Often, we are warned by our doctors not to seek more medication from other sources..or else...OH boy... I volunteer once a week at my local animal shelter where I met a nice lady and we cared for the animals daily.Being an EMT I was concerned for her as she appeared to me to be not in the best of health.On several occasions I checked her vitals either sending her home or taking her to the emergency room.She had many issues..Cronic Pain,Cardiac,internal organ problems,and top it off with anxiety.I became especially concerned when she had asked me to hold her meds.She was a walking narcotic pharmacy and I found it hard to believe all these meds came from one doctor.#120 10/325 norco...#120 10mg percocet,60 # 60..80mg oxycontin and topped off with#120 2mg aprazolam..With her high blood pressure issues,..I was very worried ..One day she would die in my arms..well


Thankx to God she didn't.I got a call from her just yesterday am/..she had gon to her doctor and was informed that her pharmacy had called with the same concerns as I had had for her...She had been using two doctors once a month however made the mistake of underestimating the pharmacy..as they clearly noticed she was double dipping or doctor shopping as they say..
Now,.....she has been completely cut off of everything from both doctors and as we live in a small town.Thats real bad.I usually have a solution for my patients...this time I have to say,..I think she really screwed herself and is out of luck...I mumbeled under my breath to her..guess it's www.nextdayrelief.com for you now....she really didn't understand...nor would I put her in touch with any renagade,nropp or international site....or even here...for now anyway....lesson learned the hard way and a rough one it seems.~~~~Captain~~~

I understand that the pharmacist should have done this since this is his job, but I don't think the Dr.'s should just cut her off. The WD's she could face could be life threatening if she does have these medical problems. She should be tapered down. Or if she does have major pain issues the Dr.'s should know this and one should continue treatment with a probationary type situation set up. They can look at the PMP in her state monthly and if she lives close to another state review there also.
To just take her off these meds like this seems worse to me than her taking them. I believe in do no harm and just leaving her hanging is doing harm.
I hope she gets the help she needs mentally and physically.
She's also not the brightest bulb to keep using the same pharmacy for all the meds.
K

Not to sound salty but it sounds like a Advertisement for nextdayrelief.com
LOL! Well, I'm glad she's doing ok but it just sucks now she doesn't have any meds to help her...

No, she's not doing good,...real bad actually and the dr,s won't taper her, even with 30 5's or anything at all..and next day relief, well that was sort of a joke, never tried em they probably take yer money and you get zippo or fakes a month later....my point was..if she had a good thing going with one doctor ..and she did she made a huge mistake by playing 2 doctors.If I gave her a reference to another dr. he would have her records faxed over and see the DS and label..her as a drug seeker..She is pretty much up shits creek..unless she gets her records in hand under the health insurance portability and accountability act(HIPAA) and finds a good drict script provider with F2F like we all can find right here.

Sorry to hear that Rescue3000, yeah after I wrote that I felt bad cuz I said that cuz it problebly sounded snobby, but I was just kidding to about it sounding like an advertisment, but the first time I read it I kinda thought it was, then when I reread it and saw how long you've been here I'm like OHHHH no he's not kidding about this..

Yeah that's just to bad for her I hope she finds the help she needs. I think sometimes it's not to bad to take a little break, clean out your system and like you said get that blood pressure regulated, then maybe go back on something and start back off small.
Anyway I wish her good luck!!

Rescue - ya know, I believe it is completely unethical for the doc to completely cut her off immediately. As Tango pointed out, it could be lethal. Frankly, I cannot understand how a doctor could do this, especially with her underlying health issues.

She should have been tapered, put on Suboxone, not just dissed.

And to "label" her as a drug seeker - well maybe she is, but maybe she wasn't getting adequate pain control. I understand that speaking to ONE doc up front about it would have been more intelligent. But we all know how that can go.

I am just not inclined to judge this woman. I hope so much that she can emerge from this trauma, and make no mistake, it is trauma. AND she must get her blood pressure under control.

Rescue - you are a sweetheart. I personally thank you for caring for people. And not just caring, but actually DOING something to help.

The doctor shouldn't have just cut her off. I agree. An old friend of mine had to do the same, but the doctor made out a calendar of when to take the meds for about a month to get weened off of it. As far as her being in pain, they don't care anymore. But they should be liable to as you said "taper" her off.

