Husband Denied Prescription Refill...Because of Prince

a reply to: mysterioustranger
My wife is a pharmaceutical rep.

She sells control drugs, pain killers, to pharmacies all over the country.

She is VERY limited to the amounts she can send to any one pharmacy. It has changed a LOT over the past few years.

The DEA keeps a close watch on the pharmacies too, if they sell to many they are investigated. I am not surprised they run out.

Would be easier to grow that pretty flower anymore

a reply to: jacygirl

Sounds like the doctor wouldn't need to be wearing only plastic wrap for you to tell him, "I can clearly see you('re) nuts!"

It's unfortunate that the prescribing of pain medications has become such a ridiculous ordeal - insane/drug-addled doctor or not. Many forces are to blame: junkies, those who sell their pills to junkies, the DEA, poor training, bad guidelines, etc. I've spent weeks at a time in excruciating pain due to injuries and not given narcotic pain killers, when I clearly would have benefitted from them, and other times had what I consider minor injuries I just wanted "checked out" to be sure nothing was broken/torn and offered narcotics, without asking, which I declined.

It's so random and senseless, it's ridiculous that one doctor in one situation will let a patient suffer in agony for a month, barely able to sleep from pain, while another will give an endless stream of high-dose narcotics for what most would consider mild discomfort. If you dare to ask for pain meds, you're blacklisted and suspected of being a junkie. There have been times I would have been happy with 3 days of moderate pain relief, but I wouldn't dare ask.

a reply to: dogstar23

Ahh...hahaha....we're still talking about his bizarre behaviour!

Hubby just listed off the names of people that we know who are taking prescription pain medications, it's a long list. Most of them are in their 50's and were injured on the job.

One woman, I don't know how she does it, but she gets huge amounts of various painkillers. She constantly complains about her back (she should be numb with all that she takes).
She never appears to be limping or hunched over, and does things I can't like wear high heels or go tobogganing.
I'm also aware that she has sold some in the past for spending money.

It really seems that the decent honest patients get screwed over, yet the doctors are handing out large quantities to liars. The overdose deaths around here that I know about, were all from illegally purchased fentanyl patches.

If this doctor cuts his entire patient registry off all their narcotics, some of these people will find them elsewhere.
Sounds pretty irresponsible to me.
jacy

I think one of the main issues is that it is MUCH easier to go after legitimate patients. This enables a medical establishment to show "results" in the attempt to curb abuse.

In my experience, what is contained in the patient's medical record is completely irrelevant. They look more at target demographics to improve public opinion.

Legitimate patients are less likely to practice drug seeking behavior, which means an overall drop in prescriptions is easier to achieve.

Jacy, if you can, try to find a doctor that is more concerned with medicine and healing than politics and public image. They are becoming exceedingly rare, but I have to imagine they exist.

At the very least, try to find one who has a modicum of conscience. Still rare, but perhaps a bit easier to find.

All that said, actively seeking out alternative therapies may be wise. For instance, there are cannabis methods that limit the 'wonky brain,' and stuff called warm water therapy/massage. If your husband is on a relatively low dose of pain meds, it can be easier to find effective alternative treatment.

a reply to: Serdgiam

Hey Serdgiam! Thank you!

I appreciate your reply...and would really love to be able to find a doctor who is "more concerned with medicine and healing than politics and public image".

Alternative therapies aren't out of the question, just hard for him to access. A lot of them don't have weekend hours (small town 35,000 people) and hubby is out of town all week from about 5 am to 7-8 pm.

A friend (and ward clerk at the local hospital) told us that currently there are NO doctors in town taking new patients (hubby doesn't drive)...and...the most recent ones that were...REFUSED to accept pain patients.

jacy

Freaking government agencies threats were enough to make my pain management dr. If 5 years sell his practice and move out of state. No warning just no meds. I am 41 and was diagnosed with Parkinson's and a strange for of Ankylosis related to being run over by a drunk driver at 11years old. Now my cartilages are leaving and joints fuzeing everywhere combined with muscle rigidity and constant movement. Not a pleasant paring. His recommendation was the methadone clinic.

