What's everyone up to right now?

[Esquilax]

Contemplating this pile of paperwork I have to do for the clinic Pain Management Committee so that the clinic might do something to actually, you know, manage my pain.

Frankly though, about the best I can hope for is that they'll allow my doc to prescribe the mostly ineffective rx I'm already taking, or make their problem someone else's problem by referring me to a pain management clinic.

It's disheartening to find the in their zeal to crack down on illicit prescription of pain medication that people like myself have to fight just to retain an inadequate level of care.

I don't know that I can do this, it feels like begging - for drugs.  How did it come to this?

Nothing but sympathy, man. I've watched Luckie literally writhing in agony with a confirmed blood clot killing her lung tissue, with doctors unwilling to give her pain medication until the issue is forced. Hell, even today she's had to go physically down to her doctor to beg for more pain meds, because apparently a fully contrasted cat scan showing her new herniated intestines isn't sufficient demonstration of a need to even earn a call back.

I'm not sure it's just a need to crack down anymore, honestly. If a person with over a decade's history of illness requiring these meds, and multiple cold turkey detoxes to avoid having to take more than she has to, that they've personally overseen, isn't enough to easily get what she needs... I think a lot of it is just disinterest. It's "only" pain. Less work for them if you just endure and they don't have to prescribe anything.

Because I notice we never have to fight for refill scripts already in the system. Just adjusted doses.

[c172]

The live feed for sentencing pertaining to an attack on a local television personality.

[Alex K]

Fajitas!

[Crossless2.0]

A delicious lunch prepared by my beloved, followed by wild, intense lovemaking before I have to return to the office.

Ok, actually a burger on the go while I drive to Customs to file some paperwork.

[Joods]

Doing my hair (what's left of it) and my makeup.

I "might" take a picture when I'm done. Haven't decided on that yet. Never been big on the whole selfie thing.

[Jackalope]

Contemplating this pile of paperwork I have to do for the clinic Pain Management Committee so that the clinic might do something to actually, you know, manage my pain.

Frankly though, about the best I can hope for is that they'll allow my doc to prescribe the mostly ineffective rx I'm already taking, or make their problem someone else's problem by referring me to a pain management clinic.

It's disheartening to find the in their zeal to crack down on illicit prescription of pain medication that people like myself have to fight just to retain an inadequate level of care.

I don't know that I can do this, it feels like begging - for drugs.  How did it come to this?

Nothing but sympathy, man. I've watched Luckie literally writhing in agony with a confirmed blood clot killing her lung tissue, with doctors unwilling to give her pain medication until the issue is forced. Hell, even today she's had to go physically down to her doctor to beg for more pain meds, because apparently a fully contrasted cat scan showing her new herniated intestines isn't sufficient demonstration of a need to even earn a call back.

I'm not sure it's just a need to crack down anymore, honestly. If a person with over a decade's history of illness requiring these meds, and multiple cold turkey detoxes to avoid having to take more than she has to, that they've personally overseen, isn't enough to easily get what she needs... I think a lot of it is just disinterest. It's "only" pain. Less work for them if you just endure and they don't have to prescribe anything.

Because I notice we never have to fight for refill scripts already in the system. Just adjusted doses.

Part of the problem for the bolded issue is that DEA regulations for the past 5 or so years have required paper prescriptions for any opiates. Back then I was on oxycodone, and I was prescribed 1-4 tablets every 4-6 hours, and only given 20 tablets at a time, and I would have to beg for a refill every time, which took 2-3 days to fill. Do the math and you find that I would literally have to start begging for a refill the day I filled an RX, which I would not do because the last thing a chronic pain patient needs is to be labeled a drug seeker.

I gave up after a few months and used ineffective OTC treatments instead, plus what I could get (tramadol) in Mexico on my annual trips - and now they've suddenly made an issue of that now that I need something for the extremely painful infection that I'm fighting. On a scale of 1-10 with my pain at an 8, they refused to prescribe. I am not an addict. I use tramadol only when absolutely necessary to ensure I get enough sleep.

Fuck my life.

[Pat Mustard]

Wish me luck. I've a job interview tomorrow. If successful I'll be checking your passports any time you visit Ireland.

[Athene]

Thinking of purchasing a Google Chromebook. 
Good for college students...yes, no?

I swear, I never even heard of Chromebook until a week ago.

Honest reviews, please. I'll be your best friend and fry you stuff.

[Jackalope]

Thinking of purchasing a Google Chromebook. 
Good for college students...yes, no?

I swear, I never even heard of Chromebook until a week ago.

Honest reviews, please. I'll be your best friend and fry you stuff.

My kid has one. Good for budget-minded people who can get by with web stuff and the Google applications. Not so good if you need Windows applications. For $100-150 more you can get a laptop with better specs that runs Windows.

[Esquilax]

Part of the problem for the bolded issue is that DEA regulations for the past 5 or so years have required paper prescriptions for any opiates.  Back then I was on oxycodone, and I was prescribed 1-4 tablets every 4-6 hours, and only given 20 tablets at a time, and I would have to beg for a refill every time, which took 2-3 days to fill.  Do the math and you find that I would literally have to start begging for a refill the day I filled an RX, which I would not do because the last thing a chronic pain patient needs is to be labeled a drug seeker.

God I wish we could convince doctors/regulators to be able to prescribe larger quantities. Nothing gets solved with these tiny little bottles, since the drug seekers and the actual patients will be coming back in at the same time anyway, and in fact, it'd be easier to peg the addicts if you give out a hundred pills and they're gone in a week. All that happens are that those in real need end up having to come down to the wire in getting their refills, and courting withdrawals if ever their pharmacy doesn't have it all in stock, which has happened to us before.

On a related note, Luckie's just had her surgery scheduled for two week's time, which should alleviate a lot of her chronic pain and get her a higher dosage of painkillers afterwards, so that's nice. And worrying.

Immunosuppressed people don't exactly need to be going under the knife.