I have missed you all a great deal. Our computer had the nerve to break down. We needed to buy a new hard drive and my brother had to get things straightened out for us. He has a sick baby at home, so he didn't have as much free time.
My son is doing GREAT as far as overcoming his addiction is concerned!!! He has only missed going to NA meetings once and that was because he was on the phone talking to one of my husband's coworkers about rehab because the coworker is going to lose his job because of alcohol and needs rehab to stop. I told him, and his counselor confirmed, that he had his own meeting that night because he wouldn't tell the guy that he had to go because he felt he needed him.
Medically, he's having problems. We had to take him to the emergency room last Saturday because he had a severe headache for about 2 to 3 days and then started shivering. I suggested he let me call the dr. about the headaches, and he walked out to have a cigarette saying..."I'm not going to the doctor's!"
Well, about 5 minutes later he came in the front door and said, "Call an ambulance!" He had started to tremor uncontrollably and had barely been able to get out of his chair to come in. The doctor in ER said he thinks he has a blood infection and he has a doctor appt. on Monday to follow up on that. He had another close call on Friday but it didn't get as bad. He refused to go to the hospital because he hates how long it takes there. We were there for 7 hours on Sat. and the time he went before rehab we were there for 9!
We have a very difficult week coming up! My son has 2 hearings on Tuesday, 1 hearing on Wednesday, and 1 hearing on Thursday. We did get some good news from the public defender though on Friday. He's almost certain he will only get probation and fines....no jail time for the offenses in that county. He will still have to deal with things in the other county down the line. He told him, however, that if he has any criminal offenses the judge will throw the book at him and forget he's in jail until he's ready to deal with him. Please, please keep us in your prayers because we ALL (my son, my husband, and I) get very upset about legal matters and then to have 4 of them to deal with in 4 day's time!!!! We will be going CRAZY! Please pray that the judge can see that my son wasn't a criminal until he made the very bad choice to start taking such a horrible addictive drug! I keep telling myself..."My son is alive...I can deal with the other stuff."
I look forward to catching up with what is going on in all your lives after I get the stupid taxes done! I have missed you so! You have been in my thoughts and prayers! God bless!
Love,
Susan
Hi, everyone (my 4/15 update)
Well, we made it through the tough week with the help of your prayers and support. The judge for Harry's first case wouldn't plea at his level but left him out on bail conditioned upon him continuing with rehab which he, of course, intended to do. He has a formal arraignment for that in May, followed by a hearing on the county level. The attorney doesn't seem concerned about it. The second case that day was settled with the person withdrawing the charges upon Harry making restitution. That will be off his record. At the preliminary hearing yesterday, the public defender recommended that Harry waive his right to that hearing and make the store prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he actually did what they are accusing, because Harry only remembers one of the incidents. That will take place in May also. At the Formal Hearing today, the DA agreed to drop the one charge (which is great - he refused to do that earlier) but wasn't able to get a hold of the person who needs to do it, plus they couldn't find the results of Harry's blood work for the DUI, so the judge continued it until sometime in May. Gee, I was dreading April, now it looks like I'll be dreading May too!!!! He still has a Formal Arraignment on April 19th for his last retail theft. I don't know how that will go, but it's not as scary as the actual hearings!
So that's where we are. My husband gets very edgy and grouchy about the legal stuff. It's not pleasant for me either, but it doesn't do any good to get grouchy about it. Harry IV claims to have 62 days clean! I hope that's correct. That's something to be happy about and I have to concentrate on that and the fact that he's still alive! Many parents don't have that consolation because of this hellish drug! I am blessed that Harry is doing well with his rehab and that I have you to help us through this! Thanks so much! I don't feel alone in this mess!
God bless you all!
