"Discharged" from Dr for Pos THC

[ChildrenOfTheGrave]

So I have been going to a Pain Management Specialist for my neck pain, since I have been in 3 car accidents. Today I was going to discuss having injections done in my neck when they informed me that I had a positive urine test for THC a month ago. I submit to drug tests because I receive opiates from this doctor. In the 5 years I have smoked weed or used drugs, I have never ever had a positive drug test. So I was shocked both because I gave myself 11 days to metabolize the THC, and what to say. At first I denied it and said that I hadn't smoked weed. Then they informed me that I can choose between using THC and receiving narcotics. Because of this I thought it wasn't a big deal, so they asked me again and I admitted to using THC. Later in the appointment they informed me that when the doctor found out, that he decided to discharge me from their care. Now I have no idea what to do, I asked them if it would be hard to find a doctor that would treat me, because I do have serious problems with my neck. They said that if another doctor called them and asked them why I was discharged, that they would inform them it was because of a positive drug test. Now I really have to idea what to do with proceeding with another doctor. Of course they are going to ask me why I left my previous doctor, so do I tell them the truth? Will I be unable to get opiates from other doctors for a while because of this positive test? I do really need the pain killers and treatment, and now because of not waiting a few extra days for my body to metabolize the THC, it seems so much harder to move on. What should I do?

 

[adrenalinerushes]

i live in a state where marijuana is legal. my doctor is pretty conservative and doesn't want to/isn't allowed to? prescribe meds to people who smoke weed because as he says, ''it's incredibly dangerous.'' i've avoided coming up positive on tests because i have lost interest in smoking weed. if i know i'm going to come up positive on a ua, i'm always honest. i've been told that's the best way to go about it.

also, treatment with medicine benefits me more than smoking weed as far as my medical concerns go. (adult add, anxiety, thyroid disease, hx of thy cancer, hashimotos thyroiditis.....)

i get drug tests and if i show up positive for something i don't think i'd be able to receive treatment or scheduled drugs.

when i have switched doctors i haven't had to give them records or anything and they don't seem to really care, as far as i know, i mean it all depends on your situation w ur pain and the doc and what he is allowed to do or what he believes is righr or wrong.

of course i'm not on pain meds but rather being treated with stimulants and benzos. it depends on the new doc. maybe you could consider being honest, if you find a doc willing to work with you. especially if you explain marijuana helps with your pain.

you prob signed a pain contract during treatment stating if you are using drugs other than those prescribed, you may not be able to continue treatment. i'm not sure if you did or not.

my response is a bit scattered but my points are...

1. weed is an illegal drug in most states and doctors dont want to/cannot treat and prescribe narcotics to ''drug users'' (ridiculous that this includes mj, i know)

2. maybe another doc may be more understanding and open to your choices and work with you if you are open and honest and willing to listen to their recommendations

3. consider looking into getting a prescription for medicinal marijuana if your state allows it.

4. go to an urgent care facility if you have been taken off your meds and have none and are in withdrawal and most likely they will give you some meds to hold you over until you are able to find a new doctor. being honest to them may not be necessary but can't say for sure. maybe say you had conflicting ideas or something of the sort, but still, i am not saying you should lie to get what you want to a doctor.

5. lying to dr's that you want to have a good relationship with isn't a good idea IME.

6. is marijuana use more helpful/ important to you than being treated for your pain with medications? you may want to consider this if you're looking for dr's and can't get one to see eye to eye with you.


sorry for your situation, i believe you can figure something out if you consider these things, and if your pain is bad and you need pain meds, don't try to evade drug tests because it makes your doc see you as dishonest and i don.t think you'd want your doc to be dishonest with you, it ruins the relationship with them and they base that on certain things such as loyalty and trust. best of luck, keep us posted. hopefully this was somewhat helpful.

 

[Erikmen]

That´s harsh since you do need to be treated for your neck problem.
I was told that THC stays in your blood stream for a long time. Probably it can be detected even if you had smoked longer than 11 days.
Suggest you find out exactly how long THC stays in your blood and try it once again. The doctors cannot should not refuse treatment when you are in pain.
That´s not right.

 

[ChildrenOfTheGrave]

i live in a state where marijuana is legal. my doctor is pretty conservative and doesn't want to/isn't allowed to? prescribe meds to people who smoke weed because as he says, ''it's incredibly dangerous.'' i've avoided coming up positive on tests because i have lost interest in smoking weed. if i know i'm going to come up positive on a ua, i'm always honest. i've been told that's the best way to go about it.

also, treatment with medicine benefits me more than smoking weed as far as my medical concerns go. (adult add, anxiety, thyroid disease, hx of thy cancer, hashimotos thyroiditis.....)

i get drug tests and if i show up positive for something i don't think i'd be able to receive treatment or scheduled drugs.

when i have switched doctors i haven't had to give them records or anything and they don't seem to really care, as far as i know, i mean it all depends on your situation w ur pain and the doc and what he is allowed to do or what he believes is righr or wrong.

of course i'm not on pain meds but rather being treated with stimulants and benzos. it depends on the new doc. maybe you could consider being honest, if you find a doc willing to work with you. especially if you explain marijuana helps with your pain.

you prob signed a pain contract during treatment stating if you are using drugs other than those prescribed, you may not be able to continue treatment. i'm not sure if you did or not.

my response is a bit scattered but my points are...

