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PD, be very careful what you report about that situation as it could blow up in your face. We sign contracts saying we are responsible for said meds and they're possibly going to hold you to that. You could be cut off cold turkey,, your record marred making it virtually impossible to get another Dr.

They don't or won't understand you continuing to allow it to happen and not filing charges. Emotional situations are not an excuse as far as Dr's and contracts and the laws are concerned. Believe me I really do know this kinda situation well and up close. If that person were to od and die you, your Dr would be held accountable. No one's judging you it's just the way things are.

You need to find a way out of the mess without jeopardizing your pain management and life. Can you put them in a safe, keep them somewhere else? Is it possible to change to a patch where there's no pills to steal even if you have to get them written and filled every week, wearing one, keeping the other on your person.

This was a lot of trouble for me years back when I had a son who was an IV drug user and I was on methadone. He was such he wouldn't hesitate to use my meds when he couldn't get money for his drug of choice and honestly I would have given it to him if it would have prevented his extremely dangerous use but that wasn't his goal, his only goal was to be high so all my meds were in danger of being traded or sold!! I rented a safety deposit box at the closest bank and that's where my meds stayed. Yes I had to go there every few days and get some, kept them in my bra and knew I wouldn't run out and he wouldn't od with my help.

I did that until I got to a place mentally and emotionally that stopping him or walking away was easier then watching him endanger his life day in and day out. He got clean but it didn't happen because I wanted it not until he wanted it more. When he got tired of chasing a high and waking up alone day after day. We all, entire family had to turn our backs to him, not enable him, and offer help only in the way of support for treatment nothing more!!! I even changed my locks and phone number and turning away from one of your children when they're sick is the ultimate emotional pain I could imagine other then burying him.

We are here and will help you through this any way we can.

Hey PD...I'm sorry for your loss of loved ones.  I KNOW personally how that feels, having lost close to a dozen of my family members within a year.  One was my dad, another my precious uncle who chose to leave, the others were close aunts and uncles who died from cancer and diabetes related issues.  It was TOUGH to say the least, as several of the deaths occurred around the time of 9/11/2001, exacerbating the loss, fear and heartbreak.  Your pain will ease with time, but will not be "healed".  You will simply learn, in time, to deal with the loss and remember the HAPPY times you spent together.  Tears will still be shed, but hopefully down the road, happy tears=)

As for your pain med issue...I cannot imagine having that problem, though I've read horror stories of CPPs who have to purchase a safe to keep meds under lock and key.  I'm sorry you have to live with such angst.  Do you REALLY HAVE TO? 

You've gotten excellent advice from previous posts concerning speaking with your doctor.  I AGREE.  Please DO NOT go into his office and open your proverbial veins of home issues with him.  It will go very badly.  The atmosphere of pain management, IMO, is already one of suspicion and "guilty until proven innocent" in most cases.  Your doctor does not want to hear that you cannot control your own meds.  Please don't jeopardize your future and cause it to be filled with pain unmanaged.

Dixie

I agree about not telling your dr about your pain meds being stolen. Personally, I would get a safe deposit box at the local bank. Be sure to also put the receipts and other pharmacy info in there also. Then I would tell this person that thanks to them I no longer had pain meds. I also wouldn't keep more than 1 days dose in the same place. If you get the safe deposit box, you would only need 2 or 3 tiny hiding places. No one but my dr and the pharmacy knows what I take. And frankly it is no ones business. I do want to warn you about keeping the meds on your person. Please don't under estimate what wanting drugs will make a person do to harm you. Under normal circumstances I'm sure they would never harm you. But, this person is someone who's only desire is to get those drugs, whatever the cost to them or anyone else.

I am assuming this person lives in your home. You will need to be positive that they aren't there before you get your pills for the day out of where you have hidden them. You will also have to be sure that they don't see you when you take them out of the daily hiding place and take them. There is one other thing you mau not have thought of. Chances are they don't believe you about the dr taking you off of them. But, even if they do, they will probably be looking for signs of your increased pain and/or withdrawals due to not having them.

My advice would be to tell this person "the next time you touch my medications the police will be called." and then follow through immediately when they do. Every time it happens until that person is locked up or gets help. I would not suffer without medications, or go to extreme lengths to hide my medications. My son recently got clean and turned his life around, AFTER my mother stopped enabling by looking the other way as he stole meds, money etc from her. I was so tired of hearing "after all he had a tough life". By allowing them to continue in a life of drug use, you are making their life tougher.

That's something I hadn't even thought of. People who can be this sneaky as to take your meds might be scoping out the Forum if he knows you post here about your med problem.

We can give you all kinds of suggestions, pick what works for you, and stick to that.

At least with a lock box, you've got a great deal more safety.

No, you shouldn't have to go through this, and it's really unfortunate not to mention dangerous. And the person who'll pay the biggest price is you in the long run.

Don't rule out calling the police immediately if you catch him in the act (otherwise it's a he-said she-said and it could potentially backfire on you). Maybe (sad to say) but set up a video cam as backup.

Most of us have come to guard our Rx's like gold....with things getting tighter and worse, we cannot afford to be anything less than stringent.





M.