Hi everyone. I don't know where else to go. I don't know if I am addicted or if I just like them or what is up here.
I had some severe tooth problems a year or so ago. The dentist did not notice a small hole, and bacteria got inside my tooth causing it to decay from the inside out, So on the outside you could see nothing but on the inside my nerves were decaying causing me to go to the hospital and such. I was given Oxy, which made me extremely angry so they instead gave me T3's. Love love love. The pain is gone and I felt dopey, warm, fuzzy, all that fun stuff.
I still had some left after the tooth was taken care of. When I had a headache or sinus pain I would take the T3. Then when they ran out and I would get a sunis headache (very intense pain) I would go to the doctor at the clinic and get more t3's, then I started taking them just when I had a bad day, I would take 2 t3's and a regular tylenol to enhance the effects. I would only take them when everyone else was asleep, and when I did not have to work the next day because you need to be very alert for my job. This is where I get confused. I don't take massive amounts. I don't thik that I NEED to take them, I haven't had any for a bit and don't find myself getting anxious or anything without them. I have however stolen 3 of my Dad's muscle relaxants because they have the same amount of codine in them. The yesterday my gramps got T2's and all I could think was, I wonder if they would notice if I took some, or if he will ahve some left that I can have. I am afraid to talk to anyone because what if I get seriously hurt and need them someday! or if my parents will get all freaked out everytime i need to take a regular tylenol. What if they lock up all the medicine and I feel like poop all the time because I have no sinus meds or headache pills or something.
I have also found in the past month that I am taking nyquil every night so that I can sleep. Nyquil also has codine in it. It makes the same sleep feeling. I tried to not take some the other night and only slept for an hour the whole night.
If I don't have codine or nyquil, I will take decongestant or regular tylenol so that I can sleep.
Please please tell me what to do. Am I addicted? Am I nuts?? How can I sleep without taking nyquil???
Please help me
I don't think Nyquil has codene. It does have alcohol though. Just by a quick read to your story I myself would say if you are not addicted, you are very close. You are displaying addict behavior, that's for sure. The good news is you are still early in and can stop a full blown addiction before it takes over your life. You will get a lot of terrific adice here. Just hang on..I'm sure lot's of people will check in with you.
If you take them when you are having a bad day, you're an addict. It's addictive behavior. Do yourself a huge favor and get rid of whatever you've got left or if you think you can keep them in the house without taking them except for intense pain (most addicts can't and really, advil works better) then give them to someone else to hold. That keeps you accountable. I suppose that you could say that you just like them too much but unless you can walk away from them without obsessing about them, you are in fact, an addict. Many of us here have done this dance for years and years and are only now getting clean and sober. Don't go there. Nip it in the bud now. I would also talk to someone about this, a therapist or counselor. Find out why you are self medicating. Get to the bottom of it and usually you've got a good chance of figuring out other ways to deal with stress and "bad days". Really glad you're here...cowgirl
I am also new here and I will share what I think, but there are ALOT of other people here who have far more experience with pain pill addiction than myself....
I think that you are in the beginning of addictive behavior...I know that isn't what you probably want to here, but that is what it sounds like...I like you, starting taking them for "legit" pain and then 2 years later I found myself "addicted" to them in the sense that I took them to get "high" and could NOT function w/o them...I have now been clean for 16 days and its been extremely tuff!!!!!!!! I have 3 children and I have to say that trying to beat this has been harder for me than having children...
Like I said, it sounds to me as if you are in the beginning stages of addiction...Please try to stop this right now before you end up like alot of us in full blown active addiction...Try to find some support through friends, a NA meeting, or even here at the board...it truly does help....My best wishes are with you in this as it can be very hard, but stay strong and you will succeed...
HUGS!
Brandi
I think that you are in the beginning of addictive behavior...I know that isn't what you probably want to here, but that is what it sounds like...I like you, starting taking them for "legit" pain and then 2 years later I found myself "addicted" to them in the sense that I took them to get "high" and could NOT function w/o them...I have now been clean for 16 days and its been extremely tuff!!!!!!!! I have 3 children and I have to say that trying to beat this has been harder for me than having children...
