Documented opiate addiction- is this true?

[nldfw]

Hey Everyone :)  
I had a question. I read on a post that if you fess up to your Doc and tell them you are hooked on pain meds, they will never prescribe them to you again as long as you live.  That being said, what if you go to another Dr., say you're in a nasty car accident or fall and break your arm, and actually DO need them- will NO Dr. give them to you?  I didn't think they would ALL know.  I'm done- for good- and will not go shopping.  I ask because I think it's a common concern that what if you do fess up to your Doc, but then have a serious situation come up, and somehow the word gets out and your flagged in some Dr.'s system somehwere showing not to give pain meds.  I'm just not sure that's possible.  My mom was hooked on them after she hurt her back, but then had an accident w/ a weed eater and cut off her toe, she ended up having to take the meds- no other choice.  She got off of them, but she had to take them as long as they were needed.  Just a concern- might be a pretty big one on this board.  I have already decided to ask for high levels of motrin or something non-narcotic becuase I REFUSE to willingly let myself go through this hell again- but there's always that "what if?"- what if some day I have a serious issue that requires them.

[worried878]

I agree upon knowing your doc...My pain mgt doc has rarely given me narcotics...he has seen too much addiction and lectures on it as well...I would never tell him as it would not be a good idea...very opinionated guy but we are close...he is the type to pull up your pharmacy record to check if he was suspicious..I never asked him for any extra.......My ortho on the other hand is very old and am sure is soon to retire..he is the one that gave them to me....nice great guy but I do not see him ever taking the time to check my drug intake anywhere.....And big surprise...my sinus surgery doc who is now into plastics and did my lipo in july was at NA the other day...freaked me out....He has never overprescribed narcs to me but again we are very close..when I had my lipo in july, he asked me if I had aproblem as it took tons to knock me out for the procedure...I said no of course....but he knows now!  He spotted the problem right away as he was addicted at one time!...As far as not getting pain meds for an accident...from experience even if you quit, your tolerence really does not go down much ...I had been quit for 2 months (well not  totally but only like 10 mg a day) as I knew I was gonna have that procedure....He gave me a scrip for lortabs...30 of them and did not make a dent in the pain and I was out in like 4 days....He felt sorry for me at the weekly follow up as I also had a complication and gave me a scrip for 30 more 5 mg (Candy for me)  I suffered as I could not get pain relief and continued to use heavily once again after this...I hate it that I have done this to myself but now they want my to have a hysterectomy...I am not!  It is not emergent...what am i supposed to do take 100 pills a week to fight pain!   I have screwed myself and perhaps one day my tolenece will come down some...but I will defintiely not get my DOC and will get someone to give them to me on the prescribed basis if I ever have to.....boy...that was a long post but really is something that I dealth with this summer and was scary to not be able to get out of pain!  and all docs are different...but they can check your pharmacy record whenever they want to

[Wex173]

I can put my two cents into this as well.  My doctor had me on pain medication after two back surgeries.  He told me the surgery accomplished as much as possible, and therefore the pain medication would be necessary to maintain some sort of normal lifestyle.

I guess my "mistake" was voicing my concern to him over the increasing amount I was taking, with less relief of the pain.  He never addressed my concerns, and that was the end of it for the time being.  However, next thing I know he is calling my ob gyn and general practitioner, without asking me and behind my back, and found out I was given THREE Darvocet (spelling?) after female surgery.  It was given to me in the hospital while I stayed there, a year and a half before I voiced my concern to him.  I found this out when I got a letter from him that he will help me find a new doctor within 30 days, since he won't work with someone getting medication from another provider.  If it weren't so pathetic it would be funny.  He kept me on medication I was concerned about, and when I voiced that concern, he found a way to dump me as a patient by blaming it three pills from a 1 1/2 ago.  And he knew I had that surgery - what did he think they were going to do while I was in hospital for several days?  Personally, I think he was afraid I was going to file some sort of complaint or something when I voiced my concern about the level he had me at (which I did not intend to do any such thing, I just asked a question), and looked for a way to get rid of the problem.  After a tough withdrawal that took every ounce of will power I had, I am now off that medication, and feel so much better.  I will say, however, I will never trust a doctor again.  I was surprised my other two doctors would even go into such conversations without my signed consent.  Or does HIPAA allow those chats?

