If drugs remain illegal - this is what you get (WARNING: Extremely graphic pic)

[Boudica the Lyoness]

152. Sparkly...I have to jump in here.

I have been on hydrocodone for four years next month to treat the terrible pain I suffer.

"Hydrocodone is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics and in a class of medications called antitussives. Hydrocodone relieves pain by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain".

I take between one and three pills a day depending on my pain. I'm not afraid of pain and am willing to tolerate a lot of it, but when I take a pill that in about 40 minutes takes away enough of the pain that I am me again, I am so grateful. By taking hydrocodone I can be productive again and my thoughts are not on the hell that my body is going through.

I used to run, ride horses daily and work hard but sometimes my challenge can be making it down the stairs in the morning. There have been times I cannot roll over in bed let alone get up without help.

I have had some days when I take no pain meds but that only happens when I'm on higher doses of steroids. Besides steroids, nothing else has touched my pain.

I have a chronic disease and there is no effective treatment for it, let alone cure. It has been getting progressively worse over the years. I keep trying different things..diet..meds, but so far no luck. I'm still very optimistic though. I'm so very grateful my doctor gives me pain meds. I am also grateful that my doctor do not have the same opinion about opiates as you do.

I am living a good life. I help on the farm and work with my horses when I can, I garden and I am in the process of restarting my once successful business. I am on opiates as I write this.

Please be more tolerant towards people afflicted with so much pain that they need the best help available. Be more tolerant.

I must also add that about 15 years ago....when I was as healthy...I heard a doctor on a radio program say that people addicted to heroin can function very well as long as they get their "fix". He went on to say that many heroin addicts are high functioning professionals. I thought this was intersting at the time and now I believe it.