Re: Pain Med Incident

[Guest guest]

That is outrageous, Jen!  Unfortunately it is probably becoming more common as

people become more desperate to get meds.

Sounds like you handled it very well and stayed safe.  Another option if he

didn't leave would be to call 911.

Everyone, please stay safe.

Vivien

---Jen wrote:

>After a Drs appointment, I stopped at a corner store to buy a bottle of water. 

As I paying at the cash register, a man walked in and immediately wanted to know

what pain medicine I was on.  He told me his medical conditions and why he

needed pain meds.  He explained he was out of Roxycodone and needed to go back

to the Drs to get more.  He kept asking what pain meds I had been prescribed,

and if I had any tablets on me.  He wanted to know if I would give him some

pills or if he could buy some pain pills from me. 

He offered to follow me home so he could get the pills if I had them at home and

not on me.  Mind you, this all occurred in public, in the middle of a store with

several customers and staff around.  He made no attempt to lower his voice, and

was talking across several aisles. 

Thankfully, when I told him several times I had nothing, he walked out of the

store.  I stayed in the store until my partner pulled up in the car to pick me

up and I was sure he was gone. 

[Guest guest]

Jen, I'm so sorry this happened to you, the man sounded desperate, an addict no

doubt.  I'm glad he wasn't a danger to you there at the store and hopefully you

will never see that man again.  Did you file a police report?  He's probably

done this to other people before.

I worry about these sorts of people when I go to the pharmacy.  Since I live out

in the country the town I shop in is quite small but when I lived in Columbus OH

I was always on the watch, never alone when going to the pharmacy.  The amount

of thefts of pain medications is very high.

When I take my script to the pharmacy counter I make sure nobody is around me so

they can't see I'm getting pain meds.  Since we have to show our ID, it's

obvious we're getting a controlled substance.

 

Jennette

> From: Jen wrote:

>

>As I paying at the cash register, a man walked in and immediately wanted to

know what pain medicine I was on. He told me his medical conditions and why he

needed pain meds. He explained he was out of Roxycodone and needed to go back

to the Drs to get more. He kept asking what pain meds I had been prescribed,

and if I had any tablets on me. He wanted to know if I would give him some

pills or if he could buy some pain pills from me.

>

>He offered to follow me home so he could get the pills if I had them at home

and not on me. Mind you, this all occurred in public, in the middle of a store

with several customers and staff around. He made no attempt to lower his voice,

and was talking across several aisles.

>

>Thankfully, when I told him several times I had nothing, he walked out of the

store. I stayed in the store until my partner pulled up in the car to pick me

up and I was sure he was gone.

[Guest guest]

Jen Longley wrote:

>

> Thankfully, when I told him several times I had nothing, he walked out of the

store. I stayed in the store until my partner pulled up in the car to pick me

up and I was sure he was gone.

>

> This is the 1st time anything like this has happened to me, and I hope the

last! I would never expect this to happen in the middle of a store with people

around. I guess it goes to show you always have to have your guard up,

especially is you look like you have a medical condition that would necessitate

pain medication. I hope no one else experiences this either!

>

> Be well,

> Jen

Jen,

Oh Jen, call the police and tell them this guy is loitering around that store. I

am glad you got out of there. I have had somebody ask me what I take and ask me

if I ever have any extra. This person is someone I knew but not had been around

in years but came by my Dad's to ask about him.

This is why I try never to talk about what I take, where I keep my meds, and do

place them in places that are secure. It is part of my pain contract not to

share the information with others and be responsible with medications and that

the medication cannot be replaced.

It is people like him that make bad reflection on pain patients and seems he is

" drug seeking " as pain patients usually deal with their Doctors or go to the ER

when off medications. It is someone that you did not deal with and I am glad you

are safe. Bennie

[Guest guest]

Vivian,

Thanks for your support! Actually, with my voice, speaking on the phone is not

really possible. My partner and I have tons of friends in the NYPD (she

currently works in a NYC public hospital and I did for many years). Amy with

one of our NYPD friends had the store owner pull up a picture of the man from

the store security tape and our NYPD friends is circulating it. Thanks again!

The moral of the story is to be alert!

Hope everyone is having a day that is pain free as possible and has a great

weekend!

Be well,

Jen

> That is outrageous, Jen! Unfortunately it is probably becoming more common as

people become more desperate to get meds.

> Sounds like you handled it very well and stayed safe. Another option if he

didn't leave would be to call 911.

