Brilliant_Frenzy
Bluelighter
I see a neurologist once a month for migraine headaches, a problem that I seriously do have. When I went to see her on Friday, we were discussing a different way to treat my migraines. Now, you should take into consideration that I have no more than about 3-4 migraines a month and that I also take Effexor, a medication for depression that effects serotonin, dopamine, and norephinephrine, rather than just a standard SSRI like Prozac, mainly b/c SSRI's don't seem to work for me. Anyway, when we were discussing ways to treat my headaches, she told me I would not be a good candidate for Imitrex--a prescription medicine for migraines--because it affects serotonin and that she didn't feel it would benefit me b/c SSRI's have not worked in the past and b/c of the strength of Effexor. When I asked her what else she could prescribe, she mentioned hydrocodone, such as Vicodin 5/500 or Lortabs, but that she didn't want to use those as a first line of defense. She said she'd rather try certain blood-pressure medications which can sometimes help relieve migraines. The purpose of this post is to see if anyone else is sick of doctors refusing to prescribe prescription opioid pain killers b/c they're afraid of loosing their licenses if their patients were to become addicted? First of all, the neurologist I see doesn't know that I use drugs recreationally, but does know that I have a problem with moderate to severe migraines. Also, she was the one who mentioned the hydrocodone; I wasn't the one who brought it up. I guess I'm just posting this to rant about how absurd I think it is for doctors to let their patients suffer in pain when they ACTUALLY DO have a need for the medications. I mean, I could understand it if someone came into a doctor's office asking for a 30 day supply of 40mg OxyContin for something like back pain or something. But I mean, my god, I'm not expecting her to prescribe me that. All I want is for her to prescribe me a reasonable amount of Vicodin or Lortabs--or hell, even Tylenol III's--for when I have really really bad headaches. Ever since the OxyContin media scare and all the publicity that's been going on with it, it seems like doctors are just out right refusing to prescribe pain pills to people unless you're a cancer patient in extreme pain. For instance, about three months ago I went to my dentist b/c I had an impacted wisdom tooth that needed to come out. That time I did ask about what would be prescribed to me b/c I have a low tolerance for pain and b/c I knew he would have to basically cut the damned thing out of my mouth. He simply told me to take a tylenol. I was like WHAT THE FUCK! I agree, I didn't need heavy-duty prescription meds to cope with that, but I mean, my god, at least give someone a few days worth of Tylenol II's or III's. So, I had the surgery done, and since the dentist was unwilling to give me anything for it, I went out and purchased some oxy from a street dealer, not the safest thing to do mind you. I agree, I didn't need the oxy, but if I'm in pain, and that's the only thing I'm going to get my hands on, then damned right I'm going to take it. I guess I'm just saying how sick I am with the medical profession and they're unability to determine patients who need pain pills. I mean, it's not like people are going to become addicted to a prescription for 10 5/500mg Vicodins, used only for migraine headaches. I hate doctors, 1.) if you even mention pain pills, they look at you like you should be at NA, and 2.) they obviously care more about themselves than their patients who are in real pain.
