I need advise!

I just got back from my PM appointment. She changed my meds from Zanaflex to Soma and said Soma was the most potent of these, actually she said it is the most potent of muscle relaxers. I have no idea because I’ve never taken it. I remember my aunt taking Soma Compound when I was young, but this is just Soma. At any rate, I told her about HW and how so many of you are on bt meds and such. She said that the doctors there don’t like to give the long lasting med because once I’m on it; I won’t ever be off of it. I told her, all I want is some quality of life so, she said by next appointment, which is a month from today, if I’m not feeling much better, she was going to give me a long lasting med to go along with the Oxycodone I’m on. That isn’t even the crazy part. She had me take a urine test and it took me forever to “provide” the test, but when she came in, she asked, “Do you have something to tell me about your urine test?” I thought about it for a minute and said, “I think I may have a UTI.” And she said, “No, that’s not what I’m talking about.” She said I tested positive for marijuana!  What?!  I said if she’d have had me back in the ‘70’s, maybe, but not now. I was so insulted. So, here’s the really bad part. My hubby bought some drug tests when our oldest daughter lived with us for a couple of months. That’s a whole other story. Anyway, I took the test and it came up positive for THC!!!  I then went online and found a couple of drugs that cause false positives and I take both Phenergan and Protonix! I called my pharmacist and she said she’d look it up and see what she can find, but that if they send these tests to a reputable place for analysis, they will see it isn’t THC. I’m afraid it won’t be reputable as this PM group (as I’ve come to find out here on HW) is not the best in the world.  I have an appointment with my neurosurgeon next week and I was going to ask him to send me some place else. I’m thinking of either having a blood test or taking some information from my pharmacist to the PM tomorrow and show them these drugs I take and what it can cause. Please tell me what any of you would do in my place!!

Catz4

Thank you for the advise Snowbunny and I had already planned on taking the info from my pharmacist. I have been one of those people for a very long time who was so angered by others causing those of us who need medication a problem. I am so humiliated about this as I am 51 years old!! I wouldn't even think about abusing a drug much less using an illegal one! Yes, I see that me going to ask for another PM group is out of the question now and I have already thought about asking them to do a blood and/or hair folicle test. I feel so awful about the whole thing. Again, thank you for reading and responding to this. I did sign a paper that they could do a test, but I didn't even read it! I don't know what it said. I hope by providing them with the information from my pharmacist, they will agree to do a blood test or whatever needs to be done.
Catz4

Tina,
I thought about getting off the meds, but then I have a positive THC test out there! I think I'll also talk to my PC and ask him what to do. Unfortunately, he doesn't work on Wednesday's. And hopefully the PM place will send it to a reputable lab who can detect what the truth is! I'm stubborn too when I am accused of something I haven't done! And to beat all this, my 80 year old Dad is in the hospital trying to determine why he was passing out in church on Sunday! Wow, I feel like I just got beat up emotionally and as we all know, when the emotions get involved, so does the pain! She did send me home with the meds so I guess she may have thought it was silly too. I just don't know, but thank you for validating the Phenergan anyway and I really think we should all be more aware of this sort of thing!
Take care,
Cat(z4)

Thank you so much my dear brother. I know you are behind me all the way and I appreciate you for all you are and all you do for me in my life. I have stumbled through the past 36 hours. I was so sure when they gave me the urinaysis that when she said it was positive, I laughed, Randy laughed and it turned out not to be so darned funny. I'll catch up with you soon, I've got a late afternoon apointment with the wild child's teachers! Talk about a little too much in a short amount of time! Wow, I will never again automatically assume everything is always the way it may seems!
Thanks so much!
Cat(z4)

Cat...

Shoot, I'm sorry to hear about your dad, too. I sure hope they can find out what's going on w/ him...

You are right... it's just too much for one person. As someone is going through crisis after crisis in my own life.... I truly do understand. I feel for you, hun!!

Mikel... you are VERY wise, my friend.

Take care everyone... I hope, Cat, you are feeling a little bit better today.

--Tina

Mikel...

Ok...so your post put me in tears :) Sometimes, things just hit you in a certain way... and your post did that for me. Thank you for your friendship...encouragement...and slight, loving "push" that I sometimes need :) I will open up, soon, I promise. Sometimes, coming to grasp with "reality" is the hardest thing. As I get closer there...I will share, I promise.

I really appreciate you, and so many here.
In Friendship...Tina

 

   Dear Cat,

 

     I am terribly sorry I havnt been around much the last few days. Its been hecktic here to say the least!

