Stolen Opioid Medications and Pain Management Denial: A Common Story?

When it becomes known that pain medications are in your possession(because you've had an accident,surgery,or everyone finds out you go to a pain treatment center) people come out of the woodwork all of a sudden.Almost No one can be trusted ,anyone can surprise you.I could go off with a number of horror stories,but the end result is the same.Someone you never expected stole from you.Lock your medication up!Don't tell everyone what you take,and don't underestimate anyone unless you like going through withdrawal.Telling your doctor "someone stole your meds" especially when your young can lead to more trouble than it's worth. Hide them and lock them up!

 

 

      Ironic this issue would arise when, recently on this site it has been expressed by some how tragic it was & what drugs contributed to Heath Ledger & Anna-Nicole Smith (& her son) were over-prescribed. Someone famous dies & the outcry certainly gets the attention of the DEA (Heath Ledger, I suspect, was working so much he probably didn't have a very high tolerance for Benzos; Anna-Nicole was famous for marrying a rich guy w/ about a year left to live. What Psychiatrist hands out Methadone by the quart?)

 

     This mans' MD leaves something to be desired that he would dump him after 8 years over something that could happen to anyone; the majority of MDs would @ least give him a chance to find another doctor. Some MDs are worried @ the DEA (usually not pain specialists though.) With some it's cultural but with many there is too much apathy re the patients' pain. I've always been a strong advocate for pain management (long before my 12/06 broadside put me in the patient category.) I've had 90 y/o patients who, when addressing addiction potential can't help but ask if this really a concern; the arthritis isn't going away?

 

     I theorize, since the DEA can track MDs but not street dealers they can pat themselves on the back & leave Meth & Cocaine for local law enforcement...I don't personally believe it should even be an area the DEA belongs as long as those prescribing are pain management MDs or other appropratite prescribers (i.e. not Psychiatrists.) I was lucky; I'd known my MD 10 years & was completely upfront (I've been sober 17 yr, working poor & stayed away from MDs etc..only street opiate was Heroin; wasn't interested in that one.)  There are those who lie to their MDs but, again, this doc sounds incredibly rude that, after that many years he'd give him the heave ho (ironically; that behavior wouldn't merit anything w/ the state board.)

 

     I don't know where this gentleman lives but I can guess it isn't California; as the most populous state it wouldn't happen here re the sheer # of MDs. I wish you luck.

 

      Addendum, this is a bit off-topic but (his) ER experiences make me glad I stayed out of the healthcare system; this site mentions long-earned recognition of pain-causing auto-immune diseases yet I, during my working-poor 20s & never costing the legal or healthcare system a penny, got the "pathetic, judgemental "less-than-zero" look every day of my life. Alcoholism has been recognized as a disease since 1972. It's a disease no body elects to have. How many of you gave that look to people like me? Diana

I've been on M.S. Contin for over 5 years for RSD and Trigeminal Neuralgia.  The Dr. who initially ordered it seemed to have no problem doing so, the problem is, I've been on the same dose (smallest dose, twice daily) for over 5 years, and it is obviously not doing me any good.  I hate to ask for an increase; for me it's "don't rock the boat" for fear "they" will think I'm just a drug seeker.  So, I stay on it only because I don't know if I'd be worse, without it.  I'm a retired Hospice nurse and we started our Hospice program back in 1978.  If you don't think that was challenging, - obtaining orders for pain meds sufficient enough to actually do some good for these dying patients, in pain!  I've often thought about myself "going to bat for those folks," there is, however, no one doing the same, for me.

Carol

Several years ago, maybe 8-9 months after I began seeing a pain management doctor, my MS Contin was stolen a week or so after I'd filled the prescription for the month. The agreement I'd signed with the practice stated that I had to provide a police report if I had medication stolen. I filed a report with the police (they didn't really want to take it, but I was stubborn) and faxed a copy of the report to the doctor's office. They still refused to see me any sooner than my next scheduled appointment or give me a prescription to help me get through the rest of the month.

