Pain Medication Shame (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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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Re: Mark (# 24)

I certainly wished...no i dont but if they could live in our shoes one day they would scream bloody murder. Yes we should all write letters to congress i guess because this is ridiculous. See if that helps doubt it but never know. Let the flood gates open. So sorry to hear all these tragic stories. I would much rather be working like normal people if there is such a thing.

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Re: karen (# 35)

Methadone clinic will be the only place to get pain relief. What a joke the doctors and nurses can't prescribe what they feel is needed. The gov. and Insurance companies are in control of your dose and med. Lame. The clinics are not accurate with their drug panels. The results come back with false readings 10% to as much as 30% of the time. During 2017 they falsely found U/A's dirty and for over 100 clients. They were using Precision Toxicology in San Diego, Ca. and had signed into a year long contract. Precision T. were using new philosophy in which they had chosen to advertise themselves as more accurate and that they had the ability to discover the presence of drugs for a longer time period than other companies. We, the clients soon found out the trick they had pulled on the administrator and staff who chose this company without looking over their record or history. Well, I let the rabbit out of the bag, they simply throughout the recommended required amount of a substance to accurately determine a person has consumed that substance. Example: 50 nanograms/ml. of methamphetamine is needed on an oral drug panel to determine use. Precision T. used zero nanograms/ml. for all substances. This therefore caused tons of false readings for anyone who had touched a door handle or used the pen to sign for their meds. after a person with methamphetamine residue on their hands had went ahead of you. This caused havoc for a year as they fulfilled the contract they had signed. The results, clients lost their take home privileges and the respect they earned with counselors and staff. They also would have their dose lowered if they had not earned takehome medications. Your drug panel record determines the amount of days you have to go to clinic to dose in front of nurses. Between 1 and 6 days a week is the amount of days a client must pick up meds or take meds at clinic. I go once a week now, but I went daily for the first few years before I got the system flowing right. Well anyways, I started out stating that this is one of the only routes chronic pain suffers have these days to receive pain relief. It not easy and it not right. We should be able to go to our primary care doctor and get our daily medicine needs met. Pain medicine or not, doctors are the ones with the degree. They went to school half their life to be able to help other. The government should stay the f... out of my medicine cabinet.

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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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Re: Verwon (# 1)

It is not true that the pharmacist can only order a certain amount. As long as they have legit scripts a pharmacy can order as much as needed to meet their customer's demands. That statement is just how the pharmacist misleads their pain patients if they don’t want to serve them. Don’t believe me, go to your states B.O.P bylaws on opiates and read for yourself.

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I can completely relate, and I am not even taking pain meds at the progressive point of COPD with pulmonary fibrosis. I have had it 11yrs, and most never live this long. I'm on palliative care, but my soon to be former PCP physician said to go to a pain clinic. She took over after the prior PCP screwed up on pancreas concerns I'm under watch for. I have a new spot on my lung as well, and the PCP blasted my chart with medication noncompliance due to palliative care nurse putting my thyroid back to the dosage that worked. Subsequently, med noncompliance makes it look like an abuse problem when it's in your chart. Doctors often don't read anymore than that flag. I'm so afraid to ask for anything as I wither down to a size nothing, bones hurt, etc. The stigma is so bad re: pain meds that I will suffer until I can't take anymore, and end my suffering on my own. I am not a criminal and am absolutely disenchanted with the way patients are immediately targeted in a negative description for some reason or another (socioeconomic, psychological, difficult patient, addict, etc). This helps protect physicians from any potential legal cases. I know this from paralegal days. It's not relevant if a patient's description is true or not to the medical community. It's all about covering litigation; and sadly, severely biased medical practice in every aspect. Stay strong! Many of us understand your frustration!

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Anger
Frustration
Fear
Hopelessness

Anyone out there know where you can find sympathy?

Look in the dictionary. It comes between s*** and syphilis. Going in for another surgery on the 19th this month. Had an exploratory procedure performed on 10th October to determine just how much further my shoulder problem has degenerated. Arthroscopic. Long & short of the follow up of my "pain management" (this term being one now,to me,meaning just how much pain they can manage to keep you in). What a horror show, I won't get into finer points of it. Went to orthopedic Dr. office yesterday to get things in place for the 19th. P A came in with paperwork for me to sign verifying that everything was set up for procedure to performed on my shoulder. My left shoulder. Mind you, I'm the "agitated right shoulder oxycontin guy". Had a flashback to when I was admitted to hospital while in the service. Kid in bed next to me was recovering from knee surgery. See, he had to recover from that one so that they could then do the procedure again. This time on the correct knee. That was over 25 years ago & this crap is still going on today. At least I'm not having a VA facility touching me on the 19th.