Like I said, it sounds to me as if you are in the beginning stages of addiction...Please try to stop this right now before you end up like alot of us in full blown active addiction...Try to find some support through friends, a NA meeting, or even here at the board...it truly does help....My best wishes are with you in this as it can be very hard, but stay strong and you will succeed...
HUGS!
Brandi
Just a note - The nyquil I take is the generic brand and it no longer contains alchohol, it says on the pack
It doesn't contain codene (at least in the US)
Nyquil is the least of your concerns right now....
Hi there. Godd thing you are at least looking for answers. I am afraid that you are displaying the same types of symptoms of adiction that i did when i started. It never seems like there is a prob till u r usually in the middle of it. Like someone else said, please seek some sort of counciling now. Bryan
I would have to agree with the opinion that you are displaying addictive behavior. That should be very scary to you. If it isn't, I would consider that to be addictive behavior too!
I cannot take pain medications in any color because 1 is too many, and 1000 is not enough. I have to find other non-narcotic measures to deal with pain. Although, since I have been clean, I have not really had that much pain. I realize now, in hindsight, that I "told myself" how bad my pain was to legitimize my use of pills...until I was just plain old addicted, and then of course I realized I was just feeding my beast...and trying to keep from getting sick without them.
If you can get out now...get away from narcotics and educate yourself about addiction and recovery, you will avoid a lot of heartache. I certainly hope that is the case for you. A few sleepless nights to get this all worked out will not really hurt you. Not in the big picture.
Good Luck.
I cannot take pain medications in any color because 1 is too many, and 1000 is not enough. I have to find other non-narcotic measures to deal with pain. Although, since I have been clean, I have not really had that much pain. I realize now, in hindsight, that I "told myself" how bad my pain was to legitimize my use of pills...until I was just plain old addicted, and then of course I realized I was just feeding my beast...and trying to keep from getting sick without them.
If you can get out now...get away from narcotics and educate yourself about addiction and recovery, you will avoid a lot of heartache. I certainly hope that is the case for you. A few sleepless nights to get this all worked out will not really hurt you. Not in the big picture.
Good Luck.
Obviously if it didn't scare me and I wasn't concerned I wouldn't have posted here would I?
I am also depressed and suffer from anxiety, I take something for that. When that 1st started I tried to get into therapy or councelling, my doctor said it would take a while because you have to go on waiting lists and such. I eventually ended up going to the hospital and they got me into see someone, this man told me that I should just go to group therapy. I hated it. Everyone was way older then me, nothing they talked about was anything that was was even near going through (divorce and such) and the doctor was creppy, his example for everything was "Lets say you are a 10 year old girl that has been raped by your grandfather" I went for a few months and stopped because it scared me for then helping me.
What other kids on therapys are there and how do you suggest I got into them? (It would take at least a month to get in to see my doctor)
I am also depressed and suffer from anxiety, I take something for that. When that 1st started I tried to get into therapy or councelling, my doctor said it would take a while because you have to go on waiting lists and such. I eventually ended up going to the hospital and they got me into see someone, this man told me that I should just go to group therapy. I hated it. Everyone was way older then me, nothing they talked about was anything that was was even near going through (divorce and such) and the doctor was creppy, his example for everything was "Lets say you are a 10 year old girl that has been raped by your grandfather" I went for a few months and stopped because it scared me for then helping me.
What other kids on therapys are there and how do you suggest I got into them? (It would take at least a month to get in to see my doctor)
hi
i too suffer from depression, panic and anxiety, and drug addiction,you need to see a psychiatrist and a psychologist or social worker, why 2 doctors? because one prescribes the medications needed and the oher does the talk therapy. you need one on one help and not group therapy only, how old are you? it could be beneficial for you to do a group therapy with people in your age group in addition to the doctors.
what you need to do is get out the phone book and start calling around, find the best doctor who can get you in the fastest.
also type in www.na.org this is an organization that helps people who are addicts,they offer support groups,it sounds like you are in very early addiction, go to a meeting and just listen, that may be enough of a deterrent for you to continue taking pills after you hear what drugs did to them. this site can help you locate a meeting in your area.