 

I switched to another pain management practice after that, but the other office refuses to prescribe anything but methadone, which doesn't work as well for me. They also "lost" records of my appointments several times, refusing to honor the times written on appointment reminder cards their own staff had filled out and given me. Even though their staff people were the ones who "lost" the appointments (they claimed they weren't actually entered in the computer), they wouldn't try to fit me in to see a doctor, and of course I couldn't get a prescription without seeing a doctor. Since all pain management doctors seem to keep patients on a strict "see me every 30 days" schedule, and only prescribe 30 days of medication at a time, I kept running out of my meds before I could see the doctor again because of their incompetence - but nobody in the practice had any sympathy at all.

 

(Also, one reason I'd chosen the second practice was that they advertised that all of their physicians were certified in acupuncture, and that they offered other non-drug therapies. When I asked about them, though, the physician told me that if I wanted to try acupuncture, I should go to someone who does that every day, rather than an M.D. When I asked why they advertised that service, he said, "I have no control over marketing.")

 

I ended up going back to the first practice because of the problems actually getting to see a doctor as scheduled. I still don't much like the place, and they seriously gouge self-pay patients, in particular, but I don't have any other options at the moment.

 

I've been on the same dose of MS Contin for several years now, and while it isn't enough to really be effective, I'm with an earlier commenter in that I'm afraid to "rock the boat."

I have had a hard time finding doctors to treat my pain because I cannot have injections.  I have had MRSA 4 times and my infectious disease doctor told me that injections would risk my life so I cant go there.  I have had 24 operationson my gut and 7 on my hand.  I have Crohnes disease.  The docs are more interested in covering their butts than treating my pain. Frankly, their are only 2 docs around (central ct) that will even prescribe.  The 1 doc I am using is arrogant and doesnt work with me, he tells me what is what depeite me telling him that what he is giving me isnt working.   I have made reasonable suggestions and he tells me "I dont like that"  Like it is him that has to take it.

     They are having trouble  with Methadone overdoses and the docs hand that out to addicts like it is candy. I am ready to just blow with frustrations. I need the name of a doc, not a clinic, who will treat me medically. 

    The frustration is endless.  I completely understand everyone's hesitations with doctors.  The "walking on eggshelles" was to deal with doctors is mind bending nevermind frustrating!!!

Well I have to say that I am a victim myself of both, stolen meds and horrible treatment in the er.

I now keep my pain meds in two script bottles. I keep the previous months bottle with half of my script. That way if it happens again I won't be up the creek.  And my family are the only ones who know what i take.

It was my ex-husband who took my meds! We did not know at the time he was extremly manic and he took my meds to do himself in by taking the meds i took to stay alive. I was in shock here was is this person who was supposed to be my best friend, the one person i would never have to worry about. Seven years he watched  me suffer with pain, disabilitys and then he betrayed me. I still got him the help he needed.

Over this past summer I was in the er for help needing a shot for break through pain that I could not overcome at home. I needed a shot!

I was given the shot, then I was informed that they would not ever give me anymore help in the future unless I was under the care of a pain manegement dr. I said I am and have been for 4 years and I see him once a month. Then I got well you were here before two years ago asking for pain medication. I said yes, I have been here before I have lived in this town for 34 years where am i supposed to go!

I was treated like dirt, I am not a 16 year old kid with a drug problem, I am a the mother of a 25 year old who is sick.

Because of this er experience I carry my medical records with me just in case, and I call my drs. office to let them know I am going to the er.

Do these drs. not realize that we are ill and when we are in pain our bodies do not react to these medications with a buzz, they do a job! If I have a headache i take tylenol, If i have a cold I take an anitbiotic.... you get my point.

When will er drs. realize that our bodies need these meds not our minds, we are not addicts.

