I was a drug addict

AliEm14

Let’s talk about it.

I wrote a post today on being a drug addict post transplant. My brain had become so addicted to the drugs I had post transplant that I had to go through detox and get sober.

now, 10 months post transplant, even though I have no active memory of what created the addiction, I’m still battling that mental addiction to the drugs.

AliEm14

I was a drug addict (And other things you might not know about transplant recovery)

https://www.alishaemerald.com/post/i-was-a-drug-addict-and-other-things-you-might-not-know-about-transplant-recovery

During one of my most recent hospital stays, I remember one of my favourite nurses on the transplant floor coming in and sitting on the edge of my bed. He worked both transplant and ICU, and we were talking about how I'd been since my transplant (which had been about 6 months ago at that point) and various aspects of recovery. We were talking about my time in the ICU, and I made a joke about how I was all the nurses' favourite since I wasn't constantly coding. I was heavily sedated and drugged,

here’s the link if you want to read it

ChefAmanda

Wow! Thank you for sharing! I had bad reactions to pain medication and with my low blood pressure I don’t get much sedation but I know those medications can become addictive.

AliEm14

@ChefAmanda i was expecting to only be out for a day or so. Much to my surprise when I wake up 3 weeks later on a vent 😅 I knew I was on a lot so it makes sense I got addicted. Something about saying it that way, like I was addicted to drugs, helps me take some of that power back. It wasn’t me - it was literally altered brain chemistry

ChefAmanda

@AliEm14 Yes! Take that power back!

Karin

@AliEm14 wbat do you think caused the addiction? Have you had other episodes of addiction?? I have always had issues w pain meds since they cause nausea for me so I can’t take them very easily and can’t wait to get off them!

AliEm14

@Karin nope, that was my only addiction experience. I was on such a high level of sedation and pain killers for almost 3 weeks in the ICU. And I’ve always been not super responsive to drugs, like I need a lot for it to take affect, so I was on crazy high amounts. I also have a family history of addiction, so there’s probably some genetics to it somewhere

AnnMarie

Thank you Alisha thank you so much. I can relate to this so much

AliEm14

@AnnMarie i think drug addiction isn’t talked about enough. Sometimes it just happens and we need to recognize that and give people the supports to heal