Time To Stop Oxycodone & Die In Pain...Screw Florida!!!

[Leaping Gnome]

I live in Florida and the laws for pain meds are changing ONCE AGAIN come 1/1/12.

Last week at my monthly appointment with my primary care doctor, which is the one that writes my Oxycodone, told me he could only write one more script after this one. Now I have to either go back to a “Pill Mill,” or a pain specialist.

Ok, I think I’ve had it with all of the CRAP they keep putting people through that NEED them to have a life! I guess I’ll just buy me a comfy recliner and sit in it for the rest of my days waiting to die. I’m really fed up with all of the bullshit...and always worried something will happen where I won’t be able to get my Oxycodone and go into WD. I’ve been taking meds for the last 28 years and it just keeps getting worse all of the time!!!

I get Oxycodone 15mg #240 a month…well, every 28 days because I go every 4th Wednesday. I have been on the Oxy for 3 years now. The script is written 1-2 every 4 hours as needed for pain. (Written like that I could take up to 12 a day and written at #360 a month. I wonder if it would be a bad thing to ask for more for the last script to help in tapering/quitting. With all of the BS they have to go through now, probably!)

At the beginning of each month I average 9-11 a day. I then have to taper down to average 8-7-6 a day to make it through the month. At 10 a day is where I feel my best, less pain, energy wise, etc. It’s probably because the last week I’m down a lot of times to 5, or less a day, and then get to up that to almost twice as much for a number of days.

With having people over all week for Thanksgiving, and I will be doing all of the cooking. I will probably be averaging all week 10 15mg pills a day…or 150mg a day. By the next month when I get the new script I will be down to 6-7 pills a day and probably none of this script left. Instead of going pig shit wild when I get the next #240 I will be keeping it down to the 6-7 a day.

At 6 a day I don’t feel that great, but I’m not in WD. With having #240 15mg Oxy what should I try to start tapering down with, 7, 6 a day? How many days, maybe 5 and then drop? In other words, with #240 of them how should I taper to quit? BTW, I usually always take 30mg at a time.


Thanks,
Leaping Gnome

 

[Jabberwocky]

hey, sorry to hear about your situation, sounds rather shitty. i'm a chronic pain patient and on pain management as well and have had to deal with similar circumstances over the years - mostly because i'm only in my mid twenties and a lot of doctor are extremely reluctant to prescribe such things as oxycontin and morphine for pain, it's gotten to a point where, i've noticed when finding a new doctor recently, some are even very reluctant on even tramadol.

i'd recommend looking around and finding yourself another legitimate doctor who's willing to work with you and give you the help needed. i assume you've got all your records (x-rays, mri's, etc) that are up to date and any other relative documentation? if not that would be the first step toward making it a lot easier finding a doctor who will help.

though if you're looking for advice on a tapering plan i can point you toward this thread where people will help you - Tapering Plan Megathread - Community Project

otherwise i'll let everyone else chime in and give you a bit of advice. also search around the site for other threads pertaining to such things as OTC meds that can help the transition a lot smoother on you, there's plenty about.

best of luck!

 

[perKeceT]

since youve clearly got legit pain id ask for the full 360 since you might not be able to get more right away. your doctor should be fine with that. or maybe hed be up to the idea of post dating another script at your next appointment for the month of january while you find another place to go. the first is more likely to happen than the latter. from what i understand theres a big controversy about prescription pain meds in florida, and its sad to see that someone who really needs their medication is suffering because of those who are causing the problems. whatever the outcome i wish you the best of luck, and i hope you dont have to live in pain, or at least not for long.

 

[King J]

Wow man, I feel you. I'm 21 and broke my back when I was 19. My back is STILL fractured in 3 places because NOBODY will do surgery on me now that I got Medicaid, and straight Medicaid at that.

I see a pain management specialist as well. I hate going there. She always looks me in the eyes and asks me questions and monitors/writes down in her laptop EVERY answer and EVERYTHING I say. But of course that or the pain med prescription aren't the worst parts, it's the constant chasing. I ALWAYS run out of my medication early. I have no damn self control. Right now I feel you but you a bit older than me and I know the elderly can handle sh*t like this better than me.