misslisa

I've had this same experience, my heart goes out to this fellow. I've had the same doctor for 17 years and i know that even though he knows i'm in pain that if someone stole my meds that he wouldn't refill them because of 1# insurance wouldn't pay for them and 2# the rules and regulations on the amount of meds one can have prescribed for the month . What he would do is prescribe something else for the pain that's close to what i've been taking and that's what this man's doctor should have done I'm disgusted that this doctor quit treating this man and made the remarks he made. Yes, doctor's can be fooled by opioid abusers, but after seeing a patients for a period of time and on a regular basis that doctor should know and have observed that patient well enough to tell if the patient is  truly in pain, I hope this fellow can find a good attorney and sue this doctor for malpractice! "Above all do no harm." As for keeping meds in the house i suggest a safe that bolts into the floor. I used to be open about my health issues, people see the scar that runs from my hip to my knee, they see by my limp i have problems but i never, never tell anyone what medication I take or leave it where anyone can see it and have an opportunity to steal it.  I've had caregivers steal my medicine before, i've had people go so far as to ask me to sell them a couple pills that taught me to keep my mouth shut about what i take because you just can't tell who might be an abuser and a thief. If i do learn someone i know is abusing drugs to get high i stop all contact with them. Extreme, yes, but what's the alternative. Someone who needs pain pills to get high will  do anything to get his or her drugs, they don't care that I need my meds for controling my pain, so I can live a normal life all they care about is getting those pills and taking them to get high, nothing else.  Very few people are invited into my home now and very few people know what meds I'm taking. Being stolen from once is enough for me.

malia io, hawaii

Thankfully, my condition was finally fixed in 2005 and I've been pain-free for over 2 years. However, just prior to that in fall 2004, the DEA did one of their usual "time to crack down on MDs prescribing opiods" routine. Their website even came down for at least a month as they changed the rules. I had moved 6 months prior to that from TX to MA and was about to start tapering off voluntarily from 120 mgs of hydrocodone a day; a shocking amount to the uninitiated, one that took me almost 3 years to reach in my frivolous quest to be able to sit upright a few times a day.

 

Needless-to-say, my pain doctor reacted to the DEA threats by halving the hydrocodone and putting me on a Fentanyl patch. It was the largest dose, and made me incredibly sick, but since the DEA only counted the actual number of pain PILLS MDs prescribed, this was the way to maintain or increase a patient's dosage without gettig into trouble. You'll guess that he didn't readjust my now half dose of pain medication--not tolerating Fentanyl was my problem, not his.

 

Briefly, I wound up trying to find a pain clinic in a new city to bring me off in a humane, safe way only to discover too late that the MD who last had me on that high a dose was telling them all (behind my back) that I was a bad risk. It was horrendous to go from that level to 0 in a month, AND to find myself suddenly treated as an addict, so I can't imagine what that poor man went through. I was blessed to have discovered Tom Tam at the same time. He used acupuncture and Tong Ren, his own method, to help manage the withdrawal and the natural increase in pain levels--after all, my own pain management system took months to kick back in. Without Tom, I would have suicided. I remain very grateful for him and forums like this that help me deal with the PTSD-like symptoms that still linger a bit from that dreadful experience.

 

So, there IS hope. My prayers were answered in an unexpected way, and I express my gratitude by treating others through the Tong Ren healing method (for free), and telling those who still suffer to Google Tom Tam and consider trying his methods. In my own small way, I'm trying to stamp out RIDYAS, a condition from which too many western MDs suffer. 

 

Janet 

 

 

 

 

 

I had my 120 10 mg Methadone that I picked up from the Walmart pharmacy. I went up front to pay as I had purchased a few other things. My 6'3" son was with me and had his 2 year old daughter on his shoulders. Anyway, there were 2 checkers and somehow the meds did not get put in our sacks. I immediately called the store, figuring that they would be able to check the camera because my son would be easy to pick out. He is a painter and had his paint clothes on and a bandana on his head. They told me they saw nothing on camera. I then phoned my physician. All I would need to get another refill, since I had called Walmart Pharmacy first, was to get a police report. Since that can take up to 5 days to have one in hand, they said the case number would be sufficient.

 

I have Rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative disc disease and take many different narcotics. I sign a paper yearly that states that I will not go to another doctor nor use another pharmacy without notifying the doctor's office. Because of my compliance with this for over 2 years, I had a new refill as soon as I went to the police and filled out a report.

 

I can imagine how difficult it would be to point the finger at one of your "guests", but they aren't the ones who are suffering or being treated like an addict. For some reason most physicians feel that if you are willing to go to the police then the story is true. The only thing my doctor said was she was glad I didn't try and use the old "fell in the toilet" trick, since how many people would be silly enough to open your pills over an open toilet?

