negative screening

Question

i have been going to pain mgmt for several years.. 2 weeks ago, i give a urine.. which is expected every now and than.. i have never had a problem this time, she calls me and tells me .i have no opiates in my system.. i say, that can't be.. i'll come in for a new screening.. she said that won't be necessary.. it's been checked and rechecked.. we use a place in massachuetts.. I''ll have to get back to you and see what the doctor wants to do.. i said ok.. i don't know why that happened.. haven't got a clue.. anyhow, i am having a joint replacement of the right thumb tomorrow... by a different doctor .. the pain meds are from pain mght for back disc degentive disease, my fascial pain and arthritis stenosis and arthritis... i don't like being treated like a user.. i take what is prescribed.. if not i could not function.. i used to take 4 percosets a day.. now it's 3.. i have never misused abused or called for more.. i don't appreciate their tactics or assumptions.. it's unethical i'm a woman who is 46 and take pride and respect for myself as well as my meds.. it's a shame that doctor's. nurse practioner pain mgmt makes all of us feel violated because we are prescribed pain meds.. if i didn't need it to function i wouldn't put myself out their.. it's  a crying shame our society has done this because of the abuse of drug use.. it affects everyone even the straight and arrow ones... anyone will suggestion .. thanks for your time...

dontundertand · Answer

I'm so sorry this happened! I know exactly how you feel since this (kinda) same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago! Luckily I have a doc who realizes these tests are not always accurate. I guess their procedure is to run confirmation tests on 'unexpected' results and if the patient disputes they do a blood panel. In my case I ended up with 3 results and all were completely different. The doc was confused as well and had me do another urine. I just got those results this morning. I agree you should try and get a bood test asap and if this latest screen was weirdo would have ordered a hair test. What gets me after googling everything under the sun when this first happened is that this is SO common. I really think doctors that practice pain mgt need to be aware of all the errors and I'm so glad mine is! 
I began going there because of his reputation. Very active in clinical trials, former head of anesthesiology at a hospital... I encourage you to look for someone like that in your area. I think people who are abusing the system are way less likely to go to a very reputable doctor. You know? And they have the knoweldge to not just let you go away suffering when you haven't done anything wrong.
I have found this forum very informative and actually feel better knowing there are others out there with pain. It's hard to talk to the people who are close to you sometimes because they can't relate. They try to understand but unless you go through it, it's hard to "get." 
keep your chin up!
I hope your surgery went well, please keep us updated!

kelkel55 · Answer

Almost every urine test I have, I test negative for opiates. And every time they send me to the lab to get a special test, that looks for my hydrocodone specifically and the levels. And every time that test comes back positive, and my levels okay. After awhile they had me talk to a toxicologist. After reviewing my other meds, diet, and lifestyle. He told me that I had a very high metabolism, so my body was metbolising the meds too quickly. Add to it I drink caffeine all day long which acts as a diuretic flushing out my bladder, and I take Reglan which also flushes out the whole digestive tract and bladder. It has gotten to the point where they are considering doing blood tests instead of urine. But I know exactly how you feel, one doctor came right out and asked me if I was selling my pills. I told him beside being illegal, you hardly prescribe enough to keep myself out of pain. Unfortunately I am at the drs. mercy, so anything that is asked of me, or any rude comments, or aggressiveness on their part I just take with a smile, and answer up front truthfully. I found it is easier to take a firm but  lighthearted approach, than get mad and indignant. I'm sure you've heard the saying "the truth makes people mad", well the pain mgt. drs. take that to heart.

bichond1 · Answer

I too received the unwelcome news yesterday that my "Blood" tests, yes both of them, showed not a hint of the morphine I have been taking for the past 5 months. Not sure who was more stunned, my pain management doctor or me. I have been a chronic pain patient for 46 years, 12 back surgeries with a multitude of complications and a long list of non opiate meds. The next step in hoping to find an answer my doctor is having each of these drugs tested against any affect they might be causing the morphine not to be showing up. I thought I was the only person who was facing the fear of losing the only pain medication we found that enables me to live a somewhat normal life. I read so any of your posts, doing so with a lot of tears sharing your frustration and fear. I'm not sure I am posting correctly, I'm new to this but if so I would like to participate.

