I am a pain pill addict! (or so they say)

[dandy8]

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.

My Christmas was somewhat stressful to say the least. My sil and mom have concluded that I am a drug addict!

Last week I saw my GP, he said he was a little worried about my opiod use.(30mg MS Contin every 12 hours) He then set up an appt. with a different uro at the University of Washington hospital. He thinks they either need to get me off the opiods or remove my bladder.

My health condition was brought up over the holiday and family members said I should NOT be taking pain meds for this long.
My sil even pointed out that "soccer mom's" are getting addicted to the stuff just to cope with life and maybe that's where I am!

My mom (age 81) is now calling me saying very negative and hurtful things to me. "You are probably addicted, you need to tough it out and get some backbone and just deal with the pain" "You have NEVER been very tough".

I saw my uro today. I told him all of the above.
He explained once again that I am NOT an addict and I have no reason to worry. He also pointed out that maybe I should refuse to discuss my pain management issues with people. He thinks all of them actually caused an increase in pain from stress! Unfortunatly he upped my dose double :(
He said that if they had to live with my bladder for 24 hours they would be begging for a much stronger dose of opiod than what I currently take. I have refused increased dose changes several times, so he knows I am "toughing out" a lot of pain.

I do feel better now. I'm just sooooo upset over my family members reaction! Thanks for letting me vent!!

[ICNDonna]

One good way to avoid such family conflicts is to just plain not tell them what you are taking.

Try thinking of it this way: If you had diabetes and required insulin to maintain a healthy life style, you wouldn't think twice about addiction to insulin. What you have is pain and if you are to live anything close to a normal life, you need to keep that pain controlled.

If you are working with your physician and taking pain medications as directed, you are doing exactly what you need to do. You may need to be firm with your family that this is not up for discussion, but they will get the message.

Warm encouraging hugs,
Donna

[rnewman]

I think Donna put things extremely well.

I am so sorry this has caused you more stress. I think your Doctor and Donna had some good suggestions.

Big hugs, and best wishes for an easier New Years Holiday.
kissing
Rachel

[vm]

He also pointed out that maybe I should refuse to discuss my pain management issues with people. Sounds like a really good, doc. I would rely on him for information on what you should and should not do and just not tell your family. They can't possibly have a clue.

[tcbc1989]

I have been crying and worrying about this issue for months. My in-laws cannot understand why I am in pain. I had an Interstim device put in 6/30 and think that should have "fixed" everything. Now they think I am addicted to pain meds. They do not even believe in Tylenol....it has caused much friction between my Hubby and his family. My husband understands and my uro encourages me to take my pain med every 4-6hrs as needed...and not to wait for the pain to get bad. This of course interferes with my driving ability so I need help with carpool to and from school and rely on many friends. This is not understood by the in-laws..and I am SICK and TIRED of answering why I can't drive. I avoid telling them the details anymore but they still know we are using friends to help us out. Thank you for the advice. We do not want to take pills but we have no choice...I just wish people would understand and live in our bodies for just 1 day if necessary!! Best of luck to all...Tina C grouphug

[mayray518]

Yeah, after I started feeling better everyone wanted to know why I wasnt back 100% and I tried to explain to them about the side effects of the meds. At 50 mg of elavil I could barely stay awake much less act normal again. And I can imagine if you are on pain meds, the pain may go down, but people probably wonder why you are tired or "act in a daze as people used to ask me." Would like everyone to treat us as if we were "insulin" dependent but, unfortunately, people are still not familiar with IC and do not treat you the way. They act more like we have nothing more than a tension headache. I know about the family problems issue also and I wish you good luck with that. Like we need more stress

[auntiedeb]

grouphug grouphug grouphug You are not an addict. I am not an addict. We need pain pills to help us cope with our daily actives of life and for the pain. Hope you feel better soon. My family also thinks I am addicted to pain pills but I am not. I take them as prescribed. I have a wonderful urologist and primary care physican. My pcp is learning alot about ic and how painful it can be. Let us know how you are doing.

[Katrina]

grouphug grouphug grouphug I am so sorry you had to go through that. They have no right to judge you. I am so sorry you are in so much pain, and so sad they are not helping you.