 

I'm sure this happens a lot of times. But I felt that if my bottle was found on some one with my name on it, I could be convicted of selling my narcotics. I'm sure the gentleman's story is the same; it is bad enough to be without pain relief, but being in jail suffering would be 100 times as bad. In our little town here, a 78 year old lady was arrested when she fell off her toilet and called 911. Another elderly woman's name was on the pill bottle. They both went to jail. So it certainly can happen.  Having that police report is definately the most important thing in these cases. Even after the fact, a police report may change the doctor's mind about the patient's story. I wish him the best.

 

Char

I had the same Doc for years when dealing with medications for chronic stemming from a number of issues, including DDD and arthritis.  He was amazing and knew that I am overly responsible with meds, never having lost medication in any manner.  Then, a year ago, my partner's company moved her to another state.  The hunt for a new, responsible, and skilled doctor was on, and I was not thrilled, especially in view of the fact that my pain management is not a subject that has been an easy one.  I tend to react badly to many medications, or tolerate them only for a short period of time.  Still, the need for pain management in order to keep myself, and hence my family, running, was necessary.

 

I thought I had found a doctor after interviewing a number of them.  But, after no success in managing my pain following a few MONTHS of seeing her, and her demanding more and more referred tests in exchange for promises of assistance, I became very frustrated.  Things at home were strained.  Finally, the doc sent me to a psychiatrist, promising that he would prescribe pain medications for me.  I had encountered a similar arrangement in the past, so I made the appointment.  The psych, however, only treated truly psychiatric issues, and actually verbally berated the original doc for referring me after spending 5 minutes with me and realizing that my physical problems were real.  Time to renew the search.

 

Weeks later -- weeks filled with searching the insurance company's databases and calling to interview doctors' offices -- I made an appointment.  This time, I hit the right office.  It was explained up front by the doc himself the problems in this state that docs have with prescribing pain meds, and narcotics/opioids in particular.  I quickly realized that the first doctor had been very scared and avoiding in any way possible prescribing me anything that could call her into question with authorities.

 

In this light, we have responsibilities as recipients of these medications.  As those truly in need of them, we need to protect ourselves and our doctors.  Keep your meds safe -- even from family and friends.  As someone stated previously, narcotic subscriptions are a draw.  People you never knew were friends suddenly show interest in you.  Put your meds away, out of sight, out of reach.  If you have children, lock meds up!  We all love and trust our children, but even they can make mistakes and be influenced by the wrong people.  Don't let your meds walk out of your home with anyone but yourself.

 

If you have to take meds with you on short outings, don't take the whole bottle.  Take what you need in a small, separate container and carry a copy of your current prescription with you.  If you lose this small amount, it is far easier to deal with than losing the whole bottle.

 

Pay for your scripts at the pharmacy counter and put them away.  Don't trust them with countless other items at the regular check-out where they can be misplaced.  Don't leave them in the cart as you shop, as it is too easy and too tempting for someone to pick them up and walk away with them.  As was already stated, if someone is arrested with them later and your name is on the bottle, you and your doctor have problems that could easily have been avoided.

 

I shouldn't have to say this, but no matter the situation, don't distribute your meds to anyone.  Someone in need should seek medical attention, not a quick "fix" from you.  I know too many people who have given out one or two pills to someone they felt sorry for and paid heavily for it later.

 

Protect yourself and protect your doctors.  Act as responsibly with your medications as possible so as not to put yourself or anyone else at risk.  Treat your relationship with a good pain management doc as importantly as it truly is to your continued comfortable existence.  Stolen and lost meds hurt us all and lead more and more often  to situations like the original story as well as to more overly-careful and outright reluctant doctors. 

 

 

 

 

<>Will, you touched on so many important issues in your post. Thank you.  I have lived with Chronic Pain from a spinal condition for over 40 years and  have had 5 spinal surgeries, including an anterior/posterior fusion.  None of the sugeries took the pain away and as I got older it continued to get worse.  I have tried everything for pain management, from home traction, epidurals, spinal manipulation under anesthesia, which is illegal now for good reasons, and medications.  Over the years I have been prescribed everything from glorified aspirin to morphine, methadone, and vicodan.  Like your friend, taking these strong medications on a daily basis was the only thing that let me continue my daily activities; including raising a wonderful daughter as a single mother and building a successful career in university administration until the MS that I was also diagnosed with in the 80s made it physically impossible for me to work.   In 1998 when I left work, I was existing on very strong pain medications and dealing with the disbelief of some doctors and nurses, the pharmacists dislike of filling my prescriptions, raised eyebrows of family and friends who knew what I was on and how much I took, and the occasional  sense of swimming upstream that I got from them. I founded the Chronic Pain Awareness Project in 2003, with one the goals being to advocate for increased education about pain for all medical residents of all specialties.   All doctors need to know about the physical aspects of pain and how it affects a person's life, how to treat pain and how to interact with someone who lives in pain.  Except for the pain specialists and some particularly sensitive doctors there is very little understanding in the medical profession about how a person in pain's life is affected, along with a lack of knowledge about treating pain, how pain medications work and why opioids are more effective than others.  My Project also calls for increased awareness about pain by the general public and policy makers, because as you said, some states are passing legislation about the legality of some important pain medications. 

