Will this put me back at day one?

[meg52080]

Okay - I called my doctor this a.m. because I've been suffering for two days with ear infections in both ears and I think that it is actually invaded the mastoid bone (bone behind the ear) on my right side (called mastoiditis).  I have had to have corrective surgery for this infection in the past.  I didn't feel comfortable driving to see him (an hr. away) because I am alone with my 21 mo. old and I can barely hear anything.  He called in an antibiotic for me and I went and picked it up (only a block away).

Low and behold - there was also an Rx. for 10 tylenol #3's there with it (i didn't even ask for anything for pain) - I am now sitting here looking at this bottle and wondering if it would even help me and if I did take it for pain - would this set me back to day one again?!

Please advise. . .

[nersayner]

aloha meg...thats awesome you got through it w/o the tylenols. i've been sober 11 years now, but i remember in early sobriety that temptation. i had rotten teeth from years of wreckage. did massive dental work w/o tylenols. yea it hurt but my sponsor asked me if i was willing to go to any lengths when i was using (which was yes). so was i willing to go to any length to stay sober? yea it hurt like ###, but i put myself thru some pretty nasty pain out there, so why was i going to sissy out in sobriety. we get sober and turn into such crybabies...i say that humorously. try to keep a sense of humor in sobriety girl, otherwise youre screwed. yea the ear stuff too...had it...like chinese torture...good luck and one day at a time...aloha

[triedeverymed]

If your counting sobriety days it won't cut you back if you take it ONLY as directed and only if needed. Then when it's better you have to throw away the extras.
If your wworried about your sobriety than it'a tricky issue. I would give them to someone to hold, keep 2 at home for pain and see if you don't feel better once the antibiotics kick in. Then throw the bottlw away. The most important thing you can do is throw the pills away once you;re out of pain. If they are there, you'll be tempted beyond your wildest imagination. That's how addiction works.  So use them wisely, be careful & most important FEEL BETTER!!
Erin

[lady67]

When we are new in our sobriety, we are like children.  I thank God for this forum.  It has kept me sane through this. Every time I think of taking something, I think of the "PAIN" it will be to admit that I had a setback.  The friends I have made here are priceless.

Drugs~Too much to count
Hurt ~ Too much to count
Sobriety~Priceless
Friends~Priceless.

[meg52080]

thanks - it is nice to get encouragement and appraisal now and then (I feel like an attention-seeking child sometimes)  :)

[joann1975]

You rock! It wasn't a waste if it was a lesson well learned! Good for you Meg!

[meg52080]

Thanks everybody - I know this is a little late (nobody will probably be on to even see this) but I flushed them while I was on here last night.  Was talking to limodan73 and he encouraged me, so I did it!  What a waste of almost $20 - oh well, live and learn. . .

[malenurse57]

Keepin' you in prayer. God bless

[Victor322]

that quickly eliminated any sudden temptation on my behalf.

Life became much simpler from that point on.

[joann1975]

Good job Meg! I didn't mean to ditch you today....just got sidetracked and I was going to bed and I thought hey.....what about Meg...so I am so happy to read this post. BTW your surgery sounds so painful! OMG couldn't handle that. I hope the antibiotics kick in and fix you up quick....especially since you are chasing little ones. I know it's hard to do that all day and throw in not feeling well and that makes it really hard!
Take care and let us know how you are feeling tomorrow. (i am really going to bed now)
JoAnn

[meg52080]

thanks all. . .I still have them, they are up in my medicine cabinet. . .all ten of them.  I've thought about them today, but haven't touched them :)

[worried878]

And it does seem that when we detox everything flares up...for me it was sinus problems constantly for 2 months...it is very trying...kinda like the devil is trying to make u cave...it is like..."geez..i have done so well...why r u throwing this at me now?"....be safe

[lady67]

I feel that way about my mouth.  I can handle any kind of pain except dental.  That scares me to death.  I hate to go to the dentist because I can't stand the thought of someone working in my mouth.  I am also that way about my nose.  I have had sinus surgery and corrective sinus surgery 3 times; once due to an incompetent doctor who overcorrected my deviated septum causing it to collapse.  Then 2 surgeries to regraft and rebuild it.  I also had 2 plastic surgeries on my face when I was 12 years old.

I know for some reason when it is from the neck up, I am more concerned.

Good Luck
Susan

[meg52080]

I had ear infections constantly as a kid, and then in Dec. of 04 my left middle ear became so badly infected it would not respond to ANY antibiotic - they had given me Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox and good old Amoxicillin (adding up to a whopping total of 440,000 mg in the course of 3 mos or so. . .finally after seeing the ENT for the 4th time, he decided to do a CT scan. . .resultant infections and cholesteatoma (non-cancerous tumor) had inhibited healing and draining of infections and led to infection of the mastoid process (a honey-comb like bone structure behind the ear).  The tumor had to be removed and the mastoid bone drained as well as a procedure called "canal wall down".  Took a week or so of follow-up antibiotics, but all was well until a couple of days ago. . .I have this thing about pain in the "head" region - anything to do w/ eyes, ears, nose, throat, etc. I cannot stand!!!  Give me childbirth over this **** any day of the week!  Thanks all. . .

[joann1975]

Oh dear...I don't know what to say. I know it's early in your recovery (and mine) so I hate to see this lead you down a road you don't want to go back down. I would try and make it as far as I could w/o them. Can you sleep w/tylenol PM or something tonight?
JoAnn

[LateAugust]

I too have congential ear problems that are never ending.  What type of surgery did you have on your ears?   I had my inner-ear rebuilt last summer,  I have tubes put in my ears (yes like a small child!) every 3 months, and I am not sure that I ever NOT have an ear infection!   I don't use pain meds, as this is such a part of my life, and unless I am really hurting, I prefer the  pain rather than the hazy fuzzy out of it feeling that pain meds give me, and for me the heating pad helps the best when the pain interfers with my life.  How is your equilibreum?  That is generally my biggest issue when my ears are really bad, so I do take anti-dizzy pills until that passes.  Did you get Levaquin for the anit biotics?

Ear problems are no fun, I hope the antibiotics kick in soon and give you some relief.  The hearing part for me never gets better until I am tubed, so I glad to see the antibitics work for you!

[meg52080]

i'm not sure - i've been using motrin for the pain over the weekend, but i also haven't slept for 2 days and cried all night last night. . .

[joann1975]

BTW I didn't mean that tacky or hateful....I know it can come across that way typed....but you know what I mean don't you? I hope! :)

[joann1975]

Do you even NEED them for pain? Or do you WANT them?

[mimi1313]

That is up to you. Do you think you can take just 10 and stay on track? Personally I would try the antibiotics first and see how fast they help. If the pain gets really bad, and you can't handle it anymore maybe take one. I knowit must be dificult with an almost 2 year old.

Good luck.