I do not want my friends and family to grieve because I took my life due to pain and lack of treatment. Chronic pain patients visit their doctors often, are subject to drug tests, and are not the reason there is a crisis in this country. Doctors being too scared to treat patients is not fair to us.

The problem is so bad here in Texas that doctors do not want to care for pain patients. I moved to Texas two years ago and have struggled to find care and treatment. I have been forced to fly back to my old doctor in California to get medication. My doctor I saw for many years knows me, knows I do not over-medicate, and has never needed to raise the dose of my medication.

I cannot believe that I am not able to find a doctor to treat me here in Texas. Sitting is so painful and it is a struggle to fly 3 hours for a doctor’s appointment. I have to sit in the car an hour, sit in the airport for 2 hours, and then the flight for 3 hours. Sitting is so painful because of my back and pain shooting down my leg.

By the time I arrive, I am in such horrific pain it takes days to recover. I am so tired of living in agony. This is so wrong and it is my human right to have some pain relief because it is available.

The real problem seems be addicts that purchase medication from the streets and not knowing what they are purchasing. When people are not able to get their medication from the proper channels, they will seek options from the street with hope of finding some relief.

Pain relief is a human right and without relief people will take their lives. Living with debilitating pain you have no quality of life and no reason to wake up in the morning.

I am tired of being treated like a drug addict. I am suffering severely and need medication to be a functioning adult. I know I will never be pain free, but any relief is welcomed. Please, please for the love of God stop punishing the patients and the medical professionals trying to help them!