Category: Opiates (Page 8 of 10)

Matt, I woke in that same chair several hours later, your room was dark, you still sleeping.  I felt like I had been beaten with a baseball bat.  I got up and went in search for your nurse.  Yup, I know all about Hippa, but I made sure my name was on your chart to receive all the information my nursing brain required to stay calm.   It was 7pm change of shift.  So I decided a cup of coffee was better than trying to interrupt report between a nurse running to get home and one just getting ready for battle.  I looked in their direction to let them know I was taking a break, we exchanged knowing smiles.  Report was report and our little secret was now part of your recovery and was out of the so called bag.  I felt better than I had in a long time.  That secret was quite a burden to carry and letting it go was like finally talking about the elephant in the room.  Addiction was a horrible disease and I was tired of feeling dirty.  We needed help and hopefully would get it now that anyone reading your chart would be aware of the danger we were facing if you remained on narcotics too long.

Coffee never tasted so good as I savored the caramel flavor and thought of all the events that brought us to this place.  My phone buzzing breaking into my thoughts like a hammer.  I startled as I saw Mike walking toward me.   Mom, I’ve been calling, you’re not answering.  Everything ok?   I just left his room he was asleep.   I hope so Mike,  I don’t know if we can go through the battle again.  I’m so tired of the worry,  I don’t sleep worrying about what he is doing.  I know He’s with Lisa but my gut tells me something is not as it should be.  God, I hope I’m wrong.

We walk to your room together, each lost in our own thoughts.  The floor once quiet now buzzing with activity.  Oh boy,  a crowd outside of Matt’s room.  What the hell.  I hear your anger reaching out and grabbing attention.  You are awake and in pain.  Your PCA maxed out and not due to be changed for 2 hours.  Mom, I’ll go.  You deserve a break.  You walk into the chaos that has become your brothers room.  I try to get answers from his nurse.   I linger longer than necessary not wanting to join the party, being selfish and wanting to run to my car and drive forever, but there’s Matt and he needs saving again…….

I walk in and find you and Matt in a heated battle.  Thank God, you are matched in size.  Your medic training in the Coast Guard kicking in as I hear you tell the nurse you need more tape.  Dam those IV’s and your brother.  I would remember these times and Matt’s fear of needles as the only thing that kept him away from Lady H.  Little did I know that bitch liked it up the nose……

I stayed, showering in your bathroom, bless those young nurses.  They loved that I was there and keeping the monster in check.  I believe they would have had anything I desired delivered to your room as long as I promised not to leave them at your mercy.  

Morning came along with a visit from Dr. K.  He ignored your rudeness and cries for more pain meds as he checked his incision and wrote orders for you to start moving, to wean you from IV to PO meds.  Yes, yes, yes.  Get him off that IV, get him moving and get us out of here.   PT came by to fit you for a brace, you bitched at everyone and everything you could.  I just bit my tongue till it bled and practiced my smile till my face froze and kept pushing you to walk, eat and use the bathroom, all the criteria for discharge. 

Finally, four hellish days later  I sat in your room waiting for you to be set free.  You, still complaining of pain.  Me telling you that pain was expected.  You, telling me I lied.  Me, telling you I wasn’t going to let your demons control our lives again.  Shut up Matt.  I can’t take it any more.  I walk away and grab the remote.  TV would be a distraction.  Make the time pass.  Little did I know when the picture came on I would witness the amazing landing of a jumbo jet on the Hudson River.  Holy Shit.  You go Captain Sulley.  Matt, look this is incredible.  People climbing onto the wings, boats coming to the rescue.  My God, the angels guided that plane.  I remember looking at your handsome face when you finally stopped bitching and watched in awe the miracle unfolding.   Matt, you so handsome.  Even as bad as you behaved that cute blonde nurse gave you her number.  She saw something in you that everyone saw, everyone but you.  Finally, discharge instructions given, papers signed, appointments made.  A script given,  ok I’ll take that.  Mom.  Yup Matt.  We are going home and I’m going to take over your pain management.  Sorry.  Hey Captain Sulley.  Can I borrow a few of those angels, I’ve got some demons to fight……

