Pain management failed drug test

[lmull]

I have been going to the same pm center for 10 years, I have always been compliant. In January i did a random urine drug screen I was hoorified at the results there were drugs in there I have never taken even an illict drug. My name wasnt on the cup it was placed by me in a room where there were several other cups no one checked the temperature. no chain of command. In february they filled my ms contin and in march now they cut me off and said i could get narcotics from another docter but still use them for epidurals and such. Their policy is if you fail your dropped-why didnt they drop me. I saw their drug consulor and i have bad teeth but weigh 200 pounds, based on my teeth she felt i may be a meth user. I am a nurse for 24 years and am very anti drug. I am not sure what to do they have refused to retest me this is april! I feel like I have been tried found guilty and sentenced and labeled a drug addict. Also i am on workers comp. And when I mentioned that I was uncomfortable about the way the test was done THEY exploded on me verbaly that they dont make mistakes. HELP!

[lmull]

The drug screen had soma, flexeril, codiene, darvocet, ampetemines and it said inconsistant on a couple of them- I was taking ms contin and lortab,ibuprofen, cipro for uti, and some supplements from health food store. The same meds I have always taken. As for the day of the drug screen there was no one to take the cup from me I stood in the hall holding it for 5 minutes before a nurse said to put it in the little room with other cups of urine. I said something then about checking the temp and my name not on the cup and was I guess brushed off and told It's O.K. went I got 2 my car and called my daughter and told her I wanted to march back in and demand another test right then she said "Mom your just paranoid" I now know that God was telling me to take action right then.  I know I need to advocate for myself I just have been so mad at myself for not listening to my gut feeling that day, I never dreamed this could happen 2 me. Instead of Why Me  I say Why not me! It has made me aware that this happens to people. As a nurse I have had to drug screen employees of course its with a name on cup temperature is reas cup sealed in front of the person. And one time a man claimed a lab mistake and no-one listened to him maybe this is Karma.Thanks for just responding

[lmull]

I have asked to speak with the doctor he is not available until August. They have not re drug tested me either.

[Mollyrae]

Hi Imull:

Well, I really feel that they have made a terrible mistake on your part and I'm sure that they won't admit it. You instincts were right. You should have marched back in there for a second test and made sure your name was on it.

By law, the clinic has to treat you for 30 days. In the mean time you need to find a new clinic. Unfortunately they have flagged your medical record and it may make the hunt for a new clinic hard. I ma sorry and feel really bad for you, I wish I had better advise. Please keep us informed of your situation. Until then, take care and good luck in the search for a new clinic.
Molly

[BIGDADDIE]

Do you happen to know where I might find that law please please please

[backhurtz]

BigDaddie,
That law if it existed was only in a couple of states. It no longer exists if it ever did.
Many people claim the Patients Bill of Rights stated doctors were required to provide a taper or 30 days worth of meds, but that is not true.
The thing is when you break the contract, it makes it far more difficult to find a new pain management doctor willing to take you on.
I strongly suggest you start looking now. Most PM offices do not prescribe opiates on the first visit, even for patients that have been on them before coming to them.
They want the records that they will obtain from your previous PM, to check your prescription fill history and to send out a urine screen before they start considering opiates.

[nurseaudrea]

This is so unfortunate. It is so sad to think that the nurse who told you to sit it down with the other cups does not take this as serious as she would if she were in your situation and had to be drug tested. The only time I have taken drug tests were for pre-employment and they always sealed it in front of you and you have to sign it also. It should be done that way everytime. One place did the drug test right in front of me and got the results right then so we knew no one else touched it. That was such an injustice it makes me so mad to think some people are treated this way. I did have a drug test done one time by my PM doctor but my blood was drawn. I failed it because they said there were amphetamines in it. When I went back to the dr the following week I was horrified to hear this. I have never used methamphetamines in my life. He sent me for another test and it came back fine. He believed me because we had a good relationship and I had been his patient for a long while. Well,the reason it showed the amphet. was because I had used Metabolife. I was taking it because I thought it could help me lose weight and give me energy. I found out that it metabolized into a substance just like amphetamines do and can give you a false pos. I mentioned it to the doctor but he does not believe that can really happen. I had to bring him some research on the subject before he would believe me. If these doctors are doing drug screens that can affect your life and well being they  should let you do it a second time just in case they are wrong, because it does happen.
I hope they listen to you and give you another shot.               Audrea

[lmull]

Thats the really crazy part they have not dropped me as a patient. The drug screen was in January my meds were filled  that month Feb and March. They said they wanted to keep me as a patient just wont give me narcotics but they have a strict policy that is posted everwhere in the office that if u fail a drug test you will be dropped.So why hav'nt they droppedme? I think they know something wasnt right with the way the test was handled. I have a appt in my with the PA there in may. I do not want to b labeled a drug seeker addict in my records. Even crazier they told me to get my narcotics from my pcp because they thought I really need them.

[FeCielo]

I had an experience when I was pregnant with my son. Since I was taking pain meds during my pregnancy....my OB and my PM worked closely together during my pregnancy....my OB drug tested me because she knew that the hospital would test me because I was on opiates. I came in for a regular appointment and my OB informed me that I had tested positive for hydromorphone. I was shocked and asked her if there could have been a mistake and she told me that they had tested me twice. I left and I was very confused how I could test positive for something I had never heard of. The first thing I did was get on the computer and do my own research. After just a few minutes online I found out that hydrocodone can metabilize in your body as hydromorphone. I found case study after case study on the subject. I printed several of them out and called and spoke with the nurse at the OB's office. I personally took the info to their office and at my next appointment my OB told me she had read them and then called my PM dr and also a PM friend of hers. She then apologized to me for jumping to the conclussion that I was taking other medications and at my next PM appt my dr reassured me that she had spoken with the OB and told her that the small levels of Hydromorphone were normal for a PM patient. It was a very scary experience but also a learning experience for me too.

I am sorry that this has happened to you and I wish you luck with getting it resolved.