I'm on day #1 with 4 hours left in it withdrawing. I got Kratom to help me not withdraw along with Loperamide and it does work but it doesn't take the pain away. I hate this crap. This chasing every month and then when I do get them I go fucking nuts. Ugh. I can't help you with your tapering down, it doesn't seem like something I could do, or something that would even work with me, but I understand everything you going through man.

I know what you mean is you can't go through life without them. I'm disabled now and can't work. Just had my disability hearing and all the Judge was talking about was my drug charges and addiction rather than my actual physical disability.

 

[cj]

This is not what your gonna wanna hear but I would leave the state. Florida has gotten so much bad press for its pill mills and shit that they are gonna make it hell on all the legitimate pain patients and theres really not shit you can do to change that.

 

[Leaping Gnome]

Right now I feel you but you a bit older than me and I know the elderly can handle sh*t like this better than me

King J,

You damn young punks are all the same! Being a couple of months from 58, I had to laugh at that when I read it...thanks! If I can recall back that far when I was a mere lad of 21, 58 does seem like a life time which I'd never get to!

I've been thinking about trying Kratom for the WD's. The problem is there are so many sites out there, which one do I order from that is ligament? I wouldn't know if I got Kratom or cat-crap-nip? I know BL has their reasons, but it’s too bad we can't inquire about something like that when it's legal.

I'm disabled now and can't work. Just had my disability hearing

I'm a retired truck driver that was a Teamster. I was lucky enough I hit retirement age with time served at 52. I was also lucky enough that I was able to get disability along with it! I seem to recall it took over 2 years of turn downs before I got it. When I had my hearing I was awarded it on that day.

I'm really sorry to say it, but at 21 you’re probably not going to get disability. Anything under 50 they figure you can be retrained to do something. Even at 50 you’re GRASPING at straws!!! At 55 is when you start standing a better chance. Do you have a disability lawyer? If not, and it's not too late, try to get one that will take your case!!! I hired one the day after I filled out my FIRST paper work.

Leaping Gnome

 

[Leaping Gnome]

This is not what your gonna wanna hear but I would leave the state. Florida has gotten so much bad press for its pill mills

Crimsonjunk,

I've been thinking about it, but not just because of that. When I retired I moved from California (around the San Francisco Bay Area) to Florida because of the warmer weather.

Have you been to one of our amusement parks known as "Pill Mills?" That's where I first started on the Oxycodone. All of the doctors I saw when I first moved would not write a script for Vicodin. That's what I'd been taking for YEARS. I saw an ad about this place that treats with only pain meds. I went in with all of my past scripts and back/neck documentation, had about a 15 minute talk, and left with Oxycodone. It was a neat place with people going NUTS in WD's, or passed out on the front lawn with a couple of armed guards taking in the free show. I thought, WHAT THE HELL??? Then they don't take insurance, etc.

I went to it for probably another 3-4 months until I started with my now primary care doctor for blood pressure meds, etc. it was a blessing when he didn't have a problem with writing the scripts for my Oxy and I could stop going back to the park!!! Other than the dinner show, I was always scared I'd go to the 30 day appointment and the DEA would have the place shut down. Nowadays that's all over the news! Anyway, he's an old school doctor that probably even used to do house calls back in the day.

Leaping Gnome

 

[Leaping Gnome]

This is another good story my doctor told me last week about a poor old woman:

She’s had diarrhea for YEARS where she'd have to wear a dipper. They could never find out what the problem was, or control it with anything. About 10 years ago she had surgery for whatever and was prescribed Percodan. The first time in YEARS she didn't have diarrhea and could leave her house in confidence. To test it out he has her stop the percs and the diarrhea comes right back. He tests it out a few more times and it's always the same outcome. So for the last 10 years he's had her on a low dose once a day and no more dippers. Now with the new law the poor old thing will have to go back to warring a dipper because no one will be able to prescribe it for diarrhea. He said when he told her all she did was brake down in tears and wanting her life to end while she still has a little dignity left!!!

In my doctor's opinion what is being done to her, and others that need it like me with REAL WRITTEN IN STONE SOLID documentation, should be (in his words) considered criminal!!! He’s really DISCUSTED with how the government is tying his hands and knows better than him with his 37 years of experience what treatment is needed by his patients.


