Had to take pain meds

[Jupiter2]

Hello All,

I was recently diagnosed with prostatitis (inflamation or infection of the prostate) and was prescribed antibiotics and tylenol with codeine. I took the pain medication 4 nights out of about 35 of the days I have had this thing. I suffered in pain for 20 days trying ibuprofin and tylenol and it did not work. The pain began to drive me crazy and was non-stop (better now). I took it as prescribed and have given my wife the bottle. I spoke to my sponsor and at first he said that some in the program would say that I should not take the pain medication no matter how much pain I am in, and then changed this to it is ok to take the pain medication if prescribed by my physician. I can't imagine going through surgery or other medical procedures I may need in the future without pain medication, so this really bothers me.

I feel like my sobriety is no longer "pure" and that maybe my sobriety date needs to change. My DOC was alcohol and not pills.

I have been working the steps with my sponsor and finished my ninth and am on my tenth step. I don't want to feel like I have thrown all this work away and that I need to introduce myself as a newcomer at meetings and start over. Makes me not want to go to meetings.

Jup.

[51anna]

You know you did what was the right thing at the time for yourself. In my opinion, no one should suffer in pain, especially for an extended period. And no one, ever, under any circumstances, should be overriding what your dr tells you.

[GlassPrisoner]

If it's prescribed by a Doctor and taken as directed, I see no problem.

You can't double up on meetings to heal a broken arm.......

[mikiglen]

jupiter, IMO, your sobriety date should not change.
a relapse involves mental processes AS WELL as taking of a drug/alcohol. obviously, you were so upset by this, imo, it was not a relapse at all
and for me personally? my DOC is hydrocodone. however, i got clean in 1995, and stayed clean until 2004. during that time, i had two jaw surgeries, three c-sections, a bypass, and an appendectomy. EVERY time, i told my doc i was in recovery, EVERY time he gave me vicodin, EVERY time i had someone hold my bottle, EVERY time, i talked about it with other people.
while i admit, it triggered some cravings, and i did have some rough spots, i always held on to "sober 11-23-95", because in my heart, i did not relapse. i didn't use to get high, i used to kill pain, and as prescribed.
who can say if they were my gateway into the relapse in 2004? they could have been, as my last vicodin for surgery was 2003. i'd like to think not.
it's not just what you do, it's how you think
anyway, sorry to be so long
hmmmmmmm, me and november, now i'm 11-26-06

[Kellye C]

This topic has come up numerous times in my group as we have many cross addicted members. The recurring themes I have heard during these meetings is "taken as prescribed" and to relieve pain rather than change the way you feel (meaning not trying to get a buzz off of it). Personally, if it was my sobriety in question in your scenario I would not change my date. You took LESS than prescribed, you tried IB and tylenol with no relief and you had someone else hold the meds for you so in my opinion (and it's just that, an opinion) you did not mess up your sobriety.

Read the back of one of your chips. To thy own self be true. Pretty much says it all.

Hugs,
Kellye

[CarolD]

Whoa! No way should you change your sobriety date!

Like you..alcoholism is my problem
not pain medications.

I do have chronic pain..and sometime take a pain med.
I feel no need to discuss this in an AA meeting.
This has nothing to do with my alcoholism or sobriety.

I am sorry you had to deal with such horrific pain.
Ouch! and Hugs!

You are doing great! Blessings

[barb dwyer]

Originally Posted by GlassPrisoner

If it's prescribed by a Doctor and taken as directed, I see no problem.

You can't double up on meetings to heal a broken arm.......

good one, Glass!

I think there's not one thing here indicating that the use of pain medication was the result of the disease making the decisions.

It seems to me that we're trying to refrain from allowing the disease of alcoholism to make our choices and decisions, and learning to let HP make those for us, or guide us first ... IMHO.

[chicago]

dude no way your sobriety date changes. no way. i commend you on your restrait and resolve. opiates are my DOC and i wouldnt be able to be as strong as you. nor would i be as honest as you are....i would have relapsed over it. congrats my friend....job well done.

[Jupiter2]

Thanks everyone,

This makes me feel a lot better. Really nice to have you guys to lean on when I get the worries.

Thanks again to all my SR friends.

Jup.