Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

wow this is so disturbing on many levels ---pain pills are horrible--and need to be avoided if any way possible--what did wifey do before you got the script--if she is gonna fool with this shit --she needs to be under a drs care
anybody heard of the michael jackson fiasco--hide the toxic crap from her--step up ---say no

I think you need to lock your meds up. Why doesn't she get insurance now that she is working? There are other places besides the employer that she can get it, especially if she hasn't been Dxed with anything major yet. If she is in pain, she will likely make the priority to go to the dr. But, are you sure she is having pain? I am not saying that she is a drug seeker, but Rx drugs are so highly abused by ppl that don't want to go by the illegal stuff on the street corner. Isn't it illegal for her to take yours? Considering they are controlled substances?

And, I agree, this is disturbing. The other thing is that it is considered spousal abuse to take a spouses meds that are for their health; whether it is to take them for consumption, to sell, or just to withhold them from the spouse for control.

I think you may need to do some soul searching and decide if this is a healthy (psychologically, not just physically)way to live. Can you get some meds specific for MS so that you do not cont to deteriorate, rather than being on these strong pain meds? I don't know about MS treatments, but certainly they are better than pain pills. The pills should only be a last resort, right? And, lock up your meds!!!! Kymberli

First and foremost, Welcherdean, welcome aboard, and great post! I hope you're finding the support and answers you need.

That said, I'm going to disagree fervently with Sherryalton and fwlady. I've read a lot of their posts, and I think they are very, very smart people and you should consider their words strongly. But I come from a different point of view on this topic.

Apparently I'm the only person on here who supports the use of hydrocodone. But even as allegedly dangerous as the acetaminophen (Tylenol) part of Vicodin is for our liver, as long as you take the medicine as prescribed, if it is the only thing that works, then don't let anybody tell you to give it up.

I think our medical establishment, under pressure from an overzealous DEA and far too many arrogant and bigoted doctors who think they know best even when they've never had to combat a disease or pain that we not only live with but spend more time researching than they do, is terrorizing our doctors and brainwashing the media and people who genuinely suffer from pain to make them think they don't deserve treatment for their pain

I think pain meds are good, perfectly legitimate, and I don't think you should listen to anyone tell you otherwise, just because some people misuse them. If they work for you, then you just need to find a way to keep them away from your wife. It may cause some discord, but that may be what it takes to treat your illness and prevent her from harming herself.

That said, the pain pills are YOURS. And you need to KEEP them. It's hard, but I'd keep them on you at all times. Blame the doctor. Say the doc wants you to keep a journal and account for your usage and you don't want to lie. Frankly, keeping a journal of usage would be good for you, because it can help you analyze your own use, and whether you are increasing your frequency of need or whether you're plugging along, just taking it like the doctor ordered.

If your wife has pain -- and God knows its hard to see a loved one in pain!! -- then get her to the doctor. She needs her own scripts. And frankly, it sounds like she needs your supervision of her use of any pain scripts.

I believe the research suggests that about 6 to 8 percent of the world's pop has an addictive personality. And those people need to be carefully administered to. It doesn't mean that they should be relegated to pain "management" rather than pain "treatment," but regardless, she has to get her own scripts and you may have to be the one to control her doses and when she gets them. But she deserves pain treatment.

And so do you.

Also, I feel your pain when it comes to medicine. But hydrocodone is among the least expensive prescription pain meds. If she needs them, she can buy them. The lowest does, at least in the U.S., is 5/500, and it runs $20 to $28 a month without insurance. Do without a couple pizzas a month (speaking like a guy who loves pizzas), maybe, and that should cover it.

Anyway, just a competing thought.

I hope that whatever you choose to do, it works well for the both of you while allowing you to maintain the treatment you need!

lock up the pills and keep them away from her! you are an enabler, not to mention an accessory(hopefully to nothing) let the dr take control of her meds, that`s why they spent so much time in school;. get away from that situation and get a qualified dr in your position.

alternative pain killers

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herbs

You don't say how long this has been going on, but it may be past the point of locking things up, JMO. I think you need to try to really get a grip on the situation and figure out exactly how much she is taking. It sounds to me like this may be way past a little pain. Also, many jobs do not allow people to work under the influence,and she could be risking her job, especially if she would not be able to produce a prescription for a medication, even if it was a justifiable use.

It is very hard to deal with a situation like this with a loved one. People who want to take a drug will use all kinds of things...excuses, guilt, rationalization. I would suggest that you deal with it head on and be firm in what you know and say. It is not loving someone to allow them to hurt themselves in any way.

I am not a person that does not believe in pain medication, so that is not what I am saying. If she is in real and extreme pain, she should go to the doctor, or if needed, the ER, and have it dxd and prescribed for. The expense now will save much down the line.

JMO, most times when people are eating someone else's meds at a fast pace, there is something going on. If her job has medical intervention line that she would trust, that might be a possiblity. There are many resources to help people deal with drug abuse and the drug abuse of a loved one. I think the best thing to do is to be as honest with yourself and your wife about what is going on, and if she is willing to deal with it, do so. If not, do the things you can on your own.

Getting your meds back to you and getting your wife any and all medical help she needs will make every situation you have to deal with better.

JMO, and I wish you the very best.

You are in a difficult situation. However, your wife needs to deal with HER problem. You have enough on your plate dealing with your own serious problems.

As for the drugs -

I find that as a person with MS that I am a MAGNET for those looking for painkillers!

I have been on various substances over the years (most recent has in fact been oxycontin which I have very recently decided is not helping me much and I am now off of it). I am not certain that any of these narcotics help me personally and I just hate the side effects.

What I have had to do is lock my drugs up that are Class II and up narcotics sadly. My house could get robbed or someone that knows I get these drugs could break in and rob me. I have a small metal box with keys to it that I keep my stuff locked up in for this reason.

You also might look into other pain killers. I haven't found any that seem to really help as I have already mentioned. I suffer from neuropathy and it is a difficult pain to manage it seems.

In any event, you wife has to deal with herself and you are enabling her by giving her pills or allowing her to take them. This also happens to be a felony, but I won't go there ok?

I wish I could offer better advice other than lock your drugs up and DO NOT share them with anyone! I learned the hard way re: this personally. :(

Take care of yourself!

I have to agree with HappyPlatypus. If your wife has a pain condition, she needs to go to the doc and get her own script. I took hydrocodone until it stopped working for me. My doc switched me to a stonger pain med. I could not function and I could not sleep it it weren't for my pain meds. My daughter in law has stolen non narcotic meds from me and who knows what else before I realized she had a problem. Now I have to keep my meds in a lockbox.
Take care of yourself and help your wife take care of herself if she really has a problem with pain. No one should have to suffer with chronic pain and no relief. Good luck to you both.
jae

One other thing, JMO. It is soemtimes not only hard, but physically dangerous to just stop taking a drug that you have been taking alot of.

I would agree that this is your wife's problem, but at the moment her problem has also become yours, which is where you need to start. Again, JMO

It would be best if she cant get insurance to get her to a free clinic to be looked at for her pain....
maybe until then you dont have to cut her off completely but only give her a pill at night to help her sleep and tell her that is all you can give up, because you are running out to soon and your pain is what the pills are for...
I took some of my hubby's pills when the doc would not give me any, years ago and I did not take so many that it affected his taking them, but it did help me to keep working and be able to get my own meds eventually, so keep in mind that she may really be hurting too, you just may have to say no sometimes...

Sorry this is happening to you, you obviously have enough going on.