side effects

[Airedog]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie, I busted up an ankle in June '99, had surgery in Dec. '99 and am scheduled for more in Jan. 01. I have been on opiates since Nov. '99. I have just seen a pain specialist who upped my codeine contin to 300 mg. 2/day, with Statex morphine for breakthrough pain. I have started getting panic attacks that scare the hell out of me, I believe it is codeine related as I have had bad reactions in the past to codeine and percocet, when used in elevated dosages. I have cut the contin to 150 mg. 2/day and used the Statex as prescribed. I am experiencing some withdrawal, headache and yawning, don't need as much Aci-Lac. Anyone else had this happen?

Prior to this accident I was drug and alcohol free for 12 years and I am really trying to avoid an active addiction again; a physical dependence is a different problem with a different solution <IMO>. There have been times when an NA meeting would be nice, but I do not feel that open meetings are an appropriate forum for my situation. Fortunately, I have friends in program who have been in similar situations and they have mentioned this site as a resource.

Thanks,

Dave

[Airedog]

I find that temptation or how I feel about the whole dependence vs. addiction issue is a shifting thing. Like J.B., I have to know who to trust and talk to, about what is going on with me. It has been crucial to understand and accept that what may have been comfortable for weeks or even months is suddenly a minefield.

I have tried to just go with the flow and take each day for what it is. If I am comfortable with my situation, great; if I am feeling uncomfortable about my meds, then I have to talk it out and put further safeguards in place. While I am ultimately responsible for not crossing the line back into an active addiction, I can and do empower people I trust to help me stay on track.

My pain specialist feels that I had a paradoxical reaction to the codeine contin last week and has switched me over to Statex morphine. I will see him later on this week, in the meantime I have a bit of withdrawal and my pain levels are out of control at times. As long as I stay away from trying to play catch-up I will be fine. If I can continue to accept that it is never going to be a situation that is under my control, I am on the right track. Having this forum definitely helps.

Dave

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I do understand what you've said about the open meetings, which I tend to stay away from as well.  The group I hang out with is into step study and closed.  I just feel more comfortable with this format.  Sometimes the meetings have extended way beyond the usual one hour limit.  I do on occasion attend open meetings but they are more of a social event for me.

It sounds to me that your head is in the right place and you are doing the right things in dealing with the chronic pain.  Recently, I have had to wrestle with chronic pain and the need for narcotic meds.  I had to learn the difference between abuse and dependancy.  I still let my wife have full control over picking them up at the pharmacy and dosing me properly. I'm just not ready yet to deal with the temptation on my own.

Thanks!

[to BJF from Oxy Tom]

Hi all!
Sorry to bust in on a thread, but I wanted to ask a favor of you.  Please say a prayer for my family and I this week.  

I go for sentencing and am scared to death.  I've been dealing with it by not thinking about it at all, but that's getting harder to do as the date nears.  I wish so much I had found this site before I got into so much trouble - I bet you all could have helped talk me out of forging the scrips....

Thats done though, and I did it.  I am hoping and praying that the judge gives me probation.  I just cannot imagine being locked up and all that would mean to everyone that matters to me.  I have 3 kids, age 6 and under, that I live for...literally.  Were they not here, I would have checked out a long time ago.  

I am SO scared they will not have me to support them....my wife would lose our home, her car/van, health insurance, etc. etc. etc.   Then there's this huge monkey back on my back.  Worrying about them while going cold turkey from 1600+mg a day is more than I could handle.  I don't have any experience in this area, I've never been in a bit of trouble before, but I doubt anyone in prison would care or provide medical help either.

My hope is that the judge has compassion.  The prosecutor and cops are insisting I had to be selling the pills, but since I wasnt, they have no evidence.  I don;t understand why they have to be like this - what I did was wrong, but for them to insist I was a dealer is wrong too.  

I hope anyone who is thinking about forging a scrip or breaking a law to get their pain pills reads this and thinks twice.  I'd give ANYTHING to go back and not have done it.

Thanks again, everyone, for all your kind words, understanding, and advice!  I hope I can write again on Wednesday and give you some good news.  

Tom

[tom to Tom]

Tom,
My heart goes out to you and your family tonight

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

Who said anything about martyrdom in the program of NA?  Most of us believe that self improvement is achieved through working the twelve steps in the order that they are written.  The only martyrdom that I know of is when people follow their "own" program to the point of killing themselves.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

The 12 step programs seem to be good ones especially where narcotics are concerned. Unfortunately over here the A.A. group is sadly lacking many people with many years of sobriety or experience and the same people just repeat the same ole stuff every day about gratefull to be sober and the like. It's more like a rah-rah meeting.

I go to a drug and alcohol prgram as well as A.A. and have found it more effective with group counseling that give feedback and also good counseling from trained staff.

All the A.A.er'seem to do is sit around every night obsessing over alcohol. I never see them study the 12 steps, I guess they figure that's for the sponsor to do individually. I don't even crave alcohol anymore so I'd rather do something more fun like work on my house or other hobbies.

I have to come to some decision about this seizure disorder though because now I am developing symptoms of narcolepsy too and it is becoming dangerous to drive and difficult to work. I know I take alot of Klonopin for the seizures but so far that is ruled out as I tried both taking and not taking it before these morning spells and it seems to make no difference. The lighting is a factor. I get checked by a Neurologist this coming week and a sleep specialist in January. So I hope to find some answers. All of those partial status seizures may have caused some brain damage. That's all I can think would bring it on all of the sudden.