I have had FMS, OA and other chronic conditions since at least 2005; I am currently in my early 50’s. I have a wonderful pain management doc and PCP doc who, after many years of trying different meds, finally found a combination that works. I had near death reactions to SSRI’s (anti-depressants that focus on serotonin) gabapentin (Lyrica) and Neurontin. The only meds that work for me are oxycodone and fentanyl patches. Recently, due to the “opiate epidemic” my doc has started to decrease my meds which has severely affected my pain and my attitude. I had been feeling so good, as good as we can, and had a positive attitude, eating well, mild exercise, etc., now that my pain is getting so much worse, I have seriously contemplated suicide. I will not live the rest of my life in bed, suffering with this excruciating pain. I also suffer from depression, but cannot take any meds, as well as anxiety and panic attacks. I have found that I just have no will to go on even though I have a wonderful, supportive husband and family. My doc tells me he is going to keep decreasing my meds; I just have no idea what to do. I have been with him for years, signed a contract and have followed EVERY requirement to a “T”. I am not an abuser and I am not sure why these heroine junkies who get laced drugs are being compared to those of us who really need our opioids and who do not abuse them. I would like to know if anyone else has had this happen and what you are doing about it. I am not a religious person, but I feel suicide is selfish to those who love us and it a mortal sin but I am not sure why the higher power of my belief would want me to suffer. Any input would be greatly appreciated as I feel I am near the end of my rope and this is just beginning. Thank you for your time.
Hi there, Deborah4
I’m sorry to read of your pain control misery, although it is a very common theme here. This could develop into a really interesting discussion, because how pain meds are handled/prescribed/restricted varies so much from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This is an international forum, so can you remind us where you’re from?
Forum members, how has your medical team handled your need for pain control medication? Do you have any hints for work-arounds that you can share with Deborah and the community?
All the best to you
Seenie from Moderator Support
Thank you, Seenie, I am from Missouri, the only state which does NOT have the prescription drug database, which enables lots of “doctor shopping”. I have advocated for MO to do this; it gets to the house then fails in the Senate, they say it is an invasion of privacy. It may be, but everything about us is on the internet somewhere. If Equifax can be hacked, anything can.
As I stated I tried EVERYTHING except opiates but ended up in the hospital three times, hours from death because of severe allergic reactions. I research all my meds and the interactions, etc., so luckily I knew what some of the signs were, so I was able to get to the ER and get help. It took three years for my doctors to find a combination to work for me. I also did stretching, treadmill, and other low impact exercising I could tolerate in addition to eating right, staying at my ideal weight, vitamin supps, glucosamine, fish oil, etc. I never was in a “fog” or “high” and anyone who knew me, did not know I even took these meds. I still worked as an Accountant for nearly a decade and did that as I did when I was “normal”. I followed my regimen exactly as my doctors prescribed, took drug tests, pill counts, etc. Never an issue whatsoever. Even if my PCP wanted me to take antibiotics for something, I would always inform my pain doctor. I have heard that in the northeast it is much worse, but I still believe that there are more good, honest doctors than bad, dishonest ones and I truly believe the majority of us do as we are instructed. They seem to be more focused on people who get heroine laced with fentanyl which is why they are so tough on that. There has got to be some happy medium. I did find a good website called People with Pain Matter that is working with Congress to try and help with the “epidemic” but not make those who genuinely need pain control suffer. There are always going to be addicts, but they should not lump us all together. As I stated, alcohol, smoking, obesity, kill many more people, but they want to only focus on us.
Thank you so much and I am looking forward to hearing other opinions. I will not live with no future, in chronic pain, that is not a life. I would not allow my pets to live like that, why should I?
Deborah
Hi Deborah,
I am so sorry that you are in unrelieved pain. I know that when I have days of severe pain that it will eventually ease up, but we are all different. I have not been prescribed narcotics as yet. I think that in California now it requires two physicians to sign a triplicate prescription. Perhaps your doctor might feel better about prescribing if he/she had another doctor co-sign the Rx.
I just read another post about eliminating sugar and gluten from the diet to control FM pain. A heating blanket and a fan blowing on you, sheepskin seat covers and heel covers - are things that I use to “trim” the pain, but I know it will never go away without a miracle.
Has anyone suggested an implant in your back that blocks pain signals? I know of an 80+ y/o woman who has this for back pain, but I don’t know if something like this would work for FM pain. It would seem like even blocking part of the pain would be of help to you.