[Guest guest]

Jennette,

He was high and seeking his next fix. Amy did get the NYPD involved, we have

many friends who are cops. At a pharmacy I would be cautious and worried,

although Amy always goes to the pharmacy. However, at the corner store that

isn't a pharmacy, but sells only snacks, soft drinks, and basic supplies, as

well as beer in NY -- sort of like a 7-11 type store -- I wasn't expecting it.

And that he basically talked me to over the aisles and made no attempts to hide

what he was doing, was surprising. We have to always be alert, that's the

bottom line. Again, thanks for your support!

Be well,

Jen

Sent from my iPhone

> Jen, I'm so sorry this happened to you, the man sounded desperate, an addict

no doubt. I'm glad he wasn't a danger to you there at the store and hopefully

you will never see that man again. Did you file a police report? He's probably

done this to other people before.

> I worry about these sorts of people when I go to the pharmacy. Since I live

out in the country the town I shop in is quite small but when I lived in

Columbus OH I was always on the watch, never alone when going to the pharmacy.

The amount of thefts of pain medications is very high.

>

> When I take my script to the pharmacy counter I make sure nobody is around me

so they can't see I'm getting pain meds. Since we have to show our ID, it's

obvious we're getting a controlled substance.

>

>

> Jennette

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bennie,

Thanks for your support! We have lots of friends in the NYPD (Amy works at a

public hospital and I did for many years). One of our NYPD friends, with Amy,

had the store owner pull up the video and get a picture of the guy from the

store's surveillance video. Our NYPD friend is having the picture circulated.

This was a corner store (think 7-11 type store), not a pharmacy. I was

surprised that this guy, who was clearly high and seeking his next fix, made no

attempt to hide what he was doing. He talked to me across aisles, and loudly

enough that others could hear him. He even told me how he saw multiple Drs each

month but was afraid to see more Dra because he didn't want to " ruin what he

had " going! The moral of this story, and the reason I feel the need to share

it, is we always have to be alert! Thanks again!

I hope everyone has a day that is as pain free as possible and a great weekend!

Be well,

Jen

>Bennie wrote:

>

> Jen,

>

> Oh Jen, call the police and tell them this guy is loitering around

> It is people like him that make bad reflection on pain patients and seems he

is " drug seeking " as pain patients usually deal with their Doctors or go to the

ER when off medications.

[Guest guest]

Jen Longley wrote:

> Bennie,

> Thanks for your support! We have lots of friends in the NYPD (Amy works at a

public hospital and I did for many years). One of our NYPD friends, with Amy,

had the store owner pull up the video and get a picture of the guy from the

store's surveillance video. Our NYPD friend is having the picture circulated.

This was a corner store (think 7-11 type store), not a pharmacy. I was

surprised that this guy, who was clearly high and seeking his next fix, made no

attempt to hide what he was doing. He talked to me across aisles, and loudly

enough that others could hear him. He even told me how he saw multiple Drs each

month but was afraid to see more Dra because he didn't want to " ruin what he

had " going! The moral of this story, and the reason I feel the need to share

it, is we always have to be alert! Thanks again!

>

> I hope everyone has a day that is as pain free as possible and a great

weekend!

>

> Jen

>

You are so right and even opening your purse with pill bottles in it, or leaving

pill bottles in your car visible, is an invitation for these drug seekers.

It is sad that this story could not be a public service announcement with a

picture of a real pain patient and then a picture of a drug seeker and say

This is the difference and opoids help the first to live a life worth living,

and the other should not be included in the category of those with real needs

and to be punished by bias advertising and ignorance.

It makes me angry the recent increase in telephone commercials that show people

at sites they realized they had " opoid dependence " and knew they had to get help

for opoid dependence which is a real disease. Wow, what a real misinformation

act.

This is a change from five years ago when the American Pain Foundation and other

lobbyist have assisted in getting legislature for getting laws to help pain

patients. Now there is reverse trend and I am concerned at the outlook. This is

not a forum for political issue but know what congressman, others, to include

the highest positions held are supporting reducing opoid support as too many

people are dying from overdoses.

There is a MAPS system which keeps a list of all people who have Schedule 11 or

others and can tell who are red flag, thus the reason to stay at one pharmacy,

one Doctor. I am glad you have the support and you know the labels. I hope he

is taken off the street.

My Pain Psychiatrist I saw state pain patients do not get " high " or get the

euphoria as drug addicts do as they are taking it for pain and the only they

will feel

is sedation , and many doctors do not understand the difference. He also stated

drug seekers do not worry about their drugs and patients worry about the safety

of taking their medication.

Thus the importance for pain patients to used the word medication instead of

drugs, dependence rather than addiction, and making sure people understand it

is no difference than a diabetic taking their insulin and they are being

followed by a specialist. Take Care Jen and let us know how your appointment

goes.

Bennie