Re: pain

January 9, 2009

, thanks for saying. This pain was the norm for 9 months. It drove me to

quit drinking and turn myself over to my doctor, whom I'd been resisting for 4

years. No physicals, etc. Then Ardis died, and I drank out of sheer emotional

anguish, something I had never ever doine before, and I finally got sober Sept

15, 2006. By then my spleen had swelled up and began hurtin\ too. I had my

gallbladder out in November, and this liver and spleen pain was getting the best

of me. Only because of my wife who is suffering from Chiari malformation, a

birth defect causeing brain stem compression, did I have any idea about going to

see a pain doc. First, I asked my hepatologist if Opioid analgasics were toxic

to our livers. He said no. Then, I asked if it would hurt my chances for a

transplant to get pain management. He said no, and even wrote in my chart that

he suggested that treating pain was the only recommended course available. I

could hardly believe it. I went to the pain doc, and he told me that alcoholics

are not at higher risk than the general population for becoming addicted to pain

meds, and for that reason, they sould not be denied treatment based soley on

past alcohol abuse. I checked this out from many sources. My doctor is not only

a pain medicine doc, but addiction specialist as well. At first, I told him

that I felt guilty. He assured me that if I was taking the pain meds ONLY for

actual pain, I would be safe. I still have the AA 24 hour coin from alcohol

detox and it says " to thine own self be true " . That coin and that reasoning,

and the insistance to not stray from my doctors instructions, along with showing

a huge commitment to honesty with this oppurtunity, I began stamping little note

books with a 24 hour clock with the hands removed, and writing down the time of

use of every single pill. I turned these in to the doctor for the first year and

a half. I was protecting my self and my doctor from scrutiny. You would

probably be refused by a primary care doctor, and especially an ER doc. If you

can find a pain medicine specialist, (different from pain management) I believe

you could get relief from your pain. My gosh, what a horrible thing it is to be

in pain. I am so so sorry you are. Love, Bobby

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

pain

Bobby sorry to hear about your severe pain,I am wondering,when I go see

my Hepatologist this month,should I tell him about my pain? Sometimes

it hurts (my liver) and I can't sleep,and other times it is my spleen

that gives me problems,and I am one that has to sleep on my side,or I

just lay awake,wich is quite often,to the point of being in tears

because I can literally go days with getting just a couple hrs of REAL

sleep,being an alcoholic I'm sure they couldnt give me anything

anyways.Hope you are felling better.My prayers are with ALL of you,God

bless! love & hugs,

January 9, 2009

Thank you for the optimism,things have been all screwy around here you know i

take care of Bob's dad,whom has Alzheimers well,he went and had a stroke (they

say small) 5 days ago,and he is still in the hospital,but is doing fine,he has

had about 4 in the last 10 yrs,and for the love of god I donno what keeps that

man ticking,sometimes I think god must have a sence of humor,he's 82 and crazy

as a loon-can't wait till Monday when he is expected to be released LOL!!! thank

you for the information,I guess that is what bothered me to even ask for

something for pain,feeling guilty,but what you said made sence,I did as you said

about going to the meetings and getting a sponsor,I really needed the 12 steps,I

dont think I could have stayed sober without them,remember what I said about my

dad being sober for nearly 20 yrs now an had never gone to a meeting,well Im

starting to really wonder if he could have pulled the wool over our eyes,or is a

dry drunk,either or

something isn't right,and I wouldnt have learned it without my meetings,bottom

line is the only one he is hurting is himself (he nearly died of

Pancreatitis) Hope you are feeling better,now Mr.-you need to loose some weight

so you can get on that damn list,the world would really miss you more than you

know!!!!!!!!! God Bless you & Sharron Hugs,

Subject: Re: pain

To: " Livercirrhosissupport " <livercirrhosissupport >

Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 8:43 PM