Is this the dumbest addiction you've heard?

[nojokeshere]

Ok - not so much addicted to taking them (hydrocodone) , although 1 a day seems to be the thing that makes the world a better place. I mean, a person could cope fine, you know, but why not feel a little more giving and compassionate right and relaxed?

Anyway - so this person I'm talking about... no problem to go without for a day, a week, whatever (although a bit crabby maybe)... But the person FREAKS OUT, OMgosh!!! (the addiction part) if they are even close to being out. I mean if there are only 20 left - panic time. This person can not be without them on their person. Just carrying them in their pocket, in their car, at their work - they HAVE to have them near - all the time.

May want one in the mouth, but NEEDS one in the pocket. Just incase. (just in case of what? I'm not sure.)

Sounds a little strange - but true. Anyone have a 'real problem' that started like this? I mean it's been going like this for years. (Actualy, if there were more medication to dole out, the person would probably not worry about hording them and just take them every day). I wonder if the person better get a grip right now because this stuff can be a problem? Or maybe the person is right and it really isn't the kind of stuff that is a 'real problem' and they are doing great by not taking them alllll the time?

[porchy]

SWIM has sort of the same problem, but with his asthma pump. Its just the fear that SWIY may urgently need one, due to stress or whatever. I wouldn't say its the dumbest additions SWIM has heard. Its fear of the unknown. What would happen if SWIY was taken hostage by knife wielding maniacs and SWIY really needed something to take his mind off it?

[sweettea]

Perhaps swiyou needs to give some thought to what the problem is -- if there is one -- for swiyou. Health issues aside, addiction isn't necessarily a problem nor does it cause problems. Swiyou can look at their life, their relationships, their behaviors and decide if there are problems (or not) and whether or not mother's little helpers are preventing swiyou from fixing them.

Course, if needy needs a bit of something in pocket and in mouth, maybe needy just has an oral fixation, suggest needy try altoids if supply is the worry. heh.

[nojokeshere]

Lol... What I ment by "in the mouth", was that this person - even if in sever pain, is afraid to be out of the meds. The 'carry around bottle' only has maybe 30 of each pill in it.

I saw in this persons lock box. There were 8 large rx bottles. All were full because this person checks the experation date and puts all the rx into same bottles if dates are same. (To keep down the number of rx bottles since the box isn't all that big probably).

Anyway. So let's say there are only 3 large bottles left (maybe 60 pills per bottle) - then if this person is in pain

OMGosh.

I just realised something. This person will go through so much pain that they can't hardly walk or move around and won't take a pain meds for the pain because they don't want to waist them. Yet when they are just fine and only hurting a little but just "feel like it".... then they take the pain med. WHAT THE HECK!? And this person don't even get a buzz or nothing. They just feel like they think a normal person should feel - good, nice, not on edge.

Oh my. Maybe this person does have a problem.. As strange one, but a problem.

[electrolingus]

Originally Posted by nojokeshere

I just realised something. This person will go through so much pain that they can't hardly walk or move around and won't take a pain meds for the pain because they don't want to waist them. Yet when they are just fine and only hurting a little but just "feel like it".... then they take the pain med. WHAT THE HECK!? And this person don't even get a buzz or nothing. They just feel like they think a normal person should feel - good, nice, not on edge.

Severe pain causes endorphins (endogenous morphine) to be released in the human body. Endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland (released into the bloodstream) and the hypothalamus (released in the brain and spinal cord). Perhaps this is why your friend does not feel the need to take the meds when they are in severe pain. Another thought is that your friend uses the medication as a mood elevator (or quite simply to feel 'good' or 'high') and does not get the same euphoric effect from the medication when they are in pain as opposed to when they are not. Using the medication as an analgesic would just be a waste.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good assessment.

[mahoney]

think its psychological, everyone whos sick and scores feelsalmost fine when its in their hand...swim usedtofeel crap whehe on had 2-3 days supply.,..need to break the mental addiction...sorry typinon ps3

[Euthanatos93420]

It doesn't sound like addiction at all. In fact, it sounds quite the OPPOSITE of addiction: Self-Control. It may seem a strange logic, but it is one of self-preservation. The pills are more of a security blanket, and simply having them offers more comfort than taking them. If a friend is privy to the doctors visits of this person then they might consider speaking of it to the doctor. A good doctor will realise what I have said here exactly and realise that the persons level of self-control is significantly higher than most opiate users (although, tbh, the ability to self-moderation is often more true of pain patients than recreational users). The doctor should realize the patient's need for counseling. This behaviour resembles a positive mental trait attained by negative means (Traumatic experience of some kind seems likely with that level of panic association). It's a sort of Security Blanket syndrome and indicates that there are some issues the person needs to discuss so as to avoid improper self-medication (albiet, on the opposite pole as most who have 'self-medication' difficulties).

