Last night we spent 3.5 hours in the emergency room. Our son overdosed. This time it was codeine.
Mom has been sick for about a month. A severe sinus infection and it had migrated to her lungs and she had bronchitis. She went to the doctor twice in the last two weeks. That indicates how bad she was, if the coroner was standing over her body she would be saying she would be saying, its' OK, just give m time I'll get better on my own, I don't need a doctor. So she must really have been feeling bad. The doctor prescribed antibiotics the first time. The second time he prescribed a stronger antibiotic plus 400 ml bottle of cough syrup with a high concentration of codeine.
Thursday late night Alex came home and spent the night. Mom took all of her medicine to bed that night. Then took it to work on Friday. When mom came home Friday she needed to take her medicine and brought it in to take some. We ate dinner and mom went to change clothes. During that time Alex took 200 ml of that cough syrup. We didn't know it and he ask to be taken back to his girlfriends. Mom took him and when she got back about one hour later we discovered he had taken the cough syrup, and his girlfriend called and said that Alex was acting strange did we know what was up? We told her about the cough syrup.
I called the poison control center and gave them his size and history along with the info on the cough syrup bottle. They input the info and the person's response was, "Oh my, you need to get him to the emergency room immediately. He has nearly twice the dosage in him in which we recommend a doctor's treatment." She said he could possibly die from this dosage plus we didn't know if he had anything else in him.
We went to the Lawrence Memorial Emergency Room and his sister, who is a nurse found fresh new track marks in his arm.
He was released and went home with girlfriend.
What a mess.
22 comments:
I just find it so hard to understand the draw of that cough medicine but it was. Unbelievable. I know sorry may not be the appropriate word but I am. Take care.
Oh God...what a battle he is stuck in. My heart really goes out to all of you.
I don't have words to tell you how sorry I am. Hang in....
Oh Ron and Mom. I am so sorry. I live in dread of this day for all of us, was really hoping this time Alex was ready. Damn it.
Ron- I am sorry you are on this emotional roller coaster. I pray for the day Alex will love himself again. I HATE the demons he and your family are fighting.
Rats. That's such a disappointment. Is it any comfort to know we are all traveling with you, hoping, weeping, praying?
Well damn. I am so sorry. There just are no other words. He's done so well. Hopefully he will recall and use the tools he's learned thus far on his journey, to get clean and stay clean again! Hold each other close and take extra good care of Mom since she's sick - again, my thoughts are with you.
Our son relapsed last Thursday on "meth," so I have also experienced, once again, the frustration and fear that we, as parents, endure as this disease contiues it's path of destruction.
I would ask, base on the 12 step tradition that when you pray for your child, pray for all our children.
I am so sorry you are going through this experience. Just when you thought it had leveled off, here comes the next dip. I pray for your son, my daughter and all the kids and parents forced to deal with these demons. God bless and give you strength.
I am truely sorry to read these words today, stay strong for your family.
My son also uses whatever is handy and cheap and I have gotten the phone calls late at night. I know now that it is HIS disease and he has to find his way. I love him, pray for him, and let him go. I know I have enough work to do on me to keep me busy and that keeps my mind focused on the things I can change. I will say a prayer for all of you. We aren't alone.
♥namaste♥
dammit ron. i am so sorry.
I'm sorry to hear this. I also had a lot of hope that this would be a time that he understood a different kind of life was possible. What a frustrating and terrible disease.
I'm very sorry to hear this. You, Mom and Alex are on my daily prayer list!
i am here if you need me. email for # if ya want..
meanwhile, on my knees
you are loved
brother frankie
a biker for christ
i've been reading your blog and intervene posts for the past week or two... very sorry to hear that there are new problems.
I am so sorry... My sons counselor tried to put a positive spin on his last relapse by saying " It is not necessarily terrible for an addict to relapse if he is able to get right back on track and identify what happened to cause the relapse and learn from it. I am praying that your son will be able to get back on track quickly.
I am also very saddened by this news Ron. Please hold each other close and take care of one another. You, Mom and Alex are in my thoughts and prayers. It appears relapse is a huge part of this insidious disease and your poltergeis depiction really sums it up. I know it doesn't help, but I know what you are going through and how you feel right now. (((HUGS)))
I'm so sorry to hear about this. I always find it amazing the hoops we have to jump through to try to keep our own prescriptions out of thir reach and how they still continue to break through our defenses.
I hope he gets back on track and that mom is feeling better soon.
Ron and Mom, I've been told many times that with each relapse, the addict actually gets stronger. The mental lure of the drugs lessens. I don't know if it is true or not, but I will be praying that Alex comes through this quicker this time and gets back on the path of recovery.
I've thought of you often, because you shared with me, 4 1/2 months ago, when I mentioned Bryan's new program on my blog, that Alex didn't do well in that program and that it was rather an odd approach (my words, not yours exactly). And I so appreciated your honesty because it led me to researching it more and talking to them more. And whether it will ultimately work or not, I don't know, but right now he is doing well. We will see.
Your strength, your growth and your wisdom has been amazing; and I know right now that doesn't help a lot. So I will pray for you and Mom (I have the exact same diagnosis as Mom right now, and my exact same cough syrup is in my medicine chest). I'm paying close attention at this point.
I hope Mom recovers soon, and that Alex will soon be working his recovery again. And for you, continue to be the rock for your family and friends that you are. You have done so much to help this community.
Awwwwwwww man! I'm so sorry! Your worst fears have come true. Please know that we are all praying for Alex and both of you. And bless his girlfriend for taking him back into her home. Is she an addict also?
I am so sorry! My thoughts and prayers are with you and Alex.
Post a Comment