Please don’t give up!
Thank you for your suggestions. I do know of someone who had an implant for her back pain, but it has never been suggested to me. I will call my doctor today and ask him about that. I do not eat sugar of any kind and I do limit my gluten (I don’t eat many carbs, potatoes, bread, etc.,) and lots of fruits and veggies. I do have many fans going in my room and keep the temp around 66-68 degrees. I also have a special maternity pillow and an adjustable bed that all help. I also drink tonic water just before bed, which eliminates a lot of the muscle cramps since it contains quinine. I do not sleep under the covers as I can’t stand that weight on me, but rather on top of the bed with just a blanket. I do occasionally using a heating blanket, but I get just way too hot even with three fans and an ice cold room. Thank you again so very much, I really appreciate your taking the time to respond. I will definitely check about the implant.
Deborah
Please, everyone, I really need your input. I go back to my PD on the 6th to discuss the spinal implant and meds. I really need some additional information from around the country that I can share with him; of course, no names would be mentioned, I am just more interested in your location. At this point, I feel completely hopeless. I had a great summer and even his NP just raved at how good I looked (I lost 30 pounds) how much glow and optimism I had, etc. Now I pray for death as I will not live through this pain; and the NP tells me he will drop them more. I have no quality of life and spend about 20 hours a day in bed. I don’t want to go, I don’t want to do anything. I would euthanize my dog if he/she were as miserable as I am and I have had to do that many times. I have always been against suicide, but if this continues, I don’t know what I will do…pain can really make you think differently. I will be 53 next month and I just will not live in this pain for 20 or so years. We should not have to suffer because of a few who want to ruin it for all of us. Thank you!
Oh, Deborah, I’m so terribly sorry.
It’s my opinion that you need some extensive help with pinpointing just what is making you this miserable. I’m not sure what input you’re looking to share with your doc, is it whether a spinal implant helps? Narcotics don’t much help FMS, but perhaps a pain management practice can help you. I got help with trigger point injections. Besides your visit with your regular doc, insist on some help from a FMS expert, a rheumatology practice, if you don’t have it.
Also, certain supplements like d-ribose have helped me with muscle fatigue, cramping, and pain.
Xoxo
Lynne
As I backed farther up the page, I realize you provided much detail that I didn’t see initially. Apologies for that, and what may be non-helpful info.
Is your pain due to the reduction in meds?
~Lynne
Hi Deborah,
I am so sorry for what you are going through. I am living in fear now with that prospect of losing my meds too. I lost my wonderful doctor last year as he had a stroke. He made a full recovery, but the process to be accepted back by the medical board was too extensive and he gave up and decided to take early retirement. In the meantime he had a replacement doctor who continued to prescribe me my meds, but he couldn’t continue to take on all my doctors patients so I was dropped. I then had to call up a doctor I had years ago to see if he would take me and he did, but he treats me like I’m a drug addict…reminding me that I am addicted and that we have to do something about that. I told him that I had contemplated suicide prior to my diagnosis in 2012 and would not go back to living like that again. After 7 months of not knowing what I had and not being able to wear clothes or even have my hair touch my skin to finally have a doctor believe in me and give me relief was a blessing. So I do know what pain can do and push us to want to do.
We all experience fibro differently some with more pain than others and maybe more manageable. I don’t know what is going to happen for me, but I will have to go back in a few months and see this doctor. In the meantime he had heard of a study where a couple of fibro sufferers pain went away by eliminating sugar from their diets, went gluten free, no fried foods, no sugar replacements. He has suggested I do this and we start with that. Now I do believe diet does affect us, but there is no solid proof this will suddenly make your fibro pain go away. This doctor is not a chronic pain specialist and in fact I do not trust him, but it is almost impossible with doctor shortages to find a new one. Even harder to find one who specializes in fibro and chronic pain. Rheumatologists here in Canada do not take fibro patients or at least the province I live in they don’t so it doesn’t give us a lot of options. As you said there is so much going on with the opioid epidemic that doctors no longer want anything to do with prescribing narcotics. That doesn’t help us though who have legitimate pain with no cure.
I do not believe diet will rid us of our pain when this has to do with nerves and the messages the brain is sending to keep us in constant pain. This doctor knows nothing. Your story is heart wrenching and I feel so bad for you. Are there centers for chronic pain in your area or something you could at least put your name on a waiting list? My disability case is still pending and now my final appeal with the courts this has been going on since 2013. I can’t work…lost my life savings and I had to have only $300. left in my bank account before the government would assist me. It has been a nightmare and a hard pill to swallow when one day you’re leading a “normal” life never a health issue and then the roof comes crashing down and it changes your life forever.