[nojokeshere]

Originally Posted by Euthanatos93420

It doesn't sound like addiction at all. In fact, it sounds quite the OPPOSITE of addiction: Self-Control. It may seem a strange logic, but it is one of self-preservation. The pills are more of a security blanket, and simply having them offers more comfort than taking them. If a friend is privy to the doctors visits of this person then they might consider speaking of it to the doctor. A good doctor will realise what I have said here exactly and realise that the persons level of self-control is significantly higher than most opiate users (although, tbh, the ability to self-moderation is often more true of pain patients than recreational users). The doctor should realize the patient's need for counseling. This behaviour resembles a positive mental trait attained by negative means (Traumatic experience of some kind seems likely with that level of panic association). It's a sort of Security Blanket syndrome and indicates that there are some issues the person needs to discuss so as to avoid improper self-medication (albiet, on the opposite pole as most who have 'self-medication' difficulties).

Very good thought here. I'll have to psychoanyalize this in great detail. Now I'll hazard to guess that this person would be afraid to tell the doc anything at all that might make the doc think twice about perscribing though. Now days - rocking the boat with a doc that is perscribing isn't a good idea. There aren't many left.

This person had a quack doc in the boonies - you may have caught some blurbs on the news - it was on the net too. Dr. Katz. What a man. You could even go down there and get your uncles pain shot for him. No kiddin. Of course he went to prison for a while, then was unable to hand out scripts.
You walk into the office (with a cig - smoking WAS allowed).... you took your picture id into the docs office.... doc sat at his desk, looked at your file, your license and asked, "What do you want?" His hand held a pen over the script pad as he asked. He never even looked at you more than to glance to see if you face matched the pic on your license.

Now granted, if you were sick, you didn't want to go to him! But let's say you needed a perscription for you asthma inhaler. 35$ is what it cost you to get in the door. And his script was for unlimited refills for an entire year. Awesome.

[Euthanatos93420]

Fear of discussing ones situation with a doctor is common with the Nazi drug policy in place in most countries (especially US and other first-second world countries). Which is really another shitty side effect of the war on drugs. However, I think this isn't something one shouldn't have problems discussing with a doctor. It's not even remotely close to abuse which is what doctors watch for. And I'm assuming for your posts this person is in genuine pain. If so, the doctor would have a real shitty time trying to adjust one of pain medicine. If he did, one might even be privy to a malpractice lawsuit although THAT is not something to mention ever to the doctor (THAT you talk to a lawyer about). If one has a genuine medical condition, then one should not be afraid of being completely honest with the doctor. Lying about addictive behaviour is more indicative of a problem to the doctor than being honest about it. For christ sake...they OPIATES. Addiction and addictive behaviour are EXPECTED, and do not preclude cessation or halting of their use in treatment.

One mroe reason this person might be behaving this way is tolerance. Not taking opiates for several days despite severe pain may indicate an attempt to reduce tolerence because one knows that taking them wouldn't work anyway without excess consumption and when preserving possessed quantity is an obssession, this rather explains all this behaviour quite neatly.

Point is that discussing these things with the doc will most likely lead to a stronger perscription.

[nojokeshere]

Oh yeah - it's real pain alright. But Docs here in the US like to think everyone is making it up, pretending to be in pain. And I think your right, if they weren't so strict on everything, no one would have to worry about be open.
A new deal is happening now - all med records are on-line and the government and all doctors have access to all your records all the time. PLUS, the government decides what your treatment can consist of.

Hm. You bring up a good point. Once being treated, they should't be allowed to stop treatment. Good point - very claming. But check this out - they like to try something new... maybe make it so you don't need pain meds. Like Cymbalta - OMgosh - never in my life have I had a reaction to anything like that horrid drug. Wow - stay clear of that on. And wd's are hellish.

For christ sake...they OPIATES. Addiction and addictive behaviour are EXPECTED

Good point! Now this person should feel as if the doc is going to need to hear something, or he will start coming up with his own ideas... and they are going to be worse than the persons truth.

One mroe reason this person might be behaving this way is tolerance. Not taking opiates for several days despite severe pain may indicate an attempt to reduce tolerence because one knows that taking them wouldn't work anyway without excess consumption and when preserving possessed quantity is an obssession, this rather explains all this behaviour quite neatly.

