Stupid rules by stupid people

[poppy]

Yesterday for the first time in seven years I was unable to get to the chemist to pick up my methadone script due to the car breaking down miles away from home. Disastrous day, enough said.

I pick up my script twice a week (wednesdays and saturdays). My daily dose is always put into individual bottles which I've always thought is pretty silly, its as if because I'm a junky I'm not capable of measuring out 65ml of methadone. Anyway on weds. I usually pick up three bottles of meth.

It is standard practice for the chemist to suspend the script if a person fails to collect on a certain day which I think is fair. It is also standard practice to lose that day(s) methadone which I also think is fair. After all if you can't be bothered to pick it up you can't want/need it very much. So I knew I'd lost yesterday's dose even though it was through no fault of my own.

However I foolishly assumed that a quick phone call to the clinic first thing would sort things out and I would be able to go and pick up my by now much needed methadone doses for today and tomorrow. Simple enough? WRONG!!

I can't do that. Apparently I now need a new prescription even though the chemist already has a valid signed prescription for todays and tomorrows dose!! I want less meth not more for Gods sake:mad: and have no argument over yesterdays lost dose and accept it as one of those things.

I then discover that there is not a doctor available at cdt (the name of my meth clinic) to sign a new prescription until tomorrow so I will lose todays dose as well!!! How stupid is that? Particularly annoying when I've been doing better at sticking to my script and not using gear on top of it. Also I've got an appointment on monday when I'm expected to provide a clean test (my script is in jeapardy if I don't do this) which takes four days of not using any gear!! How am I supposed to do that when I'm clearly going to have to use gear or be ill? This sort of thing would not happen if drug workers were ex addicts rather than people who've read a lot of books and actually know fuck all!! They consistently prove themselves to be totally incompetent.

[Coddfish]

Yes, that is a tough situation to be in. It reminds me of when a similar thing happend to me just before Xmas one year. They took my vacation doses away, and what was I supposed to do? Say "Fuck Xmas with my family" and stay at my beautiful clinic, or say "Fuck you, clinic," and use dope around the family, AND lose all take-home privilages? It was a difficult choice, but I used that xmas. With fucking tears in my eyes I asked them not to make me make that choice. Being treated like a child is NOT therapeutic, at least not for me and, i daresay, not for you or anyother person who has an ounce of self respect left prior to them taking it. I fucking hate that shit, serioiusly. It was the main reason I got off methadone, although there were many more in addition. I mean, do they think that they are helping with shit like this?? No, the fuckers couldn't care less. Real doctors are on call or have someone available for emergencies; meth doctors don't give a fuck how long you wait, so long as THEIR schedule isn't messed up. AAarggg! You got me goin'.

[ontario_opiophile]

Shit like that always happens. I remember once I missed 2 days at the clinic and I went in and the nurse was like " Sorry I can't give you your usual dose" we seemed to have lost your script, and i'm like fine, give me half and she was like no you haveto seee the doctor...So i was waiting there for almost 2 hours and i just had a fit. I said it's not my fucking fault you lost my script. Why should I have to sit here while you dick around. Just give me half my dose and i'll be on my way. I was about ready to punch her I was feeling so uneasy at that point. You dont mess around with people who are in withdrawals. It's not smart. Anyways, the doctor ended up coming out cuz I was balling by that time and on my knees and he told her to just give me my fucking medicine! I have nothing against nurses but fuck.i've been in and out of the hospital most of the last half decade and i've gotten nothing but snobby bullshit from nurses. Some have been really nice but so many of them are so bitchy. Same with any woman secretary. Just the other day i phoned the doctor and the assistant told me i had no business phoning the doctor and i had been told by my other doctor to phone the doctor directly because it was urgent. I fucking hate bitchypeople. Men are cockblowers as well but women are just more annoying.

[opiobsessed]

Ontario, your reply hits right on and brings to mind the reason I hate fucking women and am proud I"m never been married and am well happy to be gay and a poppy head too. I just was in the hospital for major surgery and I was just waking up before I even hit the recovery room. Now it pisses me off because my doctor pretty much lied, I asked him long ago what would happen if I ever needed surgery while on suboxone. He said oh dont worry they can do anything for pain. Well I found out otherwise when I woke up. Even in as much pain as I was in, so bad that I could barely talk, this cuntrag excuse my expression but this fucking pig bitch nurse that I woke to when I was in the recovery room was so disgusting that even in pain I couldn't help but want to punch her f ing nose I mean she was sniffling like a fucking crackhead and had this bitchy voice to top it off. I would ask why I"m not getting any pain relief and she kept saying because It will interfere with the sub. Finally the doc came in who did my surgery and said "I think we need to give him a benzo" because I was shaking so bad, the damn nurse said he can't have that or it will interfere with the sub. What really pissed me off is when I was finally hooked up to what looked like a morphine pump and I asked her what is it? she said "it doesn't matter, you dont need to know. Right then I wanted to tell that fuck off so bad, all I can say is ha ha to the anti drug bullshit in the fucking usa. I'm ready to get blasted out of my poppy bulb scull, and ha ha my sub doctor won't find out either this time.