1. weed is an illegal drug in most states and doctors dont want to/cannot treat and prescribe narcotics to ''drug users'' (ridiculous that this includes mj, i know)

2. maybe another doc may be more understanding and open to your choices and work with you if you are open and honest and willing to listen to their recommendations

3. consider looking into getting a prescription for medicinal marijuana if your state allows it.

4. go to an urgent care facility if you have been taken off your meds and have none and are in withdrawal and most likely they will give you some meds to hold you over until you are able to find a new doctor. being honest to them may not be necessary but can't say for sure. maybe say you had conflicting ideas or something of the sort, but still, i am not saying you should lie to get what you want to a doctor.

5. lying to dr's that you want to have a good relationship with isn't a good idea IME.

6. is marijuana use more helpful/ important to you than being treated for your pain with medications? you may want to consider this if you're looking for dr's and can't get one to see eye to eye with you.


sorry for your situation, i believe you can figure something out if you consider these things, and if your pain is bad and you need pain meds, don't try to evade drug tests because it makes your doc see you as dishonest and i don.t think you'd want your doc to be dishonest with you, it ruins the relationship with them and they base that on certain things such as loyalty and trust. best of luck, keep us posted. hopefully this was somewhat helpful.

Alright, thank you for your advice, I think it is true that I should be truthful with my next Doctor. Because MJ does honestly help with my pain, even though its not allowed. I think admitting that I did something "wrong" will demonstrate that I am trying to be better. Even if they couldn't find out, it's better not to take the chance that by some chance they do find out. Unfortunately I live in with my parents, so smoking marijuana doesn't come easy, it is way easier to use my pain meds. Even though there is Medical Marijuana in Arizona, when one of the staff members was reviewing the contract I signed, he said that they take the Federal stance on Marijuana. Which means that it is not approved as a form of medicine. I do sometimes need the pain meds, however they aren't that big of a deal, I enjoy taking them. I am more concerned about getting actual treatment for my neck. I will take your advice and start looking Monday for another provider. I am beyond ready to move on with my life, without these neck problems.

 

[Felonious Monk]

Look for a more progressive provider. You live in a state that has a medical marijuana program, and if you have your medical card, the Doctor isn't breaking any rules by allowing you to have THC in your system (you DO have your medical card, don't you?).

 

[ChildrenOfTheGrave]

Look for a more progressive provider. You live in a state that has a medical marijuana program, and if you have your medical card, the Doctor isn't breaking any rules by allowing you to have THC in your system (you DO have your medical card, don't you?).

No, I don't because I live with my parents. However the confusing things was my doctor said that they follow federal law as oppose to state. Meaning that marijuana isn't accepted for medical use. I think they follow federal law because they work through the DEA's laws. So having a card wouldn't make a difference.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

What the fuck man? I would tell that doctor just how ignorant and stupid he is. What does he think medical cannabis is? A myth?

As for it being dangerous to prescribe pain meds with THC, bollocks. Plenty of people do it and the more informed doctors know that can reduce your dose or dependency on narcotic drugs.

If the issue of your positive drugs test comes up why not be honest and say you were using cannabis for pain? They would much rather a patient take cannabis than say heroin on top, after all cannabis doesn't really interact with any medication in a major way making it pretty safe to use with most drugs.

I personally would not feel comfortable having a doctor that is that ignorant in this day and age in the first place.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

That´s harsh since you do need to be treated for your neck problem.
I was told that THC stays in your blood stream for a long time. Probably it can be detected even if you had smoked longer than 11 days.
Suggest you find out exactly how long THC stays in your blood and try it once again. The doctors cannot should not refuse treatment when you are in pain.
That´s not right.

I agree.

Is there a way you can find another doctor? I saw a doctor once more than a decade ago, and when I did tell him how I smoked cannabis at times since at the time I did, he assumed I meant that I smoked it daily when at the time I just would smoke it maybe 1-3X a month on weekends, or since I was in college at the time and work and classes kept me busy I would go months without smoking it. I never went back to that doctor.

 

[adrenalinerushes]

hope things are looking up for you, i'm glad i could be of some help. keep us posted.

 

[Shadowsblaze]

In searching for a new Doc I would be up front with the reason for your previous termination and explain that the pain meds weren't that effective and your use of the weed was experimental on your part, perhaps you might even be given a more efficient medication. I deal with severe neck pain myself and even though I take Morphine and Roxicodone I find that Soma really helps for my neck.

 

[Mafioso]

Hey OP, sorry to hear about you neck, hope it gets better.

As far as the doctor is concerned, sounds like you might have to make the choice between the RXs and weed. It seems regulation is getting more strict concerning pain management and opiates. I would say go with a story along the lines that the pain meds were not as effective and you were in a great deal of pain when an old friend offered you a hit of his medical marijuana. Like one time thing, yada yada, just make sure that you are able to pass a drug test on the spot.

From what I've heard, personally I wouldn't admit any of my drug use to a doctor unless I was seeing the doctor about problems related to the drug use.