I agree that your meds should be between you and your doctor.

Wishing you the very best.

[kiffy313]

I agree with the other gals, you are defintely not an addict! I also take narcotic meds, and had this discussion with my Uro and my hubby and my mom were in the room at the time. I told him I do worry about getting addicted, but the pain is sometimes so debilitating that I cannot make it without the meds. My Uro agreed and said that he would let me know if he thought I had a problem. I am lucky that my family is supportive, my brother does sometimes make comments, but like Donna said, I just do not discuss it with him...I know that the talk shows and news feel as if they are doing a good service to all of us, but there needs to be the other side of the story, about those of us who legitimately need the pain meds. It really is nobody's business but ours, but it does make it hard, sometimes...Good luck to you, and know that we support you here. It does sound like you have a wonderful Dr., and I also do, and am so thankful for that... grouphug
Kandy

[Teri]

Donna hit the nail right on the head. I only talk about my meds here, where I feel safe or with my dr and hubby......outside of that, I don't talk about it. It's none of anyone else's business and if someone called me an addict I'd have to bop them in the head so it's my choice not to go there.

Outsider's can be so cruel when it comes to chronic pain issues, and then, there are the ones who are just plain old mean banghead banghead

[Katie55]

Hello dandy8,

I am sooo sorry to hear about the way you have been treated in regards to your taking pain meds
( opiates ) to manage your IC pain. I to take Hydromorphone Contin 3mg 8 a day as well as
break-through hydromorphone 4mg everyday. I also get the BIG Hassel from Mom and some family members about the meds I take. BUT they also don't and never will understand what kind of pain I suffer with. Right now I have been in a IC flareup for almost two weeks now, ( A VERY PAINFULL ONE) that doesn't let up for even a secound. Its soooo extremly hard to even want to go on when it just never lets up. I was soooo thankfull when I found this IC web-site, that you have NO idea. To be able to talk to people again, and share how it feels is unbeleiveable. Where I live we have Very little support groups left as there is just not the funding for them. Please take care, and I look forward to seeing you on board again, as with everyone else.
BIG HUGS to you and Hang in there as I feel your pain literally.

[Tami Stambaugh]

Like everyone has stated-----it is none of anybody's business except your doctor's and husband's. My IC doctor has plainly told me not to ever tell anyone about my pain medications. This is a private issue to me and I plan on keeping it that way. I do have some nosey family members but I always put a halfway smile on and say I am tuff and I am o.k. If they really knew they would think I had a problem too. If you can live your life taking meds to help you that is what it is all about. Screw everybody else!!!!!!!!! Thank God we have this site where we can understand each other and not feel guilty. I have posted about feeling guilty several times--it must be a Mom thing!!! I do find myself thinking about this alot----I can't get it off my mind sometimes!!!

Tami

[Kelli]

I agree with all of the postings here. But I just wanted to add one more thing. A person with chronic pain who is taking prescription medication at the prescribed dose does NOT get addicted to their medication. We become TOLERANT!!! Not ADDICTED!! Two totally different words although alot of people think they are one in the same. When we go into a Dr's office and our meds have to be increased because the dose is no longer effective it's because our bodies have become used to that dose, or tolerant. Someone who misuses their meds, takes them out of the prescribed dosing schedule, and at higher doses are addicts. During the last several weeks I have gone off of all of my pain meds because of my pregnancy. I went through severe withdrawl symptoms and my family said it was because I was addicted to those meds. NO, it was because my body had been used to those meds being in my system every day for the last two years. It's much the same for a coffee drinker. If someone who has been drinking 3 cups a day for two years tries to quit drinking it, their body will go through caffiene withdrawls. Does that mean they are coffee addicts???? I don't think so!