I had her call her doctors office yesterday and request hard copies of her records so as to possibly point her to a consultation rop for a face 2 face.They were very nasty and uncooperative with that.I believe it's against federal law to not be provided with her own records THEY are her records and even if they had to charge her a copy fee 5 of ten bucks.Thats what I thought anyway.I get copies of my medical records every visit to the Veterans Hospital.At the hospital there is a release of information office where I stopped by just the other day and was provided with my last 8 months of progress notes.It was 100 pages.


My records would not be so lengthy if I hadn't run out of ammunition on that longest day in the Saigon River....lol


Anyway at this point after speaking with her again I believe it may have been her insurance company,along with the pharmacy that caused All this commotion.

I am now going to call her doctor for her and say This is CaptainW EMT paramedic US Coast Guard rescue and I have a patient Whom needs copies of her records and I was told you refused her..You want to explain to me why..or should Patties attorney look into this further?


I'll have them scrambling to the zerox machine !!

I find myself in a situation where I want to give her a morphine and a couple percocets from my own script however,Thats against my own code of conduct as a rescueboat Captain and EMT. What would you do? I feel so bad 4 her.over and out ~~~Captain~~~

I wonder though, and again it is the cynic in me, if she is playing you. All though very kind of you to even consider, I would not give her anything. this may be what she wants you to do. In some ways she has to take some responsibility for this as well. There has to be something really off or high amounts the pharmacy noticed. Also was she using the same pharmacy and billing her insurance. I do not agree with cutting off patients at the knees, however, is their proof he actually did or is she just telling you this. if he actually just cut her off, and not wheened her he could be held accountable as well. I think this is exactly the reason Doctors and Pharmacists take it out on everyone. fair no, not at all, but so many abuse the system. I really do not know in this case. I would be very careful, if she is a true and through addict, she will play anything and anyoen to get her way, your such a kind sole, hugs to you but be really careful

Your heart is in the right place, but what if they run a urine test on her soon? If you have something she was taking, that would be fine. If you give her something different, it could make matters worse for her.

Also you need your meds for yourself. You can't do it everyday for her. Doctors can be so cruel.

I did have a similar situation a while back where my friend took too many for the month. She ran out early. Thank god, sometimes if I stay asleep, I don't get up and take my pain pills. I was saving them for myself for bad days, but I did end up giving them to her. She takes the same as me. If I hadn't had them she would have been going through bad wd's and lots of pain. I know exactly how you feel. But now I haven't been doing very good and I don't have many extra's. Sometimes I take only a 1/2 of a methadone so I can restock, but it is hard to do.

Taz

Hey there Captain...long time no talk! Glad to hear you are still in the rescue business.

Anyway, you are already doing what I would do. Help her get her records in hand (no matter what you have to do) and direct her to someone who will treat her properly. Obviously she has medical issues or neither doctor would have prescribed her anything.

Since you see her often and have been in the business long enough, you will notice if she needs prompt medical attention due to WD's or other health issues. If so, get her to an ER and don't let them refuse to help.

Give her all the advice you can about managing the WD's and her pain condition and provide moral support as best you can.

Finally, don't give her your meds...no matter how much you want to help her (but you know that already).

Best of luck to both of you on this mission - you've got your hands full!

Tee~

I feel the same as everyone else on this thread, I just have one question and concern, Do you think the docs might report her to athorities??? I really hope not!!!!

I doubt very much of the docs do, but the pharmacy might. Also they should have caught it earlier and they didn't. They may not because they could be in trouble also. JMO

Rescue, atho it might not be the best - I would probably help her too. Yes, it is not good. But how does ones ignore another's suffering? And you, obviously, are in the "caring" services.

Your name and your history depicts that. IMHO, the more people like you we have in the world, the better. We seem to inhabit a self-centered world. It can be disheartening. Your friend is lucky to have you. Yes, maybe she should manage her meds better, but life doesn't always go according to hoyle (sp?).

OK, I'm back. My daughter has had a major asthma attack. Ambulance and the whole works. Hospitalized. Brought her home and am "nursing" her, altho I am not a nurse. So, I start a message, go to take care of her and come back. I'M BACK! LOL.
She is much better. Scary. And I become "mother" to her 6 year old. Which is A OK. I love that little girl. The 6 year old. I love my daughter too, but that little girl grabs my heart. Oh yes.

Rescue, I hope to heck that your friend is OK.