That has been my pain management for a long time now. Yes it helps people get off opiates and many just use it as a crutch. For me it makes my pain tolerable and each dose lasts all day, soon enough you get take home doses that make it where you only go once or twice a month. They never give me crap, and it took so much worry out of my life. I know what it is like to go to the Dr knowing how they think you are just looking for drugs, finally finding one who you like and think is actually a compassionate person, and even they leave you high and dry. How they make you feel like you are walking on eggshells because they hold the key to your lively hood. To always feel judged. It sucks! I know what it is like to lose touch with your partner because you fear pain too much to even make love. It's the worst and these "Caregivers" don't seem to care at all. What's left for the dependent patient who requires some sort of numbness to even produce the strength to provide for your family. It's not like disability checks are enough to live if you by the grace of God can qualify? They are forced to turn to other options.

We know the CIA sold Cocaine to Americans to push an agenda. When we think about the resurgence of Tar Heroin considering who has control of the biggest poppy producing region on the planet, one could suspect a similar agenda could be playing out right in front of us. Seriously, they gain control of poppy production then the AMA warns Doctors that aren't Specialists in pain management who prescribe opiates could loose their practice?! No way is that connected!

I was a paramedic for a long time and also worked in the high finance world of Oil and Gas Investments. In the process I have wined and dined many Drs and lawyers etc and believe me they like to "Party" as much or more than anybody. Sounds like your husbands Dr was probably on the Celebrity Death Bandwagon and hurt his head over the weekend and took it out on his patients. Sounds like a kook to means if a clinic is near by you might should consider the Methadone route. It helps me. People taper down and stop coming all the time but they would prefer you keep coming. As far as the doseage goes in my experience to a point that is even up to the patient. They will start him low and take it up until he feels better if later on he feels like he needs to increase he will just tell them and they next day it will already be approved. No hoop jumping at all. The first visit they want to see withdrawal symptoms to make sure they aren't giving a dose to someone already under the effects of an opiate. So no meds the morning before he goes in. That is the best advice I can give on the subject. Works for me. They don't judge, they seem to really understand and want to help. I don't know if I would tell them they are replacing pain management, but for sure that the pain management cut him off and he cannot cope without something. They will help.

a reply to: jacygirl

...Now this doctor appears to me to be bipolar, something that the pharmacist (and assistant) both agreed with actually. They are located right next door in the same building. His mood is very up and down, and he will very dramatically just throw up his arms and walk out on you...like tonight

but, be very precise about this... does that doctor at that clinic wear dark glasses as much as 1/2 the time you see him working?


...that is not a bi-polar or Manic Depression symptom, having light sensitivity...the clinic cannot be his only practice, he has to be on staff or interned at some other hospital or facility which should be made aware of the tempermental & spasdic behaviors he displays

originally posted by: wastedown


... How they make you feel like you are walking on eggshells because they hold the key to your lively hood. To always feel judged. It sucks! I know what it is like to lose touch with your partner because you fear pain too much to even make love. It's the worst and these "Caregivers" don't seem to care at all. What's left for the dependent patient who requires some sort of numbness to even produce the strength to provide for your family...

Wow, wastedown...thank you so very much!

That was an incredible reply and I appreciate you taking the time to write it.
I just read it all to my hubby who also said to thank you.

The above quote...omg...yes, you really do understand and know what you're talking about.
Over the years I have watched the quality of our health care (and it's providers) slowly slide downhill. It used to be wonderful.

I absolutely agree with your perspective on government control/agenda.
I've also watched society slump down into a state of poverty/apathy/addiction & alcohol abuse.
Can't imagine how much worse it will get around here if his entire registry of patients get cut off their pains meds.

