Wow, what a relief I have found this site. I am Kristen, and I am an addict. I have been clean for 2 years and 9 months. I should say I haven't used any illegal drugs in that time frame but I was looking for something and I found this site. Since I have been clean from street drugs, I have had a variety of major surgeries and have since started to abuse my prescribed pain medications. I feel like I am in a catch 22 as I have major pain daily and all my surgeons are doing there best to monitor my usage of these medications as I am honest about my history but yet, I feel myself starting to abuse them and not just use them for pain management.
What can one do in this situation? Pain medications like Advil or other NSAIDS are out of the question as I have a blood clotting disorder and these can cause bleeding. The pain at times is unbearable so to just go to work or take care of my family, I feel like I need them.
Anyone with a similar situation, please advise me.
I have also had to take pain medication in recovery. Here are some tools that helped me:
- I talked to another recovering addict every single day about every little thought that went through my mind. I was brutally honest about EVERYTHING. I had to be since my life was at risk.
- I attended meetings although I did not share at the meeting level since I was told it was inappropriate to do so while under the influence (even though I wasn't abusing, I was still under the influence of a mind and mood altering chemical)
- I had detailed discussions with my doctor about the goals of the medication, how I would know when I had achieved those goals, how would I know when to cut back and when not to. I shared that information with my support group and then monitored how I felt and shared honestly during my daily communication.
- I wrote down every single time I took medication and kept it posted on the refrigerator for the whole world to see.
I hope some that is helpful to you.
Do you have a sponsor and/or a recovery support group?
Thanks for the prompt reply! I am going to try these and also, I know I need to really start attending meetings again. I have been looking for some near my job to go to on lunch but no luck so far. I am going to try to at least start coming here to the online meetings. When I first started into recovery I did attend a 6 month out patient program in addition to 12step meetings but after about 1 year I quit going due to health complications and the birth of our second daughter. I know now that God is pullling me to refocus on my recovery.
I hope you'll check in and let us know how things are going. I can't stress enough how much it helps to share about all those sneaky little thoughts that run through the mind.
Please do continue to let us know how you are doing! I live in a town where there is an inpatient treatment center and they are there for 37 days. And the center has NA and AA meeting there 4 times a week. Which I attend. You get to know the people in the center and when they leave even though some are from this area, we never hear from them again. And it makes me sad. Cuz one you wonder if they are out using and two are they still alive.
Keep coming back. They tell me it works. And that is what I'm chosing to do.
Thanks for letting me share.
Teresa S.
-- Edited by kinkiebelladonna08 at 11:53, 2008-07-02
-- Edited by kinkiebelladonna08 at 11:54, 2008-07-02
Welcome amazonmamita! If you can find any meetings in your area, they can help save your life..GO We only keep what we have by giving it away, and may save your life and others with your participation. Thank you for joining!
