I join the ranks of the embarassed!

That's right! I headed for Billings today for my follow up appointment, the last appointment that I would be having with this PM doc ever not thinking that it would be the most embarrassing ever! Anyway checked in found out they sent my records to my home address and thought everything was going fantastic. Got in early and weighed in at 127 which made me very happy since I have now tapered off on the weight loss and am maintaining now. Nurse took my vitals they were good and I waited for Kelly doctor Schabacker's PA. Ten minutes into the wait there was a knock at the door and the nurse opened the door and peeked her head in and informed me that I was selected to do a random UA (Ohhhh goodie!). Head back with the nurse wash my hands she puts a little blue pill in the toilet hands me a cup and turns off the water (what the heck???). I do my thing hand her the cup she turns the water back on so that I can flush and wash my hands (now I feel like a criminal here) and off I head back to my little room to wait for the doc.

Hubby and I are now deep into a conversation at how stupid UA's are to have to do since first off they know that I am leaving their service and two I have not ran early out of my meds ever in the whole 4 years that I have been with their service giving them any excuse to suspect me of any abuse of my medications. I asked for an early refill last month because we thought we had the house sold last month and thought we were moving then but since the guy backed out we didn't go.

Anyway, everything worked out fine my UA came out fine and I got all my scripts refilled for another 28 days until I find another doctor. Chart is going to be hand delivered by me to my new doctor and I will send for my recent Milo so that they can determine what to do next. Just wanted you all to know that I know how each of you feel with having to do a random UA and that I now join the ranks of the guilty until proven innocent LOL.

Scarred

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HEALTH ISSUES: Herniated discs at S-1-L5, L5-L4, L4-L3. Two level fusion (2000); one level fusion (2002); Revision at L4-L3 (2003). Diagnosed with Failed Back Syndrome, Permanent Nerve damage and Chronic Pain

Medications:

Kadian, Lexipro, Percocet, Temazapim, Lunista, and Robaxin.

Wow, is that what most of you have to go thru just to get your pain meds???? If so, that is just crazy not to mention degrading! Btw, what is the blue pill in the toilet for?

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The blue pill in the toilet is so you can't dip the cup into the toilet water to "water down" your urine so it will come out clean....thus, they would know since whatever is in the cup would turn greenish (yellow urine + blue water).

And, yes, that is what most of us have to go through to get our medications.

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Mochiah/a.k.a. Sue

Yep to make sure you don't dip your cup into the toilet to water down your urine so you will pass your test. The UA is quite degrading since your mind has a tendency to play tricks on you and you begin to think about the meds you took that morning. Did I take enough? Did I take to many? Or I might have taken a cold pill and will that show up? Those questions start making your brain go wild with thoughts of will I pass the test? ideas in your head and will give you one hell of a headache if you let it. Of course I sat there and remembered what I took and then relaxed when I remembered that I took exactly what I normally do and then realized that I had nothing to worry about.

UA's are a part of getting your pain medications. When you sign a pain contract you agree to allow them to do random UA's whenever they wish and that is just part of the game that each of us play when we are part of the big CP picture.

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HEALTH ISSUES: Herniated discs at S-1-L5, L5-L4, L4-L3. Two level fusion (2000); one level fusion (2002); Revision at L4-L3 (2003). Diagnosed with Failed Back Syndrome, Permanent Nerve damage and Chronic Pain

Medications:

Kadian, Lexipro, Percocet, Temazapim, Lunista, and Robaxin.

Doesn't seem fair to the ones that really need the meds to function because of the abusers have spoiled it ya know? But I understand the docs reasoning behind these random urine tests.

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Hi, Scarred,
Yep, Red, everyone's right. That's standard operating procedure for many of us. Scarred, I suspect maybe your test wasn't so "random" in that you were picked on your last visit??? Nah. I think the doc just wanted to make sure he was in the clear both medically and legally so that if anything happened down the line, he could cover himself easily by saying you were "clean" when you were seeing him.

