Oprah Showcases Pain Medication Addiction

I fully agree with your acessment of the opray show. We have a hard enough time dealing with the fact that in order to have any quality of life we must take narcotics for non stop pain. People.....family and friends rarely understand the difference between dependant and addiction. Just another step towards making it harder for ourselves to accept that we have no choice really.........severe pain daily or medication.I for one had spent many years avoiding medication. Id rather have a life with my family than one spent in tears and unbearable pain

Oh, for (censored) sake!!!  This is unbelievable!  And now there are millions of people out there preparing to go into battle with the loved ones whose pain is not disappearing after two weeks.  This makes me so mad.

Have you considered sending a copy of this post to Oprah?

This is horrible, we need to do something, write to someone! ANYTHING

I cringed when I read this post.  I imagined my mother watching the show, calling my father to the T.V. set. More fuel to the fire that their daughter has an addiction to narcotics.  My father told me recently that I'd better get off the Methadone or I would end up like Anna Nicole Smith.  I have spent years trying to explain to them about my condition and prescription medication, but when they see this nonsense coming out of someone's mouth who happens to have an M.D. at the end of his or her name it is just more proof for their position. 

Having a bad day getting worse.

M.

Ohhhh no.  As I read through the article I could feel a grip on my heart and a knot in my stomach getting bigger.  I've always believed in Oprah's shows as "word".  I felt she of any other host, always researched everything to the fullesty beforing airing.  I had a high opinion of Dr. Oz but now k of him as a moron or "stuck on his notoriaty".  How can someone so right on many things be so wrong on this.  He doesn't realize he/she just set us up and erased that which we all do to educate people of our plight and present us to look as pill popping addict's.  I cannot believe his assessment.  I felt so betrayed.  And Oprah.  What's wrong with you girl??  Did anyone watch his show on FM and if so, can you tell me briefly about it?  Was it effective?  I just wonder if people emailed Oprah's show advising them of their error and discrediting us.

Ooooooooooooo I want to scream.  Thank God for all of you to help us deal with this kind of bull---- making the trail harder for us to navigate.

Tlhanks Karen.  As usual......you are on top and "brought it home" to us.  You are a wealth of information.

I am disappointed in Dr. Oz's interpretation of chronic pain, he must be one of the million(s)? of Doctors who don't understand it.  Well, the people who have it wish more would understand. 

My injuries started as work injuries, and my employer, nor the State of North Carolina understood what it was all about.  My attorney didn't do anything but put a 'rubber stamp' on the phrase "fibromyalgia", etc.

I missed seeing this particular episode, however, I did go from doctor to doctor - 38 of them in 3 years! - and spent $8,000+ in 2007, and $10,000+ in 2008 - (how I paid all of it is beyond me) - and finally researched enough (including borrowing the "Merck Manual" that doctors use for diagnosing, from the library) and I realized that I had to go for Physical Therapy and then have chiropractic treatment.  My muscles were so knotted up, that it only hurt when I moved.  I also have degenerative disk disease - which was unknown when I had my job, but was discovered through an MRI in 8/08.  I have the good fortune of knowing/having a dual certified physical  therapist  /chiropractor, and it took 2 months of treatment @ 2 times a week before I would adjust at all.

In my opinion, doctors want to 'put a band aid' (i.e., pills) on a problem - thereby masking the issue.  I am 'fortunate' in that I am a former alcoholic, and did not want anything that was remotely addictive, so have never been prescribed the really heavy duty stuff, Thank God!

Dr. Richards,

I find myself fighting to find a physician because my last physician says I'm addicted to Vicodin. I voluntarily contacted a pain management facility that does not prescribe pain medication so that I could be evaluated for possible treatment. My former physician wanted me to take Savella, which is contraindicated with Cymbalta (which I have taken successfully for several years for major depression, recurrent). After discussion with my psychiatrist, I told my former physician that I refused to take Savella. He told me that that was a sure sign that I was addicted to Vicodin and proceeded to give me a menu to wean myself off Vicodin. I did try for one month to only take Vicodin when I could no longer stand the pain (3 per day). When I returned in one month and was not down to one Vicodin per day, my former physician became abusive, told me I was in the bad stage of emphysema (which he had never mentioned before and was not treating me for), and told me to stay away from the pill mill (the pain management center I was going to.