I am now 59 and have always worked and now can’t…on top of it I also have nerve damage related to my cancer diagnosis following my fibro diagnosis. If I stand to long I’m in pain…if I sit too long I’m in pain…if I walk and do mild exercises I’m in pain…if I do too much let’s say fun and pleasure for a day I suffer for it the following day. It’s an awful way to live…I just wonder how these doctors would feel if they had to live like this. I asked my new doctor if he thinks I enjoy having to take meds everyday? We still live in a society that unless an illness is visible then it is not real. Vicious circle. Thank God you have your husband to be there for you…I can only hope you will persist with your doctor and take some of the advice suggested by another member on here. You are doing all the right things for yourself…not being able to take some kind of antidepressant doesn’t help either because of course living in pain is depressing.
Keep strong and you know you can always come on here to express yourself. I found it helped me greatly to hear from fellow fibro sufferers and know that I was talking with people who understood me, but mostly that I was not alone. In the meantime, try to keep your stress level down because you know that adds to the pain…I know easier said than done. I wish there was something I could say or do that would help you.
You are not alone and I am sure you will hear from others on here that might have suggestions or other things you can try. You have come to a good place to get support and encouragement. If you need someone to talk to you can write me, but please don’t suffer in silence and alone.
Sending you a gentle hug and prayers of strength to get through this.
Susan
Lynne,
I have read about the dorsal spinal implants and was interested in knowing whether or not any other FMS members have had them and if they help. I have tried every FMS med - Lyrica, Neurontin, all of them and I had severe allergic reactions so bad that I had to go to ER. In fact, Cymbalta caused me to have a serotonin storm and had I not realized what it was and went to the ERI, I would have died. My fibro is what I would call severe; basically head-to-toe. The opiates are the only thing that helped me along with exercise, supplements, good diet, etc. I have never abused them and followed all my doctors orders and had to take drug tests, pill counts, etc. I have seen him every month for over 5 years. My pain was down to about a 3 and I was increasing the frequency of my exercising, not the intensity so much as to hurt myself or cause pain, everything was going great. I had lost 30 pounds and my doctor just could not believe how good I was doing. The meds never caused me any confusion, I never felt “high” or anything like that. If I was not in pain, I did not take them and had been taken fewer on my own. My doctor is a pain management specialist and did tell me that the government is requiring them to reduce the opiates they are giving out. He reduced me by 25% which now has me nearly bedridden. I cannot even stand for 5 minutes without excruciating pain. I can’t do the laundry, empty the dishwasher, none of the things I had been used to doing. I was so happy and felt so good, now I lie in bed sometimes and wonder what I have to live for. I am not suicidal, but it has crossed my mind. On Monday I do have an appointment with a doctor who is both a chiropractor and certified acupuncturist, which I have not tried. I am doing everything I possibly can, but I cannot live in this much pain.
I drink tonic water with quinine before bed, which has virtually eliminated the muscle cramping. I have severe insomnia, so I never sleep. As part of the disease, FMS patients often do not get enough stage 4 sleep; I am up every hour or two and never feel refreshed. I also have panic attacks and anxiety, which I have managed pretty well; I just rarely leave my house. In our town we only have one rheumatology practice and they are a joke. Anyway, sorry I did not respond sooner, I did not see a notice regarding your response.
Thank you so much for your input, I sincerely appreciate it.
