That Old Helpless Feeling Again
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Malvern
Posts: 6
That Old Helpless Feeling Again
Glad to have found this site. After 28 years I have finally made it two years without having a drink. Life was better than I had known it for all of my adult life. Then in March 2013 I had to have a total knee replacement. Although I knew it was very risky, I thought I had the situation "under control." Today, however, I am addicted to pain pills. The old shame, fear, embarrassment and self-loathing returned. Although I know I'm not old, I am tired of the battle. Hoping to maintain my anonymity, I reached out to my manager for our EAP. She gave me numbers but apparently no hospitals around here will detox from opiates and there are no beds available at treatment facilities. Just down and at a loss. Feels like my life is slipping away once again. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Glad I'm here.
The Long and Winding Road....
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Brisbane QLD
Posts: 897
hi there.....
hey there
i really understand where you are coming from
i had been sober for 2 years then cracked two vertebrae in my neck.....
morphine......pain pills......then finally the booze.
am now in rehab.
wishing you well......and hope you get where you want to go.....
v
i really understand where you are coming from
i had been sober for 2 years then cracked two vertebrae in my neck.....
morphine......pain pills......then finally the booze.
am now in rehab.
wishing you well......and hope you get where you want to go.....
v
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,126
Welcome, Lammy.
Let's look on the bright side -- you're not drinking. And if you are taking the pain pills as prescribed by the doctor supervising your surgery, he or she must be aware of what's up.
Can you go to that doctor and get a tapering regimen? Good job at reaching out to EAP at work. Although there is no bed available for a supervised detox, is there counseling of some sort available?
If on the down side of this you are obtaining opiates illicitly and you are taking more than originally prescribed to deal with pain from surgery, have you thought of pursuing NA or A?
Lots of help out there. Here is a good place to be.
Let's look on the bright side -- you're not drinking. And if you are taking the pain pills as prescribed by the doctor supervising your surgery, he or she must be aware of what's up.
Can you go to that doctor and get a tapering regimen? Good job at reaching out to EAP at work. Although there is no bed available for a supervised detox, is there counseling of some sort available?
If on the down side of this you are obtaining opiates illicitly and you are taking more than originally prescribed to deal with pain from surgery, have you thought of pursuing NA or A?
Lots of help out there. Here is a good place to be.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,564
Welcome lammy - I'm very glad you're with us.
It really helped me to be here where others understood. No one in my life had any idea what I was going through. The understanding and support helped me let go of my addiction. I hope you keep reading & posting - you can get free of it.
It really helped me to be here where others understood. No one in my life had any idea what I was going through. The understanding and support helped me let go of my addiction. I hope you keep reading & posting - you can get free of it.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Malvern
Posts: 6
Nice to see the responses. Thank you. The Dr. quit prescribing the meds at the appropriate time, however, I continued to obtain them by others means. The NA/AA group in the small town I'm currently in never worked for me when I was getting sober. More of a "who is doing what and to whom" rather than recovery. No free or sliding scale counseling. My health insurance doesn't cover drug/alcohol addiction therapy OR pre-existing conditions.
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Probably my living room. Maybe my bedroom if I'm feeling lazy
Posts: 1,085
Hi Lammy,
I definitely feel your pain. I just had a double hip replacement last month and getting off the pain pills was hell. I was able to stick to my taper plan by turning over my meds to a family member, who only distributed them every couple of days.
I would echo the suggestion of continuing to try NA/AA. If you live where I think you do, there are some great meetings at the center.
Also, if you're in the United States, come Jan. 1st, insurance can no longer discriminate against pre-existing conditions, and mental health and substance abuse is required to be covered on the same level as physical conditions. I would definitely reach out to your EAP again about this.
Finally, check out our substance abuse forum here on SR:
Substance Abuse - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
I definitely feel your pain. I just had a double hip replacement last month and getting off the pain pills was hell. I was able to stick to my taper plan by turning over my meds to a family member, who only distributed them every couple of days.
I would echo the suggestion of continuing to try NA/AA. If you live where I think you do, there are some great meetings at the center.
Also, if you're in the United States, come Jan. 1st, insurance can no longer discriminate against pre-existing conditions, and mental health and substance abuse is required to be covered on the same level as physical conditions. I would definitely reach out to your EAP again about this.
Finally, check out our substance abuse forum here on SR:
Substance Abuse - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
Grateful to be free
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,680
I would definitely talk to a dr about tapering off them.
Check and see if there are any NA Basic Text study meetings or literature study meetings. They tend to be less involved in Personal issues and gossip and more about working a program of recovery. I found all the nitter natter and drama of Open Discussion meetings a distraction and a turn off.
Meetings do change flavor over time, and a meeting that might have been a gossip session a few years ago might have turned around and be more into the solution these days, worth giving another look into them.
ANd of course stick around here at the SR community!
Check and see if there are any NA Basic Text study meetings or literature study meetings. They tend to be less involved in Personal issues and gossip and more about working a program of recovery. I found all the nitter natter and drama of Open Discussion meetings a distraction and a turn off.
Meetings do change flavor over time, and a meeting that might have been a gossip session a few years ago might have turned around and be more into the solution these days, worth giving another look into them.
ANd of course stick around here at the SR community!
Living and Loving Life at Last
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: gods own country
Posts: 12,168
Lammy is it Malvern UK? I got free help on the NHS through my GP, including counselling.
I wish you all the best, it sucks you worked so hard to get off booze only to get addicted to the pills you needed for pain. I'm sure you will succeed in getting free a gain, and there are plenty here to support you through it x
I wish you all the best, it sucks you worked so hard to get off booze only to get addicted to the pills you needed for pain. I'm sure you will succeed in getting free a gain, and there are plenty here to support you through it x
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Malvern
Posts: 6
Thanks to everyone! I am in Arkansas. Even the EAP lady said this state isn't a Mecca for treatments centers. I'm on day 5 with no opiates. With alcohol I'd gotten sober so many times I knew what to expect. I'm in uncharted waters here. Anyone have an idea how long detox might last? I knew quitting drinking can be very dangerous physically but from what I read with opiates it just SUCKS. So far I haven't been disappointed. Still haven't found anywhere to go for help. One counselor on the phone said that with my history of alcoholism I should still get treatment even if I'm not detoxing. Thoughts?
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