What do you do if medical issues arise??

[Jenny9906]

This has really been on my mind, so I wanted to get some input from those of you who have gone through this.  What in the world do you do if you end up with a seriously painful medical issue that requires narcotic pain meds? The majority of the times I have relapsed in the past were due to this reason, so I'm looking for some insight as to how I should handle it in the future? For example, my 15 month run on pills this time started after I had my daughter via emergency c-section, at the same time they removed an ovarian cyst AND tied my tubes.  Needless to say I absolutely positively needed strong pain meds after all of that.  I've also dealt with kidney stones in the past, which are worse than labor pains.  Any suggestions or input for me would be very appreciated! :) I'm taking the time this time around to reflect on my issues and where/why I have failed in the past.  

[Sonrissa]

Wow! Powerful and great story, Open!  Thanks for sharing that.

[OpenMind24hours]

It doesn't get much better than what sonrissa said. That's how we must work with the pills, and have a good plan in place. By giving them to a trustee to hold you're looking at them one at a time, rather than a bottle of 90 all at once. I don't know about you, but if I'm looking a bunch of them, it's pretty much a done deal with me, I'll abuse them sooner tan later.

I hadn't had a drink or any mind altering drug for many years when I filled a script of ninety 7.5s for a herniated disc after talking to my AA sponsor. I took one and it didn't even touch the pain. I didn't take another one. Luckily I only had a week to wait for my ESI at Beaumont Hospital. My pain was pretty much under control when I took the next one. That was on the train to Toronto for a funeral a month later. I brought them along "just in case". THAT was my addiction that had been waiting in dormancy slay me for all those years. The opiate touched my pleasure center like nothing else had ever done before, and my disease simply kicked in. Then it was off to the races for me. I was taking them and I didn't really need them. When I look back, I never did get relief from that major pain I had. All that jug of 7.5s did was ruin my entire existence like alcohol had previously done years before. In NA our major dilemma is the basic fact that we can no longer control the use of any mind-altering drug. We never graduate from that fact.

Like Rissa says, we need a plan in place in case something happens, and then we can get through it. I personally know that I can't ever expect to get through something requiring pain pills on my own thinking. I can't by WE can. The recovering addict is our addictions worst enemy, and knowing we can stay safe by surrounding ourselves in the atmosphere of recovery can and should be a comfort to know. Back when I went back out my own thinking was rationalizing to me "what's the use, the older I get the more pain medication I will need, might as well start now". That's the addict's thinking that almost killed me.

[BluCrystal]

When you need medication for pain, SPECIFY non-narcotics.  They will not work as well, but they will take the edge off, and you can breathe through the rest, right? :-)

[ROSYouralright]

I agree with Son! Take them as prescribed for LEGITIMATE pain for only as long as you LEGITIMATELY need them....
Pain pills were made for a reason and do serve a purpose....
They weren't made to be abused so having someone dispense them is always an excellent idea... Our addict brains will LIE...
ALWAYS REMEMBER 1 is to many and a thousand isn't enough

[Sonrissa]

Hi Jenny, well, as the saying goes, "stuff happens"! There may come a time in life where you will need to take pain meds for legitimate severe pain. I sit here as a perfect example. I currently have a badly broken leg. I will be having surgery to repair it on Dec 26.  

What you do is have a plan in place, for in case something happens. First, tell your doctor, pharmacy about your addiction! Second, make sure that someone else holds the pain meds and give them to you ONLY as directed and only as needed for pain. Get off of them as soon as possible. Bottom line is that you do not have control over those meds. I do not have control over mine at all. I don't even know where they are, and due to my broken leg, I can't hunt for them!

I think it's good that you are thinking ahead. Know what you will do, in case!