Struggling with Painkiller Dependency After Stoma Surgery

Hi folks,

I'm new here and not sure about the etiquette. If there is a relevant thread going already, please let me know.

Anyway, 7 years ago I got an emergency stoma. It nearly killed me. Long story. Since then, there have been a few trips to the hospital. Each time I get blasted with opioid painkillers, benzos, and whatnot. Over time, these things have gotten under my skin. I don't use, but I think about more pain pills every day. I recently broke a rib and I asked my doctor for some pills to get me through 3 nights. He gave me a big bag of opioids I did not want, and I can't get it out of my mind. Anyone else feeling the pull to the dark side as an unwanted side effect of stoma surgery?

Nope, because they make me throw up, projectile!! Duck!

You couldn't have said no to the large bag and said you only want 3 days at most. I had kidney stones a few weeks ago and had to get them removed a few days later and told doctors I only wanted the extra strength Aleve or ibuprofen. I try to stay away from opioids because I fear a blockage from past experiences besides the addiction they could lead to.

Hi Fred,

No, I can't say I've ever been in that boat. But having that demon sitting on your shoulder whispering in your ear all the time must really suck. I've got a best friend who got addicted to crack and fell hard. He successfully got through rehab, but he tells me whenever things get bad... the temptation is always there. Luckily, they have him on a medication that will cause serious adverse reactions if he gets weak and tries it. It seriously limits the type of painkillers he can be on when he gets sick and needs to be... but he knows it's for the best. We're pulling for ya!

;O)

That's a tough one, Fred.

I've had pain so bad, I just curled up screaming for days at a time. When eventually I was put in the hospital for 28 days, I initially refused pain medication. I did not want side effects or addiction. It was extremely hard. A few hours before surgery, I reluctantly agreed to three morphine shots through my IV. Pain and extreme weight loss had beaten me down, and I couldn't talk through clenched teeth. I got a little relief, said goodbye to my wife, and went off to exploratory surgery. After recovery, I never gave pain medication another thought.

It's easy to become addicted. Harder than hell to get and stay sober. Give the pills back to the doctor. Tough it out. You will thank yourself later.

When someone you love dies from an overdose, it can change how you see those little pills quickly.

Sometimes it's just time to grow up and be done doing stupid things in one's life. Nobody is forcing you to take anything.

Thanks for reading the post, everyone. And for the replies... all comments taken aboard and appreciated.

Fred, it sounds like you are addicted already to a degree. If you are thinking about the drugs, I had a brother that had a drug addiction. It is so painful to watch someone killing themselves this way. Please let your doctors know and seek help. Most doctors here in the States are closely monitored on their prescriptions for opioid drugs. It takes guts to reach out like you did.

Hi

Not addicted at all, but rather I do feel the pull towards drug abuse. I think I may have painted the wrong picture here. I have no intention of going down the addiction road. I love the simple life. I have seen friends go down that road, and I know there is no gold at the end of that rainbow. I'm more interested in the conversation about how a potential habit during the ulcerative colitis treatment journey can be a hazard. I am curious to know if it is just me or has anyone else stumbled over this problem. The stoma journey broke me once already, and I dusted myself off and got (mostly) happy and stable again. I have no plans to flush it away on pills. But... and this is the dilemma, I have chosen life, yet an unforeseen side effect of the treatment is the pull to play in the shadows.