My life in pain changed in January 2000 when I had a Medtronics Intrathecal Pain Pump implanted in my abdomen.  This pump delivers morphine, bipivicaine and baclofen (for MS) to my central nervous system via a catheter from the pump to my spine on a 24/7 basis.  I no longer go through the ups and downs of oral medication, when 1/2 hour or so after you take it you start feeling relief and then some time before you can take it again you begin to feel terrible pain again. Plus I don't experience some of the other side effects oral morphine can cause. This is a steady, continuous flow, although I get two increased dosages during the 24 hours.  You can't see this pump and I can't change any of the calibrations, it is all done by computer when I get it filled every 6 weeks or so.  In 2005 I had the original pump replaced, usually you need the batteries changed but I had a larger pump put in since I was having to have the old one filled every 3 weeks.  The pump is filled by an injection into the pump, which is not painful I assure you.  I often wonder what I might have accomplished if I'd had this 20 or more years ago and was able to function without debilitating pain.

Since I had the original pump implanted in 2000, there are days that I am almost unaware of pain, and those that I am aware are not intolerable, I am able to function without any oral pain meds for breakthrough pain.  To be honest, though, there are a few days here and there where my pain is really bad and I do have pain meds to take for those times.  

I encourage everyone who lives with chronic pain to find a good pain specialist and inquire as to whether your pain, its type, the cause of and place you have it, would be helped by an intrathecal pump. It may not be effective on all types of pain. There may be other manufacturers but mine is from Medtronics and you can check their website out for more information.  medtronics.com should get you to it.

One last thing, we owe it to ourselves and each other to keep an eye on legislation being passed that relates to chronic illness and chronic pain.  The National Pain Policy Act of 2007, covered many of these issues and called for more  money for research on pain, and a national conference on pain to educate medical professionals about treatment.  These are the kind of Congressional bills we should follow and write letters on behalf.

<>My apologies for the length of this comment, Will, but it is such an important topic so I hope you will understand.

<>Thanks, Denise

<>
 

I keep my meds locked and although there are people who know I see a pain management doctor I try to be very vague about it all, not only because it is hard to know who may have trouble with illegally using ...it's not something they would advertise.  I also try to keep a pill or two  back during the month if I can withstand it just to have a small reserve "just in case" something were to happen with a prescription being lost or stolen or in the event of a changed appointment, hurricane, etc.  Those precious few would help if I needed a few days to get things straightened out.

 

But even with a small safe I worry that it stands out as something that someone would want to steal, knowing that only valuables are kept in safes and that someone might steal it and attempt to open it themselves somehow later.  I guess you can't protect against everything, but locking up and keeping your medication information quiet is about all you can do.

 

It is sad that so many, even doctors or ER personnel tend to immediately think pain sufferers are "pill seekers".  I have been lucky with a good group of doctors but have been referred for evaluation with an intrathecal pump.  If it gives better pain relief and no worries about stolen meds then it might be worth the risks and pain of a surgery.

