Too old for this crap

[Neldine]

Opioid crisis my butt. I had used narcotic pain meds for two decades, never a misused pill. Now I must all but crawl begging to not even get a third of my previous dose. Life has turned into a steaming pile. Thanks DEA et all.

[deejames]

Hi neldine . I accept that there are, without doubt too many case of opiates be g prescribed for the wrong reasons and for too long but the reporting of this is biased. I have seen plenty of ' my son died from opiate addiction after being prescribed them for a broken leg' type interviews but nothing from the other side.

It has gone too far but where does it leave those who are probably addicted but also dependent - like me ?

We are told that eventually the opiates stope being effective. I haven't reached that point and without them my life would be so limited that I cannot imagine it. The opiates allow me to function and have a partially normal life. I can sleep, walk short distances and carry out domestic tasks. I can even volute on a limited basis.

Unlike you Neldine I am not having difficulty accessing the medication I need. I even have it on repeat prescription. Where do you live that you dose has been reduced ? Surely that was not an overnight drop ?

Dee

[Oma3 in reply to deejames]

Deejames, I think the better question is where do you live? I am a chronic pain patient who has been struggling. One Dr just dismissed me and left me with no pain medication. I did not have withdrawals, but left in pain so that I did not have any quality of life. Then the new Dr made me try so many different medicines that did not work and I had side effects such as weight gain. Finally after a long year and a half my Dr let me have the vicodin again. Smaller dosage, but my quality of life is so much better. However, the Dr is still looking for ways to get me off opiates. I live in Vermont USA

[Neldine in reply to Oma3]

Washington state, the wet side.

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

I also was on a very high dose, when this all came out in the media i questioned my dr on what woyld happen if i were to get into a accident? His response was dont worry they will give u dolodid! Omg,, i lowered my dose on my own, it wasnt easy,,,now taking less than 1/2 and doing/better,,,still live with chronic pain thats hell, my,pcp understands my injuries and he is helping me,,had surgery 2 weeks ago (7th) i thpught for sure i would need to increase my dose but i used lidocaine patches on both sides of the incision area and i was fine! Going for a total knee replacement in about 2 months,,,i will again lower my current dose and suck it up

[Hidden]

Gabapentin is great for pain

[Neldine in reply to Hidden]

Not for everyone. I was so zombiefied, no way. My husband was okay for a couple of weeks, then his sense of taste was wonky.

[Hidden in reply to Neldine]

Oh wow, i too came iff gabapentin, i was inly taking 300 mg at night, when i finally realized that all the medical issues i was having was indeed from the med i reduced 100 mg a month, i cant begin to explain the nightmare that im still going through, i took the last dose 30 days ago and still am having crazy things happen, everyday is different,,double vision comes and goes, crying for no reason at all which also comes and goes, feels like im disconnected, but all the side effects that i had while on it have all stopped,,chest pain, left arm pain, jaw pain, panic attacks, anxiety, the list goes on and on

[sandiepants in reply to Hidden]

Gabapentin did not work for me at all xx

[skpartsgirl0056 in reply to sandiepants]

I have T5 arthritis in my feet.very severe pain day and night.I took gabapentil and it sent me to emergency room because of bad side effects

[Hidden in reply to skpartsgirl0056]

Terrible medication, i was only taking 300 mg, had terrible side effects too, lowered the dose 100 mg per month, lost my motor skills, double vision and so much more,,,just lowered the last 100mg one week ago, again its like being on bad drug trip, disconnected, fogginess, headpain, i sneezed once and left part of my head felt like a compessor litetally, it stopped about 30 seconds later then started again then stopped again,,this drug was and is for epilepsy that i dont have, but now it is being prescribed for anything,, its such a bad drug that the military has banned it

[Hidden in reply to skpartsgirl0056]

Me too several trips to er fir diff reasons that ended up being gaba side effects,,,military has banned thus horrific drug yet good for the rest of us!!uggg

[Hidden in reply to sandiepants]

Same here, not that I could tell. Initially took it for diabetic nephropathy and it's allegedly pain relieving properties. Took it for about a year and figured it really wasn't doing anything so I stopped. No problems with that. Maybe it's just the difference in people and how they personally react.

[sneakyblonde]

Hi,

I live in California, USA.

( I am on oxycodone, aka: HillBilie Heroin)

I called the corporate office of Rite Aid and complained about how I was treated. That helped a lot. The pharmacist really straightened up, he snaps to attention now!

Cindy

[Hidden in reply to sneakyblonde]

Some have treated me like i was a terrible person because i have to take medicine for pain, ive been suffering terribly 24/7 for almost 7 years with zero time off from it,, the last thing i want is to be mocked by a physician and go home from an appt i waited so long for only to feel more terrible,,i thank all here who have chatted with me, you are the only people who really understand chronic pain and it really helps keep me grounded as well as understood

[Hidden]

I can’t believe the utter cruelty that is happening in the US. People sometimes NEED opiates just to get through the essential tasks of the day. But just because a few people get addicted, everyone has to suffer.

