Question by Laura: What does the term “chronic addiction” mean to you? What images do you get when you hear this term?
If a doctor writes the term “chronic addiction” into a patient’s chart, what would you think of that patient? What sort of person do you think a person with a “chronic addiction” diagnosis might be? What impressions will other doctors get of the patient if they see this term in the chart?

Best answer:

Answer by PINKY
Chronic just means ongoing. A disease or illness that will continue without medical treatment. As far as what other doctors may think, well was it a chronic drug addiction? Is so they will probably never prescribe you drugs like those unless absolutely neccessary.

What do you think? Answer below!

Question by all you need is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: How long can you live in a coma WITHOUT TREATMENT?
okay, so i was writing this story ( something i do often :D) and this girl was in a coma. i am wondering how long its possible to remain in that state, just so i can make it seem more plausible.

real thorough answers please, and maybe a couple websites with information? Thanks!
What about the vegative state of a coma? How long can you live in that state without treatment, if at all?

Best answer:

Answer by Steve L
Coma is an extended period of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused even with the most painful stimuli. Coma is not a disease. It is a symptom of a disease or a response to an event, such as a severe head injury, seizure or metabolic problem. Most comas do not last longer than four weeks. Some people in a coma shift to a persistent vegetative state, in which breathing, maintaining normal blood pressure, digesting and eliminating foods continues without the patient’s awareness. The vegetative state can last for years or decades. The outcome of a coma ranges from full recovery to death. Whether a person recovers, and to what extent, depends upon the cause of the coma and the type and extent of the brain damage.

A coma involves two different concepts: Reactivity and perceptivity.

The perceptivity concept refers to responses of the nervous system to learned stimuli. These types of stimuli may be learned through language or communication skills.
The reactivity concept refers to the inborn functions of the brain. These functions include the eyes, ears, responses to pain, wakefulness and turning ones head toward a sound of movement. These movements are also called reflexive movements.
A person in a coma does not experience reactivity or perceptivity. The patient can not be aroused by calling their name or experiencing pain.

Symptoms of a Coma

The main symptom of a coma is the inability to be aroused to consciousness. Other symptoms are: Lack of self-awareness, Lack of a sleep-wake cycle, Lack of purposeful movements, Lack of suffering and Impaired breathing.

What Causes a Coma?

A coma can be caused by a variety of things. The most often cause of coma is severe head injury. Other causes are: consumption of a very large amount of alcohol (toxic or metabolic coma), diabetes, morphine, shock or hemorrhage. Treatment varies depending on the cause. Overall, in coma cases, damage to the brain’s “thinking, and life support centers” have occurred. When damage has occurred, bleeding in the brain, swelling and congestion of the damaged tissue is present. In extreme cases, brain swelling is so great that portions of the brain must be forcible squeezed out of the skull. This dead or “dying” tissue is then surgically removed. An alternative to squeezing portions of the brain out of the skull is to saw off the skull and place it in a cold storage to better accommodate the swollen brain.

What happens during a coma?

There are different stages of a coma. Most people believe that a person in a coma is in a deep sleep. This is not entirely true. Some stages of coma resemble a deep sleep but not all. The progress of coma is measured by the patient’s increasing awareness of external stimuli. There are many levels of coma which the patient will pass through as functionality increases. Depending on the stage, a person in a coma may make movements, sounds and experience agitation. Coma patients may also have reflex activities that mimic conscious activities. Sometimes, coma patients must be restrained to prohibit them from removing tubes and IVs.

Emerging from a Coma

When a person begins to emerge from a coma, they begin to react to certain stimuli. However, to regain consciousness, both reactivity and perceptivity must be present. Reactivity and perceptivity are necessary for a state of awareness. It is often the case that some parts of perceptivity such as speech and self care must be relearned.

A beneficial Coma

Sometimes a coma may be chemically induced by a doctor to aid in medical treatment and recovery. This usually happens during a head injury.

Coma Statistics

Every ten minutes head injury claims the life of another child.
Head trauma is the number one cause of death and disability among people between the ages of 1 and 44.
About 5% to 10% of all coma patients are incapable of conscious behavior, and end up vegetative, which most of the public think of as prolonged coma.

