Pain Medication Shame (Page 6)
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First of all, I hate taking pain meds but I was almost completely bedridden for 2 yrs. They gave me my life back and I'll be grateful for the rest of my life. My insurance company dropped me right before I was gonna have surgery to get some relief. So I had no choice but to go with the pain meds. I've been on oxycodone 30/150 per month (5 a day) and MS Contin 200mg 2 times daily since 2009. Had breaks when I could. My point is, nobody knows what my daily life is like. I feel ashamed every month getting refills. Maybe it's in my head but the staff at the pharmacy gives me that "pill seeker" look. I guess all that matters is my doctor trusts me and he knows my complete history. I know I'm not taking them for fun. I'd much rather be normal. Can anyone relate to what I'm saying?

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REPORT

I moved recently, but kept my doctor, 4 hrs away, after being informed that no doctors in my new town would prescribe the meds I am on. I found out that Walmart, all Walmarts, are implementing very strict guidelines as to who gets pain meds. No more for chronic pain. Only surgical and/or Cancer patients, broken bones....in other words, for the most part, temporary acute conditions. And then, only for a short period of time. The Walmart pharmacist wrote a note to my doctor...yes, true.....explaining that I MUST be weaned and how to do it! I brought in a paper from most recent Dr visit with the list of conditions I have. Won't bore you with the details, but pharmacist told me there was not one condition that warranted the ungodly high dose of oxycodone 10mgs, 120, per month. Oh...he was ever so kind....ever so patient....ever so longwinded.....as he, full of concern, and I do believe he was sincere, explained that my pain is CAUSED by my use of oxycodone. Not relieved, but caused. Now, I do know that is not unheard of, but I also know what I am like with no opioid pain reliever. I felt admonished, felt I had NO say, no defense about my use of pain meds. Everyone in line, and behind the counter knew without a doubt what was being discussed. I requested that my script be filled, but pharmacist overruled. It was embarrassing. No way can you appear to be disappointed, or upset or defensive, be cause that's how seekers behave.

I am 60. Not some silly knownothing, just looking for thrills. So I made the 4 hrs trip back to my doctor, gave him the note, and asked....now what do I do? My doc was annoyed and said.....let's get you a different pharmacy. He rewrote my scripts, changed the pharmacy name on it (as most know, you have to have pharmacy stated on the script) to a pharmacy near my old hometown. Husband drove the 4 hrs, on the date for fill, went to the small mom/pop shop, and they filled. No questions asked.

So, not only will you not get a script in my new town...you won't get a Walmart to fill it. I had used walmart for 4 years prior, with no problem. My doc explained, Walmart has recently changed their policies about who can and who cannot be treated for pain. Doctors no longer rule. Pharmacist rules. All they need to say is that they are "not comfy" filling your script. I had no red flag by my name. Never behaved in anyway that could be construed as "seeking" behaviour...never begged for an early fill, and had proof of non curable medical conditions.

Since my move is temporary, to help care for my dad, it made sense to keep my doctor, who I have a great, open, honest relationship with. Too dang hard to establish a good relationship with a new doc. Which would be useless anyway, because of the pervasive attitude in this town about those bad opioids. That damn stuff just causes pain, doncha know?

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There are many who did not take more medication than they were suppose to, followed all the rules and passed every drug test that they were given and they have had pain medications reduced drastically or cut all together! DEA have doctors afraid to prescribe even to patients they have been seeing for a very long period of time. I would not be surprised to hear that this gentleman is now also a casualty of the DEA who has scared our doctors so bad they are putting their patients through hell!

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Re: Catryna (# 4)

That's exactly what the Government wants us to do!!!! They're banking on it!!! That's why we're slowly but surely seeing marijuana legalized!! The Government finally decided to legalize it sooo they can bring in tax money!!! I've figured that out when this started !! I'm still working on the pharmaceutical co. and where exactly they fit in! Because you know they're not going to take a hit!! So how many of those companies are quietly growing pot and investing in labs to cultivate the best for your buck in Hope's they can get more people off of opiates and on cannabis!! All because of tax money!!! There is still huge problems not being discussed about cannabis and the affect on the brain!!! It ages the brain!! Theres No way around that fact!!

