Horrified of Going To JAIL

my story is long and never would be enough room to type it all up. Will try to summarize. Ive been a long term chornic pain sufferer for bad discs in my back, DDD, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Been sent to different doctors for these things. Regular doctor tried giving me all different things to see what works best. Finally kept me on MS Contin 15 mg and Vicodin 5/500 for breakthrough. Was still seeing pain clinic and getting darvocet from them. Not under a contract with them though. (alot of patients are forced to sign a contract that they will get no other pain meds from any other doctor, but since I was only put on darvocet by them, they did not have me do a contract, its only for people on higher grade narcotics).  ANyhow depending what was hurting me worse each day Id take the appropriate medicine (darvo for the fibro & Arthritis), the heavy duty drugs for my back) . So fast forward to friday when I went to my regular doctor:

As soon as the doctor walked in the room i could tell something was wrong by his demeanor. He pulled out  some papers that were sent to him that essentially say I am a doctor shopper, a drug addict, and a liar. I believe it was sent from Express Scripts but I am not sure, i think it had to do with the DEA as well if not entirely. He said red flags went up all over because in the last 4 months, there were 4 different doctors listed as giving me narcotics and 3 different pharmacies.   Well on the surface this is all true.  HOWEVER the first doctor was HIM so we can cross him off the list. THe other three are doctors that are all in the SAME PRACTICE at the pain clinic! Whenever I went there, i would usually only see a nurse practioner , never a doctor. ANd whatever doctor happened to be working there that day, would sign the script. I never even saw a doctor any of those days. They just rotate different doctors there daily and whoever is there the day you have your appt, that guy signs the form while youre in another room and the nurse brings it back in to you and youre on your way.  SO all those "other doctors" were not really other offices I sought out and tried to get extra drugs from or anything like that. It was just an unfortunate string of bad luck that each month i had my appt, a different guy was working there! As for why I have used different pharmacies- i use Rite Aid for all my normal Rx's from my PCP. I used Meijers whenever i went to the pain clinic because it is a huge grocery store chain and they are directly across the street from the clinic so I do my grocery shopping there and get the RX filled while doing so .   As for the third pharmacy, it was on the date I had my Spinal Epidural Steroid INjection. I was in terrible pain after the procedure, and I called them the same afternoon and told them how much pain i was in , but the dr. who had done the procedure was already gone for the day.  So yet again, a different doctor who was working there later that afternoon, called in 10 Tyelenol 3'd for me.  Well i was already home for hours at this point, so I asked them to call into a pharmacy that was right close to my home so I could get it easy and quickly because I was in such pain I could barely walk!  That is why there are so many thigns against me. I wasnt trying to trick anyone!!   I tried explaining this all to my doctor but he was so worked up, worrying but his own self (he says he's afraid HE could go to jail too now because of this) that he wasnt really listening to me I dont think. I tried to tell him that all 3 of those doctors are in the same practice. I dont think he heard me enough or cared to.  He did say that he and those doctors will have to talk, to try and straighten it out, but he said Im going to be investigated whatever that means and that I could be in a lot of trouble.  I am horrified. What does this mean for me? Are the cops going to come here with search warrants? Haul me away in cuffs? take me from my children? My heart is breaking at just the thought of this and ive been shaking, trembling, crying and so supset since this all happened. My heart has been racing and feel dizzy from all this stress, wondering if at any moment cops are gonna pull in the driveway!

what do i need to do? Do i need to call a lawyer? I cant afford one!!! I know one thing I am going to do monday morning is go back to the Dr. Office and get a copy of that letter he has so I know exactly who it came from and maybe I can call them and talk to them too.   Im just so scared i can barely think straight.  What should I Do? Im horrified of going to jail. I have two young children here! I hope someone can advise me here.

[pheggie101]

calm down ok. my ex went thru the whole thing also,still does. has a buch of diff docs.went to rehab last time and they erased it all,now she is back at it again. your story will hold water, dont call anyone,dont get the letter,dont draw any more attention to yourself. write down everything, the days it happened, the times, the reasons,just like you posted. if the gestapo or the dea nazi's show give it to them. after all you have legal scripts,nothing against the law to fill them wherever you like. true doctor shopping is getting the same script from multiple doctors,filling them at multiple pharmacies,multiple times in multiple months,AND not informing them,thats the biggie NOT infroming the doctors when they as if your on any meds, you did not do that right?...you will be ok,is the doctor and not you..............calm down ,Jim

[Hank63]

