bennyZA
Bluelighter
It's so horrible, I see people get ruined by medical expenses even when they do have insurance. There are some real horror stories about people getting denied money for chemo and stuff by their insurance.
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OD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic
Opioids Opiates masking illness?
- Thread starter AnrBjotk
- Start date
I know... I know... It's like a f***ing Samuel Beckett play over there. I mean, I've seen Sicko and heard the horror stories. It's mind boggling. How can a system work like that? How can people die and have their lives destroyed by illness in that way? It genuinely makes me sick to my stomach. You couldn't write that sh*t. I keep picturing this man getting cancer and realizing that he hasn't got insurance and being forced to live in abject pain and illness without relief while the world keeps turning...
Imagine getting cancer in America without a proper health plan.
How many people commit suicide when they get sick over there? How many more until it changes? How can health care be based on capitalism?
Norway's no communist state, but at least you don't have to buy health on the same level. At least here you only pay a small amount and then the state does the rest. After all, if you get sick, the state needs you to get better so you can keep working...
pinpoint
Bluelighter
I don't know what you guys are talking about, America is the greatest country on earth - I heard it from the government so it's gotta be true 8)
*zing*
sekio
Bluelight Crew
Are you eating properly? If you are deficient in some nutrient, vitamin, or mineral, your body will get super sluggish.
Best thing is to see a doctor. With a quick blood test they can tell whether or not your body needs something it's not getting - either because you're not eating right or it's not being absorbed. Especially if you are abusing alcohol and opioids.
Best thing is to see a doctor. With a quick blood test they can tell whether or not your body needs something it's not getting - either because you're not eating right or it's not being absorbed. Especially if you are abusing alcohol and opioids.
^magnesium is a big one, the #1 mineral deficiency in human's, at least in the US where most people don't have malnutrition issues. Opioids and alcohol both drastically deplete Mg, and if you look up Mg deficiency the symptoms are like a mile long. Also if you do get a supplement go for Mg Citrate or Sterate(sp?), not Mg Oxide(though its better than nothing and will do the trick), the others have much better absorption rates. Thing is you'll only fine the -ate ones in vitamin stores, you can get Mg Ox in the grocery of CVS like stores.
I by no means believe you have either of these diseases, and like I said if you walked into a Dr's office and told him your symptoms he would doubt it. Of course he would do blood tests and assess you to rule out the more scary diagnoses. The proper way to diagnose someone is to start at the top, or the worst case scenario and rule out each thing until you get to a conclusion. Often there is no concrete conclusion and they just chalk it up to stress and fatigue, in which case they may give you a proper medication for the situation.
I by no means believe you have either of these diseases, and like I said if you walked into a Dr's office and told him your symptoms he would doubt it. Of course he would do blood tests and assess you to rule out the more scary diagnoses. The proper way to diagnose someone is to start at the top, or the worst case scenario and rule out each thing until you get to a conclusion. Often there is no concrete conclusion and they just chalk it up to stress and fatigue, in which case they may give you a proper medication for the situation.
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I'm eating as properly as a vegetarian can eat on 30$... I'm taking vitamins and potassium-supplements. I try and eat an apple and an orange a day. And exercise (walked 4 mies to my therapist yesterday, since I can't afford a bus card)
I'm thinking it is mental, since is has subsided since Wednesday night night-class. Still not feeling good, but slightly better... Thanks.
I don't drink anymore, haven't had a drink in two years now. Still a lot of sugar, but honestly I feel worse if I don't get my daily sugar dose...
Proper medication? What do you suggest? Because I've tried most already.
sekio
Bluelight Crew
As a vegetarian, make sure you have good sources of iron as well - many foods are very poor in minerals and metals your body needs for functioning. This is all the more important if you are exerting yourself constantly. Living off sugar, starch, and water is not healthy in the long run.
Vegetarians who are trying to leave cheaply are easy targets for malnutrition. i would seriously investigate this possibility.
Vegetarians who are trying to leave cheaply are easy targets for malnutrition. i would seriously investigate this possibility.
missmeyet?
Bluelighter
Well I believe you are only going to find the answer by figuring out a way to go to the doctor. And yes depression can definitely cause all of the symptoms that you mentioned. But, someone mentioned that would be what a doctor would (likely) say right of the bat..he wouldn't say that until after he has run some blood tests and ruled out any abnormal results (which could show something as little as an infection or nutritional deficiency to values that might point to something more serious). Once that is ruled out then he could probably say, yes may just be anxiety and depression.
The point is, just as when you walk into the doctors office with these complaints and he wouldn't be able to even make a guess until he performed some tests, we cannot make more than "guesses" about what it could be. If it continues then you really should see a doctor somehow.
