Slippery Slope???

[ProdigalGirl]

As addicts, can we ever take pain meds as directed if the desire to maintain pain relief is greater than the desire to get high? Eventually the overwhelming majority of addicts will have to take  pain medication either very short term or for an extended period of time. This is the dilema that I have been thinking about.  If a person has already experienced life in debiliatating pain, should that serve as a constant reminder that if  they abuse the pills,they are back at square one?  

[MysteryPrognosis]

I was at a buddies house on Friday...went to the bathroom. Turned around and washed my hands...glanced at the shelf next to the mirror...10mg hydrocodone/325 APAP Qty 120... I could see it filled to the brim.... dried my hands and walked out. Didn't even cross my mind for the rest of the night. I was proud of myself.

Still...no I wouldn't like having pills in my house. I feel confident that I can control myself...but no one can be 100 percent after addiction. I'll never risk it.

[road2recovery]

I had to have pain meds during my clean time, from my gallbladder...I actually did better then i thought i would...I do know my body reacted different, i think because i was in so much pain, that they did not give me any kind of high at all..Which i was so thankfull for...i took as directed, but after i could not have the remaining in my home...In the back of my mind , was that thought of one last high!!  yuk...I do beleive all of us will need them in our lifetime, but the key to it all is to let someone hold them, and give as directed....

[refusingbondage]

I cannot have them around me or in the house at all.  IF I even think they are in the house my head will become obsessed with it.. I will tear the house apart looking.  And there are only maybe 2 people I would trust to hold them for me cause I can manipulate almost anyone.. It would definately be tough.  I have some dental surgeries coming up - wisdom tooth extraction, 2 root canals and 3 fillings.  Ive already told the dentist no pain meds under any circumstances.

[mtgoat911]

i went through chemo last summer at 4 years clean, i took low dose opiates for 3 weeks, darvocet, i felt like i was dying
this is what i used as a guide for illness in recovery, hope this answers some questions
http://www.markelliot.com/naillness.html

[sway1]

this time i have people in place that even i could never manipulate. like avis, they would have to hold and dole for me. i am working this aftercare thing. i've got true good friends in my support system now. i don't really have to add this worry, because it's already taken care of. that said, i would gobble them up like the addict that i am if left to my own devices. knowiing that can be powerful , because it made me put my tools to the task now. hell, even both my pharmacists know.   sway

[j34]

For me I am an addict I can not have any thought that I might be able to take anything at all even if somebody holds it for me. I tried that once and I beat the guy up and took them all and I was only about 100 pds and he lifted weights I think I kicked him in the ****.lol. I would do anything for dope.,Nope not for me I can not even entertain the idea.All the best  to all

[intothedarkagain]

The method of having someone hold it didn't work for me...ever.
I would be able to manipulate most of the people into giving them all back, but the few who resisted....that part sucked.
I would usually get so mad at the person I would start saying stupid things.
Without a dobut, I lost more face through these instances, than everything else combined.
saftey deposit box wouldn't have stopped me.

Great job to everyone at there who can do it.
Much easier.

Joshua

[whattodo10325]

Speaking for myself, I know that I can NEVER again trust mysled with ANY type of pain medication or ANY other medication that might even give me a slight buzz. I will no longer take anything but advil for my route canals (which is what got me started) and ny the off chance that I HAVE to take some sort of pain meds, for whatever reason, Someone else will definitely be holding and monitoring my intake to make sure I stick to the prescribed amount. a lot of people take pain meds for minor things that really don't require a Narcotic type of medication, but I do understand/realize that there are certain people out there in REAL pain, from whatever and need something that is strong. To thise people who need this TYPE of medication are are or have been addicts, I think it best to have someone else (someone who knows you and is responsible) hold your medication for you. ALWAYS better safe the sorry. One mans opinion

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I found out that I just plain cannot trust myself to have a bottle around. Thought that I could for a long time. And made it just that long before I found that I was only lying to myself.

[jimi1822]

And by the way I did not enjoy the way The vicodin made me feel. Thank GOD!!!