Oh yeah - tolerance goes way up, real fast. dang things hardly do anything for pain anyway... but the thought of being without. Yikes. But I do know this person has started doing just as you said. Stop for a little while and when begining again, break them in half 1/2 and keep track of how many halves are taken knowing it can be increased to a certain degree. Not for a buzz... that don't happen anymore. But just for 'normal' and to knock the hard edge off the pain.

Point is that discussing these things with the doc will most likely lead to a stronger perscription

I'm excited for this person... I'm actualy giddy
Oh. Wait. There isn't anything else stronger that docs here will give unless your post op or terminal. They'll want you jumping through hoops at some physical therapist office and all kinds of other crazy stuff.

Reputation Comments on this post:

For presenting the fact that physicians have online access to Rx records.

[NirVus]

SWIM passed me this message....

my addiction started with hydrocodone (loratabs and vicodin) i remember when one a day was great and it made me feel so euphoric and fuzzy inside. then i couldnt get that same feeling anymore so i moved to fentanyl patches, which a lot of people havent even heard of. but they are suppose to be 80 times stronger than morphine. it always starts out small then leads to stronger things. if you start oxy's then its all over with in my opinion. im on to the strongest and best stufff i can find now.

[nojokeshere]

Originally Posted by NirVus

if you start oxy's then its all over with in my opinion. im on to the strongest and best stufff i can find now.

NirVus,
I'll take the time to thank you right now. And you can know that because you took the time to post that quote above... I give my word I'll never start the oxy's. I know a persons word don't count for much now days... but I'm old school, I'd let someone run off with my money and my car before I'd let then take my character. My word is good - never backed down in all my 40 years. So unless a need arises and I'm able to dig you up to tell you I've had a change of heart (which would be way too much work)... I'll never go there.

What I was hoping to stumble across you just threw right in front of me. Where is the line? I know my addictive personality isn't something to play with. And I know my supper high tolorance to everything to enter this body is a dangerous mix to throw in.

I've seen brain anerizm and veins blow out do to Oxy - thins the walls I understand. So I figured I'd never use them for that reason. Doc offered them once - I looked at him as if her were nuts. But I had taken them once before. A friends sister died of canser and she gave me the left overs. swim got a migraine from taking vik for too many days in a row and thought it would help - didn't do a thing. I knew I would do one of 2 things. Keep taking '1 more' untill I felt better, or just tell myself they don't do anything for me.

nojokeshere added 2 Minutes and 29 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by electrolingus

Severe pain causes endorphins (endogenous morphine) to be released in the human body. Endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland (released into the bloodstream) and the hypothalamus (released in the brain and spinal cord). Perhaps this is why your friend does not feel the need to take the meds when they are in severe pain. Another thought is that your friend uses the medication as a mood elevator (or quite simply to feel 'good' or 'high') and does not get the same euphoric effect from the medication when they are in pain as opposed to when they are not. Using the medication as an analgesic would just be a waste.

Good post. And it makes good sense about the endorphins. I'm suppose to have some of the worst cronic pain on 2 seperate counts... yet I can tollorate my pain better than most can tolorate something minor.

[missparkles]

Sounds like a control "issue" but swim might be wrong.
But taking only the "odd" one is great. Swim wishes they could do that.

[needtostop]

Hate to break it to all of you but hoarding medications (even small quantities) to feel "secure" is one of the hallmarks of addiction

[missparkles]

Does that mean if swim doesn't hoard meds she's only a bit of a "junkie?"
Swim doesn't use anymore but always makes sure she has plenty of HRT meds in the cupboard. When it gets down to one strip swim makes sure she gets more.
This is due to swims reproductive organs being removed. But swim fears "hot flushes" so makes sure she always has at least a weeks supply in hand.
As to "Hallmarks" of addiction swim thinks this definition is a little sweeping.
Some people hoard food but it doesn't follow they're addicted to it.
Most people hoard something (it's a comfort thing, hanging onto something familiar) but I wouldn't class hoarding as an addiction as a bench mark of an addict.
Just my two cents.

[needtostop]

sorry missparkles, but hoarding medication IS a hallmark of addiction

Reputation Comments on this post:

Can this statement be backed up with supporting information? or is this swims opinion?

[missparkles]

No apologies needed needtostop, swim was just voicing an opinion.
Having said that, "hoarding" can be a symptom (if that's the correct word) of lots of things.
Swim doesn't see it as addiction specific though.
But swim would be pleased to hear swiys thoughts on the subject.
Swim is always willing to rethink her opinion and if swim is wrong has no problem admitting it.
Thanks.