I too have had my meds taken from the bottle in my own home and else where on several occasions. I even caught my best friends son in my purse. I have a morphine pump but rely on hydrocodone for break through pain. Unfortunately, many  people ask for pain meds from me for a sore back, head ache or whatever. Whatever happened to taking aspirin for every day pain? It seeems we live in a world of abusers.And how pathetic is it to steal meds from someone in pain???

i was hit by a truck in1979 and have had pain in my head neck and shoulders ever since. i have tried almost everything diet tmj sleep therepy i could go on for hours about it all. through the years i have found that the only thing that allows me to function for at leaset half of most days (the rest of the day i am on the sofa or asleep, sometimes not capable of serving dinner for my family) is duragesic patches and percoset. i too had my perscription of percoset stolen by a very close friend visiting my house (unfortunely she went to rehab for two years and i could not even ask that i get those pills represcribed) needless to say my meds are with me only not left anywhere because i am the one who suffers. i try to stray with one doctor who will help, after driving to pennsylvania for 9 years to see my rhemologist who was kind enough to work withme and find a comfort zone that my meds would somewhat help. he statred to phase out all patients who needed opiod perscriptions because some womens husband was not bring a lawsuit agaisnt him  because of issue with his wife on percocet. i found someone here in jersey and she insisted i try morphin and she kept uping the dosage and i was not getting relief. i pleaded to go back on my other stuff patch and percocet and she refused me the percocet, told me her way or the highway. i had been seeing her almost three years, never lost a pill, never asked for mor scripts, also gave her back unuesd kaian and anything else so she would not question me. i was devasted how do you just take anything away aburtedly  i was back on the sofa 24/7 withno releif from all the breakthru pain, i did not go back to her, she humiliated me for no reason. that is how most of the docters deal with people like us, i feel like an addict and know i am not i want help i want to feel better and have my life back, not just todays life but the last 28 years. i know none of these things will happen so i just try to get by day to day as best i can, i cant even collect disability because of my husbands income. i know so many people cheating the system and abusing grugs and alchohol and i am just trying to get buy normwlly.  i hope this enlightens anyone who is in the same position as i am.  i tried to put all of the facts and info in this article but i know i have left out infinite amounts of information.

As stated by others already, just lock it up and don't tell anyone (neighbors, friends, relatives, etc.) what you've been subscribed for pain. My doctor for 20 years has dropped patients like hot potatoes for reporting lost or stolen medication.

 

In all fairness to the doctors, they are sticking their necks out for prescribing Opiates.  The DEA has demonized any (maybe all) doctors that have a history of prescribing Opiates for treating pain.  They live in such great fear of the DEA and that the fear makes it hard for them to accept even true stories of medication being stolen.

For the past 10 months, my pain has been beautifully managed by a pain clinic near my home.  Before that, it took me 15 months to find a practitioner who would not only treat my pain but would do so in a manner that allowed me to maintain my dignity and self-respect as a patient.  It is appalling that the DEA attacks physicians who treat chronic pain.  I can only hope that one of them suffers from the most severe chronic pain possible and is unable to find a physician who will help him.

 

I saw half a dozen physicians for relief including a pain clinic that treated me like an idiot from the outset and which would not respond to any of my calls when the first medication they prescribed caused an allergic reaction.  At that time, I was only trying to get my prescription for neurontin filled but the doctor there decided that my old generic standby should be replaced by a newer, more expensive drug that nearly killed me the first time I took it.  The doctor's response was merely to tell me to keep taking the new drug.  I shouldn't have expected any more as he had told me that he was a lecturer in pharmaceuticals for at least one drug company.  It is the drug companies that are the real pushers in my opinion.

 

The DEA needs to back off and allow physicians to appropriately treat their patients.  If they find a patient that is selling their meds, then go after the patient but do not deny other sufferers relief because the government doesn't like the drugs we are taking.

I am a practicing pain physician. While I am deeply concerned with the current issues regarding drug abuse and diversion, I am also acutely aware of the realities of the human condition. That is, people lose things, including their prescriptions, their pillboxes, their purses and wallets. People accidently spill pills down sinks and toilets, and dogs do sometimes eat patients' medicines! I have a two-strike policy in my practice: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! I therefore will rewrite prescriptions or otherwise accomodate patients when medicines are lost or stolen, but NOT the second time. I would guess that many, many of my colleagues have similar policies. No doctor is going to summarily punish a patient for being human. I'm sure the patient in question can find a sympathetic doctor.