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Re: Lin (# 64)

What state do you live in. You don't have to suffer in pain. I fully understand how you feel. I'm on Suboxone and it helps with the pain. But if I needed something harder if my pain was not in control there are doctors here that will help.

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Holy smokes, yes! I relate! I have no history of abusing drugs, yet I am treated like I am a worthless lowlife looking for a fix. I'm a 77 year old woman with back pain so severe it has just about robbed me of my life. I love being outdoors but I can't even walk in the woods. I'm outraged that my dog can get pain pills if she needs them but I can't.

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I'm just like everyone else, the doctors are getting too ridiculous about giving us that need our pain meds. I'm so disgusted with it. My opinion is, doctors need to treat their patients each one with their different circumstances.

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To Romanj32: I have been on oxycodone since 2003 and various other pain meds prior to that. I started with chronic,migraines. Then in 2003 I developed back pain from standing on my feet all day ( I was a nurse ). I contracted MRSA which caused painful abscesses on both arms and no doctor could tell me how the MRSA had morphed into an unknown and untreatable disease. Then I had stage 3 Breast cancer. All of this ended my nursing future. I said all of that to say this. I also felt the drug seeker looks at the pharmacy. I got lucky though and found one pharmacist who didn't treat me that way. So for many years where ever he worked I followed. Then he got a job filling in for absent pharmacists within a chain of pharmacies and I could no longer follow. However, I was blessed because his son had become a pharmacist, so he sent me to his son. His son treated me very well and his co-workers got to know me and also treated me well. I have had some issues since the opiate overdoses became top news. Then my problem shifted to doctors who misjudged me. I honestly know how it feels to be judged by your pain meds. Maybe you can talk to a pharmacist and explain why you take the meds you take. When they know you have serious problems healthwise, then they begin to relate to you more from a place of compassion. I'm still on oxy but no longer judged. I hope my story helps you in some way. I really hope you can find a pharmacist who won't judge you if you can let him or her get to know you the person. Sometimes we must tell our story to be accepted and understood. Good luck to you and may God bless you with compassion.

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Re: Dogs Rule (# 60)

Where do you live? I, personally, share my doctors name freely, but doubt anyone lives near me.

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Oh my gosh ! DO NOT b ashamed. Rather get on your knees & thank God our Lord that you are STILL getting them ! I am a 57yo woman that's worked HEAVY consruction - i.e. concrete flat & forms, drywall install, roofing,log home building,logging ect. >40yrs. I have 9 vertabral discs that r bulging, herniated or JUST GONE ! I took 60-100mgs ms contin tid v+180mgs morphine IR/day x 19 yrs w NO problems EVER ! NO "they got lost/stolen, no early requests for more, ODs or +4 drugs not prescribed. But now bc of this "opiate crisis" am not getting any more. I also know 2 great veterans that r hurt bad but cut of for NO reason. I would b 4ever grateful if you would give me the name of your Dr. But I'm pretty sure that wont happen. So I'm hvg to get/do H now.

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Re: Precious (# 57)

Thanks Me I will definetly check on that. The trouble is always my insurance company. They don't pay for very many psychiatrists in my area. I have to see the psychiatrist employed by my pain clinic soon because it is required. Who knows maybe I will like him and he will be able to help me and I can ditch the old one. The problem with the psychiatrist I see nowhat beyond serious character flaws is that he was involved in a court case with a young child who was killed by her guardian. The guardian had been taking the young girl to him for behavioral problems and he prescribed her about 6 psychotropic drugs including 2 antipsychotics and she was only 6 years old. He was never charged with a crime for over prescribing the girl or negligence for not seeing the abuses the girl was experiencing but he was questioned over and over in court. I think after that he became afraid of prescribing. I of course didn't know any of this when I picked him. He was my first psychiatrist when I was 18 and back then he was a big supporter of benzos for panic disorder. That was my only motivation for going back to him plus he was nice as well. Thag court case completely changed his personality. I have major depressive disorder and he has made me cry 3 times in office talking down to me. Now how is that supposed to help? I for sure need to see someone who will actually help me deal with being in chronic pain, panic, and depression. Thank you for caring I appreciate it. God bless and be well.

