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So here is my real story...

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 1/9/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I got a DWI, well I refused a breatalizer a few months back, anyways had to go to court..got Community Service, had to go to a drug/acholol treatment program, have fines and lost my license for a few months.

Now I also have to go to probation. I am 30 years old, with two small kids, its hard and really really embarassing. So I get tested at probation but it is ok since I have RXs from my dr.

My treatment program is another issue. I made the mistake of telling them that a few months back I did abuse my medication after my surgery. Well I stopped taking anything for a few months, now my pain has returned. I did go back to my PM dr. as I wrote in my last posts, and I am returning tonight to get this treatment program out of the way. I go 3 nights a week for 3 hours a time. I do get drug tested, and I am scared to tell them that I am on anything. I havent abused the medications since then, and I am unsure why I eer did.

I made another dr. appt for the 21st as my PM dr. wants to see me every 2 weeks.

What should I do regarding my treatment program and me being on any medications? Should I just stop to complete my program, or should I be honest with them?

 

Posted 1/9/2008 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mama,

I admire your honesty with us so much! Continue it with your program. Bring a letter from your doc saying what meds you are on. If they were to ever catch you in a lie you'd be in deep dodo...lol. I'm sure it was very hard to write this and the embarassment must be awful, but at least now you will be safe on the road and so will others. Thanks for your courage!

Hugs,
Chutz
Posted 1/9/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
If you're not honest with your treatment program it's not going to ever help you deal with what sounds like dual problems - addiction and chronic pain. That combination is a challenge. They'lll also probably find out via your urine screens, and lying will NOT help your cause with either the addiction professionals or your PM doctor. Many addiction programs have MD's who specialize in treating addictiions, and have some options for certain type of chronic pain. Your doctors will all likely want to closely monitor you, and if you try to fight that you're likely to not get pain meds from anyone. Try to check that your MD's have some experience with both addiction and chronic pain - and this is easier said than done, but you need specialized help.

You seem to be viewing yout treatment program as something you need to just get through and then go back to life as it was before. The fact you got a DUI is an indicator there's an addiction problem that will only worsen if you don't face it, and try to deal with your pain in the context of also likely having an addiction. That means your pain meds will trigger cravings, which can be a challenge. But if you don't work your treatment program seriously, you'll probably end up abusing your pain meds again, and eventually without doctors who are willing to work with you. Take the help that's there for the addiciton, but involved you PM doctor, too, and see if they can't communicate with eachother to design a pain management approach which has the least likely chance of activating cravings. And use the support groups with your treatment program - but find 12 step groups that are open to dual diagnosis issues.
Posted 1/9/2008 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your input. They did ask me to let me dr.s know that I am in a program, but I just can't agree with that. I do think of my treatment program as something I just need to finish. I honesly dont have the time for it. I work FT as well. I am learning alot from it, and this is the first time I see I can handle it, I havent drank, I am good with my meds, and I feel geat. The only reason why I am there and I know this sounds terrible, but its becasue I was court ordered. I NEVER drank and drove before. I refused a breathalizer becasue I got pulled over for flashing my lights, I do not have a drinking problem. But in NJ, its mandatory for loss of license and treatment.
My husband doesnt agree with me taking meds either, so I am always hush hush. Since I have found this site, I am so very appreciative.
So I guess what I am saying is, I can give them a list of meds I am on, and hope she doesnt call my dr. OR stop taking everything for now, and just finish it up pas quickly as I can.
Posted 1/10/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone else have any advise? I am a mess over here. I start my group Friday, so I will def. be clean then but I am in alot of pain today. Urg. I have just been taking Ibropofen 600mgs.

Posted 1/10/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I would be honest with them and your PM doctor. Is your PM doctor aware that you abused your medication after surgery? I'm not sure how the police charged you with a dwi if you only flashed your headlights, and my husband is a police officer so it seems weird that you got charged that way and were sent to treatment for refusing a breathalyzer after flashing your headlights.
Just going to a treatment program just for the sake of going is really not in your best interests.
Do you have a history of substance abuse or alcohol abuse? I'm only trying to help but I really don't see why you wouldn't want to be honest with your doctor and your treatment program? It only works if you truly work at the program they have you in.
Sandi
Posted 1/10/2008 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had 3 beers but was not drunk. I got pulled over for headlights, and didnt see why they would want me to do a breathalizer, but thats long gone. It happened and I am dealing with it. I abused my medication due to the pain I was in. I would only take 2 at a time, but he said to take 1. So I really didnt abuse them, abuse them. The reason why I am in treatment is becasue its mantadory in the state on NJ if you do get a DWI. I never drank that much ever, and yes I do know I should have not driven in the first place. I did learn my lesson.
I don;t think I have a problem, it seems like a joke to me and they just want to collect my money. I will just stop my pain meds until its over, stick to my ibropofen and continue with my pain meds after if I feel like I need it, I guess.
Thanks for all your input.
I feel like you all may think I am a lowlife and I can promise I am not.
Posted 1/10/2008 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had a laminectomy in April, and a diskogram last month that came back positive. I have back pain due to a herniated disc. I have my nerosurgen appt in a few weeks. My PM dr. who did the discogram said he will most likely suggest a fusion. I have been going through some withdrawls yesterday and today but for the post part I am feeling ok.
The only thing is being in this program I cant be on anything. I am not sure how they will take it if I did tell them, only becasue at first when I was convinced, maybe I did have a problem I told them. But taking 2-3 extra pills a day isnt really a problem I have learned.
I only have about a month left. I figure I would just try and stop the meds, and if I do need them, take them and explain when I have to get urine tested. Maybe I can get around it somehow without looking like an ass. Know what I mean?
Posted 1/10/2008 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Oh I also havent gone to my meetings in over a month with the holidays and stuff, so thats why the past month hasnt been a prob. with me taking my meds. I also figure Thursday and Fridays I should be ok if I really needed to take them, as urine tests are only Mon and Wed.
Posted 1/11/2008 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
It depends entirely on the medication that you are taking and how your body metabolizes it that will effect whether or not your medication shows in your urine. I wouldn't take the chance of not telling them in case it does. If you don't tell them, and your urine test comes up "dirty", you are going to have a whole new set of problems to deal with. I really don't understand why you are so opposed to telling them that you are taking pain medication and who your doctor is, and vice versa.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but taking more medication than is prescribed is abusing your medication in the doctor's eyes. I understand pain medication not working and all of that, been there myself several times, but adjusting the dose on your own is not something that any of us should be doing. That's what the doctor is for.
As far as the drinking and driving goes, it's never a joke and neither is court ordered treatment, but that's just my opinion, coming from a wife of a police officer who's had to clean up the after effects of too many "jokes" on the roadways.
It's just my opinion that you are taking all of this too lightly and trying too hard to find ways to skirt around the rules.
No one here said you were a lowlife but I don't think that you are taking any of this situation that you are in serious enough.
Sandi
Posted 1/11/2008 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Well I appreciate all of your opinions, I really do. Thank you. I may only seem like I am taking this lightly because this happened months back and I kinda feel like I dealt with it back then, as well as feeling dissapointed and lousy about myself. I feel like its time to pick myself up again, and just do what I have to do and be done with it.
I have other things to worry about now, and I am not going to dwell on the past. It happened, I cant take it back, and now I am doing whatever I need to do to put it behind me and my family. And make sure it NEVER happens again.
Take care all. And thanks again.
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