[poppy]

Just thought I'd update you on my script plight.
I thought I was going to be able to pick my one day's script today at 10.30. I then discover that the doctor won't be in to sign the script until after 4.30.
As far as the clinic are concerned I have not had any meth since tuesday morning. It is now friday afternoon!!! By rights I should be dying by now!! And they will seriously expect a clean test on monday!!!
They take the piss they really do. Its a good job that in the past when I have used gear on top of my meth I used my head and only took half my usual dose and put the rest up for a rainy day.
At least I've managed to refrain from buying gear. Up to now anyway but my will is fading fast as I get more and more pissed off. Its already a hard day gear wise as its my boyfriend's birthday and he's had two bags already.
I honestly wouldn't be at all surprized if they tell me at 4.30 that the doctor has broken a finger nail and therefore won't be able to sign my script and I'll have to wait till monday. We'll see.

Opiobsessed, I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of us girlies. We're not all bad. I try not to categorize people by their physical attributes. I just think that people are people and there are good and bad ones and gender has fuck all to do with it.

[exitwound]

Ontario, your reply hits right on and brings to mind the reason I hate fucking women and am proud I"m never been married and am well happy to be gay and a poppy head too. I just was in the hospital for major surgery and I was just waking up before I even hit the recovery room. Now it pisses me off because my doctor pretty much lied, I asked him long ago what would happen if I ever needed surgery while on suboxone. He said oh dont worry they can do anything for pain. Well I found out otherwise when I woke up. Even in as much pain as I was in, so bad that I could barely talk, this cuntrag excuse my expression but this fucking pig bitch nurse that I woke to when I was in the recovery room was so disgusting that even in pain I couldn't help but want to punch her f ing nose I mean she was sniffling like a fucking crackhead and had this bitchy voice to top it off. I would ask why I"m not getting any pain relief and she kept saying because It will interfere with the sub. Finally the doc came in who did my surgery and said "I think we need to give him a benzo" because I was shaking so bad, the damn nurse said he can't have that or it will interfere with the sub. What really pissed me off is when I was finally hooked up to what looked like a morphine pump and I asked her what is it? she said "it doesn't matter, you dont need to know. Right then I wanted to tell that fuck off so bad, all I can say is ha ha to the anti drug bullshit in the fucking usa. I'm ready to get blasted out of my poppy bulb scull, and ha ha my sub doctor won't find out either this time.

LOL man, you cracked me up with that one :D

[Tar_Baby]

Shit like that always happens. I remember once I missed 2 days at the clinic and I went in and the nurse was like " Sorry I can't give you your usual dose" we seemed to have lost your script, and i'm like fine, give me half and she was like no you haveto seee the doctor...So i was waiting there for almost 2 hours and i just had a fit. I said it's not my fucking fault you lost my script. Why should I have to sit here while you dick around. Just give me half my dose and i'll be on my way. I was about ready to punch her I was feeling so uneasy at that point. You dont mess around with people who are in withdrawals. It's not smart. Anyways, the doctor ended up coming out cuz I was balling by that time and on my knees and he told her to just give me my fucking medicine! I have nothing against nurses but fuck.i've been in and out of the hospital most of the last half decade and i've gotten nothing but snobby bullshit from nurses. Some have been really nice but so many of them are so bitchy. Same with any woman secretary. Just the other day i phoned the doctor and the assistant told me i had no business phoning the doctor and i had been told by my other doctor to phone the doctor directly because it was urgent. I fucking hate bitchypeople. Men are cockblowers as well but women are just more annoying.
Ive noticed this as well.. mostly in the ER..The women in the er treated me like a diseased
rapist because I had 2 heroin abscesses that needed minor surgery...
I know ppl look down on stuff like that but hey ...if you cant treat ppl without judgement you shouldnt be a fucking nurse

[poppy]

So were the men so much more sympathetic? My male doc has certainly never shown any great sympathy when I've been forced to go for antibiotics for heroin abscesses. Neither did the male Anaethsatist(spelling) when it took him over three parts of an hour to find a vein that worked to administer anaesthetic necessary for my operation.
Like I said before people are people good and bad regardless of gender. Could it be that you expect women to be better/more sympathetic carers than men? Sorry to go all feministy on you but.......