Good luck and I hope you feel better.
The point is, just as when you walk into the doctors office with these complaints and he wouldn't be able to even make a guess until he performed some tests, we cannot make more than "guesses" about what it could be. If it continues then you really should see a doctor somehow.
Good luck and I hope you feel better.
dopemegently
Bluelighter
Sorry, I know this is off-track, but oral hygiene is very important if you're on opiates. I have recently had 4 teeth extracted due to serious tooth infection. It wouldn't have got so far had I not been on a powerful opiate; I simply was incapable of feeling those initial tooth pains telling me something was wrong.
missmeyet?
Bluelighter
I agree. I have had this happen and even worse than that 5 years ago I walked around with a stomach ache for several days and it actually turned out I had a ruptured appendix for 3 days prior to finding it out. I never ran a fever (maybe because I took ibuprofen daily in addition to strong narcotics for chronic pain). When I didn go to ER I thought maybe I had a fecal impaction from constipation because I was having some stomach pain and kind of a full feeling in my abdomen (and I am a nurse!). The doctor tried to tell me it was a pulled muscle and I knew the difference in stomach pain and muscle pain. He finally did a CT scan and he was floored and said there is no way you should still be standing, possibly not dead!. I went for emergency surgery within 20 mins and ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks due to all the infection in my abdomen.
The point is, I never would have guess my appendix was ruptured for three days. I thought it was severe constipation and only went in to ER bbecause it was Sunday night and I was getting no relief and had a very busy upcoming week at work and knew I needed to be on my toes so whatever it was I needed to get it taken care of that night.
That is for a Dr to determine. For instance, if you have an infection then an antibiotic.
Like ^said, the Dr will most likely think it is nothing serious, because they see so many people come in and they don't have anything serious. But no competent Dr is going to just brush off your symptoms and not treat them with respect.
I thought the same actually. I know I have cavities and maybe infections and maybe that's why I'm sick. Luckily, Norway does have some perks and all drug addicts get free dental as long as they are sticking to their sub/done-plans. So on Wednesday I'm seeing the dentist for free and at least get any cavity and infections checked out.
I have pretty heavy tooth pain in the evening or in the morning, so hopefully it's not too bad.
bennyZA
Bluelighter
Hygiene on any drug is super important. We're doing so much harm, one way or another, so don't let an avoidable infection bring you down. When I was homeless, I got some of the tooth brushes that had tooth paste built in, and doesn't need water. Just have to spit. I had a bunch of those. Drop some money on a top first aid kit, they're like $20, but they're worth it. I actually saved myself from some serious shit, AND I've helped save friends.
Lady Codone
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2008
- Messages
- 2,134
Withdrawal symptoms can be almost indistinguishable from a cold or the flu. If you take more and it goes away, you'll know it was withdrawals. If you take less and it gets worse, it's probably withdrawals.
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.
Is that a scientific fact? Cause, if you have flu and take opiates, the flu symptoms goes away... The more I take the less ill I feel, but that could just mean more opiates masks better. Right?
dopemegently
Bluelighter
Hi there mate, it's funny you should mention that; my grandad was very sick recently, and I mean at deaths door: full-blown blood infection. Well, they treated him in time, but it did actualy originate with a tooth infection. The thing is, he had tooth-ache for almost a year (infection) but was so scared of the dentist he didn't get it pulled. Maybe this really is about your teeth, after all. So it may be an idea to get them checked out just in case.
I know. I've read that countless serious illnesses can start in the mouth - the portal - and spread infections and bacteria. My whole family suffer from some gum disease which means they all had all their teeth removed by age forty. Drugs and bad oral hygiene probably hasn't helped me in beating the odds either.
I mean, depression and drug addiction rarely means you are diligent in brushing your teeth before "bed time". And, yeah, a thirty a day cigarette habit and sugar consumption to boot.
I should say I'm feeling better though. Less of physical symptoms at least. The whole thing had to be some brand new anxiety symptom. "It's getting worse" or summat. Maybe linked to these new Buspirone-meds which my doc is forcing me to give another week - despite the hellish sideeffects of trembling, sweating, numbness and... anxiety.
dopemegently
Bluelighter
Well, I'm glad you're feeling better. (Those side effects sound dodgy as hell btw) and the mind can really play tricks on you with stuff like this; it can be evil that way.
I've had so many infections in my life; it weren't for good old antibiotics, I wouldn't be here. Antibiotics are THE wonderdrug of all time imo....
I've had so many infections in my life; it weren't for good old antibiotics, I wouldn't be here. Antibiotics are THE wonderdrug of all time imo....