Love,
Susan
Well, we made it through the tough week with the help of your prayers and support. The judge for Harry's first case wouldn't plea at his level but left him out on bail conditioned upon him continuing with rehab which he, of course, intended to do. He has a formal arraignment for that in May, followed by a hearing on the county level. The attorney doesn't seem concerned about it. The second case that day was settled with the person withdrawing the charges upon Harry making restitution. That will be off his record. At the preliminary hearing yesterday, the public defender recommended that Harry waive his right to that hearing and make the store prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he actually did what they are accusing, because Harry only remembers one of the incidents. That will take place in May also. At the Formal Hearing today, the DA agreed to drop the one charge (which is great - he refused to do that earlier) but wasn't able to get a hold of the person who needs to do it, plus they couldn't find the results of Harry's blood work for the DUI, so the judge continued it until sometime in May. Gee, I was dreading April, now it looks like I'll be dreading May too!!!! He still has a Formal Arraignment on April 19th for his last retail theft. I don't know how that will go, but it's not as scary as the actual hearings!
So that's where we are. My husband gets very edgy and grouchy about the legal stuff. It's not pleasant for me either, but it doesn't do any good to get grouchy about it. Harry IV claims to have 62 days clean! I hope that's correct. That's something to be happy about and I have to concentrate on that and the fact that he's still alive! Many parents don't have that consolation because of this hellish drug! I am blessed that Harry is doing well with his rehab and that I have you to help us through this! Thanks so much! I don't feel alone in this mess!
God bless you all!
Love,
Susan
Susan -
You have been through hell, and also through a miracle!
The strength you found in yourself is awesome. You looked for help, did the work and helped save your son's life.
You are an inspiration and I hope everyone here reads what you've been through. For us addicts, it helps reaffirm the hell we put our loved ones through, just for that little pill. Thanks for sharing your story, and keeping us posted. Good luck with the legal stuff, my prayers are with you.
You have been through hell, and also through a miracle!
The strength you found in yourself is awesome. You looked for help, did the work and helped save your son's life.
You are an inspiration and I hope everyone here reads what you've been through. For us addicts, it helps reaffirm the hell we put our loved ones through, just for that little pill. Thanks for sharing your story, and keeping us posted. Good luck with the legal stuff, my prayers are with you.
Susan, glad to hear that Harry IV is doing so well with his recovery, legal problems notwithstanding. I'm sure that this has been a very rough stretch for you. So much uncertainty and fear. I'll say a prayer for you both.
Hi, everyone
I just wanted to explain why you didn't hear from me but other forums on here did. Because of our computer problems, I lost my password that was saved on here. I could post on the other forums on here, but not the pain pills one for some odd reason. It must have some kind of protection. I tried getting a message to this board by stating on one of the others that I couldn't post on here. Hope you understand. I finally got the brainstorm today to just log on with a slightly different user name...so here I am.
Does anyone on here know much about blood infections? I think my son is suffering from it. He is tried ALL the time! I was getting suspicious, but he assures me that he isn't doing anything plus he's going to meetings every day. He lives for them now, thank God! He also got scheduled for his intensive outpatient (there was a mix up so he didn't get started in it until now - when will anything go easy for us!) starting tomorrow and he requested 3 instead of 2 days of care. An odd thing happened...his grandmother had to be taken to the hospital on Friday morning. She had had a urinary tract infection back in September and they think it never quite went away, and the infection got into her blood. She said that she thinks she's been suffering from it for a while because she's been tired all the time. She doesn't want to get up in the morning after a full night's sleep, she takes a nap, and she's ready for bed by 7 PM. We're going to get a dr. appt. for my son tomorrow to ask him to check on it as well as a hard lump my son has on his arm on the inside part of his elbow at an injection site. He said it really, really hurts when he pushes on it and it hurts when he moves it. Please keep the prayers coming! Thanks so much!
Love,
Susan
I just wanted to explain why you didn't hear from me but other forums on here did. Because of our computer problems, I lost my password that was saved on here. I could post on the other forums on here, but not the pain pills one for some odd reason. It must have some kind of protection. I tried getting a message to this board by stating on one of the others that I couldn't post on here. Hope you understand. I finally got the brainstorm today to just log on with a slightly different user name...so here I am.