In the interim, I have learned that he has called my psychiatrist and told her that he has been trying to get me off Vicodin since Jan. 2009, when I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. When I went to pain management center on 09/30/2009, he had sent them a communication saying that I had gone to another doctor seeking pain medication. All of this is untrue, but it is making it very difficult for me to find another doctor.

Yes, I admit I am dependent on Vicodin. I suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis of the spine, hips, pelvis, and knees, and I am in pain 24/7/365. My former physician told me that I was just going to have to learn to live the rest of my life with pain and what did I think they did 100 years ago.

I also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and am just about at my wits end. This doctor has not only refused to treat me, but is now going about defaming me so that I cannot get proper medical treatment.

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Dr. Richards. I stopped watching Oprah several years ago because of some of the shows I found to be too over-emphasizing for my tastes. If this is the advice of Dr. Oz, I'm glad that I've chosen not to watch him also.

Thanks for listening and I welcome any suggestions.

I happened to come across this program also ( a few minutes into it already) and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Dr. Oz & Oprah made it sound like if you were taking any medication for more than a couple of weeks you should be signing up at the local rehab. I was very disappointed that there was no distinction between a physical need for medication and addiction. I guess there is not enough drama with "just a physical need for medication" to have a whole hour program.  I thought Oprah was a little more credible than that & shame on Dr. Oz!

There's too much of this kind of misinformation being sent out over the air ways today. Dr. Oz has obviously never lived with chronic pain! Where do they find people who do these interviews and why don't they ever have people like us who live with chronic pain and still maintain as much of our lifestyles as possible. I've raised 17 foster children, 7 grand children, I got my AA in Human Service and I'm graduating with my BA in Adm. of Justice and Psychology and i take MS Contin 2x's a day and 15 mg oxycodone 4 times a day for breakthrough pain. I'm a photographer, i'm in aquatic therapy 3 times a week and i made the deans list twice. Before my doctor found the right medication for me I could hardly get out of bed, my social life was in the toilet, i just wanted to die because i couldn't take the pain any longer. So you know what i have to say to Dr. Oz? Talk to people who really know what pain is and what relief the medication gives us. I think they're afraid to find out the truth.

I like Oprah but, she don't know what she is talking about. She is not a Doctor. Has she ever suffered a serious physical problem? With Pain? It does help for the medication. She needs to be taken off T.V. because she is getting way out of hand on other issues too. She thinks because she was molested everyone has been. She needs to see a therapist herself. Now with Obama in office she ain't going no where. She funded him & always said "she would never fund politics" She sure did this time???

I watched her show in horror!!  Couldn't believe what I was hearing. Even worse, because of Oprah & Dr. Oz,  our medical treatment, family treatment & public treatment will be much worse for those of us who suffer daily with chronic pain.

I too, agree with your acessment of the Oprah show and I am submitting letters to Oprah & Dr. Oz.

Everyone please, please submit your letters as well. Our voices must be heard!