And Sam - no offense is meant, so I hope none taken. Truly. It IS cynical to believe one is being "played". I have to think that you have been hurt in your life (me too). Advice alert: retrieve what has been taken and hold it close to your chest and never, ever let it go. Ever. Easier said than done, but definitely worth the effort.

Other than support like that, I am pretty useless. Maybe this woman has caused her own suffering (who hasn't, I ask you), but she deserves all the compassion we can muster (and sometimes that's not much, eh?)

OK, I'd better sign off before someone else needs me. Hugs all around.

No offense taken lol, I just worry when I read posts or hear things like that. Why, because well I have put my self and my job on the line to help someone only to find I was being played, as much as i care and still care and help, putting my name and credentials out there, is well just not worth it to me ever again for anyone if that makes sense. Also, by reading ,she is proably a full blown addict and will do or say anything to get what she wants, I think she probably needs either detox or in patient, she could at least be stabilized and given something to help with withdrawls.

Thank you Sam. I appreciate your understanding. You could be fully correct in your assessment. I have no way of knowing.

Ah, the things that have happened to us, eh? Not becoming cynical has been a real work in progress. You must have seen alot in your life. Me too. Too much.

BUT, people like Rescue are a godsend. I am not sure if he does what the EMTs did Thursday (my daughter had an asthma emergency), but if so, can't be easy. They were there in 5 minutes. Nebulizer, meds, then took her to the hospital. She was in panic mode (can't breathe). I was SO impressed. They swooped in, stabilized her and swooped out with her. Made me know that if I needed help - it would be there.

As to the woman - well, I choose not to judge her. We, on an internet site have no way of knowing her situation, what she must deal with. And thinking the best, well that's my way of looking at things.

We are all cast upon the winds so to speak and must find our way. May we do just that.

I am actually more concerned for Rescue. I try not to pass judgement just formulate an opinion from information posted. As a professional in certain fields one has to walk a very fine line. I learned a very valuable lesson, learned who my friends were and who was taking advantage. I also learned my personal, life and family are far more valuable, than giving pills to someone who may or may not be pulling something, or calling and using my nae to help someone. Now If I help them, it sure is not on the professional level, it is never worth loosing a license over or ones good name. I am one of those people who will help anyone but when it comes to my job and position and status, well it is just never worth it. I still do the meals and gifts at the holidays for needy people in my area, stuff like that, but as far as doing professional favors, there is just no way. I do though not consider it judging if the information is posted, I mean I guess lol lol an opinion could be judgeing depending on how one looks at it. I just would hate to see someone with such a huge heart step into a nasty major pool of quick sand, hope that makes sense, as I have been there and was very lucky a long branch was there to pull me out. Now as far as someone who sounds like an addict from the description, well they will go to great lengths to get what needs to be done in their mind, and they can be dangerouse to others as well as themselves, and I will leave it at that. I hope it all works out for everyone, but honestly, in my opinion it really is not worth loosing ones career over something such as this but again all jmop, from being in that same situation. hugs to all

Sam - I really couldn't agree with you more. NO, risking your career (and livelihood) is not worth it. My posts was more that - we don't really know the situation. And I LOVE Rescues' attitude of help. Were there many many more Rescues in the world.

I can only wish this woman the best. If she is a drug seeker, than I hope she gets the help she needs. If she has big health issues, the wish is the same.

What is certainly true - noone should "donate" their meds to anyone. As strong as the desire may be. And, in my case, it would be a strong desire indeed. A bad choice for anyone.

There are limits to what we can do. "Fixing" someone else doesn't help anyone. This seems contrary, but it is the truth.

I don't know off the top of my head, but there is a poster whose signature statement is "knowing your limitations". Amen. That is not as easy as you might think. But it is absolutely the truth.

As I am fond of saying - I stumble forward. May we all.

i will get into it a bit more in Pm with you but I tried to help someomne once and wound up having my family and myself literally stalked on line and off. But I still would help anyone, just not on a professional level on the favor side, if that makes sense lol. But I actually trully do understand. I try to look at all sides. I just think when one use their job to help someone lets put it this way nine times out of ten there is never a problem, but I do not have the luck of the Irish lol lol as I really should and I am usually the ten lol.

Geez, Sam. How scary! It is over now? No wonder you are leary. I would be too. It is a good lesson. Thank you. OK, girl - never, ever do that again. Ya hear? Who needs it?

