The new guy again. Former addict worried about the pain issue.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your kind words. This place is going to be very

comforting to me. I actually did tell my Orthodontist on my very

first visit about my prior opiate addiction. And my regular Dr

(whom I love truly for saving my life) knows the truth because he's

the one that saved me. I never went to rehab although I

unsuccessfully tried 12 steps groups over and over. They just made

me want to use even more. Finally, I broke down and told my doctor

(who wasn't providing the pills) the entire truth and he slowly took

me off over a period of three weeks until I was taking nothing. I

wanted off sooo bad. I never looked back. When I told him my

concerns about the surgery, he said that was his concern too. The

pain pills. He said the surgery itself is very safe. I need to

talk to him about it more, because when I first brought the surgery

up to him, I was just starting to think about it. But I haven't

yet told my surgeon for fear he'll just let me suffer.

It basically comes down to fear of how I'll feel after that morphine

is in me. Will my mind just totally revert to old behaviors. Will

I tell myself and others lies all over again? Unfortunately, I

know I could definitely score off the street at any moment I choose

to. Right now, it's not even an option in my mind, but after I

feel that feeling, I don't know if I'll be able to trust myself. I

do have two close friends that know. Just not my family or

coworkers and most friends. I'll probably lean on my Dr. again for

support. When I was withdrawing, he gave me his pager and we

talked everyday (I know! What a great Dr.). And maybe lean on this

community. I need someone to hold me accountable so I don't spin

out of control.

Regardless, I have awhile to think about it. Thank you for all

your kind words. Thank goodness for the internet. Ten years

ago, we'd have been all alone on this journey. Jo (and everyone

else), thanks for the good advice. I feel a little less nervous

already. Thanks for welcoming me to your group.

Dave

> > I get braces in three days so there is no turning back. I'll be

> having my

> > lower jaw moved forward quite a bit. I'm really looking

forward

> to all of

> > this. I've always had a bad bite and hated my profile. I

have

> one major

> > question. About the pain after the surgery. Exactly how bad

> are we

> > talking here? Are we talking Tylenol 3 bad, Vicodin bad,

> Percocet bad?

> > Or maybe not bad enough to have to take pain medication at

all.

> The

> > reason I ask is that I used to be addicted to pain pills. I've

> been

> > straight for a long time now, but I'm sort of fearful of this

> whole pain

> > pill issue. I mean, I'm scared at the prospect of that whole

> addiction

> > thing kicking in again vs. being in total pain without

anything.

> I'm

> > reluctuant to talk to my doctors about the issue for fear I'll

just

> totally

> > have to suffer if they find out I'm a former addict. On the

other

> hand,

> > I am afraid of setting off the addiction again. It's 18

months

> till I

> > have surgery so I have awhile to think about it. I'm very

ashamed

> of my

> > former addition, even if I shouldn't be. The people in my

> current life

> > know nothing about it. Anyone faced this situation or have

> suggestions.

> > Thanks.

> >

> > Dave

> >

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