[Opiyum]

I know of a female nurse on this forum named Candy who has ass loads of empathy for all the junkies she sees. And I have a friend whose girlfriend is a nurse. She, he and I all get high together on occasion and she talks about how other nurses treat the dope fiends with such impugnity. She on the other hand doesnt.

I dont actually know Candy other than shared dialogue on this forum and I dont mean to speak for her but she has said she treats the junkies like they should be treated. I'd find the quote but I'm going for a walk to catch the last few hours of sunlight. PEACEFULLNESS

[candy]

Opiyum,
Thanks for the nice things you said. Being a nurse and someone with an opiate addiction, I have had the experience from both sides as a patient and as a nurse. I went into nursing out of a genuine desire to help others and regardless of someone's race, religion, or their desire to use, I will treat them with respect and compassion. I do believe that having this addiction has made me more compassionate and a bigger advocate for my patients.
I myself have dealt with the discrimination we often face as users. Often doctors and nurses alike fail to listen to their patients, especially those who are addicted and when we try to educate them regarding our specific needs we are ignored and mistreated. I have seen some fatal mistakes made by doctors or nurses who disregarded the information given to them by their patients, myself included.
Most of us who use know what works and what doesn't and when doctors and nurses don't listen, we suffer due to their ignorance and judgments.
Working in the ER, I have seen firsthand how drug users are treated. Whether it be someone being poked needlessly because the nurse refuses to listen to the patient who knows the best spot to get an IV in or the patient who suffers in pain because the docs refuse to give him anything because he is on Methadone.
While I rarely told my patients of my own experience and use of opiates, I made sure they received the care they needed.
Doctors and nurses need to be educated on caring for someone with an opiate addiction. You will find more sympathy and compassion for the alcoholic who comes in then you will for the IV drug user.

It is no different in Methadone clinics. The staff and doctors are often uneducated regarding opiate addiction and treatment with Methadone. Being an addict yourself, doesn't necessarily make you a good counselor and most often you see that those who work in clinics are often recovering addicts. No offense to anyone who does this, but far too often counselors don't advocate for their patients and no should need to suffer needlessly, especially if the mistake is the fault of the clinic. But, far too often what I see if fat, lazy, and uneducated counselors who do nothing for their clients. Everytime I go into see my counselor she has food in her hand. I don't want to sit their and watch her feed her fucking face. That is what her lunch break is for and if I have to pay for treatment, I damn well don't need to watch her eat during my supposed counseling session. I want results or at the very least someone who acts somewhat interested. And I certainly don't want to be told I cannot get my dose because of her fuck-up!

All I can say is get educated about your needs. Use the resources you have and the internet is a great one. Don't be afraid to educate your doc if a medical need comes up and you need to be seen by a doctor or in the ER. The more you know the better off you will be. Being prepared will only save your ass in a situation and if you do have medical problems or are on medication other than your Methadone, have your medical records and keep copies of everything. Keep the number of your clinic with you at all times, know your dose, and if you can bring someone with you, such as a family member.
At your clinic, keep a written journal of mistakes or problems your experiencing, no matter how minor or even if it was your fault. You will make a better case for yourself and be taken more seriously if you have your shit together. It will always be your word against theirs, but I would guess they won't remember who said what if asked and if you can support your complaint with a written account of what happened, you will be more likely to get results.

I know I said a lot here and it may seem a bit jumbled, but I hope it makes some sense.
And not all women are evil, LOL! Some of us actually have it going on!

[Kallie]

Candy, you do a great job here at O-phile... and we are damn lucky to have a professional willing to donate their expertise. Thank you.

Like Poppy said, anybody can be a jackass. And anybody can be kind. Sometimes in the same freaking day. I don't believe in stereotyping everyone due to some unfortunate experiences....

[SomniGod]

And not all women are evil, LOL! Some of us actually have it going on!


You are a rare bird candy...that is for sure!!! But I guess it goes that way on both sides... I could only hope to land a girl that is not only bright, well-educated, shares a love for the all-mighty opiate (but shows control over herself and her monkey), etc... I guess we could go on all day about how great Candy is.... any chance of you having a sister/twin/etc?!?! j/k anyway, you have been a great help to many people here. I personally have a lot of respect for expert opinion and generally enjoy reading your posts! You rock!


~S~

[candy]

Thanks so much guys! I do appreciate all said and it makes my day indeed.

And no twin sister, just an older one!

[Opiyum]

Have you ever had somone that was dopesick in your bed...Hospital bed that is? I would think that would be very difficult.

[candy]

Opiyum,
I have dealt with many dopesick patients. They often come in dehydrated or too sick to be cared for alone at home. It is pretty difficult to see, especially when you know exactly what their feeling. Sadly, I sent many home just as sick as they came in. It was times like those I wished I had a script pad. And....
The only dopesick person in my bed has been me!

Been there a few times and hopefully never again!