Another thing to consider is that you said you were usually out by your second week and had to jut off the streets. This is another reason you need to have an honest conversation with your doctor (leaving out the fact that you are buying off the street perhaps) but definitely letting him know that you can't seem to get enough. if you need long term narcotics for pain, tolerance will build and physical addiction is certain. As I said, time to re-evaluate why you are taking so many -With your doctor.
You need to come clean with your doctor and tell him what is really going on. Evaluating your pain should be done too and this does require being off the meds for awhile. You might be surprised to find out the pain isnt as bad as you think. I know for me in the end the meds werent really helping any of my actual pain, it was all mental. You've crossed that line into addiction already and it will only get worse. I hope you make the right decision.
I don't condone someone being in pain and sucking it up. The simple fact is the longer you are on them the more you need. I've seen what happens then.....my hubby had surgery and was in so much pain because they could barely manage it.
When your meds take over your life and you lie or cheat to get them or buy them off the street then it is a problem.
There are ways to manage the pain.....as I have been told repeatedly...when there is a legitimate need it is okay to take them...but not to abuse them. There are other options for RA ..... opiates don't work very well on RA anyway. Sometime have a talk with Lulu who has RA and endometriosis....she has a pretty good system of managing her RA pain now.
You have a pain problem. You deserve pain meds. I would say that you tried both because it seemed like the new pharmacy got them in quicker, and tell your doc that you will agree to use only one pharmacy if that is an issue. Opiates were designed for people with real pain. That's what you have. I get that this is an addiction forum but the idea that anyone addicted should just suck it up and deal with the pain is absurd.
Come clean! I've found that most times (not all) that doctors are a lot more tolerant if you are honest. Yes, you may get a lecture, he may decide to test you once a month to make sure you are taking as you should or he may decide to drop you as a patient. I would imagine if they were going to drop you they would have done it already. The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor though....much less chance of getting flagged that way. Usually the pharmacy calls the doctor and they will go with what the doctor says.
In the meantime, seriously consider getting off of the opiates. Every single one of us have been through the whole gamut of issues. Not correcting mistakes, some have bought off the street (not me...I wouldn't have a clue where to go lol), lie to the doctors and friends, steal from family members....and all these things mean addiction.
Even if you get through this issue easily the problems are going to keep cropping up...especially if you get desperate. Do you want drugs to run your life? Do you want to live your life?
If it was me I would see my doctor, tell him that I've gone beyond being medically dependent and ask for help getting off the opiates safely. There are so many other options out there now. If you ask most of the addicts in here who have been clean several months they will tell you they have less pain now than they did when they took the opiates. Those drugs change your brain chemistry and now your brain is telling you that you need them!
Please consider doing this....and if you decide to do it the hard way...Cold Turkey...we'll be here to support you. You will be in my prayers!