Hi I can identify with what you are going through.  Two months after my surgery(5/2002) I started to drink and eventually use almost any drug to change my feelings.  Men and shopping are also part of it.

I tried to stop on my own by promising only on the weekends or only buying a certain amount and saying thats all I'll drink.  Of course, I did wind up drinking on the weekdays  and once I ran out I went to buy more, which was even worse because now I was driving while under the influence. 

What I found helped me was finding out information about recovery.  The best place I went to was my local addiction treatment center.  I had to be honest , willing and open to suggestions.

Also , Naltrexone, is what the 28 day rehab started me on.  Its to help with alcohol cravings. But remember it's not a magic pill I did relapse while on it.

And meetings are the foundation of my recovery,  AA  and NA  (Narcotics Anonymous)

I'll be here for ya

I am so sorry you have this pain.  I cant imagine hurting like this and not being able to take anything!  I hope they get you a diagnosis soon and there is a treatement that works for you.  (((Huggs)))

04/26 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY
When I first came to The Program, I was stunned by the constant sound of laughter.  I realize today that cheerfulness and merriment make for usefulness.  Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into laughter over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past.  But why shouldn't we laugh?  We have recovered, and have helped others to recover.  What greater cause could there be for rejoicing than this?  HAVE I BEGUN TO REGAIN MY SENSE OF HUMOR?

TODAY I PRAY
May God restore my sense of humor.  May I appreciate the honest laughter that is the background music of our mutual rejoicing in our sobriety(recovery).  May I laugh a lot, not the defensive ego-laugh which mocks another's weakness, not the wry laugh of the self-put-down, but the healthy laugh that keeps situations in perspective.  May I never regard this kind of laughter as irreverent.  I have learned, instead, that it is irreverent to take myself too seriously.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
A sense of humor is a sign of health.

 


Things That Are Difficult To Say When You’re Drunk:

1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon

Things That Are Very Difficult To Say When You’re Drunk:

1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate

Things That Are Downright Impossible To Say When You’re Drunk:

1. Thanks, but I don’t want to have sex.
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you’re not really my type.
4. Taco Bell? No thanks, I’m not hungry.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn’t it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn’t! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I’m not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won’t make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I’d hate to look like a fool!
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road.
10. I must be going home now as I have to work in the morning.

The actual diagnosis has yet to be determined.  The rheumatologist I saw said she THINKS it is osteoarthritis, but was not definite, because I have some positive blood work saying I have signs of Lupus.  I am switching rheumatologists, and will see a new one in May.  In the meantime, I am not sure how they go about diagnosing fybromyalgia, and would have to say, it would suck if I had either.  

I just take it one day at a time.  I just hate how strong the urge to drink is because I know I can have immediate pain relief, but just totally ruin my life in the process.

Huggles,
Trish

Oh, did I send you the e-mail with my daughter-in-law's show info in Rhode Island?  If not, I will.

I appreciate your suggestion.  I would cheat and take some Advil, if it were not a chronic pain issue.  These body aches have been ongoing since October, and I had been on Celebrex, with Prevacid to protect my pouch, but that was not working anymore, and the doc had told me to ease up on taking it when the weather got nice because it can mess up the heart. 

I have the double whammy with the tendonitis in my foot aggravating things, on top of the chronic arthritic crap all over my body.  So, this is not going to be an easy fix. 

I am scheduled to see a new orthopedist on Thursday, as the original one I saw for the foot has lousy hours and his nurse was useless over the phone last week.  I then will see a pain management specialist in the beginning of May for the arthritic stuff.

What is so depressing is that I had the WLS to get rid of the body aches, and other crap, and become more active.  This stuff has me sidelined, and sitting on my A** more than when I was morbidly obese. 

As long as I stay sober, it is a good day.

Hugs,
Trish