Very worried about a Sister Friend - Pain Management Message Board

Lotus_Blossom · 01-28-2008, 08:30 AM

The past couple of Years she has had to take Pain Medication due to pain from Hepatitis B and Cirrhosis.She now has a constant pain in her Leg that is still undiagnosed.The other Day when the pain didn't subside she took an Ultram every 3 hours.When it still didn't help she took a Hydrocodone of her Husband.She takes Xanax too.I'm afraid she is going to accidentally overdose or have some bad reaction from other Medication she takes.She has CFS and her Doctor prescribed Elavil 25 MG's twice per Day.She told me she felt paralyzed.May of been because of all the other pills she takes.I took the same Medication only 50 MG's and am very sensitive to Medication and did not feel paralyzed.I'm worried

forginon · 01-28-2008, 09:35 AM

I'm worried too because she is sounding desperate, and that's not a good state of mind, especially with these kinds of meds around.

I didn't see anything about a doctor managing her pain. Does she have professional support for the pain? If not, I really recommend she get some for all the obvious reasons.

Regarding the meds - Ultram every three hours is not the best. Ultram brings with it the potential of seizures and should be taken as recommended (e.g. every six hours, sometimes every four hours so long as the daily total doesn't exceed 400mg). Can I assume that she is taking some kind of SSRI (Prozac, Celexa, Serzone, etc)? If so, this further lowers the seizure threshold. I don't think the hydrocodone poses any threat, but it would be better if her doc were involved in these kind of meds. Feeling paralyzed is just not good.

Please help her get to a doctor if possible, and best of luck!

steve

brianpain33 · 01-28-2008, 03:07 PM

I am going to be absolutely honest which may be a hard thing to take but it sounds like your friend is a drug addict. You said that she has hepatitis and cirrohsis of the liver. I can only assume this if probably from using and abusing alcohol and drugs for many years. If this is the case then she is an addict and needs professional help. I am also an addict but a recovering addict which means I don't use drugs to get high anymore. You really need to tell your friend that she has a problem with drugs and try to get her help. If she gets into a rehab program in a hospital they could manage addiction and her pain at the same time. Please try to get her the help she desperately needs because the next time she uses she may never wake up escpecially with mixing narcotic medications with anxiety medications. This can be a very deadly combination. She needs to go see a doctor and be honest. This is the only way that she can get the help that she so desperately needs. Keep us posted on how she does.

Brian

P.S. go on the addiction and recovery board and try to get some advice from their as well

Lotus_Blossom · 01-28-2008, 03:57 PM

Brian,
My Friend acquired Hepatitis B from a former Heroine junkie.She didn't know he used..he told her he was STD/STI clean..She had Cirrhosis from consuming a 30 + pack of Beer Daily for 1-1/2-2 Years from the pain and grief of her late Husband's death.I say had because an Infectious Disease Doctor told her she no longer has Hepatitis or Cirrhosis.Yes she's done her share of Pot smoking and Meth a few times in past,however she doesn't abuse illicit Drugs.Prescription Drugs are a different story.I can only mention my concerns (which I have).She sees a Psychiatrist and Therapist for Anxiety/Panic/Depression issues.That is why she takes Xanax.She doesn't stop to consider the problems that could arise mixing these Medications and that is what concerns me.I've told her..

brianpain33 · 01-28-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotus_Blossom

Brian,
consuming a 30 + pack of Beer Daily for 1-1/2-2 Years from the pain and grief of her late Husband's death.

Prescription Drugs are a different story.I can only mention my concerns (which I have)...

I have learned that it doesn't really matter how you become an addict but only about what you want to do about your problem. First, ADDICTIONS is a disease and not a moral dilema or character fault. Your friend is suffering a disease and it sounds like more than one probably addiction and chronic pain. I share this dilemna as well. However, you can not really be sure just how much pain is physical is and how much is mental especially when you are in active addiction. Your addiction will make you think that you have more pain than you actually do. It will tell you and force you to many things that are shameful. The disease of addiction's goal is simple. It wants to see you SUFFER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND KILL YOU. A drug is any mood or mind altering substance and even if she is getting them from a doctor it is still feeding her addiction. She has to admit that she is an addict first or you can not help her. Hopefully you can get her to see that she needs help and find a doctor that will take her on or get her into rehab. You can't do anything else for your friend unless she admits the fact that she is addict and has lost the ability to control using drugs. I hope you can get her to realize this before it really is to late and you end up seeing her in a casket. I hate to put it this bluntly but this is a fatal disease and she needs help. I am really trying to help because I have been there and I did admit it and got help and my life is much better now. I pray that things will get better for her.

Brian

P.S. I have seen people die from this disease including several people in my NA home group last year. This disease is no joke and doesn't play around. I want to try and help as many people as possible. In my meetings we say the bitter ends are always the same: jails, institutions (hospitals), and death and not necessarily in that order.