If you want to PM me, I would be happy to "hear" from you. And what begins in a PM, stays in a PM.

Thank you for sharing, I appreciate it. And I will definitely keep it in mind.

Well, after all I did help her threw a little with a few break threw a once in a rare occasion thing and told her to break em in half, just until she goes to doctor #2 of tuesday.I advised her to just go in for your appointment and see.Possibly the pharmacy or ins. co only called one of the doctors.She is entitled to have one doctor so I hope for her thats what ell happen..She was renting a couple rooms out to a couple old guys and I know they are in bad shape(saw them in wheel chairs) she said to me she was helping them with meds.I asked her why ?Didn't they have health care?HMMM The things people get caught up in....It's a lesson learned the hard way.Get all your medication from one source or sooner or later nowadays they will catch you..And with what a patient has to go threw today with MRI's ,tests,x rays and HOOPS they make us jump threw to have a somewhat pain tolerable day by day existence its not worth losing everything for 30 more Hydros.Right? Right....Have a fine weekend everyone Cheers ~~~Captain~~~~

Hey Captain - hope your Sunday is going well.

I completely understand your sentiment. Helping a person in need. That is, after all, what you do. BUT, please do not donate any of your meds again. 'K? There are horror stories out there and I don't want you to be a recipient of them.

Every person must assume responsibility for their meds - scheduled or not. And, if you don't, you assume responsibility for THAT. I had my meds (foolishly put in a cupboard in the kitchen at X-mas time, with a lot of guests) stolen. All of them. I simply suffered. When it was time, I limped into the doc's office and got my script. I did not even consider doing anything else (I get the system and it was my fault for not protecting them - remedied).

You are a kind and giving person. A true benefit to this society - and I mean that. I'm just concerned about you.

I agree PN, Captain does seem like a kind and giving person and I think it is wonderful, and I agree do not want to see his kindness become another story. I was concerned as well and completely understand where your comming from, more than you know lol anyway, hugs to both of you and have a great day.

Thanks Sam. Yes, you do indeed understand. I am a bit of a slow learner in some areas. But I'm getting there, lol. Maybe when I'm 80, hahaha. That's if I make til 80. I'm planning on it.

A very cheery good Monday morning to you. Hope you are doing well. I awoke at 4:45 am PST. What the heck am I doing up at that time?? Well, here I am. Semi-alert.

Slow, no lol I do not think so, sometimes it has to be right there a few times lol, but hay thats what makes us, well us. And yes I do hope your around till your 80 as well. I was aup around the same time. I just could not sleep at all. Go back to bed lol, And it is a rainy Monday here but hope you have a great Monday as well,

That story is crazy!

I agree.

I am a state/national certified emt/parmedic and would never allow the situation you have described.

1) State certification requires moral and ethical decisions based on your training and comprehesion of the medical field as pertains to emergency situations.

2)Once you have obtained your paramedic certification you are held to a higher standard. What you have typed in this forum leads me to believe you are not a paramedic...hence the double talk. Such talk is sympathic in nature and requickic of a higher goal.

3) If in fact your desire is to be an EMT-P, pursue that longing bu all means,,yet realize you are no longer an EMT.. but a physican whose sight is thru your eyes. Which contain circumstances.

4)Instead of the ' wanna be'...do it.
It takes a lot of will,determination and guts to follow your dream. You can do it. Never give up on yourself.

Best wishes,
J.

Jeremiah....I am Shocked that you think Rescue is faking!!!!!....Did you not believe everything he wrote on the VIP side????


What is going on here today???


Everyone is Picking Fights!!!


Are the Stars Miss-aligned???



Love Peace & Harmony
Stevo

Stevo - the season is changing. I know for me - I always grieve the passing of the warm, sunny weather - especially in the PNW.

Not to excuse anything, but maybe that's a part.

Rescue, your service is valued. And your sense of compassion is wonderful. I think (if I can put words in his mouth) Jeremiah is confessing concern for you. To not put your career in jeopardy.

No one here doubts your credentials. I certainly don't. And I can clearly see myself doing the same thing (even if it is not best). It is most difficult to witness someone you care about suffering. Just make sure it is not a repeat performance, ya know?

I would take you as my friend any day. Not to get meds, but as a compassionate person.

The best of life to you!

This is a weird day. I'm going to just look into your avatar for a while if you don't mind.