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1-21-2013 Updated Profile: After using opiods for over 2 years to handle back pain (2 bulging discs), I lost all my income (husband was killed... read more

1-21-2013 Updated Profile: After using opiods for over 2 years to handle back pain (2 bulging discs), I lost all my income (husband was killed in a plane crash) and moved to Maine from Boise, where I could have a safe place to wait out my future. What nobody told me is that Maine is saturated with opiod addicts, so much so that most MD's outside of a pain clinic, will not prescribe it no matter how 'honest and upstanding' you may be. So my methadone prescription ran out. The NP who is my primary care provider, did everything right, except convincing to get into a detox clinic. She gave me Tramadol for the back pain, which became severe as long numbed nerves woke up, Clonodine for the shakes, and Vistaril as an antihistamine. And then it was upon me. I had no idea what was happening. Night shakes, continuous muscle spasms, sweating, fever, chills, nightmares. And NO REST for over 5 nights. Zero. My brain (I was told later) was hit with so many messages at once that it had to go into overload. Diarrhea but no vomiting for 4 of those days. Two visits to ER. I'm a recovering alcoholic and we are famously resistant to most sedatives I kid you not. So while they're pumping Ativan, Demerol, whatever into my IV lines, I'm still having spasm after spasm. I wanted to die for a while. Fortunately, by the time I thought I was a goner, several nurses assured me that I was just about done with this nightmare and to try and relax, taking plenty of Gatorade and whatever prescribed meds I normally take. Now kids and fellow sufferers, I still have back pain. But I hope I never have to use an opiod pain med again for the rest of my life. I don't ever want to go through this again. I'm 54, still have an awesome shape and I'm going to start exercising and try to beat this thing. Blessings upon you.~~millison