just seeking info
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2013
- Messages
- 5
I am new here, just registered today. These forums popped up a few times in my Google searches and I found them to be somewhat helpful, so I decided maybe I should register and use this "community" as a resource.
I'm not interested personally in abusing any drugs, although I'm not judgmental of those who opt to use them in different ways. I believe in personal freedom and in your right to do what you wish with your own body. So, there's that.
As for myself, my situation is this: I have a number of medical problems, some of which may or may not be related to each other. It's hard to say what exactly is wrong with me because I don't have health insurance and I am a single mom, so my income doesn't allow me to afford all of the tests and procedures my doctor would like to see. Honestly, my doctor thinks I have cancer (she won't say this outright, but after a number of tests and her finally referring me to a "cancer research center", my suspicions were confirmed).
Anyway, that's a long story, but here's the deal: For the time being I can't afford even to go to my regular doctor's appointments. This leaves me fending for myself, so to speak, with regard to managing my substantial pain. I have been prescribed hydrocodone for about the last three years; two years ago my dosage was reduced from 30mg per day to 7.5 mg per day (which was fine with me, as my pain level was down at that time). I realize this is not a high dosage compared to many people here. About 7 months ago my dosage was increased just a little, to 10 mg per day. That is where it stands now, although I will say this is not really enough for me. It does help, but since I am prescribed only enough to take 1 pill per day, it only helps for a few hours. This doesn't allow me to work enough to pay for the doctors, a situation which has put me in a bit of a "circular" conundrum, and now I'm at a place where I can't afford my next doctor's appointment and I had to cancel the most recent appointment with a specialist she'd referred me to. Frankly, more drugs would make it possible for me to work more, which would make it possible for me to afford all these doctors.
Basically, for now, in trying to just get by, I am having to depend on what I can come across from friends and such. If someone gets a prescription for Vicodin that they don't need, for instance, they pass it along to me. Of course it's not always my same dosage, but I will break the pills in half or do whatever I can to come as close as possible to my regular dosage (for example, breaking a 7.5 pill in half, taking one whole of those pills in addition to one half in order to come as close as possible to my normal 10mg dose). Sometimes someone gives me something different, though, such as Percocet. I am not always sure how to compare dosages or how to properly medicate myself without going overboard (if I can't concentrate or feel nauseated I cannot work, either, so it's really not helpful). Most recently a friend gave me some 30mg morphine sulphate ER tablets. I had set those aside until now, hesitant about them. But this morning I took my last available Vicodin, and I decided that, given my situation, I'd better find a place where I could freely ask questions about these medications since I can't see my doctor.
This situation could go on for a while, so I'm hoping this is the place. I may have to be figuring out how to manage my own pain meds until I can afford the doctors, so I'm optimistic that you all here will be able to help me do that. Appreciate any input.
That's me... So, hello!
I'm not interested personally in abusing any drugs, although I'm not judgmental of those who opt to use them in different ways. I believe in personal freedom and in your right to do what you wish with your own body. So, there's that.
As for myself, my situation is this: I have a number of medical problems, some of which may or may not be related to each other. It's hard to say what exactly is wrong with me because I don't have health insurance and I am a single mom, so my income doesn't allow me to afford all of the tests and procedures my doctor would like to see. Honestly, my doctor thinks I have cancer (she won't say this outright, but after a number of tests and her finally referring me to a "cancer research center", my suspicions were confirmed).
Anyway, that's a long story, but here's the deal: For the time being I can't afford even to go to my regular doctor's appointments. This leaves me fending for myself, so to speak, with regard to managing my substantial pain. I have been prescribed hydrocodone for about the last three years; two years ago my dosage was reduced from 30mg per day to 7.5 mg per day (which was fine with me, as my pain level was down at that time). I realize this is not a high dosage compared to many people here. About 7 months ago my dosage was increased just a little, to 10 mg per day. That is where it stands now, although I will say this is not really enough for me. It does help, but since I am prescribed only enough to take 1 pill per day, it only helps for a few hours. This doesn't allow me to work enough to pay for the doctors, a situation which has put me in a bit of a "circular" conundrum, and now I'm at a place where I can't afford my next doctor's appointment and I had to cancel the most recent appointment with a specialist she'd referred me to. Frankly, more drugs would make it possible for me to work more, which would make it possible for me to afford all these doctors.
Basically, for now, in trying to just get by, I am having to depend on what I can come across from friends and such. If someone gets a prescription for Vicodin that they don't need, for instance, they pass it along to me. Of course it's not always my same dosage, but I will break the pills in half or do whatever I can to come as close as possible to my regular dosage (for example, breaking a 7.5 pill in half, taking one whole of those pills in addition to one half in order to come as close as possible to my normal 10mg dose). Sometimes someone gives me something different, though, such as Percocet. I am not always sure how to compare dosages or how to properly medicate myself without going overboard (if I can't concentrate or feel nauseated I cannot work, either, so it's really not helpful). Most recently a friend gave me some 30mg morphine sulphate ER tablets. I had set those aside until now, hesitant about them. But this morning I took my last available Vicodin, and I decided that, given my situation, I'd better find a place where I could freely ask questions about these medications since I can't see my doctor.
This situation could go on for a while, so I'm hoping this is the place. I may have to be figuring out how to manage my own pain meds until I can afford the doctors, so I'm optimistic that you all here will be able to help me do that. Appreciate any input.
That's me... So, hello!
