Long term Opiate Abuse ( Off & On)

[Bkitty2]

Hello-I am curious to know if anyone that has struggled with long term opiate abuse what effects that had on your body? I have been a member to this site since 2009 and although Id love to say Ive been sober that whole time I have not. So since opiate abuse really started for me Ive had mono 3X, a rare staph infection (staph ludgenesis) and most recently a small bowel obstruction. Not to mention depression and a significant suicide attempt that I almost succeeded at. Oh and psoriasis.

Just curious to know if anyone else. had issues.

[Krissy_123]

The end of Next week (nov21st) will be one year clean for me off 11 years of taking oxycdone daily. It took me almost 6 months for my bowels to return to some what normal. I'm very very active in a recovrey program mostly due to severe deppresion/feeling of bordem/always felt at a loss. I just felt empty. Even a very long time after going to meetings I felt this too though,but nothing compared to what it would have been like w/o them. I know I would have started using again,that feeling of bordem and like your lost stays with you a long time. I still get tummyaches quite often too. But a year compared to 11 years isn't a very long time. I'm proud of myself but I still have a very long time to still heal mentally and physically. And to with the comment above mine, you do heal, it just takes time.

[lola200677]

Yes I have definitely had big problems when getting off opiates. I was addicted for 14 years. My immune system once off them has become depleted. I am depressed and also had a recurrence of a serious virus toxoplasmosis which I acquired back as a teenager. This only reappears if your immune system is down. So yes long term opiate use does do damage but the body takes time to heal. I say this now but I am still waiting. It's only been a few months for me. It's tough. I can tell you that. I'm scared of infections, gastro issues, etc etc
This is something the doctors have to start telling their patients when giving them long term addictive pills!!!!

[meegWpaw]

hi kitty im sorry to hear about all you have been through and i think about you too!  sounds like you are doing better now?  hope so .  much love!

[Bkitty2]

Well I'll tell you what folks. One way to get sober and stay sober is to experience a bowel obstruction. I ran from the pills and didn't look back. Of course I'm doing a lot of other work as well but I can't begin to tell you all how horrible that was. My paralytic ileus ( small bowel "obstruction") was caused by pills literally paralyzing my bowel. If it doesn't go out that way it comes out another! I am hear to tell you! I threw up sh*t for! Literally. I had gotten back on them after having a major illness and surgery that was very painful but this SBO takes the cakes. I had a garden hose shoved down my nose for 3 days and looked 9 months pregnant. I couldn't believe what happened and what I did. Then lost a job due to being sick. Nope. I can't do that to myself anymore. I wont.

Hope you are all well! I think about all of you often!!

[Bkitty2]

I have the same thing Hmmmmmm

[lynn2ck]

I have constant stomach pain.  I went through a battery of tests last year and the GI doc did a scope - they said I have gastritis and a hiatal hernia.  I didn't tell him about my hydro abuse but I did ask the PCP who prescibes me them if the acetominophin in Vicodin can cause it and she said no.  Not sure I believe her though.