long term effects of opiates

[atthebeach]

it is with heavy heart that i post this. i friend of mine, a 64 year old woman has died. she had a heart attack,only to find out that  her heart was only functioning at 40%, her kidneys failed and within 4 days she was dead.

she started using opiates about ten years ago when she first had a broken foot. then through the years, several more broken bones, surgerys and her use continued. the last few years all the times she re-injured herself and had broken bones, i believe were because she had fallen from being high.
every other month she had another broken bone. too much of a coincidence. lots of osteoporosis test, all negative.

i had mentioned to her sweveral times through the years, and tried to talk with her and her husband about her use and her need to try to discontinue the meds, to no avail. she claimed not to be an addict, she had legitimate pain.
the last few months everytime i saw her she looked terrible, was always nodding out, very thin,lethargic. i truly believe that she didnt even feel or notice the signs of her heart failing because she was so overmedicated and high..
the ironic thing is that she left her first husband over 20 years because he was an addict.

one of the long term effects of opiate use is heart failure.
i hope someone takes this to heart before it is too late.and gets busy living or gets busy dying...................

there is hope for you, start living
debbie

[atthebeach]

i wanted to bring this to the top again. i think more people need to be reminded.

[sadmom999]

Debbie,

I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's passing.  Its just so sad but you are helping others and making the world a better place by sharing your experience with us.  Thank you.

Hugs~
Jane

[Bones216]

So sorry for your loss Debbie.
Very powerful, sad, yet profound post.
Your in my prayers
Bones

[atthebeach]

thank you all for your condolences.
tonight and tomorrow are the services.
i love this forum and i feel blessed to be here.
i am so saddened by what addiction does to so many lives.
i want you all to choose life.
love to you all and much hope and prayers
debbie

[NowOrNever43]

So sorry for your loss. I am just starting over again and this is giving me an extra kick, all in good faith, do not mean this in any bad way whatsoever. I am very appreciative that you shared this with us. Again I am so very sorry for your loss, my deepest sympathies are with you right now.

[meegWpaw]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Debbie.  Know that you help and care for so many and that is a lasting gift.

Meegan

[Fireby29]

Thanks for sharing, and so sorry for your loss.

Bryan

[littlebit667]

And at the tender age of 61 that could have been me.  Brrrrrrr!  Thank you guys for helping me kick the pills!

[littlebit667]

A college friend broke her hand and it was pretty serious break.  She became addicted to the pain pills and eventually she managed "somehow" to rebreak the hand another 2 times.  The doctor told her that if it happened again it would never heal.  It is amazing the power the pills have on us.  I hope she got clean, but I do not really know.

Debbie, you did what you could and I really feel for you and the family.  I doubt they will ever know what really happened.  Thanks for  the cautionary tale.  We needed to hear it!

[buncogirl003]

Debbie.....I am so saddened to hear about your friend.  Sort of scary wake up call as I was using for 10 years too!!  It just reinforces how important it is we all stay away from this stuff!

STILL.....one a Jersey call always a Jersey girl with 154 days clean here!

Thoughts and prayers to yoy and your friends family!

Laurie

[quitinoxys]

Debbie I am so sorry to hear about your loss, It shows how people think about addiction and being addicted. Some people think just because I have a legit reason for taking opiates I can't be addicted. Well I felt the same way for the years I was on the evil oxys, I did have a legit reason and way of getting my drugs but I never realized how addicted I was to oxy until I wanted to stop using them. I found it was not only that my body was dependent on them but so was my brain. As I struggled with w/d and trying to get clean I finally realized wow I am addicted. When I went to aftercare I really figured it out and developed the tools to keep me sober. My point to all of this there are 100s of thousands of people out there that have convinced themselves they don't have a problem and won't figure out until they start asking themselves questions and answering those questions honestly. God Bless---Rick

[dominosarah]

I am so sorry for your loss Deb~~

Thank you for reinforcing my decision to stay clean today~~

[atthebeach]

thank you, i hope and pray this will turn the light on for someone.......

[akitagurl12]

its so easy to forget about the possible damage that pills can cause INSIDE our bodies.  I know i usually only focused on the mental and social problems the pills were causing me.  This sad post brings to mind the real reason getting sober is so important...once our body goes, thats it.  For this life anyways.  Sending prayers of comfort and peace to u attthebeach.

[selfinduced]

Oh Dear Attthe beach, So sorry for the loss of your friend and that you had to witness over years this decline. My mom too died under almost identical circumstances, so I know the helpless feeling. Her death certificate read...failure to thrive. Take comfort in knowing you DID try to open her eyes and guide her to a better way, so very sorry.

[Free2agoodhome]

deep

[kyle505]

Debbie:
It took a lot of spine for you to post something so personal, but I guess that's what we do in order to try and help others.
I hope that EVERYONE, new and old, reads this - it helps to bring home the reality of addiction. Sometimes I feel that not everyone gets it - its only pills, not heroin, so what's the big deal.
Thank you, thank you.

[Sonrissa]

Hi Debbie, I'm so sad and sorry to hear this! My heart goes out to you and her friends and family! I know you must be thinking what more could I have done? We must all learn from this! The only outcome from long term narcotic abuse is an early death! This frightens me, and I often think, what would something like this do to my family? They have absolutely no clue that I have done this to myself! I think of the shocked and horrified look on their faces! This is a lesson for us all! Thank you for sharing this, and my condolences to you and her family! May she finally rest in peace!