I read the post by Robert that he took some pills and it made me think about where I am today and I wanted to share. I am Not pointing fingers at anyone, nor am I judging or taking inventory. Just sharing what it's like for ME AND HOW I FEEL TODAY.
Before sobriety, I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and had to have a cervical fusion done. After surgery they put me on Valium to aleviate stress and the usual painkillers. I was never a pill person (thank you, God), my drug of choice has always been booze, but I tried the valium because it was necessary they told me. Less than a week after starting them, I felt like I was in a black cloud, I didn't want to live anymore, so I flushed them and I went thru withdrawal, nausea, shaking, the whole thing. I took 3 of the painkillers over a 2 week period and then flushed them. Now at this time I had not made it thru the doors of AA, but I wasn't drinking, only because I wasn't able to drive and there was no booze in the house.... It's now less than 2 yrs later and I'm having surgery again on Friday to fuse TWO disks. I was told not to take aspirin etc prior to surgery but was asked if I wanted Vicodin, my answer, "no, I'm a recovering alcoholic and I fear trading one addiction for another". My doctor said "Oh it's OK", I said "NO", and I made it clear to him, NO VALIUM after this surgery either!!! I have such an attitude of gratitude today because I can say no and because even before I knew I was drunk I was able to not trade or add to my all ready sad state of drinking.... I hurt like a mother most days, but I use ice packs and lay flat in the floor to help and lots and lots of prayer..... People in my HG run to doctors telling them they're recovering alkies and take the script that is handed to them, because it's OK if it's a doctors prescription they say. Well I call Bullshit! It's a cop out I think and those folks are still not clear headed, they're still allowing a substance to cloud the mind, body and spiriit. I can feel like death sucking on a lifesaver and I will refuse narcotics because I have embraced sobriety to it's fullest. I want to be sober more than I want to be drunk. If I can do it, anyone can, if they have the ES&H of others who've been there and if they embrace the program. So ya'll please, EMBRACE sobriety, don't just work the program........My love and hugs to each of you... thanks for letting me share.
Doll-you are so right to avoid those meds! I know many people from rehab who were alcoholics, had some surgery or severe pain, got on painkillers and got addicted to those! I hear Vicodin is ESPECIALLY bad! Pain is a huge issue, but doctors sometimes seem not to really listen when you tell them your concerns about drugs. You are wise to refuse the medications-if you can bear the pain. I wish you strength and natural pain relief! Pray hard-I'll pray for you, too!
. I also refuse strong meds, but it's an individual thing.
Strong? What constitutes as "strong"?! Narcotics are narcotics, and addiction is addiciton! If you're loaded, you're loaded, doesn't matter whether the doc wrote the script or you got it off the street. The individual who choses this is running the risk of trading or adding another. My reason for sharing was to pass along what I now know to those who may be placed in this situation......I went to my doctor last year, about 3-4 months sober, b/c I was sleeping ALL the time, his fix, hand me meds for depression! My answer "no". My fix, keep in close contact and talk with other AA's, read the BB, educate myself on what to expect the first year of sobriety, and tough it out! I'm so thankful I did.
By 'strong meds' I meant stronger than Ibuprofen or aspirin or Tylenol. I do take those. but I don't take the stronger ones that need a prescription. However, I do know people in the hospital who are in really agonizing pain for various reasons, cancer, surgery, and other things,, and I do think that there are exceptions to every rule. I would not say that everyone should always do what I do. Enuff on this, so that we remain respecting each other's, and even other people's perspectives. Everyone has a right to their opinions, and has reasons for them. You have a right to yours, and have good reasons,,, and I have a right to mine. Someone else may think differently than either of us.
God bless you,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
Why must the two of you keep up this fight - it is annoying and disruptive to the other members on this board - some are staying away for a while and others are not returning. With the both of you going at each others throats ever chance you get just plain turns people off. So I know I am not the only one who feels this way when I say " STOP IT " Just please stop it. We had lost members the last time ( I am sure John, Phil or someone will correct me if I am wrong). Now I know that the both of you are going to attack me for sharing this but I DON'T CARE and when you do attack me just as you do each other it shows me and I would think others that the both of you have nothing better to do. Why can't the both of you use this board for what it is meant for? If you want to fight then do it through e-mailing or even better yet have a face to face and if not then telephone each other - but not this board.