Does anyone on here know much about blood infections? I think my son is suffering from it. He is tried ALL the time! I was getting suspicious, but he assures me that he isn't doing anything plus he's going to meetings every day. He lives for them now, thank God! He also got scheduled for his intensive outpatient (there was a mix up so he didn't get started in it until now - when will anything go easy for us!) starting tomorrow and he requested 3 instead of 2 days of care. An odd thing happened...his grandmother had to be taken to the hospital on Friday morning. She had had a urinary tract infection back in September and they think it never quite went away, and the infection got into her blood. She said that she thinks she's been suffering from it for a while because she's been tired all the time. She doesn't want to get up in the morning after a full night's sleep, she takes a nap, and she's ready for bed by 7 PM. We're going to get a dr. appt. for my son tomorrow to ask him to check on it as well as a hard lump my son has on his arm on the inside part of his elbow at an injection site. He said it really, really hurts when he pushes on it and it hurts when he moves it. Please keep the prayers coming! Thanks so much!
Love,
Susan
Dear Betsy,
Thanks for the kind words and prayers! They TRULY are sustaining us!!! Every time I start to get overwhelmed, I think of how blessed we are to still have him with us! I feel badly that my posting here makes you feel bad...because you see the other side. It's not my intent at all. When I started on this board, there was no family/partners of addicts forum, so I went to the pain pills site because he had started on the oxycontin. I met so many wonderful people on here that I couldn't stop posting here and just switch to the family forum. I stay connected with both, and besides you all help me to understand what he is going through...which is a big help.
I am truly convinced that the way out of addiction has to begin and always include God (or the addict's higher power). May God bless you with his strength and guidance.
Love,
Susan
Thanks for the kind words and prayers! They TRULY are sustaining us!!! Every time I start to get overwhelmed, I think of how blessed we are to still have him with us! I feel badly that my posting here makes you feel bad...because you see the other side. It's not my intent at all. When I started on this board, there was no family/partners of addicts forum, so I went to the pain pills site because he had started on the oxycontin. I met so many wonderful people on here that I couldn't stop posting here and just switch to the family forum. I stay connected with both, and besides you all help me to understand what he is going through...which is a big help.
I am truly convinced that the way out of addiction has to begin and always include God (or the addict's higher power). May God bless you with his strength and guidance.
Love,
Susan
Dear None4me,
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the kind words and the continued prayers!
I don't know what I'd do without my friends on here and their prayers for us!
May God bless you in a special way for your caring heart!
Love,
Susan
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the kind words and the continued prayers!
I don't know what I'd do without my friends on here and their prayers for us!
May God bless you in a special way for your caring heart!
Love,
Susan
hello seety IM so happy for you and family I will pray for you your doing great ...IM so looking forward to your post I will be on alot to help you and others I need you and hope you guys will need me love poopie
Good to hear from you Susan, I hope everything works out for you this week.
Good luck
JohnDee
Good luck
JohnDee
Hi, Susan
I have been thinking of you and wondering how Harry has been doing. I had to change my screenname from Jake 21 to Jake 2 because I lost my password ......for the second time . Lol
I am so happy to hear from you and to hear that Harry is still clean. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers for your up and coming legal battle. Hang in there Susan. You have your son back and our lord has seen the warm heart of a caring mom along with everyone else here. I think you can expect some help from above.
I got to go to work now ,.
God bless your family.
Jake
I have been thinking of you and wondering how Harry has been doing. I had to change my screenname from Jake 21 to Jake 2 because I lost my password ......for the second time . Lol
I am so happy to hear from you and to hear that Harry is still clean. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers for your up and coming legal battle. Hang in there Susan. You have your son back and our lord has seen the warm heart of a caring mom along with everyone else here. I think you can expect some help from above.
I got to go to work now ,.
God bless your family.