[toxictome]

They have that in MICH too...i don't know if it's called kaiser, but i know a doc can go online and check out every Rx you pick up at every drug store or where ever you get them... I guess that was the one good thing, i bought mine from the drug my friend.  LOL...at least i did one thing right!!

[Flutterby111]

WEll my addiction caused me to be physically dependent, so there.  ;)  But I"m really freaked about the forever thing!!!  I can't handle forever!  I can't handle thinking I can never take it again.  I can handle that I'm scared to take them now and I know I can't take them anytime soon, and I know I can't take them like I did before, but I also know I suffer alot of pain that may or may not at some point need relief.  I am looking for alternative methods of relief and resolution....but I'm scared!!!  Sick, really.  Blayuck!  That's what I feel like just discussing this right now...

[shelly405]

Would addiction being BEHAVIOR of taking drugs to get high and "What we mean when we say "addicted" is abusing them, taking them to get high" Be the same thing?
If you agree, thank you. That is what I said. Sorry I didn't have the lingo Just So.
Shelly

[watermom]

Well, I have Kaiser and some of you may not know what kaiser is unless you live on the west coast but EVERYTHING is in the computer system.  If I go to a kaiser 100 miles away they have every prescription ever prescribed to me.......they flag you electronically if you have been to mental health for depression.....( I did because I thought I had post partum). If I had told my doctor about this I would have a nice big flag on my record.  

  If I were to go to emergency ....they put in my kaiser number and whammo.....oh I see you have had been prescribed Vicodin for the last 6 months.....(not anymore though) :)

It is a good thing actually.....but it also made me NOT tell my doctor.  Although I did email for a liver test...that may tip him off.....but I am also not asking for anymore refills.

I also didn't tell for other reasons....(not bad reasons just thinking in the future...other insurance etc)

Now having said this...I totally agree with the poster who said "Only you know your doctor".....I think some people really should tell their doctor.  I even suggested to a lady last night that she should.....

Some doctors get all freaky (and you know if you have on of these) and some will not. I actually don't think mine is a freaky one....but again he would have to put it in my ELECTRONIC chart......most places do not have this.

[confused456]

I was reading this and I never took my meds. more than prescribed, but I did take them for 7 years. I was on 6 Lortab 10/500 per day, and I came to the conclusion that I was an addict. Like I said I never "abused" them and of course after a while, it was not for the euphoria feeling because I didn't get that after so long of being on them. I believe that I am addicted to them though, and I did tell my Dr. just Friday. He didn't scold me or treat me any different, he said he was proud of me for doing this on my own. I know Docs are all different though. I have heard good and bad things about telling your Doctor.

[localcelebrity]

I went through the same dilema, should I talk to my dr. or shouldn't I.  I decided to be upfront with him.  That was a mistake!  He pretty much told me that there was NO WAY that I could be physically dependant due to the amount of time and the amount I was taking.  Pretty much saying I was the patient he knows all and I know nothing.  I even told him that I was abusing them.  He then ordered a blood test to make sure my liver was ok, which it was, but then told me that the narcotic wouldn't harm me but the acitometiphin (sp?) would.  He then offered me a narcotic with less acitometiphin.  I think every dr. is different, but it wasn't in his best interest for me to stop the meds.  It made me feel soooo small and stupid.  I'm not saying to tell him or not, but truly think this through and know, no matter what sort of "red flag" they can put on you're records, mail box, front door, or drivers license (i know a bit extreme) if you want them you'll get them.  You have to trust yourself.  The best of luck to you!LC

[Flutterby111]

I don't know why this topic is making me sweat.....should I have used a different term to my doctor than addicted?  Should I have just said I was physically dependent?  ARGH?!  I'm literally getting nauseas right now.....I shouldn't have read this one.  I worried that I'd end up putting my foot in my mouth with this whole ordeal but I was out of my mind while going through W/Ds....F***.  Now what?  I"m screwed....I don't even know why because I don't want any but I want to be the one to choose, not the Dr.  