[kiffy313]

Kelli,
You Go Girl! And thanks to all of you who support each and everyone of us here every day, including me! It really does make such a big difference just to be "understood"...
Take Care,
Kandy

[Iris]

I think Kelli and Betsie expressed their feelings about pain control very well, and I totally agree. I am very relieved to know that I have pain medication to help me through a tough spell with IC, and I certainly would not take it,if I did not need it to combat my pain. I think it is our personal business between us and our physicians, and it helps us to lead fairly normal lives. Like I said way to go Kelli and Betsie you expressed exactly the way I feel about the pain medication issue. Take care Iris hi

[DebraLeeS]

hi Hello everyone My Dr told me that people with chronic pain and take their pain meds as prescribed would never become addicted,Its the people who take them 3 at a time many more times a day than prescribed.
Why anyone would get pleasure from feeling like a blah Blah all day is beyond me.
I am always in pain because because half the time I have so much to do that I cant take my meds as prescribed :( I'm sure you guys do this sometimes also.
Hang in there and remember you cant change the past and the future isnt even here yet so live day by day and try to be happy it helps the pain alot :p Stress is a trigger just like tomatoe sauce.Hope you have a Happy New Year.

[tcbc1989]

Hi to all....i know this topic is a sensitive to anyone who takes pain medications on a daily basis. I keep my husband informed and have made up a medication chart to keep a daily log on what and when I take my meds. It is helpful for me so I can keep track of what I have taken and my husband will be informed when he gets home from work.
Thanks for all the advice and support once again!! Tina C.

[ICNDonna]

For TCBC: In our house, if either my husband or I take pain medications, each dose is written on a pad, along with the time taken. We both have pain meds to take as needed and we both do get sleepy when we take them so the written record is helpful as a reminder so there's no chance of overdosing.

And when my husband got sick and I had to take him to ER (almost four years ago), I grabbed the pad on the way out and was able to tell the ER doctor exactly what he had taken.

We also take other meds and each carry lists of the medications each of us takes on a regular basis.

Donna

[tcbc1989]

Hi Donna,
It is a great idea to write everything down...it is hard to keep information regarding times and dosages of our meds unless we write it down. It keeps me from guessing when I took my meds last. I think it is a great way to see if pain is due to a certain trigger or time of day.
Tina C. hi

[YankeeCandle224]

First let me say, there is a HUGE difference between DEPENDENCE and ADDICTION. No matter what you take, asprin, advil, or percocet, your body will build up a tolerance to it over a certain amount of time. This is normal human physiology.

My parents think I am a junkie, my mom actually called me one on the phone, and at that point I wasnt even taking pain pills for the fibro.

I read above that if a person is in chronic pain, and takes their meds as rx'd , doesnt frequent the street corners for a fix, alter the drug by crushing or snorting it, you are NOT addicted, but you probably ARE dependent.

Good doctors know the difference and know that every so often meds for pain must be tweaked and fine tuned for the person and that everyone is different.

I take enough meds that a normal person would be flat out cold, or dead, if they took what I do in a single dose, but because I've been taking the meds for about 2 1/2 years, I am tolerant/dependent, and my body has adjusted to the dose.

Right now, with this suspected IC, I have had to increase the amount of hydrocodone that I take for breakthru fibro pain. Without it I am a withering, flopping dying fish on my couch. I am in severe pain without the extra help.

I know that my uro and my pain management doc will get together on this and 'tweak' the hydrocodone, so that I have enough on hand for painful episodes like I am going through now with my bladder and urethra.

This IS a never ending debate, but I guarantee you that 99% of the people that do the research with real people in real clinical trials will tell you the same thing I just did.

It's your body, your choice, no business of anyone's but you and your doc's and whoever you choose to tell.

If a family member doesnt like it, tough. I've had to totally stop talking to my parents, and while it hurts, and I miss them terribly, they are toxic people in my life, and judge me when they do not even know 1/3 of the story, nor do they care to know.

Please, please, dont let your family upset you, or anyone else about your use of pain meds.

It's none of their business!!!!!!!!

