Well, I spent a fruitful hour with the MD in Kaiser's pain management clinic. Learned a lot more about why, suddenly, I was being treated like a drug addict. Apparently, the problem started back in October when she gave me an "as-needed" Vicodin Rx. Then, when I asked about other options because of the overall increase, she basically said, "How about morphine? It's a CR, very easy". Rx #2 started the urine tests, which showed the presence of MJ as well as a benzo my primary had thoughtfully prescribed me when I had spoken about the stress from sibling interactions about aging parents. Not to mention the Ambien. In short, she thoughtlessly wrote me script when she knew I was a Medical MJ patient and the urine tests came back positive for 4(!!!!***!!!) FOUR FOLKS "illicit drugs".

Anyway, the Vicodin has been stopped (although I use more MJ as a result) and I am tapering off of 60 mg morphine daily. I was unsure just how effective the morphine was, so I'm agreeable to that for now.

She's prescribing me lidocain socks. Yup. Wear 'em under my fancy compression stockings (knee-high, mind you) and regular socks.

We'll see. I will file my complaint. I will change my primary -- no more trust.
And I'll be off of most opiates for a while (thank you! and goodbye constipation).

Cowboy