nip it in the bud now!!!! believe me you do not want to go any farther! because if you do then you will be a slave to those pills forever because they will rob you of being able to function in life without them. good luck and keep us informed! julie
i too suffer from depression, panic and anxiety, and drug addiction,you need to see a psychiatrist and a psychologist or social worker, why 2 doctors? because one prescribes the medications needed and the oher does the talk therapy. you need one on one help and not group therapy only, how old are you? it could be beneficial for you to do a group therapy with people in your age group in addition to the doctors.
what you need to do is get out the phone book and start calling around, find the best doctor who can get you in the fastest.
also type in www.na.org this is an organization that helps people who are addicts,they offer support groups,it sounds like you are in very early addiction, go to a meeting and just listen, that may be enough of a deterrent for you to continue taking pills after you hear what drugs did to them. this site can help you locate a meeting in your area.
nip it in the bud now!!!! believe me you do not want to go any farther! because if you do then you will be a slave to those pills forever because they will rob you of being able to function in life without them. good luck and keep us informed! julie
immortal...........
welcome to the board .
big hugs...
everything will be ok if you just stop taking pills......
may i ask how old you are......
please just stop taking pills.......
and keep posting so glad to have you here........
thumper
welcome to the board .
big hugs...
everything will be ok if you just stop taking pills......
may i ask how old you are......
please just stop taking pills.......
and keep posting so glad to have you here........
thumper
Hi!
It's fantastic that you're realizing this so early. No one but you can really say whether you're an addict but I believe you're exhibiting addictive behavior. It can take you all the way down, don't let it. This forum is great, you'll get people who've been there and who will give you good advice. You may want to pop in to a 12 step meeting (AA or NA) to see if they help (they certainly won't hurt) you'll probably find your story mild compared to others. That does't mean you don't belong. You're just very early in your addiction (if, in fact, you are addicted) they are just further along on the same road. Keep coming to this forum, I find it very helpful. Good luck!
It's fantastic that you're realizing this so early. No one but you can really say whether you're an addict but I believe you're exhibiting addictive behavior. It can take you all the way down, don't let it. This forum is great, you'll get people who've been there and who will give you good advice. You may want to pop in to a 12 step meeting (AA or NA) to see if they help (they certainly won't hurt) you'll probably find your story mild compared to others. That does't mean you don't belong. You're just very early in your addiction (if, in fact, you are addicted) they are just further along on the same road. Keep coming to this forum, I find it very helpful. Good luck!
posted by Immortal
I will use an example of a non-addict, my spouse. They had to get a morphine shot for a kidney stone. Took care of the pain, even made them high as a kite (they looked like a grinning idiot). BUT, they did NOT obsess about getting more, and they sure as heck did not obsess about how to steal some and certainly didn't steal anyone else's pain medication ( They didn't even use the pain medication they did bring home which was subsequently stolen by the addict in the house whose name will not be mentioned to protect the oh, so, so guilty)
So unless casual theft is your standard modus operandi, you should be scared, your own ethical compass is a tad....adrift at present. If theft is standard for you, you have more problems than drugs. If not, well, welcome to the addictive behavior spectrum. You are right in the middle of it. So there is NA/AA meetings, if you had bad luck with group counseling, how about one on one counseling?
Oh, and forget the, "Well, if people know I am addicted, I won't be able to get pain meds if I am hurt". If you are in true severe pain, you will get meds. However, it won't be for those sinus headaches. This thought is just a reservation to keep using. After all, you are not in great pain, at least physical, right now. The emotional and psychological pain? Probably a different story. Opiates don't do so good for that. But to alleviate that pain takes effort, work, and by God, people don't often like to do that. Takes time and they want their relief now.....