Matt,  you woke to find me in tears, my floodgates open.  I guess you could say my mother’s intuition was full blown and I could no longer put on that brave face.  I was terrified.  As a nurse, I knew all about the disasters associated with having back surgery and my fear for you was out of control.  I gave you a million excuses, Oh, I just finished a Nicholas Sparks book and you know what a sucker I was for a sob story.  Nope, not buying it.  Ok Matt, you want the truth I’ll tell you the truth.  I’m scared to death that you will have acute post op pain that you won’t be able to handle.  You will be given narcotics for that pain.  The nightmare will begin again.  Ok, I’ve said it.  You shaking your head.  Mom, I’m not having surgery without pain meds.  I know Matt we just have to be very careful.  You are going to have to expect some pain.  I’m going to have to tell Dr. K about our secret.  No Mom.  Yes, Matt.

Your surgery took place on a crisp winter morning.  You won the spot of first case.  From a nurses point of view, that spot was priceless, a gift from God.  Fresh surgeon, fresh O.R. team.  Yay.  You , on the other hand were pissed.  We had to be at the hospital by 5am.  You hated hospitals and you were becoming very verbal in letting everyone know.  Thank God for your brother Mike.  You would only go with him.  OK, so all of a sudden I’m not good enough.  What a bunch of crap.  I could see the transformation before my eyes, your attitude becoming aggressive, you pacing like a caged cat.  What the hell, Matt, what did you take.  Tell me now…

I followed you and Mike, my heart pounding in my chest.  I’ve got to talk to someone before you get pack to pre-op.  Let them know about your past and possibly present use.  Thank God, no traffic as I raced to the hospital leaving you behind in the care of your brother, I had more important things to do.  God was with me that morning as I ran into the hospital and right into Dr. K.  He grabbed me as I broke down and started to tell him the story I had kept hidden from the world.   We sat, I cried, he comforted.  He understood.  He was aware of your behavior during the testing and had a doctor’s intuition that let him know he was about to take on his most challenging patient.  We hugged.  He left me to go scrub his eyes letting me know you were safe in his hands.

You and Mike arrived.  You complaining how hungry you were.  Mike telling you to get a grip. Me praying they called you back soon.  Please Matt, don’t cuss at the nurses.  They are here to help you, how would you feel if someone cussed at me.  Please Matt, I work here don’t embarrass me.  We need to get through this together.  You, me and Mike, together.  Your name was called, we hugged and a sweet nurse led you back as I dissolved into your brothers arms praying you didn’t act out without one of us at your side.  Mike and I take our seats. Mike hears his name.  Oh Boy,  Matt and the IV’s again.  OK, Mike you handle it I just can’t do this battle again.  At least I don’t hear your angry voice as the sweet nurse leads Mike back to come to your rescue.  We get to see you as you are wheeled back to the O.R.  You laying on the stretcher with the surgical hat on thinking this is the funniest thing you’ve ever done.  Oh Boy, I don’t know what you were given but I want a dose for myself.  I kiss your cheek, my tears hitting your face as I say goodbye and let them take you away.

Matt, sitting there waiting for word of how the surgery was going was torture.  Mike was just quiet.  Your grandmother came and said the rosary.  Ray came on his lunch break.  Heather came to bring Mike some lunch.  I sat, numb wishing it were me instead of you, praying you would be the one in a million that would be whole after back surgery.  I watched the O.R. board like a hawk, every time it lit up my eyes would follow and find your number.  I felt like I was in college again.  Every grade was given to your number.  My nurse brain would not let me rest.  I thought of every complication, of everything that goes wrong in the O.R.  Oh God, let this end soon my nerves are shot and I knew the battle would begin again as soon as you felt pain.

Finally,  Dr. K walks into the waiting room.  I don’t even give him the chance to walk over. I am out of my seat like a sprinter as the gun fired.  He grabs me and smiles.  He was able to repair your deformed spine, but you are now stabilized with rods and screws.  He will keep you as comfortable as possible.  Thank God.  Your awake, extubated, moving your legs and asking for pain meds. 

