Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
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On several posts when someone from Mississippi has commented about local policies about narcotics and other meds the posts have been met with a lot of "you have got to be kidding!" replies.
The climate around here has gotten so anti-narcotic that these are actual examples:
1. A co-worker was dying of prostate cancer. The oncologist said he could only medicate him on an ongoing basis if he was admitted to a hospital or hospice. He could not let him die at home as he would not be able to administer any pain relief.
2. My step-grandmother had 6 months to live due to lung cancer. Her doctor convinced two of her sons she needed to be admitted to rehab due to her dependence on pain killers. The incompassionate jerks did it. She died 3 months later.
3. There are many people in my local area who are below the poverty level. If a doctor writes several Rx's on the same slip the pharmacist's can not fill anything controlled on the slip unless ALL meds are picked up at the same time. If the doctor gave you a weeks sample of the antibiotic for your child so you could afford the cough syrup now and the antibiotic next pay check, tough luck. You pay for it all, or only get the antibiotic.
4. I was a victim of a violent crime. At the hospital the deputy pulled an old meds bottle out of his pocket. He had found it under the back seat of my car. It was about a year old. He questioned me about it and why there was a current bottle in my jacket pocket. I explained I had a chronic potentially terminal condition and gave him my doctor's name and #. I also had a bottle of generic asprin in the car. They sent the asprin to a lab to be tested (would have quicker to taste it?), and reported in the local paper they believed the incident to be a "drug deal gone wrong".
4. On a sillier note, at the local Walmart if you want to buy a combination sinus med, OK. Any sudafed or the generic you can only get if the pharmacist is working, he will sell you only one box, and he will record the purchase. He has been known to check in the computer and look up your pharmacy records before he will sell it to you. I see these 80 year old farm ladies and gentleman who only come into town one Saturday a month getting really ticked. I then picture this geriatric Pentacostal couple saying " will you hurry up and finish milking the cows, we need to get the meth lab up and running!"
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shane369
Member
Reged: 03/07/02
Posts: 155
Loc: USA
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Quote:
you have got to be kidding!
Well, you won't get that response from me. I too reside in MS. To say the least I have been through alot also in the past few months, and the doctors in MS are very unsympathetic. I for one have had some very bad experiences with the doctors here. I had a doctor at a local hospital here tell me to my face "that they didn't prescribe narcotics or benzos at that facility, you know because of all the abusers out there" I personally felt that he directed that comment towards me and I took offense to it very much. I tell you this much, let it had been him in the ER for the same reason that I was and the outcome would have been different.
I do know that alot of doctors in MS are scared of lawsuits(my wife works for Mr. one call, if you live in MS you know who I mean) but just because a doctor is scared of a lawsuit is no reason for under treatment of a chronic pain patient. IMHO under treatment is abuse as well.
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"Actually I'm a mouse in the early stages of an elaborate scheme to take over the world"
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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That really sucks.
Really, that would be enough for me to move to a state with a bit more freedom. Mississippi's not a terribly exciting place either, is it? No offense to your home state, I'm just saying, what is the most fun anyone ever has in Mississippi- isn't it all Wal-Mart, pickup trucks, and like farms?
-yawkaw
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shane369
Member
Reged: 03/07/02
Posts: 155
Loc: USA
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Quote:
isn't it all Wal-Mart, pickup trucks, and like farms?
Funny, I just left Wal-Mart
But, that is pretty close to the truth, there is absolutely nothing here. I hate it here, but I'm stuck for the time being due to my mother in law having cancer. I don't even go out anymore due to having "Bubba" at the bar want to fight just for the point of having someone to fight.