Personally, I know I’m addicted to Tramadol, having taken it for 2 years, but I can’t imagine wanting to take more than the prescribed maximum dose. How the hell do you get a hit off of Tramadol? It’s horrible stuff, and I only take it because I couldn’t even get to the toilet without it. I hate the side effects, I hate the way my (once reasonably smart) brain has turned to mush.

I attended the local Pain Clinic for the first time two weeks ago. I had an MRI done of my back. The doc said let’s see if it’s something we can fix first. But he was quite clear that he would prescribe oxycodone if I needed it.

I do hope the US reverses this madness soon. I feel so terrible for all you people who are going without proper pain relief. It’s medieval.

[Neldine in reply to Hidden]

Sorry you're going through such agony. Truly feels like the "experts" just want us to die, slowly and horribly , but due all the same. Wish we could bless these clowns with a few days n out flesh prisons.

[Vintagegirl13 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there. I don't think you're addicted to the tramadol, I think you're dependent on the tramadol. If you ask me, and I know a lot of people who agree with me. There is such a difference between addiction and dependency. We depend on our meds to be able to get through the day, go to work, look after the kids and the house, just to have a shower, or coffee with a friend. Addiction is taking meds/drugs to get a high, just for the fun of it. Most chronic pain sufferers I know do not get a high from their meds, they take them as directed or they know they'll be taken off them. So yes you're dependant, not addicted xx

[Hidden]

Oh ya, me too, ive lived with chronic pain from nerve damage for several years too, i too never abused the pain medication, moved recently and needed to find a new oain mgmt dr, i was treated like i was a junky looking for drugs. Treated with noo repect and no dignity, it was aweful

[Neldine in reply to Hidden]

Going to get a lot worse.

congress.gov/bill/115th-con...

Why are Ways and Means and Energy involved? Got me.

[Hidden in reply to Neldine]

I couldnt pull up that congress report, can u tell me what that is plz? Curious

[Neldine in reply to Hidden]

congress.gov/congressional-...

Hopefully this will work.

[Neldine in reply to Neldine]

congress.gov/congressional-...

I am in my tablet, don't feel up to dealing with the laptop right now. Hopefully this might work. Bad day, sorry.

[Hidden in reply to Neldine]

Too much to read! Of course govt is involved because of the magnitude of drug overdoses. The only problem from what ive read elsewhere, the studies that have been done, gathering stats, is they include heroine in the amt of overdoses. Most overdoses are from a heroine addicts who also had another 1-3 addtl drugs/alcohol in their system when they od. I recently got a pain pump 3 weeks ago. I hated taking oral but had no choice. I couldnt walk to the bathroom to pee w/o medication. In bed 24/7/365. I tried everything available. Everything. One day i read of someone with a pain pump. Researched. Found a dr. Gave him all my records showing multiple surgeries, nerve damage which causes crippling relentless pain, tried every shot/test available and ALL FAILED. The pain pump worked! So far and I thank God everyday!! Im still recovering from the surgery, but already reduced oral! It will take time and he said i prob will have to take oral rest of my life but it will prob be 1/2 the amt i was taking and possibly even less! Im thrilled! I dont want to take it at all anymore if i can help it. Its exhausting and dosent fix a thing. Only masks pain. Horror. Try the pain pump. My ins comp authorized my pump right away, no questions, i had ALL records already. Just needed a phsycological exam. Thats it! Love my doc, he is 10 min away. He was surprised i lowered oral already!! God bless all people here suffrering. I pray you all also find what works. Prayer and faith sustained me daily. Never give up. It took me 7 long horrible years, but i always thanked God even for those bad days.

[Mummyola]

Have only had methotrexate for my RA so far, only had the runny nose and eyes from it, but an anti hystomine with it and I’m ok. I’m in the UK so it’s different here for meds

[Neldine]

Now being forced off everything immediately. Barrels of laughs. Only option offered us the injections that never worked. Awesome!

[gilliedew]

Hi, this is now going to happen to me. 10 years spinal stenosis, been through the medication rigmarole from paracetamol up to Fencino 50. It was the only thing what touched it. Haven't asked for higher dose, haven't abused it, yet a nurse practitioner who I have never seen has just said she will have me off it. It was prescribed by a doctor, agreed at the pain clinic but she thinks that because she follows an across the board dictate, it is the best for me. She told me to walk my dog when my sciatica is horrendous and this is the worst advice, then told me to see my doctor whom I haven't seen for years and she is not taking patient appointments. I am 71 and her whole advice was wrong, uninformed and not applicable and there is sod all I can do about it.

[Hidden]

My PCP prescribed codeine 4 for me after the big opiate crackdown. Not as good but better than nothing. Then even the pharmacist said he couldn't fill it cause my PCP was not a pain doctor. My late wife could not have her neurosurgeon refill her pain pump because he was not a pain doctor. Unbelievable.