my opinion on medications as aĀ āyoung personā
Everyone who is young and has chronic pain kinda knows all this already but I just wanted to talk about it.Ā
I live in Australia and have a multitude of chronic illnesses, (and counting) caused by mostly my dadās RA genetics/heritage. (my conditions are on my blog) and as itās commonly known, if itās in your genetics, you might get a condition at a young age.
So Iāve been watching the opioid/painkiller crisis in the US, itās not as bad in Australia as it is in America right now, and I feel for all the American spoonies I follow, & anyĀ American spoonies out there. Aus follows everything the US does and comes to us, as the USās āpartnerā- Itās like a trend...Ā
So the reason Iām mentioning this painkiller crisis is that of the scare itās created among many - to not give out these drugs,(replace with āpain management.ā) especially for young people with chronic pain.
Most hospitals and companies in Australia now have cut out Morphine and endone for use, and no doctor will prescribe anything strong like those ones, for probably the last 5 years.Ā
Here are some articles about cutting out codeine (x) and a major hospital cutting opioids (St. Vincents hospital) (x)
Codeine was officially was made āprescription onlyā this year in februray, and it has scared everyone into buying as many boxes as they could before it was taken off the shelves - this personally affected me, as I actually got a script for it, (my gpĀ advised me not to take it often though and gave me lower, common anti inflammotories for my excruitating costochrondritis) I went into get codeine on my script because I really needed it, it was a chest pain crisis - and apparenlty there was a country shortage because of people buying all of them out... I Still haven't gone in to check if they're back yet cause I don't want to be disappointed.
It also makes Drās steer away from it, like I mentioned before, because of the negative name meds like codeine get for being, āaddictive.ā
( Note- Iāve been taking codeine since I was diagnosed and have never got addicted, never felt like I needed it, or had withdrawals - from it in particular. )
Another thing, Iām 22, I got diagnosed when I was 17 (and had the illness since I was 10 or younger.) In the Dr'sĀ point of view, I'm young,Ā ātooā young. Because Iām also very small and thin at 50 kg (around 110 lbs,) it means they donāt want to give me much. When I finally got diagnosed, I only was prescribed a couple of medications and knew I wouldn't get much, and people in my area told me my specialist had this point of view. my GPĀ also always says I have to lower my doses because of my weight. (he originally told me to take as much as my nerve suppressors as IĀ want after I came into his office crying about my pain.. )
But, Iām not 17 anymore, Iām 22 - an adult. I donāt drink anymore (If you don't know, that is āunspeakableā for an Australian btw.) Iām responsible with my painkillers, and despite still apparently being too young, I deserve to be able to get drugs that might work for me as Iām suffering. And, Iām not really that young anymore really...
Most politicians in charge of these decisions donāt understand how the fear of opioid prescribing affects the chronically ill, and change laws. and we've seen this happen.
But Doctors,- when they are actually looking out for us for once, are thinking long-term because itās chronic, therefore aĀ long-term use of painkillers, of course. They're trying to give us the longest life without more medical issues, such as ill livers and kidneys from having too many meds, - but they donāt get it. They don't get what itās like for a young adult living a 50% life compared to all their abled friends, starting careers, and just trying to keep up with everyone else, it feels like a race were already losing.Ā
I would rather live A SHORTER but more fulfilling life now in my 20ā²s than live a long long painful life. I don't care if I die, not tomorrow or in 20 years. And itās notĀ suicidal to think that in my opinion, Iāve just... suffered a lot, and itās overwhelming thinking of my future, I don't grieve for my past self, I grieve for the future me.Ā I want to be dead by 50 because, if I cant handle my pain now Iām not going to be able to handle it when Iām elderly. Itās not about a long life, it's about enjoying it when you can enjoy it,Ā Iām running my race differently.Ā That's why terminally ill people normally try to do bucket lists before they get too sick. Itās kind of the same thing here. I will get worse. Other than debilitating pain, stopping my ability to walk, my thyroid will also probably stop working in a couple of years. My fibro seems to progress quickly. I know Iāll eventually be doing way less then I am now.Ā
I know that itās killing my liver. How would I not know this, I already had to stop taking one drug long term because of the liver pain. I don't really have a choice, considering Iām still trying to start my life as a scientist and not be constantly bedridden. If I use these drugs, I get a bit ofĀ relief to be able to handle my jobs and responsibilities somewhat.
They will never see that point of view that I have because they are not the ones living the supposed āfun adult yearsā not being able to do what everyone else is doing. If you say this to anyone else other than spoonies, they will think you're trying to kill yourself or that youāre having suicidal thoughts.
Iām already living like Iām in my 80ā²s in my 20ā²s.Ā
Another thing - when I go to emergency for heavy pain, they just give me my own... meds and say āyou probably weren't taking them on time.ā - When I go to emergency itās because its breakthrough pain, itās not taking pills incorrectly...
I went there for my chest once, and a lotĀ of you get costochondritis and KNOW how bad it is, but anyway, to describe it - it literally feels like a heart attack and broken ribs. And of course,Ā āchest painā is the magical few words that will get you called an ambulance straight away, EVEN though you know, it's just ... your muscles and cartilage being inflamed. you know itās probably not your heart..Ā and once you get there and they check your vitals and see no apparent heart attack, they send me home. (That time I was In the cold with no car, in a town 5 hours away from my parents [University] and the pain not going away any time soon.)
You want to know what the emergency doctor on duty said when he got to my stretcher?Ā āah, so Iāve been I hearing we've got a 19-year-old with fibromyalgia and arthritis in our hospital tonight!ā Like Iām some sort of medical fucking mystery. How can a doctor think a young person with arthritis was weird, I felt like I knew more about genetic diseases then him.Ā
When Iām in that much pain, they could be at least nice to the young scared person and give her a bit of morphine or something a little heavier. Just for some peace for once. but no. it's probably again because IāmĀ ātoooooo youngggggg.āĀ
This was just an opinion of a young person about heavy drugs and reasons why they donāt give them out.Ā
Iām sure many of you agree, I just wanted to write this out for myself, as itās been upsetting me and friend as we watch all of the opioids disappear.