Peace & blessings~

I also saw this show and laughed in pity for two people that are supposed to be so knowkedgable, especially the Doctor, that his feed back was so wrong and that he didn't seek to clarify whether this woman was taking 2 pills a day and that that only equaled 10mg. of vicodin. I then felt anger that this was being seen by thousands of viewers that were being given incorrect information. If this woman was stating that it was a "full time job" for her to get enough vicodin to support her habit then she was taking a lot more that 2 pills per day. This Doctor Oz doesn't know very much about chronic pain issues to indicate that no one show have the need to be on pain meds for more than two weeks. For many of us that deal with chronic pain, by the time we see a pain management Doctor, all other avenues have been exhausted. In my case I have an incureable condition and have been told by numerous Specialist that the only thing left is for them to try and make me as comfortable as possible. I will most likely be on pain meds for the rest of my life, which could be a year or most likely no more than 8 years. I know that there are some unscupulous Doctors out there that will give these drugs out with out getting a history from the patient indicating the real need for this type of treatment and that there are people that abuse the drugs. It really worries me that with shows like this and the abuse of certain celebrities of these drugs and the headlines that they bring. You can check any TV listing and find some news magazine type show doing segment about the abuse, but nothing is said about people that have a real need for this type of treatment. I have noticed already that even the pain management Doctors are overly cautous about prescribing the needed dosage to manage pain because of all the misinformation in the media.

THANK YOU!!  I, too, immediately sent an email to the Oprah show with regard to Dr. Oz's comments on ADDICTION and how he made NO distinction between ADDICTION vs. DEPENDENCE.  Isn't he a heart surgeon?  I would guess heart patients take daily medication to help with their disease......as surely diabetics take their insulin.  Would he tell them they are ADDICTED to insulin?????  Dr. Oz fell right off the pedestal I put him on......HEAD FIRST.  Thank you so much for your right on remarks!!

Matt'smom

Thank You..Thank you Karen for writting shuch a get story & to all who wrote their comments.

The last 40yrs. or more I'v been in Pain 24/7, yes I take meds & have 'Heard' from many many people how I'm just an 'Addict'. Some came from Chiroproprators, Pharmacists, even Dr's, a few Dr's have said to me 'What are you going to do take 'Vicidion' the rest of your life?'. This was after the Dr. had read all my reports, MRI'S or x-rays, then just get done telling me all the things wrong with my back, whats wrong with them? At one time my G.P. was taking care of my pain so he 'could' only give me so many pills a week, well I started running out before I could have them refilled, even when I knew I took just what he said to take. I counted them out each day, still I ran out, then I started counting them out in my car, yep I was shorted a few pills. I then started counting them in front of the Pharmacists, they saw I was shorted, then one of the Pharmacists told me he too had Back problems & went to a Chiropracter. That told me alot, he probly took a few from ever customer, after 6-7 mons. he wasn't there anymore. Alot of people get 'help' from Chiropracters, my Grandparents were Chiropracters. When I was 12 I woke one morning & couldn't move my legs, some how I got out of bed called my Mom at work crying & scared to death. She came right home, something she has NEVER done, she was a divorced Mom working 2 & 3jobs at times, with no Health Ins. she took me to a Chiropractor. but could only afford a few treatments, many times my Back would mess up & all I could do is crawl around pushing a heavy stepstool, to get up on the counters to do dishes, get clothes in the washer, even doing my Sisters chores, since if her's wern't done I was the one who got yelled at. She never carred, she was Mom's 'Baby', I looked my Abusive X-Dad. In fact a few yrs. ago she said to me 'I guess I just don't know how to clean house', of course not you never had to do a thing.

My Sister has been the worse to me about the meds I take, she too has back problems, from going over a hill on a ATV. But she 'Dealt' with it by drinking wine day & night, many times coming over to pick up my 'Nefew' & she could hardly walk. He saw that at 2yrs. old & didn't want her to drive him home. Were only 20 mins. apart so I would drive him home & put him to bed, making her 'belive' he just didn't want to leave me..well it worked. Her Husband & her were having dinner with the Chiroprater we all went to for yrs. there was something said about her drinking wine. Her Husband said 'Well at least she isn't 'Addicted' to pills' & the Chirorpractor agreed, guess being a drunk was better? Even in this Chiropractors eyes, she likes to tell all our realatives about me taking pills, even telling them I take a hunderd a day, to taking street drugs, guess that makes them look at me not her..right. Guess who spent 8 day in the hospitial? HER..& WHY? HER LIVER WAS SHUTTING DOWN! Now she's telling them it from medication the Dr. gave day.