We wait until you are being wheeled to your room.  You have a PCA with Morphine.  OK I tell myself.  Your fresh post op.  This is a necessary evil.  Hopefully you will be controlled and taken off quickly.  I feel sick.  My memories of you using, your behavior, the Hey MaMa, all come rushing into my head.  The detox, your body going through hell punch me in the gut sucking the breath out of my lungs.  Oh God please keep the demon away.  Let Matt have a chance to heal without the chaos his addiction brings to our life.  Please God, Help.

I wait until you are tucked in.  Everyone gone but me.  I have to see you, to touch you to let you know we can get through this.  Your color is good, compression boots on,  vital signs stable.  My nurse brain kicking in.  I sit by your side like a mouse aware that the cat is in the room.  Your breathing softly, comfortable.  I check the dose on your PCA.  You’re locked out, yup I’m not surprised, but you are sleeping.  Thank God.  The nurse comes in and hands me a blanket knowing I’m going no where.  We exchange a look only shared between nurses, she knows.  I’m not ashamed.  She will be my alley in keeping you comfortably controlled.   Little did we know the demons had their own plans and you were a sleeping lion waiting to devour anyone who stood in the way of your path to the demons you loved more than life.

Matt, your back pain, now relentless and worsening brought you to me for help.  At first, I really didn’t believe how bad your pain  truly was.  This knife stabbing pain that hit with every step, pain shooting down your leg leaving you unable to stand.  My medically trained brain reliving all the nights the drug seeking patients would show up at the E.D. with the God awful back pain and leave with a smile and script.  No way was I falling for this, how stupid did you think I was.

 You showed up on a Saturday unexpected, your handsome face wracked with pain.   You walked toward me like an old man, limping and holding your back.  Crap, this was real.  you weren’t lying. I watched you try to get comfortable and my heart ached.  You were way too young to be so broken.  Oh Matt, all those years of reckless motor cross racing, the jumps and falls finally catching up with you.   My mom brain shouted I told you so, but my mouth stayed shut.

Ice and ibuprofen didn’t seem to make a difference in the pain wracking your body.  Matt, I want the truth.  Have you taken narcotics.  Matt, I know you are having legitimate pain, but I need to know.  Mom, I took some Percs, I had to I can’t live with this pain.  Oh Matt, we can’t go down that road again.  I left you on the couch and prayed for a diagnosis of extreme muscle spasms anything that could be treated without the power of those demons.  I made some calls and got a script for a muscle relaxer, praying we could get through the weekend without a visit to the E.D.  There was no way I was letting those demons take you back to that pain free world I feared you still craved.  

Muscle relaxer, ice and Ibuprofen on board your pain seemed to let up a bit.  You refused to lie in bed so in the recliner you slept,  I stayed by your side on the couch conscious of your every move.  Fear gripping my heart as I relived days past where the scenario was the same,  you on the couch me on the floor after a night of hell battling your demons.  Please God, let the new day come and bring relief to your body and my mind.  I watched your every move as you slept, my mind in turmoil, my throat tight thinking of what new drama this could mean for our lives.

We never seemed to be able to catch a break.  Always something bringing chaos into the order we finally managed to find in our lives.  You were working, living with Lisa.  Still by the sea you loved.  Me,  finally being able to concentrate on my life without the constant worry over you.   Dating Ray, life was good.  Little did I know we were just about to board a runaway train that only the demons would control.

Monday came, pain the same.  Calls were made.  Charlie, this is Matt’s mom.  He’s here with me.  Don’t know what happened but he’s in horrible pain, can barely walk.  Oh, you know.  He left work early on Friday, told you he had doctor’s appointment.  Well, he’s with me and will be here until we get him seen and diagnosed.  Yes Charlie, I’ll keep you posted.   Hi Cindy, it’s MaryBeth.  I need a big favor.  My son, Matt is here and can barely move.  Can I get him in today, please I’m really scared.  Yes, I’ll hold.  Great, yes we will be there.  I wasn’t even wasting time with the family doctor.  My nursing gut instinct was guiding me and you were going to the best.  Dr. K. was surprised to see me and even more surprised to see how you were walking.   MRI and myelogram being ordered. The lump in my throat getting tighter as I look at your face seeing your fear growing.  Oh God, why is this happening.  Please help Matt. Stop this pain.  