[frootbar]

well, i told my doc that i had to take more than i thought i should be, and we have
discussed the issue of pain meds a bunch of times.
i was as honest as i could be, and my doc also told me the feelings on the topic,
and we've generally compromised.
recently i said that since i've been off them, i'm better, but if i really need any, i'll
be back, but only if it's absolutely necessary.  that was ok.
i have never used the language "addicted" or "dependency" or anything when speaking
to the doc.  i just said i think i am using more than i probably should be.  it all went
well i think.  anyway, that's just how i approached it, and there is no ban on pain meds
or anything.  i agree with alot of the previous posts, and that you have to be so proactive
these days, but even that becomes a tap dance with many of them in how you present
yourself and word things.

frootbar

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

I broke my shoulder over the summer, they treated me with anit inflamatory and muscle relaxers. I had a tordol shot at the emergency room and told them DO NOT give me any opiates I'll deal with this another way. It was painful and lortab would have been much better but I was only clean 4 months at that time and cold not risk it. There's other meds out there, It's up to you what you can handle

[Greatgreebo]

First things first, let's get the vocabulary straight so you are not gettting bad advice because someone does not have their definitions correct.
Physically dependent and addicted are two seperate things. Dependency is the actual physical changes to your body which cause withdrawal. Addiction is the BEHAVIOR of taking the drugs to get high, not as prescribed, and when not needed for clinical reasons. It is the un-manageable behaviors associated with lack of control.

For Joe Anybody, taking opiates for 7 days or longer does NOT necassarily mean you are 'addicted'. You may be physically 'dependent' at that point though.

My answer to your fear of telling your doctor about your pain med addiction is a question for you: you know your doctor better than we do. Is he the sort that will cut you off forever regardless of the situation or will he be impressed with your honesty and work with you on the issue? Only you can answer this one.
As for your concerns about other doctors being privy to your conversations with your current doctor-highly unlikely unless you are in a group health type setting-you know, one big clinic with lots of docs sharing patients and charts. If you are with a 'single' doctor it should not be a problem. You have rights to privacy. Either way, don't worry about it to much. Hopefully you won't be in a terrible accident and won't ever need pain meds again. Stay positive and hope for the best! If you do need them you know the dealie-o, you gotta be careful with them. Once an addict, always an addict. I like that you are planning on using non-narcotics should you be hurt-don't even consider opiates as an option. Cross that bridge when/if you ever get to it.

Good luck and stay strong.
Greatgreebo

[shelly405]

I think if your Dr. knows ou have been taking opiates for more than a month straight that you are physically dependent/addicted to them. It is just the nature of the drug. Taking vicodin or percs or oxy longer than 7 days or so consistently, you are addicted.

What we mean when we say "addicted" is abusing them, taking them to get high. That is what we don't want to do/become. But the withdrawal, whether it be from using them as prescribed, or using them abusively is the  same. So, a more relevant question would be do we tell the Dr. we are abusing them. They know full well if you take them daily, for pain, every day for more than 7 days that you have become physically dependant, and that equals physically addicted.

Shelly

[Jacqui805]

It's not true that docs will never prescribe you pain meds if you've had a problem with them.  They're just more conscious of it if it's not a severe need for them.  If they're the obvious choice for you, you get them period.  There are lots of meds that are effective for pain, what matters most is what kind of pain it is, that is what's causing it.  I'm not just talking about other opiates or over the counter NSAIDs either.  I think everyone worries about this issue so it's a good thing you posted this question.  There's a lot of medical literature on this subject to back me up, so if you are having a problem that's not being properly or adequately treated by a doc., seek an objective second opinion.

Jacqui

[newgirl2708]

I've thought the same thing...but I hear there are other pain meds that work they just are not opiates...are opiates the only thing that works on pain? I am so ignorant. Glad I am..in a way..

[sterling_silver]

Do the right thing and tell your doctor. He will help you. It will be in your record at his office. He has better things to do than put out an All Points Bulletin on you. What are you worried about a future accident for? If that ever did happen, you should be the one to tell them at the time. I can't take narcotics, I am a recovering addict. If your pain is so bad in this future accident, you will get the meds you need for the pain.

[Savas]

Well... your right. Unless the doctor is on some sort of hospital network that has automatic file sharing, you needn't worry. Generally they don't share info, but it does happen. People make commonly stupid mistakes like filling their prescriptions at a pharmacy/chain that has on record the other prescription, and they then notify the doctor. This is the most common of ways patients get caught.

Unfortunately, in today's climate, you have to be more proactive in your own health care, and that also means being more careful. Doctors are generally not there for you anymore. You have to be sure that you're getting the right medications for the right problems. Telling a doctor, in my opinion, you're an ex-addict is a bad idea. Not just because of pain prescriptions, but because most doctors will pigeon hole you as an irresponsible person who can't be trusted with anything.