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"Actually I'm a mouse in the early stages of an elaborate scheme to take over the world"
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Anglwink
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/03
Posts: 605
Loc: East coast
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Quote: IMHO under treatment is abuse
Exactly! I thnk these people should start suing for UNDER TREATMENT! Especialy for the cancer patients you spoke about in the above post. This is getting utterly rediculous with these Dr's, and if it was me or anyone in my family that was suffering fron cancer or any type of chronic pain, I would be raising holy hell. I would be on the phone with everyone in the state! may I suggest that you start by writing letters to your LOCAL congressmen. You think would be supprised with the outcome. Its time that we give the good Dr's some REAL FEAR regarding lawsuits because of under treatment!. Anglwink
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"Believe"
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Stacy
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/15/02
Posts: 245
Loc: USA
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The problem might not actually be with the doctors. The problem is more likely with the LE and DEA. I said in another post that everywhere the DEA is now "terrorizing" doctors to the point that they want to prescribe the meds and they understand that they need to prescribe them, but threats, red tape and downright abuse from the DEA, makes it where they can't.
I wish that one day someone would sue the DEA because they are the very reason why doctors are getting into trouble and getting scared to prescribe. I know some docs just won't prescribe but for those that are willing to prescribe and are afraid of the DEA, I can understand them being to scared to do so. It is a lot for them to risk EVERYTHING, sometimes even their freedom, to prescribe the meds that are needed. I firmly believe the DEA is violating people's rights and I believe the Pain Acts that have been passed are being violated because of the DEA.
Maybe someday someone will contact the ALCU and say their civil rights are being violated by the DEA and it will go to court. I believe that everything the DEA is doing and the threats they are causing docs about this, is a violation of our civil rights and if the truth is ever able to be told to the public, I think a jury would rule in favor of the patient.
I believe if a Civil Rights violation were give against the DEA that the DEA would lay off some.
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Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
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Quote:
isn't it all Wal-Mart, pickup trucks, and like farms?
Funny, I just left Wal-Mart
Okay, I did go to Wal-mart today also, but I don't live on a farm or own a pickup.
I only live here because I am originally from here, and I work in the casino industry, which at least has good health insurance!
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Seano
Journeyman
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 84
Loc: Shelbyville
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If you ever get a chance, visit the beautiful Northwest, which has rednecks, pickup trucks, and casinos aplenty, in addition to a few large cities. As well as one State that has a ballot initiative process so open that it allowed it's citizens to vote in LEGALIZED medical marijuana for people who suffer from cancer and the like. So open that fiscal conservatives like myself ALSO are likely to vote down a tax increase by the idiotic "liberals" down at the legislature.
I spent a lot of time in the South, and I even miss things about it from time to time, but you make your State sound very unfriendly, at least for people in need of medical treatment...
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snickers
Member
Reged: 05/06/03
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida, USA
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Firefairy,
I was born and raised in Mississippi and left in 1988 and have lived in Florida since 1990 till now.
It's funny to read some of the thing's posted about Mississippi! People have no idea until they live there. Yet overall (NO, I have Never worn cover-all's), the people are as nice and kind, as you have ever met, aside from the one's (very few) who want to start a fight (they have their hat on wrong, so to speak).
Yeah, I go to Wal-Mart especailly here in Florida. I drive a pick-up (Got it Brand New One, in late 2002), a Ranger XLT, with all the bell's and whistle's.
My parent's owned a farm, about 550 acre's , yet lived in town. My father and mother met in Medical school and got married after their 2nd year of Medical School, she dropped out, and he has practiced OB/GYN for over 50 year's. His patient's have all been satisfied (a little humor).
Yet, when it get's around to narcotic's, it's a tough one, at least for Mississippi. You really have to prove your case. Ok, I realize the possible replies, yet anyway, it's OK to get narcotic's if you have been gunshot. Accidently, was shot with a 22 caliber hollow point at point blank range (downward, from my outside thigh to 1 inch above my kneecap, the bullet is still there, encased in scar tissue). It almost took out my keecap, yet got a few narcotic's as a result of that accident.
In any case, it is a different environment and atomosphere from most states, yet a Good One. Mississippi is not as Up-dated as other states, yet, that is, what makes it so nicely unique and friendly. Though, it would be tough to leave Florida since being here for over 13 year's.
