Pain Meds and trying to get a new job... [Archive]

FUNKYHEADGIRL

12-22-2006, 03:57 AM

I have been in pain management for about 2 years and just recently lost my job of 25 years. Am I going to have a hard time getting employment since I am on pain medicine? So many companies drug test now and I have no problem with that since I don't use anything "recreationally". Will a company hire you if you take prescription percocets everyday? Anyone have any experience with this issue? Any feedback anyone can give me is appreciated!

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forginon

12-22-2006, 02:45 PM

My job falls under the federal government, yet I take Methadone w/o issue.

Where I work it's a matter of security clearances and whether I've brought it up ahead of time or whether they had to find it for themselves. Essentially it's about honesty.

My requirement is to have my scripts on record, and make notifications of any changes. I came into PM while employed, so when I joined I was not on controlled substances.

Your best bet is to be totally above board, make your situation known and trust them to understand.

While that may not always work it's the only experience I have.

Best of Luck!:)

FUNKYHEADGIRL

12-23-2006, 01:14 AM

Thanks for the replies. No, I did not loose my job due to my medical condition. I'm just concerned about being drug tested and having a company think I'll be too spaced out or "have a problem" with meds. I have no problem being upfront and explaining my situation - I just don't know how potential employers will react! Or if I'll be limited to what I can be hired for. I guess I'm just thinking ahead. If I get any interviews, I'll keep you posted!

butrfligirl28

12-23-2006, 01:40 AM

Unless you are drug tested, I would not even discuss it. If you are tested, then tell them you are on Rx'd meds. My job didn't test, so I had no reason to tell them. Why open yourself up to skepticism, or discrimination if it is not necessary? I don't want anyone suddenly questioning my ability to do my job, or start living under a microscope.

ozzybug

12-23-2006, 11:07 AM

This really is a sticky situation for you, and I understand your concerns. They are legitimate and well founded. I know that even Wal-Mart does drug screenings because my sister applied there and had to do one. Out of all the applicants, she was the only one who tested "clean" and was offered the position. It makes me feel so bad for the ones who are on legitimate pain management, because they are discriminated against- even though discrimination is illegal. I mean, how many of those people who tested positive for narcotics in their system were given the opportunity to explain why they have them in their system? How many people have been passed up for a job when they are more than sufficiently qualified, would show up every day and do a great job for the company have been turned down because of this? I'm sure the numbers are quite high.

I don't know what to tell you, other than that I agree with the others that unless a drug screening comes up, I wouldn't mention it. And if it does come up and is a requirement, getting a note from your doctor would be a good idea.

Most people don't understand that those of us who are in pain management are able to be medicated and still function. We have been on some of these meds long term, and therefore it's no different than taking a Motrin as far as the effects some of these meds have on us.

I wish you the best of luck in finding a new job. Please keep us posted.

Happy Holidays! :wave:

forginon

12-24-2006, 04:37 PM

Conductor,

Thanks a bunch :-)

But I did feel like I got some good education from yours and other posts too.

I have been really blessed with outstanding PM and my employer. I've never had to worry about how safe it was to offer info on my meds.

But I need to be careful when offering advice that my experience doesn't necessarily reflect the norm, maybe not even close.

BTW, I enjoy a good dry sense of humor and the sarcasm that sometimes goes with it. Keeps things from becoming too predictable...

Bictwin

12-25-2006, 03:49 AM

Okay I'm going through the same thing! But my Uncle is the person (i cant remeber the actual title) that does the hiring and firing. He said there is no reason to tell anyone about your medical problems or medications unless 1) You have limitations (such as me not lifting over 2 lbs after spine fusion surgery) 2) They send you for a drug test. If they send you for a drug test you either tell the person in charge (not necessarily the person doing the interview) or the lab doing the drug test. Sometimes a lot of the prescription muscle relaxants and pain meds wont show up on a general tox screen. But if they send you for a drug test my Uncle says its better to be honest up front with only the people that need to know! He says it wouldnt be a good idea to tell others, so make sure the person doing the interview is the person in charge before you tell them anything personal. But my Uncle says if you wait until after they get the results, you rarely get the chance to explain yourself, and if you do...they've heard every excuse! So HONESTY is your best bet!