Hugs, Sandy

[SheriG]

This whole topic can be summed up in one word: HURTFUL! It is bad enough that we have IC, and the pain that goes along with it.;..but for our own relatives to call us names, belittle us, and make us cry because we NEED our pain meds...well, I wish they all could spend just one day in our shoes.There is a verygood pain article if you go up to the browse site, and look under pain management.It tells why we do not become addicts, and also explain just how bad the pain is. I ran off a copy for my doc, and one for my parents.I know they mean well, but our relatives need to understand and nurture...that is my wish for the new year.Peace to you all grouphug

[Biohazard]

I think a lot of this is coming from the dea putting pressure on the doctors then it filters to the patient...i have dealt with the same but have managed to get through it...my biggest question which i havent been able to have answered is....when does it end? with the tolerance and upping the dose? i mean people are going from 10mg to 30mg in one year, what happens in 8 years? i'm actually thinking about getting off the opiods totally...amazingly i have only gone from 10mg to 20mg in 3.5 years....the last time i saw my pain management doc he basically said if this dose doesnt work we're going to have to see about getting you in rehab...i have been wondering about flip flopping meds...if you are beginning to become tolerant to one, switch to another for 6 months and then repeat...i dont know if this works but it seems like it might....there is a detox center in florida that completely detox's you in 3 days from any opiod coming from any dose...the only catch is it costs $10,000..........When i first was given opiod medication i thought it was the answer to my pain etc...but i later found out about tolerance and dependency...(if there were no or less tolerance/dependency im sure it would of been my answer) but now i am thinking more along the lines of, where am i going to be in 10 years? I was in real bad shape and doing about nothing with my life before i started with them, but i'm thinking "i'll figure something out" to myself when people ask what will you do once you come off them? so i'm not sure where taking these pills is going for the long term anyway?

[YankeeCandle224]

Biohazard,

I wanted to address your comment on tolerance. I know everyone is different, but in my case I have been on the same dose of oxycontin for about a year and a half. The first 6 months were spent tweaking the dose til I got to a comfort level that I could function in.

I understand what you are saying, and I have read on lots of boards where people go off their meds for a while, or switch like you said and had some luck with it.

I think the key to the whole thing is getting comfortable, and I have had a doctor tell me with the oxycontin there is NO limit to the amount of drug you take. In ten years, if I need to take 160 mg 2 or 3 times a day, then so be it, and my body will be fine with this because it has adjusted to the dose. But I have balked at raising my dose for the very thing you said, I want the drug to last for as long as possible, for as many years as I need it.

I also take hydrocodone for breakthru fibro and back pain. This is where it gets tricky for me. The breakthru pain meds are a little more risky to take on a regular basis because they are not extended release, and yes, there are times when you need more and more and more.

I am already taking more of my hydrocodone because of the God awful pain with my bladder and urethra. Without it I wonder where I would be......probably not sitting here at the computer, and while the pain NEVER goes completely away, I have a better quality of life right now than if I was just grinning and bearing it. It's a catch 22.

I have a great pain management doctor, who adjusted my schedule of meds, and had me sign a contract, that I would go to one drug store, that I would only get narcotics from him, etc. I have no problem doing as he asks, and because he has faith in me, I dont see a problem when I have to have my hydrocodone increased until my suspected IC is under control.

It's all a personal choice, between you and your doctor (hopefully a compassionate doctor). I agree that the DEA is clamping down, but the good docs document what they do, they see you once a month, they have you sign the contract, and their behind is covered.

What gets me so mad is all the abusers of oxycontin. I never hear a news story about how great a drug it is and how much it has helped people like me, only the bad things, like how some 14 year old kid wanted a quick high, so crushed a time released pill, swallowed it, and died from respiratory failure.

Or the peope that melt it and shoot it, and then we are warned and oxycontin gets stigmatized by the people that abuse them, and these people are the minority.

Like I said, its a personal choice, but switching meds, or even just decreasing the dose for a while of what you are taking then easing back up to your regular dose may work for you. I know someone that takes 230 mg of morphine by mouth 2 x a day, so you see, there is really not a limit or roof on the doseages. Tolerance and dependence can be managed with a good doctors help.

