mcgees.org

Maybe an unnecessary post, but if you’re worried about me — or employing me — or now, wondering if you should — or married or related to me, however much you might have wished you weren’t this past week, you might want to read.

Detox is not easy.  It’s especially not easy on your own, but one can do it.  At least, I could do it.  I tapered myself off.  I got very agitated, very moody, said some very rude things that I shouldn’t have, made some very poor choices with compensatory drugs I otherwise eschew (e.g., alcohol), but otherwise got through it.  My father, who, bless his heart, reads this blog, informed me that “now you [Joshua] know what it’s like to quit smoking”.  Egads.  Trainspotting to get off nicotine.  And this stuff is legal?  And, as far as I know, subsidized.  What the hell is wrong with this country?

This was nine months of daily Oxycodone, Oxycontin, or Hydromorphone, post-surgically.  The constipation was bad, but the diarrhea has not abated since the detox.  But if you’re a stranger, and you’re looking for support, it can be done.  Warn your family.  Write with a Sharpie on a white t-shirt “I’m detoxing, I’m going to be an asshole for a while.”  Or something.  Whatever you come up with.  With any luck, the detox will hurt your relationships less than the habit.

But a moment on reward centers.  Of the brain.  I still can’t get out of the habit to think, following some large or small accomplishment, “now I deserve an opiate!”  Press the lever.  Get the jolt.  Starve to death.

Poppies are not fun.  A hundred years from now, we’ll look back on it the way we will on leeches, bloodletting, and chemotherapy.  The best we had, but as bad as the disease.

Thanks for bearing with me.  mcgees.org is back.

That took some work.  Time for … um … damn … a cup of tea, I guess.

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:27:48 -0500
Under medical
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