Plz help me, need advise on drug testing policy

[bonsharley]

hi all, i really need some guidance. Plz believe me when i tell you this story. I was in a serious motorcycle accident 7-94. lifeflighted to trauma center in columbus, OH. comp fx's left leg, (approx 6 surg), right knee, (approx 4 surg), lt shoulder, left elbow, lt wrist surgery, rupture L3,4, closed head injury. i have been on oxy's for about 8 yrs now, i loved my dr, but this past dec. he left practice, rumor has it he is in rehab. boy don't i pick em. ok, dec, and jan, i saw a sub dr at same place. did, not like this man at all. anyway, he upped my 40's to 80's because he said it was harder to sell 80 than 40 on the street. He said i believe you truly need this medicine. (my legs and lt side look like road maps) in feb he drug tests me. urine and blood, he said he was testing for marijuana. i tried that stuff once, yrs ago, yuck.

ok, this is where i need some help, i tested positive for trace of cocaine. i have never tested pos for anything before. i always take my meds as prescribed. what happened is that 2 or 3 days prior, i had chipped a part of my root canal tooth. the nerves were exposed. i was in so much pain. it was on the wknd, couldn't see oral surg. in fact the beginning of this yr, my insurance would no longer cover oral surg. So, yes it was a stupid thing to do. but i was in so much pain, i had a friend of a friend get me some cocaine to numb my gums around the tooth. it truly helped. if i knew then what i know now, i wouldn't of done it. i actually pulled the tooth out myself the next day. my dr said see ya. i was so ashamed of myself. heck, i don't even drink or smoke. i am almost 50 yrs old. i knew better. but i was dying with pain. i tried to go through the w/d's (oxy's) by myself, but went to the hosp. for 3 days. here it is a month later, i am in so much pain, i tried to see a new dr 3 days ago, i was honest w/her, told her situation, and she said, see ya. plz help me folks, what do i do to get a dr to help me. i had told her she could drug test me anytime, but no. went back to detox place to see if they could get the dr on staff to refer me to a pain clinic, but they said he is not in private practice and couldn't help me. does anybody, please, please help me. i can hardly get out of bed. thanks for letting me spill my troubles. Bonnie

[krashleen]

I am so so sorry to hear of your troubles. That is horrid.

Is there any, ANY way you can contact your previous doctor, the one that kicked you to the curb and tell him/her what happened and that you are willing to take the drug tests each and every week if they ask.

I dunno what to tell you. I have always believed in honesty, but for pain relief out there, its getting to be "dog eat dog" world out there.

Do what you got to do.

Hang in there, I hope and pray that someone can help you with someone to help you.
Godspeed.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Is there a methadone treatment program in the area... go there .. declare yourself addicted and seek "treatment".. at least you will get pain management

[bonsharley]

steve, i don't understand, i don't take methadone. if i went to a clinic or detox place, would they admit me. i don't have any oxy's or anything else in my system. sorry, head injury, i just don't understand. can you explain again. thanks Bonnie

[bonsharley]

yes, i tried to get my old doc to test me that day when i was informed of results. he would have none of it. this place was a clinic, where i swear i was the only one in the waiting room that had showered that morning. i sometimes waited 3 or 4 hrs to be seen, and i had an appt. i just need to get my foot in the door. somewhere thanks bonnie

[krashleen]

What pharmacist steve is telling/advising you to do is go to the local methadone clinic, see if they can treat you with methadone.

Methadone is used a lot in pain management in smaller doses, even if you are NOT an addict.

Lots of Pain Management folks are on methadone to treat their pain, and have great results with it. Doesn't mean you are an addict, just means that they are being treated for their pain. It is difficult as per my understanding. You have to show each morning for your dose. I think its liquid form.

Someone correct me if I am wrong here.
I hope you can find pain relief. No one should suffer.

What pharmacist steve recommends is an excellent idea, and given the circumstances, about your only choice at this point for pain control. Look in the yellow pages for "addiction recovery" and look for methadone treatment. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AN ADDICT.

I hate to see anyone in pain.

[Pharmacist.steve]

steve, i don't understand, i don't take methadone. if i went to a clinic or detox place, would they admit me. i don't have any oxy's or anything else in my system. sorry, head injury, i just don't understand. can you explain again. thanks Bonnie

You have been "labeled" as a drug seeker or illegal drug user.. most likely no doc is going to write for your pain meds because of that one bad test. Methadone will help manage chronic pain.. a methadone clinic may be your only option to get any pain management.. They may or may not take your word that you are addicted.. but may be in a no-man's land ... labeled as a "drug seeker" by the medical community and can't prove you are an addict to get treatment from that venue.

You might be able to "talk your way out of" the labeling... tell a new doc about the tooth problem and say that a friend had some home-made concoction that they offered to put topically on your tooth that they claimed would help the pain.. didn't ask what it contained but it worked.. If they have a copy of previous medical records.. claim it was some sort of communication with the doc and that the only possibility for the trace of cocaine in the test was a false positive or your friend's concoction may have had some cocaine in it - that you didn't know about. Since it was a trace.. just about anything is possible... They claim that the vast majority of paper money <$20 bills circulating in the US has traces of cocaine on them.

[Mark N]

Bonnie, Dr Steve has given you the best advice I can think of for both getting pain management now and to explain how to clear up your record. Go to the clinic and get the methadone to treat your pain or take your chances that you can clear your record and get back on pain medication.

Sorry you are in this situation but you have to make the best of it now.

[Scar Tissue]

Hi. I hope you're feeling better today. I think beginning 1/07 new laws were enacted concerning controlled substance distribution. Being as you tested positive for Cocaine, they may not be allowed to take you as a patient. I know my PM Dr. did mass drug testing early Jan. and I don't see quite a few of the patients I used to see before. I think what Steve has told you is good solid and sound advice. Just my opinion, but if I were in your shoes, I would listen to Steve!;)

[BrokenBladder]

I would follow Steve's advice. There's no need for you to be in pain and this should be a way out for you. Give it a try and see what happens. Good Luck!!

[lobelsteve]

You would be tossed out of my clinic in a heartbeat. You would be referred to an addictionologist (Psychiatrist with specialty training in addiciton medicine).

Just given your brief story- I would not see you to just Rx meds ever again. I could continue to treat but you would not get any narcotics.

You blew it big time. Having friends with cocaine and then having them giving you some shows the reckless disregard and irresponsibility for you to manage narcotics being prescribed by me. You would jeopardize my license and DEA registration.

Frankly, a pain doctor should not be seeing you period. Admitting you used the cocaine was a nice first step to recovery, and if you truly only rubbed it into your gums and do not have a substance abuse problem- getting treated will be a breeze. Getting further narcotics from anyone other than an addicitonologist who also treats pain will be tough.

Finding an addictionologist who also treats pain is very difficult. I know of a group in Jacksonville, FL but none in my area.

Sorry this comes off as harsh- but I deal with this more than once a week. Why didn't you call your doc up before doing something this stupid and ask what they could do to help? It's a shame, and it is 100% your fault.