I have read all the posts regarding the stolen pain meds. There have also been many points raised regarding rude, misinformed, and uncaring people who work in our medical profession. Shame on them for making us feel ashamed, embarrassed or frustrated because we seek relief of pain of the symptoms of our various pain syndromes. Would you question a patient arriving at the ER with angina about his extent of pain? Would you take him at his word when he told you he had a preexisting heart condition? If a diabetic came into an ER in a comatose state, would you question as to whether or not to administer insulin? Is pain, or is it not, a disease in itself,  when it is a constant factor in your everyday life? About 2 weeks after the accident that started my pain journey, I visited an ER.   I had tissue and ligament damage in my thoracic region and I was having a great deal of pain, and had started experiencing tingling, numbness and weakness in my extremities. I was also having hand tremors. I was frightened, and my daughter, who was with me was worried, as well. The doctor did do a CAT scan, he checked my eyes with the light, squeezed my hand....never looked at my legs, and asked me "what exactly do you want me to do for you..do you want pain medication"? The thing that upset me the most was, I take maintenence meds for a bipolar disorder, and  he asked me if I had "strange thoughts running through my head"? He did no thorough examination, implied I was there to "score" some pain meds, and insinuated that since I medicate for a chemical imbalance, that perhaps my pain is a pyschiatric problem. I should mention we spent 7 hours in the ER for him to squeeze my hand and deem me mentally ill. By the time I was finished with him, I probably could have been committed. I have a problem with the stigmas attached with mental health issues. I agree with the less is more attitude when discussing your health in  terms of what medications you are prescribed. Bottom line. No one really knows anyone in regards to addiction. People don't announce it to even their best buds if they have a habit for which they have to steal. It's a shame for people to steal the drugs of people in chronic pain and use it for recreational purposes. We could only hope to lapse into that hazy dreamy state of peace that they apparently get from pain meds. I wish each individual in this network comfort, relief and respect. We deserve the respect and compassion that is afforded those with every other credible health issue.

I never realized how extensive the issues are concerning pain medicines until my family DR of many years said to me that he did'nt know much longer he could continue prescribing my pain meds. I could see the genuine concerne he had. About 3 weeks ago my stepson and 2 others came over to do some repairs around the house. that evening my pain meds that were in plain view were now gone. Accusations flew and tempers flared but still no meds. Knowing how my DR felt about them in the first place I did'nt dare ask him for some more. It was a miserable and very painful time until the refil date of my meds. I just wanted to say it can happen anyone at anytime. I keep my meds locked up from now on.

Did he call the police to report the theft. If they were over for Thanksgiving, then there has to be some knowledge of each individual. I would be interested to know if that had been done. I would then be interested to know if the police, seeing the amount of medication a months worth entails, kept them and did an investigation on him and the doctor.

 

Well, I guess I can see why he wouldn't call the police and report it. hmmm

 

Why do we have so many catch 22's when it comes down to our treatment/pain/etc...?

 

Always pain free hugs,

Christine

I had people crawling out of woodwork,My car was broken into,my apartment,and lowest of all my own brother.AND if you file a police report and cause the dr any slack,,,,,,,I GOT CUT OFF.for being honest.It was in MY bloodstream and still the stolen med police report got me in trouble for causing dr unwanted attn,and he cut me off.I have never experienced since a night where i can lay down w/o crying or being up n down all hours.bags under my eyes are like old luggage.i feel bad youve experienced this.If i had it to do over again NOONE wouldve found out what i got and id invested in a good safe!