Ashley:wave:

Hope this helps...keep us informed. I would love to know for when I go out on more interviews. The ones I've gone on so far dont have a drug test..yet!

blu_skies

12-25-2006, 04:36 AM

I was tested and the drug test company called me, not my prospective employer. The drug test company said Ms."" ..we found you to test positive to morphine ...." I said yup....and they asked if I had a script , I said yup, they asked for docs name and number, when the last refill was, and the name of the pharmacy. Gave them all the info. She put me on hold and after a few minutes came back and said everything is legit. I tested " negative" to the employer and got the job. They were none the wiser. Had I been positive , a dirty positive by non legit, then they would have told the employer that I was positive. ..This is what the lady explained to me. ....

FUNKYHEADGIRL

12-25-2006, 03:45 PM

Blu skies, Thats exactly what I hoped to hear and hope the same goes for me! I guess I'll find out as I start interviewing! Thanks to everyone for their replies!

blu_skies

12-25-2006, 04:45 PM

I really wouldnt worry about it !...Youll be just fine ! ....Let us know !!

......and good luck !

konniep

12-27-2006, 01:26 AM

I am dealing with the same thing. I was laid off due to cut backs at my work. My job, along with about 50 more jobs were eliminated due to work going to China. I worked in the "furniture manufacturing" business. My job there was a production planner. I was there for 18 years but have only been on pain management for about 6 years. I have been drawing unemployment since October 12 and I really haven't thought about a job and drug testing, but I recently put in my application for the hospital in my area. Well, I received an email today saying that they want me to come in for an interview on Thursday! And like I said before, I really haven't thought about the drug testing up until now. I take Oxycontin and Lortab for severe breakthrough pain. Does anyone have any comments?

zuzu23

12-27-2006, 02:42 AM

I, too, have been a chronic "sufferer" for almost 3 years, and a year into it, I went back to school, and completed it. I was offered a great career before I was even done school, which I began about half way through my schooling. It was a health care job, and I seriously had this debate with myself and trusted others.

I did decide to be completely open and honest with all involved parties. I told them all, and it made no difference. I did have to give up this job, however, due to a tumor I have/ thyroid impairment/ pain issues/ bleeding concerns. All in all, I just was not (and still aren't) healthy enough. I worked Dec. 18 & 19, 5 hours each, and I'm still "recovering."

Anyways, I was told here anyways that there's no need to disclose that information, unless I want to so I feel completely honest and not like I am hiding anything (which I do want to feel) but the only time it would come into question, is if it ever affected my job. Like if I was abusing the pills, or wasn't competent to do a demanding job in health care, looking after others' health.

My personal choice is to disclose ALL, but it is a moral decision....one that nobody has the right to pass judgment on. Just be sure not to ever endanger anyone, or compromise yours or anyone else's safety. Then you would be legally obligated to tell them, as well as legally responsible if an occurence happened.

Good luck. Zuzu :wave: :angel:

FUNKYHEADGIRL

12-27-2006, 03:03 AM

Konnie,

Let us know how it goes Thursday. Good luck!

konniep

12-27-2006, 03:06 AM

Thanks Zuzu, my meds don't affect the way I do my daily activities or the way I act. As a matter of fact, my boss of 18 years always said that she couldn't even tell that I was taking anything for my pain. I am just worried that they can turn me down for it showing up in my urine test that's all. But would that not be a form of discrimination since I have prescriptions?

konniep

12-27-2006, 03:07 AM

Hi Funkyheadgirl, I will definitely let you all know how it goes Thursday!!

konniep

12-27-2006, 08:24 PM

Hi everyone, I'm a little nervous about tomorrow! :eek: Please keep me in your prayers.:angel: I am suppose to be there at 10:00 CST. Funkyheadgirl, I know you're really concerned about this as much as I am, so as soon as I find out something, I'll let you know. I have spoken with several people that have worked in the Human Resourses department in different fields of jobs, one being the hospital and from what they've all said, we should have no worries at all as long as we can perform our jobs well and that I can definitely do!! :cool: But like I said, I'll keep everyone posted!! Thanks in advance for all your prayers. I love this board......everyone here is soooo understanding and always trying to help each other out. God Bless you all!! Konnie:wave:

blu_skies

12-27-2006, 11:43 PM

The drug test company wont tell them unless u test neg for "illegal". Its none of the employers business , unless DOT , or something like machinery..something that you could hurt yourself or someone else.

