Last night my husband did it again! When he walked in he gave me a wad of money and told me to go spoil myself. That's when I knew what he was planning. What freaks me out is that yesterday he spent the morning at the doctors because he's been suffering lately with chest pains. Apparently the ECG was clear and they sent him for chest x-rays because of the car accident he was in a couple of weeks ago (they think he might have hurt himself somehow.) Just on Sunday, he was telling me how he's really worried about his chest pains and how he'd never do it again. I told him about this website and recommended he read some of the stories. I told him about Jekyll who had a heart attack at 36. This seemed to worry him. But did he stop? No, as soon as the doctor told him the ECG was clear, he went back to it ....... that same night!!!!!!
Now he's passed out in the bedroom (I'm working in my office - which is at home) and I know he'll stay in bed the whole day. I'm so fed up! But I've decided not to hang around here so I'm taking my mother out for a long lunch, just to get my mind off it. Unfortunately I can't discuss it with my mother, because if she knew the truth it would kill her. So I'll just carry on pretending my life is so normal.
Anyway, just wanted to vent. In a way I am thankful though that my husband only does it once a week, compared to some of the stories I've read here. So no matter how depressed I feel today, I'm going to keep reminding myself that there's many people out there worse off than me.
I am the guy , jake, who is 36 ad had heart attack from the the UK...i have pasted some paragraphs below whci are out of medical journals which discuss heart problems and cocaine/crack use. Please print them off and give them to your husband/boyfreind ...if you need to know where i get the articles from pls ask..
1.
The relation between cocaine use and cardiovascular disease has been well documented including coronary artery vasoconstriction, coronary thrombosis, accelerated atherosclerosis, myocarditis, cardiomyopathies and endocarditis. Cocaine use has been reached epidemic proportions. This increase in cocaine abuse has resulted in emergency room visits, hospital admissions, cardiovascular and respiratory complications and death. Cocaine is the most commonly abused drug among young patients.
2.
Cocaine use increases the risk of sudden heart attack and may also trigger stroke, even in users who otherwise are not at high risk for these sometimes fatal cardiovascular events. The risk is related to narrowing of blood vessels and increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
Recently, NIDA-supported researchers at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, have identified changes in blood components that may also play a role in cocaine-related heart attack and stroke.
3.
Problems related to cocaine use
Heart attacks
Strokes
Seizures
Aortic Dissection
Psychosis
Lung damage
Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature)
Fetal abnormalities
Placental abruption
Premature births
4.
In one study of the cocaine abusers who came to the Emergency Department, 40% complained of chest painthe most common complaintand 22% complained of shortness of breath or were unable to breathe.
5.
Cardiovascular (heart, blood vessels): The major effect of cocaine is to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for the "fight or flight response" and is controlled primarily by adrenaline or epinephrine. The effects include increased heart rate, blood vessel narrowing, and high blood pressure. Angina or the chest pain that is felt with decreased blood supply to the heart and heart attack have accounted for more reports in medical journals than any other complication of cocaine intoxication. Chest pain associated with cocaine use is now a common problem in urban Emergency Departments.
Other cardiovascular complications include abnormal heart rhythms or rapid heart rate, cardiomyopathy or disease of the heart muscle, or aortic rupture or dissection where there is weakening of the walls of the aorta. The acute use, despite the amount or route, causes narrowing of the arteries to the heart and vasospasm resulting in decreased blood flow to the heart. This causes angina, which can lead to a heart attack that means death of heart tissue. Chronic use of cocaine, again regardless of the route, leads to accelerated hardening and subsequent narrowing of the coronary arteries. Therefore, angina and heart attacks and cardiac deaths have been found in young users from ages 19-44 years.
The overstimulation of the sympathetic system with the rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and vasospasm also cause the abnormal rhythms. Those rhythms may be ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and may cause sudden death. Chest pain has been the most common complaint to the Emergency Department, up to 40% of people, 21% complain of palpitations or the sensation that their hearts are racing or going fast.
there are many many more like this
Good luck jake
1.
The relation between cocaine use and cardiovascular disease has been well documented including coronary artery vasoconstriction, coronary thrombosis, accelerated atherosclerosis, myocarditis, cardiomyopathies and endocarditis. Cocaine use has been reached epidemic proportions. This increase in cocaine abuse has resulted in emergency room visits, hospital admissions, cardiovascular and respiratory complications and death. Cocaine is the most commonly abused drug among young patients.
2.
Cocaine use increases the risk of sudden heart attack and may also trigger stroke, even in users who otherwise are not at high risk for these sometimes fatal cardiovascular events. The risk is related to narrowing of blood vessels and increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
Recently, NIDA-supported researchers at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, have identified changes in blood components that may also play a role in cocaine-related heart attack and stroke.
3.
Problems related to cocaine use
Heart attacks
Strokes
Seizures
Aortic Dissection
Psychosis
Lung damage
Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature)
Fetal abnormalities
Placental abruption
Premature births
4.
