Another view on the Opioid Crisis - Updated in original post

What they are putting you through is terrible! Could home health care assist with blood draws or someone else come to you? I'd talk t ok a social worker or look into other resources to eliminate some of this stress

That is beyond awful. Pain management is a thing and it needs to be addressed along with the addiction problem. Health care in the US is beyond ridiculous and expensive. I firmly believe we can do both. I'm not in Chicago but another who would be happy to help send a gift card or a Uber/Lyft gift card to help with some of the costs so you can stay home as long as possible. I'm so sorry. Wishing you peace and some pain-free days.

As someone who was able to make my mother’s wish to remain at home until the end happen, your story breaks my heart. It was the 90’s, the dr prescribed as much pain relief as needed. (Morphine). There was a base pill, and then breakthrough pills if necessary. For 8 1/2 months the amount gradually went up. He assured us there was no problem with addiction, as she was terminal.

She lived almost 6 months longer than they thought she would, and much of that time was good time because her pain was handled.

This is what you deserve too, and I’m mad at the situation and everyone whose actions and decisions have created it.

eta: once hospice came on board, only toward the end, they kept on eye on the morphine level, but for 8 months before that we handled it all ourselves with no  supervision beyond  the oncologist asking how she was doing. When she died, however, the first thing the hospice nurse did was dump the meds. 

Thank you for sharing your story. As a fellow Refupea, you bring a reality to a horrible situation that many of us only read about or hear about on TV. I also wish I were close enough to help you with this completely unwarranted and inhumane struggle. Our government should be ashamed of the way people at your level of legitimate need are treated.

I wish you peace and a way to find help, hopefully some of the suggestions on this thread will be productive. Hugs and prayers.

i'm so very sorry you're in this position, and you're right, it's total bullsh*t that you have to go thru so many hoops just to be comfortable in your time you have left. your story is important, and thank you for sharing it!

i know you didn't post looking for "a handout", but please let those of us who are willing send you a little to help? even if it's just uber/cab gift cards or something.. it isn't fair to you, and we can help, so let us?

Thank you for posting your situation. It is heartbreaking! I wish there were good solutions for you. I too would love to contribute something to make it easier for you to get your meds.

I love that you're offering her rides to and from where she needs to go.

But it's not just that. Getting up, getting ready and going out means she's exerting energy that her body is going to pay for with soreness and pain. And it's mental draining to get up every day or every other day and have to explain your whole situation to someone.

Chronic pain is a lot of little things that you don't realize until you're in it. What should take 10 minute of putting make up on, mates 20/25 with the breaks and extra time to place eye shadow on gracefully.

I realize that, but I am sure some pharmacies would not hand me her opioids. So the best we can do is help her to get them. Gift cards and rides would be a start. If a pea became a regularly seen driving the OP to the pharmacy they might be more likely to hand over the drugs to someone they might be more familiar with.

It makes me so angry that you have to jump through so many hoops to receive the medication you need to be comfortable.

I know you weren't asking for anything, but if there is a way to contribute to your ride fund, let us know! I'm in California and can't help physically, but I would like to help if I can.

I am so very sorry to read your post and to learn of your predicament. This is so grossly unfair, unethical and inhumane that you are being treated in this manner and made to go to the pharmacy in your condition every few days to pick up your allotment of pain medication in "case you might get addicted". What ludicrous! If there is anything at all we Peas can do to help you please don't hesitate to ask. I will pray for you and if I can do anything at all please let me know. I am furious for you that you are having to go through this especially now. 

This is the side of the Opioid crisis you won't hear about on the news. My sister has been a chronic pain patient for over 20 years due to many health issues. I've written here about her before. She's taken her pain medication without any issues or problems for 20 years. She always stuck to the schedule for her pain meds and never took more than she should. Once this opioid crisis hit her pain meds were reduced down to 1/3 of what she'd been taking for 20 years. Now her pain meds wear off at 4:00 pm and she has to suffer horrific pain until the next morning when she can take her next dose. She's told me she's thought of suicide because she sees no way out of the pain. She's my best friend.

This devastates me that she has to suffer like this and for everyone else in this situation-the cancer patients, the surgery patients, the chronic pain patients. In my opinion I understand why the government wanted to address the easily addictive aspects of the opioids but they went about it completely wrong. In an ethical society you do not make patients suffer like this! I think they should have had an alternative pain medication in place BEFORE they decided to take away/reduce the opioids that chronic pain patients, cancer patients and surgery patients need. If they can't find one before that then they shouldn't even consider reducing these patients medication. That should be between the doctors and their patients. Period. 

Now, as far as handing opioids out as candy, of course that has to be stopped, but that is not what I'm talking about above. 

I am so sorry. It should not be so hard to live the end of your life with grace and dignity. 

Does the pharmacy have a delivery service you can use? Or can you transfer your prescription to a pharmacy that does have a delivery service? 
And is there a grocery delivery service you can use? 

Anyone?!?!?!