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Precious

Oops...1mg of Suboxone = 15mg morphine

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Re: Me (# 55)

Thank you for response and yes I did talk to a attorney over the phone just to ask if they thought i had a case once and at that time maybe 5 yrs had passed but the attorney said my time limit was up. At this time my doctor was doing xray on my pelvis every three months due to keeping a check on this growth that was on the bone. And the suboxene do help my pain Im just getting adjusted to side effects.

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Re: Sanmarie (# 29)

I switched to Suboxone for pain, and It is a miracle drug for me.

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Re: Precious (# 23)

Depending on the paperwork you signed before surgery, you may have a case. Definitely report him to the board.

As for Suboxone 15mg = 6mg of morphine. It works incredible! I have been on it for 2 1/2 years for chronic pain, and wish I found it years ago!

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Re: Curious80 (# 21)

If you have an old doctor, find a young one. There is no reason to see a doctor you hate. When I was on a lot of Oxy I was also given 3mg of Alprazolam and 10mg of Ambien.

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Re: Brandi79 (# 13)

Ask your doctor which he/she would chose? 24hrs of pain or 24hrs of anxiety mostly due to the pain.

My doctor gives me meds for both and Ambien to sleep.

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I know how you feel I’ve broke my back twice I ruptured my lumbar‘s had to have three surgeries on lower back Harrington rods and broke my leg tibia and Fibia they tried to fix it and broke my foot also cut owner nerve remain artery to right-hand crushed owner nerve in left hand and broke it my back my legs my hands hurt all the time not to mention my head where it was split open but the doctors do not understand in the government as a limit it no amount of meds you’re allowed no matter what you’re paying the ass sometimes I have to go to alternate resources and then I worry about the wrong meds or mixture of meds those other resources give me but sometimes I just wish I would not wake up so tired

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Re: Curious80 (# 46)

Thanks so much for your words of positivity and i iwill keep on fighting the fight /im in chronic pain an i wont be treated like a junkee so i just tell em ive had 2 back surgery s soinal steinsis /soondylethosis and neck problems so thanks for all your words of wisdom you are a great person ????

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Re: Gia (# 15)

Yes I agree. I will never return to Walgreens. Pharmacy staff treats customers horribly. Not just one Wallgreens. After three over the years, I am done.

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Re: Curious80 (# 46)

I won’t ever tell anyone that I take Norco and Percocet cuz I’m so afraid that they will fire me. I work harder than most of the techs in the pharmacy and the meds never ever affect my thinking or my job. I ended pharm tech 1 and 2 with an overall grade of 98% and got 1560 out of 1600 on my PTCB test and if I ever feel like the meds are starting to affect me negatively, I would quit before I ever harm anyone or make mistakes. It’s so hard for me to stand there listening to the pharmacist’s talk about patients on pain meds and the things they say about these meds. I just want to scream at them! One day the pharmacist was filling a script for Nucynta for someone that is opiate naive but have had this med before and he felt like it was too high of a dose so he called the doctor and complained and than the doctor lowered the strength on it! Than one day someone was coming in to get their pain med and he told one of the techs that this guy is super shady and there’s notes all over his profile saying he doctor shops and he still filled the med for him! It just pissed me off that he had the doctor lower the strength on the one person and complained and yet gave someone that is a known doctor shopper get his med! It’s just super frustrating with not only me needed these meds but my husband as well and working in a pharmacy where you have to sit there and listen to all the crap they say! Oh well, what can you do? I probably won’t be at this job for much longer cuz I’ve been in so much more pain since starting work there that I don’t feel like I’m going to be able to keep it up. My neck has been hurting so much that I had to go in the back room last night and cry! Best wishes to you all! I pray that things work out exactly the way we need them to! And that someone out there will start listening to people like us and start to do articles that will show that people with chronic pain really do need these meds and aren’t just abusing them to feel high! We don’t want to use them, we need them! That reminds me of what someone said to my boss, they aren’t addicted to these meds they just need them! Well he thinks that means this person is addicted to them, and to me that means they are dependent on them, meaning they need them to function! He really should look up the definitions of addiction and dependence.

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