Merry X-Mas & A Happy New-Year to You and Everybody,
Snickers 
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Horace
Journeyman
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 75
Loc: Earth
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In response to Yawkaw's post on Mississippi:
Mississippi has beautiful natural scenery and a long literary tradition (several of the Percy clan and Faulkner, to name but a few). There were several legal organizations that were influential with civil rights as well. (The opposite is also true). I also like some of the food. There is also a tradition of small town life that may appeal to some.
That being said, my car broke down on New Year's Eve one year in Miss., and I didn't care for it.
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snickers
Member
Reged: 05/06/03
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida, USA
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Just to add on a little bit more to what I was saying about Mississippi.
Hunting is a pretty big thing aside from Wal-Mart, that includes a little PET Hunting. I went to school (I was in her class during High School) with a girl who became a nurse, and then a Penthouse Playmate.
She got fired as a nurse, because of her, Layout Profile, so to speak.
Great Memories on X-Mas Eve!  
Snickers
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snickers
Member
Reged: 05/06/03
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida, USA
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Though, I'll bet, there are some FINE Young Ladies who are equal to or better than the girl I went to school with, that use this Board!!!
Just a finishing note.
Hope everybody has a Great X-Mas and Happy New Year!
Snickers
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LostShopper
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/10/02
Posts: 204
Loc: Deep South
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I must give Firefairy a great big AMEN to all the facts she posted about narcotics in Mississippi. I could add more than one...um, like getting a tubal ligation and being told by the surgeon that if in pain, just take 8 Motrin at once!!
As for the state itself, we do have beautiful country, interesting history (My area for instance is known as the birthplace of many great blues singers), and as for the people...like anywhere else, there are good and bad. I love my town. It's like Mayberry, the sort of place where if you are ill or have a death in the family you will be descended upon by sweet old ladies with covered casseroles who will make sure that you are attended to, even to the point of cleaning your house so that people coming to make sympathy calls don't dare spot a (Gasp!) speck of dust.
That being said, Lord help you if you find yourself with any condition that requires proper pain management.
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Jordan530
WonderWoman
Reged: 11/20/02
Posts: 597
Loc: The Left Coast of Florida
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Hi Snickers!
We are kind of the opposite. I was born and raised in Fla., and lived in Jackson, Ms. from 1984 to 1988. In fact that is where my husband died. Some may find this weird but I kind of liked it there. Rent was so cheap, I had a GORGEOUS apt. for what nowadays would be considered a monthly grocery bill. LOL I still miss the Southern hospitality and it's funny, back then, I had no problem getting the meds I needed for my pain at all. At one point I had actually thought about moving back there, but after reading some of these posts, no way.
Happy Holidays to All!
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'A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand'
Edited by Jordan530 (12/24/03 03:18 PM)
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snickers
Member
Reged: 05/06/03
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida, USA
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Jordon530,
Sorry to hear about your husband. Alway's a tramatic event for anyone.
Glad to hear you enjoyed MS. while you were there and have fond memories of it.
In addition, Jackson is where the Univ. of Mississippi Medical School is and there should have been many physician's residing in the Capital of Mississippi. Really glad you were able to control your pain with physicians from there.
Living in Florida has been really great, especially the almost constant sunshine. That help's with any pain that I may be enduring, just the sunshine is GREAT. Hopefully you have found someone (physician) here in Florida to help you out. Sounds like you have quite a number of things going on. Yet, don't let them get in the way of the holiday(s). Have some Great one's.
Sincerely,
Snickers
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sweat
Old Hand
Reged: 12/23/01
Posts: 491
Loc: NJ
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" isn't it all Wal-Mart, pickup trucks, and like farms?"
-yawkaw
"Walmart? What do they sell stuff for walls or something?" Exact quote from the brilliant mind of Paris Hilton.
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2muchpain
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 274
Loc: USA
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LOL 
I was waiting for someone to quote Paris Hilton. Yawkaw is such a smart guy, I was pretty surprised to read that post. It sounded like Paris wrote it.