I loved all your comments, my Computer is acting up & I didn't get to the 2nd. page, I'll try later, anyone have a problem with me printing out all you comments? I'v coped articles & if a Dr. or Pharmist was giving crap about my meds, remember I'v been fighting Pain most of my life. I would hand them a copy of a few articles, they seemed alot nicer the next time I came in. I too was yelling at the T.V. most of what was said was FALSE, I know I'll never go to Dr. Oz, or maybe I should, I wonder if he can fix my pain in 2 wks.? Every time a story like this is aired, were the ones who 'pay', I see my Pain Dr. next wk. lets see if anything changes. Anyone want to take their records, stories especially how 'Chronic Pain' has affected us, our family & friends if we have any left & go on Oprahs show. I'll make sure to post on her site & read all the comments there, probley when I wake-up at 1-2a.m. I'm sure many of you are the same, sleeping olny a few hrs. at a time, always waking up no matter what time it is in 'Screaming Pain'. Thanks to everyone again, sorry we have to 'Live' in pain, but happy were finally being heard. 

Thank You..Thank you Karen for writting shuch a get story & to all who wrote their comments.

The last 40yrs. or more I'v been in Pain 24/7, yes I take meds & have 'Heard' from many many people how I'm just an 'Addict'. Some came from Chiroproprators, Pharmacists, even Dr's, a few Dr's have said to me 'What are you going to do take 'Vicidion' the rest of your life?'. This was after the Dr. had read all my reports, MRI'S or x-rays, then just get done telling me all the things wrong with my back, whats wrong with them? At one time my G.P. was taking care of my pain so he 'could' only give me so many pills a week, well I started running out before I could have them refilled, even when I knew I took just what he said to take. I counted them out each day, still I ran out, then I started counting them out in my car, yep I was shorted a few pills. I then started counting them in front of the Pharmacists, they saw I was shorted, then one of the Pharmacists told me he too had Back problems & went to a Chiropracter. That told me alot, he probly took a few from ever customer, after 6-7 mons. he wasn't there anymore. Alot of people get 'help' from Chiropracters, my Grandparents were Chiropracters. When I was 12 I woke one morning & couldn't move my legs, some how I got out of bed called my Mom at work crying & scared to death. She came right home, something she has NEVER done, she was a divorced Mom working 2 & 3jobs at times, with no Health Ins. she took me to a Chiropractor. but could only afford a few treatments, many times my Back would mess up & all I could do is crawl around pushing a heavy stepstool, to get up on the counters to do dishes, get clothes in the washer, even doing my Sisters chores, since if her's wern't done I was the one who got yelled at. She never carred, she was Mom's 'Baby', I looked my Abusive X-Dad. In fact a few yrs. ago she said to me 'I guess I just don't know how to clean house', of course not you never had to do a thing.

My Sister has been the worse to me about the meds I take, she too has back problems, from going over a hill on a ATV. But she 'Dealt' with it by drinking wine day & night, many times coming over to pick up my 'Nefew' & she could hardly walk. He saw that at 2yrs. old & didn't want her to drive him home. Were only 20 mins. apart so I would drive him home & put him to bed, making her 'belive' he just didn't want to leave me..well it worked. Her Husband & her were having dinner with the Chiroprater we all went to for yrs. there was something said about her drinking wine. Her Husband said 'Well at least she isn't 'Addicted' to pills' & the Chirorpractor agreed, guess being a drunk was better? Even in this Chiropractors eyes, she likes to tell all our realatives about me taking pills, even telling them I take a hunderd a day, to taking street drugs, guess that makes them look at me not her..right. Guess who spent 8 day in the hospitial? HER..& WHY? HER LIVER WAS SHUTTING DOWN! Now she's telling them it from medication the Dr. gave day.