Sadly due to his working hours (out of town), methadone isn't really an option...and he isn't suffering withdrawal, just pain. Your methadone clinic sounds much nicer than ours.
He would never want to be seen there (grew up in this small town), the judgement from people here is huge...staff included. I know because I drove a neighbour daily for 3 years, and they treated him like dirt.

What's strange too is that this neighbour was getting methadone daily, yet was still getting large oxycontin prescriptions from his family doctor. There is no logic, is there...?

Again, thank you so much...very much appreciated!
jacy

St.Udio....I am very sorry, but I really don't know what you're referring to. Dark glasses and light sensitivity? Can you please explain?

a reply to: jacygirl

Its a massively difficult situation.. I get it!

If you remember, I have some pretty serious health issues myself. When I break bones, they don't heal, due to some mysterious bone disorder. Currently at 8 shattered vertabrae, now, along with a host of other bones.

Despite this, it has been a constant struggle with managing pain. Even including a doctor telling me that people my age (30's) "can't actually break bones, so the radiology reports and xrays are misleading."

Another told me that narcotic pain meds are only an option in terminal patients, and that because of my age, I am not capable of coming down with a terminal illness. So, despite the fact it will result in my death, my age dictates that I do not have a terminal illness. Again,

In my experience, they are willing to blatantly throw reality and logic out the window in order to achieve politically pressured results.

So, my only goal now is to finish my work, research, and inventions before my demise. Or, at least get it far enough for someone else to pick up the torch with the same intent of helping humanity rather than exploiting it.

I only mention this because, even if there is immense pain and struggle, there can still be a lot of life to live! And maybe some day, the life we lead and legacy we leave will give birth to a world where such things are handled differently. Even the small things matter when trying to build a world of intelligence, grace, and kindness.

Anyway, even if its a struggle, I would very strongly suggest warm water therapy specifically. Its done in a pool, sometimes saltwater, that is heated to the 90 degree range. It can include everything from massage to physical therapy, depending on the patients needs.

What's neat is that the massage is done in a mostly weightless environment, with floaties put on legs, etc. So, it allows a level of relaxation that can't be achieved elsewhere. It can get a bit trippy though.. its like a normal massage in many ways, but also includes movement through the water.

Heck, I'd suggest it even without health issues!

a reply to: Serdgiam

Aww geez I've missed talking to you!

I did remember that you had health/pain issues too, but honestly didn't realize you were that young. I guess I wrongly assumed that you were 50+...I'm so sorry!
That's really tragic, to be so young and unable to enjoy a body that isn't broken and painful.

I have no idea if warm water therapy is available here but I will certainly find out...that sounds awesome, I'd love to try it myself.

I hope you do get to see your work/inventions all the way through (and then beyond)! As your elder, hehe...I hate to tell you this but people who want to help humanity are becoming rare. We can't afford to lose another one, so you'll just have to keep being here.
jacy

I have mixed feelings about what is going on in the medical system today. I may be jaded, but I don't believe it has anything to do with what is best for the patient.

Years ago your primary doctor managed your pain issues, and if it where necessary, they would prescribe narcotics. Narcotics usually were not the first choice for the management of pain. Then the government got involved and created this huge campaign regarding pain management.

They developed a pain scale, and made it mandatory for doctors to ask patient's about their pain, and mandatory that was documented in their chart with every encounter. It was mandatory for hospital nurses to ask their patients, and document, every 2 to 4 hours, if they where having pain, and what was the level of their pain. Doctors and hospitals had to place flyers all over the place, reminding patients that it was part of their "Rights" as a patient to be free of pain, and gave them a number to call if their pain wasn't being managed properly by their doctors. Doctors where being threatened with losing their practice, and being fined, for complaints for not adequately managing their patient's pain to the patient's satisfaction.

Jump ahead a couple of years. Now they are blaming the doctors again, and beating them up for doing what they were commanded and mandated to do in the first place. The question we should be asking is why?