Yall will be fine !!!

zuzu23

12-28-2006, 05:17 AM

konniep

12-30-2006, 05:40 PM

Hi everyone! :cool: Well I went to the interview and all they did was test me. I stayed there for about 3 hours and took different tests on clerical stuff. There was a test about your (actually my) personality. As I was taking them, it automatically took you to the next page and I sorta got a view of some of the scores...for example, on my math skills, it said, "Applicant shows broad skills in this area." and on my typing, I typed 50 WPM, I'm a little rusty at typing. But I think that's pretty good. I didn't get to see any of the other scores. I am praying so hard for a job right now. I'm just the type of person that doesn't like to sit at home. And my PM doc really wants his patients to work if they possibly can. On my previous job, we really didn't see that layoff coming. Alot of us in the Scheduling Department just thought the company would layoff some newer people on the floor, but to our surprise, they got me, which I've already told y'all that I was there for 18 years, and several others, 50 to be exact, one lady had been there 35 years! :eek: And one man 42 years!!! :eek: Yeah, I think it had alot to do with not wanting to pay us our "paid vacations" and the money per hour that we were making, which was pretty darn good, considering we worked in the office. But I am a firm believer in God and I know that He knows best and He'll provide for me and my family! :angel:

But anyway, getting back to the tests, when I was finished with those the secretary told me that she would give my results to "Fred" the guy that I was supposed to interview with and he would be giving me a call. I'm still not going to give up!! Maybe this is their way of doing things??? Taking the tests then calling you back for the interview......... I don't know, but I surely hope so!!! Please, keep me in y'all's prayers!! :angel: And thanks again in advance!! And as always, Y'all are great!!! May God Bless you all and keep you pain free!!!

Konnie

IZZY'SMOM

12-30-2006, 08:02 PM

:angel: Good Luck, Konnie! I hope that you get the job, and I have been thinking about you. Please let us know when you hear something!:angel:
xoxoxoxo
IZZY'SMOM

blu_skies

12-30-2006, 09:18 PM

Generally thats what happens.

First they get your resume and call you in for their tests i.e typing and the Q/A of how you would handle certain situations. They reword the same sentance several times to get you to thinking !
Then they call you back for if you "pass" whatever tests , they call you back for the 1st of sometimes several interviews.
If youve been selected, they give you an offer letter for the position contingent on passing the background check and drug screen.
They send you paperwork, or have you come get it, to take to the drug screen place. When you get there to do the pee test, thats when you can show /tell your scripts. OR wait and see if they detect in your pee. When they call to find out why you have"X" in yor urine , then you can give them the info .

Youll be just fine !!!! Good luck !!

kttn251977

01-01-2007, 11:35 AM

as long as you have a prescription in your name you should be fine. i work for a very large credit company where i am on the phone all day, had to pass a national security background check yet no drug test. i chose to inform my management of my medications and my condition, but my boss informed me it falls under the privacy act and they do not need to be alerted of my medications. (only if i had a workers comp incident would i need to disclose them) i take kadian, norco, soma and occasionally vicodin on a bad day.

2pups

01-08-2007, 06:23 AM

Hi everyone, I am new to the boards and you all are so caring. I just wanted to again wish luck to your potential at the hospital.

I had an problem at a job I held for 25yrs where an employee assumed I was taking pain meds at work, I had had 2 back surgeries within 6mo of each other and still was having lumbar pain. Now, I had not gone to the PM doc yet, so I had percocet to take, but I didnt take it at work, instead I just suffered until I got home. This person started telling everyone that I was taking pain meds and how wrong this was. My employer talked to me about it and acted like he didnt believe me, and this was someone I had worked for for 25 years, and he actually had no right to even question this, and get this, it was a medical office where he is full aware of the hipaa privacy act!!! I ended up leaving my job because of all of this crap, unfortunatley, but I learned somethings, like you really know who your true friends are when something like this happens, some of the people stuck up for me and that meant alot, the one girl that started telling people, and she was wrong, I thought she was my friend, instead she just wanted more gossip. It really should not have been an issue for anyone but me, instead it was treated like "office gossip".

Now I am job hunting and I am thankful for reading all the posts here. Everything should be alot different this time around, (I hope).

Thanks all, and good luck to all.:confused:

kiam0675

01-08-2007, 08:14 AM

I have had to take several drug tests for jobs. I take my pill bottles with me to the drug test that way if it shows up it shows I have a legit RX for it. I have never been questioned or looked down upon for it. So if you do have to take a drug test be on the safe side and just bring your bottles with you. Good luck job hunting. Kiam