Aa
Hydrocodone addiction
About 2 years ago i pinched several nerves in my back. My doctor put me on hydrocodone 5/500 well with in several months i got up to 10/500 @ 120 a month I weigh 404lbs. I'm 6"5 and im dieng from all kinds of weight problems. my main question to you is. Is there any way possable for me to have been taking these pain pills for 1 1/2 to 2 years and not be addicted. I run out all the time and i dont go into detox like shaking and sweating. I can go a week or so with out them. I am usually in so much pain that i need them what do i do if i stop taking them the pain will drive me nuts and if i dont they are going to kill me. My doctor has done trigger point/epodurals on my back 3 times no help i cant get back surgery unless i lose 100lbs and i have some kinda thyroid thing were my doc says i have to have gastric bypass but i have to quit smoking and that i am addicted to in a bad way. by the way sorry this is every were i dint know were to start and it all just kinda came out. By the way i have type 2 diabettis,high blood pressure high cholesterol and heres the kicker I AM 23 YEARS OLD. My nuerologist has been seeing me for 2 years hes supposed to be a big shot shouldnt he have fixed me by know. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TJ
TJ
After reading the above and your response, I thought you may have more insight into my situation than most since your position has allowed you to get to know the health issues regarding gastric bypass surgery patients. I would be so greatful for any help you can give me to shed some light on what's going on with my body and what, if any, role that it plays for my having had gastric bypass surgery over 10 years ago.
I have had 3 surgeries for herniated discs in my lower back. It was caused by my being raped at age 16. My first surgery was at age 17. The second at age 27. A year after that I had my gastric bypass surgery at age 28. At age 33, I had the third back surgery.
Now, I am 38, and still in pain and physically limited to doing very little without pain. After few years of narcotics to relieve the pain and taking 10-15 percocets/daily, I finally got them to do epidural injections. But, in between, I left the pain management clinic and started on methodone because I was afraid of all the effects of pain medicine and have decided that 45mg daily is sufficient, until I find a better solution. It's been almost 2 years that I've been on methodone. After have 5 epidurals concurrantly, that doctor wanted to put a morphine pump in me and I said no, so he referred me back to my primary care dr. and suggested that I go to standford hospital to see if I can be a candidate for a neaurostimulator to be inserted near my spine to block the pain signals electronically....but, my insurance does not (yet) cover the procedure which costs $100,000. So, I wait, til they do, and am in the process of applying for disability.
Now, since I've been on the oral methadone, I have noticed that I eat a lot of sugary foods. I crave it all the time-sugar, but I know that because of my gastric bypass surgery, it is not good. Especially since the methadone, I noticed that my blood glucose levels go extremely high (170) and within a half hour or so, come down to an extremely low number (50-60) which makes me pass out sometimes. That in itself is reason for concern, but in the past few years, I have noticed that my cholestrol levels are high:250. I don't have the LDL/HDL numbers handy, but my question for you is: have you come across any information on methadone having an effect on the glucose levels of gastric bypass patients? Is there a correlation to the methadone/glucose levels/high cholestrol for gastric bypass surgery patients?
Thank you so much for reading this. :) Any insight or information you can give me would be appreciated so that I can empower myself for the sake of my health. God bless you.
~moni
I have had 3 surgeries for herniated discs in my lower back. It was caused by my being raped at age 16. My first surgery was at age 17. The second at age 27. A year after that I had my gastric bypass surgery at age 28. At age 33, I had the third back surgery.
Now, I am 38, and still in pain and physically limited to doing very little without pain. After few years of narcotics to relieve the pain and taking 10-15 percocets/daily, I finally got them to do epidural injections. But, in between, I left the pain management clinic and started on methodone because I was afraid of all the effects of pain medicine and have decided that 45mg daily is sufficient, until I find a better solution. It's been almost 2 years that I've been on methodone. After have 5 epidurals concurrantly, that doctor wanted to put a morphine pump in me and I said no, so he referred me back to my primary care dr. and suggested that I go to standford hospital to see if I can be a candidate for a neaurostimulator to be inserted near my spine to block the pain signals electronically....but, my insurance does not (yet) cover the procedure which costs $100,000. So, I wait, til they do, and am in the process of applying for disability.
