I just wanted to share a word of caution from my experience with surgery this week.
I made it clear, verbally and in writing, to both m doc and my anesthesiologist that I am a substance abuser.
I won't go into details about the surgery itself. It went pretty well.
My body doesnt handle anesthetics well and never has, so they were forewarned that nausea is an issue with me. Afterall, we want to keep my stitches intact, right?.
Five hours, four IV injections and a patch for nausea later, I was admitted into a room--no way I could handle the ferry ride home. Eventually I stopped being so ill, and jumped into my cloths quicker than a busted teenager, and came home.
That night and half the next day were okay. I was a smidge spacey, but like, who's gonna notice the difference? So I cut myself some slack. Later on Wednesday (day after surgery) I had some serious whips and jingles. By morning I was freaking messed up, ended up in the ER. Rapid drop in both the calcium and potassium thru me into a real shaking mess. I couldnt even write my name. Last night I realized, lord, no wonder this is familiar to me--I have been going thru withdrawal for three days now. I was given massive doses of compozine surgery day. In one single day of meds, I am now dealing with this crap. I had thought that over two decades of being clean and ,sober, this would not really be an issue. Wrong. This disease progresses so much, whether I'm using or not, that my body and mind felt like they were at square one. So, I'm taking care of myself "as if". I know everyone's metabolism is different, but for me, my body reacted as if those two decades had not even passed. I'm just glad I realized what was going on. As hard as it is for me to even hold a thought right now, I'm so aware how easily I could slip right back into trouble behind this. Just wanted to share this in case someone else experiences it. I don't even want to know what they gave me in surgery, gads. with love, chris ( I think it's me)
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Chris, Hang in there. It does take time for meds to dissipate from the system. That's a fact whether one drink or not. My dear mother-in-law couldn't handle anethesia very well either.........she used to laugh uncontrollably even with the mildest of them. Quite the site. LOL At least you are aware of the potentiality of what is going on and that can better help you cope. Hoping the surgery itself was successful and your healing period is quick. Wanda
I had about the same experience at 3 years sober with a liver biopsy. For a few days afterward, I would call one person and thought I was talking to someone else. Doc said that there was not doubt that I was a drug addict. When the were putting me under and asking me to count backwards from a hundred, he said I got to about 96 and then told him that the anisthetic wasn't working and that they should give me more. I nodded out right after that.
Thanks for the reminder of the reality of our disease. It is scary to think that we are so powerless over our addiction, and that it can come up and bite us on the backside when we are at our lowest.
I'm expecting my first child, and my due date is December 24. I have been thinking of writing a birthing plan, and putting in it that I do not want any narcotics or other addictive medicines unless absolutely necessary. But no matter what happens - it's nice to know that others are dealing with difficulties with strength and clarity. I'm sorry for what you are going through, but thank you for sharing it!
