I'm Back

   I had started to grow tired of writing about the same old old depressing topics. . .

therefore, I haven't made an entry in several weeks. It seems that recent references to partisan politics made my Blog unattractive to the national market just as I thought things were about to take off. The AOL Journals site has announced it will shut down for good this month. That is where Thoughts From The HEADoc began over four years ago. I'll need to find a way to save the archives on this site or another.

Traditionally, October seems to be a bad month when everything that can go wrong usually tends to do so for me. I learned of the death of a resident at the 1/2 way house where I work this morning who apparently died in his sleep possibly from an accidental overdose from opioids bought off the street. I had helped him through his detox period and seen him several times where I resisted his drug seeking and refused him what his body craved from years of dependence from family doctors, emergency rooms, and off the street purchases. He had a couple months abstinence from his drug of choice. His addiction, it seems, still ended up taking his life. Had I been able to start him on Buprenorphine at the commencement of treatment he may have resisted those cravings and not have resorted to desperate measures. The next witch hunt may look at me as the primary villian in this tragedy though I may in all actuality be the one who could have prevented it. Despite completing the training to use Buprenorphine, there is a strong possibility the Medical Board will restrict me from prescribing it for its intended use because of their need to discipline me for prescribing opioids to treat chronic pain patients in the past and not having the documentation to suit their satisfaction. There is an abundance of opioid pain medications on the streets today that addicts have access to. Where it all comes from I do not know. It does make me quite angry to think of what I have been put through for what I find to be politically motivated. Not only do I find my past involvement to not be a significant part of the problem, I have been one of the few foolish enough to try and help those in need with prescription drug addictions. For that my reputation was attacked and my name dragged through the mud. At my last meeting with their people and my lawyer, I was told that if I had hired a lawyer from the very begining, none of what has happened would have happened. Thanks for the belated advice. I found that it is dangerous to assume that because you think you have done nothing wrong that you will necessarily be treated that way. It's not that difficult for the system to make a decent person look like a criminal if that becomes the intent. It's not personal they say. Live and learn I guess.

I have never been more sick of anything than I have of this whole Medical Board thing. I want so much for it to be over. The Consent Order is expected to be finalized this month. At the very least, I expect to be restricted from writing Schedule 2 Narcotics. As long as I can continue to write ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall I have no problems with this. I think it is fair for them to order me not to treat chronic pain patients if that is what they feel they must do. I don't believe it will have any impact on the problem that exists with opioid dependence/abuse in North Carolina. I know it is no more than a gesture that may make them feel they are doing a good job. I will find it unfair and difficult to accept not being able to prescribe Buprenorphine, which is a Schedule 3 medication approved last year for the purpose of helping people get off of pain medications and heroin. It is the first medication ever that will allow doctors to treat patients safely in the office setting. It is more effective than methadone but more importantly much safer to use. Physicians must complete 8 hours of training to be certified to prescribe this medication. Each certified physician can manage up to 30 patients the first year, monitored by the DEA. I'm hoping The Board will not see it necessary to deprive me of such a useful tool. If they really want to hurt me they could also not allow me to prescribe Schedule 4 medications such as Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax. I see no reason for them to take such a stance, but they hold all the cards. They could take my license to practice if they wanted to.

Enough of that. I cannot even find a way to joke about such thoughts as that. My cat was spayed. It's finally over. I don't have to worry about any more kittens. Squeaky had to go due to some major sanitary issues. I truly believe her to have some major emotional developmental issues as well. It's amazing how easy it becomes to detach from them emotionally once they are no longer a cute cuddly kitten.

Comments

[TerryAnn]

Man let me tell you...I so knowwhat the people that see you for pain I am there right now...but on top of it the idiot I can't ger rid of is driving me nuts...where is the rights in this world...I can't take so many pain meds because they make me so sick..but this is getting so bad...made my self sick with lower tab the other day...can't take that stuff..but cave in after months of hurting...my doctors never have to worry about me asking for too many...I still have my clonazepam and the date on it is dated 05....had to use them the other day and thinking about it now..have to hide all my meds so idiot don't steal them...grr...well enough....ha ha..have a wonderful week found you..TerryAnn