Pain Medication Shame (Page 4)

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: Dogs Rule (# 60)

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Re: Catryna (# 4)

My Dr almost let me go and I have been her patient for 3yrs because she will only give me Tylenol 4 and I asked her to consider letting me go back to taking at least hydrocodone. She is afraid of the government and knows I'm suffering soo I said what about medical Marijuana and she said no way only CBD with no THC...What am I supposed to do? I can't even babysit my grandchildren or perform normal activities anymore. If everyone stopped going to the dr and started looking for alternatives that don't require us to be treated like 2yr olds maybe they would remember they grew up to be drs not judge jury and in some cases people are dying due to doctor's incompetence. Should I try Marijuana or get meds online and possibly get in trouble with the law because I just want to live without soo much pain? I don't like to feel high or out of control and never felt that way with pain meds but Marijuana makes me feel funny and I don't like it. Any suggestions that may help are greatly appreciated. The government needs to get out of our private life and we need help to fight because sick people have no energy left because we already battle every day.

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I sure do! My doctor has gotten afraid to prescribe the medications or quantity that made my life worth living. From 30 mg of oxycodone to 10 mg and then 5. My Fentanyl was also cut from 150 mics to 75. Many are praying for death or planning our death. No one should have to live like this especially when we know there are medication that help but are vilified. I pray your doctor has continued to support you!

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Sure can ,same here in Australia,I'm 66yrs old pinched nerves causing many pain issues ,almost impossible to get simple muscle relaxant so might be able to sleep for couple of hours, unfortunately our government s tend to get there advice from I'll informed buffoons one in particular,who would have the power to be a bit more understanding when it comes down to being in pain.

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Re: Catryna (# 4)

Why is it if I want to try medical marijuana we must surrender any weapons we own.
However even on the large doses of opoids, you are not made to do the same? Also even with medical marajuana legal you can not get a doctor to write even a low dose opoid whole using medical marajuana and if you test posative for it while on opoif Lastly, the marajuana doctor is not covered by any insurance nore the state fees. This would have been about $300 by itself. Then I was told that medical marajuana would cost minimum $100 a month!

How is any of this suppose to help any of us?

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Re: Fighting losing Battle (# 72)

I hear you! Surrendering weapons? For heavens sake! If they truly feel that is necessary, maybe its just too dangerous period!

Cost of it is ridiculous. The average person will not be able to afford much if any. In California, the tax on MM is 25.25%!! No wonder the government is pushing it. I don't think it's a viable option.

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Sometimes a person does not have any real options. At least your Pharmacy does not try and get involved in your treatment program. A Pharmacist does have training--as a PHARMACIST. NO Pharmacist has your medical records or has ever examined you (they are not trained for this anyway). There is a Pharmacist that will say that HE disagrees with your Doctor ordered treatment plan. That you should be on a different pill. That the strength is incorrect, etc. WHY this Pharmacist thinks he can get involved in your treatment plan is amazing to me. Your Doctor examines you and they write a script and then you take it to your pharmacy to be filled. Filling your script is all that a Pharmacist should do UNLESS there is a conflict in the medicines you are taking. Pharmacies have more and more (without your medical records) started to get involved in your treatment plan. They (and their employees) look at you like you have three heads when you present a prescription for any pain medication. It is disgusting and they try and shame you for taking your PRESCRIBED medications even though they have no reason to do this. Changing Pharmacies is easier said then done. They may or may not fill your script even if they fully have the capacity to do so. Pharmacies do not want any pain medication customers to begin with. Pain medication customers, TO THEM, are much more trouble than they are worth. They are being sued by States over anything they do and these States have "bottomless" pockets because almost everyone on both sides of the political aisle supports their actions and their money comes from the taxpayers. There is starting to be some push back on these people but it is very slow in coming and only in small amounts. Even when Pain Specialist Doctors with 20 or more years of experience come out against the awful treatment of chronic pain patients they are often shouted down by people with no training at all.