Please don't be offended, Yawkaw. I'm sure it was just a brain fart.
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snickers
Member
Reged: 05/06/03
Posts: 172
Loc: Florida, USA
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I'm going to be an exceptional Good Sport about this One.
Aside from the miracle of 'Woman' .
Mississippi has it's share of Wal-mart's, just like every state, yet they do offer something that is so valuable that just about anyone would want to buy it, and yes, it can be used on wall's and so-on. And it is:
DUCK-TAPE
An invention that I could use on just about anything and everything.
Sorry, to not atune my attention about the important subject of medication's and provider's, thereof, in Mississippi, yet thought I would add a little bit of a smile on a few.
Snickers
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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LOL Hey, shane said it was pretty close to the truth!
My apologies if I've offended any Wal-Mart stockholders...I had not been to a Wal-Mart my entire life, except last year when they opened one up in the next state over...I went just to see what it was like...I realize that may be appalling to some of you.
I've lived in NJ my whole life- always very close to NYC, so it's hard for me to understand the appeal of Mississippi. I'm sure it's a beautiful place and very peaceful...but I could never live somewhere where there wasn't 24 hours of activity...although Wal-Mart is open 24 hours, right? 
Anyway, I was just making the point that if you're not getting pain relief, there are more exciting places to live where it is possible to find compassionate doctors, and you don't have to get shot in the knee to get narcotics. But really, no disrespect meant to anyone's home state.
-yawkaw
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
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TeeHee, we used duct tape last night to fix some holes in our pastry bags filled with icing! It worked like a charm! I never had a doubt it would! Gotta love it. That and vice grips, I can do almost anything!
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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shane369
Member
Reged: 03/07/02
Posts: 155
Loc: USA
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Quote:
I'm sure it's a beautiful place and very peaceful..
Yawkaw, you are so right about that. Mississippi does have some very beautiful places to live, but at the same time we also have alot of places that are below the poverty level.
You also have to think about this point too; all this talk about Mississipi, but what is the main reason that the majority of us are members of DB?? IMHO its due to uncompassionate doctors, but we don't all live in MS. We are scattered around this great country of ours(and beyond), so this is not just a Mississippi problem, its a US problem.
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"Actually I'm a mouse in the early stages of an elaborate scheme to take over the world"
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
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I wish I had posted your post, you articulated it very well!
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
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The DEA is NOT EFFECTIVELY harrassing doctors into stopping prescribing Narcotic Analgesics....Some doctors however, are not willing to do the required paper work & follow up necessary to continue to prescribe narcotics to their patients....it takes a considerable amount of follow up & careful documentation to prescribe freely...I just came home from having surgery in another state....and walked out the door with a script for 120 percocet 10mg/325 APAP, 270 Oxycontin 40 mg/tabs after receiving 180 Oxycontin 20 mg tabs three days before.....They, however, dictate voluminous notes, make far less money, must maintian a much higher patient load to stay in practice & remain profitable because of it! I live in a city of well over 2 million people...with a friggin MAYO CLINIC, Barrow Neurological Institute, Pain Management doctors on ever corner...but none of the Pain Management docs here "believe in prescribing narcotic anaglesics"...why, we should ALL be asking ourselves that question....I know the answer...it has nothing to do with the DEA...it has everything to do with the god blessed dollar---when my PM doc here in phoenix did epidural injections, via caudal entry, he made $1200/per injection...he gave me 3 epidural injections /series & gave me a series of 3 injections every 3 months....3 x 1200 = 3600 X $14,400/year...then add 1 office visit before each series, one office visit after each injection and one office visit following each series....If he'd given me narcotic pain medications I wouldn't have needed all those injections...he would have only had office visits and no MONEY!!!! He did this in "clinics" where he lined us up like cattle going for slaughter, every 20 minutes another butt was up on the table in the air...clinic from 9 am to 2 pm, that's 3/hour x 15 patients x 14,400 thats $216,000 x 3 1/2 days per week thats $756,000 x 45 weeks per year, thats 3.4 MILLION dollars my friends.... My Pain Managmemnt doc in El PAso TX see's me in his office every 3-4 months, so an office visit, which he gets paid all of $62.00 for...the rest of the year he MAILS me my scripts for....gee...$16,000 vs $368.00 Now, the epidurals clearly didn't work all that well....that's why I had to go back....but, he kept doing them...and I was just desperate enough to need them....It's a racket by the lazy, money hungry doctors...they want you to BELIEVE it's the DEA...give me a break--DO THE MATH!
