Just checking in with everyone.
Hoping your all well.

Kate33..thank you for your message..it hit right between my eyes.
I never was a "drinker' but of late, the pain is not being relieved by meds or other means such as ice, heat, TENS, spinal inj. and so forth.

I am not the least bit proud and yes, I am totally aware of the danger, but I do fix a good strong drink at least once or twice a day when I can no longer take the pain at it's worst. It's not everyday, yet. I can't say in truth it won't be if this pain continues to escalate, which, according to the dr.s it will.

I'm by myself 99% of the time, no one checks on me. let alone is concerned so I do what I have to in order to get through. I do have sense enough not to leave the house, let alone drive if I've had a drink. I can already get busted for DUI, just because of the opiates I take. No point in pushing my luck or worse.
Just going for groceries and dr. appt.s with just the meds on board could be dangerous, but, I do have to eat and i do have to see the drs.
There is no one, not anyone, that can take me so I have to risk it.

My brother in his last few years after beating cancer was left with excrutiating, never ending pain in spite of the strongest, and high doses of opiates. He kept a bottle of vodka on the kitchen table and used it frequently just to get some measure of relief. The side effects he was left with from the cancer treatment made the last yrs of his life sheer hell. He coped the only way he could. He didn't have a death wish, quite the opposite, just wanted some measure of relief even for a little while.

That is why I do it and I do not make any apologies for it. I DO NOT recommend this to anyone...the risk really is very great that you can end up dead. It's just for me, right or wrong, it works.

I've lived a long life so it no longer matters if the mix ends up killing me. All I care about now is relief, by whatever means I can get it.

yes, i do, when nothing, not the opiates, ice, heat, TENS do not alleviate even a little of the pain. I will have one or 2 good stiff drinks just for that few precious minutes of relief.

I know I'm playing with fire, but I do get desperate. I do have the great good sense not to leave the house when I have the booze on board.
I can already get busted for DUI just because of the opiates. I only go out for groceries, I have to eat, and dr. appts. and always take the back roads to get there.

I'm not proud to admit this but I apparently am not the only one that reaches that level of desperation.

immarcie,
Did you get pulled over and get a DUI for being on only opiates?
I would be in trouble as I drive all the time while taking opiates but I was not aware we could never drive. Or are you saying drinking and driving while taking opiates? Then what I would do is do all your running around then have a drink if you have to.

I take tramadal aka ralivia aka ryzolt.
A opiate & I am good for driving.
Thanks for your honesty!

In this state, if you are pulled over and the law decides to do a blood screen and opiates show up, you can and most likely will be charged with DUI. I never drive when I have both on board!!!!

Here's a pretty good article about drugged driving. This applies to legal and illegal drugs. As the one guy said "would you take this stuff and then go use a chain saw to cut down a tree?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/us/25drugged.html

Scary that she took so many pills that her speech was slow & slurred, never mind thinking she was ok to drive.Thank god for now, my pills r XR so one a day no possiblilities for over lapping any pills or anything dangerous!

Just because your pills are long acting doesn't mean that you are competent to do things like drive. If you want to know if you are driving safely on your meds either ask a family member who will tell you the truth or pay for a driving school instructor. They are usually able to do a decent test. Or just set up some cones and try to replicate your local driving test. I bet many people will be surprised to find out that they are driving under the influence and are not competent.

And if you think it is your right to drive no matter what...imagine if it were your mother in the car your hit or your child riding the bike that is now under your car. It happens... a lot more than we know.

II am sure I can safely assume that if you are on any opiates you shouldn't drive. I don't anymore. I scared myself twce and that was the end of that. If I take a pain pill at all, I do not drive that day. That may be overkill but they remain in your system for several days. Does anyone know how long? It also scares me that I read about a lot of bigger cities are not only doing blood tests but taking hair samples. What is up with that?

I am lucky that I do not work and that I can stay home if I am in pain. I feel for you that can't.

Melinda

I think hair samples are done to check if people have been using weed...it stays in your hair for months if you have smoked it...I guess the driving thing is down to how you individually feel... I drive whilst taking opiates sometimes because I have to, but I would never drink drive. I think its a case of using your common sense and knowing how you feel when taking meds.
Its interesting to see everyones perspectives and stories of alcohol and pain..thank you for the comments x

So everyone is sitting here saying what a bad idea it is. And I don disagree. But when I first had my accident I had just turned 18. I spent the first year sort of drinking everything away. Of course it's not a good idea, but some of us do turn to it in orderto numb the pain. I dont drink too much anymore as I'm on some pretty heavy narcotics. But I have done it and I personally don't think it's anything to be ashamed of. Sometimes people in chronic pain do drastic things in a time of desperation. Hope this helps! :)

Dear morphinexox..you seem to be one of a very few that understands what desperate people will do for just a small measure of relief.
I no longer concern myself with what others think or don't think about my doing it.
I'm totally by myself 23 out of 24 hrs a day anyway so there is no one to notice if I've taken some of my "liquid med".

My system is so used to the opiates, I can drive with no problem, haven't had an accident or ticket in at least 20yrs and those were not alcohol related and was not on any type of pain meds at that time either.

I to this day, will not drive if I have alcohol, even 1 drink, in my system.
If there would be an accident, it would not be because of that.

I think this thread has lost it's original intention.To help those with our main common bond PAIN.& as it was basically bout prior to meds but soime have courageously shared have had it overlap.Sharing exp without judgement is why I was drawn here.
DUI is just irresponsible,to discuss,the thought of any ds member having an accident is cruel.Only support needed for others in this thread pls!!!
My meds do NOT come with a warning for heavy machinery, nor does my DR say anything bout it just whether i would like a handi-capable sticker yet.XR once a day is so much more managable & controls how much meds, I have & when.
I appreciate those who have been so brave to discuss their feelings here & thank you!

No I get it pain is bad and sometimes a nice stiff drink will help, I am not judging. I wish I could have a drink once in awhile a good one not some fufu drink but it makes me sick to my stomach because of the meds.

I really did not know that someone could not drive on Meds I always do but thinking of it I guess some would impair driving. I guess it depends on the meds. I dont know what I would do if I could not drive as I have so many places I have to go. On the flip side I dont know what I would do without pain relief so not taking meds is not an option.

I think alot of people turn to alcohol because the may be under medicated and under cared for by their doctor and it helps pain relief. Plus we all know what pain does to a person life it can make them depressed and stressed out and someone may turn to drinking to forget.