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Re: Pain man (# 9)

I work in a pharmacy and it is completely true that the DEA limits how much C2 pain meds we can order. We have hit the amount several times in the past 2 months and had to turn people away since we didn’t have any in stock to fill for a week.

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Re: cliff j (# 74)

In my pharmacy we have so much to do and so many people to help that we don’t have time to think much about what meds people are getting. Not to be rude but after we help you we move onto the next person and don’t give the person before a second thought. It helps you if you only pick one pharmacy to get your meds at and stay there and not move from one to another the pharmacists DOPL all C2 meds that come to our pharmacy so they can see if your going to other pharmacies and will tell you to chose one and stay with them. One thing some of my pharmacists do is make comments about how people always come first thing when we open to pick up their pain meds. We get some people that always seem to say they need their meds early cuz they are going on ‘vacation’. Some over play that one. Other then that I’ve never heard them say anything else. I listen hard too since I myself have been on pain meds for 17 years now, I will say I don’t let them know that I take them cuz I worry they may not want me there or if any meds go missing I will be the first one they look at. I know I feel the same when I go pick up my meds at my pharmacy but then I realize they are as busy as my pharmacy and don’t have time to give me much thought once I leave.

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Re: Maria (# 76)

I am glad you seem to work for a decent organization. Your experience is the rare exception. Most legal chronic pain patients are treated by pharmacies like they are criminals. The fact that you would post that your pharmacy takes note of people who arrive early to pickup their pain medications speaks wonders. What difference does it make what time you pickup your med scripts? Do you or any of your fellow employees make a not of what time people come in and pickup blood pressure medications? I highly doubt it. If the prescription is legal and filled what difference does it make what time after you open when it is picked up I? No pain patient should have to make up any “reason” for why they are their in the morning to pickup their legal prescription. THIS is EXACTLY one of the things that Pharmacy employees do to make the long term chronic pain patient feel low. There is a laundry list of things Pharmacies and their employees do to make a chronic pain patient that is filling a legally written prescription feel like they are dope addicts and “drug seekers”. Btw, NO ONE in your pharmacy should ever get involved in a patients treatment program. NONE of the employees have the persons medical records and none of the employees of the Pharmacy has the right to examine a patient and change their Doctors treatment plan. They are not qualified to do that and that means even the Pharmacist.

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Re: Planning (# 70)
The ending of a pain patients life would make the Doctors and their cohorts happy. They could care less what is medically necessary. The fact that they prescribe anything is a miracle. If you don’t like it they are only happy if they do not have to serve you anymore. Most Pharmacies would like to not serve any pain medication scripts if they can.

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Re: roro (# 5)

I know this post was from a few years back, yet I wanted to just clarify your statement. While it seems sensible to say people are overtaking Fentanyl to the point of no return, and that it (probable) came from a Veterinarian's office, etc. Well, that just isn't true. It wasn't two years ago, the dated reply, nor was it 50 years past. Even today, that (fentanyl) isn't a common medication that a Veterinarian would have ordered as part of their medicine "cabinet"....to turn a phrase. Also, I feel EVERYONE should be aware of another misconception you mentioned in reply. That has to do with medication for humans vs those for animals. There are no medications an animal would be given during a procedure, that a human wouldn't have the ability to take themselves. Otherwise, I feel where you were going with this, I do. As everyone here has proclaimed in their own prejudiced- prejudged behavioral antiquated f***ed up bulls*** which has projected unto them, seen/felt by pharmacists, physicians and medical professionals alike. I too have many a story. It's a universal law....so it would seem.

Just about three years ago, before I had a traumatic accident, I was myself a bonified clinical practitioner. Well, my accident was so damaging, especially in a neurological fashion, I could no long stand those 50+ hrs. a week. I had to give up my ability to run, rollerblade, hike the wild country around me...that was a deep reckoning. I'm not sure what/which still is worse. My physical ability to enjoy nature and explore the planet (a very deep seeded passion of mine), or having to hang up my lab coat and surgical scrubs ----- FOREVER! Besides one of the repercussions of this accident being permanent droop-foot in my left leg, I also developed CRPS II (chronic regional pain syndrome type 2) in that same left leg. From the soles (plantar) of my foot, up to the knee. Brought on (in my opinion as well as a few Dr's) by the laceration of my perineal nerve, which is a branch of the Sciatic nerve running from the knee area down to the foot. That laceration is responsible for the drop-foot, no question.