Leaping Gnome

 

[Doug2113]

That has got to be one of the most tragic stories I've ever heard. It's really sickening. I, as a poster on this website, have no problem with people abusing medications, going and getting them off the streets-what have you, but what I have a problem with is people that don't need the meds at all going and trying every fucking doctor in the tri-county area until they get what they want and in the quantities they want. They make it SO hard for people that need meds, whether it be amphetamines, Rx pain meds, benzos, or hell, I've heard of people going to try and get Rx'es of Soma ffs, to get the medication that they actually NEED, that SO many patients get under-treated.

I don't really have any advice to give you leaping gnome, as you've given me in the past, except to get the hell away from this new hell on earth they call florida, and find treatment elsewhere if this is possible. The next few months are going to be very trying on you. I know this because I post on a CP forum as well as here, and I hear the horror stories from them. Docs shoving them on every med there is treating you as a lab rat for all the shit they get handouts for trying patients on that cost up to $1000/month for a Rx sans insurance, to people that OBVIOUSLY need painkillers getting turned down by PM clinics because of the dosage of oxycodone is to high, or because physical therapy hasn't done them any good so they don't want to waste the money on it or because they don't want to have surgery done, to many other things.

I hope the best for you gnome, and that you don't have to deal with this hell for very long.

Best of Wishes,
Doug

 

[Leaping Gnome]

i assume you've got all your records (x-rays, mri's, etc) that are up to date

Leftwing,

Yeah, I have it all. The last MRI on my neck was done just about a year ago. My lawyer has been playing the workers` comp game for over 8 months now to get treatment done from a settlement head/neck/low-back future medical back in 1982. Arnold Schwarzenegger even screwed up old worker comp settlements!

i'd recommend looking around and finding yourself another legitimate doctor who's willing to work with you and give you the help needed.

The new problem is it's only going to be strictly pain management doctors that will be allowed to prescribe any meds for long term chronic pain...over 30 days. (I guess they are the only trust worthy not to do anything wrong doctors like at the “Pill Mill” pain management clinics...but wait, aren't they pain management doctors??? LOL) My wife read something about even if you have MAJOR back surgery the neurosurgeon can't go over x amount of days. She seems to recall it was up to 90 days. Hell, I needed it longer than that when I had bone removed from my shoulders while going through PT for 6 months. Now if it's cancer, then it's ok for any doctor to prescribe long term. I guess it takes a lawyer to figure it all out?

The other thing is, I'm tired of playing all of the changing horse middle of the stream laws they keep coming up with. At first it was once my doctor got to know me all I would have to do was make a phone call to him and go in about 4 times a year. Then that didn't happen, new law, I had to go in every 30 days. Then bring in the bottle every month. (No big thing, but funny...I guess I can't just buy them my self and sell the pills.) Then a new script pad that makes it more work for him. Now a special doctor to write the script. Then with living with the fear all of the time that things like this will happen and go into WD's.

I'll check out the "Tapering Mega thread." I just thought with giving info about what my average daily mg is and the amount of pills I have to work with, someone could give a little more personal info about going about this.

Leaping Gnome

 

[Leaping Gnome]

since youve clearly got legit pain id ask for the full 360 since you might not be able to get more right away. your doctor should be fine with that. or maybe hed be up to the idea of post dating another script at your next appointment for the month of january

PerKeceT,

He may not want to go the #360 because of how that would look after almost 2 years at the #240 a month. I can't blame him with how screwed up its getting! Who knows how it could be turned around and maybe his license pulled, or jail time, or who know what screwed up thing they might pull next?

The postdating wouldn't fly because it's 1/1/12 that he can no longer write the scripts...well, unless he goes and takes some course for being able to be a drug free American doctor.

