kidney stones and drug test

[kidneyff22]

I am a 24 yr old who has suffered from kidney problems for almost 5 years, 2 surgerys a UPJ obstruction multiple stents. Stones I now have high blood pressure and multiple stones. because of the back pain from hydronephrosis i have been prescribed norco 10 325 on and off for about a year. i am about to start a new job at a hospital, i do not want them to know that i have these kidney problems because i feel it could hurt my chances at the job. I am going to take a urine screen, if i do not show them my prescription will they see pain meds in my urine screen?
and also any advice for getting rid of the stones?

[sandee1818]

I also wanted to mention that you may be able to have the stones eradicated by laser sugery. It has been a long while since I had them but back then they were just coming out with using laser to remove stones. they will break up the large ones small enough for you to pass. I am sure you know this already being a nurse. My mom in law has an old remedy to rid you of them but I have forgotton what it was:0

[sandee1818]

nurseaudrea,
     I would have contacted an attorney because as you know taking your job because of your presciption use is discrimination of the worst kind.
It really makes me angry to hear things like this still happen today. Also I believe that a nurse that deals with pain day in day out has a better understanding of pain and how it affects a person. When one is in the hospitial they are so very vunerble and just having a caring nurse that knows how it feels to be in pain makes a world of difference!
I applaud the nurses that go out of their way to make a pt feel comfortable and see they are not in pain and frankly there is a real shortage of them and by denying you your job they just shorted us one more. Caring nurses are too few these days in my opinion and denying jobs to
the ones who do truley care for pt's is a real injustice.

Tuckamore has brought up some good points about drug use in the work force. as an employer you have to feel comfrtable with having someone on your payroll that does use narcotics for pain control. having a boss that does understand pain management is very nice as they know what it is like and realize we are not just drug abusers but people who suffer pain and need medications. A employer that does not deal with pain management or understand it may see a pain management pt as a risk to their company and to themselves on the job. This is why I always say it is sooo important that pain management is understood in society becuase the person who does read about it and begins to understand were not just drug abusers very well may be your next employer.

I hope you do find the job you want but don't be afraid to tell the truth after all there are laws to protect you.
Good luck, let us know how things go:)
  

[Tuckamore]

Hello Kidneyff,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum of MedHelp. I am glad you found us but sorry to hear about your kidney issues.

It wounds like you are most likely being followed closely by a good neurologist as you seemed informed about your condition. It is true that they can analysis kidney stones. A small number of stones can be due in part to your intake. Hypertension (high blood pressure) alone makes you twice as likely to develop stones, your age and sex also play a factor. Men between the ages of 20 and 70 have a higher incident of stones. I'm sure you know all this and more. And that is not your question.

HIPPA and employment laws restrict an employer from question your medical history. For example an employer cannot ask you why you take opiates or why you cannot lift 100 lbs. What they can ask is if you are able to perform all the duties of the position. You are under no obligation to reveal any medical condition. However an employer does have the right to preform a drug test and opiates will show up in your drug screen. I was probably too honest during my last interview for a medical facility in 2007. I told them that I took pain medication that would show in my drug screen and I have a physician's note with me attesting to that fact. I added that in no way did the reason I took pain medications interfere with my ability to perform the job nor would it reflect on my attendance. I got the job.

I was not required to inform the interviewer of my perscription narcotic requirement however I felt comfortable enough doing so. I could have waited until I had the drug test and informed them, I did that also. However the lab personal told me they did not want to know that information and they would not record it. I said, you will when I fail. So I found that truthfulness was the best route in my situation. And I think that those in the medical field are usually the most understanding and forgiving. You have to decide what is best for you.

As a former HR Director when a drug screen was positive I was most concerned about illegal drug use. My second concern was how much, if any danger (legal ramifications) could the company face by employing someone that required legally prescribed narcotics. Certainly I could not fill a position that would require operation of a vehicle or machinery by someone that had to take narcotics. But it was not so pertinent in a customer serve position.  

Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. Our members are very supportive and informational. I hope you will become an active memeber of our community. Take Care, Tuck

[nurseaudrea]

oh, also to tell you about the stones. Did you ever catch one in a screen and give it to your doctor to analyze? They can tell what it is made of and sometimes you can change your diet depending on what it is to try to keep them from forming.

[nurseaudrea]

I have been on pain meds for 10 years and have worked for 4 hospitals in those years each time requiring a drug screen. Yes, it does show up but if you have a prescription it is okay. If I remember right I was called and asked about the prescription and had to tell the person who was checking the drug screen about my prescription and gave them the pharmacy information and they just double checked either with the pharmacy that it was mine or they called the doctor to make sure it was prescribed to me. I never had to explain to my place of employment why I was taking it. It is none of their business, it is your private health information. I do remember one time telling the nurse who asked me questions once in a pre-employment health screen about my meds and they took my job away after I had already accepted and done all the paperwork. I felt like it was not right because if you can do your job properly and still function they should not criticize. Unfortunately there are still people out there that do not understand that you can function and lead a somewhat normal life and still take these meds. Hope that helps you.l