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Topic: Am I becoming a junky ? (Read 753 times) |
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UnsolvedEquation
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I'm doing my best not to take more than 12 mg of Imitrex (injections). Doc says I'm gonna blow my heart up if I keep taking so much. He also says that Imitrex is probably what is keeping the frequency of my headaches so high (rebound).
Tonight...after my 4 th headache of the day...I went to the ER for some pain meds. By the time the doc was able to see me an hour and a half had past and my headache was almost gone. I even told him so. Without any pain meds, my headache probably would've been completly gone in another 10 - 15 minutes...but I still took the shot of Morphine. The thing is...I think I'm starting to like the effects of Morphine, Stadol, and Demerol. I don't want to become a 'junky'. I've seen so many people lose everything because of drugs. But the docs are insisting that I should go to the ER for meds rather than take more than 2 shots a day. If I follow their advice, I could be in the ER 4 - 5 times a week.
Any advice for me ?
Stuck between a rock and a hard place !
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jonny
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #1 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:17am » |
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on Sep 8th, 2003, 12:14am, UnsolvedEquation wrote:| I'm doing my best not to take more than 12 mg of Imitrex (injections). Doc says I'm gonna blow my heart up if I keep taking so much. He also says that Imitrex is probably what is keeping the frequency of my headaches so high (rebound). |
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Smart Doc, listen to him!!
........................jonny
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kim
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #2 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:27am » |
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Cluster attack: up to 1.5 hours........several times throughout day and nite.
Druggs: mess you up all day and all nite long.
Imitrex: look to the left buttons for imitrex tip; plus there is a bunch of non- med stuff you can do for aborting an attack , i drink lots of hot coffee and use cold compress to face. No need to deal with morphine. it will hurt you more in the long run.
Well wishes,
Kim
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Not4Hire
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #3 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:33am » |
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...UE... ya sound like a guy that's not afraid to take *strong medicine*..... try some shrooms...after you've read up on the uh, ...commitment to change ( if not to cure) the MOFO.... it's not for everybody. but at least, it's worth a look....
good luck and i hope you find yer key...
Steve--N4
<<<<my email is over there
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #4 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:43am » |
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Kim...I don't need any tips on using Imitrex...I know as much about it as anybody does...but thanx anyways.
Steve...I've never tried shrooms. It's prolly the only thing I haven't tried. I'll look into it and maybe try it, but so far...there's only a few things that will abort an attack for me. Imitrex, Demerol, Morphine, and Stadol (Big doses).
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Mark C
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #5 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:58am » |
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O2 ?
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #6 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:59am » |
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02 only works for breathing. Won't stop an attack.
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| « Last Edit: Sep 8th, 2003, 1:00am by UnsolvedEquation » |
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Mark C
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #7 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 1:12am » |
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LOL...I understand. I am going to try oxygen this year...something new for me. Imitrex is the nectar of the Gods but I too have the same problem of bumping up against the limit. I read a post from a guy in Sweeden a while back that said he used up to 10(!) 6 mg shots a day. I think I may have used 5 in 24 hours but the effect seems to lessen with more use. If the second shot don't kill it more don't help. I can cycle ever 3 or 4 hours on a bad day though.
Shrooms are on the list also...never tried them medicinally but I would piss on a sparkplug if it would stop an attack.
Been down the narcotic road quite a few times also....I can eventually render myself quite senseless and still have a HA....the Triptans are the first thing to ever help....but I am always looking.
I wish I could find the"magic mix" for an effective preventive but no luck so far. 
Cool website too...I hope to spend some more time developing my html skills so I may pick your brain 
PFDAN's
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Georgia
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #8 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 2:03am » |
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on Sep 8th, 2003, 12:43am, UnsolvedEquation wrote:| Kim...I don't need any tips on using Imitrex...I know as much about it as anybody does |
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The Imitrex tip Kim was pointing you to tells you how to break one injection into 3...using only 2mgs per attack. What that means for you is: you could treat 6 attacks a day with Imitrex without going over your 12mg limit....it also means that the issue of going to the ER for narcotics would become moot.