First be proactive! go to the clinic and explain what happened because it seem's that there is the main problem! I have Kaiser and had 3 or more doctors give me 1 of several prescriptions. The only difference I had them all filled by Kaiser. But with each doctor I explained that I had a reason for seeing them instead of my primary. That was I could never get into see him and work at the same time. I worked 70 miles away and he was in a city that has bad traffic all of the time! I never asked for anything except what I was already given. They determined the amount! Don't sit and wait. I don't think you have a problem with the police everything you did was pretty much legal I would think. Darvocet when I took it years ago was like taking candy no help at all.
Hank63

[Hank63]

The problem with the first poster is if all of the doctor's are talked to individually they may say they didn't know what you were doing. So if you talk to one and have the names of the others they can look up what was actually happening then it is not a surprise to them if talked to by anyone else. Also if you  haven't already ran out you need what they were giving you for you problems which will now be pretty much impossible to get anywhere else and you don't now want to do something illegal.  You were going to one Doctor and one pain clinic not out of reason. Being informed they can end any problem and you will get what you need! Although you didn't mention how many of each you were taking?
Hank63

[fishmeal]

That was it!  That's all that's going to happen.  They don't have the resourses to put little you in jail!  That was just a wake-up call for you!  

Just make sure that you don't worry about it.

Best not to talk with people about it either.

[peekawho]

You did nothing illegal, like writing or calling in your own scripts, or altering them.

Your insurance company flagged you b/c of the excessive # of doctors writing multiple narc scripts.  They then notify your primary doc so he can be aware.  He's frightened for his own license--doctors have been censured by their own Medical Boards for these things.  

You will have trouble getting drugs now b/c you've been labeled a doctor shopper and a narcotics seeker.  True or not, you now have that label.  

As hank said, be proactive, go to the clinic and explain.  Write a letter to the insurance co explaining why and how this came about.  Good luck!  

[beachtowel]

No you won't go to jail nor will there be any criminal charges made against you currently in Ohio it is not against the law to drug seek nor how many perscriptions you can fill.....
The DEA is clamping down hard to make it more difficult to do and there also holding doctors accountable by suspending writing perscription privlidges against them........

I too have very simular back problems like you and constant narcotic pain pills is the wrong treatment and your addiction will try to legitimize your use......

You need to get off the narcotic pain meds and treat your back, use NSAIDS for the pain.........

You sound like an addict and probably are leaving a big piece out of your post,,,why would you be arrested for having legitimate perscriptions......

[lurker]

I work for an insurance company and can tell you that's where your trouble started.  We look for multiple narcotic prescriptions from multiple MD's or multiple pharmacies.  Generally, more than three different MD's will put the red flag up.  I'm obviously an addict or wouldn't be on this site.  I only use one pharmacy and one doctor, with  my insurance.  I pay cash for the other two MD's I go to and use different pharmacies so that I don't get caught.  I just got one rx for Xanax so that when I run out of the 90 Norco I got yesterday I can use the Thomas recipe to stop this madness.  My advice to you is to come clean with the docs, and try to taper or get some Suboxone or other meds to help.  Know that some insurance companies watch Sub users and will notify your doctors if you get other narcotics prescriptions filled while on it.  Washington state has a new law for Medicaid patients where if they get meds from more than two docs or got to the ER more than 3 times in a month they are put on lock down - their insurance will only work for one MD, one ER and one pharmacy.  Good luck to you.

[addict13]

It sounds to me like that doctor of yours is trying to cover HIS ass...and you are caught in the middle of it.

[GA Guy]

I agree with everyone else, why worry when you've done nothing illegal? I'd be more worried that you'll be shut down from your meds. Some doctors have no empathy when it comes to that. I honestly think that there should be a law that any doc who prescribes opiates has a moral and legal obligation to help someone get off them. In the end, some docs are just scared for their own licenses.

[lady_m]

I had a doctor do something similar last year.  She came into the room with a sheet of paper telling me I had been seeing several doctors to get narcotics.  That time I talked my way out of it by saying it was because we moved, my husband had just gotten out of the Air Force, etc.  She said she would continue to treat me and prescribe my meds, but that I was to only go to her from then on.

Of course I still continued my ER/Urgent Care trips, etc.  I don't know if I didn't care or if I didn't think she would find out or what.

So fast forward a few appointments.  She comes in with more papers.  I knew what she was going to say.  She got another letter.  She said that insurance companies send out letters when they see patterns like this (like someone above said, a certain amount of doctors and/or pharmacies for narcotics).  She said she would treat me ONLY for emergency care for 30 days but besides that she would not treat me.

So I said fine.  I thought that was it.  Get this, A few weeks later I get a call from CPS (Childrens Protection Services)!!  They want to talk to me.  I was terrified.  I have always heard stories about CPS but never in a million years thought they would be investigating ME!

