Sikcell: People living with Sickle Cell

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What do you when you know your partner has an addiction to the pain meds?

So as many of you and those of you that don't know I have sickle cell. But what is new in my life is the my current boyfriend and childhood friend also has sickle cell. We have been together for a year and a half now. I can say that for the most part he can be a great boyfriend and male to my kids.But we both SS now I now they say the male have it worse than the females. But I also know what is pain and got wanting the meds. I can say that it do help better than the pills for pain when it is coming through the IV. But at this point my boyfriend going to the hospital every other week any says a week or maybe even two week but it for the pain meds.and then they dumb doctor and nurse given him 4mg every 45mins. and only like 120 lb. So my question is are they trying to let him O.D. or they just that blind to see that they need to stop him? and then what do or say realize that he has a problem and he needs to get a grip. We share the same doctors so should say something to them?

I will love to hear from any of you that might can help me with ideas or gone through anything like this with a love one....thx

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Comment by Tahara Boston on January 16, 2013 at 11:39pm: Thank you Kiara Owens and Chasidi Poole, I apolgize it has taken me this long to get back to you post they both have been very helpful!

Also, Kiara that why I'm concerned at this point because after a few day to a week after he had been admitted the doctor come tell him that his reticulyte count has come way down and its lower from the time of that he was admitted and when they pull the IV meds.and pull him on his pills. He get up set and half the time check out just so he can go checkin to the hospital across town.

But talking to the doctor lately has been helping even though I'm making him get upset with them without him knowing it's his mother and I are behind it ;)

Comment by Kiara Owens on December 12, 2012 at 10:52pm: WOW. I HATE TO JUDGE CAUSE THAT ISN'T MY PLACE TO JUDGE BUT BASED ON WHAT U SAID DOES HE GO CAUSE HE'S GENUINELY IN A CRISES/CRISIS??? I CAN HAVE MULTIPLE IN A WEEK, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S RAINY OR IF THE WEATHER CHANGES RAPIDLY. IT'S A MYTH THAT WE'RE ADDICTED. SOME CAN BE BUT MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT'S RARE TO GET ADDICTED TO AN IV PAIN MED, WE JUST HAVE VERY HIGH TOLERANCES. MY PAIN GOES UNDER-TREATED MAJORITY OF THE TIME BECAUSE THEY FEEL WE'RE COMING ABUSING EMERGENCY ROOMS, SUCH FOOLISHNESS.

AS FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND THE BEST THING U CAN DO IS SIT HIM DOWN & TALK. TELL HIM YOUR CONCERNS, JUST BE UPFRONT ABOUT IT AND SAY I JUST WANNA KNOW IF YOUR GENUINELY IN PAIN OR IS THIS SOMETHING U DO BECAUSE U WANT IV MEDS. JUST BE GENTLE WHEN U DO APPROACH HIM CAUSE THAT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT.

I EVEN HAD A NURSE SAY " OH SO DO U JUST WANT TO GET YOUR QUICK FIX." SHE SHUT UP CAUSE OF THE LOOK I GAVE HER. LOOK UP SCD GUIDELINES AND IT BLATANTLY SHOWS WE CAN SUE FOR BEING TALKED TO THAT WAY OR GET THEM INTO TROUBLE. OUR PAIN IS SUBJECTIVE. OUR HEMOGLOBIN DOESN'T SHOW IF WE'RE IN A CRISES/CRISIS, OUR RETICULYTE COUNT DOES. IF IT'S HIGH YOUR IN A CRISES/CRISIS.

I JUST SAY VOICE YOUR CONCERN B/C HE'S REALLY THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES!!

Comment by Chasidi Poole on December 9, 2012 at 1:11pm: I had a problem with oxycontin and phenatyl patches when I was 21 in college. I was a zombie walkin around popping em like tic tacs and the most horrid withdrawls. I had a discussion with the pain team nurse who understood that I needed pain meds with my input the doctors put me on methadone to bring down my tolerance. When in the hospital the give me a pca pump that keeps the dilaudid on a drip that way its in my system so I don't need many bolus shots, My only advice is to talk to a nurse who truly understands addiction and the fact pain meds can't be taken away it has to be gradually changed to a different medication that will help the pain but not to the point where if needed nothing else will help. If your doctor now is sensitive to your concerns usually pull em to the side and let em now your worries, If not your doctor maybe someone else who understands addiction and sickle cell. I pray everything works out for you and your boyfriend!

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