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Callico
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #9 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 2:12am » |
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Mark,
I haven't tried the sparkplug therapy yet, but I will if you tell me it works. Does it have to be live or can it just be lying loose on the floor?
U.E. O2 only works for me if i get to it EARLY in an attack. I try to use it before a shadow even expresses itself. I don't think you are a junkie yet. As long as you realize the danger I don't think you have crossed the line, but please be careful. It can reach out and get a hold on you before you know it.
jc
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #10 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 2:16am » |
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Like I said...I don't need any tips about how to use Imitrex. I can take em' apart and take however many mgs I feel I need blindfolded in record time! By the way...I require 4 mg each dose...2 mg won't do the trick.
But again...thanx anyways 
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OneEyeBlind
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #11 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 5:08am » |
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Have you tried the dance ???? Try excercise to decrease the pain level. Natural, inexpensive, and will never cause a rebound. I've heard that large doses of Imitrex can cause rebounds.
Good luck !!!!!!!
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Donna
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #12 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 7:25am » |
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The only way you will know if you are hooked or not is by not using any pain meds..........if you are addicted you will become ill on the second day....worse on the third, etc.......until you are crawling around begging for help or looking for a fix.
And.......you can become hooked within two weeks if you are taking high enough doses. Depends on the half life of the drug.
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #13 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 7:34am » |
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Well...In that case, I'm definatley not hooked yet. I guess I just felt a little guilty due to the fact that I sorta liked the effects and maybe i'm afraid that getting hooked might be what happens if I follow my docs advice.
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Donna
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #14 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 7:43am » |
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I'm so glad that you aren't!! I watched a couple of young people very close to me fight with this problem. It is heart breaking to watch someone who really wants to quit struggle for years trying to get back to almost normal. It is a tough battle, and very frustrating.
Please be careful.
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Tiannia
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #15 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 11:11am » |
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I too worry about that but at this time it is not due to the CH. I take codine for my back and when I got pregnant they told me that was going to have issues because I had to go off of it and it is addictive. But I stopped cold turkey without an issue and do it now every comple of weeks to make sure that I can. The only problem I have with that is that I can not move really well cause my back locks up and I am in a shit load of pain.
But the codine does nothing for the headaches. I wish it did then I could kill two birds with one stone. 
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Hound_Dogg
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #16 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:05pm » |
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on Sep 8th, 2003, 7:25am, Donna wrote:The only way you will know if you are hooked or not is by not using any pain meds..........if you are addicted you will become ill on the second day....worse on the third, etc.......until you are crawling around begging for help or looking for a fix.
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??? Not trying to pick on ya or anything Donna, but if a diabetic took this route...then they are addicted to insulin. If someone who's been using steroids, for a while, took this route...then they are addicted to steroids.
Addiction---the unrelenting urge to use a substance (Narcotics, in this case), without any medical need &without any care as to effects on health.
Dependence- Physical cravings that appear after suddenly stopping a substance that the body has become accustomed to
Someone can be truly addicted to a narcotic without having dependence and vice versa. Dependence is a normal occurrence of long term narcotic use. The development of dependence is different with each individual...usually 1 month of chronic narcotic use, and is usually easily abated by a "slow taper" of the offending narcotic.
Unsolved...I would ask myself..."am I using this medication for pain, or am I just liking the way it makes me feel. Are you taking it, when not in pain...just to get a good night's sleep." also, you have to ask your Doctor about "Dependence", and how he/she will manage this problem if or when it occurs.
If your taking it for reasons other then pain..then it's time to step back and evaluate if this medication is worth the problems that it may present.
E-Mail or I.M. me if you have any other questions.
