Headaches, toothaches, etc

[Cangel]

When someone is in recovery but has a really bad headache, toothache what do you take? What if the doctor prescribed something to you for pain you was having, do you always tell them no you are in recovery and can't take anything.

[margo]

Hi Cangel - I replied to your post about this in GR, but will add here that I think you should let your husband deal with his pain in his way. Prescribed pain meds have caused a lot of problems for a lot of addicts, even those who were in recovery, and it's best to avoid pain medication unless absolutely necessary. If your husband is in NA this is something he can discuss with his sponsor. There is also a pamphlet published by NA about the use of pain medications in recovery. I'm curious as to why you're posting about this if it's your husband's issue? Or is it just an issue for you?

[Gooch]

I replied to it over there too.

[Dan]

Here's a link to the pamphlet Margo allude to...
In times of Illness.

[Recoveree]

Originally Posted by Cangel

When someone is in recovery but has a really bad headache, toothache what do you take? What if the doctor prescribed something to you for pain you was having, do you always tell them no you are in recovery and can't take anything.

When I had root canal on my teeth I took advil (ibuprophen)

When I had my teeth pulled I took advil.

When I had pneumonia the doctor gave me a non narcotic cough supressant because that is what I asked for.

The doctor is not responsible for my recovery.....I am.

Richie

[stud0134]

I went to see a doctor about a month ago the fisrt thing I told them was that I was a addict and she prescibed me a non narcotic pain killer.we really need to work our own programs you know if it your hubs problem then he needs to talk to his sponser or share at a meeting he will figure it out.but there is a lot of non narcotic pain killers that work great.unless you are laid up in a hospital bed that stick to non narcotic pain killers that my sugesstion.

[dotcom]

i know aspirin is not a pain killer, but i just started taking it for headaches. im a speed freak, and i thought id be okay with the caffeine in it because its for my headache. mind you i havent had any caffeine in ... months ... i had such a bad headache today i took 2 and i feel higher than a kite and my ears are ringing. i think i may have taken three actually because i napped in between school and band practice. that may be why i feel this way. no appetite, cant sleep, head ringing, feel warm and fuzzy, dry mouth.

i know aspirin is nothing compared to pain killers. but as of tomorrow im not taking it anymore. i even had some visual and auditory hallucinations just like if im higher than a kite. and im sweating profusely. i just want the evil feeling to go away, i have done so well avoiding caffeine and now i have this icky feeling. well, it was for my headache and now i have no headache i just feel like im spun. part of me likes it, but most of me just wants to be able to go to sleep dammit. okay a lot of me likes it because i really like uppers. but i really feel sick from the caffeine.

thats my two cents. aspirin is evil (for me).

[Gooch]

I don't think there is any cafeine in advil. There are days I can't stand up without being in pain. So Arthritus strength tylenol, advil, or alleve can make the difference between me being able to function versus laying around suffering.

I've never noticed the cafeine in aspirin before.

I have a friend who' s totally decafeinated. I'll have to ask him what he does do for pain and if he's ever noticed that effect.

[Recoveree]

Dotcom

The symptoms you describe are typical of aspirin overdose.
since you said that you didnt take more than the recommended dose, you might be allergic to aspirin or might have taken something else that caused a reaction to the aspirin.

Aspirin does not have caffeine in it.

Excedrin brand Aspirin is actually a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen (the drug in Tylenol) and caffeine.

Oh....and aspirin IS a pain killer....thats why you take it.

By the way...you might think about getting checked out by a doctor on your headache situation. The symptoms you describe combined with a headache might indicate something more serious.

Richie

[dotcom]

hello richie,

very informative post thank you! i think i took the generic brand of excedrin. the bottle says there is caffeine in it so that must be what i took. i do not plan on taking it again. the cons outweighed the pros, however, i didnt have a headache but i could not hear much and i felt high.

gooch,

i will check out advil and alleve. leave it to dot to find the one brand with caffeine in it, HAHA.

thanks guys,

dot