Let's see just how serious you are. Have you told your doctor you are developing a problem with these T3's? Taking them for those crappy days and not just for severe tooth pain? That is a great place to start. Recovery takes the big three: 1) HONESTY 2) Openness and 3) Willingness.
| QUOTE |
I don't thik that I NEED to take them, I haven't had any for a bit and don't find myself getting anxious or anything without them. I have however stolen 3 of my Dad's muscle relaxants because they have the same amount of codine in them. The yesterday my gramps got T2's and all I could think was, I wonder f they would notice if I took some |
I will use an example of a non-addict, my spouse. They had to get a morphine shot for a kidney stone. Took care of the pain, even made them high as a kite (they looked like a grinning idiot). BUT, they did NOT obsess about getting more, and they sure as heck did not obsess about how to steal some and certainly didn't steal anyone else's pain medication ( They didn't even use the pain medication they did bring home which was subsequently stolen by the addict in the house whose name will not be mentioned to protect the oh, so, so guilty)
So unless casual theft is your standard modus operandi, you should be scared, your own ethical compass is a tad....adrift at present. If theft is standard for you, you have more problems than drugs. If not, well, welcome to the addictive behavior spectrum. You are right in the middle of it. So there is NA/AA meetings, if you had bad luck with group counseling, how about one on one counseling?
Oh, and forget the, "Well, if people know I am addicted, I won't be able to get pain meds if I am hurt". If you are in true severe pain, you will get meds. However, it won't be for those sinus headaches. This thought is just a reservation to keep using. After all, you are not in great pain, at least physical, right now. The emotional and psychological pain? Probably a different story. Opiates don't do so good for that. But to alleviate that pain takes effort, work, and by God, people don't often like to do that. Takes time and they want their relief now.....
Let's see just how serious you are. Have you told your doctor you are developing a problem with these T3's? Taking them for those crappy days and not just for severe tooth pain? That is a great place to start. Recovery takes the big three: 1) HONESTY 2) Openness and 3) Willingness.
Hey & Welcome,to both.I will have to say I feel yes your addicted.Alot of things you said I could of said & probaly did say.
Ill admit I only read your post & not the replies so if I repeat something thats been said Im sorry.
Fessing up to your Dr is the hardest thing to do,but not as hard as worrying about where your next pill is comming from.
when I finally got sick & tired of being sick & tired....first I signed up here,than when I got REAL SICK OF IT ALL,as hard as it was I told my Dr the truth.I was getting 180 Ultram off him + buying Gosh I dont even remember now.I do know I was over 20 pills a day.
comming here is a good start & youll learn alot just by reading.I hope you choose to get your life back,because really none of us can till we break the drugs hold on us
molly
Ill admit I only read your post & not the replies so if I repeat something thats been said Im sorry.
Fessing up to your Dr is the hardest thing to do,but not as hard as worrying about where your next pill is comming from.
when I finally got sick & tired of being sick & tired....first I signed up here,than when I got REAL SICK OF IT ALL,as hard as it was I told my Dr the truth.I was getting 180 Ultram off him + buying Gosh I dont even remember now.I do know I was over 20 pills a day.
comming here is a good start & youll learn alot just by reading.I hope you choose to get your life back,because really none of us can till we break the drugs hold on us
molly
Elim...........LOL...you're a card.
Immortal-The behavior is definitely an addicts.Lying,stealing and obsessing about a substance to change how you feel.
.......not the reaction of the general population when given an opiate.
I've known those that hated the feeling.......go figure.
Even though you may be able to go weeks or even months,that only is evident that the real physical manifestation of addiction has not occured.When I first started "chipping" with opiates, I could go three months and not do it again.I would binge.I would go through a script of 30-40 pills in 4-5 days and stop.No w'd's,just some minor depression and then claim to myself"See,I'm not an addict".
In the meantime I thought about the time I would be able to get some more because I loved,loved,loved them.LOL
And yes,I raided everybody's medicine cabinent who would let me use the restroom.I lifted pills out of client's houses and would steal from the terminally ill if given a chance.
I made friends with nurses and anyone who I thought could supply me.I acted particulary ingratiating to clients who had cancer or recently had surgery.
Nothing to be proud of but if you keep on this path,addiction will take you to places you would never dream.........and none of them are good.
I hope you use this as a wake-up call but I doubt it.I'm not being mean but just realistic.If someone told me the same thing,I would have probably balked.
The good thing is you are asking questions.I hope you prove me wrong.I like to see anyone catch this early enough.