Is their drug operation failing? Are their poppy fields drying up? Are they trying to push people to illegal drugs, so they can strong arm and control the masses? How convenient is it for Prince to supposedly die from legal prescription drugs? I am sure it plays right into their hands and moves their agenda ahead nicely.

a reply to: jacygirl

Seriously, the warm water stuff is incredible. I don't know why it hasn't boomed in popularity. It makes a normal massage look like torture, lol. And normal massages ain't too shabby!

I'm just not aware of organizations up there, but here, you can find places like Easter Seals that have warm water pools. I think the key is finding the pool, then you can find a therapist.

I would also recommend creating a stretching program. It takes a while to see results, and it seems so.. unproductive sometimes. But, I feel its one of the most effective and important things to do to control pain long term.

I might as well be 50+

It seems like I'm supposed to be here, so I think ill be around for a while. Some doctors are baffled that I'm still alive after some "events." When an ER doctor tells you, "You are obviously supposed to be here, since we can't understand why you are still alive," it makes ya think!

I do have hope for things, both personal and societal. I think the key lies in the top changing their program. They could dramatically increase their quality of life, along with everyone else's, should they realize they hold themselves back as much as anyone else. I have a whole essay on it, and how to do it, but I can't imagine its useful beyond my own mind. Even if it was, no one in any position to change things at the top would listen to a cripple

I really hope you are able to get these things worked out! Send a PM anytime, I've had years of experience dealing with these things and trying out an enormous amount of treatments. Attitude is so important, and if your hubby is anything like you, you guys have that part down.

Jeez. Sorry you have to deal with this. The guy sounds like a nutjob, I would think forcing someone to quit a prescription of that nature is actually dangerous, not to mention extremely difficult. Back pain is a bitch, I've had some mild bouts of it when I overdid something and it was not fun at all. Not sure if your husband would be capable of trying this but I got one of those exercise balls and it really helps to sort of drape yourself over the thing (back down).

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
I have mixed feelings about what is going on in the medical system today. I may be jaded, but I don't believe it has anything to do with what is best for the patient.

Jump ahead a couple of years. Now they are blaming the doctors again, and beating them up for doing what they were commanded and mandated to do in the first place. The question we should be asking is why?

How convenient is it for Prince to supposedly die from legal prescription drugs? I am sure it plays right into their hands and moves their agenda ahead nicely.

Hey NightSkyeB4Dawn!
I'm so glad the smart people came to my thread, lol.

Brilliant reply, thank you. I agree with everything you wrote.
I'm old enough to remember great doctors, same-day appointments, getting 2-3 months of prescriptions at once, Tylenol #3 was what you got after surgery.

*cough* War *cough* opium fields *cough* Purdu Pharmaceuticals *cough* Percocet & Oxycontin *cough* mass addiction

What agenda?

I think doctors are getting screwed because they're only pawns like us. Collateral damage.
They did what they were told, or got paid to do...

The zombie apocalypse. Heads plugged into electronics, zoned out...spaced out...numb/in and out of withdrawal...desperation....judgement and isolation...depression...crime...

Yup, old enough to now remember the 'good ole days'.
jacy

That sux about your local clinic. I understand small town politics, with the way meth and opiates have spread recently the small town judgmental attitudes are even slowly changing. It is getting hard to find someone who's family hasn't been touched. Once it's your son or daughter or sister brother or even your mother has an issue your attitude tends to change.

What I can't stand is the fact that these guys take an oath to be compassionate and totally throw that out the door at the first hints of possible trouble in the future. I'd be damned, if I went to all that school and paid to learn about medicine there is now way I'd idley set by and let some paper scare me out of doing my job. If someone needs relief and you are a dr help them, period! Seems to me cutting patients off from medications can be just as dangerous as keeping them on it and you DR needs to make that decision not some board somewhere that thinks what's good for them is good for everyone! If someone dies from a withdrawal seizure should that not also put the Dr in an actionable position.