Jim
Good luck
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don
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #17 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:15pm » |
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Quote:| And.......you can become hooked within two weeks if you are taking high enough doses. |
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And thats just the physical aspect. A psychological addiction can begin almost immediately.
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Tiannia
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #18 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 12:49pm » |
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Aye - with my codine - when there is a need I take it. I figure I am doing etreemly well if I can take less then what is actually prescribed and only take it when I need it for the pain, ie I can not move do to the pain. And not just take it cause I want the high and I do not want to give a shit. The codine can give you a high that makes you not care so much that you are in pain and not really help with the pain but makes you care less.
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The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. - Carl Rogers
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jonny
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #19 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 2:29pm » |
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on Sep 8th, 2003, 12:59am, UnsolvedEquation wrote:| 02 only works for breathing. Won't stop an attack. |
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Hmmmmmm!!
I guess I was dreaming about knocking the beast on his ass four times last night by using 02, matter of fact I emptied the tank dry in this dream and had to get refilled today.
Man, my dreams run right into my waking hours....LMAO ;D
....................................jonny
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Georgia
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #20 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 2:57pm » |
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Jonny -
What happened to you being PF??
Sorry that you are getting hit again. 
Are you thinking about going back on the meds? Did you ever stop them totally?
Clueless in Texas,
G
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jonny
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #21 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 3:05pm » |
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I never stopped taking the meds....I guess my free ride is up......LOL ;D
Thanks Georgia but it aint nuttin but a thang, was a great ride though ;D
................................jonny
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ksmiggy
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #22 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 3:22pm » |
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Getting addicted to your painkillers, is not something you want, i was worried the same as you, I found myself on 100 tabs every 2 weeks (500mg paracetamol,30mg Codiene),on top of a few immigran injections, even i was concerned, best thing to do is try to find another painkiller that works, and rotate what you use, don't rely on just one abortive, even when you find a good one, keep searching, the more options you have , the better.
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miCHel
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #23 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 3:33pm » |
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Hi U.E.,
Very good question. I have asked myself the same thing but in a different way. You see, I only found out about Imitrex shots 2-3 years ago (on this site). Before that, I had to go through every attack without any help (all the other "junk" i tried was completely useless). That lasted for more than 15 years but I still managed.
But now, using Trex (which works like a charm for me everytime) seems to have reduced my endurance. Whenever I find myself with no more shots or have gone way over my limit and try to fight an attack without it, it seems much tougher to fight the beast compared to when I had no idea there was a magic cure for this thing.
Anyone else experienced this? Or am I becoming a wimp? Hummm... I wonder 
Sorry, I have no answers for you U.E.. Just more questions...
Just be careful out there.
miCHel
PS Jonny, sorry your PF ride is over. I wish you a much longer one really really soon.
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Am I becoming a junky ?
« Reply #24 on: Sep 8th, 2003, 4:43pm » |
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Thanks to you all for your responses. I truely am using the narcotics to reduce my pain. I have never went to the ER or taken pain meds at home for the high. I use Imitrex injections like they're going out of style. I prefer Imitrex over any other drug and always exceed the limit before an ER visit. The doctors are the ones that are telling me to use the ER and the narcotics. I just don't think they realize yet how much I will be needing narcotics if I taper back to only 12 mg of Imitrex a day. But they are insisting that the Imitrex will do me in if I keep at this pace. I just feel like if I follow the docs advice ( several doctors ) I will almost definatley become hooked and that's the last thing I need right now ( another problem ). I wish that the O2 worked for me like it does for so many others, but it just doesn't. I have only a few sources of relief: Imitrex injections, DHE 45 IV, or big doses of strong narcotics also thru an IV. I've tried everything else under the sun and been to many 'headache specialist'...they just can't help me.
The possibility of becoming hooked:
When I think about the future and the possiblity of using lots of narcotics, I think of my 10 yr old son and how much WE NEED EACH OTHER. I don't want to ever let him down or not be able to be there for him. I love him too much to become a druggie !
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