NEED ADVICE family denying me pain medicine for kidney stones?
I suffer from bouts with painfull kidney stones and have had 4 durgries stents and lipotripsy.I have a damanged kidney and ureter since the stones I have tend to be large with spurs.Due to chronic pain I was taking vicodin 4 times a day as needed.I developed an unavoidibe dependence to the medicine and was unable to stop due to the pain it was masking.My husband acused me of addiction after being on the pills for 1 year.He took away my meds and sent me to a detox center at hosptial.I have been completly off vicodin for 1.5 years.Now I have kindey stones agin I pased one at the ER and there are many more that require a surgury to remove before they move out and cause extreme pain .My family husband and in -laws do not beleave I am in pain and do not want me under any circumstances to recive pain meds as they think I will become "addicted" I dont agree and said that will not happen I will only take what I need until I recover.Well beceause of them i refused pain meds at the hosptial and sufferd horribly as I passed the stone.They said I can have the surgury but no pain meds after to to go home with as with any surgury the pain is unbearible w/out meds any advice ?
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4 comments
Chronic IL on June 2, 2010 at 11:51 am
Dana,
There is a lot of misinformation out there about addiction. Taking opioids, even daily for years, does not equal addiction. Dependence does not equal addiction. Addiction has a destructive and compulsive component driven by biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Addicts will do anything to get their fix regardless of harm. Numerous scientific studies indicate that less than 1% of patients taking vicodin or other opioid medications develop a true addiction. Dependence merely means that your body has acclimated to a medication and its absence causes withdrawal or other physical symptoms. A diabetic is dependent on insulin (not addicted) and chronic pain patients are often dependent on opioids. Discuss the situation with your physician and obtain the pain meds. Have your doc set your husband and his family straight or simply obtain them and use them without getting the in-laws involved. It is your body and your right. Who has surgery without pain meds? That’s just cruel. If you take as directed and communicate with your doc, you’ll be fine. I am sorry your husband and his family simply don’t have the facts or any apparent empathy. Make your own decision.
peanut on June 2, 2010 at 11:51 am
Find a way to get it and don’t let them know.
ReggieR on June 2, 2010 at 11:51 am
Dana Have you been up front with your doctor about prior history with pain medications. It is not all that unusual for some to become addicted to pain meds after long time usage. The real question becomes are you using alcohol, or any other type of street drugs. If you have been off vicoden and not substituting with some other meds or alcohol it would seem you have the situation under control. But if you started getting other prescriptions or drinking alcohol, or street drugs, then it still is an issue.
I can’t imagine passing a kidney stone or having an operation with out pain medications. It sounds like husband is a bit controlling close to being abusive. ??
Bottom line I would go alone to the doctor and openly discuss the WHOLE situation with the doctor. Worse comes to worse move out, have the surgery, recuperate, then talk to husband about returning home. It is unrealistic for anyone to expect you to have surgery without pain medication. Maybe it is time to reconsider this relationship. Your health and mental well being comes first. If you were addicted in the past that is a consideration that should be between you and your doctor, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST 100% WITH THE DOCTOR, if not you will again become addicted. God Bless ReggieR
dares2cares on June 2, 2010 at 11:51 am
Dana,
I really agree with ReggieR. You need to very upfront with your doctor. Tell your doctor about the past addiction and ask them what to do. Many times the doctor can prescribe something that is either non-addictive or something they can closely monitor.
As for your family- You first have to realize this is about you and you pain, not about their worries about addiction. If there is a medical necessity like Kidney stones (which do show up on a CT scan) there is nothing they can say or do about it if you get the pain medicine. It is your life and your body. The fact is kidney stones are one of the most escruciating types of pain there is (many times it is worse than pregnanacy). If your doctor thinks there is a need and you think their is a need, then you need to tell you husband and family that they need to go and talk to your doctor about it. Make sure that the doctor knows to tell them about the pain associated with kidney stones and that you have a need for this medicine. Pain medication should always be treid before risky surgery. If they still don’t want you to take the medicine, too bad. You can not live with this pain this way. They will have to take the risk of trusting you (and your doctor to do what is right for you.
I wish you the best with you pain and your untrusting family.