The other Side: Opiates part 2

(Testimonials)

And a rant about Tramadol

Collected By

Patrick Childress

I know I promised you guys my story about the dance through the chronic pain and opiate universe and I will share it. But some nasty little twists have reared their ugly heads and I am in the middle of some of it. I’ll have to wait a little bit (and a couple of injections) longer to share my horror story. If you’d like to skip the rant about Tramadol, just skip down to the part of the article labeled “Testimonials.”

In seeking advocacy for Chronic pain sufferers who are maligned or outright denied medicine, I’ve been given (and run across) so many testimonials about Pain sufferers that I felt I had to share them. I’m going to keep this anonymous to protect them from the harsh light of the anti-opiate lobby.

Before I get to that, I’d like to mention the “safe” alternative to opiates that many doctors are pushing. It’s a little pill called (3 day headache pills by me, but) by most people Tramadol.

If just hearing the name of that medicine makes you twitch, then I assume you’ve been prescribed it. This is a dangerous, equally addictive, and poor performing pain killer.

Side effects of Tramadol include:

Can slow or stop your breathing,

Cause seizures,

Is habit forming/addictive

Can cause life threatening withdrawal symptoms in babies

Dangerous side effects or death can be caused if mixed with alcohol

Abdominal or stomach fullness

abnormal or decreased touch sensation

blisters under the skin

bloating

blood in the urine

blood pressure increased

blurred vision

change in walking and balance

chest pain or discomfort

chills

convulsions (seizures)

darkened urine

difficult urination

dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position

fainting

fast heartbeat

frequent urge to urinate

gaseous abdominal or stomach pain

heart rate increased

indigestion

irregular heartbeat

loss of memory

numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes

numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet

pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves or heels upon exertion

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale bluish-colored or cold hands or feet

recurrent fever

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

severe cramping

severe nausea

severe redness, swelling, and itching of the skin

shortness of breath

sweats

trembling and shaking of the hands or feet

trouble performing routine tasks

weak or absent pulses in the legs

yellow eyes or skin

Plus tramadol has an SSRI component (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) which can cause serotonin syndrome in people who don’t have a deficiency. Serotonin syndrome:

Serotonin Syndrome Symptoms

Serotonin syndrome symptoms often begin within hours of taking a new medication that affects serotonin levels or excessively increasing the dose of one you are already taking. Symptoms may include:

Confusion

Agitation or restlessness

Dilated pupils

Headache

Changes in blood pressure and/or temperature

Nausea and/or vomiting

Diarrhea

Rapid heart rate

Tremor

Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles

Shivering and goose bumps

Heavy sweating

In severe cases, serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. If you experience any of these symptoms, you or someone with you should seek medical attention immediately:

This is the “safe” alternative to narcotics that would never exist had opiates not been so maligned in popular media and culture. The greatest sin in this is the “statistics” used to malign are skewed (mixed with illegally obtained medicine, and heroin users). Regulated and doctor prescribed pain killer abuse is nearly non-existent.

For a professional viewpoint go to…

http://www.fmcpaware.org/pain-patients-rights-to-treatment

Testimonials:

These testimonials are from real people who mostly contacted me directly after reading my first article, and a couple from the internet. I did not correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling. I think people need to hear their words.

“I have a doctor that would prescribe Norco for my migraines but afraid that would put his license in jeopardy. Since he prescribes my other pain medicine that doesn’t help with them.”

“Not able to get my meds when in hospital because they afraid of legal action. Like past visit I would normally get 3- 200 mcg since I get 600 mcg at home but due to new laws and rules of the hospital to protect their butts I was only allowed 1-200 mcg every 2 hrs.”

“Surgery extra pain and pain doctor on vacation. No way to request the medicine he needed to take care of the extra pain from surgery.”

“This is my first time on narcotic pain meds in about 20 years. I have chronic pain as well. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and three ruptured discs. I am in constant pain. There is NO cure. The only relief I get is a minimal amount with my pain pills. I do not abuse them, I’ve never been in trouble with the law, and am in fact a single mother who worked up until I was disabled and taught my 20 year old son to be law abiding. And yet, when I go to pick up my prescription, I am carded, scrutinized, and put into a system that WATCHES my every health related move… I hurt too much to do anything other than take them as scheduled, but they are violating my privacy rights by putting me on a database that essentially tags me as a potential drug abuser… Isn’t that sort of a version of profiling?? Just curious. I feel like I’m under a magnifying glass when I go to one of my many doctors and tell them how I’m feeling (horrible more often than not) they look at me as if they are wondering if I am trying to get an extra prescription… I am under a contract with my pain management doctor that he will be the only one prescribing any kind of pain pill or the like. If I try to get around that, he has the right, and most likely will, stop seeing me as a patient. I had carpal tunnel surgery in April. The surgeon tried to give me a prescription for pain meds. I told him I was under contract and my doctor had to do the prescribing. He gave me a weird look but contacted my doc and he set me up with the extra that I needed for the recovery. But they treat me like a criminal, with no privacy rights, simply because I hurt and have to take a controlled substance to survive from day to day. This doesn’t seem right to me. Matter of fact, it seems counter to what this country and our Constitution stands for. I’m disappointed.”