PaLady

Hi Scarred, I had to go through a U/A a few times at my old pm. But never had the blue tablet in the toilet water. Same thoughts went through my head at the first of my urine test. I hope you have a low pain day.

Scarred - I don't have those thoughts running through my head while doing the urine test.....mine are more like "oh geez, I shouldn't have gone potty before I left the house.....what if I don't produce enough urine.....what if I miss and don't catch all that I possibly can......then darn it, I can't go!!! Deep breaths, 1, 2, 3, twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder.....ahhhh, there we go." It's pathetic, any other time I can go potty no problem just with thinking I'd better go before driving home....as soon as they tell me I HAVE to pottyin the cup, then I can't.!

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Mochiah/a.k.a. Sue

People who take medications illegally are to blame for this Paranoia from our doctors.
I haven't come across an embarassment such as you describe, BionicWoman and all.
I wonder if I could even keep an even temperment after such an assault.
So ... Every time we have an increase in pain before we even think of taking that
extra pill, call the doctor and ask ... Actually, you will have to go in to his office.
Illegal drug takers have no sympathy from me!!
Pamela Neckpain

Uh, what are they looking for with the blue pill. I couldn't read the entire thread. I
assume from what you describe that you do have a prescription for Opiods.

The pill turns the toilet water blue, so you can't use the toilet water to dilute your urine sample.

Lately, I've found myself increasingly frustrated when I see people posting about inappropriate behaviors with their medications. I read a post earlier today (on another board) from someone that "doubled up" their Vicodin, then when they ran out of medication early, they "borrowed" some Dilaudid to get through. Their post was asking if those two drugs showed up differently in the U/A because they knew they were going to be tested, and didn't want their physician to think they weren't taking their meds as prescribed. Uh... which part of that do they not recognize as inappropriate use of medications?!

I just want to throttle those people because they don't recognize the effect their behavior has across the board, and they don't take responsibility for their actions. If they're not taking the medication as prescribed, then they're just as harmful as the illegal user that buys them off the street. In fact, I think they're more harmful, because they've violated the trust of the physician that prescribed the medication to begin with, which leaves the next patient (who may be any one of US) having to work twice as hard to prove we're trustworthy.

But I digress.

Hello Scarred......My guess is that your recent good u/a along with four years of honoring your pain agreement should speak well of your honorable character to the new Dr. that you find at your new residence.It's something that I would want to have if I was moving to a new place and had to find a new Dr.Best of luck on your move.Take care...........Rod

Bionic - I'm with you. Not a digression at all, IMHO. Yes, most of us have rarely taken a pill a half hour early, or an extra one, but for me that is maybe once every few months. I can count on one hand the number of times over the past year. And most all my meds are scripted on a "prn" basis, with a maximum per day allottment, which is fine. But people who treat their doctor's instructions casually do violate the doctor-patient trust, whether the doctor ever learns of it or not. And I agree with you that makes it even harder on the rest of us.

PaLady

OMG Bionic that is horrible that you have to go through that before doing a UA. I too blame this rash of illegal usage of scripts to our increased paranoia that our docs are feeling and think that its horrid that our docs are not feeling comfortable with prescribing our medications when we are in legitimate pain because there are more and more people using it as a reason to get "High".

I too have noticed the recent posts on here and on other boards that have gotten me a little peeved regarding illegal usage of pain meds which regretfully makes me pretty darn angry. Us who are really dealing with CP need these pain meds are being grouped together with these people and its not fair.

PA: I am starting to think that you are right on the nose on your statement about why they pulled me for a UA this late in the game. Save their ass from any problems later. Just goes to show you that my impeccable record of no running out of meds too soon or with the exception of one time, no early refills I have pretty much stuck with my contract to the last letter will show my new doctor that I am willing to do anything he/she asks of me just to get the pain relief I need.

Scarred

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HEALTH ISSUES: Herniated discs at S-1-L5, L5-L4, L4-L3. Two level fusion (2000); one level fusion (2002); Revision at L4-L3 (2003). Diagnosed with Failed Back Syndrome, Permanent Nerve damage and Chronic Pain

Medications:

Kadian, Lexipro, Percocet, Temazapim, Lunista, and Robaxin.

