WHY DOU TAKE PAIN MEDS AWAY FOR POSITIVE THC IN URINE?

[karttuner]

I'm on 125msg/h fentanyl patch, whats the recommended time for getting off the patch? my dr. is lowering it 25mcg/h every 20 days after being on the patch for 12 years. ALL BECAUSE MY URINE YESTS CAME BACK POSITIVE THIS YEAR AND THE LAST 4 YEARS TOO. BUT THEY DID
NOTHING THE PREVIOUS 4 TEARS.

[ribitt]

Unless your Doctor is both in favor of Medical Marijuana *and* MM is legal in Iowa (As far as I am aware it is not legal in Iowa but things change so fast, forgive my ignorance if it is), it seems your Doctor has decided to do something about your failed UAs. PM Doctors often give random UAs, both to verify that you are indeed taking the meds prescribed, and that you are not abusing substances not prescribed. This is due to the intense scrutiny they receive from the DEA. Most Doctors value their practice.

My PM Doc gives random UAs and (depending on a patients past compliance history) in the event of a failure will dismiss a patient from the practice. No goodbye scripts are written, no referrals to another PM doctor. Maybe not even meds for a taper.

You are a consumer. You are not "STUCK WITH HIM", nor is he required to keep you as a patient. I personally wouldn't contact a lawyer or report him to the State Med Board, but to each his own. I'd start my search for a new PM Doctor as soon as possible. It might take some time to get into a new Doc without a referral. In the event that Medical Marijuana IS legal in Iowa, check with your local dispensary for a recommendation!

Count yourself blessed that he is tapering you off Fentanyl. If you read some of the posts in the PAIN FORUM you will realize you are quite lucky. You may still get some withdrawals going from 12.5 mcg to 0 however.

The Pain Forum has some wonderful tips on minimizing withdrawals. With luck you won't have any. I can personally tell you that Fentanyl withdrawals are NOT fun. I have experienced them due to patch failures. Sometimes the "sticky" just doesn't stick. Goodluck

[karttuner]

YES I TOLD HIM THATS WHY THIS IS REALLY PISSING ME OFF. HE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT BEFORE BUT NOW HES BEING A JERK. HE EVEN CANCELLED MY NEXT APPT. I WISH I HAD MONEY I'D GET A LAWYER, BUT I DID WRITE THE IOWA BOARD OF MEDICINE AND I'M WAITING TO SEE WHAT THEIR GOING TO DO. HES PROBABLY BEING
INVESTIGATED OR SOMETHING!

[ThePhoenix75]

Did your dr. know you were using marijuana?  Had you had a conversation about it before?  You mentioned it was positive the previous four years, did your dr. discuss the positive urine then?  I am just trying to understand the full picture...

[karttuner]

IT CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR "THC" ALSO.
AND THE PREVIOUS 4 YEARS ACCEPT NOW HES TRYING TO
GET RID OF ME AS A PATIENT.THERE ARE NO OTHER DR.S
AROUND SO I GOT STUCK WITH HIM.

[ThePhoenix75]

I am on the fentanyl patch, too--200 ug every 48 hours.  I have been trying to taper off by my own resolve.
I am unfamiliar by what you mean you urine tests came back positive, aren't they supposed to be positive if you are on a prescribed opiate?