Good luck to you. Sandy

[Tami Stambaugh]

I agree that it is a personal choice for each individual person. I did take oxycotin for several months and yes it did help. I had such a phobia about taking it though----like you stated all the bad press and all the drug abusers in the world. Then you have the doctors that will sell prescriptions for money. That just makes it harder on people with chronic painful diseases. Stopping the oxycotin was a personal choice for me----I didn't want anyone to know I was taking it (except my husband). I can't explain how I felt except like it was embarrassing to me. I know this sounds crazy but evertime something came on T.V. about it I just cringed----I don't know why I felt that way because it is a good medication and has helped alot a sick people especially with chronic pain of any kind including myself. I never once did think about putting one in my mouth and chewing it just to see what it would do, nor crushing it or anything elese. My doctor explained to me that people with chronic pain don't think about things like that--that we don't have the addiction personality. I am sure there is some cases that this has happened but so far I haven't heard of any and neither has my doctor. When people here that someone is on oxycotin they just freak out totally and automatically think that you are a drug abuser. I just hated even being put in that catergory with addicts. It is a wonderful drug and does help many people everyday. Several of the patients that see the same Dr. as I do have a much better quality of life now than before----isn't that what it is all about??? I think whatever works for you if great and it might not work for the next person. Right now I take Hydrocodone for pain. Sometimes I wonder what kind of damage my liver will end up with because of all the acephemetine that is in the hydrocone. My Doc. says that oxycotion daily will not damage your body therefor it is medically safer that taking Hydrocodone. He also said that you don't require as much because of it being time released. I just have a phobia about it------Call me crazy I guess!!

:) :confused: :)

[Biohazard]

yea thats actually one of the big reasons i may stop taking it...along with the fact that needing more because of tolerance and being afraid to ask for more....but i'm actually feeling confident that i can get off it now

[lotsofgirls]

Another thought to add to the discussion....I became so paranoid of addiction in the fall, that I stopped my pain meds cold turkey on my own and went thru withdrawl for probably 2 weeks, thought is was peri-menopause, a nervous breakdown, or some new disease. I drove my hubby nuts, myself off the deep end, and the whole time my pain levels elevated until I was depressed. So much for quality of life. I am back on pain meds now and I still struggle with the nausea, but I am back to my old self. I am busy, happy, in pain some of the time, but by choice if I don't take the meds. I know this is a permanent part of my life right now, and I am seeing a pain dr on Tues to start a pain clinic assessment.

When an ICer is scared of pain meds because of others comments it can seriously interfere with their treatment, so family/friends etc need to think twice before they contribute their "opinion".

Cath

[Jeanine]

Hi Dandy8,

I was so sad to hear what you were going through with your family. Holidays seem to bring out the best and the worst in all of us. And family can really let us down and disappoint us when we need them most for love and support.

My niece works for an oncology/gyn doctor and she decided to inform me that she hated to see my three boys watch me go through this and that if it were her in this situation, she would never let her son see her in pain. ( I guess I should have never asked to have IC!!!!) She then preceeded to tell me that she sees patients every day so much more worse off than I am and that they just keep on going.

I tried my best to be polite, loving, and understanding when I replied. I thanked her for being honest about her feelings and told her I hated feeling the way I do, also. I have always been a very active healthy woman who raised her when her mother was going through a divorce. I am sure that she is disappointed in me and I am still processing how I feel about what she said.

I listened to a wonderful audio from the IChelp.com webpage about a presentation a therapist made to the ICA. It really helped me to understand all the emotions we have with coping with IC and how it also effects our family and their feelings about a silent disease that they know little about.

I am with Donna when it comes to sharing information with family and friends, these days. Tell who want, what you want and remember we IC buddies are always here for you.

I take tramadol and called and had my family dr. up the prescription. What good is life, when all else fails, if you are writhing in bed in pain.
They would not let a living pet hurt like that and here we have been tough enough to have some control and dignity to hide or mask our pain socially so they do not see or feel or hear the raging fires we succumb to in our bodies.

I wish you the best and smile at the thought that you can see the Washington Mountains.

We lived near Maple Valley for years and loved Washington and the wonderful people there. Fortunately, they have some of the most wonderful physicians to care for you.



Sweet thoughts.

Jeanine

[Lara30]

Hi Everyone, I am new here kinda. Have been reading for a long time but just now got around to trying to participate. Anyhoo, I am so sorry to read that so many of you have had to be judged by your loved ones for the medications you take. My family became very negative towards me in the beginning when they realized that i was being put on pain medication for ic and i picked up on it so after that i decided it was none of their business and now i do not discuss my medication with them. It seems to cause a little less stress in my life that I don't need. Hugs and kisses to everyone and just listen to the advice of your uro and doctor about your medication.