Re: Addiction -- Dependence -- Tolerance

From: cathy:- (anonymous@medispecialty.com)
Wed Aug 21 22:53:10 2002

We have a person on our board who was almost killed by the pain itself. Like Kris Ann said, we don't know you, you don't know us, and you certainly don't know Karla N. She has lost her bladder and a couple of feet of intestine to various failed attempts to deal with the damage that adhesions have done to her internal organs. Because she has no bladder, it is very easy for bacteria to get into her kidneys and cause infections, and with the progressive damage she has been tottering at the edge of complete renal shutdown for over a year now. Part of the function of the kidneys is to regulate blood pressure, and she has severe uncontrollable fluctuations in blood pressure. A few years ago she had a medical crisis while out of town, and she ended up in a military hospital thousands of miles away from home. The doctors there were utterly appalled by the totally inadequate pain meds that she had been given by all these doctors who did nothing but surgery (Karla has had over 50 operations) and the surgery did nothing but make things worse. These doctors told her that one of the reasons that her blood pressure was out of control was the amount of pain that she was in. They gave her liquid morphine and told her to take it, and not fool around. Because uncontrolled high blood pressure will kill you in an instant with a stroke or a blood clot in the lungs.

"Oh," but you say, "at least she wouldn't die an addict!"

Yeah, right, puh-leeeeze!

At Wed, 21 Aug 2002, Tammy wrote: >
>I agree with you Kris Ann. I too am in the same position. My adhesions
>are so bad and severe that the drs will not operate as They is a good
>possiblility I will die or end up with a colostomy or losing a kidney or
>two. Pain medication used for pain is not addicting. If abused and
>used as a crutch yes. But masking our pain no. I too have a family and
>the medication I take alows me to have a bit of a life and function. I
>try not to take the strong heavy duty stuff but there are times and when
>I let the pain get out of control and need the help. Allowing a person
>to suffer when in pain does not do the body good. I agree 100% when you
>have no options you do what you have to survive. Tammy
>
>At Wed, 21 Aug 2002, Naildoc84@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>Wow,
>>You know,, I don't know You but,,, You don't know us... As for me
>>personally,,, I have no other options... Surgery is out, it could kill me.
>>Chronic pain is what remains. Shouldn't i have the option to raise my kids
>>with help of medication,,, or stay in bed with a heating pad, and crying
>>because I didn't take a pill to help me have the stamina to face the day to
>>get on top of the pain. It may do as you say,,"mask " the adhesion pain,,
>>but When there is no option,, I choose to be able to at least have the day if
>>possible, to raise my kids. I understand you have been under some very
>>strained circumstances,, I have had pain since 1988,,, i am a 36 yr. old
>>woman, happily married, with 4 teenagers. I take painkillers to help me with
>>my adhesion pain,, Not to mask my life. But because of it,, I can
>>function thru every day tasks, Without it my jkids would be my nurse, my hub
>>my caregiver, and i would be able to give nothing back. Don't make these
>>people who have so little options feel like addicts because of your
>>experiences. We all just want to be pain free.
>>Sorry for your bad times,, and I'll pray for you.
>>Kris Ann

--
cathy :-)

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