how can i tell my dr about stolen meds?

Your doctor trusts YOU to keep YOUR PAIN MEDICATIONS SAFE.....if he can't trust you to secure them properly, he will no longer prescribe them to you.

I know I sound harsh, but if you signed a contract, then it usually states in the contract that stolen medications will not be replaced. Your doctor trusts you to be responsible with them, and if you demonstrate that you are not, then he's not going to keep writing scripts for a controlled substance for you, and he'll dismiss you from his services.

I am going to have to agree with Goat on this one. It's only your second visit to the doctor? Did you file a police report for your stolen property? How many pills were stolen? If you go to this doctor and it's only your second visit and tell him your meds were stolen and don't have solid proof(even if you have proof that sometimes doesn't fly depending on your PM contract) it will likely raise some red flags and your might get discharged from the practice. Doctors of all kinds who prescribe controlled substances from a psychiatrist prescribing benzodiazepines(ex: xanax, klonopin) to a dentist giving out a one time script for root canal pain, to a surgeon prescribing pain meds post-op to a Pain management doctor prescribing all kinds of medications for all kinds of pain issues(be it a long acting opiate like oxycontin or fentanyl TDS or shorter acting medications like hydrocodone products; norco/lortab/vicodin, dilaudid or morphine plus PM doctors prescribe benzos, anti-seizure medications, anti-depressants and other things).

Doctors that prescribe controlled substances have heard just about every excuse in the book(my dog ate my medication, my medication got stolen, I had my medication bottle opened and all the pills spilled into the mud, my medication fell in the toilet/sink and the list goes on..funny how it's just the pain meds or benzos that these things happen to). Anyway my point is doctors hear it all..and sometimes patients dupe doctors in order to get more meds(OP I am not saying this happened to you but as far as doctors are concerned it is hard to differentiate between who's telling the truth and who isn't and most doctors do NOT give the patient the benefit of the doubt).

Anyway enough of my rambling I think it's best especially you are a new patient to keep your mouth shut this time and watch your medications like a hawk. Pain meds to pain patients are like gold and if you are going away on vacation or even just going out for the day or what not it would be a good idea to only take what you really need, that way if you lose it, it won't be so bad, sure you'll be in some discomfort and pain or a couple days, but at least you'll have the rest waiting for you at home. Also it would be a good idea to get a safe to keep your meds in to protect from house visitors(you never know you might think you know someone), family members(some family members may have a substance abuse problem) and heaven forbid if your house gets robbed.

Good luck and I am sorry this happened to you. Keep us posted and let us know what happens.

-Erin(Sprinks)

Hello I.C.P.

First of all, I am so very sorry that someone did that to you, and worse that it was a relative. That is a pure nightmare. The way I feel is that I would rather have a total stranger steal medication from me than family.

I have a clause in my contract for pain management that "medication will not be replaced if reported lost or stolen" and then in the next sentence it says that they would like to see a police report. That is a personal decision on your part as to whether you want to get the police involved in the situation.

But considering how new you are to the Pain Management Center that you are going to (I believe you mentioned this would be your second visit when you go back to the office later this month.) combined with how hard it can be to find a good pain management center to take patients, I have to say I agree with Sprinks , Goat, & the other posters that said not to mention what happened to the Pain Management doctors & I agree.

My fear would be if you did mention it, it could backfire and mess up your care. The doctor may draw many unflattering conclusions about you as a patient.  Anything from being irresponsible with your medication to being untruthful about what happened to your medicine in an attempt to get more medication. I believe you. Please do not feel like I am attacking you or anything, because that is the last thing I want to do. I am just pointing out a worst case scenario of what could happen if you mentioned it to the doctor.

Do you have enough to make it until the appointment with cutting back a bit? I do not believe I saw that mentioned.ou are saying happened 100%.   I hope you do not feel that I do not believe you.  I believe you.

I have been through a similar experience some years back. I broke my right ankle in four places at work, and the doctor wrote me out a prescription for 40  Percocet 5 / 325’s and I had my payroll check at home, that I had just cashed. I was only 19, so I was also not particularly bright at that time either. I did not know I would be out of work for more than eight weeks with all of the broken ankle.

I had a visitor that checked on me the next day after I was casted & sent home. I had only taken 3 of the pain pills. My “friend” took 37 Percocet Pills and my last $200. I was ashamed & very afraid to say anything to the orthopedic doctor about what had happened, and my next visit was not for another seven days. I had to do without and it was a nightmare.

I was hurt & devastated that someone would do something like that. So while I do not know what it is like to have the betrayal of a family member do that, I do know what it is like to have my medication stolen. I wish I would have had everyone here that has been discussing this thread  that could have warned me to lock my things up, but alas, the internet was not around  for me then, and I was irresponsible & stupid to have my items in plain site. I made myself an easy mark & victim that was irresistible to my “friend.”

I would also take the advice (getting a kind of locking box to store your medication in) just as soon as I could to try & prevent something like this from happening to you again in the future..

Another suggestion….. (Before pain management thank goodness). I had a tummy tuck & the doctor prescribed extra pain medication for a couple of reasons, one because I lived 150 miles from his hospital & practice (Over $10,000 less to go to 150 miles than my area.) He knew I would not be able to drive to his office for pain med. refills, procedure was done on a Friday, and I was to be released from the hospital on Saturday. He believes it is easier to keep a constant level of pain medication in your body after a tummy tuck for the first four or five days after surgery  instead of waiting until the pain starts & then try to get it back under control.  Made sense to me.

I had some pain meds. left over, made the mistake of mentioning it.  Four people came to me with injuries I never heard of  in three years I knew them.  Or they mentioned their spouse had problems, the doctor would not prescribe them anything “Good” for the pain. I  destroyed the medication, and it was amazing / disgusting how many people were mad / offended because I did not have it to give away.   However wrong it would be for me to give medicine away, legally, morally, they could care less.  The position they were putting me in was irrelevant to them.

Also, with the exception of your medical doctors, try to keep the fact that you are being prescribed pain medication on a need-to-know basis . Some folks will ask for some of your medication, and it also will keep you from having to worry as much that someone will try to take it. (But still do go & buy medication container with a key locking or combination lock!)  Better safe & over vigilant than not.

Take care & good luck. I hope everything works out OK for you.  You will be in my prayers.

I wish you strength in dealing with the family member that did this to you.

Sorry so long, I felt the need to share my learned knowledge the hard way.

Your friend in NC

Verminator

was dying of brain cancer so my wife and I went up to SC from FL to be with him in his last days. My twin sister was nice enough to invite us to stay at her and her husbands house instead of a hotel. Long story short the 3rd day there I noticed my Oxycodone 30's and my Xanax 2mg seemed a little light. Fifty five Oxy's were missing and sixty two Xanax vanished. Turned out it was my brother in law he swore not but his pupils and speech told me yes. Rock and a hard place, my father was dying and I didn't want to cause a scene so my wife and I got a hotel and I haven't spoken to the man since. Luckily, I'm prescribed #120 Oxy's a month meaning 4 a day and on light pain days I might only take 2. The same for the Xanax so I have quite the stockpile at the house. Lesson learned I don't trust anyone except my wife. None of my friends or co-workers know I take meds here in FL and I keep my meds in my gun safe but I never thought my family would do it to me. WRONG!! Sorry it happened to you it really ruins family ties. Have a great day!!   Greg