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Sarah: On the opportunity that you want to learn more about the faith-based addiction program, you call look here----
Call Us Today! 866.733.6768 | weneedu@reformu.com

It does sound like she has multiple issues.
Best of luck.
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Give her thempain meds back ...maybe she is having pain ..but she’s going to go into withdrawals and it won’t be good for her or you ....I hope your Mom gets the help she needs ....and I hope and pray when I get that age no one takes my pain pills away ,.....hugs to you and your family ..my mom just died and I miss her so much ...please love her all you can
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Give her thempain meds back ...maybe she is having pain ..but she’s going to go into withdrawals and it won’t be good for her or you ....I hope your Mom gets the help she needs ....and I hope and pray when I get that age no one takes my pain pills away ,.....hugs to you and your family ..my mom just died and I miss her so much ...please love her all you can
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Kathrynseton Aug 2018
I agree that love and compassion is the answer. Don't ignore her pain by any means, but make sure it is being relieved in the safest way possible and not putting her in more danger. The risks of overdose and falling and breaking a hip or sustaining a life threatening head injury are very real for an elderly person, esp bc they don't metabolize the meds the way younger adults do. A little can go a very long way with someone who has liver and kidney function decline due to natural aging. This is why seeing an addiction specialist and PM&R doc is so critical. Address the addiction AND the pain, and you will have a much happier and healthier patient in the long run. It can be done with compassion and persistance!
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CBD oil is great for helping withdraw from opioids. It also helps with many other ailments and pain. It brings the body back in balance. But they are not all created equal, so you must do your research and buy from a trusted source. Charlottes Web CBD oil is terrific but a bit pricey. They also have a help line where you can talk to real people about your moms problems and just may be able to help you.
Hope this helps?
‘Prayers for you and your Mom.
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Kathrynseton Aug 2018
I agree that CBD is always worth a try and can easily complement any pain regimen, whether it includes opioids or not. It is completely safe and has no major interactions w/other meds as long as it contains only trace amounts of THC.
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Find out if it is possible to overcome her addiction, at her age and with her not wanting to do it. If it isn’t possible, it might be best to stop worrying about it. It’s horrible for both of you at present. If this is the way she wants to finish her life, it is a decision perhaps she should be able to make.
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This whole discussion has hit a nerve with me:

2 years ago we wouldn't even be DISCUSSING this. Until the government stepped in and said "Hey, here's a 'problem' we can screw up even more, let's make it night unto impossible for people to get opiates! Wow! We'll solve America's drug problem in one swoop of a pen! (Do you think your Congressman can't get a scrip for whatever the heck he wants/needs whenever?? C'mon, there's one law for them and one for us.)

2 of my kids are Drs. We've discussed this ad nauseum. They have stated over and over that this was the poorest thought out and implemented law ever (re: medical intervention). They say they CANNOT give their patients the quality of life they'd want to. They're routinely screened.

It has NOT helped teenage drug abuse. It has made "legit" pain sufferers miserable b/c they are literally counting their pills and cutting them in half or quarters to make them last the whole month. AND often times, in agonizing pain while doing this...all b/c our great gov't felt like this was something that would "work".

I've lost 2 friends to suicide b/c they could not get meds for their intractable chronic pain and just gave up. How is THAT helpful???

When I was going through pre-back surgery issues, I could barely walk...then I had to have a root canal that took 3 visits to "make right"....and so I was on 4 Norco...for a year or more. ONCE I got an "extra" scrip from the endodontist and next thing I know, I am getting a call from somebody at a gov't agency telling me I'm on a "watch list". WTH?????? For getting scrips from "multiple sources". (2)

Scared me to death. I cried and cried and believe you me, ending my life seemed preferable to the PAIN.

At your mom's age---criminy--are you going to put on her headstone "Clean & sober for 102 days!" No you are not.

She needs compassion. Maybe she has a problem, not my call. Just I cannot figure out how she can get enough to "abuse". Drs check your profile. Pharmacies are interchangeable with info---I doubt she has the capability to search the internet for the one or two Indian "pharmacies" that might or might not send you drugs.

Ok, off the soapbox.