This topic lights a fire in me! Sorry but I hate to hear about people being made to suffer, and this situation just disgusts me. I'm one to think if you care that little about your patients is more a reason to loose a license than helping people. Just backwards thinking in my mind. No different that a bigot or racist in my mind. a reply to: jacygirl

a reply to: wastedown

What I can't stand is the fact that these guys take an oath to be compassionate and totally throw that out the door at the first hints of possible trouble in the future. I'd be damned, if I went to all that school and paid to learn about medicine there is now way I'd idley set by and let some paper scare me out of doing my job.

I wish it really was that simple, but doctors and nurses don't get a free pass in life when it comes time to pay the mortgage, pay for the groceries, or anything else.

If they don't follow the rules set down by the Federal Government, they can be fined, jailed, plus, have their license taken from them. No license, no practice, no patients, so it doesn't help their patient's one bit to lose their practice.

They have no more control over what the government mandates than we do. You break a Federal law, you are going to a Federal prison. Doctors that stay aren't scared, they are just trying to make the best out a bad situation. The ones that walked away were afraid to stay. I know because I was one of them. I am not a doctor, but I left hospital nursing for this very reason. I saw the handwriting on the wall, and I couldn't continue to support a system that I didn't feel was putting patients first.

Healthcare in America is a commodity. The government and the insurance companies control everything including your healthcare professionals. They really don't have much of a choice. Stay to fight and lose, or leave and lose.

a reply to: Serdgiam

Guten Morgen- In 2001, I hurt My back while I was working 'Special Investigations/Narcotics/Vice. Because I was on 'Light Duty' and couldn't leave the office, I started looking into doing a case with some legs on it. I got a case that dealt with Heroin coming into the San Francisco Bay Area. Anyways I was able to follow it all the way back to its source, Afghanistan. At that time Afghanistan was under thumb of 'The Taliban' and they were producing roughly 7% of the world's supply.

Then some towers went down in New York City and collaterally Afghanistan got involved in 'The War' Then because gun powder is really a great source to grow opium, their production ratcheted up to close to 87%.

en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: JimNasium

Here is the rest that got cut off..

What else has happened in that same time frame? First there was an opiate pain medication epidemic. Then when those same folks got cut off from their meds. they went and sought a cheap alternative, Heroin. Coincidentally, both the opiate pain meds and heroin come from the same plant. But wait it doesn't stop there. What else?

Proliferation of jails and prisons going "private" and although these jails and prisons aren't the majority, they still drag in close to $3B USD/year. Now 'many' of these folks don't have the means to afford legal representation so they cop to a "Plea Bargain" (Close to 94% of folks incarcerated are there on a 'Plea Bargain') How about those that CAN afford a lawyer? Now factor in court costs, probation costs, etc..

www.motherjones.com...

www.globalresearch.ca...

The ones they don't kill, they'll make it up by jailing them, those that aren't jailed, they'll just pay the $$$

Have a nice day.

a reply to: JimNasium

Good morning!

Well, I just read that once to myself...and then again to my hubby.
I believe this. It's not the first time I've read about it but I don't have anyone in real life to discuss these things with.
Much appreciated.

If you step back...maybe you have to be a certain age to remember how things used to be?
But if you actually look at how things have happened in the recent past, it all fits together like a puzzle.

Thank you. I've always enjoyed reading your stuff here and am very appreciative of your input.
jacy

Good Lord Jacy, I would be furious and that Doctor definitely has a serious problem and shouldn't be practicing medicine!

I am fortunate. I have some meds that will have a number of refills and I just call the pharmacy and the prescription is filled that very day. I have some where the pharmacist has to get in touch with my Doctor and have that med prescription faxed over every time I need a re-fill, but I can get them in a day or two.

We both know what it's like to be in pain and it can be agony. No one should have to suffer like that.

I used to be jealous of Countries that have free medical, but when I hear how long people have to wait to see a doctor, especially a specialist when one is needed, I think forget that! And now all the crap with simply getting a prescription filled, I feel for you!