Doc shopping-please help

[vkjames]

Hi, I'm new here.  I recently learned by accident that I've inadvertently done what's considered doctor shopping.  I'd like to share my story without judgment please.  In April 2013 I had a hysterectomy at 38 years old and was given a prescription for 30 Lortab.  I took them for the pain and then would occasionally take them for pain related to varicose veins in my left leg.  Those 30 pills lasted me through July.  I finally went to a vein doctor and was scheduled for a future procedure on my left leg.  That doctor gave me a prescription for 15 Lortab.  In September I had surgery with my ENT doctor to remove a benign small growth in my mouth.  My ENT gave me a prescription for 30 Lortab for after surgery pain. Then a month later I injured myself and went to one of those immediate med type places and was given a 20 pill prescription for Lortab with one 20 pill refill.  Fast forward to December 8. Although I typically  took 1 Lortab per day, I wont lie and say I didn't like the accompanying feeling they gave me.  I was going to be out of Lortab in a few days and was still recovering from the injury so i went to another walk in type medical facility and was able to get a prescription for 30 Lortab. I know this was a very stupid idea and I regret doing that very much.  I should have gone back to the same facility where they'd given the last prescription.

Up until 12/8, I'd always filled at the same chain grocery store pharmacy.  On 12/8 I filled the prescription at a different pharmacy closer to my house.  I've since found out what doctor shopping is and I live in a state that has a drug monitoring program. I also never got multiple prescriptions at the same time from different doctors, don't know if that matters at all.  I am terrified any day now the police will come knocking on my door to haul me off to jail.  I've never been in trouble with the law for anything and I don't have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.  

Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[ricart70]

I have to agree with the aboves.  I really think that the police are not going to be knocking on your door over what you have done but IF.... (and there are so many who have come on here like you and did not heed the warning)  if you keep doing what you are doing then you can bet they will be knocking and when they do they will have plenty of evidence that they have let build up. They like to give you enough rope to hang yourself with .Don't hang yourself my dear friend.    Like I was saying,there have been many come on here who have done a little bit of doctor shopping and were scared and as the days went by they got brave and continued shopping and then got busted.  just nip it in the bud friend

[3Xs_U_R_Out]

Yeah definitely no judgement. I can say I've done worse for sure. So seriously no judgement at all.

[kyle505]

I have to echo what 3Xs and IB have said...You are probably fooling yourself. You've rationalized taking the meds for legit reasons; and you've been honest about enjoying the feeling they bring.
But your quest has gone on way too long; a normal person would not have done some of the things that you write about. You have become an abuser, and are on the edge of addiction.
It is interesting that when someone comes on here, knowing in the back of their mind that they've probably stepped over the line, they always want to "share without judgment". When I see those words I also see red flags.
We are not judging you, just trying to get you to be honest with yourself. That is the first step.
K

[IBKleen]

There is not much more I can add here except to say it is a good time to get honest with yourself. If you inadvertently secured the last prescription then you would not have gone to a different clinic and a different pharmacy. Right? Your behavior speaks volumes of what could have been and what is to come if you continue on this path.  Please stop what you are doing before you end up doctor shopping for real. It's a hard road to go down and never ends well. You have the opportunity to stop it now. I wish you all the best.

[3Xs_U_R_Out]

You have not done anything legally all that wrong. Doctor shopping is when you go to more than one doctor and or pharmacy at the same time for narcotic meds. And the dictors not knowing of each others prescribing. You don't seem to have had multiple scripts going at the same time.
However, I caution this with saying that it seems you're starting something here. You should most likely just stop the narcotics all together. Things only get worse with them. And with you saying you like the feeling that's just going to lead to bad things.
Take a look at your life, yourself, your feelings and try and tackle the issues that you might be trying to hide or push down.
Opiods such as lortab are meant for short term once in a while severe pain, not continued use.
Best of luck to you my friend.
Don't worry and stress. You're fine.

[Yesidid]

Hi and welcome to the forum.  I am more of a regular reader here than a main contributor, but I did not want your post to go unanswered for too long - and it might given the late hour.. I don't think that you will find very many legal scholars here bur what you will find are a lot of people (including me) who have done Much Much Worse things to obtain A LOT larger quantities of norcotics.  It seems from what you have described that at worse you received an early refill (of sorts) from that last clinic. I doubt seriously that your state has the manpower or the interest in prosecuting some issue this small. If you happen to run into a problem, I suggest strongly that you say Nothing and get a lawyer but again, chances are Very unlikely that you will hear from the authorities on such a minor thing.  Now that said, you have been given a huge blessing and opportunity with this scare. Opiate addiction has nearly destroyed the lives of so many of us here. We've lost our families, our jobs, our homes and our freedom (sometimes multiple times) because of ou addictions. Learn from this scare of yours. It may amount to nothing but one thing I can guarantee, continuing down this path any further will lead you into more pain and fear and regret than you ever thought possible.  Good Luck and God Bless.

[Lost__and__confused]

I don't know much about where you live,but where I live in canada everything is connected on a computer. If you were in trouble the pharmacy wouldn't have filled it out. Maybe just get 1doctor and stick with them just to be safe. Sorry couldn't be more help.