I recently got shingles on my face/eyes. Consequently my doctor gave me vicodin for the pain. I had only been prescribed a pain medication once before and have never taken any not prescribed to me. By the second day, I realised very quickly that I was not using the vicodin for pain.....but to feel that same numbness I did while drinking. I was prescribed 1 every 4 hours and actually took 3 1/2 tabs per dose for about a day. On the 3rd day I woke and thought, "what the f***, I am actually beginning a new addiction. I threw the rest of the pills away and voided the refill (I am tech in the pharmacy so I have the power to do those things...ha ha : ). How do you all deal with these types of things as they arise? Caffeine? Pain meds when needed? Etc? It's crazy to think that my problem does not end with alcohol. Does everyone enjoy the feeling they get while on pain meds, or does it just feel good to an addict? It's the exact same thing as alcohol. I could NEVER have it just sitting around in my cabinets. Why in the world do I crave that numb feeling??!!!
I have Deg. Disk Disease, cervical spondylosis AND thoracic radiculopathy! My prescriptions consist of Prozac, Klonopon & Methadone. The prozac I take daily (as prescribed) to try to trick in my brain in to thinking I'm not in as much pain as I really am. The others, I ONLY take when the pain is BEYOND bareable, but they are prescribed as one daily. I can't handle pain meds for long periods of time, I go into a BLACK cloud, become VERY depressed and HATE the world. So far, it's been EASY for me not to abuse them......Maybe after a bit of sobriety I no longer have the desire to numb? or Pills just ain't my thing?
Who knows......the good thing is, you know what opiads do to you, therefore, the next time you become ill you can tell your doctor you're an alcoholic and give a brief description of the 'enjoyment' you got from Vicodin.
The good news for you, is the Shingles will eventually heal.
Hang in there, gal!
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
I think today's Daily Reflection is fitting for your questions...J
Commitment, February 16
Understanding is the key to right principles and attitudes, and right action is the key to good living. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 125
There came a time in my program of recovery when the third stanza of the Serenity Prayer The wisdom to know the difference became indelibly imprinted in my mind. From that time on, I had to face the ever-present knowledge that my every action, word and thought was within, or outside, the principles of the program. I could no longer hide behind self-rationalization, nor behind the insanity of my disease. The only course open to me, if I was to attain a joyous life for myself (and subsequently for those I love), was one in which I imposed on myself an effort of commitment, discipline, and responsibility.
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
I recently got shingles on my face/eyes. Consequently my doctor gave me vicodin for the pain. I had only been prescribed a pain medication once before and have never taken any not prescribed to me. By the second day, I realised very quickly that I was not using the vicodin for pain.....but to feel that same numbness I did while drinking. I was prescribed 1 every 4 hours and actually took 3 1/2 tabs per dose for about a day. On the 3rd day I woke and thought, "what the f***, I am actually beginning a new addiction. I threw the rest of the pills away and voided the refill (I am tech in the pharmacy so I have the power to do those things...ha ha : ). How do you all deal with these types of things as they arise? Caffeine? Pain meds when needed? Etc? It's crazy to think that my problem does not end with alcohol. Does everyone enjoy the feeling they get while on pain meds, or does it just feel good to an addict? It's the exact same thing as alcohol. I could NEVER have it just sitting around in my cabinets. Why in the world do I crave that numb feeling??!!!
Try icing the affected areas. Avoid caffeine, it may worsen the shingle discomfort. Decrease sugar as well. Take in comfort foods, things like turkey which have tyrosine are relaxing...Milk, warmed is good.
Lots of people crave that "numb feeling". That is why docs are usually more careful about handing out scripts that are addictive. You certainly are not alone!!
Good you noticed what you were beginning to do!! Hope you feel better.
I think this is common and have heard people with long term sobriety slip from pain meds. I do feel euphoric when I take them and have been told that is a quality addicts have more than other people. Most others (so I've been told), just go to sleep on those meds. I also would down a whole bottle of nyquil when I had a cold and enjoyed that too. In general, I too have that "anything that makes me feel numb is great" addiction as well. I have to stay on guard. Made it through one cold so far with only tylenol. I also have scripts like Doll stated. Klonopin is a controlled substance that I really have to monitor and have not abused, despite having some moments of extreme anxiety while getting sober. Drinking a ton of coffee and smoking too much doesn't help my anxiety either. In any case, it is progress these habits are dying slow. I am even weaning off the antianxiety meds but can't quit those cold turkey because there is intense withdrawal there and I could even have a seizure. When I was drinking, I would pop them like candy and run out before the month was up. That was just another humiliating aspect of my alcoholism. I wouldn't even remember how much I took and why and those meds in combo would have me acting so crazy and blacking out the more I took with alcohol. Hence, like most alcoholics I have me, I do have some drug/pill issues, but I'm doing well with it and not abusing them.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Crystal, I can definitely relate. I was sober 6 months and got into a snowmobile accident. Broken rib and punctured lung. In the hospital I was on IV Morphine and Percocet. When I was released from the hospital they gave me a precription for Percocet. I made sure I followed the directions and took them as prescribed, eventhough I had no pain to warrant taken them. They made me feel good. I've heard from recovering alcoholic physicians that I as an alcoholic may/will be addicted to any mind altering substance. I believe that to be true. When my presciption ran out I faked re-injurying myself just to get more percocet. At the time my diesase told me it was o.k. because I actually did have an injury.
This lead me to my third detox/rehab. This is a baffling diesase. It's the only diesase that actually tells us we you don't have it.
My close friend- non alcohol has serious shoulder problems. Many surgeries and many prescriptions for pain. He tells me he usually ends up throwing them out because them make him feel like sh*t. He would rather feel the pain than the feeling terrible.
Difference between the alcoholic and non-alcoholic??