We left his office and headed to the hospital for the first round of diagnostic tests.  You constantly complaining of pain, me pumping you with food and Motrin.  Thank God Dr. K. was more  interested in what was causing your pain then in masking it with pain killers.  Deep down I knew the time was coming to spill our dirty little secret, but now it would stay locked in my heart.

I sat alone in the hall lost in my thoughts while you lay still inside the metal tube that would give us information about the battle taking place in your spine.  My mind searching for the right words.  Matt had a problem with narcotics, no he’s not addicted, I mean he had a problem and we fixed it.  Oh God, why did it have to be so hard to just say it.  YES, he took Oxycontin and Percocet and liked the way he felt.  Yes, he might have a problem if he takes them again.   My heart prayed for a miracle as my mind was preparing for the worst.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear you coming.  Your face said it all.  Still gray in pain.  Your survived the MRI.  You were able to put your claustrophobia on hold to get threw, so I thought until that Hey Mama flowed from your mouth.  Xanax, shit.  Matt where did you get Xanax.  Chill out Mom. You’re not helping me so yeah I got some Z’s to get me through this crap.  Ok Matt. I guess the fun is about to begin.  You and Xanax were a bad combo.  You either got sloppy or belligerent.  God, let’s be sloppy.  Please one more test to get through before I could run and hide from this hell.

Once again I’m left behind as you are led back to be prepared for your myelogram.  This time my thoughts are interrupted by your angry voice.  You are not getting an IV.  You start cussing at the nurse.  OK buddy.  Nobody cusses at nurses.  I am done with your behavior.  Mom, I’m not dressed. You can’t be here.  I glance at the young pretty nurse, now visibly embarrassed by your behavior.  Hi, I’m Matt’s mom and I’m a nurse.  I’m sorry for his behavior.  He is very stressed and in pain.  Yes, I heard.  No IV.  Surprising that someone with  tattoos has a fear of needles, my attempt to make a joke out of this nightmare falls flat.  OK buddy.  You sit, shut your mouth and get that IV.  Matt it’s her or me.  She puts it in or I will!!!!!  Mom.  Shut up Matt. I’m sitting right here until that IV is in, I’m in no mood for your crap.  Get it done. I’m done!

The ride home is quiet.  My mind spinning thinking of the possibilities of what’s to come.  My gut stirred up, throat with that familiar tightness.  You look at me with those eyes and that smile, sorry Mom.  I’m so scared. I hate hospitals.  Matt you melt my heart.  All my anger gone replaced by mother’s intuition that something dark is looming around us.  You will always be my little boy, disappointed by the father that broke your heart.  I see that scared little boy when I look at you.  Don’t worry Matt, you will always have me.

Later that night the phone rings.  You’re on the couch with an ice bag and I’m having a glass of red trying to keep my thoughts positive.  Shit, this was not going to be good.  Dr. K. calling at night.  Never good when you get a call after office hours.  I take a deep breath and answer.  I try to keep my voice low, not wanting to alert you until I knew.  Oh God, this can’t be.  Yes I hear you.  Yes, schedule it as soon as you can.  Your test results.  My heart sinking as tears start to fall.  I take a breath and sit next to you.  Matt, your spine has a deformity.  You need surgery to stabilize.  A fall could bring paralysis.  I know I’m scared too.  We will get through this I will take care of you.  Matt, there will be pain.  We will have to be very careful.  Yes, I have to tell.  Our dirty little secret about to be revealed.   You finally asleep.  Me playing our game, you hide I seek, searching your stuff for signs of the demons that followed you everywhere.  

Matt, it was my birthday and I just got home from treating myself to a manicure.  Something I rarely did as a nurse, washing my hands a hundred times a day the polish didn’t last as long as it took to be applied.  But it felt good to do something for myself.  After having dinner with you and Ray that night I started to find myself thinking less about your addiction and more about my happiness.  Like doing little things just for me, the reason for the manicure.

It was a beautiful day, all the windows open.  Me thinking how nice it was to just be able to enjoy the day.  I was sitting out back when my silence was disturbed by the obnoxious sound that only comes from a motorcycle.  Dam, who is that and why are they crashing my party.  That horrible noise practically in my face as I’m forced to open my eyes  and feel the heat of the sun being blocked.  Surprise Mom.  Happy Birthday.  So it was my son blocking the sun on my face and disturbing the quiet my mind was beginning to crave.  Looking back, this was a defining moment that described our relationship perfectly. 

