Posted on Nov 26, 2019
Medical Students Say Their Opioid Experiences Will Shape How They Prescribe
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Here are a few quotes that stuck with me while reading this article and my reaction to them.
"The first time I ever used an opioid, I felt the most confident and powerful I'd ever felt," Braun says. I have never had that reaction to opioids nor ever heard this example before. I get sleepy when I take them.
"If I'm lucky enough to have the migraine between Monday and Friday from 8 to 5," she says, "I can call him and get a shot of Demerol" said Katie Buckman. Giving Demerol for a migraine is a first for me. You would never get this drug at an Army Hospital. The only time I was given was when I had my back fused twice. I was at a 10 for pain after the fusions. I have had a bunch of terrible migraines and never thought they were bad enough to get Demerol. Demerol more than likely make migraines more bearable but I have no idea how this person was able to function after get Demerol.
"People addicted to opioids and people in chronic pain have a lot in common: Both groups face stigma, often struggle to get treatment and need doctors who understand their problem". I have always had to just about beg to get opioids. I currently have a really good pain management doctor that understands how much I am in and prescribes what I need. I have never saw any of those doctors that gave tons of opioids to people.
"One time I had a doc, before he even came in and introduced himself as my caregiver, he just popped his head in, said, 'Well, you're not going to be receiving any narcotics today, Buckman says". I have never have had this happen to me but I can see it easily happening.
"The first time I ever used an opioid, I felt the most confident and powerful I'd ever felt," Braun says. I have never had that reaction to opioids nor ever heard this example before. I get sleepy when I take them.
"If I'm lucky enough to have the migraine between Monday and Friday from 8 to 5," she says, "I can call him and get a shot of Demerol" said Katie Buckman. Giving Demerol for a migraine is a first for me. You would never get this drug at an Army Hospital. The only time I was given was when I had my back fused twice. I was at a 10 for pain after the fusions. I have had a bunch of terrible migraines and never thought they were bad enough to get Demerol. Demerol more than likely make migraines more bearable but I have no idea how this person was able to function after get Demerol.
"People addicted to opioids and people in chronic pain have a lot in common: Both groups face stigma, often struggle to get treatment and need doctors who understand their problem". I have always had to just about beg to get opioids. I currently have a really good pain management doctor that understands how much I am in and prescribes what I need. I have never saw any of those doctors that gave tons of opioids to people.
"One time I had a doc, before he even came in and introduced himself as my caregiver, he just popped his head in, said, 'Well, you're not going to be receiving any narcotics today, Buckman says". I have never have had this happen to me but I can see it easily happening.
Medical Students Say Their Opioid Experiences Will Shape How They Prescribe
Posted from npr.org
Drugs
Health
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Used them once in my life, post surgery. Sick at my stomach and vomited. Went with ibuprophen and have managed my pain with over the counter medication. Same with my wife.
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There will always be addicts in our midst. Opium and it's byproducts have been abused since the dawn of history. But I think the current outbreak of addiction has a lot to do with our hospital system and the shift from treatment to "pain management"... all in the name of the almighty dollar.
Pills are cheap. Surgery is not. When you put price controls in and have health plans where copays and total annual costs of care are factors in decision-making, you get outcomes like this. In my opinion, this one is on the government with supporting actor awards to insurance companies.
My own experience with opiods was short. After being hit with an IED and shot back in 2004, I got burned pretty badly. I was given morphine initially, with something else (I forget which) for pain management afterwards. The pain from significant burns is hard to describe to those that have never experienced it. I took one pill. It made me absolutely batshit crazy for about two hours. That was the last pill I took. I will take the pain and suck it up, thank you.
I can't even imagine being addicted to that stuff.
Pills are cheap. Surgery is not. When you put price controls in and have health plans where copays and total annual costs of care are factors in decision-making, you get outcomes like this. In my opinion, this one is on the government with supporting actor awards to insurance companies.
My own experience with opiods was short. After being hit with an IED and shot back in 2004, I got burned pretty badly. I was given morphine initially, with something else (I forget which) for pain management afterwards. The pain from significant burns is hard to describe to those that have never experienced it. I took one pill. It made me absolutely batshit crazy for about two hours. That was the last pill I took. I will take the pain and suck it up, thank you.
I can't even imagine being addicted to that stuff.
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SFC (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) - It doesn't matter - the way that both were treated is wrong. They criminalized one and didn't consider it an epidemic - then coddle the other. Drug abuse of any drug is illegal.
The issue is 1. pushing the medical community to classify addiction as a brain disease to reduce the stigma (which it hasn't). 2. Rehab centers are a joke and only there to make money. 3. Treating narcotics addiction the same as alcohol and using a cookie cutter approach.