I loved all your comments, my Computer is acting up & I didn't get to the 2nd. page, I'll try later, anyone have a problem with me printing out all you comments? I'v coped articles & if a Dr. or Pharmist was giving crap about my meds, remember I'v been fighting Pain most of my life. I would hand them a copy of a few articles, they seemed alot nicer the next time I came in. I too was yelling at the T.V. most of what was said was FALSE, I know I'll never go to Dr. Oz, or maybe I should, I wonder if he can fix my pain in 2 wks.? Every time a story like this is aired, were the ones who 'pay', I see my Pain Dr. next wk. lets see if anything changes. Anyone want to take their records, stories especially how 'Chronic Pain' has affected us, our family & friends if we have any left & go on Oprahs show. I'll make sure to post on her site & read all the comments there, probley when I wake-up at 1-2a.m. I'm sure many of you are the same, sleeping olny a few hrs. at a time, always waking up no matter what time it is in 'Screaming Pain'. Thanks to everyone again, sorry we have to 'Live' in pain, but happy were finally being heard. 

Thank you!  Thank you!  After watching that I felt like a junkie!  Not only that but wondered just how I was going to start "sucking it up and dealing with my chronic

back pain and sciatica.  Lord knows I would LOVE to be able to stop the meds.  But the shear agony of daily pain is unfathomable.  Just shoot me should that ever be.

I saw the end of that part and could not believe Oprah exclamtions. She does not know what she talking about and I am so desapointed at dr. Oz. I started to watch his new show and gave up because he seems to take everything lightely. 5 minutes or less to fix your problems for life!!.

It was the same with the O's thyroid supposed problem, Is she hypo or hyper ? Few days of rest and soya cured her??? Well it doesn't work like that.

Will send an email to oprah too. I am getting tired of these modern snail oil vendors. Happiness,health richness all for you if only you buy their books, if you don't .  well, you end up sick, in pain, poor, and unhappy because you don't want to be well Again Karen you brought it to our attention. I thought I was the only one thinking that that program was !!!!@#$%^&*@#$%&*.   

Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do and YOU know what you are talking about.

They both did a real disservice to people who are taking their meds AS PRESCRIBED.  Not to get high but to be able to live a normal life.  If they had only given both sides of pain medications.  Unfortunately, there are many doctors like Dr. Oz who parrot the media warnings without considering the damage done.  I know in many, many cases of people who wouldn't be able to have any quality of life without pain management through opioids. I am one.  I am closely monitored by my doctor and I don't take anything other than what is prescribed to me by that one doctor.  I have been on the exact same dosage of Oxyicontin for over two years.  No increase .. EVER.  If I am having a really bad day I used Vicodin for the breakthrough pain.  I get a certain number of each medication each month.  I use no more that I should.. I don't get high from them, I get relief .. which I a kind of a high when you live your life in chronic pain but I don't get an opiate high.  Oprah could do SO MUCH good .. but instead she and Dr. Oz take the party line and talk about the "abuse" angle .. and why?  Because it makes more interesting and controversial television.  If they really were interested in doing good they would have given BOTH sides of the issue.  But who wants to see somebody that is able to function and have a life while taking opioids? Able to work part time after years of being house bound. Able to participate in normal family life?  Instead they show the people who lose their homes, jobs and families.. they sell the public on the premise that ALL pain medications are BAD!  This is just so untrue.  I plan on writing to both Dr. Oz and Oprah.  I am sure that neither of them will ever actually read my email or if they do I doubt that it will make any impact.  No show will ever be done to show the good that comes from appropriate, careful and responsible pain management through opioids. It's just not P.C. and it won't get RATINGS.  But if we ALL write. If we ALL give chronic pain sufferers a voice and face maybe somewhere down the road we will make an impact.  Maybe we can  persuade Oprah or Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil or Dr. Drew or somebody to show the other side so that those people who have NOT found the appropriate doctor or the right medications that there IS HOPE.  That there is a reason to keep trying.  I apologize for such a long post.  This is something that really sets me off and venting my feelings here amongst people who understand and can relate is very cathartic.  Thanks for listening.  And Karen.. Keep on writing... you are doing more good than you could ever know.

