1. I accidentally hit add comments before I had finisihed my response to opioids. Can you send it back to me? Jason

Posted at 9:27PM on Feb 16th 2007 by Jason Chambers

2. After losing 3 friends to cancer, I have often wondered if the use of opioid had contributed to their passing before their given time. Now, after reading this article, it does confirm that the use of opioid in the final stages only helps to ease the discomfort and suffering. Thank God.

I myself am in stage 4 of liver disease, and experience quite a bit of pain, nausea, and other discomforts as well. Through no fault of my own, this disease came upon me. Although, it really does not matter whether you yourself are responsible for your particular illness or not, one still suffers all the same.

My Dr has prescribed pain meds for me, opioid, of which I find myself taking less and less of. The first reason being, my concern for my liver and it's ability to function properly while taking so many meds, and the second reason being I feel a need to feel some pain to remind me to continue to fight this disease. Even though my Dr assures me that the pain med will not have that great of an effect on my liver, I still cut myself back.
I do confess, at times the pain is unbearable, only then do I use the prescribed amount.

So, when reading this article, I found myself being somewhat relieved that the opioid does not have an effect as to when a person is in the final stages, moving on to another place and time. However, at the same time I'm thinking, so what if it does, one can only take so much pain and suffering before saying enough, I'm tired. To me it's not giving up to cancer or whatever disease has invaded your body, as much as it is your decision, choice, and right not to fight anymore. That does not make us a weaker person, just human. Thank you

Sincerely, Jason

Posted at 11:28PM on Feb 16th 2007 by Jason Chambers