YA UPSET AND ENTITLED TO BE...U JUST HAVE TO LUCK AFTER YASELF..BUGGER WHAT PPLE THINK ITS NOT THIER DAM PAIN..THEYD DO THE SAME...IGNORANT PPLE CAN HURT... SHUT YA EARS...I DO!

Hi Meagan, I am so sorry you are in so much pain both mentally and physically. It is so frustrating when other do not understand. They can have empathy or sympathize with us but they just don't get it.

One of the greatest stories I ever heard on hear one of the members has terrible pain as a result like the rest of us takes narcotics to ease that pain well her brother came over and got on her said she was an addict she had called her sister she came to her rescue. She came into her house grabbed her brother by the balls and kept squeezing and said imagine living with this kind of pain 24/7 that is what she has to do. Lets just say he laid off. Thats why I so love this site. We can all vent and talk to each other in a positive way and help each other through the ups and down of this new life of pain we have been given. Try to keep smilin and keep your spirits up, your stronger than you think.
Hugs, smiles & God bless
Lisa

HURTINGANGEL.... WHAT A PERFECT NAME FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US... I AM SOOOOOO SORRY YOU HAD TO ENDURE ANOTHER IGNORANT BUT WELL MEANING PERSON. THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO... I HAVE MYSELF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS WITH MY MAN, 16 YR. OLD RELATIONSHIP, AND MY DAUGHTER 22YRS. AND G-SON 3YRS OLD. THE 3 YR OLD IS MORE AWARE OF MY DILEMMA THAN THE ADULTS. WHAT'S THE MATTER NANA-MAW??? HE ASKS WITH SO MUCH GENUINE CARE AND EMPATHY... I WISH MORE PEOPLE.... ESPECIALLY THE ONES SO NEAR TO US COULD EXPERIENCE OUR PAIN LEVEL FOR AS LONG AS A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK AND THEY WOULD ALL BE SCREAMING FOR MERCY FROM THE LORD JUST AS WE DO DAILY..... I HATE TO FEEL THIS WAY AS WE WOULD NEVER WISH THIS INSANITY UPON AN ENEMY LET ALONE OUR LOVED ONES BUT THEY CAN BE SO HORRIFICALLY CRUEL AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IT OR HOW IT EFFECTS US OR OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.... I HOPE THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BECOMES AWARE OF HOW THIS CP IS EFFECTING THE WHOLE FAMILY ALMOST LIKE ADDICTION AND OTHER DISEASES DO. MY KID SAYS NASTY THINGS ON THE SIDE ABOUT HOW THERE ARE NO CLEAN DISHES OR THAT I SLEEP ALL DAY OR WHATEVER COMES TO MIND BECAUSE SHE IS RESENTFUL AT THE FACT I AM NOT THE SAME ABLE BODIED MOM AND NANA I WAS BEFORE THIS ALL CAME ABOUT. CRY CRY CRY IT IS OKAY TO CRY WHEN IT HURTS NO MATTER WHAT THE PAIN AND IT IS NOT A GIVING IN OR LETTING IT ALL GET TO YOU OR A GIVING UP... IT IS JUST THAT WE ARE HUMAN AND BEING ASKED TO ENDURE A FORM OF TORTURE THAT NOT MANY COULD HANDLE.. SO ANGELYOU ARE AND ANGELTEARS ARE THE MOST PRECIUOSLET THEM BE
LOVE TERRIEANN/RALOP/NANAMAW/SPOUSE/FRIEND/ANDCPSUFFERER

Hello Megan, I am so sorry that this happened to you and bleieve I can speak for most everyone that we have all had that happen at one time or another. People making you feel less of yourself under the guise of concern. First of all, stop defending yourself or making excuses for using your meds. You have nothing to defend! You are entitled to as painfree a life as your dr can provide you and if he/she didn't feel that way you wouldn't be rx'd the meds.
I learned long ago, and the hard way, that as much as you want to be, you just can't be honest with anyone about your meds and they are never going to "get" it. Thank God all of us do, and we are here for you to vent anytime. You take your meds with a free mind and conscience and feel as good as you can for as long as you can sweetie. Keeping you in my thoughts, Dale

Hi, what i think is that people ask what you are on just to be nosey and they are not so worried on how you are really doing, they just want to give you the 3rd degree, and since i see that u have a husband you are way to old enough not to be lectured by your parents, next time they ask, ask them if they are really wondering how you are, or if they just want to discuss your meds usage, that way it will stop them cold, in their tracks. I am so sorry that you are being treated like a teenager. I am lucky that my family doesnt do that.