Thank you Karen for writing this post!

I was quite disturbed by the show.  Enough that I decided to write to Oprah last night.  I have been a member of her web site for more than a year but never written before.  I hope I sent my letter to the right place.  It is very hard to find out what blog or message board would get to Oprah or her producers.  If you know Oprah's email address or where I should have sent my letter Please let me know.

This is what I wrote.

Regarding your show on Tuesday, September 29^th 2009

Dear Oprah,

I joined your network quite a long time ago and have enjoyed many of the emails your site sends to me, almost daily.  It has made a positive difference in my life.  When I joined, I had planned to write to you about perhaps having a show about chronic pain patients or the invisible illnesses but I lost my nerve to write the letter.

I have struggled with severe back and nerve pain since June 4, 2006 when I hurt my back with heavy duty gardening.  I still have not had surgery for numerous reasons.  I have deteriorated as the years went by.  At first, (2 years) I was bed ridden except for medical appointments.  With the treatment twice a week for more than 3 years by an excellent osteopath, I can do some normal activities in my house or short shopping trips in the morning only because by lunchtime the weight of being upright on my spine brings on terrible pain and muscle spasms and shooting nerve pain........  And this is with medications for pain.

However, my letter is not concerning my medical story or the story of other people who I have met with similar debilitating pain and our struggles to get better.  This letter is about your Show on Tuesday with Dr. Oz and your guests who are abusing pain medication.

At first I enjoyed your show and agreed with your point to expose the abuse.  But as the show continued you didn't present the other side........How the abuse of some people is beginning to affect the care of people with debilitating pain who are trying to survive day to day or sometimes moment to moment.  Doctors are afraid to give medication to patients who need it.  Pain clinics have been shut down leaving needy REAL patients left to go to emergency rooms because the pain is beyond endurance.

I was shocked to hear Dr. Oz say:

• Paraphrasing - If your plan with your doctor does not include recovering within 2 weeks using pain pills, then get a new doctor.
  • We the patients are always looking for new treatments / doctors yet we fear going to new doctors who may prescribe more or other medications.  We fear this for several reasons;
  • The most obvious is being accused of Doctor hopping for more pills. 
  • Another is that these specialists tend to dole out medication without really considering other medications the patient may be taking. 
  • Most of us chronic pain patients depend on our primary care doctors to regulate our medication and we stick to the prescribed dosage to the letter.
• "If someone that you love cannot go a day without pills, or gets annoyed when you raise the issue, or feels guilty about the whole issue of pills in their life, they're probably addicted.  Get them help." 
  • I would give anything not to have nerve pain.  My body is definitely dependent but am I addicted?  If the pain was permenently gone tomorrow, I would be asking my doctor to make a plan for me to diminish my dosage until zero........even if it takes 6 months.  I don't get high.  I don't drink alcohol or any other non prescribed drugs.
  • We the patients who struggle everyday to survive also struggle to have our families and friends understand our plight. 
  • The use of necessary medication was not said by Dr. Oz or your show.  This show degrades us the patients. It now makes it harder for our friends and families to understand why we need any medication. 
  • I was so disappointed in the one sidedness of  Dr. Oz and your show.  If Dr. Oz can get me to the right surgery in 2 weeks, please call me.

I am Canadian.  Dr. Pradhan, from UCLA in California was prepared to operate but the hospital red tape cancelled the surgery because I asked for a detailed cost statement when I left the hospital, for income tax purposes.  I am now trying to get to Switzerland to a specialist.  I will have to use my life's retirement savings.  There are some surgeons in Canada but I will have to wait more than 2 years, I have been told.  What do I do in the mean time?  This is not just a back ache.  This is no life at all. 

