As I have said here lately my wife had hip surgery and her recovery has been very painful. I have had to stare down a bottle of Vikes in the house, but it really hasn't been a problem. Well yesterday she was in a great deal of pain and took half of a little 500. She was out on the couch 20 minutes later. When she came to she asked how anyone could like taking Vikes because she hates them so much. It's hard to comprehend how someone can't like the effects of Vikes. They give most of us great happy energy, where as they make my wife totally incapacitated and unfunctional. Why can't we all be like her? I got that same effect the only time I have ever taken a valium. I hated it, and will never take one again.

Hi, Xrayman,

Funny you should say that about Valium--that's my reaction to it. I was once prescribed it many, many years ago and found it made my depression much worse. So...I never took it again. Recently, a friend tried to explain the difference between "Downers and Uppers". Valium was a true "downer" for me.

Everyone's chemistry has a different take on a new drug entering their systems. One (wo)man's "Ugh" is another (wo)man's "Ahhhhh." If you wife had take that half a Vicodin and felt as you did, when you discovered them, that bottle on her shelf would have been empty by now!

She is fortunate to have that negative response! Most of us get started on opiates so innocently--we are in pain and are prescribed it. And, soon, the injury that originally caused that pain becomes a poignant memory, as we associate it with the wonder drug we were introduced to. And, like "first love", we work to continue the relationship. We don't have an inkling that this is a "partnership" that is going to end badly!!

I'm sure it's tough for you to keep looking at that bottle. If it's any consolation, all I would have to do to fall by the wayside is take the elevator 7 floors up to my cousin's apt., where she keeps her "supply". She has legitimate pain and has been on these medications for years--that is how I got started myself. She shared the extras. And she always has extras. So--I know what you face! And...we can't empty those bottles and 'flush'em'!! :-)

We just have to remember where our first "dates" with those pills took us. Not a relationship with any warm memories!!!

Keep up the good work. You're doing great! :-)

Lynn :-)

Thanks for your input Lynn. For the record I can't stand Xannax either, yet others live on the stuff. Funny how having the bottle in the house has absolutely no bearing on my recovery what so ever. If I am going to use again, I am going to use again. It doesn't matter if I have pills in the house or I get them from an old friend. My recovery is solely based on my choice not to take a pill for yet another day.

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Yea Phil a fews years into my recovery from alcohol I had myself taken out of the gene pool and got a vasectomy. The doctor gave me a scrip for Davaset. I took as needed for pain. They didn't do a thing for me but make me sleepy. I'll bet that unused portion of that bottle was in my medicine chest for a year and a half. I guess I really didn't get the great high of Vicodins right away either. By the way Phil what's your take on having pills in the house? I personally don't think it has any bearing on my recovery what so ever.

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Thanks for your input Phil. You have reinterated my point, that it boils down to will power. If you or I choose to use, we can always cop a few pills real easy, just like I can pick up a case of Bud Lite at the grocery store if I choose to start drinking again. Like you said when you have a big habit it's very hard to maintain, but to cop a few feel good pills would be so easy it ain't funny. Phil I don't know if you read my post stating that I don't feel substanse addiction is a disease. If I chose to use again, it won't be because of any damn disease. I think saying it's a disease takes away some of our own personal responsibility. I remember from my days at AA where they would say, if you don't want to get hit by a train, you don't stand on the track, but we always had beer in the house, and I haven't slipped in 14 years.

Bill

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