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Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
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I can't speak for why every doctor everywhere stops Rxing pain meds but we have had notices put in the paper when it occurs, the DEA has posted signs in the mentioned doc's offices stating that they would no longer be prescribing Class III's from this location, and the local pharmacy's have the names of doctor's who are restricted in what they can prescribe. Then ALL the doctors have great big DEA orange signs in their offices stating anyone needing ongoing treatment with narcotics will have to see a pain management specialist, or Class II and Class III pain meds will no longer be able to be distributed by General Practioners in the state of Mississippi.
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bango
Member
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 187
Loc: midwest
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that is so wrong, so a general pract.. cannot script tussionex now for cough? how about a little accident that just requires one script of norcos, not long term pain mangment, that is the realm of general pract's.. DEA people can be idiots, sometimes..
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
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But the reason many docs are restricted is because they didn't do the necessary paperwork & followup to prescribe...there are guidelines, true enough....but their not impossible to meet...you just gotta follow the guidelines...thats all...for alot of docs, it's not worth the investment of time & trouble...and the reimbursement is LOW compared to other forms of medical care...it's the docs choice, whether he wants to play ball or not...I'm just glad I have a doc that believes in the ethical treatment of his patients, vs lining his own wallet at the expense of his patients...It's a shame I have to fly over 500 miles to see him,
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LostShopper
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/10/02
Posts: 204
Loc: Deep South
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As bad as some of my experiences have been with docs in Miss., at least we have recently gotten a new doc in our tiny little Mayberry town who is from Michigan and IS brilliant and DOES believe in treating pain. My husband has been able to stop seeing two different specialists in towns an hour away, and when hospitalized this year this doc enabled him to stay those 6 days at our little local hospital, thereby saving him being an hour or more away. One block from home vs. my driving back and forth all that way. This physician initially came here to work through a Christian organization for the needy here (we have one of the highest poverty/minority rates in the state), then miraculously opened a practice and I was amazed to see how quick he was to rx my husband for pain. Unfortunately, at this time he isn't my primary, as I DO have to see a cancer specialist an hour away, but it is good to know that with all these uncaring docs in Mississippi, any time I am home and in need now, this doc I've mentioned WILL be there for me for pain management, and  even makes house calls!
Otherwise, most people I know who have serious CP issues go to Louisiana or Alabama. I was visiting another part of the state recently and everyone there said the docs had never heard of - or claimed not to have - methadone as a pain treatment option, and that CPers down there flock to La. in droves.
Last summer, we lost a good local doc who was a friend of ours. He visited us one afternoon before leaving, explaining to us how the malpractice insurance requirements here had forced him to have to leave. He ultimately relocated to another state. He also told us that, with the way the regulatory agencies hover over their shoulders these days, he had been heartbroken at times over the feeling that he could not adequately treat pain in his (mostly) geriatric patients, and that he had moments of wanting to just chuck it all and move to some other country altogether where he could "treat" patients and not satisfy the gov't. Take that for what it's worth, came right out of this doc's mouth.
I do realize that this is an issue that isn't limited to one state, but really, Mississippi does seem to have more than our share of stingy docs - I say this after having lived in other states, so I can make this comparison based on personal experience. I do know that since living here, I have personally seen many events that mirror some of the heartbreaking stories in FFairy's initial post.
Edited by LostShopper (12/28/03 04:28 AM)
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