Deborah
Susan,
I am so sorry to read of all your problems with your FMS; we sound a lot alike. I will be 53 this Saturday and while I would not commit suicide, I truly think about it sometimes. My doctor is wonderful, which is hard to find, so I am sorry you lost yours. There are many doctors who think we are addicts and are not. That is what is so frustrating. The have put together this committee on opioid addiction here in the states and that is why they are making doctors give fewer meds without consideration at all to their issues. I often wish people could walk in our shoes for a day or two and they could understand. Since my doc took my meds down, specifically my fentanyl patch, which worked wonders, I can no longer stand for more than 5 minutes. I can’t do laundry, unload the dishwasher, none of the things I had been. This summer I was doing really well and had, on my own, reduced the number of pain pills I was taking, which is the 30mg oxycodone. I have tried every non-narcotic for FMS but had severe allergic reactions to them in which I ended up in the ER; Cymbalta nearly killed me. I am going to see my doc tomorrow to see if he will adjust my meds back and ask if he thinks a dorsal, spinal implant will help. I am also seeing a chiropractor/acupuncturist on Monday. I have a wonderful husband, who is very healthy, but he is 16 years my senior, so what am I going to do in the future? I don’t have any children only a niece and nephew who don’t give me the time of day. Just the other day, my whole right side of my body gave out and I fell. I twisted my back and scratched up my arm, but thankfully I landed on one of my dogs’ beds and didn’t hit my head on the corner of my desk. I just feel like crawling up in a ball and dying right now. Thank you so much for writing back. I thought my email was supposed to notify me when I had responses, but I guess it didn’t or I would have written you back much sooner. You take care of yourself as well and hope you can find a doctor to help. I know in Canada, or I have heard it takes longer to see certain types of docs, so I hope you don’t have to wait too long. .
Take care and thank you again for responding!
Deborah
I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow to discuss the spinal implant; I also have an appointment on Monday with a Chiropractor/Acupuncturist to try that; I have never had acupuncture, but I have heard good things. I did a lot of research about the spinal implant, but there are just as many pros and cons as there are people. It seemed it did help many, but not all of them have FMS. I have what I would call severe, so I just don’t know. I called one of my dad’s friends who has an implant and she says it reduces her pain about 50-60% but she doesn’t have FMS. Her husband told my dad he doesn’t think it would help me because her pain was limited to her back and mine is all over, so we will see. I am trying everything I can think of. I just know I can’t continue to live in this much pain. I fell the other day just because my knee gave out; thankfully I did not hit my head on anything, but I did twist my back as I landed on one of my dogs’ beds.
I will let you know what I find out tomorrow.
Thank you,
Deborah
Good luck with your appointment. I hope you get some help!
Hi Deborah,
I just learned of a remedy that is not an opiate but has been used to replace opiates. It is not addictive, and it had become popular in the '70’s and now again.
It is used for many things - to look at it, go to cukierski.net. This is a family run business that is Christian oriented, but the mom (of 13 children!) is also interested in herbal remedies. I have just ordered this from them to try it - it is “Wild Lettuce.” It grows as a weed all over North America. Anyway, this is another option that I just learned about. I am also willing to try anything (and I think I have tried just about EVERYTHING!).
Take Care, Deb. (You have the same name as my sister).
Hello Blessed
The link you provided is an interesting read, and really should be posted in complementary therapies.
As with all complementary therapies, it is important to consult with all of your doctors (and probably your pharmacist as well) before starting them. Please be very careful about this, as what may seem innocuous to us may, in fact, be something that could interfere with your conventional therapies.
All the best to you
Seenie
Hello again!
Like you, I did not know I had received a reply back from you and just coming back online since the last time I wrote you. By now you probably have gone to see your doctor again did he adjust your meds? After the announcement Trump gave today, I imagine it is going to become even harder for people like us to get the proper medications. I will go back to see my doctor…the one who thinks going gluten free will rid me of my pain. I don’t know what will happen when I go back in a few months, but I am just going to tell him I did my best with the whole gluten thing. He also wanted me to buy only organic…I can barely afford food let alone organic and I told him. By the end of the month I’m usually eating bread because I can’t afford much until the beginning of the month. It’s awful to live like this and on top of fibro. I am sewing