Now, since I've been on the oral methadone, I have noticed that I eat a lot of sugary foods. I crave it all the time-sugar, but I know that because of my gastric bypass surgery, it is not good. Especially since the methadone, I noticed that my blood glucose levels go extremely high (170) and within a half hour or so, come down to an extremely low number (50-60) which makes me pass out sometimes. That in itself is reason for concern, but in the past few years, I have noticed that my cholestrol levels are high:250. I don't have the LDL/HDL numbers handy, but my question for you is: have you come across any information on methadone having an effect on the glucose levels of gastric bypass patients? Is there a correlation to the methadone/glucose levels/high cholestrol for gastric bypass surgery patients?
Thank you so much for reading this. :) Any insight or information you can give me would be appreciated so that I can empower myself for the sake of my health. God bless you.
~moni
I just talked to the pharmacist about this yesterday and he told me it all depends on the person. He told me some people can stop taking them and just leave it with no problems and others have a hard time,,, He said there are so many factors and they all depend on you. Addicts are born with a DNA footprint, so maybe you are lucky and not born that way.. I know I am a full blown addict and I have been clean for 7 days, YIPEE!!! But, if I ran out,,, OMG I was sick, like most of us,,, Good luck to you,,,,
Even if you are not addicted to the pills emotionally, our bodies just get addicted to them physically. It's not really a matter of choice.. it's just the way the pain pills work.
You are lucky that when you run out you don't expereince w/drawal symptoms.
Gastric Bypass sound like solid advise. I bet you will lose the diabetic condition within days of having the surgery... and you will also experience a drop in blood pressure along w/weight loss.
You have your whole life ahead of you. You are so very young. If you have not researched anything about having Weight Loss surgery, it's a good option for anyone that needs to lose 100 #'s or more...the percentages of losing that kind of weight and keeping it off is almost 0%. Don't mean to put a downer on this.. it is truly almost impossible. I do marketing consulting work for surgeons that perform WLS and I have done a lot of research on this subject as well as talked to a bunch of patients that have actually had the surgery performed. There are a variety of surgeries that are now available. I would just advise you that if it was suggested...you look for a Doc in your area that has performed at least 300 of those surgeries because they will know how to handle your case a lot better than just a surgeon who WILL perform the surgery.
Let me know if you need more info... I will be more than happy to help you
Gip
You are lucky that when you run out you don't expereince w/drawal symptoms.
Gastric Bypass sound like solid advise. I bet you will lose the diabetic condition within days of having the surgery... and you will also experience a drop in blood pressure along w/weight loss.
You have your whole life ahead of you. You are so very young. If you have not researched anything about having Weight Loss surgery, it's a good option for anyone that needs to lose 100 #'s or more...the percentages of losing that kind of weight and keeping it off is almost 0%. Don't mean to put a downer on this.. it is truly almost impossible. I do marketing consulting work for surgeons that perform WLS and I have done a lot of research on this subject as well as talked to a bunch of patients that have actually had the surgery performed. There are a variety of surgeries that are now available. I would just advise you that if it was suggested...you look for a Doc in your area that has performed at least 300 of those surgeries because they will know how to handle your case a lot better than just a surgeon who WILL perform the surgery.
Let me know if you need more info... I will be more than happy to help you
Gip
Good Morning TJ, Welcome to the forum,
You should do a little research on the difference between addiction and dependancy, there IS a difference and it may rest your mind a little. I ran into a great article awhile back, I will see if I can relocate it for you.
Yes, the big shot probably should have done more. I work for a very prominant hospital university. If you live close, I could recommend a specialist for you. Its in Baltimore, MD...you anywhere close?
You should do a little research on the difference between addiction and dependancy, there IS a difference and it may rest your mind a little. I ran into a great article awhile back, I will see if I can relocate it for you.
Yes, the big shot probably should have done more. I work for a very prominant hospital university. If you live close, I could recommend a specialist for you. Its in Baltimore, MD...you anywhere close?
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