Boy, I feel like crap

[Virginia Paramedic]

I have had a prior addiction problem to everything from Vicodin to Diladid. I got off the stuff, but due to problems from gastric by-pass sx, I have uncontrolable diarreha. I now have to take Paregoric, which has Morphine in it. ( I have tried EVERY OTC and Rx out there besides Paregoric. )

I feel myself 'slipping' back into 'liking' narc's. But I have to have it so I don't have an accident on the job or at home.

Any Ideas?

[Thomas03]

Jedi, your anger has made you powerful!

I think we're talking two different sports here. As someone recovering from a 30-year opiate addiction, I know that the pain of withdrawal quickly fades from an addict's mind. That is perhaps one reason the average drug addict relapses many, many times. 'Would that it weren't true.

I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. The month of May will never be the same for you. You are very strong to be taking on your Oxy dependence at such a time.

And do stick around. We could use an authority on pain management. Many on this forum trace their dependence and/or addiction to pain issues.

Not that you apparently need to hear this, but don't take me too seriously. My humor, undetectable as it might be to you, is my way of staying out of the pharmacy.

Peace

Thomas

[mrmichael67]

Fair enough.  I assumed since you were commenting on taking the paregoric orally, well...  Hey, we're all human.

[mrmichael67]

I just wanted to comment on one thing.  Even though you were doing it correctly, many doctors that have been practicing medicine for decades, have been undermedicating their patients for pain right along.  Being a pain patient, I have been the recipient many times.  It can be very frustrating, to say the least.  I love it when they say, "But, I gave you morphine."  Even though is was a miniscule amount.  I guess just the fact that it is morphine is sufficient.  Or, a patient is writhing on the bed and the nurse goes, "He's had 10mg of morphine!"  Well, obviously it isn't enough.  They are so worried about over doing it.  Yet, pain antagonizes respiratory depression.  And, they can simply titrate to effect.  Things have gotten better, seeing as how they use pain as a vital sign now.  But, there is still a lot of room for improvement.  Oh, I am sorry for assuming the morphine was oral.

[mrmichael67]

And yes, she could be chugging the stuff for all we know.  Well, I would bet the farm the doses aren't therapeutic.

[AmberHunter]

just poked my head in here for a minute. saw someone was asking about the "zaps" coming of the patch.

i am not aware of zaps being part of duragesic w/d but i am aware of them coming off of SSRI's. that is one of the worst of the prozac/paxil/zoloft withdrawl symptoms...

that's about it for me!

peace,

amber

[Thomas03]

No, Thomas, withdrawal is not a deterrent to relapse. I know from reading your posts that you are under the dragon's spell as well as your girlfriend. Have you never experienced withdrawal between Vicodin scrips? If so, did it stop you from cashing your next refill? If withdrawal were a deterrent, there'd scarcely be an opiate addiction problem.

Thomas