There's more but that's where it's an issue is that we treat it wrong. It's more about reducing stigma and coddling than anything else. Like making sure cops have Narcan just in case someone OD's but we don't have that similar reaction for people who have real diseases and need help.
The issue is 1. pushing the medical community to classify addiction as a brain disease to reduce the stigma (which it hasn't). 2. Rehab centers are a joke and only there to make money. 3. Treating narcotics addiction the same as alcohol and using a cookie cutter approach.
There's more but that's where it's an issue is that we treat it wrong. It's more about reducing stigma and coddling than anything else. Like making sure cops have Narcan just in case someone OD's but we don't have that similar reaction for people who have real diseases and need help.
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - Just say no, right?
Our political leaders seem to have other things on their mind.
Our providers seem to have money on their mind.
The addicts seem to have... well, whatever their addled mind can come up with.
Nobody seems to care until it hits home. By then, it is too late for far too many.
Our political leaders seem to have other things on their mind.
Our providers seem to have money on their mind.
The addicts seem to have... well, whatever their addled mind can come up with.
Nobody seems to care until it hits home. By then, it is too late for far too many.
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Suspended Profile
I was never all that tempted to do drugs anyway, but around about 16 years old I was put on some sort of codeine cough syrup. The sizzurp or the lean as the kids say on their jazz albums.
Took the first dose, about an hour later I beat up a kid on MY OWN deck hockey team and then trashed my living room.
I’ve been good with ibuprofen or naproxen ever since.
Took the first dose, about an hour later I beat up a kid on MY OWN deck hockey team and then trashed my living room.
I’ve been good with ibuprofen or naproxen ever since.
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This is the difference between medical and civilian care though. They never want to give out anything but 800mg right away. For everything.
However what I fail to understand is that when people realize how any drug has an adverse affect on them - even if it feels good the aftermath is not - why they keep taking it? I was married to a meth addict. He's been using for 20 years. Two failed marriages. Four kids with 3 people who he doesn't take care. 5 trips to rehab. Jail. Etc. He just relapsed again in Sept after his fifth trip. He's been running around like he's 20 again. I have asked him time and again "Why do you keep doing this when meth is the root of all your problems?" I just get the response I get all the time "I know I know." If you know - why do it?
I haven't tried meth so I don't know how it is but it sounds awful and when you don't know what is actually in it or if it's laced...and opioids I haven't really ever had to take. I got my wisdom teeth pulled and got oxy but I took it once and it really didn't do much. So I stopped.
I just don't get how people continually choose to destroy their lives with drugs - the ones who do. I know this is about those who overcame. That's great when someone decides to CHOOSE sobriety and keep it. But there is a horrible approach to drug addiction because society wants to make them look like victims when they aren't. It's a choice pure and simple. NO one has to take any prescribed medicine especially if you have reactions to it. So to say they were "forced" by their doctor is crap.
I used to be on the "addiction is a disease" bandwagon until my ex demolished me financially, emotionally, physically and mentally. And he keeps choosing it over and over and surrounding himself with tweaker idiots. Instead of keeping a job more than 2 weeks. Or being there for his kids (his oldest is 17 and already been in rehab for meth - the mom was using with him and he's been in and out of juvie).
If someone overcomes and can help someone else kudos. THe whole issue is not approached well.
However what I fail to understand is that when people realize how any drug has an adverse affect on them - even if it feels good the aftermath is not - why they keep taking it? I was married to a meth addict. He's been using for 20 years. Two failed marriages. Four kids with 3 people who he doesn't take care. 5 trips to rehab. Jail. Etc. He just relapsed again in Sept after his fifth trip. He's been running around like he's 20 again. I have asked him time and again "Why do you keep doing this when meth is the root of all your problems?" I just get the response I get all the time "I know I know." If you know - why do it?
I haven't tried meth so I don't know how it is but it sounds awful and when you don't know what is actually in it or if it's laced...and opioids I haven't really ever had to take. I got my wisdom teeth pulled and got oxy but I took it once and it really didn't do much. So I stopped.
I just don't get how people continually choose to destroy their lives with drugs - the ones who do. I know this is about those who overcame. That's great when someone decides to CHOOSE sobriety and keep it. But there is a horrible approach to drug addiction because society wants to make them look like victims when they aren't. It's a choice pure and simple. NO one has to take any prescribed medicine especially if you have reactions to it. So to say they were "forced" by their doctor is crap.
I used to be on the "addiction is a disease" bandwagon until my ex demolished me financially, emotionally, physically and mentally. And he keeps choosing it over and over and surrounding himself with tweaker idiots. Instead of keeping a job more than 2 weeks. Or being there for his kids (his oldest is 17 and already been in rehab for meth - the mom was using with him and he's been in and out of juvie).
If someone overcomes and can help someone else kudos. THe whole issue is not approached well.
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