This is part of the reason I've been away.
Be patient with me, I will try and explain as best as I can.
It all started with pain in my left leg and hip about a year ago. At times the pain was excruciating and as time went on, it got worse. Finally, a couple of months ago, I told my doctor I could no longer deal with the pain. I also asked him to send me for tests that would find out the problem. He prescribed tylenol # 3 that took the edge off but did not give me relief.
Then he prescribed hydro-morphine (4 mg) which did take away the pain. (4 or 5 a day).
I have had radiographs (x-rays) of my back and leg, CT spinal scan, Bone scan and they all had no significant findings except some degeneration of the hip joint. I'm seeing an orthopedic specialist in Dec. of this year. (It was booked last January) :-)
The pain I will once again mention, is sometimes unbearable. I work but am getting annoyed at people and patients asking me why I'm limping.
To bring the photo I posted into the picture (no pun intended), here is my story...........
The thursday before Labour Day, I decided I no longer wanted to be a slave to pain medication.
I just stopped taking them..... BIG MISTAKE!!!!
I had no idea how they affected me (except the fact that they relieved my pain) and thought nothing of just stopping. Friday morning I woke up sick to my stomach, severe diarrhea, cramps, shivers....... unable to function normally!!
I WAS ADDICTED!!!!! What a shock and embarrassment that was to me!!
I looked up prescription drug withdrawal online and it said, never just stop taking the medication, wean yourself off it.
Saturday came and I was still very sick. I called my pharmacy and explained the situation. They said the same thing, wean yourself off it slowly.
I was taking 4 pills a day, so I slowed down to 2 a day.
I couldn't eat anything, I was dying. It was like I knew how a junkie felt.
I had a appointment with my doctor the following tuesday. (this was saturday).
Tuesday came and I went for my appointment. I was furious but did not allow myself to show that emotion to my doctor. I did tell him that I was to hell and back that week-end because of the pain medication and to never give me anything of the sort again.
I'm down to one pill a day now and next week I will be completely off them.
I'm still in pain but nothing compared to the week-end of hell.
I'm telling my story because I hope it might help someone else who innocently takes medication from their doctor, not knowing what it is doing to their body.
Positive side to my story...............
First of all, finding out about it before it was too late.( I was only on them for about 2 months)
Secondly, I was so sick and had such severe diarrhea, I figured whatever toxins I had in my body, I had rid myself of them.
So.........I started a new eating regime. No red meat, as a matter of fact, I haven't eaten any kind of meat since. Only fish now. Also, I have stopped eating anything processed or white (bread, pasta, rice, etc.) I have lots of bran products, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, yogurt.
Don't ask me why.
We'll see how it goes. I'm not a fanatic, just more aware of what I put in my body.
I missed you all and can't wait to catch up on what you all have been up to while I've been away.
Mucho Hugs & Kisses,
Maggie
4 comments:
Your story is an important one to be told! An important warning for all of us! Thank you for sharing! Thank goodness that you did not get further down the path than you did, but so sorry you had to endure what you did. I hope the final phase goes well and that your new diet regime is helpful, too. Many, many big HUGS to you!!
Dear Lemuel, All is well in my world, thank you for caring. I debated whether to tell or not but decided that if it could help someone or make people aware, it was worth it. If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.
We trust our Doctor's and rightly so but sometimes they don't give us enough information and therein lies the problems.
i was wondering -and a tad worried- where you had gone.
true; nasty opiates need weaning down and off.
but on the positive, it feels bad to come off them but not fatal!
hang in there.
i am glad you are back.
Dear Ur-Spo, Thank you so very much for your comment. It meant a lot to me. :)
BTW I was wrong with my dates, it was the thursday after Labour Day and I was off the following Monday and Tuesday.(Thank God)
You are so right, it feels bad at the time but not fatal.
What a wake up call though!!
I'm definitely over it now and just had to adjust to my new regime. I feel like a million bucks with just a few wrinkles. :)
I was initally embarrassed to address it in my blog but decided that, as an innocent victim of prescribed drugs, I could possibly help someone else in the same position.
Once again, thank you for missing me!! That made me feel good.
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