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as many of you know,my SAH has been in recovery since feb 13 07...{besides drinking he was a drug addict}my SAH has a toothache and he wants me call and get an appt to have it removed,i know the dentist will give him something for the pain,i asked him lastnite,if he thinks it is a good thing to take narcotics,since he is an addict..he said it is ok as long as a doctor writes a prescription it is ok..i do not believe this to me that is relapsing,or the begining of a relapsing..can some tell me if they can if i am right
I agree but what can you do? I guess there's always ibuprofen. If he tells the dr. up front that he's an addict they usually won't write it for a narcotic.
My dentist knows I'm an alcoholic. I've never had occasion to be prescribed pain medication but he knows not to even give me mouthwash.
I take aspirin and ibuprofin all the time - they work, and don't cause me any problems. I don't know what I'd do if I had to have surgery or something else requiring heavier pain med. I know even people who are not addicts have trouble getting off the stuff, and that often the doctors aren't much help. I guess I'll cross that bridge if/when I come to it.
My sober AH has had surgery since he got sober. He told his care providers that he is a recovering AH and I have seen it on his charts. He has been given at least two scripts for pain medication and as far as I know, he has not filled either. It was his choice. Just as it is your AH's choice. I think that there are non-narcotics that he can request if he thinks he really needs it or he can try the extra-strength Tylenol route, but either way it is up to him.
I can feel your anxiety in your post, but this is one of those things in life that he is going to have to navigate for himself. We have to remember to give the sober AH the dignity of being that new person and to give up our parentified role in the relationship--easier said than done, I know.
Hang in there, breathe, try to let it go and give it to your HP.
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Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. The Bible, from Courage to Change, p.138
I had an impacted wisdom tooth removed about 3 months after I got out of rehab. I was honest with the dentist and he prescribed enough pain killers for two days.
I was so scared of abusing the meds that I took them to my sponsor's house.
Unfortunately I didn't even take one dose home with me for later that day, and woke up in such agonizing pain at 2 in the morning I had to crawl to the toilet.
I called my sponsor first thing in the morning and had her bring the prescription back. I took them as directed.
There are times pain medication is needed and it's up to the A to be honest with their doctor or dentist.
I had major surgery in December of 2006, had staples from my belly button up to my breastbone. I was on a morphine pump for 3 days, then switched to oral pain meds the next two, and on nothing but Ibuprofen by the time I went home.
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson
One, your husband can call the dentist himself and make the appt. Two, your husband has the responsibilty to tell the dr/dentist/ whatever professional he is in recovery. Three it is not your responsibility to monitor his recovery; of course he thinks its a good idea to have narcotics for a tooth ache, he would think narcotics for a hair plug surgery would be a good idea. Four, your husband has other medications for pain that are availible. Last month i was in the ER when a cyst burst on my ovaries; not a single one was narcotics.
I know from experience, and agree with barisax, that if the dentist is made aware then s/he will NOT prescribe drugs or use a mouthwash.
When you call and make the appointment I would seriously think about telling the dentist that there is a problem with prescribed pain medication and a history of drug abuse, but that is only my opinion. After all he has asked you to make the appointment and the dentist should know about the possible adverse effects of administering drugs that could cause harm.
I think of it this way, the dentist could administer a drug and cause a death, can I morally put either the dentist or my SAH at risk by not divulging this added risk? For me it is another of those MORAL dilemma that only my own MORAL CODE can justify. I will carry the moral consequences of my action or inaction should the worst scenario occur.
Remember, the dentist carries an ethical confidential code of conduct the same as a doctor does. If your SAH was in an accident and was unconscious and you were there and you knew the administration of a drug could have adverse effects would you stand by and not speak up?
Only my opinion, and I am sure some will agree and others will disagree.
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"The highest form of wisdom is kindness." The Talmund
Bev, all (including dentists) health care providers need to know the full medical history of their clients and this includes A/Addiction. I totally agree with Tiger on this one. I had one of my best friends (a recovering H addict) ended up in the hospital in an emergency situation and she was unconscious and alone and she was given narc's and it sent her into a several year relapse struggle (with pain killers) the likes of which I have never seen in my entire life. She is just now pulling out of it and its been like 3 years. Be very careful, especially with recovering addicts and pain medication. Hugs, J.
My ex was sober for 2 years when we were in a car accident and he broke his elbow. He had to have surgery and was prescribed Oxycondin. He relapsed with in months. I have heard many people in AA telling stories of dealing with pain and surgery without pain meds because of their fear of relapse. It is all up to your AH. He has resources and can do research. It's his body, his mind, his decision.
And he wasn't a pill popper. Never abused the pain meds, used them as directed. He said it set something off in his mind.
Why don't they put info like this on a medic alert braclet? Maybe it would prevent a lot of addicts from this kind of relapse.
Bev- You are in my thoughts today. You already have some good info to go on here so I don't have anything to add except to thank HP for this program. I'm sure every one of us will have to go through this sooner or later.
In recovery,
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~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown
I've only got one thing to add here - could you suggest he discuss this with his sponsor?
If I was the one to call and make the appt, I would let the dentist know he was an A. If he didn't want me dealing with it the best way I knew, he could make his own appointments, and handle it himself.