uwantmetodowhat · Answer

just read thru here myself  and can truly understand what you are going thru. the last time i took a test i requested blood along with the urine but  i had to pay  for the blood test wich was okay since it was to prove a point. i've never had my meds showup on a pt. not once. it has something to do with my metabloism and some damage to my kidneys but anyway in the pain management world we do get treated unfairly. we all know its not right and it'll get you going quite well.i hope it all works out for you and i hope your surgery went as good as it can possibly go. i wish you the best of luck.

jollyman069 · Answer

hope ur doing well since ur surgery.. i have beem in pain management for 3 yrs.. with me they have to take blood because i am on dialysis and dont pee.. so i feel for you .. lots of times ppl try to make us in pain management  to feel like we have done something wrong and we are in legitamte pain  good luck and will keep u in my prayers

carol107 · Answer

thank you for understanding my letter

sandee1818 · Answer

Carol,
You ha vent offended anyone here!
You are in the right community which is pain management.
We have heard from several people who have went thru what your going thru. Perhaps you can ask for a blood test as they are more accurate. You should inform your Dr that these test are known to be wrong in alot of cases and they are not 100% reliable.

I have sent tkemeawy a message regarding her post.

Mollyrae · Answer

I will make myself clear,  tkemeawy should not have made that comment to you....

Mollyrae · Answer

Hello and welcome to MH.

I want to tell you that I'm sorry that this has happened to you and the last comment was uncalled for. We are all in pain and each of us deserve respect. 
There are reasons that this happens to others and some of it has to do with the other meds you might be taking. I have posted an article in my Jornal about the negative screening that happens when other meds are involved. 
I have to cut my post short right now but I will get back to you with more helpful advise.
For now, Hang in there......Take care,
Mollyrae

Tuckamore · Answer

Hello Carol,

I hope my post isn't too late for you to see. I am so sorry this has happened to you. I do beleive you when you say you have taken your meds correctly. This topic makes me see red. And I think tkemeawy is on the wrong site. This is the Pain Management Forum and if I read his post correctly he believes it to be the Substance Abuse Forum. You are on the right forum.

I have no advice that will make your problem go away. If it helps to know that you are not the only one, it's true. Every few weeks I read this type of post. I don't know what is wrong with the testing. I do know some drugs show up as other drugs but I do not know why you would be negative. It is too late for you now but if you should ever be tested anywhere again immediately go to another respectedscreenerr and have a 2nd urine drug screen.

I am hopeful that you have a good relationship with your PMP and that they will trust you when you assure them that there has to be a mistake. I know they can do hair tests to determine if you have been taking your medication but it may not show if you took it the date of the screen. I will return with more information for you. 

Again I am so sorry this happened to you. Please try not to be so upset for your surgery today. Focus on getting through that and than we can discuss your next step. Good luck to you. Please take care and let us know how you are doing. Tuck

carol107 · Answer

you took my letter the wrong way.. i am upset because they may take my meds away for a negative screening.. i do take my meds and i do need my meds the pain is unbearable at times....   the straight and narrow was meant as not jumping from doctor to doctor and not abusing my pain meds..i don't now why it was negative when i do take them. i offered to retake .. anyhow, like i said before, i am  having surgery today for a joint replacement on my right thumb... i am upset already and i don'twant to go under being upset about this.. for whatever the reason  a negative urine is beyond me.... i am sorry if i affended anyone on this site.. i thought this site was for all types of questions pain meds arthritis whatever pain management not addiction..my main concern was that because of a clean drug screen with no opiates in my sysytem that pain mgmts could cut off my pain meds.

tkemeawy · Answer

I am sorry but you are in the wrong place to be sharing about your pain without any concern for those that are painfully going through an addiction. For you to rant and rave about not having a problem on an addiction site is quite crazy. If you are part of this "straight and narrow" path, then why did you pee clean and get upset? Listen, I have been prescribed all of my meds for pain and I was told by the nurse prac. that I was on the "do not give Vicodin to list" I had legitimate health issues/pain issues for 3-4 months of different things but because the Vicodin came from different doctors, I got put on the list. I was mad like you at first too! But now that I am looking into it and doing some self realization, I think I am addicted. Maybe you should look inward before hurting those around you!