“I’m a disabled RN, worked years in pain. I was on Cymbalta 60mg worked great which kept my Norco 10-325mg use low, but due to cost insurance made me take generic, it didn’t work and is still exspencive I can’t afford Cymbalta. I stopped taking it, But then a NP decreased my Norco to one at night. More pain now . Never abused my meds. But am treated like someone on parole. Drug tested to make sure I am taking it. What gives? Crooks are always going to find a way to get drugs and over dose. They do in prison and on the streets. Then we are the ones to suffer for it”

“Here in New Mexico the DEA, pharmacies have gone nuts. I would choose a life of no pain medication. A drunk driving the wrong way over 20 yrs ago changed it for me. 11 breaks, head injury, complete facial reconstruction. 22 surgeries and stopped counting. I’m being treated like moron and unable to get my meds, I have pretty much reduced most now break through meds will be dropped next. I moved here 3 yrs ago maintaining 2 homes impossible. My husbands job here, I left my job. So I’m being punished because the Drug war is impossible to win. I don’t drink , (DUI number 1 killer here) my pain meds enabled me to try to walk and carry on the best life I could. I’m unable to walk most days, work, take care of my family. I’m living with a wire lead pulled out of my spine attached to a battery. I’m seeing a new spine dr Dec. thanks to the treatment from the pharmacies, lists they put you on, refusal to fill my medicine I’m an invalid.i pushed long and hard to keep going married, adopted children, career … To end up here like this.”

“I am A pain patient, I have been for awhile now. I have Fibromyalgia, disk problems in my lower back and my neck. I DO NOT sale my pills, nor do I take them to get high!! I am in PAIN!!! I am so tired of having stones casted at me or others that have true pain… What really makes me sick is that I am in the medical field, I am tired of hearing from nurses and doctors,,( oh that patient is drug seeking!! ) How in the hell do you know what that person is feeling??!! They so jump to call it drug seeking because they might not have the best clothes on or have money!! NOT EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO SEEK PILLS!! Be a good Dr. and have compassion. IF you were hurting I bet it would be a different story!! Anyways, I had to sign a contract saying a bunch of bull, that I will not do while taking me meds. I signed it!! Drug test me, I say!! Bring it on!! Everyone that is out there and is in true pain, I am sorry that you are dealing with this!!”

“Let me see if I have this right. In its “concern” for the public’s safety, it proposes to decide for the patient and their doctor the dosage and frequency of refills for patients taking hydrocodone-based pain medication. Though they don’t know WHY a given patient may be on such meds, unless they are also allowing themselves to violate HIPAA laws? (Would LOVE to see someone from the DEA be confronted by a child dying from cancer who has been getting pain relief from one of these meds the FDA, who apparently also hold medical and anesthesiology degrees, why she won’t be able to take her medication any longer.) MEANWHILE, nicotine cigarettes, which have been *proven* to be highly addictive, cause terminal cancers and other serious diseases, cost millions of dollars to treat smoking-related diseases and disorders, in fact have NO medicinal benefit whatsoever, the only restrictions the FDA puts on cigarettes is age-related. Unfortunately, unlike the tobacco lobbyists, which government officials are afraid of and beholden to, pain patients don’t have a powerful lobbyist group with deep pockets who can buy off politicians. Maybe it’s time they did.”

“I am so angry right now I’m shaking! I just opened a bill charging me over five hundred dollars to pay for DEA ordered drug screen for the Last ten years with no pain meds I have legally been prescribed by my doctors for the last ten years without any legal problems with these drugs or any others. I am on disability and cant pay this stupid bill. Why am i paying to have my rights violated. They force a medical procedure to satisfy their paranoia and make us pay for it!!!! Shame! Its all got to stop!!!!!!!”

“Same thing here! I have been taking pain meds for 2 wrist surgeries, just got drug tested (totally fine, have all my pee u want!) BUT THE BILL!?!?!

$250 after insurance. They offered to let me make payments but thats still $500 a year I owe to prove that I: a) take my meds and b) don’t take street drugs! OMG!!!”

“As a VA patient with multiple painful health issues – I have to drive a 50 mile round trip EVERY MONTH to get my 30 day prescription of Oxy (the amount of which barely touches the pain.) I have to call every month and remind the nurse to tell the doctor that my prescription can be refilled and the dr. has to hand carry the rx to the pharmacy and I am the only one that can pick it up – I have to waste 3 or 4 of the pills to make that trip each month.”

“These are people that don’t understand how hard it is for people like me in such horrible pain to run around to get a prescription filled, etc. For people as sick as I am it makes me even feel worse due to the stress put upon us to get our required medication to even survive living a little. It’s not like I like taking this type of medication it’s that I NEED to. Stop hurting the sick people in this world and crack down on the abusers. This is certainly not the way at all. Government, FDA, WAKE UP Already!!!!!!!”

“Damn those who take them recreationally. I cannot get them anymore already and am about to kill myself. I need them.”

Thousands more exist like this if you search the internet.

Stand up for us please, because many of us cannot stand.

We need a voice.

We need an advocate.

We need a hero.

Remember when you hear about any “crisis” there’s always Another Side.

Give these people some love for having the courage to do an expose’ on this story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Y8YB6OY_U

I’ll have my story out soon. Please advocate on behalf of the chronic pain patient. We need you all.