[jimi1822]

Speaking for myself, I'm 9 years clean and have had severe stomach discomfort ( I thought I had a gall stone. ouch! ) It was 8 pm on a saturday night and I tried to suck up the pain. I lasted about 5 hours.So I asked my wife if we had any pain meds she said the only thing she had were vicodin ( not good ) But I just could not find any relief so I took one at about 1 am and another at 8 am sunday morning. Felt well enough to get showered and dressed and we went to the hospital. I told them I had a severe opiate addiction 9 yrs previous so they gave me toridol a non steroidal pain injection ( it worked just as well ).
IMHO The best and wisest thing to do with any narcotic drug that might be prescribed is to have your wife, family. or friend hold the medicine and as soon as the pain subsides get rid of it!!! and at most ask for a two day supply and Be Forthcoming remember your playing with fire and you do not want to get burned. Respectfully jim :o)

[mtgoat911]

i went through chemo at 3 yrs clean and needed to take narcotics, i managed to stay clean through it all
i used the guidlines from the pi "in times of illness"
http://na.org/pdf/litfiles/us_english/Booklet/In%20Times%20of%20Illness.pdf
if you are in recovery and facing injury or illness please take the time to read this information
there is also infornation in the aa book living sober that talks about medicaiton in recovery
http://www.hcibooks.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=2998&SEName=living-sober

[avisg]

NO you can't addiction is addiction sooner or later you will abuse again.In emergency situation's where someone else holds your meds then discards the rest is the only way I will ever be able to take pain pills.I am an addict

[faithnhope41]

I wonder about this too.  My family has a strong history of cancer on both sides, we all assume it will be our end someday.  I wonder what will happen when the time comes, should I just suffer through the pain? The ERs in my town all know me, they have a flag on my chart. I wonder if I'm ever in real pain through an accident or something will they just let me suffer? They have no compassion or understanding, they treat me like ****, so does any doctor I go to. I have a bladder condition called IC, it can be painful, there are non narcotic ways to treat it, and the doctors do, but they treat me horribly, like I'm some thorn in their side.  It's bad enough that I feel like nothing, but to be treated that way just makes the feeling stronger. It's a small town and everyone knows everything.  I don't believe I'll ever be responsible when it comes to pills. That is a sad realization.

[KeepThemAwayFromMe]

I'm too much of a junkie - I obsess if I know they're in the house - My mind can think of NOTHING else.  If they're anywhere I can even FIND them then I'll hunt until I find them.  Nuts
I only trust them being doled out - and even then I wonder if I'd tell the relative that I need a higher dosage than prescribed so that I'd get high..
geeze...

[wannabefree330]

I have failed this test twice already. I know I can never trust myself around them ever again. I know how to manipulate those who 'hold' themfor me into giving me more.  This is a no for me. Kudos to those who CAN do it

[troubleinohio]

well speaking as someone who just had to get a RX for percocet last week, i can tell you I had to give them to a relative to dole out very carefully each pill, and once i felt i no longer needed any, i gave the OK for another relative to come take the pills and keep at a different relative's house (one that i wont even know who has them). It may seem extreme but hey i dont want to take any chances. and thats even with the fact that the percs made me super nauseaous, i didnt even enjoy them. nonetheless i didnt want them in the house in case i ever got weak. and why didnt i just flush tehm after being done? i have no medical insurance, and dont want another ER bill i cant afford in case i need them in the future (i have a bad back)

[kim715]

Speaking just for myself.I have been clean from vicodin for over 2 years and clean from methadone for over 11 months and I would not trust myself at this point holding on to my own meds.I don't trust yet having them out in the open in my home.My husband had a tooth extraction when I was about 3 months clean from methadone and left the bottle on the night stand.I woke up to it staring straight at me and immediately broke into a sweat.I mean I seriously had a panic attack.I had to instantly grab that bottle and hand it off to my 18 year old son.If I would have stared at the bottle one more minute I know I would have helped myself to some.When my husband broke his foot a few months later.The first stop after the doctors was the pharmacy the next stop was Walmart for a lock box,which I do not have the key for.I don't know if I'll ever trust myself to be around pills again,but for right now I know for certain I don't .....Peace...Kim