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moonscape

(4,664 posts)
19. And earlier this year the problem became a whole lot worse, as
Sun Dec 18, 2016, 05:01 AM
Dec 2016

regulations changed and things got a whole lot tighter.

I'm fortunate. I've had low-level chronic pain for decades and have been going to the same rheumatologist (Director of Rheum at a noted hospital clinic.) He knows I don't abuse, and prescribed about 5x the Vicodin I took. Back then, there'd be a script in house and I could refill at will. I filled a fraction of what he prescribed, but still warehoused. A friend would have back pain and I'd be able to share a few.

Then, Vicodin was replaced with Norco several years ago, but I still have a boatload of Vicodin - enough for a couple of years. Got cancer and was given oxycodone. Again, I don't take as much as prescribed but resumed my habit of warehousing. Thank goodness!

This Spring, regulations changed, and I've heard scattered reports of even fellow cancer patients not being prescribed what they need. WTF? I was at my GP of 25 years last week, and told her I was getting edgy. Said I didn't need more pain meds but was warehousing and she was very sympathetic. She said since she doesn't write many scripts for narcotics, and knows the local druggist, she has no problem (whipped out her pad and wrote me a big script), but the issues are real. She's hoping things will calm down a bit and become more rational, but for now ... it's really tight.

Gone are the days of faxing scripts. One now has to hand-carry everything.

I have been a pain patient for decades but have never been an addict. I didn't expect meds to get rid of my pain, only to snip the sharpest knife-tip off.

I'm fortunate to be prepared, that I can continue filling what I need and maintain my stash, but I'd be in a crazy panic if in the more vulnerable situation of so many others.

It's wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.

Recommended. Very well written. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #1
Fortunately for me, my incidences of recurrence of back pain virtually stopped a few years ago. stevenleser Dec 2016 #2
Mr. dixie is getting adequate pain meds for his broken back dixiegrrrrl Dec 2016 #6
Pain is horrible. I'll be blind in both eyes eventually, but that still seems better than... Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #3
Two words for everyone who reads this. PatrickforO Dec 2016 #4
And in the meantime? nt stevenleser Dec 2016 #5
Suffering for all in pain. MissB Dec 2016 #8
In the meantime? PatrickforO Dec 2016 #21
Once again, and in the meantime? nt stevenleser Dec 2016 #22
As a severe chronic pain sufferer, thank you. Kittycow Dec 2016 #7
McCamy Taylor, may your heart be blessed forever! raging moderate Dec 2016 #9
Thank you for this Warpy Dec 2016 #10
Our healthcare industry loves getting all that gravy money! dubyadiprecession Dec 2016 #11
Thank you sooooo much! kag Dec 2016 #12
Greed And More Greed Is The Issue colsohlibgal Dec 2016 #13
The fact that we give people pain medication that gives them more pain is purely diabolical. n/t TygrBright Dec 2016 #14
And this is how half of supposed drug "abusers" are made. Lyric Dec 2016 #15
The stigma gets in the way of effective treatment loyalsister Dec 2016 #18
Well said zippythepinhead Dec 2016 #16
Spot on; i am there myself, and it's a constant struggle to get any kind of pain meds. it's BS. nt TheFrenchRazor Dec 2016 #17
And earlier this year the problem became a whole lot worse, as moonscape Dec 2016 #19
I live with pain 24/7 madokie Dec 2016 #20
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