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magical thyme

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26. could they be monitoring the levels to determine what level is or is not

Sun Aug 24, 2014, 01:30 PM

Aug 2014

effective?

I can think of a number of purposes in monitoring TDMs. One is to ensure people are taking as prescribed. Another is to determine the level compared to relief obtained. People's uptake, metabolism and response may vary. By measuring the levels -- especially if you are reporting insufficient relief -- they may have a different drug that might work better for you, or be able to increase the levels to obtain relief. Or if your uptake is inadequate, they may be able to prescribe something that will improve it so you obtain relief from current levels.

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Is It Acceptable To Test Chronic Pain Sufferers [View all] UglyGreed Aug 2014 OP

Test them for what? I'm not following you. Arkansas Granny Aug 2014 #1

Presumably for narcotics? Jackpine Radical Aug 2014 #2

I'm sorry UglyGreed Aug 2014 #3

Tested how? ScreamingMeemie Aug 2014 #4

They are UglyGreed Aug 2014 #5

...and if they don't, it's assumed they're selling the drug? ScreamingMeemie Aug 2014 #15

I've been tested over five years UglyGreed Aug 2014 #21

... and if there's less in your system, they hand ScreamingMeemie Aug 2014 #25

If you don't UglyGreed Aug 2014 #29

That's not what I said, dear. ScreamingMeemie Aug 2014 #33

Well I was told UglyGreed Aug 2014 #43

Now our idiotic MASTERS have decided to make it much harder to get Vicodin BaggersRDumb Aug 2014 #77

Norco doesn't require a triplicate; I get mine by mail REP Aug 2014 #86

that is changing, norco will be triplicate soon BaggersRDumb Aug 2014 #87

So they've been saying for how long? REP Aug 2014 #89

google it BaggersRDumb Aug 2014 #90

Apparently they are going to have yeoman6987 Aug 2014 #27

No just the limits UglyGreed Aug 2014 #32

Me too, they do a urine specimen test periodically,, fadedrose Aug 2014 #41

Who is testing you? TBF Aug 2014 #52

I have a standing script for over a decade REP Aug 2014 #85

Well mine have been noted UglyGreed Aug 2014 #95

There are many regular GPs now jen63 Aug 2014 #123

I've known people who got hooked on pain meds by taking too many and I've known people who sold Arkansas Granny Aug 2014 #6

Kinda like the welfare UglyGreed Aug 2014 #10

I wouldn't know. I've never met the woman. Arkansas Granny Aug 2014 #11

Thread win. ScreamingMeemie Aug 2014 #16

Well I never met UglyGreed Aug 2014 #23

I have met people who sell their food stamps for street pain killers and xanax, onecent Aug 2014 #35

I have heard that. My SNAP came on a plastic card, Downwinder Aug 2014 #54

I'm tired of stories about "people sell their benefits" daredtowork Aug 2014 #58

+1 Downwinder Aug 2014 #59

Thank you for this JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #106

You're Welcome - It's An Invisible Problem daredtowork Aug 2014 #108

The stepdaughter who got the card for food stamps, gave the actual card to the dealer onecent Aug 2014 #61

If that happened daredtowork Aug 2014 #64

Addicts overuse their pain meds and may not have any by the end of the month. Dustlawyer Aug 2014 #79

I've been in pain management since 2010 and have known many people who abuse the system by Ghost in the Machine Aug 2014 #91

Let me ask you UglyGreed Aug 2014 #93

Personally, that would be a YES! Like I told one doctor at a clinic that was cash only..... Ghost in the Machine Aug 2014 #117

I go to a hospital UglyGreed Aug 2014 #118

One of my relatives used to supplement her income by selling her medications. IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #97

Sorry for your loss UglyGreed Aug 2014 #99

It's patients and shady greedy doctors. n/t seaglass Aug 2014 #100

How about UglyGreed Aug 2014 #103

From my non-druggie observation, the selling was more subtle IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #101

Thank you for your UglyGreed Aug 2014 #114

Do you mean smoking pot? lunatica Aug 2014 #7

Nope UglyGreed Aug 2014 #12

could they be monitoring the levels to determine what level is or is not magical thyme Aug 2014 #26

I wish that was the case UglyGreed Aug 2014 #36

It's also to make sure they're not using street drugs Warpy Aug 2014 #8

But is that fair? UglyGreed Aug 2014 #14

It can save lives. Warpy Aug 2014 #116

I had to shift my thinking on this daredtowork Aug 2014 #45

We're in the infancy of studying brain chemistry Warpy Aug 2014 #56

I wasn't in a position to do that daredtowork Aug 2014 #63

Who is sending them to the pain management doctors or clinic? Lurks Often Aug 2014 #9

Well I was UglyGreed Aug 2014 #17

The neurologist sent you to pain management Lurks Often Aug 2014 #18

I was not on UglyGreed Aug 2014 #37

mine did this knowing there was a three week waiting list, and that I was in extreme pain bettyellen Aug 2014 #94

