How many people know about your meds?? - Pain Management Message Board

trowftd3 · 03-23-2005, 10:57 AM

Just wondering as we have all talked about 'the lectures'....

How many people know that you are on long term pain medication?

Does anyone outside your immediate family know? Your boss(if you're still working)? Friends?

I only have one close friend that knows. My mom and mil and such knew when I first started but I stopped telling them after the first lecture and now they assume I've quit taking them. Same with any other friends.
My boss doesn't know. Without the medicine I wouldn't be able to work and it was a big challenge to see if I could go back to work. My doctor was great about raising my dosage so I could work. I'm debating whether I will tell my boss at any point. I do still have bad days and have missed work but got by with...'I'm just not feeling well.' I'm kind of proud that I was able to get a job and would like to brag to my boss because she is a wonderful person but....I don't want to jepordize my job.

Anyway, sorry to ramble but just curious as to what your friends and family know. Of course, I don't look sick(undiagnosed lung pain) which has advantages and disadvantages.

~Mush

Ladybug46 · 03-23-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trowftd3

Just wondering as we have all talked about 'the lectures'....

How many people know that you are on long term pain medication?one, my spouse

Does anyone outside your immediate family know?No Your boss(if you're still working)?i am disabled, unable to work anymore, when i did work, the answer is No. Friends? No, for me, for the very reason noone understands what we go through, as CP patients, unless they too are CP patients.

I only have one close friend that knows. My mom and mil and such knew when I first started but I stopped telling them after the first lecture and now they assume I've quit taking them. Same with any other friends.
My boss doesn't know.iif it was me it would stay that way, unless asked specifically by supervisor for a valid reason. I am just a pro privacy advocate when it comes to my own personal healt issues. Without the medicine I wouldn't be able to work and it was a big challenge to see if I could go back to work. That is wonderful news! I am happy to hear your life has improved so much. this gives us all hope. My doctor was great about raising my dosage so I could work. I'm debating whether I will tell my boss at any point. I do still have bad days and have missed work but got by with...'I'm just not feeling well.' I'm kind of proud that I was able to get a job and would like to brag to my boss because she is a wonderful person but....I don't want to jepordize my job. You have every right to be proud of your self, imo. !! my personal view is- it sometimes best to let sleeping dogs lie, it is noone's business but yours, but if you feel that would be best for you, then follow your heart and mind. my thinking is if the info was not received the way you want, it could follow you everywhere you go, like if you changed jobs. Good luck.

Anyway, sorry to ramble but just curious as to what your friends and family know. Of course, I don't look sick(undiagnosed lung pain) which has advantages and disadvantages. about not looking sick-i know what you mean, its invisible sickness sometimes, and used to be for me, but now i am very much visibly sick. i did get so tired of hearing-"oh, but you look so good, how can you be sick"-just because i put on heavy makeup, sheesh.

~Mush

cairan_dae · 03-28-2005, 04:28 PM

I don't tell anyone outside of my immediate family. My daughters father-in-law was robbed by a teenager at gunpoint for his meds, they didn't want anything else. I wouldn't tell anyone, it seems safer to me.

twisten · 03-28-2005, 06:52 PM

Only my immediate family knows. I am also on disability at this time but when I can go back to work the only way I would tell my employer is if I had to take a drug test.

cpapp31 · 03-28-2005, 07:07 PM

Only my husband. No one else knows, I don't trust people after reading some of the stories on this board.

The last thing I need is for someone breaking into my home for my medication. Or better yet, people judging me for having to take narcotics. Most people not in cp, don't understand why we need medication just to function like normal (Hehehe...what's that?) people.