AmeliaA

I waited two hours to see him. I told him about the Vicodin, how much I was taking, that I respected him for canceling the script refills, etc. That I know I have an addiction.

He asked me about my pain level and I said I was still having some pain but did not want ANY Vicodin whatsoever.

So he wrote me a script for 20 T3s with no refills and sent me out the door.

He gave me no advice on how to deal with this at all.

Hevyn

First, I'm sorry for your frustration. I went through a similar thing in January. Knowing I was going to stop drinking I forced myself to go to the dr. and ask if I could have something to help with my nerves during this time. He told me he didn't handle people with addictions! He asked me how much I drank and he said, "Why do you drink so much? Troubles at home?" Then he suggested I just have a few each day. I barely made it there and to be sent on my way like that. I know how dangerous it can be to go cold turkey, but knowing me, I might've become dependent on whatever was given to me to help with the withdrawal, so now that it's over, I guess I'm ok with it. My dr. was extremely irresponsible in my opinion, even though there was a (huge) language barrier. Couldn't you go to a different dr.? Are you feeling any better at all?

AmeliaA

Yes, I can go to a different doctor. He is my OB/GYN. The third one. The other two weren't listening to my pain issues and he was a Godsend to me, until this. (I had a hysterectomy two weeks ago).

So at any rate. Guess I will talk about it with my shrink at my next appt. I think I see her in two weeks.

butterfly19

Amelia,

I'm so so sorry you were treated that way! Since I have actually worked in the medical field for 7 years, I know this happens too frequently. I had high hopes though that your doctor would be one of the caring ones who would offer you some help. Unfortunately, it turns out that he may be concerned about your pain b/c he did give you pain meds today, but that he isn't interested in helping you quit.

So, sweetie, now the ball is in your court! It's up to you to find help on your own. Maybe it sounds harsh, but it is often what many of us have been forced to do. I had to. My doctor sent me a letter saying not only would he not treat my chronic pain, but that he would also no longer see me as a patient for my regular health conditions and that none of his associates in the clinic would see me either. I know he has the right to refuse to treat my pain, but I'm still not sure that he has the right to ban me from the entire clinic for my cardiac and intestinal problems. I could report him, but decided not to. Seemed more trouble than it was worth.

I want you to check out the website I told you about last night. Buprenorphine (Suboxone Subutex) treatment and opioid addiction resources from The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment - NAABT - Home page It gives you lots of info on suboxone and also will help you find an addiction specialist in your area. Know this sweetie: You did exactly the right thing by going there and being honest with him. You are in no way at fault. But what happened should by no means keep you from doing what you set out to do in the first place, and that is to find help for your addiction. Research the hell out of it. You will find someone that is willing to help you. I found my current psychiatrist/addiction specialist through that website, and I was in awe when I went to my first appt. I was like "These people actually want to help me!" It was amazing to me to know someone did care. You will find someone who will help you too. I don't think that you should go cold-turkey, jmho, but from what you told me, you do have chronic conditions that will require medical observation while you are getting clean. So please, please, sweetie do some research and make an appt. elsewhere for next week.

Feel free to PM me anytime, if you need to talk! Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm sorry you had such a yucky day! Don't let that bring you down though!! Hope is still here for you, and you'll make it!!!

Love,

butterfly19 (SP)

p.s.: Here is a flower for you to hopefully brighten your day!

:ghug3

Aysha

Oh Amelia..I am so sorry.
I was so hoping your Dr would have been a better help.
But sometimes they are just so dam clueless.
Butter gave you some good advice and good resources.
Please dont let one Dr ruin it for you.
I am at a loss for words.
We are here for you if you need us.
Hang in there.

Anna

Amelia,

I'm sorry too.

This is a bump in the road of your recovery, but don't let it get you down.

You can do this and we do understand how hard it is.

iwantadonkey

Sorry he wasnt helpful but dont let it get to you,stay positive.

adore79

oh boy, i was supposed to see my new psychiatrist today, it was going to a teleconference, but the hardware broke down and i wasnt able to see him . Now i have to wait another week, even though ive been waiting three months to talk to him. Some day we the people will rise against the corporate machine, and once more take control of our lives, imo. Sorry to sound too revolutionary, but that is how i feel. It is time that we all got decent health care.


