Good on you Grammy for giving up the sauce. Brave of all of us in this group to admit we have addictive personalities. I am glad I never had to live around raging alcoholics. Just some pretty good partiers

Hi!! Yay GB posted..but do you abuse them like I abuse alcohol? Or are you just addicted? There's a difference right? Cause I'm addicted to 3 benzos a day..but no more than 3...but I would be extremely upset if they weren't available.... I shake every month when I call in the script and panic till Dr fills them...and he's always late!

Thankfully Dr. V is very good at seeing me each month, on the day my script is ready to be refilled. He gives me 8 Norco per day now that I"m off the Fentynl Patch. I don't take more than what I'm allotted, but hate when it's not enough. I decided to take myself off of the Patch because I kept freaking myself out when a doctor told me I was just taking synthetic Heroin! He had me feeling guilty!! I am trying to find out about the Butrans Patch and also a med called Opana that doesn't have acetaminophen in it. I've been on pain medication for 15 years and I do worry about my liver. It was really hard growing up with alcoholic parents, especially my mom who was a horrible drunk. I had a step dad that would give me gas money if I would go drag her out of the bar. I was the mother more years than I was ever a child. Thank you guys for the warm welcome. I'm so glad I found this site! Hugs Gramybear

So it doesn't sound like you are abusing...but 8 Norco a day is a lot...I don't know about Norco..at all...I should google before responding..but 8 of anything is a lot :(.

Sounds like you are addicted..just for the fact that you are having to consume...this much medication to sustain a pain free....or pain less..day. My Mom was addicted to Vicodin...for her pain...and she didn't abuse it either..but they stopped it because of some STATE wide thing to stop prescribing it.

Really? After 10 years...they ripped her? My Mom is a Nurse..and she was so addicted...because it helped her..that she resorted to asking me..if my SON could get them. NOT typical of this woman. So I imagine if they took away your patches..you would do similar.

That's what alcohol does for me....most times...it medicates....and take it away...I'm not happy...take it away..I'm happy...its such a Catch 22.

Not your fault...and if your prescribed 8 and not taking 10...than your not abusing. I find it interesting you would want to converse with alchys....when you had a disturbing childhood....my son (Youngest) doesn't want anything to do with alcoholics cause of me.

If I were addicted to drugs (but I am to my benzos)...but I don't see them being pulled...but as well as alcohol...I'd be dead.

Welcome grammybear :)

Hi Missy2. Thank you for the welcome shanbanan.... I talked to my Psychiatrist for 45 minutes this morning (I usually get 5-10 minutes). We talked about my depression, anxiety, panic attacks and how the Norco is a short acting drug like Vicoden. The difference between Vicoden and Norco is Vicoden comes 5mg/325 mg Acetaminophen. The Norco is 10mg. She told me that the Norco causes the up and down affect which can make us feel worse because we have to wait in between doses even if we are in pain. She suggested I talk to Dr. V about going back on the patch as it is timed released, only has to be changed every 3 days, and she feels if it will give me better quality of life, then I should stop worrying about what other people feel about the patch. I didn't even know I was using the patch except when I would forget to change it! That happened at times. I have to keep it written on my calendar. I never could tell I was on the patch but I can tell when I"m on the Norco and I have to take 2 at a time to get any pain relief at all. Dr. V would prefer I was on the patch because of the ups and downs the Norco causes, as well as the Acetaminophen in it. You said you are surprised that I would want to to converse with alcoholics. Regardless of my childhood, I want to be helpful any way for anyone, regardless of what their addiction is, and I believe all addictions affect our lives. I don't judge people for what they do, I just feel it's important to be supportive. Does that make sense? I have been on pain medication for over 15 years and my pain has just gotten worse over the years. I abused alcohol for a long time, trying to not deal with the anger and other feelings I had over my childhood. One day, I was talking to my boys about not drinking or smoking as I sat there doing both. I quit the next day after realizing what a hypocrite I was to them. But I do understand what people go through. I feel like I"m rambling now, sorry. Hugs GB