I was so touched that you came up from the beach to spend time with me, then I saw the crotch rocket that delivered you to my door.  Mom, you like my bike.  Matt, that’s no bike, that’s a donor cycle.  Holy shit Matt, you have no business having access to that.  What were you thinking.  Flashbacks of your daredevil teenage years riding motocross cycles and pushing it to the limit as you did with everything flooded my mind.  Mom, your just upset cause you’re a nurse.  Yes Matt,  I’ve scraped body parts off stretchers all results of accidents on bikes.  How about I lend you some money and you buy something safe.  Something that won’t kill me before it kills you.  Matt, haven’t you given me enough to worry about, now things are just calming down and you do this.  You wrap me in your famous hug, no worries Mom, I got this.

The accident happened shortly after you left my house.  Please Matt, be safe.  I can’t take much more.  You put your helmet on, I remember thanking God you even had one, hopped on the seat and took off, smiling and waving as you left.  That amazing, cocky smile that always melted my heart.  

I felt it, something so wrong I actually started to shake.  The phone ringing in the distance, glancing at the clock you  gone only 20 minutes.  How could this be. Yes I’m Matt’s mom, is he alive? Yes Christiana, tell him I will be there.  I was becoming quite the expert of sobbing while driving.  We arrive together, the ambulance pulling in as I run to meet the medics that came to your rescue.  You were awake, talking, your arm bloodied but you were alive.  Thank you God. 

You are rushed into trauma and I’m left to give the details and fill out forms.  Finally, I get to see for myself that you are ok.  You are cleaned up and comfortable, a little too comfortable for me.  Shit, Matt, did you tell them no narcotics.  You are drifting off to sleep as I grab your chart.  Two Percocet.  I closed my eyes as I heard the demons laugh.  Got ya!!!!!

Ok,  Dam the Hippa law.  I’m not doing this again.  Yes, he is an adult. Yes, he can make his own healthcare decisions.  This young, stupid doctor looking at me like I’m some overbearing pain in the ass.  You stupid shit.  My son is an addict.  I’m the mom/nurse that’s been saving him from himself.  Percocet,  is there no other drug for pain.  Don’t they teach you anything in Medical school.  Narcotics are killers and you just handed a script to an addict.  

We fought all the way home.  Your bike trashed.  No way to escape me.  You are not filling that script.  Mom, my arm is killing me and my back. The pain is horrible.  You’re a nurse.  Do you want me to be in pain.  What kind of mom are you to let me be in pain.   Really!!!!! you’ve got to be kidding.  I’m the kinda mom that detoxed you alone, the mom who paid your bills, cleaned your house, took care of your dogs while you were screaming, puking and getting the poison out of your body.  How can you put that poison back into your body,  what is wrong with you.  You have a problem, you will drag us back into that hell we barely escaped.  

I waited for you to fall asleep.  Still under the spell of the percs given in the hospital.  I looked through your things, remembering our game, you hide I seek.  Crumbled and hidden in your shoe the paper that would be the beginning of the end.  I tore it up, no longer caring what kind of mother you thought I was.   

I went to work thinking I saved us again.  Little did I know the demons were already at work, that script I tore up was a copy you made on my printer.  I was in such a hurry to destroy the devil my eyes failed to see how  far you would go to dance with the demons again.  I was planning on driving you home myself to make sure things were good.  Imagine my surprise when I came home to my dogs and an empty house.  You couldn’t wait to get away to start finding your way back to the euphoria you still craved.  Lisa picked you up not knowing that the future she sought with you would always be surrounded by the chaos that only demons can create.                                                                    