And yes, I do know quite a few people who must take opioids to function each day. It's something NOBODY talks about. The shame is incredible.
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Kathrynseton Aug 2018
As a chronic pain patient, I completely agree with you that the opioid epidemic has been blown way out of proportion. Less than 5 percent of long term opioid patients receiving a Rx for legitimate pain become addicted, but that is not the story being told. That said, there ARE still people who have a legitimate problem, and this elderly mother in question IS clearly one of those people. When opioids are interfering a person's ability to function rather than helping them function better, they are doctor shopping, etc, the meds are being taken for something OTHER than pain. Therefore this isn't the place to talk about the plight of pain patients. This woman is falLing, etc and likely will die an earlier death if it continues. She clearly isn't happy either. She is an addict. I would get her to an addiction specialist that prescribes suboxone. It will help her pain if she has it (as long as it isn't terribly severe), and she can't overdose. If she takes other opioids they will simply have no effect. She will be more lucid and will thus be safer and able to be more active. As she is elderly she will likely need to be hospitalized for the transition from her old meds, but I think in the end it could greatly improve her quality of life. If that isn't feasible than an addiction specialist may have other options. I might also consider taking her to a physical medicine and rehab dr to see about other options for managing her pain, such as spinal injections. They help my elderly MIL a lot and have reduced her need for opioids...always a good thing! But an addiction spec. is the kind of doctor she really needs. I would also advise the OP that she or another family member needs to be with Mom at every Dr appt to ensure all are on the same page. Best of luck...I will pray for you and your mom!
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Midkid, I completely agree with you!
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Kratom (look on Youtube) many people weane off opiates painfully using Kratom
Also wonderful for pain relief
Distilled water only for food and cooking
Read "The Choice is Clear" br Allen E Banik (Amazon) re water
Herbs to get & keep the bowel regular. Dr Christophers Lower Bowel Formula
2 caps 2 or 3 times daily with meals
6 days a week...rest one day...repeat.
The Bowel is "the first thing to get sick..and last thing to get well"
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Thank you, everyone. Of course, my mom needs compassion. Me writing on here, just isn’t about me. Sure, she’s said horrible things, but she’s emotionally fragile and not thinking clearly. It hurts, but I’d do anything for her.

Next....kaiser doesn’t seem to have a problem giving out Norco, but I’m very sorry this whole opioid “issue” is affecting those who truly need it. It’s like the few thieves who steal from stores, so now everything is bolted to the box or walls and someone has to check our receipt when we leave. We all suffer for the smaller minority who are abusing. They have been told she has a problem, but this doc gave it to her anyway. The only thing we can see that she had was a bladder infection. Do they give opioids for that?

Someone was selling Norco for $5 a pill in the location grocery store parking lot in our nicer middle income area. Clearly, they know someone’s wanting it.


My my mom has said very clearly that the meds make her feel better emotionally. Knowing what she’s been through (and still goes through), I understand why she wants to numb herself. However, it makes her very sick, exhausted, constipated and so on.

She knows exactly how to get it from the doctors and has even gotten meds without giving a urine test. She’s also “accidentally” spilled her medicine and lost it, so she can get more.

Part of me thought about jut letting her take whatever she wants, but that’s not a quality life. If she hurts herself by falling, etc. that would be terrible.

We tried the one visit to the psych. Didn’t go well and she thinks no one understands what she’s been through. Very few people could, but we all understand pain and heartache, fear, humiliation and rejection, etc.

ive heard quite a bit about cbd oil. I will look into it. I will see if we can get her in to talk with someone, but this is one streetwise, smart and hurting lady. ❤️
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Midkid58 Aug 2018
$5 a pill? Dang, our neighborhood supplier is charging $20.

Not making light of a serious situation, but pointing out the ridiculousness of the laws. I don't know where "Dr feelgood" gets his meds. He has tons of whatever you'd want. I'm judiciously being given 4 Tylenol 4 per day and THAT'S IT!! Never a single one more and the chart at my dentist's office has written on it in HUGE red letters; "NO NORCO!!!! PER FDA REQ". I mean, it's HUGE lettering and embarrassing to death. Same dentist for 40 years, his kid takes over and is suddenly being a narc. I haven't gotten pain meds from my dentist for 5-6 years!!!

She must be pretty streetwise--for someone who doesn't leave the house...I'm a bit befuddled by this all.
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Sarahk
I absolutely agree with you 100%. By taking away her pain medication, whether she needs it for a chronic condition or not, they are doing more harm then good. They will just create more problems and agitation. They need to seek professional help and not just take away the pain medication.
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I I work in the addiction industry. You may want to try Suboxone for your mom it will stop those cravings. The other group that I don't recommend is methadone. Because some people still get high off of it. Either one of those drugs can help addiction is a terrible disease you can't just stop it cold turkey your body hurts it's not simple
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I agree with those who mentioned that Opiods can not be stopped cold turkey.

A doctor can put her in the hospital and can then wean her off.

Unless and until she loses her craving, she will be very difficult to deal with.

Opiod cause a myriad of health issues and when a patient on opioids goes through withdrawal it is extremely painful. That is why they want more.

( Kathryseton wrote: The risks of overdose and falling and breaking a hip or sustaining a life threatening head injury are very real for an elderly person, esp bc they don't metabolize the meds the way younger adults do.)

Good points Kathryn.

I do not know why doctors prescribe these drugs like candy rather than seeking alternative methods first. Opioids should be a last resort, not the first.
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