Fibromyalgia Support Group

Is anyone out there in a 12 step program? I have been in AA for 16 years, so drinking or taking narcotics is not an option for me. I take Ultram and Flexeril for pain when needed, and it helps to a certain degree

I am and have been for many years. I do take narcotics for the pain. My doctor and I keep a close eye on my intake and make sure I'm not slipping. I do not get "high" from my pills. If you'd like to talk, Pm me anytime! I'm the group leader of the addiction group.

Your Friend, Chris

i've been sober 14 years and the reality is that i have to take the narcotics and so on. so far so good but my doc and my husband who has 20 yrs sober keep track of them. i do worry about flexeril and haven't been forced yet to take it. i was told early on in the program that flexeril is more dangerous then most pain killers for us drunks. i however thank god that i haven't had to try it yet. i also don't get high from the meds. i guess that is the difference between pleasure and necessity.

keep it green but not to green.

teri

Teri, I think that we do the best we can to "do the right thing" for pain management and quality of life issues and still maintain our recovery from drugs and alcohol. It's a very difficult road and one that is understood by few people unless they have been there. We are told that we shouldn't take this, that, or the other mood-altering or addictive drug, early on in recovery, yet if we don't take them when we are in debilitating agonizing pain that is keeping us from sleeping and functioning in our daily lives, the pain, despair, and depression can lead us to thoughts of suicide. I've been sober in AA for 15 years and I am struggling terribly with the controlled substances issue -- it leads to a lot of guilt and fear, and I KNOW that there are many in AA and in my recovery circle who would judge, lecture, and criticize me for taking narcotics at all. With all of my other problems that is the LAST thing I need -- and they absolutely HAVE not walked in my shoes or lived even a day with this aching body. I want to hold onto my recovery and yet I must have some pain relief or go mad -- and my kids are depending on me funtioning as well as I can to take care of their needs. Now I am taking Adderall for chronic fatigue, and I have not shared that with my recovery friends yet because I fear they will lecture, judge, criticize me and tell me that I'm no longer "sober" -- I don't get any high whatsoever, but Adderall allows me to get through my day without being in bed all day and allows me to safely drive. I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, which is what this drug is prescribed for, but I feel "guilt" for having to take it. I feel guilt that it helps me function better and have a better quality of life -- I know this is crazy but that is how my mind has been trained!

I'm so grateful for you and others in recovery on this forum who have shared so honestly and from the heart about what they are going through. No one else really understands our unique dilemna of being in recovery from addiction, but needing narcotics to relieve our pain.

By the way, I have taken Flexeril, and while it makes me a bit "loopy" I only take it when really needed and usually only at night to be able to sleep. I was easily able to stop taking it and feel absolutely NO cravings for it! Again, this is a case of really needing the medication vs. taking it to get high. It causes dry mouth and constipation and there's nothing "fun" about this drug!

i thank god you all started this thread because i needed to know there were more of us. i do meetings online now because i won't deal in a sober fashion with those who judge me. i also rarely mention my use of meds online unless i hear someone struggling with the topic or someone else being judgementle. i will admitt freely that if i don't get relief i will die. i am learning now that it is just one of those things that i must do and i am not as ashamed,scared or feel as guity over it. i'm am glad that maybe i can use my experience strength and hope to help someone else to stay sober under these circumstances. as long as i take the meds as perscribed and stay in touch with other sober people i know i will be ok.

THANKS SO VERY MUCH

teri

Thanks so much Teri! I went to an AA meeting, my home group a couple of weeks ago after having been terribly ill with an infection and a bad flare for almost a month. I was having pain from a tooth extraction that AM and had taken a Tylenol #3 but it wasn't helping much...and I was exhausted.

I felt like crap but at least I was there. Made the mistake of mentioning that I had been too ill to get to meetings for three weeks....and was immediately attacked after the meeting by a woman who also has 15 yrs reminding me that I need more meetings than that and should NEVER go that long between meetings and telling me how I ought to call someone to pick me up if I am too tired and sick to drive. I am STILL doing the two week resentment release prayer for that woman! At the time I wanted to let the air out of her car tires. She had NO IDEA what we suffer and how we struggle just to get through each day...but she was sure judging me!

Which was one of the reasons I had not been to a meeting in three weeks...

they should not take away my serenity and peace of mind! I find myself sharing more and more with people online and less with AA members at mtgs.

I am usually extremely cautious with my comments before during and after meetings and I keep most things about the fibro and pain -- as well as what meds I take -- to myself, because I feel that this is my own business and they have no need to know about it. I share my pain and struggles and get things off of my chest HERE! So I can be "fine" and "nice" OUT THERE!!!

Hi all, I went to AA meetings, sometimes 2 a day, for 3 years. My understanding of the program was to get the "tools" necessary to live a sober life. I did that.

I remember the discussions, and people being attack for taking a pain pill after haveing a tooth extracted, etc. I take pain meds, anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxants and have never abused them. I don't take them to get "high", I take them to be able to function in a sober life. I do believe that it's an individual decision for each of us but the pain and stress of Fibro alone would be as good a reason as any to drink so for me it's worth it.

i just pray those people never have to suffer like this. There are very few people in the rooms that know about my fibro and they are people who suffer from chronic pain or have experienced enough ilness to understand a little. i don't allow those who are not truley sober to effect my serenity i have a hard enough time with this disease messing with it. i know that people would judge me because of the sudden change in me. they wouldn't understand how fibro could cause that kind of change. they would say that i was drinking or getting stoned. i agree with maineiac. the pain and stress will lead me back to the suicidale destructive drunk that i used to be.

stay sober all.

thanks again

teri

Thanks everyone! I knew I wasn't alone. When I'm at meetings I stick to the topic of alcoholism and I share my experience with fibro only to my close friends who are safe. I also talk to my sponser and am accountable for my medications. Not everyone understands fibro and I can't expect them to. The Flexeril doesn't cause me any problems and I am grateful for that. I keep hoping that new research will find a safe treatment for fibro. Thanks again for all the feedback. mberry