What do you think? Answer below!

recovering pelican feeding theodore al rehab

Image by USFWS/Southeast
Recovering pelican feeding Theodore Oiled Bird Rehab Center
Photo by Tom MacKenzie, U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service June 2, 2010 IMG_4283

NYC Rehab Center Consortium CentersHealthcare.com Spotlights Social …
The group, available at http://www.CentersHealthcare.com, is comprised of both nursing homes and rehab centers in New York. "Certain professions are more accurately deemed vocations rather than mere day-jobs; the demands placed on a social worker in …
Read more on PR Newswire (press release)

Centers for Specialty Care Group Provides On-Site Dialysis at Many of Its NYC …
Centers for Specialty Care Group is a consortium of NYC rehab centers that provides its long and short term patients with many on-site medical treatments. By Centers for Specialty Care Group. NEW YORK, April 12, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ — Centers for …
Read more on The Herald | HeraldOnline.com

Opiate addiction treatment facility set to open in Chillicothe
After learning about opioid-based medical treatment Suboxone, doctors Bryan Wood and Robin Peavler opened their first addiction clinic in Danville, Ky. To expand access, specifically to rural communities, the doctors since have opened another 11 …
Read more on Chillicothe Gazette

Discovery Could Yield Treatment for Cocaine Addicts
Discovery Could Yield Treatment for Cocaine Addicts. Mar. 15, 2013 — Scientists have discovered a molecular process in the brain triggered by cocaine use that could provide a target for treatments to prevent or reverse addiction to the drug.
Read more on Science Daily (press release)

Question by Chris the 4th: How do I find out if I have Cognitive dysfunction or brain fog?
I use to be sharp and smart. I graduated early when i was 16 by getting much more credits. Anyway the last few years I seem to have lost my sharpness. But it comes and goes. Sometimes I am but most of the time seems like I am not. I am forgetful and sometimes something will be right in front of me but i cant find it. I also take 6 percoset a day so this may have something to do with it. Also I feel tired a lot.

Best answer:

Answer by **Ghosty**
Hi. The following is an extract from the Internet (no wonder you feel tired and light-headed!):

‘Percocet, or oxycodone with acetaminophen, is a narcotic used to treat pain. The acetaminophen actually boosts the potency of the oxycodone and makes the drug all the more dangerous. It is habit-forming, so its use should be monitored closely by doctors. Percocet should not be used in instances where people are expected to be alert, mainly while driving and working. Percocet does have side effects, but it is usually tolerated quite well by users with minimal or no side effects as users become more used to the drug.

Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions with Percocet include unexplained rashes, hives, swelling of the face, throat or mouth, and difficulty breathing, including wheezing. Itching must be accompanied by at least one or more other signs to be a true allergic reaction. According to an eMEDTV July 7, 2008 article, “Percocet Side Effects,” authors Kristi Monson, Pharm.D. and Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., write that initial feelings of nausea, vomiting or itching may lead people to believe that they are allergic to Percocet. However, that is not the case, as the nausea and vomiting usually dissipates with continued use of Percocet. The itching, as long as it is unaccompanied by other allergic reactions, is just a side effect of opiates, which release histamine.

Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of Percocet does not require medical attention unless the user finds that these side effects are interfering with his daily routine or functioning. Common side effects include vertigo or feeling lightheaded, drowsiness and fatigue, constipation, unexplained euphoria or dysphoria, itching and nausea with possible vomiting.

Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects do not occur often, but when they do, it is essential to seek medical treatment immediately. Upper right abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or dark urine are all signs of liver damage. The urge to take more Percocet than prescribed is a sign of addiction. Other side effects include confusion, anxiety or panic, constipation, shallow breathing, difficulty passing urine or decreased urination, fainting and drowsiness.

Other Side Effects
Some side effects reported by individuals while taking Percocet do not necessarily pose a threat to the majority of the population that take prescription Percocet on a daily basis. The FDA maintains a hotline to call if someone wishes to report a side effect they have experienced with prescriptions that is unique and does not apply to usual side effects. These side effects include low or high blood pressure, fatigue and drowsiness, thirst, migraines, irregular heartbeats, sweating, convulsions, dehydration, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, hearing loss, dry mouth, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), low or high blood sugar, red eyes, and flushing of the skin (“blushing”).

