[woodman]

Have you ever gone overboard using alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, meds, or other( coke, pot, opiates, psych's, etc)?

What were the results of use (or abuse)?

Please share your experience.

[LuckyinKentucky]

Meds and alcohol... a few close calls... and a spill or two. Decided finally to give both a rest.

[Rjeez]

Yes,definately.In fact,I was a heroin addict for a long time,and that is how I contracted staph.

But after my op,I vowed to stay clean,and I was doing well for about six months.

But when I left the hospital,I did drink very excessively,to replace the drugs if anything.In fact,I am an alcaholic.But,alcahol didn't seem enough,and I am ashamed to say that I have been dabbling with powders again.I really don't want to,but being in a wheelchair is a perfect excuse to use.I don't mean that it is justified,but I am kidding myself that being paralysed is a good reason to use,and instead of having the strength to fight the temptaion,I am wallowing in self pity and drugs.

I know that I can stay clean,and I know that,"What difference does it make now?" is bullshit,but I. . . don't know.I want to stay clean,for my parents,friends,everyone,but mostly,myself.I was so happy in the hospital,clean.In fact,there were some mornings when I would get up,go out in the sun,and I would feel myself welling up just looking at the awesome beauty at the blooms in the trees in the May sunrise.I did feel like god existed,not just as an idea,but actually real.

I want to be like that again,and I will.I just keep thinking that I can have drugs/alcahol and that happy feeling.But it isn't true.I've only been paralysed since April 08,and I am only 39.39 is young,but old enough to get my head together.I want to.I hope that you don't judge me for using drugs.

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Thank you for sharing your story Rjeez and no, I think this is one of the few places where you don't have to worry too much about being judged...

I experimented when I was younger, but it was'nt until I got hurt that I was thrown head frist into the world of prescription drugs. I did'nt expect to be released from the hospital still hooked on the kind of meds I was (Attivan, Dilodid, Fentanal). It finally came to the point a couple months out, where I came to the decision that if I did'nt get off them, I was going to die, whether by OD or my own hand. So one morning I took all the hard pain meds (Dilodid Fentanal) and flushed them... For the next two day's I went through ABSOLUTE HELL, puke, piss, shite, body aches the whole deal. But by the third morning I recovered and have been clean off them ever since...That was two and a half years ago now and I have never looked back!

In order to replace the med addiction, I am a now a self admitted adrenaline junkie and no i'm not trying to be funny...Although given my profession it's not always the safest addiction, but it is far healthier!!! LOL, I'm a coffee junkie as well...

[fatdave]

I was a meth addict from around age 15 - 20. pre-injury. Few months back I was very stupid and had a relapse. I smoked a small amount and felt safe with that, then went and shot up a much larger dose (half-gram with 30 units of water ) I felt like my spine was on fire and the spasms would not stop. for 16 hours i was in pain, and fearing mixing it with and opiate I eventually had to use xanax to come down.

My para friend (t6 incomplete) had a very similar experience.

Pot just makes me paranoid, very very paranoid. I can't handle it anymore.

[Ragadeyanne69]

Anyone fancy a chat about this now,this is my 1st day and i just wrote a reply but its vanished........Arghhhhhhhhh

[chickadee]

In order to help with the withdrawls off of my pain etc meds, I used a bit of pot to help me not be in so much pain, throw up everything I ate, and to be able to sleep. I did it three times - for the pain med withdrawls, for the anti-depressant/anxiety/hallucination meds (pain meds made me have auditory hallucinations - not fun but kind of entertaining at times) and for the baclofen/neurontin withdrawls. Without it, withdrawing from all of the prescriptions would have been probably so much worse. Personally, I find pot should be perfectly legal for medical use when necessary.

Now I'll have pot on occasion, or if I'm having a really crap day. I'm probably going to have to go back on at least the baclofen, but that would be about it for my body. Tylenol PM for night, marijuana when it's really too much to bear. As for alcohol, I have to be really careful because it screws up my bowels. I don't really feel like trying to get to the bathroom as fast as possible to avoid having an accident while still slightly drunk. I get maybe 30 seconds - 1 minute notice (that horrible croaking noise from within, and the immediate pukey feeling after... ugh) when it gets effed up, so to avoid it, I just drink one glass wine, one glass water, back and forth throughout the night.

As for anything harder, I wouldn't do it. My family history has a strong addictive nature, and I don't need to tempt fate. Plus, I have a feeling that anything like psychedelic mushrooms would make me freak out in my chair or on crutches - ummm, no thanks. Finally, I need to keep my brain in tip-top condition for the nature of work I do.

[LeahC]

I've been a recreational drug user for years, not so much now I'm disabled as I can't do the whole party scene due to the whole getting to a toilet thing. The only difference is the whole toilet thing, I've had bladder accidents and not been able to get the catheter in because I was so wrecked. The main things are making sure you shift your weight and go to the toilet more often. I find it a buzz kill being in the loo for 10 minutes though and a buzz kill being unable to get up and walk about so I've cut down a lot.

[CrazyLucky]

I think I've finally got a good regimen for pain...lyrica, cymbalta, and a bit of herb at night. Every now and again a lortab but not often.

For me it seeming that the alcohol has to go down kicking and screaming. I was a friend of alcohol before my accident. But with the meds and the imbalance...I've fallen a few times...once, after two drinks, into a cactus (ripped a pair of linen pants!).

I've tried to dial down but it's been tough. It's selfish at this point. So, I have to slooooow down. Pisser.

[chickadee]

Quote

I've fallen a few times...once, after two drinks, into a cactus (ripped a pair of linen pants!).

Where are there cactii in Maryland?