Before a secret is told, one can often feel the weight of it in the atmosphere. -- Susan Griffin
Newcomer
When I had a wisdom tooth pulled a few days ago, the dentist gave me a medication that contains codeine. I've heard people at meetings say they take their doctors' prescriptions, so I knew it was okay to use it if necessary. As it turned out, I didn't need to take any -- the pain wasn't that bad. I don't know why, but I kept the pills. They're still in my medicine cabinet. Codeine isn't something I ever took when I was active.
Sponsor
You're right in thinking that you are in a danger area here. I recommend that you throw out the medication right now, and I don't mean just tossing it into the wastebasket. Flush the pills down the toilet, or put them in a rubbish bag and take it out of your house; I'll wait here while you do it.
There are medical reasons to use some drugs as prescribed. It's when we prescribe for ourselves, or start imagining pains to justify unnecessary doses, that we're in trouble. We can let the doctors know that we have a history of abusing substances and that it may cause us problems to take home more pills than we're likely to need. Knowing this, he or she may prescribe non-addictive medicines when there is a choice.
Even if our use of painkillers is legitimate, sharing with a sponsor or at a meeting the fact that we have prescribed medicines in our possession is a good idea. If it's not a secret, it may seem less compelling to us.
Today, I don't have to have secrets. I stay on the recovery path by sharing feelings and events that might otherwise threaten my serenity.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
I understand this about prescription medication, but what about mouthwash?
I won't use a mouthwash without it being antiseptic. To me, if it doesn't say antiseptic, then it's no use to me. It would be just flavored water. I want my mouth CLEAN.
Unfortunately, Antiseptic also means it contains alcohol. Honestly, I don't want to drink it. I just want to gargle with it.
I worried about mouthwash and breath-spray for ages. Then, I raised it with my sponsor. She will use products like that which contain alcohol, but her sponsor doesn't. I think that it is very much down to the individual, but I'm still not happy about using them. I just stick with chewing gum to keep my mouth and breath fresh and clean.
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Yknow, I keep a super strong condensed peppermint tea in my fridge. Sometimes spearmint. You can even add a drop of the essential oil to it. The natural mints are are anti microbial, so if I go on an onion binge, I rinse real well with it. Just have to remind hubby if it's in a jar, it isn't supposed to be on ice cubes....and breath savers keep me just fine the rest of the time. It isn't even that I'm worried about it, I just dont care for most of the mouthwashes, tho my husband uses them. I'm smoker, so I'm a little more conscious than he is. Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