But to tell u the truth when someone talks crap to me, I dish it right back, plus more. maybe you should try that works for me.

Every one has something, that my not be perfect in this perfect world.

Hi I am new here but not to CP. I am on my 7th year but only got relief through pain meds a year ago. This topic stuck out to me because I have been going through the same thing with my Father and Step Mother. I agree with Dale that I have found it best to keep quiet about my Pain Meds.

I am sorry Meagan you had to go through that especially with family. It's very hard. I have tried to educate my family but they have it so ingrained in their heads that pain meds equals addcition.

I hope you feel better soon.

Take care,
madsy

Dear Megan,
Pain is a very personal experience that is why the doctor's ask us how and what we are feeling. Just as everyone has a different tolerance and experience with medications, we all have differing pain threshholds as well. What we are able to tolerate one day may be debilatating the next. People who do not live in pain on a day to day basis have no business telling you how to manage yours. I agree with Dale, often times our families are responding out of frustration and the inability to be able to do anything for us. It is a terrible feeling of helplessness for family members to see loved ones in so much pain and not be able to do anything about it. My husband and I both live in chronic pain, it's difficult, but in many ways it's a blessing because we both undertand what the other is experiencing. My advice to you is this...refuse to discuss your pain and treatment of pain with anyone but your doctor. just say, "Thank you for your concern but I am working closely with my doctor to mange my condition."end of discussion. I am sure that you have read the posts on this site, we all experience the ignorance of others-everyone has an opinion but not everyone experiences the hell that we live in every day! Hang in there, you have a right to love in some comfort. xoxoLyn

Hi Meagan,
I am new here, but completely understand the phenomina of opioignorance. In our society chronic pain carry's stigmatism and prejudice, it is not accepted as the disease it is. Chronic pain, usually requires the use of opiates for quality of life. Instead of being treated with compassion and understanding for our disease, we are often scorned, berated and treated as junkies.

The under treatment of chronic pain is this nations number one public health crisis. One must study the politics of pain to fully understand the enormity of our situation.

And of course, we deal with societies longheld belief, that opiates lead to addiction. The percentage is very small among chronic pain patients. The body will naturally develop dependence.

Tami
Pain Relief Network

Sorry to hear that you had such a traumatic experience... people can be so ignorant. It is important to keep your pain level as low as possible. Do not let your family's ignorance stop you from using the meds when you need them... and it is always more effective to take the meds before the pain becomes excruciating. So don't hold off on them... your doc would not have given them if you didn't need them.

Hi Megan. even tho family cares you can't tell them cause they don't understand cause the meds have a stigma. Now that she knows you can go to some websites and give her some information on meds and chronic pain but I doubt it will work sometimes they just don't understand. i know what you mean tho do you hide the pain or do you let them know. if someone asks me what I am taking i just say my Dr. and I have a plan or I devert the conversation. People can't imagine how much pain we are in and they can't imagine what we have to take to stay sane.
I use to worry about taking them also I thought with this last surgery I wouldn't have to take them anymore. I was so looking forward to a life with no meds. But i am still in pain. We must be patient and we must not be upset with ourselves for wanting to try to get through a day. I will pray for you, I gets me through.

I have been dealing with chronic pain for almost 11 years. I was diagnosed 7 years ago. I have found that most want to judge you instead of help you, even the ones who love you. I got some good advice from my doctor. He told me not to discuss my pain with my husband because until he experienced the level of pain I battle daily, he would never understand. He said trying to explain it would only frustrate me and he still wouldn't understand. It has been years since I really talked to him about it. I take my medication without his knowledge and do the best I can. Good Luck!