I was an active 53 year old when the nerve and back pain started and am now 57.  I have endured 3 ½ years that I can't visit my grandchildren or even go out for lunch.  My friends have gone on with their lives.  My marriage fell apart.  I am alone and in pain.  I have done EVERYTHING, every treatment asked of me by any of my doctors.  As I said, I see and Osteopath 2 times a week for physical therapy and treatment.  I see a psychologist to help me deal with living with chronic pain.  We do our sessions mostly by SKYPE because the half hour drive each way and then sitting for the session is too much for me.  I see a top doctor at a pain clinic.  I have cortisone shots regularly (which help somewhat) but are not good for me long term. 

I often think that if no one had given me any pain medicine to begin with, I might have been seen and treated sooner because I would be crying in agonizing pain.  This still happens but I can take a pill that will take the edge off (never takes it away completely).  What would you have me or others like me do?

There are many other types of debilitating illnesses and there are many pain specialists that you could have presented or mentioned along with the abuse aspect of pain medication.

At this point, I feel we treat our pets with more understanding and better medical treatment.  Would we ever let our dog or cat be left in extreme pain without medication?

Oprah, I hope you will consider doing a show with all the aspects.  We pain patients suffer enough without adding loss of self respect because we take medication.

I am a huge fan and trust you will do the right thing to correct this one-sided view of pain medication.  It was developed because people do sometimes need it, even long term.

Sincerely,

Deb

I choose not to watch her show most of the time because she is an arrogant wench who thinks that she knows it all! She doesn't know her arse from a hole in the ground and I think that a lot more research needs to be done before she airs any more shows that deal with addiction and pain issues. I watched a few minutes of it at a friends house and I was not impressed at all with what I saw. There are a lot of people who think that Dr. Oz is GOD and that is not the case at all....same with Oprah.

 Dear Karen, this show made me so mad ! Shame on Oprah And Dr. Oz for sensationalizing such a serious subject! And then to do it w/ so much misinformation, that was the worst part. It's too bad that everyone who suffers from Fibro and other daily painful conditions could'nt just Storm  HARPO studios with the TRUTH !!!! Thank you for letting me vent  Sioux. 

I wanted to send an email to "O". For that I had to become a member, okay will do what it takes to get my point through...At the end of the registration process I was thanked by Oprah's picture and directed to her Shop the Oprah Store !!!! What ? She wants my money too ! It confirmed me in my thinking tat she's not only for our education but to continue her business of making $$$$$

As I was there might as well look at Dr. Oz Real Age site and guess what ? There is a Real Aage market place. Went to Dr.Phil,and found a Dr.Phil's store. Looked at Oprah's diet guru  Bob Green guess what ??

I do doubt that these people want to be philanthropic with their viewers . I think I am not mistaking saying that they are making much money with their products.

I agree that sometimes one can advertise a book when it is for our own good like Teri Roberts with her books on migraines (with so much good informations ) or Mary Shomon,to name just few here. 

They are real advocates and teachers. I am tired of feeling like I am not doing what it takes to get better, they are as bad as some of my so"friends" who tried to quilt me, because  I don't look sick I should do this and that or rub myself with snake oil !!! 

From this day forward I am banning these programs from my life, I was still watching Oprah at times and I started with dr Oz but few days ago I gave up too. Dr. Phil is gone for ever from my TV for few years.

I am having an indigestion of medical drive through or quick fix TV. Will go out for a walk instead, it is what they all tell us to do well........I'll do and take an ASA and a glass of water to cure my pains.

Marie

Dear Karen, could you please publish the addresses of the oprah show and also Dr.(?) Oz's website where they be sure to get our comments on last weeks show on  Addiction?? I have plenty to say to both of them but am not sure where to send it. Thank you very much, Sioux.

I AM SO GLAD KAREN YOU POSTED A COMMENT ON THIS.  I TOO WATCHED THE EPISODE LATER ON.  DR. OZ SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED OPRAH WHEN MAKING COMMENTS ON THE DOSSAGES OF WHAT THE MOTHER AND SON WERE TAKING BECAUSE I SAID THE SAME THING, IT WAS EITHER 5 MG'S OF VICODIN, OR 10.  THE OTHER PART WAS THE ACETAMINOPHEN.  THIS WAS MISLEADING. 

