re:stigma concerning pain meds,ect

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I just wanted to weigh in with my " thing " about having to use the

really strong meds. I wear the duragesic patch, and before that I

was on oral morphine, it helped the pain but really did a number on

my stomach so I had to stop it.

Anyway, my thing is being afraid of people finding out what meds I

take/use who are " street " addicts, and maybe breaking into my house

or something like that! I have a very dear friend who I've been

friends with for 30+ years, we worked together and raised our

families around the same time, were close friends, both of us lost

our first husbands young... well to make a long story short, three

of the five of her surviving kids (adults) are all active drug

addicts & two of her kids died in the past while under the influence

of illegally obtained pharmaceutical drugs.

They have really all gone downhill, don't work, in abusive

relationships, drive her crazy with worry, in trouble with the

police all the time. These are not uneducated, poor, criminal type

folks, Im talking middle class, educated, people you would never

think of this happening to. I haven't even told her about my meds

because of them, afraid she would let it slip in front of one of

them. I shred the packages and all paperwork pertaining to my meds

before throwing them away; and keep the meds put away out of sight

at all times.

This is a small rural town, but drugs are as rampant here, as most

anywhere else. I really am afraid for anyone to get hold of this

information. Does anyone else have this problem? Being afraid of

this same thing, I mean?

My mom used to make her little innuendo's about the meds I take

every time I have some sort of set back, she blames it on the meds,

but she takes pretty strong meds herself; she just is one of those

people who don't believe anyone else can hurt as much as she does or

get as sick as she does. LOL So, I ignore her. Im very careful

with my meds and I do exactly as my dr tells me, and I am very

serious about concern for side effects, etc.

I'm thankful for being able to have pain relief, otherwise I

couldn't function anywhere near normally; but I don't underestimate

the danger or seriousness of taking them either. But, that's just

the one thing Im most afraid of, with the drug situation around this

town being so serious.

Thanks

--

Peggy