Conclusion
Percocet is a useful pill for pain management. However, it should be used with care since it traps users in an addiction and tolerance if used incorrectly. Users should contact their doctors if they become worried about the side effects of Percocet that they are experiencing. Overdoses of Percocet can destroy the liver quickly, and addicts should be aware of all of the side effects of the drug.’

I think you need to speak to your Doctor, see if this is the appropriate meds for you and your situation now.

Good luck.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

by wannaoreo

Question by all you need is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: How long can you live in a coma WITHOUT TREATMENT?
okay, so i was writing this story ( something i do often :D) and this girl was in a coma. i am wondering how long its possible to remain in that state, just so i can make it seem more plausible.

real thorough answers please, and maybe a couple websites with information? Thanks!
What about the vegative state of a coma? How long can you live in that state without treatment, if at all?

Best answer:

Answer by Steve L
Coma is an extended period of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused even with the most painful stimuli. Coma is not a disease. It is a symptom of a disease or a response to an event, such as a severe head injury, seizure or metabolic problem. Most comas do not last longer than four weeks. Some people in a coma shift to a persistent vegetative state, in which breathing, maintaining normal blood pressure, digesting and eliminating foods continues without the patient’s awareness. The vegetative state can last for years or decades. The outcome of a coma ranges from full recovery to death. Whether a person recovers, and to what extent, depends upon the cause of the coma and the type and extent of the brain damage.

A coma involves two different concepts: Reactivity and perceptivity.

The perceptivity concept refers to responses of the nervous system to learned stimuli. These types of stimuli may be learned through language or communication skills.
The reactivity concept refers to the inborn functions of the brain. These functions include the eyes, ears, responses to pain, wakefulness and turning ones head toward a sound of movement. These movements are also called reflexive movements.
A person in a coma does not experience reactivity or perceptivity. The patient can not be aroused by calling their name or experiencing pain.

Symptoms of a Coma

The main symptom of a coma is the inability to be aroused to consciousness. Other symptoms are: Lack of self-awareness, Lack of a sleep-wake cycle, Lack of purposeful movements, Lack of suffering and Impaired breathing.

What Causes a Coma?

A coma can be caused by a variety of things. The most often cause of coma is severe head injury. Other causes are: consumption of a very large amount of alcohol (toxic or metabolic coma), diabetes, morphine, shock or hemorrhage. Treatment varies depending on the cause. Overall, in coma cases, damage to the brain’s “thinking, and life support centers” have occurred. When damage has occurred, bleeding in the brain, swelling and congestion of the damaged tissue is present. In extreme cases, brain swelling is so great that portions of the brain must be forcible squeezed out of the skull. This dead or “dying” tissue is then surgically removed. An alternative to squeezing portions of the brain out of the skull is to saw off the skull and place it in a cold storage to better accommodate the swollen brain.

What happens during a coma?

There are different stages of a coma. Most people believe that a person in a coma is in a deep sleep. This is not entirely true. Some stages of coma resemble a deep sleep but not all. The progress of coma is measured by the patient’s increasing awareness of external stimuli. There are many levels of coma which the patient will pass through as functionality increases. Depending on the stage, a person in a coma may make movements, sounds and experience agitation. Coma patients may also have reflex activities that mimic conscious activities. Sometimes, coma patients must be restrained to prohibit them from removing tubes and IVs.

Emerging from a Coma

When a person begins to emerge from a coma, they begin to react to certain stimuli. However, to regain consciousness, both reactivity and perceptivity must be present. Reactivity and perceptivity are necessary for a state of awareness. It is often the case that some parts of perceptivity such as speech and self care must be relearned.

A beneficial Coma

Sometimes a coma may be chemically induced by a doctor to aid in medical treatment and recovery. This usually happens during a head injury.

Coma Statistics

Every ten minutes head injury claims the life of another child.
Head trauma is the number one cause of death and disability among people between the ages of 1 and 44.
About 5% to 10% of all coma patients are incapable of conscious behavior, and end up vegetative, which most of the public think of as prolonged coma.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!