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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

doctor is not fair

As much as this is a truly shitty situation, these types of threads are not in line with the forum guidelines for Basic Drug Discussion. Although the issue is with your medication, the overarching issue is actually in how to deal with your prescribers, which is something that we definitely do not want to get involved in. However, I've left it open for too long and I'm not gonna screw people who are already emotionally invested in the topic, but please read the rules for future reference.

Unfortunately, prescribers aren't required to do shit and any complaints, generally, are the ramblings of an incoherent probably insane drug-seeking junkie. Any attempts at being assertive or standing up for yourself is a good way to get the police called and have the prescriber say you threatened to murder her entire extended family and burn her house down. It's just the way we get treated. It's sad, because dealing with a Benzodiazepine dependence can be deadly, so if your prescribers just cut you off, you can actually be in better hands with your dealer on the street.

The medical community in the western world doesn't it's hand from its foot. First they prescribe people indefinite courses of insane levels of Opioids, Benzodiazepines and what have you. They get in trouble for doing it (they definitely weren't aware of the addictive potential of these drugs, it's all Purdues fault goddamnit!) and now I can't even get 3 days worth of Hydrocodone for a major oral surgery. They need to learn that their tendencies toward the extreme is a direct violation of their oath, which is really a bunch of nonsense anyway. Doctor's and hospitals go to where the money is. If they can help a patient along the way, great, pats on the back, but that isn't their first priority.
 
:\ Keif...May I add my personal experience at my PM appointment just this morning? I don't want to break any rules, but would like to share. If need be, I can post this to my PAIN PEEPS in the PM Mega Thread V7. Please move this, if you need to.

My horror story perspective as a 55 year old struggling with chronic pain is documented throughout this sight. Thankfully, I didn't seek PM until I hit the mid century mark...whoopty fucking do!?!! Throughout multiple major surgeries, chemo and trauma I basically had maintained with Darvocet (yep).

In 2013 I sought out solutions, be it additional surgeries or euthanasia, across 3 states. I saw specialists at UT, UMMC, and Vanderbilt. I was basically told "Nothing else can be done. Seek pain management." Huh? What is pain management? Can you not "fix" the problem instead of throwing meds at it? Guess not...

I enrolled in a local PM clinic under the umbrella of our rural hospital in late 2013. My medical records/history justify big gun meds, which I was offered on Day 1. Being opiate naïve, but not necessarily an idiot, I rejected the Fentanyl, MS Contin, Methadone after short trials. By Spring of 2014 it was obvious those meds weren't the answer. I had genetic testing done to determine pain med metabolism/absorption.

I ended up with Oxycodone IR, which I do not like, but have continued to see him. I realized within the first few doses that "oh shit this is wonderful" (for 30 minutes) then "oh shit it's not wonderful, neither is the rebound pain". I don't know much about drugs, but I know my body. Everything in me said "fuck this...no solution here...it felt EVIL" I could see the potential for needing MORE just to exist. I told my hubby that Oxycodone IR was like a fat kid in the chip aisle...It would leave you wanting MORE.

I agree that it's big pharma. I think these were designer drugs intended to create addiction. Thank God I resisted taking them as prescribed. My tolerance would have quickly increased. Today's cutback would have put me into withdrawals. I only take them when I can't endure another moment of pain, so...I'm safe for now.

My PM doctor already limited his monthly scripts to 100. Today he dropped it to 90, saying it's across the board for every patient in his clinic. He said to me and I quote (not verbatim) "We doctors are facing loss of our livelihood due to the bad apples in PM". Legit pain patients will suffer, with some committing suicide, due to these new regulations. It's not fair. It's not right. My hands are tied. We were told back in the days of Jack Kevorkian's mercy killings...Treat your patient's pain by whatever means necessary. Do not allow them to suffer when meds can offer them a quality of life. Pharmaceutical Companies wined and dined, paid for cruises, etc. to woo the doctors into prescribing their meds. They DID prescribe (him included). His patients thrived as best one could with horrid disease and pain. Now the media is shouting that the world's on fire due to opioid over-prescribing. The government is on a witch hunt. The pendulum has swung to the opposite direction now. He is being told to cut his scripts by as much as 1/2. He said that even the cancer center is limiting monthly script to 90. He said it's going to get worse. Chronic pain patients are dependent on their dosage, and will not survive the changes."

He's considering going back to anesthesiology, quitting the nonsense regulations of PM. Good to have something to "fall back" on, but what about these poor souls who depend on you? Most of what I see in the waiting room are elderly and crippled. Hell, I feel like a "spring chick" even though I have the bones of a buzzard!

I will continue to explore the possibilities of MMJ, even though Dixie ain't down with it. I'm not either, really. I admit that my husband and I fantasize about saying FUCK IT...retire, sell our property, and move WEST. We've always loved New England and the PNW. Although we're leaf-peepers, the grass seems greener in the PNW. We have 3 nieces and 2 nephews there, so maybe...just maybe. We could design and build our own tiny house before we're too fucking old to wield a nail gun! I digress.

At least if all else fails, Oregon (I think) allows assisted suicide. I've no doubt they'd ask me why I waited so long!
 
I'm leaving it open. I'm liking the discourse we've got going here. The issue that we have with posts about the medical community in general, is that they can very easily devolve into conversations about how to make prescribers for their pads. We don't need that sort of thing effecting our reputation here.
 
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