In one study of the cocaine abusers who came to the Emergency Department, 40% complained of chest painthe most common complaintand 22% complained of shortness of breath or were unable to breathe.
5.
Cardiovascular (heart, blood vessels): The major effect of cocaine is to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for the "fight or flight response" and is controlled primarily by adrenaline or epinephrine. The effects include increased heart rate, blood vessel narrowing, and high blood pressure. Angina or the chest pain that is felt with decreased blood supply to the heart and heart attack have accounted for more reports in medical journals than any other complication of cocaine intoxication. Chest pain associated with cocaine use is now a common problem in urban Emergency Departments.
Other cardiovascular complications include abnormal heart rhythms or rapid heart rate, cardiomyopathy or disease of the heart muscle, or aortic rupture or dissection where there is weakening of the walls of the aorta. The acute use, despite the amount or route, causes narrowing of the arteries to the heart and vasospasm resulting in decreased blood flow to the heart. This causes angina, which can lead to a heart attack that means death of heart tissue. Chronic use of cocaine, again regardless of the route, leads to accelerated hardening and subsequent narrowing of the coronary arteries. Therefore, angina and heart attacks and cardiac deaths have been found in young users from ages 19-44 years.
The overstimulation of the sympathetic system with the rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and vasospasm also cause the abnormal rhythms. Those rhythms may be ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and may cause sudden death. Chest pain has been the most common complaint to the Emergency Department, up to 40% of people, 21% complain of palpitations or the sensation that their hearts are racing or going fast.
there are many many more like this
Good luck jake
Kade,
Where, may I ask, are you in Africa?
I can do some research to find some support for you and your husband.
Let me know, eh?
Where, may I ask, are you in Africa?
I can do some research to find some support for you and your husband.
Let me know, eh?
Thanks Jake (sorry I got the names mixed up). I'll definitely print it out and give it to my husband to read. Can I ask - do you think he's at any lesser risk because he only does it once a week, or is he at the same risk as, say, someone who does it everyday. Also, do you think that although he's been doing it only once a week for the past years, that this will increase to more than once, or do you think he's kinda "stuck" with his routine. I know it's probably different for everyone, but any bit of info will help. Thanx a lot.
And to Tough Love - I'm from Johannesburg in South Africa. Any info from you would be much appreciated.
And to Tough Love - I'm from Johannesburg in South Africa. Any info from you would be much appreciated.
Well, Lookee here!:
http://www.na.org.za/meet-gauteng.htm
Loads of meetings where you are, Kade :O)
Note: When it is written that a meeting is closed, it means closed to the general public(only addicts allowed)
http://www.na.org.za/meet-gauteng.htm
Loads of meetings where you are, Kade :O)
Note: When it is written that a meeting is closed, it means closed to the general public(only addicts allowed)
kade...you can actually get a herat atack after one line off coke, it causes spasms in your arteries and stops blood flow to the heart (thast what happened to me) i used to do it once a week thouigh it varied over the years...all i do knopw is that i tended to use it more as used it longer.....you kid yourself into thinking that once a week is okay but it ant at all, but thats my opinion...sorry but how long has he been using again? my point is that its best not to use at all then life will be much better, i do that for certain... good luck and get him to talk about it more, ask him if he thinks he is addicted and if he says no then you say well lets give it a miss this week then, if he says no then he has virtualy admitted that he is addicted. I do realise that you need to balance your relationship here as well ad not try to cause conflict, this is where the strength of your relationship or the powrer of the coke comes through
jake
jake
Hey Jake, my hb has been using since he was modelling in New York at age 20. I met him six years later when he returned to Africa. At that time, drugs were pretty taboo in our country (as was porn and those kind of things because of the old government). We married seven years later in 1992 and in those seven years, I never suspected anything and I'm sure if he did use, it was quite seldom, purely due to unavailability. Two months after our wedding, I caught him doing it with a friend. That same year, the new government took over, and with the huge influx of immigrants, especially Nigerians, drugs have since been more available than ever before. And basically, since 1992 he's been doing it once a week. He is now 45 years old. And the beautiful model I married has lost all his good looks -his face is grey and scarred from the two cars he crashed while driving after taking coke. One of the accidents was as a result of taking coke that had been "spiked".
Anyway, so he's been doing it for about 25 years in total, and for about 12 years now on a weekly basis.
What makes me nervous is that my daughter (aged 17) has now been approached by a Model Agency in New York, and they want her to fly over to do some modelling there later in the year. Because of what happened with my husband I'm too scared to let her go. Not saying it will only happen in New York, it can happen anywhere, but the thought of history repeating itself kinda freaks me out. Perhaps I should trust more, who knows??
Sorry for the huge delays in responding, but I guess it's because I'm in the Southern Hemisphere or you guys are up North. You're probably sleeping right now. Thanks so much for all your help.
And to Tough Love - thanks for that website. I searched everywhere for a local website, which is how I ended up here. But I guess it was meant to be. I'll let you know if anything develops. Thanks again..
