Every month I get the same prescription from the same doctor for the same medicine for the same problem. I have chronic pain issues that require pain medicine. I've had surgery, lumbar injections, physical therapy, etc in an effort to improve function and quality of life yet I still require pain medicine to live normally and function in some sort normal way each day. My doctors have decided I need these meds yet every single month I struggle to get them from local pharmacies.
I have tried to stay with one local pharmacy for all of my medications yet they don't always have the medications in stock which forces me to go elsewhere or face horrendous withdrawal symptoms which can possibly put me in a life threatening situation. More often than not I face denial simply because they don't want to fill these prescriptions because they are narcotics not because they don't have them. I've been lied to and flat out told they have them but they won't give them to me because I'm not a regular customer. This is ridiculous to me as I have a legitimate prescription which can be verified yet I still can't get my medications. Most pharmacies won't even check to see if they have the medication. They simply tell me no without even checking. When did pain become so taboo? Why is my disease so much less valid then anyone elses? Do I not deserve to get the medicines my doctor feels are necessary for me to live a full and functional life?
What is it going to take for people to realize that the steps the government, the DEA, the pharmacies, etc are taking to curb prescription abuse are only hurting actual patients and not the abusers? Addicts will still find a way to get what they want, stop making it so difficult for legitimate patients to get the help they need and deserve. No human being should be made to feel like I have at pharmacy counters trying to get my prescriptions filled each month.
