[Kellye C]

I am thrilled to find this forum. I've been sober for almost 4 years now and have multiple health issues which cause chronic pain. Trying to manage them in sobriety is an issue because while my DOC was food followed by a transfer to alcohol when I had weight loss surgery I know that I like the idea of being able to knock myself out and not deal with life (I did this daily in my alcoholism, I would drink to maintain in public without appearing out of control but to stop the shakes. I would then make sure I had a bottle waiting for me at home to finish the job.)

I find myself taking a lot of ibuprofen which is a no-no for me due to gastric bypass but tylenol is worthless to me and offers no pain relief while naproxen feels like my guts are being eaten alive.

Lyrica has helped a lot with my fibro. Requip keeps my sanity with my RLS. I take one flexeril at night for the muscle spasms associated with the fibro. I get severe colon spasms and have Levsin for that. I take two sleep meds (which don't work all that great but better than nothing) to deal with my longterm insomnia and then lots and lots of ibuprofen! My purse is a walking pharmacy but nothing is abused. Some months I still have some left when it is time for a refill!

It is hard to get people to understand what you go through on a daily basis when you deal with chronic pain and chronic conditions. I have found people in recovery to be judgemental (not everyone for sure but a lot) so I just keep it to myself except for my spouse who is also in recovery and the rest of my family and best friend. Even they don't grasp what it is like so I am thrilled to have somewhere to come to talk, read or both and know that there are others in the same boat. I hope to find alternatives for the pain relief. I am excited about the rice sock and intend to make one tomorrow as my knees kill me constantly. I just went to an Ortho today who said that I have osteoarthritis in both of them along with burn spurs and prescribed a month of physical therapy and excercise to strengthen the muscles. He said it wouldn't be easy nor pain free. Great, just freakin great. He said after 3 months if I have no relief he could discuss going in to clean out the knees arthroscopically.

Ok, enough rambling!

Take care,
Kellye