I AM SCARED NOW, OR SHOULD CLARIFY, MORE THAN EVER OF BEING PUT UNDER THE KNIFE AGAIN!!! Too agitated & angry to continue with this post any further. God Help All Of Us Chronically Mismanaged Chronic Pain Sufferers.

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I'm in the same boat as all of you. Except it's my nurse practitioner who makes me feel guilty. I had a great practitioner but she left. The person I'm with now only cares about what happens to her. I cry at most appointments. How can someone in the medical field make a patient feel guilty like that. When did taking pain meds become the devil? Why is it legal to buy marijuana in my state but not ok to take pain meds? I sometimes feel like giving up.

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Re: Precious (# 23)

I agree. It is terrifying to be a chronic pain sufferrer these days with all the new laws and legislations and dr jailing going on. People in serious serious pain are going to go out and drink themselves to death or go die from an overdose or something. it is terrible and frustrating.

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If you research how many people can no longer get their pain meds and are now forced to live with chronic pain you would just count your blessings instead of being ashamed or caring what others think. Be grateful that your doctor is willing to stand up to the scrutiny of the government and now even the pharmacists are allowed to say no to the patients and even question their doctors. I am not one of those people but my heart aches for them.

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Re: Precious (# 23)

I'm now just thinking is this a way for the government to get rid of a great ratio of people. First they were writing scripts for anyone that bumped their toe and now people are turned away with withdrawals and pain. Is the government looking for a climb in the death rate from poor people that just can't take the pain and suffering and commit suicide? The pain dr's love to give that sheet out to see if they (doctors) have made us suicidal yet. Freaking sad THIS IS A GAME TO THEM. OUR LIVES MEAN NOTHING.

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Re: Nicknack (# 43)

I completely agree with you on the drug panels and when you want to contest them they act like it is impossible. Being able to have the drug panel redone should be the right of any patient. Thr only problem with that is they will use the same lab as they did before, and what company wants to say they made a mistake. The lab would rather the patient pay the price and get kicked out than admit a mistake. I used to be given drug panels every other month and now I haven't been evaluated in 6 months. I would say that's a good thing, but it doesn't feel that way. The nurse practitioner slipped up and admitted the pain group I see doesn't really want to treat me anymore. The redesigned their company into an interventional clinic so since they can't do anything about my pancreatitis they don't want to treat it. I told her I thought what you treated was pain not the disorder. She said not anymore all they want is patients with herniated or bulging discs or knee and hip patients. In other word people who are eligible for epidurals or ablations. They call that intervention even though it doesn't treat the underlying disorder it is only treats the PAIN. She said the only reason we are still treating you is because I have been a patient for 4 years. I of course asked her what I should do. She said there are clinics that would do only medication management, but she is forbidden from telling me which clinics they are since I would leave and go there. I can't find any evidence of the Hippocratic Oath anywhere in there. I knew there had to be more to continuing to lower my meds than the FDA report. Since I don't have a back injury or cancer I can only have 60 morphine equivalents a day. I was at about 200 then the lowered it to about 160 and after Tuesdays appointment, I'm down to 120. So my pain level doesn't matter at all to them. No matter what I say they are going to keep lowering it even though I am now at a level that doesn't even help my pain. It would be nice if they could live in this completely messed up body for a day. Know the pain of a pancreas that is dissolving itself from the inside out. They wont even give me my botox inj's. for my chronic migraine anymore. I had to find a neurologist to do them. Now I have to go see another specialist I didn't want. I have so many doctors and didn't want another. I am sick of their sorry selfs.

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I can absolutely relate to you. I had a dr who said the only relief I would get is to take fentanyl and norco together, so i took it an was on 100 mcg every 3 days, well after 3 yrs i got tired of feeling groggy alll the time and they were coming off my arm and the dr would not recommend any other medicine. Well my mom had cancer and i was taking care of her for her last few months and she made me a promise to STOP TAKING FENTANYL BEFORE SHE PASSED AND SHE PASSED ON MY BIRTHDAY SO I TOOK THAT AS A SIGN AND THREW EM AWAY. Well i came off them and had a stroke, ended up in a hospital and then had a meltdown so now im on methadone looking for a new dr., but yes i know exactly how u feel -as though u are a junkie because you just want a quality of life. There's nothing to be ashamed of about that so i wish u all the best.