Leaping Gnome

 

[poundinG FISts]

First of all... You don't "need" them to have a life... That's just absurd. Second, we've been dealing with this shit in Philadelphia, PA for years now. About a year ago I was told by my primary care physician that he can no longer write my percocet 10mg because he is also writing my Klonopin. I had to choose from one to the other. Now, because at the time I was not taking the percocet, but selling them, I chose to just stick with the K-pins. He actually had the balls to tell me that I was not going to feel any withdrawal symptoms from the percocet. I argued with him until he finally gave in and gave me a taper script. But for him to tell me that I was not going to feel any withdrawal symptoms is by far insanity. From my experience, taking these meds for over 3 days consecutively, you WILL feel some type of withdrawal, whether it be mild or minimum, you will feel something. He told me "the only thing to worry about with the Klonopin is seizure, you will not be uncomfortable otherwise. Again, BULLSHIT! Now, just to keep my Klonopin, I have to take a urine drug screen every 3 months to continue my script. Otherwise, he will cut me off of them. My father is on percocet 30mg x 3 a day. He was cut off from his previous doctor for testing positive for THC. A 56 yr old man. Just about a year ago, they could care less, at least most Doctors. It seams that the government or FDA or whoever breaths down these doctors necks when prescribing this shit, has basically threatened their lives and careers if prescribing these meds to elicit drug users, or anybody for that matter. One month my Pop lost his script in the middle of the month. Called his doctor, to get a refill, and was refused, and told, no one has ever died from opioid withdrawal, you will be fine. Again, INSANE! the only place you can escape these ridiculous laws, is Europe where there are no laws pertaining to narcotics. At least to this extent.

 

[Leaping Gnome]

That has got to be one of the most tragic stories I've ever heard.

Hey Doug2113,

Yeah, mine is pretty bad...but I really feel for that poor old soul!!! I wish she could take every dirty dipper saved up for a couple of months and lock the SOB law writer in a coffin with them for 30 days!!! Maybe with a little on the side in non-ending chronic pain the whole time with pain meds in site just out of reach.

As I said before, we are thinking about moving back to the San Francisco bay area. The problem is money and the housing market right now. My fixed income with SSI and the Teamsters retirement isn't bad, but it's still fixed, so... If I ever get this last workers` comp thing settled and selling back to them the worthless one from 1982, things should look up.

Right now with Thanksgiving coming I'm not going to let it get me down this week. I'll take the amount of Oxycodone needed to make it work and start my new crappy life on the sofa with weeds being the new landscaping theme next week. Got family coming and I'm the cook. BTW, that's what I was as a kid, so I'm the main cook in the family. I did it all from lobster/prime rib to running a kitchen and even making doughnuts.

Walgreens will be losing my Oxy business...but I guess with all of the doing nothing they will be making up for it with all of the extra blood pressure meds they will be selling me as it keeps rising. Shoot, maybe I can even help them out when I become a 350lb diabetic and go on insulin. LOL

I guess I'm going to try and find a good web site for Kratom to help with the WD's. I just hope I don't get screwed over costing an arm and a leg trying to find one. (Shoot, less body parts = less pain.) Then I get some real Kratom, instead of some cat-crap-nip-whatever.

Anyway, thanks for your concern and everyone else’s! It's made it a lot better just being able to type it all out on here!

I need to get on my recumbent trike, WHILE I STILL CAN, and take my dog out for a run down to the store to get him a Red Bull.

Leaping Gnome

 

[Doug2113]

unless he goes and takes some course for being able to be a drug free American doctor.

I realize doctors aren't there to just hand out drugs, but what exactly is the point in doctors, IF THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE DOING ANYTHING MEDICAL? I don't NEED someone there to not eat McDonald's, and that I need to stop smoking, and that I'm not getting enough exercise. I tell myself this every time I pull up in the drive thru, pick up another pack, and don't get off my lazy ass lmfao.

So I guess now we're supposed to go on this shit that makes are stomachs bleed and limits what we can eat the rest of our lives (NSAIDs), make us have seizures if we stop taking them (anti-convulsant adjuncts), take meds that make us go nuts (anti-depressants for the depression caused by the fact that we can't fuck up-right anymore), or just sit there and deal with the pain. I'm sorry, but medications are supposed to be given to IMPROVE the quality of the patient's life, not reduce it lmao.

My 2 cents on the "drug free american doctor." I have been here long enough to know not to flame.

 

[Oxide]

Ok. This thread has run it's course. I'm going to go ahead and close it now.

If anyone has any questions feel free to PM me.