[surfer00]

Hi all,
Haven't been here in awhile. I suffer from pn in legs and feet. I'm unable to wear anything but flip flops and short pants or I go crazy with pain. I sit on ice packs at work and am limited to about 4 hours a day of work. That's my brief background. Oh, and I have no clue what happened to me. I'm 60 y.o.

I have been taking Lyrica (75x2) for about 2 years, as well as Tramadol (50x3).
These are pretty low doses and I have never increased the dosage or asked for them to be increased. I'm well aware about the opioid problem and take my meds as directed. I've never run out early, etc.

The other day, I went into my pharmacy (big chain) ans handed them the rx and told them I'd pick them up tomorrow. I do this every month. There was a new woman on the computer nearby that stopped what she was doing and came over. She said she wouldn't be able to get the Tramadol til ' next week'. This would have been about 5 days away. I told her my rx was due now, but I'd pick it up tomorrow and that I know it doesn't take 5 days to get the Tramadol, because I do it every month! She asked how long I'd been on Tramadol and I told her a few years. She said she would need to talk to my rxing dr (pain dr) because she doesn't think I should be on it. Like I said, I understand the opioid problem and I also know that some reports say pain meds shouldn't be used for,chronic pain. I don't care. It helps me and its none of her business, as far as I'm concerned.

We had a little heated 'back and forth' on the subject. I finally told her I felt she was crossing the line and she should really not be providing me with unwanted 'medical advice.' She said that she had a doctorate, so in fact she was a dr. I told her having a doctorate did not make her an m.d. and I would like her to just do as the rx directed her to do. I told her to call my dr and I'd be back the next morning to pick up my rx.

I came back and she was sweet as pie and had my rx's ready to go. She said she spoke to my pain dr and he would be going over options with me on my next visit. I said 'fine', I'll do whatever my dr tells me to.

I think I know why she changed her tune. At the pain dr, its usually crowded, but they call me right in. The nurse once told me they do it because I'm never a problem and only take a minute. Like I said, I never beg for higher dosages or cause the dr any problems. I've heard many patients crying and begging the dr for meds when I'm there. I can live a semi decent life on my two meds and am happy to continue on this path.

Oh, also, the pharmacist said if I come back with a Tramadol rx next month, she won't fill it.

Is this the way things are going to be now? Everyone will be treated as drug addicts?