now to try to make a few extra dollars, but like you I have a hard time standing for long periods of time without my pain accelerating. I try to keep my meds to a minimum, but if I want to get anything done by mid day I usually have to take another dilaudid. When I had money I did try all kinds of things like acupuncture and going to see a chiropractor as well as the occasional massage. All of it only helped a little and mostly in the moment. The acupuncture is very relaxing and at that time I needed it because I was so stressed because I didn’t know what was wrong with me. It took 7 months until I finally got a diagnosis…7 months in debilitating pain…I couldn’t even stand wearing clothes or even my hair touching my skin. At least now I can tolerate all of that, but if this doctor continues to insist I go off my meds, I do not know what I will do. It is not a way to live…you have no quality of life that is for sure. I don’t have any friends well the ones I did have just didn’t stick around. After my cancer it was like I had the plague…I guess they got fed up of me crying, but I was so depressed…one sickness after the other and then losing all my savings just to keep myself afloat during the couple of years of not being able to work. I am still trying to get disability, but I have been waiting 4 years now for my appeal to go to court. For now I am on welfare because there isn’t many jobs I can do…and besides at 59 who would hire someone like me. I used to be an administrative assistant and now I can hardly remember what I said 5 minutes ago. Right now I am taking Lyrica and Hydromorphone Contin and dilaudid. I did try the Cymbalta but it definitely did not agree with me and I bloated up that I couldn’t even get shoes on my feet. So this is life now…it does make me sad, but I try to keep busy with my sewing projects and just persist through the pain. I also get nerve pain caused by the radiation treatments and sometimes its so bad it wakes me in the night. It can take up to an hour for it to pass. God only knows why we are the chosen ones, but I can say it certainly tests our strength. You sound like a strong woman who is being tested to your limit. You are blessed to have an understanding husband and I am sure he is in it for the long haul! For myself, I have dated a bit but dating just isn’t what it used to be and all they can think of is sex. I don’t have a lot of confidence and certainly don’t feel sexy. The whole thing just makes me feel a lot of pressure, but is a catch 22 because the thought of being alone the rest of my life isn’t a nice prospect particularly when I don’t have a large family and see my kids about once a month only for a couple of hours. That too makes me sad…everyone is just so busy. I’m so grateful to have my two little dogs they give me a reason to wake up everyday and get out and walk daily. What kind of dog do you have? You mentioned a dog bed? So sorry to hear that you fell…thank God you didn’t hurt yourself! My heart goes out to you Deborah because I know exactly what you are feeling and going through. Are you still working? By the way happy belated birthday! I hope everything will work out for you in regard to your medications. First I think doctors need to treat each patient on their own merits and doctors need to believe that Fibro is real! This doctor I have really makes me know it that I am addicted to drugs. I don’t know if he thinks by shaming me that I will stop taking them. My former doctor was so nice and knew how to treat fibro patients. It always feels so good when you have them on your side…and now I feel I’m on my own to fight this battle. It is a continuing saga and we just have to try and stay strong. Tell me a little bit about you…how do you spend your days? Do you have supportive family? I will leave you with this for now…it is late here, but I wanted to write you back right away since your message was sent a week or so ago. Keep up your spirits and I will pray that your doctor will make an exception with you and understand that you are not abusing of the meds. Please be careful if you decide to try these other remedies that were suggested by another member. I know you are willing to try anything and I get that. Let me know what you think of the acupuncture if you have already gone. It’s not a bad thing…just will cost you a bit of money unless you have insurance.
Take good care of yourself and I will look forward to hearing from you again.
By for now ,
Susan
Please take a step back and examine this statement. Speaking from the other side, diet is everything. Socrates said, “Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food.” Food is what we use to fuel our bodies. You blame it on nerves but fail to see that your diet is driving your nerves.
Speaking on the other side of what? You certainly are entitled to your opinion. Tell me how is diet working for you and your pain? I am all for having a balanced and healthy diet and do agree that eating the right foods will improve your overall health, but it does not do anything for Fibromyalgia this is my experience. Please if there is anyone on here who has had success with a cure for Fibro from going gluten free, then I would be very interested to hear about it.