Good Luck
Immortal-The behavior is definitely an addicts.Lying,stealing and obsessing about a substance to change how you feel.
| QUOTE |
| Love love love. The pain is gone and I felt dopey, warm, fuzzy, all that fun stuff. |
I've known those that hated the feeling.......go figure.
Even though you may be able to go weeks or even months,that only is evident that the real physical manifestation of addiction has not occured.When I first started "chipping" with opiates, I could go three months and not do it again.I would binge.I would go through a script of 30-40 pills in 4-5 days and stop.No w'd's,just some minor depression and then claim to myself"See,I'm not an addict".
In the meantime I thought about the time I would be able to get some more because I loved,loved,loved them.LOL
And yes,I raided everybody's medicine cabinent who would let me use the restroom.I lifted pills out of client's houses and would steal from the terminally ill if given a chance.
I made friends with nurses and anyone who I thought could supply me.I acted particulary ingratiating to clients who had cancer or recently had surgery.
Nothing to be proud of but if you keep on this path,addiction will take you to places you would never dream.........and none of them are good.
I hope you use this as a wake-up call but I doubt it.I'm not being mean but just realistic.If someone told me the same thing,I would have probably balked.
The good thing is you are asking questions.I hope you prove me wrong.I like to see anyone catch this early enough.
Good Luck
Very well put Tim.
My first experience with opiates was getting my wisdom teeth out at 16. Loved them and plowed through the bottle. Didn't get anymore until a few years later in college when I had pnumonia (sp?). Guzzled that cough syrup up as fast as I could get it.
Never really used them until later in life because I drank damn near every day and could get out of my head that way. Hell, it was legal!!!
Anyway, I always knew the feeling was it, and when I had my knee re-constructed and they gave me Norco...........I just felt...... "you win"
The rest is history.
Imortal, you are DEFINITELY displaying addict behavior and need to get help.
peaceout
dtroitj
My first experience with opiates was getting my wisdom teeth out at 16. Loved them and plowed through the bottle. Didn't get anymore until a few years later in college when I had pnumonia (sp?). Guzzled that cough syrup up as fast as I could get it.
Never really used them until later in life because I drank damn near every day and could get out of my head that way. Hell, it was legal!!!
Anyway, I always knew the feeling was it, and when I had my knee re-constructed and they gave me Norco...........I just felt...... "you win"
The rest is history.
Imortal, you are DEFINITELY displaying addict behavior and need to get help.
peaceout
dtroitj
I don't ahve alot of time to post right now as I am hungry and need to eat some supper. But to those who asked I am 22.
Elim
Is there a reason you to go great lengths to hide your sex? For someone who posts here with much info and intellect, what is the concern for being in disguise? Care to answer?
Is there a reason you to go great lengths to hide your sex? For someone who posts here with much info and intellect, what is the concern for being in disguise? Care to answer?
Greetings, Immortal...
I would say, by what you said, that you are addicted. Anytime one becomes obsessed with the amount of a particular drug that they have or simply have continous thoughts about it signals to me addiction. Believe me when I first started over five years ago, I didn't think I had a problem. Now I have been clean for over four weeks and see the insanity and irrational behavior of the past. I started off using some sort of substance when I was twelve. I was a full-blown alcoholic by the age of fifteen. I had to be hospitalized for alcoholism years later. I then started to take vicodin and ended with oxycoctin. I had to take methadone for about six weeks before I had the courage to quit everything. Good luck, stay away from the codiene.
Deirdre
I would say, by what you said, that you are addicted. Anytime one becomes obsessed with the amount of a particular drug that they have or simply have continous thoughts about it signals to me addiction. Believe me when I first started over five years ago, I didn't think I had a problem. Now I have been clean for over four weeks and see the insanity and irrational behavior of the past. I started off using some sort of substance when I was twelve. I was a full-blown alcoholic by the age of fifteen. I had to be hospitalized for alcoholism years later. I then started to take vicodin and ended with oxycoctin. I had to take methadone for about six weeks before I had the courage to quit everything. Good luck, stay away from the codiene.
Deirdre
