Patient or Addict

Posted by pfbacon @pfbacon, Oct 16, 2018

I have to take some prescription pain meds whenever the OTC ones don't work. I've had to take them off and on for decades for post surgery or temporary conditions; I'm careful with them, I always have been. I can put up with pain during the day but if it's keeping me awake at night, I take 1/2 of one tablet. I don't want to take anything during the day that might make me sleepy. I had a friend who was an addict - when he got an rx for codeine, he took one tablet, an hour later he felt fine - so he took 2 more - the whole bottle was gone in a few days and he went looking for more to buy illegally. It made him feel 'high', he wanted to escape from his life; he woke up in the morning thinking about more pills even though he wasn't in pain physically. I always wake up thinking about what I'm doing today, who I will see, what I should wear, what to take with me, etc. If pain stops me from doing what I planned, I take 1/2 of a pain killer so I can get back into my life. Once the pain is gone I feel normal and that's what I want. The condition I have is getting progressively worse, I will probably have to increase the pain meds. I'm dreading it, I will not get to finish my 'bucket list'; the State will revoke my driver's license as soon as they find out through 'data sharing' that I'm buying meds that are on their 'dangerous' list. I'll have to go into hospice at some point but I'll stay independent for as long as I can. Peggy

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Hi Peggy @pfbacon, thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that you or anyone has to go through such pain. My hope is that the future may have a breakthrough for each of us to treat what ails us. My bucket list has changed over the years, some things I had on the list were not realistic and I had to rethink what is really important to me and add a few new things to my list. I'm with you on staying independent as long as I can. When I'm having one of those days I like to find something that makes me smile. Here's a few ideas that may help:

Mayo Clinic Minute: Stress-reducing ideas designed to make you smile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cmFQURYceg

John

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Have you tried low level laser therapy for pain? It helps reduce the medications.

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@johnbishop

Hi Peggy @pfbacon, thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that you or anyone has to go through such pain. My hope is that the future may have a breakthrough for each of us to treat what ails us. My bucket list has changed over the years, some things I had on the list were not realistic and I had to rethink what is really important to me and add a few new things to my list. I'm with you on staying independent as long as I can. When I'm having one of those days I like to find something that makes me smile. Here's a few ideas that may help:

Mayo Clinic Minute: Stress-reducing ideas designed to make you smile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cmFQURYceg

John

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Peggy @pfbacon - definitely not addict.

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@johnbishop

Hi Peggy @pfbacon, thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that you or anyone has to go through such pain. My hope is that the future may have a breakthrough for each of us to treat what ails us. My bucket list has changed over the years, some things I had on the list were not realistic and I had to rethink what is really important to me and add a few new things to my list. I'm with you on staying independent as long as I can. When I'm having one of those days I like to find something that makes me smile. Here's a few ideas that may help:

Mayo Clinic Minute: Stress-reducing ideas designed to make you smile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cmFQURYceg

John

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thank you

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@holhealthcare

Have you tried low level laser therapy for pain? It helps reduce the medications.

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yes, it does help for a time.

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@kiowajack

yes, it does help for a time.

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What strength and protocol was it? If you know what was used.

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All the label says is 100% pure polynesian noni- not from concentrate.

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Thank you all for your compassion. I will look into laser therapy. Peggy

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One thing that helps me is running. Scientists say that running produces endorphins and endorphins kill pain. Sometimes I think I don't want to go run, but I do it any way because there has never been a time when I returned and thought 'gee I wish I hadn't done that'. I always feel better than I did before I ran. Peggy

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