However, the inciting event of being gradually diagnosed with CRPS, a 'rare' (200,000 US citz yearly) neurological disease which I never ever heard about before, not in college nor professionally…was just devastating. I know we all have our horror stories, and are treated like crap because of having to take normal to quite high doses of pain medicine, benzodiazepines, often time eugeroics too (the -amine type stimulants). I'm positive, that last bit was NO typo. In certain candidates or in general even, stimulant medication dosed appropriately in conjunction with pain relieving poly-pharmaceutical therapy...it's an amazing synergistic addition to ones arsenals. Speaking strictly on a pain management physicians arsenal/bag of tricks or modalities if were being polite and proper. The shame of chronic pain lies so deep. We're meant to feel terrible upon opening our medicine safe and seeing the bottles upon bottles or orange, white, blue or green. With labels such as Morphine Sulfate ER, clonazepam, Adderall ER, oxycodone Hydrochloride IR, etc. Pick or choose a variant, I've covered the classes.

Should we feel terrible or shunned. Maybe, maybe not. Do we fall into circles of addicted persona's who probably do not need TWO mg's of alprazolam four times daily, or 30mg oxycodone IR six times a day, etc. The general public start to blur the lines. I think that is the problem. Yes, that might be us, it might be a friend we have known from pain circles, the clinics, etc. Yet, it's not something every patient sees for themselves. - nonetheless, the PharmD in charge would happily smack you should policy allow them. Your family....loved ones....friends...man oh man....they start seeing things they which can not be unseen. They compare you too, in a fiendish got to have my pills or else! The horrors are bad enough eternally, internally, physically and mental. It's no wonder I'm sitting here typing this long winded reply, originally meant to clarify but lead my mind elsewhere....to the horror and shame of it all. Month after month, after month after month. Till we die of some cause (old age I hope it so), we will have to endure. A monthly visit for most of us, for the rest or better half of our future self.

Dear Abby: ;-) My life's better with medication and some physical therapy, but not too much. It's the medication giving a fasimily of my old quality of life, you know the one. Purchasing groceries, does light cleaning, rests a bit, and generally handles themselves in a manor the likes....of a respectful a decent disabled human being should ought to strive to; or has already achieved such grace. My question Mrs. Abby (you throwback of sensible 1940-50'ish wisdom and grace), is...Can I cut a pharmacist B***** THROAT next time I get the 'ol, ---"MR. Doe, your OXY is READY!" Yes, as you've imagined, not only have they broken a HIPAA law, but those 5 people in line are now staring and judging me. OH please, just this once...retribution for me and my fellow passengers aboard this life raft...marked - Titanic. We are delirious from seeing the same horizonless sea, and nare a ship bearing humanity and grace. -------- Sincerely, Mr. F***ing Outraged.

----- a farce for our amusement, that tis all my comrades in arms.

oh P.S. - I've told physicians of my medical pedegry, and wouldn't you know it...treatment has been better, more compassionate, and more likelye to listen why I talk the talk - latin/greek medical terminology. JUST a thought, if your new to a practice that 's important, medicine wise, I would learn as much med terminology as possible. I'm possible as a patient with experience, you know a lot more than you realize it already. Then, just say - ''I was a registered nurse for______years, then I got, blankety blank" ----- TRUST ME, IT'S NOT RIGHT BUT WE ARE LIKE COPS. HURT ONE COP, THEY ALL FEEL PITY FOR YA.

just a thought - albeit a bat-s***-crazy one.

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Re: cliff j (# 77)

My pharmacist said he doesn’t mind them they make us money so why should we turn them away the only ones that they comment on is the ones that treat us like crap cuz they want their meds early and we can’t cuz it’s illegal. Those are usually the ones that are suspicious to us.

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