hard to believe Web site about our pain also banned medications

[Eva 14]

Hi Alex,
No, I wouldn't deny anyone any medicine that works for them. That's why I said that I believe that people should take whatever works for them. I am totally against the "War on Drugs", etc. I wouldn't deny anyone their meds, whether it's marijauna or whatever.

Take Care,
Eva

[SandraM]

Hi everyone, I believe that we all have to do what we feel we must to control our pain.

These are my issues: 1. Major Depression Disorder in which in the last few years I am having more symptoms of Bi-Polar, Anxiety , and Panic (since I was 5yrs old) 2 Scoliosis (now know this started when about 8yrs old)3 Degenerate Disk Disease 4. Osteoarthritis especially in the Spine from C1 to the very end. 5 Thoracic Fractures and Ruptured Disk 6 Arota Aneurysm 7 Chronic Fatigue 8 Hypercholestrerolemia. And I have had Cancer 2x.

Also a Daughter of US Army Vet (Deceased) - Atomic Bomb Testing Victim at Desert Rock by US Government

MMJ=I live in a state that does not allow MMJ. I had a doctor, outside of the medical environment, said that he wish his patients had the option of using MMJ. I am overweight and when I tried it all I could do was eat and eat. If someone could give me the answer to how not to get the munchies I would use MMJ as much as I needed.

It seems my doctors are no longer up to the challenge of helping me. I have tried to get into 2 pain doctors but there is such a long waiting list. So, in the last year, I just can't go to the doctors. I know it is useless. Nothing is done. It is like I speak to the air. I hope you all have found better care than I have.

[Mark N]

Sandra, it is so disheartening to hear stories like your story as there are doctors out there that will help those of us with CP. I have been very fortunate to have doctors that have all been willing to help me but my current doctor is in his 70s so I will have to find another doctor in the near future and I am concerned about finding one that will take the same approach my current doctor does. I already know of a couple of doctors that won't prescribe my medications to me so I hope the others in town are more willing to continue the care I have had the past 11 years.

I would encourage you to keep looking for a doctor that will treat your diseases but understand you may not have too many options in your area. I hope you find a doctor because no one should deal with pain without some control over it.

[Eva 14]

Sandra,

Please don't give up the search for a good pain doctor, even if you have to put your name on a waiting list. NO ONE should have to suffer. I also have a lot of health prolems, but it wasn't until I FINALLY saw a pain management doctor that my pain was adequately treated. I saw several neuros, etc. None of them wanted to take the "risk" to help me, even though my long-time neuro TOLD me, "Well, you've tried everything else and opiates are the only thing that helps you". So he admitted that ONLY opiates help me, but still never once referred me to a pain doctor.

The worst part was that even though my neuro knew I suffered excruciating pain for months on end, he only prescribed a very limited amount of pain meds. It my pain lasted longer than the meds, tough luck for me. I would interrmittently go into several months of severe pain. My neuro would prescribe what is generally regarded as a 1 month supply of pain meds and would somehow expect that to last me at least 6 months. When I was in one of my horrible "pain cycles", I would stretch the 1 month supply of pain meds out to 2 months, and ended up suffering terribly. But if I STILL needed meds after the 2nd script? Forget it! My neuro would then threaten to drop me. After I'd been seeing him for 15 YEARS, not to mention.

I'm in enough pain without all of this doctor drama. I truly thank God that I found a wonderful pain doctor who treats me nicely and gives me what I need to function at a basic level. I shudder to think where I'd be if I hadn't found my wonderful PM.

So there ARE some good doctors out there; you just have to search really hard to find them. You could even try searching the Internet for possible doctors. Again, you should NOT have to suffer with untreated pain. Best of luck to you.

Eva

[Kathi49]

Ditto on the pain doc Eva! I love my own spinal pain management doc! :) I didn't have a problem with my Neurosurgeon or my Neurologist at all in regards to medications. In fact, it was the opposite with me. It was my pain doc that eventually referred me to the NS and then later, back to my PM.

Okay, to MM. I don't have a problem with legalizing it nor do I have a moral issue with it. If it helps someone that is between they and their docs. But personally, I probably wouldn't use it unless I was on my way out. I am just really not that much up on it to begin with. But, no, I don't think so, not at this stage of the game. I have a lot of room to go up on what I am already taking so for now, I prefer to keep it that way.

[Mark N]

Diandra, I agree fully that it is important to know what is in our medications and to be careful about the amount we are ingesting. I guess I am leery of the gov't controlling any more of our choices but as you point out it isn't an easy situation for people to deal with. The show you watched is an example of why I don't take as much medication as I could to control my pain and to never take more than is prescribed as I would rather be in pain than have my family find me dead as a result of an extra pill. Maybe people here have a greater respect for our meds as I know I am very careful about my doses and how much I am taking. I don't see it as "candy" where more will make me feel better but as serious medication I have to respect.

[alex44]

Mark, et al: I love the interaction we are getting. Ths subject about MMJ has been n the closet too long. No need to out oneself - ancedotal evidance can be used, as can research from the web. I am not saying it is for everyone, but EVERYONE should have the freedom of choice.
Blessings
Alex44
Skypilot

[Boxerlover]

I know I have brought this up before but we all need to be prepared about the government REM program. It is now called the TERF REM program and it started with the newer trans-mucosal fentanyl, Onsolis, Abstram and one other. Just this month they added the Actiq and Fentora. From what I have read, they want to add all schedule II meds. It works where the doc must get extra training on prescribing these kinds of meds. Then the doc registers the patient and you are given literature on how to take and dispose of yours meds as well as all the risk factors. Then only pharmacies that have registered and had their pharmacists go get extra training on this can dispense the meds.

I was worried at first thinking this was going to be a cluster f***, but in a way I feel better knowing that I am registered. I had some questions and called the number and she found me on the data base and answered my questions. It will definitely stop a lot of addicts from getting the meds and it will stop docs who are not in pain management from improper prescribing. I cannot tell you how many people I know who were prescribed one of these for either post-operative pain(and it says in big bold letter NOT FOR POST OPERATIVE PAIN). And I heard it was prescribed to an opiate naive person who broke their arm, and not a bad break at that. So eventually if they add all schedule II it will help with abuse, not all but a great deal. The only problem is the government involvement with us being in data bases. But most states are going with a data base anyway so what's being on a national one. I don't know how I feel about it to be honest. At first I was totally against it but now I actually think it may be a good idea.

[Mark N]

Melissa, as they say the devil is in the details. This program can be used to educated everyone about these medications we use or they can be used to target us and deny some people medication they need. I hope it continues to be a program to educate people because our medication is nothing to fool around with and too many dr and dentist are prescribing the wrong medication for acute pain that is temporary. The problem with a gov't program is it can change at any time so that regulations work against us instead of helping us.

[alex44]

I am too disgusted with the gov't to answer this right now as I just did my B/P and it s not good,
Blessings to all
Alex44 (skypilot)