:praying

AmeliaA

Thanks and ((((hugs)))) to all of you.

When I got home I talked to my husband and he was also disappointed that the doctor did not help direct me. And yes, the ball is in my court and I intend to talk to my psychiatrist at our next appt and try to attend an NA meeting in the area.

I KNOW I am a pill popper. I admit it now, I have admitted it in the past and messed up, but now I will do something about it.

I am a strong woman.

I have the world at my feet and I want to have it there with a clear mind.

For some reason I think he didn't believe me. NOT that I didn't have a drug problem, that I was just telling him what I wanted him to hear because of screwing up so bad. I think he saw me as just another drug seeking patient who didn't really want help, just drugs.

I have a strong feeling that I have been "flagged." I live in a NASPER state, which is a state that has a data base of doctor shoppers/drug seekers. I feel like I can never go to a doctor again for anything!!!

I don't know if I left feeling better or worse.

(((Butterfly)))

I am so sorry to hear that happened to you. I just don't "get" some doctors. I never will. And I will check out that website. Promise.

XXOO

Thinkingabit

The doctor maybe knows that he cannot make you want to quit using the pills. Have you ever wondered why treatment is ineffective? It is because no matter how much you pay, you are going to quit doing that when you are ready to quit doing that. Do you want to quit? Then you have to go through the discomfort and quit. You can go to meetings, but in the end it is YOU and only YOU who makes that choice not to take something. No one sits on you. No one duct tapes you to a chair. I did treatment and meetings for years and in the end it was my CHOICE to stop. You have to decide. It is a behavior... Choose to behave differently. Read the research and see what you find. 80% quit all on their own... make that decision and stick with it.

T

Negative Man

Amelia,

Keep in mind: most doctors are really confused by addiction. Usually they find a symptom and they treat it with narcotics. But when narcotics IS the problem, they don't know what to do. And often there will be two other things going on: 1. They have enormous self-will and assume that others should have it too (and they can't seem to understand that self-will has little to do with getting over addiction), or 2. They have an addiction themselves and they don't want to talk about yours.

But that's not true of all doctors. Go find another doctor. Yes, ask your therapist for a referal. Don't write all doctors off. There are many good ones out there who have the experience. Sounds like your doctor didn't have any experience in this issue.

Rock on.
-- NM

four812

aren't tylenol 3's an addicti peoplve pill that people like to abuse also???

AmeliaA

Yes they are.

Am I failing for having to take the "lesser evil" for my pain? I am taking them AS needed for pain.

I can tell a HUGE difference from being off of the Vicodin for more than 72 hours now.

Am I failing????????? I felt like I was doing good being off the Vicodin, only taking the T3 as needed. There will be no refills on these. When the 20 tabs are gone, they are gone. My doctor made that clear.

Aysha

I agree with negative man. M Dr looked totally confused when I went to him with my addiciton.
But unlike yours he did make an effort to seek the right resources for me.
But still I think I threw him off.
And I personally dont think your failing by taking the T3s. Honey you just had major surgery.
As long as your taking as prescribed there isnt a problem IMO.
You shouldnt be made to suffer in pain just because your an addict.

DSodaNow

I disagree.... addition is a DISEASE. However, you can choose to treat the disease and over-come it. Make that choice and know that you don't have to do it alone! There is no reason that you have to do this alone. I think your decision to go to NA is a great thing.

Also, glad to hear you are feeling better. Good luck!

Ananda

you are doing all the right things amelia...don't sweat it. I take meds as perscribed according to direction and let some people know so that they have a clue whats up with me and can help me.

