers you drugs, they
are not your friend.  You can reinvent yourself into a recovering
addict.  It is doable.  So many people I know have died off of oxy's.  They shoot them, but many are looking for the rush of dilaudid.  Some of the oxy is time released oxycontin.  So you get more than if taken as prescribed, by mouth.  I hope you go
back to detoxing, get away from other drug users, and find that
new life for yourself.  You deserve it.  Good luck and Blessings,
                                         Ava

[jen52]

Thank you all for your responses, you are truely a blessing and help me so much!

Kristen, What helped me the last three weeks is thinking that the time will go by, first 3 days, then 1 week, now its been over three weeks and I am doing so much better, the time will go by for you too.  I read this forum several times a day, go to na meetings, talk to my sponsor and joined a dual diagnosis support group (I have an anxiety depression diagnosis), I also go my anti-depressents increased by my DR.  I also read meditations and take kava kava and other supplements.  I try not to dwell on the past and problem but live in the solution.  When I get desperate I post.
Hang in there, Love, Jen

[hippy]

yo g how are you doing today,
post so i can read whats up.
did you see thta 911 show on HBO.
just wondering how you were/

[addictmom]

Hi Everyone.....its Kristen from a LONG time ago....I keep falling off and back on the wagon and I had been doing so well, but this time I really have gotten addicted.....I've been detoxing for the past 2 days and feel like total ****....I keep thinking what is life like without my mind being altered.  My ex-husband is even worse and I feel he's going to die very soon....his best friend just died of a heart attack and he's only 35 and that was due to heavy drug use.....what is it going to take for us to stop this insane behavior....I'm so down right now and know this forum is what helped me so much last time I was detoxing.....thanks for being here....kristen

[Van Lingle]

Thanks for the responses. Angst, I will take your advice if I need to see a professional but I think things are getting a bit better each day. Francoise, I don't have the inclination to get back on the oxy and regarding the recipe I tried skipping it a couple of times a few weeks back and just making do with a multi-vitamin and by noon on both occasions I was dragging ass. It's definitely been a big help. Again, thanks and take good care of yourselves. And Hippy, thanks for posting the recipe again. vl

[hippy]

sounds like the person  just getting off the drugs is untrusting, and mad.
most people who are untrusting, are thta way because they are dishonest, if they are the useing addict.
a spouse who is untrusting to a partner just getting clean,
has good reason to leary.  since they have been lied to for so long.
as far as anger , a addict just getting clean suffers a whole range of emotions, as far as them being angry, that is just them blameing thier spouse for thier predicament.
of course this is just them being  a big baby. as addicts stay clean and get better, they should begin to realize that they
are the source of most of thier problems, and not others.

maturity is when we stop blaming other people.
and blame is just a form of denile.