I am tired of being called a pill addict

I have had crohns since 1980 and I have never been offered by any Dr pain killers for my abdominal pains I usually toughed it out.
My mother who has had crohns since 1973 has not been offerer any eather...the same with my brother and sister both with colitis.

Now I had been in a ileostomy for the past 11 yrs and have had no abdominal pains and I guess it has become a practice by Dr to give out pain pills?
I am reversed from my ileo and was wondering if my Dr would ask me or should I ask him for pain meds in advanced for when and if I go through a flair.

This pain med treatment must have came around some time in the last 11yrs b/c 17 prior to 1997 I was never given any and looking back I could have used them
to eased some of the pain.

I would like to hear from Bible myself. I am really concerned. I remember lasttime she posted about this situation it was awhile before she got back to us. If you are reading this Bible, please let us know how you are.

Bible, please check in. I hope all the energy rolling around this post didn't hurt you. there are lots of us here who just want you safe and happy. hugs, yp

Bible I see you were signed on and reading yesterday. Please let us know how you are doing, we are concerned.

Panayo,

I remeber how you spoke to me about never taking the same dosage of prednisone day to day. How did you come up with your dosage and determine how and when to take?

Good to hear from you. We need to have another weekend in Atlanta to meet again. I think there are only a few that still post here; Lois, myself (Brett), and I think Beta still posts.

Bible,

IMO if your name is on the bottle, you decide when to take it. Just remember to follow the Dr's orders. If he felt you were becoming addicted, I'm sure he would say so.

No one but doctors should be controlling meds for patients of legal age and responsibility.

Still, something doesn't feel right about this thread. Some of these posts are making high assumptions about her circumstance and encouraging her to leave her husband.

Maybe she just needs a backbone and tell him she will control her pain meds... unless she is legally/medically incapable.

We have had this same discussion with this same person previously. I feel like we maybe missing something here.

Just a reminder to keep this thread on-topic, please. Bible has posted here asking for our help, support and advice. Think of how she will feel if she comes back to find that her thread has degenerated into an argument about dependence vs addiction, and chatter about meeting up in Atlanta.

You're all welcome to discuss these issues, but please do so in new threads.

Thanks,

Ivy.

I am sick and tired of people being under the assumption that because one uses pain medication, then they must be an addict. This is simply not true and it is rude and ignorant to assume this. Addiction is a very real disease and I have family members that have fallen into the trap of seeking happiness through chemicals. I for one, have never drank, smoked, or done any illegal drugs, yet I use pain medications to manage my pain. For years I suffered through the severe pain and found no relief through any of the crohn's medications. I have failed pentasa, asacol, methotrexate, 6-mp, immuran, humira, remicade, entocort, and prednisone. I was on remicade infusions every 4 weeks at the max dose of 10 for nearly 3 1/2 years, but had to stop due to the fact that it was only working for about a week and my liver could not take the accompaning methrexate injections anymore. For about 6 months after stopping the remicade, my disease returned mainly in the form of arthritis and of course the abdominal pain. Before I stopped the remicade, I had pancreatitis due to the methotrexate and the pain never fully left. The steroid use caused me to have osteoporosis and now I am diabetic. The arthritis is causing pinched nerves in both my neck and back and the neuropathy is excruciating. I have had both surgery on both of the rotator cuffs in my shoulders due to crohn's arthritis and my former love of sports and athletics. I have had both my gallbladder and appendix removed to see if that would help alleviate some of the pain. I have had multiple spinal epidurals and am in the process of trying to find away around back surgery. Yet, according to Panayo, I guess that I don't need pain medication.
I am a 29 year old man that was always very athletic and into the outdoors before the disease attempted to take over my body and spirit. My old G.I. was old school and was also under the assumption that we just need to learn to live with the pain. I say that this theory is a bunch of B.S. and want to know why I should have to live my life in pain when there is a way for me to have a better quality of life? I have a huge pain tolerance, but I was not living or functioning under this pain. Finally, my primary care could not stand to see me come in to his office in pain and started me on pain medication. He knew me before I got sick and had seen me transform into a shell of who I used to be. He had to talk me into it, but I am glad he did. I worried about becoming addicted due to all the stories that you see and read about, but he reminded me that these medications are here for a reason. He monitors me closely and I monitor me closely. I do not take any medication if I am not in pain and I make sure that I am really hurting before I take it. Panayo, I honestly feel sorry for the situation that you have gone through. It is so hard to lose a loved one and I can not imagine losing my wife, but you can not assume that because this happened to your wife then anyone on pain medication is an addict. My best friend was killed in a car accident, but I don't assume that everyone that drives is bound to die in an accident because they are driving. Please open you mind up and be understanding that not everyones disease is as undercontrol as yours.
Bible, I am sorry that most of us have used your thread as a forum on addiction, but your story really relates to all of this. It is only you that can say that you are in pain or not. People without this disease and even some with Crohn's, do not fully understand the pain that many of us go through. I am so sick of hearing from friends or family members, that they know someone with crohns's that manages it through diet and excerise. Yeah right!!! This only lasts for so long until their disease becomes severe enough for them to end up in the hospital or E.R. I think that you need to have a talk with your husband and let him know that his comments are really hurting you. He may not know that what he is saying is having this type of effect on you. I am not defending him or his action, but you need to atleast try and ask him if he really feels this way. If he does, then it is time to take action and either talk it out with him or notify the authorities. He does not have the right to control your medications and it is not legal for him to be dispensing medication unless he has the proper degree and certifications. As for those that think that you are an addict if you are managing you pain through a medicinal route, I have no problem telling them where to go. Walk a mile in my shoes and then see if you are screaming for relief. These same people get a bad head ache or severe stomach flu and they rush to the E.R. for help. We just deal with the pain until we need help and then take some medication. It takes an awful lot to get us to the E.R. Some say that pain medication masks the real problem, but what about those of us that know what the problem is and do not have an answer to solve it. I have tried physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractors, acupunture, exercise, even those stupid pain remedies you can buy off of late night infomercials, yet none have worked. If you choose to call me an addict that is fine, but I know the truth. Bible, stand up for yourself and be strong. If you have a history of addiction, then seek help from a pain clinic so that you can be closely monitored by someone that knows what they are doing. Listen to your body and not other people.

Post Edited (tsitodawg) : 12/4/2008 6:25:19 AM (GMT-7)

Chiming in briefly. For those who have strong opinions adverse to pain management, please consider the feelings you are hurting. Living with CD is painful. We already get enough from doctors, family and friends. We come here for peace and support.

Pain is part of my life with CD. If I can manage it, I will. I must work and be a mom. Why should I be doubled over in fetal position when I can take medication that will allow me to get through each day?

Again, please be kind and cautious with your words here. We are extended family.


PS: Where is Bible?

Tsitodawg and Texas that was very well said. I too take pain meds on a daily basis and have for many many years. I have lived with the DD for over 33 years, and its not my guts that hurt all the time, but my joints. I like Texas must work and in order for me to have any type of life, I must take these meds. I am not addicted/dependant on them at all and only take them when needed. AND I will not let anyone make me feel bad about it. JMHO

Has Bible been on at all? That's a little worrisome..

Bible, we are so glad to hear from you.

Bible -

Your body will tell you what you need. This is what you need to convey to your husband: Let your body dictate what you need as far as pain and nausea medication.

If you don't need it, you won't take it; if you do need it, you will take it; if you need something stronger, you'll get it... so on and so on.

Eleven (11) years of marriage, he should know and understand you. :)


Good luck, sweetie!

-Leslie