Tooners

Please be very careful and do your research before you accept a prescription for suboxone!!! If you look on the internet you will find message boards FULL of people with horror stories about this drug. This drug is relatively new to the market, and while I believe the doctors who are prescribing it have the best of intentions, I don't think the drug was adequately tested before being mass prescribed. My husband was put on this drug by an addiction specialist he was referred to as the result of a vicodin addiction after a back injury. When he tried to taper off the suboxone he became very ill and could not keep food down. His addiction specialist put him back on a low dosage of the medication and he became even sicker. He lost about 15-20 pounds in 2 weeks. I was panicking, but we called around and could not find any help for him. He made 2 trips to the emergency room and no one knew enough about the medication to offer any suggestions. We finally found a doctor at a hospital who could help us, and my husband spent 2 weeks there recuperating. My husband says this drug is the worst addiction he has ever had to overcome. His post acute withdrawals are horrendous. Check on other message boards and you will find similar and even worse horror stories. Many people who take this drug are incapable of getting off of it. Apparently the kick rivals that of methodone. My husband and many others say they would have preferred the opiate withdrawal, it was much easier.
Please be careful not to dig yourself a bigger hole while trying to climb out of the first one. Many, many doctors do not understand addiction, and drug companies that want to push their product to make money can be very dangerous. Do your research first!

hairgirl

Yes, do your research, but do not take the advice of people who did not follow the right regime when they stopped taking it, or did not take it as long as they should.Suboxone is not a cure, it is a treatment option, which for some, like me, was a much better choice than living life the way I did before I started treatment.I have been on suboxone for ten months, and have noticed significant changes at various dose amounts.A while back I cut myself to a certain amount, and had trouble, waited longer, tried again and have noticed much better physical results.It is all in the timing and healing of your body.Just do your homework, and if you want to know how it is, hit me up.But still get as much information from various sources as possible.

Tooners

My husband did follow the right tapering regimin that was overseen by his addiction specialist and our family physician. In my OPINION and by what I have heard from other people, suboxone works well for some people, but really bad for others. I would imagine it would be a good drug if you are addicted to oxycontin or heroin, but if you are taking too many vicodin that might be an easier withdrawal than suboxone for you. Also, my husband had a great experience when he was on the drug in the beginning, but when he tried to taper off the real problems started. Just make sure that you research it thoroughly before you take it, and speak to people who have taken it and successfully been removed from it to find out what their experience has been.

serenityqueen

I think there are some very real reasons that this Dr. wasn't any help for you Amelia. For Starters, you said he's an OB-GYN, I'm sure this isn't something he runs into every day. While I think all Dr.'s should have some basic training in addiction, I can almost bet this guy was absolutely clueless as what to say to you. Also, I imagine when the Pharmacy called him and he cancelled the refills, his first thought was protecting himself and his license.

I have also gotten several of the letters over the years from Dr.'s who no longer would treat me when they found out I was drug seeking due to my addiction. Again, I think these Dr.'s are more concerned about themselves than the patient who they wrote the prescriptions for. And while I don't condone their behaviors, in a way I can see why they get scared. Here in Dayton, over the past few years, there have been several Dr.'s on the news who have lost their licenses due to overprescribing controlled substances.

I am on Methadone through a Methadone Maintenance Program and have been since July of 2005. I had tried for so many years to stay clean, but the post accute withdrawals kicked my butt. The addictionologists who I saw in the hospital the last time I was in detox, all felt that there was no other way than the Methadone Maintenance Program. Like hairgirl said, this is much better than suffering in the life I was slowly dying in. I know I wouldn't have lived much longer if I were still using. My DOC was Vicodin ES, I took, on average, 80 ES's a day, so my addiction was just as bad as Oxy or Heroin. It's not such much what drug you are using and abusing, it's the quantity and length of time that Dr.'s suggest Methadone or Suboxone. For me, I may be on Methadone the rest of my life, but that's a small price to pay for being the person I am today. For 25 years I was addicted to opiates and I also have chronic pain conditions that the Methadone helps with. With the dose I take, I don't get high. It simply stopped the PAWS and like I said, it does help slightly with the pain so it is tolerable.

I agree that if you are going to consider either of these methods of Recovery, to do your research. Dr.'s don't prescribe this medicine just to be prescribing them. These are controlled very closely by the government and the medical profession as well. In the end, if the Dr. feels you are a good candidate for either drug, the decision is yours and yours alone. I used to get pretty anoyed by people who told me horror stories of Methadone Maintenance but now, I just let them talk. It doesn't matter. I know it's helping me and that is all that matters. If these medications weren't helping more people than not, I don't think they would even be available for use in treatment. Just like Penicillian isn't for everyone, neither is Methadone or Suboxone.

God Bless and you do what you need to do for you and your Recovery.

Judy