This message was self-deleted by its author RiffRandell Aug 2014 #13

A doctor may be testing the person receiving pain killers so as to JDPriestly Aug 2014 #19

Lucky to get pain management daredtowork Aug 2014 #20

absolutely yes. frankieallen Aug 2014 #22

Well I suffer enough UglyGreed Aug 2014 #24

well daredtowork Aug 2014 #42

The funny thing is UglyGreed Aug 2014 #53

The government has made it very tough on Dr's when it comes to prescribing these drugs for patients. frankieallen Aug 2014 #111

hmm - I was wondering why it took forever daredtowork Aug 2014 #115

So then UglyGreed Aug 2014 #46

I don't drive daredtowork Aug 2014 #50

That is my point of UglyGreed Aug 2014 #55

limiting others daredtowork Aug 2014 #60

Constitutional due process rights, be damned! Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #81

possession of one Oxycontin without a proper prescription is a felony.....A FELONY frankieallen Aug 2014 #107

My doctor-patient relationship has NOTHING to do with people who commit felonies - Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #119

This message was self-deleted by its author otohara Aug 2014 #98

unfortunately it's always the few who ruin it for the rest of us. why do defensive? frankieallen Aug 2014 #105

This message was self-deleted by its author otohara Aug 2014 #113

My DW writes dismissal letters all the time to patients who claim to suffer ileus Aug 2014 #28

Is it that she does not UglyGreed Aug 2014 #44

"claim to suffer".... "'pain' type claims"....Obviously, neither you nor she has ever "claimed" to WinkyDink Aug 2014 #68

I wish you were correct. ileus Aug 2014 #83

Boy, hope you're watching for GI symptoms with that high a dose. Laffy Kat Aug 2014 #84

GI hell - that kind of NSAID use will kill the kidneys first, especially with MCTD REP Aug 2014 #88

Yes, yes. You are right. Laffy Kat Aug 2014 #92

HMMM UglyGreed Aug 2014 #96

I have had chronic pain azmom Aug 2014 #30

Exactly UglyGreed Aug 2014 #39

I have chronic pain sarisataka Aug 2014 #31

They could also have you do a pill count. blue neen Aug 2014 #38

That's nuts imo sarisataka Aug 2014 #49

Agree. blue neen Aug 2014 #67

Do you go to the UglyGreed Aug 2014 #40

I've been there sarisataka Aug 2014 #51

Acceptable? Probably yes. Fair? Possibly no. blue neen Aug 2014 #34

What is involved in the testing? daredtowork Aug 2014 #47

It's a big issue to come up with an extra $200 or so for every test. blue neen Aug 2014 #65

WTH? Why does the patient have to pay for it? daredtowork Aug 2014 #70

Uh, yes. The patient pays for it. blue neen Aug 2014 #71

Wow that makes no sense at all. Is this the VA? daredtowork Aug 2014 #74

Many regulations require the person impacted to pay for them. NutmegYankee Aug 2014 #75

Well, if it counts, I object to that daredtowork Aug 2014 #76

the worse problem KT2000 Aug 2014 #48

Absolutely not. Good grief. n/t KarenS Aug 2014 #57

Wish to hell there was something else for my chronic pain...The pills make my head and stomach ache Tikki Aug 2014 #62

I can't figure what people like about pain pills other than to get rid of pain Skittles Aug 2014 #82

Tested WHERE???? WinkyDink Aug 2014 #66

In Alabama... yallerdawg Aug 2014 #69

A friend of mine lost his meds for chronic pain after being routinely tested Sheldon Cooper Aug 2014 #72

I think it depends on the policy loyalsister Aug 2014 #73

Yes, and they aren't being singled out; they signed a contract if it's a legit RiffRandell Aug 2014 #78

Tested by whom, and for what purpose? Ms. Toad Aug 2014 #80

If you saw a lot of the screens that come back, you'd be amazed at how much stuff folks are taking. Hoyt Aug 2014 #102

I have a badly herniated disc at C6-C7. It acts up 2-3 times a year. When it does... stevenleser Aug 2014 #104

This is the second poll-type question you have posted hifiguy Aug 2014 #109

First off I am UglyGreed Aug 2014 #112

I'd rather have doctors free to aggressively and compassionately manage pain Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #110

missed this UglyGreed Aug 2014 #120

Interesting thread. I was not sure of my feelings on this question, Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #121

So then UglyGreed Aug 2014 #122

My doctor sent a letter/ form for me to sign. The bottom line was sign this and get my urinalysis or lillee Sep 2014 #124

I'm sorry I missed your post UglyGreed Oct 2014 #125

I wish they had tested my dead friend. :( nt tridim Oct 2014 #126

I wish UglyGreed Oct 2014 #129

As do I. A simple test might have saved her life. nt tridim Oct 2014 #130

sorry if I was UglyGreed Oct 2014 #131

yes riverwalker Oct 2014 #127

why UglyGreed Oct 2014 #128

Well thank you UglyGreed Oct 2014 #133

This message was self-deleted by its author UglyGreed Oct 2014 #132