Question About Polymyositis?
Question by Jess :3: Question about Polymyositis?
Hi, I have a couple questions regarding the disease Polymyositis. I have a family member that has been diagnosed with this disease for a couple of years. I know this disease affects the muscles, like in your neck, and can be painful. I also know that it is inflammation of the muscles…My family member that has been diagnosed tends to draw out and exaggerate things, A LOT! She was addicted to very strong pain killers, I know only one ( Oxycodone), we tried to get her to go to rehab but failed. Now, she has this disease and I am 98% sure she’s still abusing. Examples: During the day she will be on the computer typing away when suddenly she passes out in the chair. A few moments go by and she begins to type again. That will happen on and off. Another example: During the middle of the night I’ve caught her passed out on the toilet, with her pants down and sitting there, I have to wake her up to get her back to bed. That leads to my question, Can abusing pain killers lead to this disease? Another reason why I feel like she continues to abuse is due to her memory loss..I feel like she has more of a selective memory loss then just memory loss itself. Is memory loss another side affect of Polymyositis? She is always out of it and she says all she can do is sit in bed due to her disease. She is very obese and I know physical therapy will help with this disease. I’m tired of her causing problems around the family and playing the victim. I would like to know the truth. Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Best answer:
Answer by TweetyBird
“That leads to my question, Can abusing pain killers lead to this disease?” — No, they cannot but having polymyositis can lead can lead to drug abuse.
” Is memory loss another side affect of Polymyositis?” — No, not at all, but it’s an effect of drug abuse. You are probably right about her having selective memory. Lots of people do.
Her obesity makes ambulation difficult and discourages her from being more active but the less active she is, the less active she’ll be able to be. The disease makes it hard for her to stand up from a sitting position. This is not conducive to activity either. The muscle fatigue contributes. And she may have interstitial lung disease by now. She’ll be short of breath. The falling asleep in her chair, on the toilet, sounds like the nodding off that a junkie does.
Is she receiving treatment for this? Since polymyositis tends to affect children 5-15 and adult 50-70, I’m thinking your family member is over 50 and may be African-American. Have you always lived with her since you both became adults? Has she always been obese? Does she make any contribution to the household? Did she work prior to her diagnosis? Is her doctor aware of the possible abuse situation? How does she get these medications??? Oxycodone is a Schedule II drug, a controlled substance. You can’t have it mailed to you, the DEA would never allow that, and there can be no refills. A new prescription has to written each month. You could be right, she may be exaggerating her pain to justify her use of pain meds and to mask her addiction — selective memory again. Or maybe she has no prescription at all. Does she go out of the house once a month to pick up a prescription and have it filled? As far as rehab, think “tough love”. It could ultimately save her life. PT could help but cooperation is a problem.
“I’m tired of her causing problems around the family and playing the victim.” — What sorts of problems does she cause for the family? I think there may be more to this then meets the eye.