I ALSO WAS UPSET ABOUT WHAT DR. OZ SAID TOO, IF YOU CAN'T GO A DAY WITH OUT PAIN MEDS.  HE CAN MAKE A COMMENT LIKE THAT, BUT MAKE IT CLEAR, THERE ARE SOME PEOOLE WHO TAKE PAIN MEDS FOR THE HIGH AND HAVE NO PAIN.  THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO LIVE IN CHRONIC PAIN AND HAVE TO BE ON SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITH LITTLE PAIN AS I DO.  I HAVE 9 BULGING DISCS IN BACK, 2 DISCS IN LOWER BACK THAT ARE BONE ON BONE, BONE SPURS AND SWELLING IN LEFT HOULDER AND OTSEOARTHITIS IN SPINE, AND FIBROMYALGIA.   I HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE AND TAKE PERCOCET EVRYDAY WHICH ONLY TAKES THE EDGE OFF. 

I CHOOSE NOT TO GO ON ANYTHING STRONGER, JUST TO MANAGE MY PAIN WITH VERY LITTLE PERCOCET EVERYDAY.  WHICH RECENTLY MY PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR WHO I HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR 2 1/2 YRS NOW, HAS BEEN HINTING TO ME THAT SHE WANTS ME OFF THE PERCOCET ALL TOGETHER.   YOU COULD IMAGINE WHAT I TOLD HER AS MY PAIN ISNT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED BY SURGERY BECAYSE MOST OF THE DISCS ARE IN THORASIC SPINE, AND ALL GENENTIC.  I DID NOT BRING ON INJURY TO ME BACK IT WAS INHERITIED. 

I HAVE THIS BATTLE TO FIGHT WITH MY DOCTOR NOW, WISH ME LUCK CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  ANYWAY, THANKS FOR LISTENING AND I AM SO GLAD YOU MADE A COMMENT ON OPRAHS SHOW.  I AM DEFINATELY GOING TO HER WEBSITE AND GOING TO CORRECT HER ON HER MISTAKES ABOUT MEDICATION, DR. OZ TOO.  THEY BOTH SOULD SAY SOMETHING ON TV ABOUT IT AT A LATER TIME.  AND ALSO CORRECT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN  CHRONIC PAIN AND PEOPLE WHO ABUSE.  BECAUSE OF HER SHOW KAREN, I REALLY TOOK A LOOK AT MYSELF AND THOUGHT AM I ADDICTED AS I TAKE 2 PERCOCET IN MORNING AND IN EVENING.  SO FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING.  YOU COULD IMAGINE HOW I FELT BY THE THIRD DAY.  THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THINGS UP, I LOVE READING YOUR COLUMNS, TAKE CARE TAMMY MICHAEL ^j^

I think a big problem is that so many of us chronic pain people don't get mad enough.  We get told by some jerk doctor that we're addicts and we just walk away and don't really stand up for ourselves.  We're so tired from the pain and we just want it to go away.  I think it's time to get real angry and do something about this situation.  Unfortunately, if we scream too loud, it only looks to others like we really are addicts.  If you're caught in this situation, you feel stuck between a rock and a hard place and believe me, it's very uncomfortable.  You're family and friends don't believe you, can't find a doctor who will believe you and it becomes a very solitary life.  Then, to make matters worse, dumba_ _ Oprah pulls this crap.  Have you ever noticed that whatever trend or gimmick that comes along, Oprah attaches herself to it and everyone else, like idiots, follow along.  I just don't get that. 

I wish for every person who reads this and gets really angry and wants to do something about it would get up and do it.  Doesn't matter if you're in pain or not, all voices need to be heard.  If we do nothing, do you think this will go away?  It's going to get worse and worse until we're fighting to find help.  It's imperative each and every one of us writes to Oprah and Dr Oz.  Don't stop there, write other news organizations, political figures, etc.  We have to do this if we want a future.