Matt, time was passing quickly and surprisingly without any drama. I have to admit this new normal was right up my alley. I spent several more weekends, some by surprise some with warning that the mom police was coming. I really wanted this to be us. The us I prayed for all the years we fought your battle. I was finding myself relaxing a little. You were still spending more time at Lisa’s than our place, but now the house looked cared for. No dirty dishes growing mold in the sink, grass cut. I would tend to the flower beds that Natt left behind and remember how the three of us fussed over what plants would look best. God, I missed the three of us, everywhere I looked I saw Natt. I felt myself grieving for the girl I wanted so badly to be your wife, to give me those little babes that would be the most beautiful children with your eyes and Natts face, but as they say life goes on and now there was Lisa. There were times when I knew you saw my thoughts as we could still read each other’s mind. I saw that same grief pass your face then that smirk would appear, it’s ok Mom, I’m the one who screwed up. I miss her too.
I was spending equal time between our house and Lisa’s, knowing that I had to try for you. Still watching the two of you from afar and still no warm and fuzzies for me. But you know me Matt, whatever made you happy made me happy so I continued to play the part of the mom you needed me to be, you know the one who supported you in all things, even those I didn’t agree with. I was allowing myself to foolishly forget that you were an addict. Always checking for the obvious signs, the dead give away that your demons found you again. I remember thinking that this was too good to be true. I’d educated myself enough to know addiction just didn’t go away like the common cold, but this new found peace was just what my weary soul craved. Maybe, just maybe we were the one in a million, you know the people you read about that just get straight and stay there. Please God, let that be us. Finally just a mom and her son enjoying life by the sea as it should be.
I would leave you and pray that our good fortune would continue. Me going back to the rat race of my life and you staying by the sea. I would tell Ray about you now with a little more confidence. How you were living my dream. Living by the sea, doing what you loved, relaxing in the sun, no worries about your future. You lived for today, and as much as that would drive me crazy I had to admire you. I was the type A, I worried about the bills, the house, the job. You worried about nothing. I never realized just how smart you were, worrying is such a waste of time. Looking back, I wonder if you knew your demons would win and take you away.
Finally the day came. I felt secure enough with the way things seemed to be going to bring Ray with me to meet you. Ray, like us loved the beach. We came during the week, knowing you were at work gave me a sense that this meeting would go well. Praying that even you knew how much you would risk showing up for work using. I wasn’t quite convinced that we were out of the woods, so weekend visits were reserved only for me. Ray and I spent the day on the beach. Soaking up the sun and playing in the sea. I really loved this man and needed this meeting to go well. Any man sharing my life needed to know I was a mom first and my kids were a priority, especially you, Matt. We had a relationship, an unbreakable bond thanks to your demons and the dirty little secret we shared.
We met after your work day ended. I was relaxed after a day in the son. I kept trying not to let the fear creep into my mind. I needed you to do this for me. Just once, I needed something from you and I hoped you would somehow sense how much this meant to me.
Please Matt, be the guy I loved. The guy who was friendly, let your smile and humor shine through. Leave the demons in their place and be my Matt.
We were in Ray’s car waiting for you. I remember thinking this was a good thing. You would not recognize this car. I would have time to do my checks without you even being aware. Your black pickup pulled into the parking lot. OK, now my heart starts to race. Oh God, this is it. Please just once give me a break. You step out, my eyes follow you. Gait steady. check. you walk to the deck of the restaurant. Your face looks great. Tan and carrying a smile. You light up a smoke, I think dam, still have that nasty habit, then a slap hits my brain. Hey, if that’s the worst, no sweat.
Ray and I get out of his car. Me, still focused on you. You see us coming, smile and start coming toward us. My eyes catch yours, those beautiful eyes are clear! Looking good. Speech clear. Thank you God. You wrap me in your hug. My body relaxes. I got this Mom. Matt this is Ray, Ray this is Matt.
Oh Matt, I was the happiest I’ve ever been. We are together and you are really here. Smiling and engaging in conversation. You are present. My God, is this what it feels like to be normal. To anyone observing us, we look like the perfect family. Parents and their son having dinner. No demons present tonight to rob you of who you are. No catching you as you slump over in your seat then laugh cause you think your behavior is just so dam funny. Oh Matt, what a gift you have given my heart tonight. My beautiful son as he should be. Oh God, please keep us in this safe place. We deserve this normal. No demons sucking the life out of our happiness, normal is something we didn’t have a lot of and I prayed it would hang on to us and never let us go. Little did I know the demons were hovering, laughing and letting me have my moment of sweet joy.