29th October 2004
Paula,
I don't post much here (although I'm reading posts almost everyday/night)...I just was amazed to see that you have Crohn's...I battle with the same disease, and I'm having a severe flare right now. I'm on Asacol, prednisone, 6-MP (as of yesterday), and pain meds as well. The worse problem I deal with pain-wise right now is the severe arthritis in my joints...mostly my knees and fingers. I can barely function unless I take the pain meds. My gastroenterologist has me on the generic for Norco, but he wants me to wean off that and go on Ultracet. I didn't tell him that I know from reading here that Ultracet is just as addicting, and from what I've read..even harder to get off of! I really don't want to go on it. My husband also is in control of my pain meds..I have a HUGE tendency to take WAY more than prescribed. If it were up to me, I would get off them completely (just because of the constant guilt and torment associated with taking any kind of narcotic), but in all honestly...I CAN'T function normally without them. I really can't. It makes me sad to admit that...and I'm not saying that due to the wonderful "high" I get from taking them...yes, I love that part, but it only last for so long before I crash and start feeling the guilt, self-hatred, etc. I'm so conflicted on actually needing the pain meds for a chronic medical condition, and taking them because I LIKE the way they make me feel. As a mother to 5 kids, guilt is something I experience about 99.9% of the day. I ask myself constantly, "why can't I just be normal?", "why can't I function without all this medication?"...why, why, why...sometimes I wish I didn't think so much! ;)
Anyway, I'll stop bombarding you with MY problems~ haha~ I just wanted to say, "Hi!", and to let you know that I battle with the same disease. It's an awful, horrible illness, and causes SO much pain. You know what? I was reading on a pain management site recently that had Crohn's listed at the #3 most painful medical condition out there...I truly believe that. I hope to get to know you better, and hopefully discuss more in detail our struggles with Crohn's. I was diagnosed 12-13 years ago, but due to my many pregnancies...I've managed to stay in remission for quite a long time. Like I said above, it's been just recently that I've struggled with a MAJOR flare-up..and my colonoscopy showed hundreds of polyps...most benign, but some pre-cancerous (the reason I'm now on the 6-MP~ which you probably know is chemotherapy).
I look forward to hearing back from you!!!! Like I said before, I don't post a whole bunch, but I read posts daily..and I feel as if so many of the wonderful people here are part of my family, as I care about everyone here. I want nothing more than to see everyone beat their demons, and to live a life full of happiness, peace, security, self-love, and to beat whatever it is they are fighting as far as addiction. Much love to you!
I don't post much here (although I'm reading posts almost everyday/night)...I just was amazed to see that you have Crohn's...I battle with the same disease, and I'm having a severe flare right now. I'm on Asacol, prednisone, 6-MP (as of yesterday), and pain meds as well. The worse problem I deal with pain-wise right now is the severe arthritis in my joints...mostly my knees and fingers. I can barely function unless I take the pain meds. My gastroenterologist has me on the generic for Norco, but he wants me to wean off that and go on Ultracet. I didn't tell him that I know from reading here that Ultracet is just as addicting, and from what I've read..even harder to get off of! I really don't want to go on it. My husband also is in control of my pain meds..I have a HUGE tendency to take WAY more than prescribed. If it were up to me, I would get off them completely (just because of the constant guilt and torment associated with taking any kind of narcotic), but in all honestly...I CAN'T function normally without them. I really can't. It makes me sad to admit that...and I'm not saying that due to the wonderful "high" I get from taking them...yes, I love that part, but it only last for so long before I crash and start feeling the guilt, self-hatred, etc. I'm so conflicted on actually needing the pain meds for a chronic medical condition, and taking them because I LIKE the way they make me feel. As a mother to 5 kids, guilt is something I experience about 99.9% of the day. I ask myself constantly, "why can't I just be normal?", "why can't I function without all this medication?"...why, why, why...sometimes I wish I didn't think so much! ;)
Anyway, I'll stop bombarding you with MY problems~ haha~ I just wanted to say, "Hi!", and to let you know that I battle with the same disease. It's an awful, horrible illness, and causes SO much pain. You know what? I was reading on a pain management site recently that had Crohn's listed at the #3 most painful medical condition out there...I truly believe that. I hope to get to know you better, and hopefully discuss more in detail our struggles with Crohn's. I was diagnosed 12-13 years ago, but due to my many pregnancies...I've managed to stay in remission for quite a long time. Like I said above, it's been just recently that I've struggled with a MAJOR flare-up..and my colonoscopy showed hundreds of polyps...most benign, but some pre-cancerous (the reason I'm now on the 6-MP~ which you probably know is chemotherapy).
I look forward to hearing back from you!!!! Like I said before, I don't post a whole bunch, but I read posts daily..and I feel as if so many of the wonderful people here are part of my family, as I care about everyone here. I want nothing more than to see everyone beat their demons, and to live a life full of happiness, peace, security, self-love, and to beat whatever it is they are fighting as far as addiction. Much love to you!