I think having a healthy diet is important, however, I don’t think it does anything for the pain. My biggest reasons sre to keep my weight down, which I am normal for my height AND most importantly, as those of you who take opiates know, eating high fiber to avoid that awful constipation that comes along with pain meds many times. We all know how horrible that makes us feel. I did cut out quite a bit of sugar, but I still enjoy a bowl of ice cream every day (we can’t take away all our pleasures) however, I do still smoke, but given all I have going on, I am just no ready to go through all that. I did go to my doc about the spinal implant, meds, etc. He did up my fentanyl patch back to the 100mcg however, he said that I MUST see a therapist to deal with my depression. I had a “serotonin storm” from Cymbalta, so I cannot take any anti-depressants. I must say, seeing a therapist has really helped me release a lot of my internal pain, which in turn has truly helped my physical pain. My doc said that while being in pain causes depression especially for people like us who are used to doing a hundred things at once, he also said depression can make our pain worse. I highly recommend a GOOD therapist. I had to go to two of them before I found an excellent one who knows all about FMS and in fact, sees many of my docs patients. Asking other people and your docs are the best way to find other good docs. As far as the spinal implant, my doc sent all my records over the pain clinic at the hospital that does that and after wasting and hour and a half of my freaking time, they told me that the spinal implant is NOT indicated for FMS! I was like, why in the hell did you just waste all my time? I also called Medtronix and they said the same thing. I have no clue why they even had me come in at all when they had all my records and clearly knew my issues. I have also begun chiropractic and acupuncture. I am sold on the acupuncture. My chiro is also an acupuncturist and she is just fantastic! All and all, my therapy, acupuncture, chiro adjustments and the increase in just my patch, has helped my pain. This in turn has REDUCED the number of oxycodone I take in half! While the damp, cold, rainy weather never helps, as we all know, for the most part, my pain has been better. My state of mind has also been better with the therapy. The only part of my life that has not gotten any better is my sleep. No matter what I do, I cannot sleep! I am up every hour or two and NEVER feel rested. From what I have read, FMS interferes with stage 4 sleep, which is important in feeling rested. I don’t think I ever get there which is why I just feel like crap and have to nap during the day. Even if I don’t nap, I still don’t sleep. I take a 1mg Ativan at bedtime, which puts me to sleep quickly, but then I am awake in an hour or two. I really wish there was something to help. I have tried Ambien and pretty much all those meds as well as melatonin, but none helps. This is my biggest frustration. The doc at the pain clinic suggested Namenda, which is indicated for Alzheimers treatment but he said it also helps FMS pain. While my pharmacist said it is not indicated for FMS, I did read that studies have shown it helps. At this point, I am trying to REDUCE my meds not increase them. I am not going to take any Alzheimers meds. I have so many allergic reactions to meds already. On one sad note, after I had wasted that hour and a half at the pain clinic, I took one of my dogs to have a tumor removed from his side. He was doing great all day, the tumor weighed nearly 4 pounds, however at about 6pm, my vet called and said he was not doing well; I went there to be with him and he died in my lap. It was just awful; he was only 11 and I am working hard not to feel guilty about this…so my week has sucked as far as that goes. Thank you all so very, very much for your support! I sincerely appreciate everyone’s input with what works, doesn’t work, etc. I really wish there was a cure for this. I did go to a website called to clinictrials.gov to see what is being tested for FMS and there is really nothing. They do have trials in various states, so its worth taking a look to see what might be going on in your area. All and all, like someone said, I don’t think people always take us seriously. I am thankful for my doctor, but I know many of you struggle with it. I, too, have contemplated suicide because I just did not want to live like this any more. I am doing my best, my some days, it is just really, really tough. Thank you all again! Deb
One thing I forgot concerning the government’s “control” of opiates. Just as a foreword, my husband and I stay very informed about politics, while I am not expressing any political opinion, this is what I have head this week. Trump is allocating money to every state to battle opiate addiction and let the states decide what to do with the money according to the severity of the problem in the respective states. He also believes that building the wall will help stop the influx of drugs since most of them come in the southern border. I have read, however, that New Hampshire is where most of the heroine in the US comes in. The biggest issue is that the “new heroine” is laced with fentanyl, which as most of you know is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Junkies are buying the heroine not knowing this and overdosing. I maintain that those of us who FOLLOW THE RULES should NOT be punished! I am sure any of us who get opiates must sign an agreement with our docs that we will not get ANY pain meds from any other source and if we are hospitalized or need meds outside of our FMS, like if you have to have surgery or something, that you are supposed to contact your PM doc. Even when I had a colonoscopy, I made sure I told my doc as they use fentanyl and versed to sedate you. It is better safe than sorry. My primary care doc gave me Soma one time for my back spasms and my doc went ballistic! I did not know this was in that general class. Although it is not a pain med per se, it can cause respiratory depression, which if you don’t carefully schedule your meds, can cause you to quit breathing and die. In the end, my doc who gave me the Soma wrote a letter to my pm doc and we got it all reconciled. I did not know and my pharmacist did not say anything either. So anytime my other doc wants me to take something, I don’t care what it is, I tell my pm doc. I don’t really think docs are being told to reduce our pain meds, I think they are jumping the gun a bit because of the epidemic. I have never done heroine or any other illicit drugs, so I don’t think I should be punished. It seems their biggest focus is addiction recovery and preventing drugs from coming into the country, which we all know that is nearly impossible. If you search “what is Trumps plan for opiate epidemic” you can read several articles about it; there was just one posted yesterday. Keep in mind there are many opinions about this. Nonetheless, I does suck for those of us who need them just to get out of bed or walk!