Jake
God bless u susan and ur son! all my love and prayers xoxoxoxxoox
Susan, thanks for keeping us posted! I am glad to hear your son is doing good. God will work out the legal stuff, and you are so right...at least you still have your son, and you have him CLEAN from that horrible stuff.
The blood infection stuff is scary; he should get bloodwork done to check it out. There are so many things out there; a guy from my homegroup got really sick, and after months of testing, they found herpes in his spinal fluid....who would have thought to look for something like that??
I hope you keep us posted, I love to hear how you all are doing.
The site kept logging me in on an old sn this weekend; so I am glad you got past it...
Kerry
The blood infection stuff is scary; he should get bloodwork done to check it out. There are so many things out there; a guy from my homegroup got really sick, and after months of testing, they found herpes in his spinal fluid....who would have thought to look for something like that??
I hope you keep us posted, I love to hear how you all are doing.
The site kept logging me in on an old sn this weekend; so I am glad you got past it...
Kerry
Hi Susan - thanks for the update on your son. Sorry to hear of the problems you/he are encountering, but as others have said, the fact that he is clean is a beautiful thing isn't it? Taking it a day at a time and dealing wiht life on life's terms can be challenging, but it sure beats the hell of addiction. Good luck to the both of you as you continue on this journey in recovery. Jim
Thanks for all the wonderful responses....so sorry I couldn't respond sooner.
Dear Poopie,
Thanks for your offer of help and prayers. You are such a sweetie! Hope you're doing well.
Dear John Dee,
Thanks for the good wishes. It was so kind of you and very nice to hear from you.
Dear Jake 2,
Talk about 2 great minds....I lost my password too when my computer crashed...that's why I'm devangreb2 now! lol Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers for our legal battle. May God bless you and your family for your caring heart.
Dear Elvis,
Your love and prayers are very needed and appreciated more than words can express.
Dear Kerry,
Thanks for the reassurance that God will help us through the legal stuff. I am so proud of my son! He was to the doctors again on Friday because he said he was tired of feeling tired all the time and thought it was still a problem with his blood. The doctor said that the cultures taken in the ER all came back negative. My son started to take even more herbal stuff than I was giving him when he came home. The doctor feels he might have been overdoing the vitamins and herbs and told him to come off of all of them except for a good multivitamin, his zoloft, and not prednizone (because he has poison ivy now). We'll hope that helps. I hope you're doing well.
Dear Jim,
I am so grateful that my son is still here with me and for his sobriety. One day at a time...with the prayers of our precious family and friends...we will make it through!
You are all so very dear to me and your love, prayers, and caring touches my heart and renews my strength! May God bless you for all you have done for us!
Love and prayers,
Susan
Dear Poopie,
Thanks for your offer of help and prayers. You are such a sweetie! Hope you're doing well.
Dear John Dee,
Thanks for the good wishes. It was so kind of you and very nice to hear from you.
Dear Jake 2,
Talk about 2 great minds....I lost my password too when my computer crashed...that's why I'm devangreb2 now! lol Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers for our legal battle. May God bless you and your family for your caring heart.
Dear Elvis,
Your love and prayers are very needed and appreciated more than words can express.
Dear Kerry,
Thanks for the reassurance that God will help us through the legal stuff. I am so proud of my son! He was to the doctors again on Friday because he said he was tired of feeling tired all the time and thought it was still a problem with his blood. The doctor said that the cultures taken in the ER all came back negative. My son started to take even more herbal stuff than I was giving him when he came home. The doctor feels he might have been overdoing the vitamins and herbs and told him to come off of all of them except for a good multivitamin, his zoloft, and not prednizone (because he has poison ivy now). We'll hope that helps. I hope you're doing well.
Dear Jim,
I am so grateful that my son is still here with me and for his sobriety. One day at a time...with the prayers of our precious family and friends...we will make it through!
You are all so very dear to me and your love, prayers, and caring touches my heart and renews my strength! May God bless you for all you have done for us!
Love and prayers,
Susan