When I moved to the Gold Coast (Australia) from a small country town I had been on Oxycontin for Fibromyalgia for 3 years. A new GP took me on but used to break out in tears every time she wrote my prescription, saying she would lose her licence. At first I was shocked, then just plain disgusted. Her behaviour was causing me considerable stress and naturally exascerbating my condition. I consulted a Pain Specialist (there wasn't one available in my previous town) and also saw a psychologist and neurologist who all agreed I was on the right medication for me. I thought this would ease my GP's position but she continued with her pathetic behaviour! I walked out in disgust. I was fortunate to immediately find another GP who was more than satisfied with the referrals from the specialists. Some years later I moved to another suburb and sought another GP. I never imagined it would be so difficult. The first 3 Practices I approached would not even see me. Eventually I saw a GP who was willing to take me on after interviewing me for nearly 3 hours during which he grilled me until he was satisfied that I was genuine. Within a month he had a treatment plan worked out for me where I would switch from Oxycontin to Tramadol. I have had Fibromyalgia for 18 years and have extreme chronic pain. I also have 2 slipped discs and I injured my sacro iliac joint so badly my hips are obviously out of alignment. This causes huge additional pain but I was willling to work with him in the hope that I could get away with medication less despised by the medical profession. It didn't work, it didn't do a thing for me and after a couple of weeks I was crippled and bedridden. I made another appointment to see my new GP and hobbled in great pain into his surgery using a walking stick and my husband holding me up. I was greeted with the comment "What's this all about?" when I thought it should be obvious. In the early stages of Fibromyalgia I had tried everything except Tramadol, hence my willingness on this occasion. I expected when it didn't work he would put me back on Oxycontin which I had already been taking for 10 years at this stage, yet he acted surprised that I was using a walking stick. Oxycontin has enabled me to live a reasonably normal life. Not perfect as I do have breakthrough pain but at least I can function and think as clearly as any person with Fibromyalgia. I immediately returned to my old GP in my previous suburb and asked him to take me back - I am truly blessed to have him. I have never had to resort to what many Fibromyalgia patients do when they see their doc, showing up looking like something the cat dragged in, I have always dressed well and put my make-up on and when I see him a big smile as well, even when the pain is killing me. I know he can see behind the smile and he knows how bad the pain is. I've been his patient now for 7 years - he knows I never cheat with my medication, he has never been asked to increase my dose and I always use the same chemist to fill my scripts. I see my Pain Specialist once a year for him to check my pain levels and share his opinions with my GP. This has built an excellent level of trust but I shudder to think what would happen if my wonderful GP left town! Clearly I have the additional problem that if suddenly I was unable to get Oxycontin I would not only be crippled and in agony, I would also suffer withdrawal. For this reason alone it would be wonderful to be able to manage the pain with non-opioid meds.

And, I am made to feel like a criminal by (one of) the pharmacist-  It was not until I showed up with my jaw removed, bandaged and very swollen head and face;  now with a PICC line (into my aorta) that this "professional" showed ME any sort of standard of care

Now, as I said;  we have all been there, short on our meds and usually due to the fact that we had visitors.  Many of us have people in to "assist us".. and they do sometimes help themselves to our pain meds!  Sometimes, family comes in and lifts a few or even ALL of our drugs.  Other times, friends bring other friends over-  people we really do not know but, what are you going to say:  NO, I don't want so and so in my home (??).   It is a sad fact that prescription meds are the most-often abused drugs.  And, much of the time, it is not the patient abusing but, rather, family, friends, home-health-care workers, etc.. 

I know that I HIDE my meds.  I live alone but my landord does have access to my apartment.  I am not saying I cannot trust him;  I am saying that I trust no-one when it comes to my prescriptions.  I cannot afford to trust anyone!  I did have a friend, back in the day, who thought it was fine to take a few of my pills a month.  I had no proof but, since she is no longer my "friend", I have not come up "short" again.   Like I said, it is a SAD fact and, we as pain-patients have to be leery of whomever it is we allow into our homes.  And, as you pointed out, our docs are NOT willing to make consessions for these occurrances.  And, we are the ones who DO suffer it! 

A day or two without our opioid meds is horrible and sickening, to say the least!

I had a good friend, recently deceased, who was getting 300 10 mg lortabs a month. Like the first poster said, people came out of the woodwork asking for his pills. Two of us got together and cut off the bums and thiefs and talked to the doctor who put him on the duragesic patch with meds for breakthrough pain. It was amazing, the number of 'friends' dropping by went from many to almost zero! Sadly he chose to die last year by refusing duialysis. He was in great pain and our government via. the thugs of the DEA made sure he died in pain. My wish--that everyone who voted for the current administration and all DEA agents experience that kind of pain and then we'll see just how concerned they are about 'diversion'!

hi there i just a week in half ago have gotten my meds stolen out of my purse right from the bottle......i went to a party where there were lots of people n someone asked me about my meds n asked if they could by some i told them no! the other thing is that i think myuncle is the one who stole them really because of the fact tht he is a HUGE pill popper n alwys asking me if i have certain meds.........well now i went to go file a police report n the police said they wouldnt do that becuse they dont know if they were lost or if it even happened! my doc sid he wont treat meunless he has the police report......now i dnt know what else to do????? can someone please help

sincerley

in pain n confused..