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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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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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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: Sherish (# 122)

Hey there, First off you're addressing a post that's almost 2 years old, and prior to the MEDD guidelines, so I'm sure that the dosage has been reduced by now. But what really triggered my response is a few things that you wrote, saying that your pain is worse than his,and he should be cut back to 5mg of morphine x3. Are you an MD or just a psychic? I'd have to say the latter because even a doctor can't say how much pain a person is in, even with the tools they have, like MRI results, CT results, nobody can predict the level of pain a person experiences. So you have to be a psychic to be able to say that. What really got me was that you said that you're bringing this post to your doctor to ask him why this person is on this amount of meds and I'm not because I'm in a wheelchair? And you think he needs to be on Suboxone cause he doesn't need that much anymore? You Have to be a psychic then, yep, cause as far as I know, no one is able to make statements like that unless they're angry that he's getting more relief than you, or they have a crystal ball that can see what pain level another person is experiencing..
If you're neither an MD or a Psychic.. Don't be so quick to judge another when you know nothing about their condition, it's tacky...

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Re: Maria (# 143)

I am happy that you seem to be working for a Pharmacy/Pharmacist that KNOW they are NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS. They may have a "Doctorate of Pharmaceutical Medicine" but that means they are NOT Medical Doctors and are not qualified to examine or MEDICALLY qualify people to receive prescriptions written by MEDICAL DOCTORS that have properly examined and read the medical records of the patients they write prescriptions for. I have been on Hydrocodone 7.5x 325mg x 120 pills per month for 13 years.

I was offered stronger medications and I have refused them because I do not want to take anything stronger if necessary. I KNOW what it is like to be looked at as a "pill seeker" and YES some Pharmacy's do that EVERYDAY. I do not know where you work but "making money" does not come into the quotient. One Doctor, without ever looking at my records, said "I refuse to prescribe THOSE medications". This "Doctor" was very mean. All I needed was a referral to a pain specialist because my insurance required it at the time. I did not even NEED or WANT a bridge prescription at that time because my pain specialist that I had to move away from wrote me 3 month prescription when I moved. As I said earlier, you work at a Pharmacy that is good. MOST are not. Before you read another person the riot act I would first understand that they are probably telling the truth.

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Yes, there are many others that can relate, but as long as you aren't getting fills sooner than you should, and/or abusing them, you really have nothing to worry about. However, if your pharmacy is making you feel uncomfortable, maybe it's time to talk to a different pharmacist about getting them filled elsewhere.

The FDA warns that these medications carry the risk of being habit forming, and it may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and constipation.

Can anyone else chime in with their experiences?

I mean, I didn't even get such an attitude when getting my husband's Percocet prescription filled for him, after he had surgery a few months ago. He was in no condition to go into the pharmacy, himself, at the time, still being under the influence of the anesthesia, and medications he had been given.

But the reason I advise asking a pharmacist, before switching, is due to the fact that they are limited in how much of any controlled substance they can keep in stock each month, so they may not have room for a new customer.

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Re: Brandi79 (# 13)

Hey brandi I am in the same situation. I have chronic pancreatitis and panic disorder with agoraphobia. It is horrible to try and choose because you can't. I have the most awful psychiatrist in the world who treats me like dirt but I keep him around because he will give me a small dose of klonopin with my pain meds but it is really minimal. I can't complain because at least he will give me something. Everyone else I talked to to try and switch said they wouldn't be able to give me anything for my panic. I understand the danger in mixing the drugs but I was already on both in high doses in the pat and was just fine. So those new reports don't even apply to me. Doctors just don't want take a chance anymore and it is a shame because sone of us like you and I are in a real bind.

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I'm in the same boat, but after all these years they are taking life away from me. I have gone cold turkey on oxys and Klonopin. I've been on 180 30's a month for years, but thanks to donald trump I get none of either. So I spend my days in bed doing shots of tequila to kill pain and I haven't drank in 20 years. I guess I should smoke too for anxiety.

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