Some may think this is a holier than thou attitude - it is not - just my share at this particular time.
Later - Jeannie
-- Edited by jeannie at 12:23, 2006-05-08
-- Edited by jeannie at 15:52, 2006-05-08
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You only live once; but if you work it right, once is enough. There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
well for me, i do take valium for my anxiety.....i take UNDER the recommended dose, and ONLY AS needed.....i will do it till i can get to the ROOTS of this horrible condition, and so i can work without these panic attacks hitting me.....
i have post trauma stress syndrome and the panic attacks are part of that condition....and they sometimes would disable me to the point where i was unable to work, get out of the house.......i am vastly improved since recovery.........i would LOVE NOT to have to take ANY meds, but i do it on an AS needed basis.....
my prayer is that i can , through the program, get off the crap and not have to take anything....but for now??? i am grateful that i have my "rescue pills" to get me past the gawd awful adrenalin surges or whatever it is that brings these things on....
the first thing i do , however, is try to "talk me down" sometimes that works.....sometimes it doesn't......i know my adrenals and my central nervous system has been damaged by the multiple traumas i have suffered but i hold onto the hope that with vitamins and NO refined sugar/ white products, changes in my diet, excercise, sleeping more, and doing the "healthy" thing can help me
this is my take, and my take only........i do my meds cuz i have to not becuz i want to, and i am damned grateful that i have something to help me.......
my take also is ANY drug is a serious thing and it shouldn't be taken lightely.....however i have had enough suffering in my life and if i can "lighten my pain load" i will......i am an addictive personality so i really really really watch it....this is serious stuff......NOT to be "played with" under any circumstances..........
please take what u can use and DUMP the rest....rosie
Not one thing that I read here written by Amanda warranted an direct attack towards her or even a response at all to what she shared.
Doll, it's time to bring your BS to an end just as much as it is time for Amanda to do so. Should I see any further evidence that either of you are replying at all to one anothers post (Post the other starts) or responds in any way directly to each others replies to a post left by someone else, I am going to ban you from this board. Enough is enough.
What you are doing here, reflects very little principle and a whole lot of personality and in adherance to the 1st tradition, (OUR COMMON WELFARE should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity) I am not going to tolerate any more pissing parties on this board between the two of you for any reason. What you are doing is having an absolutely adverse effect on this group and board as a whole and it will no longer be put up with.
Do not take what I have said here with a grain of salt, it is said with all sincerity.
As for meds.... 1999, I have had two disk in my back fused together, 2000,the upper lobe of my left lungremoved and 2001, a scappel cutting into my brain 1 1/2 inches deep, 5 inches long after an brain anyerism. I took plenty of pain medications, and the person that thinks they wouldn't is fooling themselves completely. Through all of this, I took them as prescribed, and when "As needed" was less than the script called for I took them "as needed". When an alcoholic has recovered, getting and recieving adequate medical care that is sufficent to meet the need becomes a non issue. Until that time, it will and should be an issue simply because God either works in our behalf or He doesn't, AA either works or it doesn't. We either work with both diligently or we don't.
As AA's Big Book says clearly;
The matter of physical treatment should, of course, be referred to your own doctor. (pg 143)
God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. (pg 133)
Sometimes you will have to call a doctor and administer sedatives under his direction. (pg 97)
We all need to absolutely avoid giving out medical advice as AA members. What someone should or shouldn't take as a part of a medical treatment is between them, their doctor and the God of their understanding.
Again, Amanda and Doll.... should I see either of you respond to a post started by the other, or reply in any manner that so much as appears to be a response to the reply the other has left for someone else, you will be banned from this board.
I know I came in a bit late,but just wanted to add that it is up to the doctors if you should be on medication or not for pain or other conditions. It is dangerous for an AA memeber to play doctor and give medical advice. I'm bi-polar and I found out after I was sober for awhile. Without meds I was a nut case and I fought to be on medication because "I wanted to be all the way sober",but after my last manic attack and was harming myself,I knew I needed more help than AA could give me. To make people feel bad about being on medication is not helping them at all. As for pain, if I was in any kind of pain from surgery,you bet I'd be taking pain medication as prescribed by my doctor. What's the point of living with pain when you can avoid it? To each his or her own...