Anyway, so he's been doing it for about 25 years in total, and for about 12 years now on a weekly basis.
What makes me nervous is that my daughter (aged 17) has now been approached by a Model Agency in New York, and they want her to fly over to do some modelling there later in the year. Because of what happened with my husband I'm too scared to let her go. Not saying it will only happen in New York, it can happen anywhere, but the thought of history repeating itself kinda freaks me out. Perhaps I should trust more, who knows??
Sorry for the huge delays in responding, but I guess it's because I'm in the Southern Hemisphere or you guys are up North. You're probably sleeping right now. Thanks so much for all your help.
And to Tough Love - thanks for that website. I searched everywhere for a local website, which is how I ended up here. But I guess it was meant to be. I'll let you know if anything develops. Thanks again..
how much does he use in a week.?...he may get lucky but after al those years it will be affecting his arteries, the clog up you see and harden....
I'm really not sure. But I do know each time he spends about R250 - which I think is the going price for one gram, or one little packet (I don't really know the terms they use.) And R250 is equivalent to about $40.
Is that a lot? And does that small amount keep him going all night? Perhaps he's doing more than that, I can't say.
Something else that I wanted to ask you ......... when he uses, he drinks a lot of alchohol. I hide my wines away because in the past he has opened and drunk bottles of my wine, even though he detests wine. We have a small bar at home and although we're not big drinkers, he will raid the bar and drink anything he can find. Is that also normal? One friend of mine said that people who take coke don't usually drink alchohol at the same time.
Is that a lot? And does that small amount keep him going all night? Perhaps he's doing more than that, I can't say.
Something else that I wanted to ask you ......... when he uses, he drinks a lot of alchohol. I hide my wines away because in the past he has opened and drunk bottles of my wine, even though he detests wine. We have a small bar at home and although we're not big drinkers, he will raid the bar and drink anything he can find. Is that also normal? One friend of mine said that people who take coke don't usually drink alchohol at the same time.
for me i used to drink a lot on coke and i think so for others too....a gram a week my not sound a loty but after all that build up...does he smoke? is he fit? can he run? etc..
No, he doesn't smoke (he's asthmatic). He's overweight now and very unfit, mainly due to his work - 6 days a week, 9am to 8pm. No time really for him to do any exercise, although I've often thought that joining a gym might help him.
Joining a gym is what helped my brother get off cocaine. He played racketball 3 or 4 times a week.
it seems odd that he would be able to limit his use to once weekly whereas my experience and the experience of many others is that an addiction is progressive in nature.some of us use until we don't have the means to get more drugs. bless you and hang in there.Tough love had it right, the only way that I have had any clean time is through na.
i actually find it quite odd that some people would use coke evertday all day, your body can only take so much...for me the most was 3 days a week and this is the sma efor many people i know, i suppose it depends on teh quality perhaps
It has nothing to do with quality. It has everything to do with the way the addict copes with hislife in general. Most addicts do end up trying to stay numb all day, every day. I did.
By the way, I lately had to re-read many passages of your posts, Jake. Can you check your typos before hitting the Post button, please? It only takes a second. eh? :O)
By the way, I lately had to re-read many passages of your posts, Jake. Can you check your typos before hitting the Post button, please? It only takes a second. eh? :O)
im a realy busy guy and do this voluntarily and on another site too, if i checked every typo i wldnt be able to spend time doimng it the 1st place
My b/f that I have been seeing for 2 years is a user.I'm not sure how often but I would say at least 3 times a week.I also think he has an alcohol problem as well as when he starts to drink he has to finish the whole bottle.He insists that he is not addicted but i know he has been using for approx 12 years.He can't hold a job down & has lived with girls in the past just because it's a roof over his head & not cos of how he feels about them.He continually lets his children (from previous relationships) down & also me.He will say he's coming round & then I won't hear from him for days.I used to think it was other women he was seeing but I now know that it's the drugs & drinks.Writing this I know I am crazy for giving him any more of my time but when he's clean & sober he's the kindest,funniest man. Is there any hope for him & how do I go about trying to help him stop??
"Is there any hope for him & how do I go about trying to help him stop?? "
Out of my mind, your boyfriend can only give up when he wants to. Some people say users give us between 10 and 15 years of using ( i know this is over generalising ), so maybe he will be ready to give up soon. Has he talked about wanting to give up?
you should never give up hope , but as far as your relationship goes, it may be time to move on (sounds harsh I know), unless you really want to stick with him, in which case understand how addiction works, and just be there fo rhim when he needs help.
Out of my mind, your boyfriend can only give up when he wants to. Some people say users give us between 10 and 15 years of using ( i know this is over generalising ), so maybe he will be ready to give up soon. Has he talked about wanting to give up?
you should never give up hope , but as far as your relationship goes, it may be time to move on (sounds harsh I know), unless you really want to stick with him, in which case understand how addiction works, and just be there fo rhim when he needs help.