 

     I am terribly sorry that all this is happening to you. Are you sure there isnt some way that your unrine and someone elses was mixed up? You know anytime I get checked for blood or.. cant think of.. some sort of ..what was it? You know from the boneloss? BLEH! Hate my mind sometimes, anyway when I give samples I have to put the container in a little window, usually there are all sorts of other samples in the window to. What are the chances of a mixx up? Well, it is obviously a mixx up one way or the other. I agree you should get a blood sample done and end the crazyness once and for all. When everything is cleared up, make sure they amend your medical records as well. Last thing you need is something like that lurking in your medical records. Sheesh, what a mess. And how rediclous the way you were approached about it! Argh.

 

    I hope you can relax a little, thou I fear you are probably angry and frustraited to no end. *warm huggs* Hang in there

 

*huggs*

  dani

HEY MOM Your a member of our family now too ! I 'd never forgive myself if I didn't mention my incredible friend Dani as well ,she who is much younger than I but has taught me all about accepting myself , my new self , with pain and health issues .Who taught about courage and moving forward and beauty .She who dug deep and went to painful memories so I could learn , and I have met Catz4/Stacey , Dani, Cat 8201 on Healing Well in less than a month made connections with these wonderful people closer than people who Ive known for years .The suffering has trancended us , helped us grow and create an unshkeable bond of trust and caring that is wonderful , strong and at the same time tender and caring and everlasting .I will never forget these wonderful folks and always want to be in contact with them .I and we invite you Tina to be a part of this fanily with open arms , you'll never know who you'll make that special connection with but you will make it if you open up , release your pain , and let in the love .

 

Dear Cat,

 

I havent been posting for a long time due to my having several strokes as well as chronic pain.  But I had to comment on this topic as it happened to me also.  Luckly for me I had a very compateint doctor he took the time to run the test again,this time with my blood to get it figured out and yep it was the phenergren. I also was takin back and didnt want my doc to think I was doing anything to jepordize my pain contract.   I have watched the board every day and have seen how great it is with all the members being here for each other.  I origional started on the fibro board but then switched to the chronic pain forum and started watching here too.  Some will still remember me such as Char and Chutzie.   I really miss everyone so much and promise to try to keep up with you all.  I need you now so very much.

 

Hugs,

Karen

Karen, I'm sorry that you had to go through what I am going through. I do have to extend my gratitude for sharing this as it seems so very impossible. I was scared to write about this experience and in fact after I started the thread I came so close to trying to delete it thinking everyone would think negatively of me. I am frightened that this happens at all for those of us who need pain medication.
Tina, it may seem strange that there are those who have never met in person, but who care for each other in a very dedicated way. I'm with Mikel on this, if you want to be a part of our family our hearts are open wide. It isn't always easy to trust when you've been through serious difficulties in the family of origin. Yes, I too have formed a wonderful family with my husband and 6 children (2 boys 4 girls), but in this family I have included other people who have been here for me. I take it all in and enjoy all the people in my life.
To follow through with the issue of the false positive, I spoke with the head pharmacist and she told me that there had been instances on several occasions where the Phenergan and Protonix were concerned. She also advised I let them send it to the lab and hope they get it straightened out. If that doesn't work for whatever reason (and she felt sure it would) that she would gladly contact my dr with the information. I hope that's the way to go on this and I kind of feel it is. I believe all will turn out for the best. I certainly pray it will.
Thanks to everyone,
Cat

Thanks for sharing that merry! It's such validation. I hope mine is sent to a reputable lab and that they send the medication I'm on with it! I feel so much better that I know others have had such things happen though I'm sorry for all of you who have had this happen. I really want to some how get the message out to others that these things actually happen! Everyone! please be aware! I have been tested several times before over the last 5 years and I've been on the meds for all this time, but this is the first time that this has happened. I don't understand it! Anyway, thanks again and thank you all for everything!

You did real good Sis , you took the high road !! Good for you !!!

What makes me sad is that your doctor tested for marijuana in the first place.  Sure, I just got back last week from signing one of those contracts last week stating that I wouldn't take a toke and that they can demand a test to check anytime they want too, but after 8 years I've never once been asked to provide proof that I'm not using any other supplimental herbage.  Since it's against the law here, I don't, but I also have an Mayo's trained doctor who's advised that if I'm ever visiting family where it is legal, he'll have this waiting for me when I arrive.  Sometimes there's some questions that need not be asked or checked for and this is one of those situations.  It's because of false positive tests like yours where you're charged guilty even though you're not, that proves once again this kind of thing is wrong.  My heart really goes out to you.  Bob.