I would not have been offended by having to do a UA even if it was my last appt there. Like the other person posted said, when you left this drs care you were squeaky clean and that can go along ways with a future pain dr.

I did my first UA ever, in 4 yrs of care. I laughed at my nurse, I said of course I will flunk it, I have a pump giving me drugs 24/7. She it totally against the pump patients having to do a UA for this reason. But, I was not offended. No blue pill or cutting water off. I dare say if someone would want to pat me down like a criminal & take my shoes, by the time I left there none of them would like me. I am sorry but I find that totally unethical on the drs part. Susie

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It's really sad that everything they do has grown out of people trying to screw them over. :-(

It's when I read a story like this one, that I'm really glad I life in Belgium with Universal Health care and no "gestapo" methods.

I honestly don't know whther I would have allowed them to have a sample under such conditions, I quess not, whatever the consequences.

Hang in there.

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To stand and be still at the Birkenhead Drill is a mighty bullet to shew.

 I've been in Pain Management for nearly a decade and I have never been asked to take a urine test. I was really shocked and to hear that the nurse went in with you, I'm sorry but really that is just sad. What are they looking for, legal meds or illegal street meds?

I live in Canada and have never had to give a U/A in the almost ten years that I've been prescribed morphine.I did have a blood test done when my old Dr. retired about seven years ago just to prove to my new Dr. that I was consuming the drugs myself.No big deal.I am shocked to hear that some of the patients on this board have to go through such demeaning prisoner like procedures just to get their legitimate pain relieved.Disgusting

"To stand and be still at the Birkenhead Drill is a might bullet to shew."
Morgoth, I've ALWAYS wondered about that. What does it mean?

"Deep breaths, 1,2,3,4, Twinkle Twinkle little star"
Mochia, maybe you should make that "Tinkle Tinkle Little Star." Since it has
to do with the U/A

Pamela Neckpain

Ohhh, how I wish I could put vinegar or apple cider into the little cup. After doing so,
I'd hope hope hope the medics would laugh so hard they'd accidentally pee their
panties, thus giving a U/A of their own.

Post Edited (Pamela Neckpain) : 9/19/2008 2:49:59 AM (GMT-6)

They're testing for 2 things. First, to make sure the medications they've prescribed DO show up in your system, which tells them you're taking them and not selling them. Second, to make sure other drugs that they haven't prescribed DON'T show up in your system.

At my PM office, if you refuse to give a urine sample on request, you get a 3-day medication taper and an escort to the door. :-(

I envy people that have better options. I really do.

BionicWoman,
I'd have such a hard time with that. Really!
The relationship between a patient and a doctor is based on trust.
(That's the reason I don't want to ask my doctor how many pain pumps
he's installed and how many people have died)
What state do you live in(If you say)?
I live in CA and have been to many doctors ... but never have I had the little
blue pill.
Pamela Neckpain

Up late, eh? Just two hours and we'll meet with The Hour Of The Wolf.

Yep, unfortunately, many pain management offices have a way of making patients feel like criminals these days. I get random drug tests, too at my PM. Except now I have no more coverage for any kind of tests, so I'm in trouble, being the last test I had was over $400.00! My office makes one quite uncomfortable even before one ever gets their first random test. THey have signs posted all over the place about meds and UA's that are very direct and forceful. And many PM's don't even want to prescribe too much because of the fear of losing their licenses, especially with all the media hype all the time with stars overdosing and then they look into their doctors, etc...It's understandle but it's still feels like a punch in the gut for someone who does NOT abuse drugs. It's awful b/c the abusers are ruining it for people who legitimately need pain management. The abusers always get it somehow, but people in real pain who need it, have so much trouble getting meds.

Pamela, I live right on the border of West Virginia and Virginia.  I can actually walk from one state to the other, on a good pain day.     

A Dr. should prescribe according to a patients needs NOT to what he/she has to worry about " they can get away with".The whole system needs an overhaul so that people don't have to suffer with needless pain.