So I met with them and told them that I had been seeing a doctor in another city for a long time but we moved since hubby got out of the service, etc.  Luckily the two women were SO nice.  They asked what medications I was on, etc.  They even asked for the doctor's info that had been prescribing my narcotics, depression meds, etc.  Luckily I had been going to my doctor for years so I know if they called him he would back everything up.  I don't think they had the list of all the different doctors, etc I had been seeing because they didn't have his info or anything.  I think the doctor that reported me just made a complaint and they had to follow up.  But the thing that really pissed me off was the fact that she completely lied on the complaint.  The doctor who reported me knew I was an alcoholic (only because I TOLD her) and she would always ask on my visits how I was doing.  I would always tell her I was in therapy and that I hadn't touched a drink since the day I quit.  I would give her constant updates on how long I had been sober (all of this was the truth).  I don't know if she did this to make her complaint seem "better" or what but she put on the report that I was an alcoholic who was drinking and taking pain pills all day while I was home with my children!!!!! Ok, even though I was upset I admit she had the right and the obligation to make a report about the narcotics. The truth was that I had been abusing them.  BUT not only did she throw me into the fire, she completely LIED!!!  I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol in months when she did this!!!  I was so mad when the CPS workers told me this.  I told them they could send me anywhere at that moment and test me for alcohol.  They were very understanding and said they didn't need to do that, and not to worry.  When I expressed my frustration and anger that the doctor could just say what she wanted with no proof (what proof could she have when it wasn't true?!) they even seemed kind of pissed with the doctor, too.  They looked around at my house and talked to the children.  They were very young at the time (they are only 2 and 3 1/2 now) so they didn't ask anything tough, just kind of talked/played with them.  My daughter was her usual shy self but luckily my son was his usual ham self, playing ball with them and even sitting on their laps giving them hugs,  They said they could see that the kids were happy and healthy and well taken care of so they were closing the case.

It was scary but I think that what it is meant to be.  I still can't believe it happened.

[troubleinohio]

THank you all so much for your input. I am much calmer now but still nervous of course. To answer a few questions: Yes my insurance did pay for all these scripts, thats why I didnt understand how I could be considered to have done anything wrong. If there is a problem with the # of scripts/doctors/pharmacies, why did my insurance company approve it and fill them? Ive had times in the past where they denied a refill because a few more days needed to pass first before it was "Ok".   So, I dont see how this situation has come about in their eyes.  Anyways, Im still very nervous about things and also very concerned that I may no longer be able to get my meds. Someone suggested I just use NSAIDS for my back. I wish those would work. When I have my super bad crippling attacks, I have to eat narcotics around the clock AND take STEROIDS (prednisone at high doses) to get my back under some control again just so that I am able to move around enough to take care of my kids! Its very difficult physically and emotionally for me to have such severe pain and try and get everything done around here that has to be done. My family still has to have 3 healthy meals a day regardless of how bad I hurt. I HAVE to feed them, I have to be able to move.  Unfortunately my back isnt "bad enough yet" to warrant surgery to correct it so i have to plug along on pills.     Am I dependant on these drugs? Yes I sure am. No question about it. Do they get me high? No. They used to when i first was using them a bout 2 years ago but they dont effect me that way anymore.  

I have another question? I am thinking i should call them today  and volunteer myself for a blood drug test so that I can prove I am not using any other drugs illegal or otherwise. Nothing but what has been prescribed for me. Do you think this is a good idea?

Will write more later, my oldest son just got up and have to make him breakfast now.
thanks again to everyone for your input and help so far.

[peekawho]

Clearly, if you are on mega doses of narcotics and high dose prednisone, something is not quite right here.
If your doctor is telling you that you don't need surgery, either structurally, nothing can be done and you are quite habituated to high dose narcotics which no longer control your pain, or it IS bad enough and for some reason you are not being offered surgical intervention.  You have been on pain pills for years now, by your own acct.  There is not a doctor in the world who wouldn't try to solve this if it were possible.  Are you seeing a neurosurgeon, or an orthopedic surgeon?  How many opinions have you had on your back, and from which types of surgeons?  

Anyone on high dose steroids can't be on them for long, or very, very bad things will happen to the rest of your body.  You certainly can't take them forever.

Your insurance co. payed b/c the rx's were all legit.  You were flagged and reported b/c of the frequency, the different pharmacies, and the different doctors.  If you try to refill before the time limit, they won't pay b/c you can only get a certain # of doses in the time period prescribed.  

The more narcotics you take, the worse your rebound pain will be.  Eventually, it all comes crashing down.  Take as little as humanly possible.