Re: Where's all the guilt coming from?

Dear Jenn,

I don't know how the word addicting can keep being used in connection with
the medical use of these drugs. If you stop your thyroid med suddenly, will
you not shortly there after, become ill? It's not a psychological response,
it's completely physical, just as in the case of narcotics and many other
medications. What makes these drugs different (other than cessation, while
very uncomfortable, besides the return of pain, is not normally life
threatening)?
The only difference I can see is there are certain people who chose to abuse
these drugs. They are likely the same type of people who would abuse
something else if they hadn't discovered an affinity for narcotics. They
suffer from addiction, a disease blown far out of proportion by profiteers.
At least when it's addiction to medications. Addicts are the only ones who
suffer from addiction.
From your post, you seem to be good example of this misunderstanding. Would
you consider yourself addicted? I don't think so. You've outlined some
pretty good reasons why nobody should take a medication if it's not
medically indicated. The incidence of pain patients actually becoming
addicted to their narcotics is incredibly low ( the last figure I recall is
around .75%), probably for the exact reasons you mention. Narcotics are not
something people in pain associate with good feelings. We take them,
basically because we feel like crap. We (those fortunate enough to have real
physicians) are usually prescribed these meds in a high enough quantity and
we take them regularly enough that unlike the addicted, looking for that big
buzz, we get to experience all the side effects like the chronic
constipation and the other yuck that comes along with non recreational use.
Without the steady diet or supply, the abusers never get the full brunt of
the down side of regular use side effects. Because the "buzz" is also a side
effect that disappears with use, addicts also tend to overdo it whenever
possible. Not good.
I don't think there's too many folks here who would even consider continuing
the use of narcotics if the pain wasn't present. I know I'd trade them all
(and not a few of my worldly goods) for a permanent solution. I'd love the
chance to put it to the test. I'm sure you feel the same way if they could
figure a permanent replacement for the Thyroid therapy.
Addiction is a dirty word. Way over used, grossly misunderstood, and too
often incorrectly applied. It conjures images of fear and loss of self
control. Someone who denies themselves an occasional Margarita or glass of
wine, seems to me, has to have a pretty good handle on their self control.
I hope you don't think I am busting on you, but just that word "addiction"
can strike fear in to heart of people and make them feel guilty, that
they're doing something wrong in taking something to treat their pain.
Addiction is a mental disorder. Physical dependence is just that, and there
are hundreds of medications that have the same issue, most being necessary
for our health. Tolerance is the process of your body becoming used to the
same level of a medication, often requiring an increase in dose to reproduce
the desired affect. Tolerance should be a much larger issue than addiction,
but they're interchanged incorrectly all the time, creating a picture of
irreparable harm to the patient. It's wrong, particularly when there is a
cure for narcotic tolerance. Proglumide (thanks, Paul). They've known about
it for years. It's just not used. No money in it, unlike the addiction
business, which is a gold mine. That's why the whole issue of pain treatment
is so controversial, all the rules and laws are geared towards babying
addicts and people in pain get thrown under the bus. We're second rate
citizens, with a first class problem. Nobody cares how were treated or
damaged, so long as the addicted and weak willed, who had no business
playing with what they don't understand, who get jammed up by choice, are
taken care of. If only we had the same choice to be in pain or not. If only
we had a way to consistently and permanently treat the underlying causes of
pain, instead of settling for the bandaid of narcotics therapy. But it's not
a priority. Unlike spreading the idea of addiction to Rx drugs, to TV, to
the internet, to sex, or to BBQ potato chips. You never know what kind of
baloney the addictionologists will dream up to make us feel guilt over. If
only they felt the same guilt over spreading unfounded fear while becoming
rich.
Sorry. Didn't mean to write a sermon.

Must be a touch of political convention addiction ;-) --og



<JenniB5710@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:17e69bbf-f151-4408-b52d-511a7d518fb1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



. What
anyone would chose to stop taking their medications is beyond me.


Hi Daddio

I wouldn't stop taking my meds if I were still in pain, but I would
love to stop taking them if I could. First of all, I hate having to
take something every day at a certain time (I know, there's the
diabetics argument, and I have to take thyroid every day, but it's not
addicting.) knowing that if I don't I will have withdrawal symptoms.
I even hated that about smoking when I smoked...always needing the fix
or I would feel badly.

I hate, hate, hate the constipation. That's reason enough for me to
want off the opiates!

I would love to have a drink! I have a real fear of mixing opiates
with anything else, therefore, I don't get a glass of wine now and
then or a Margarita with my Mexican food. I would love to take a
sleeping aid, but again, I have a fear of mixing the two drugs, so I
suffer with insomnia.

The opiate has affected my taste; most food doesn't taste good to me
anymore (although I now love chocolate where before I never did like
chocolate).

If It weren't so late and I wasn't so sleep deprived I could think of
many reasons to get off the stuff, but the above list is good enough
for now.

On the other hand, I am ever so grateful that these drugs exist for me
and everyone else who is in chronic pain. They are a Godsend. And,
no, I don't feel guilty for taking them. I'm glad they are available
and I have a doctor who will readily prescribe them.

JB



.

Relevant Pages

  • New Ways to Loosen Addictions Grip -- NYTimes
    ... Every morning, he visited a local clinic for a small cup of methadone, ... the standard treatment for addiction to heroin and other opiates since ... getting high," and take a urine test for illicit drugs each week, said ... Other medications are likely to enter the market within a few years. ...
    (sci.econ)
  • Re: Buying Pain Medication Online
    ... Why don't you take the opportunity to address issues with the drugs you do ... addiction occurring in chronic pain patients with long term narcotic use is ... Narcotic medications DO NOT ... And most of the drugs this idiot mentions are schedule III drugs. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Drug "Ab/use" from a different angle
    ... except it was with your drugs. ... Then she can share her pain drugs with you. ... I too at one time had some loved ones who had addiction issues and problems, ... I would have back but my wife talked me ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: TV shows Just starting
    ... addiction. ... The emphasis is always the drugs ... survivors attitude in those of us with chronic pain. ... Network or the Sci-fi Channel. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Buying Pain Medication Online
    ... cause addiction. ... about addiction, tolerance, physical dependence, the dangers of Tylenol ... laced medications, or any other medications this moron is pushing. ... And most of the drugs this idiot mentions are schedule III drugs. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
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