Help! - Pain Management Message Board

Kerri532 · 04-25-2009, 08:55 PM

I am new on this board and at my wits end. You will never believe my story but it is true. I have been in PM with the same doctor for six years. History of back problems, among other things. I have been taking Oxycontin for several years. A couple weeks ago my doctor gave me a prescription for Oxycodone for breakthrough pain. At the same time he wrote me out two other prescriptions for other meds with three refills. I left them on the table and all of a sudden my grandson says, "grandma I fixed your prescription". He circled the 3 for three refills on the Oxycodone. Me, not knowing any better tried to erase it. Obviously prescriptions can't be erased, I now know that. I should have chucked it in the garbage but I took it to the drugstore anyway because I didn't want to deal with getting a new prescription.(If you knew how long it takes to get through to someone you would understand) To make a long story short when I got called to be told that my prescription couldn't be filled, I didn't even bother to explain what happened. She could see that I had made an attempt to erase it so that voided the prescription. Now I found out there is no refills on Oxycodone anyway. I feel like a criminal and I have never done anything wrong in my life. I immediately called the doctor's nurse and left a message as to what happened. For once, it didn't take long for them to call me back. All she could say to me was "I'll have to talk to them and see how they want to deal with this". Deal with what? I am freaked out here. I did try to erase the refills, shouldn't that account for something? Not to mention at my last doctor visit, I took a whole baggie of hydrocodone to him and handed it over. I told him he could do whatever with it that it didn't work for me. I would think that this says something about me also. Maybe I am worrying for nothing but I keep waiting for someone to show up at my door and take me to jail. What can they do to me if I didn't fill the prescription and I did try to erase what my grandson did? My history of pain goes a long ways back and I have never abused drugs in my life. Please reply and let me know what you think.
Thanks so much,
Grandma Kerri

Kerri532 · 04-26-2009, 09:41 AM

I know I am new here but I would appreciate some feedback if anyone has any thoughts. After reading on this board, I realize this is a controlled subtance which I didn't know before. Not that makes any difference in what happened. Since the prescription was not filled and I did try to erase, I can't imagine that they would do anything but I am still totally out of my mind with worry. I have never been in trouble in my life and would hate to get into trouble for something I tried to correct. I realize I should have thrown the script away instead of trying to erase.
Grandma Kerri

bullymom · 04-26-2009, 10:03 AM

Oh my goodness Kerri. I don't have anything profound to say, but didn't want your post to go completely unanswered. You are right it really does sound unbelievable. How old is your grandson? Is he old enough to explain to your doctor what he did? If you have been in PM for 6 years and have never had a problem maybe your doctor will be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. My only advice is to keep your RX's in a safe place. My grandson is 3 and a half, and he would probably take a crayon and scribble all over the whole prescription rather than circle a specific number. Granted, strange things happen all the time, so anything is possible. I don't think the cops are gonna show up at your door. Please let us know how things turn out. I will be thinking about you.
Bullymom

Kerri532 · 04-26-2009, 11:30 AM

Bullymom,
Thank you at least for responding. My grandson is 15 and no way is he into drugs or would even know what the drug was. He just thought since the other prescriptions had three refills on them that the doctor just missed putting it on this one. I should have explained at the drug store right off about what happened but there were so many people standing there, I was totally embarrassed. I immediately called the doctor's office and explained to them what happened. The pharmacy had already called them and this was in a matter of ten minutes. I guess that is why it scares me so bad. I came home and looked up the drug and then I realized why it is so serious. But then I guess it would be serious if you did that on any prescription, no matter what it is. It is tampering or forgery, or whatever and considered a felony. If I didn't have high blood pressure before, I do now. I told my grandson I might go to jail because of what he did. He is beside himself with worry and I shouldn't lay all the blame on him as I shouldn't have left my prescriptions on the table to begin with. You can't believe all the things that go through your mind in a situation like this. I hope I am worrying for nothing but I feel like a criminal and I didn't do anything wrong except try to erase. It is a lesson well learned that is for sure.
Once again, thank you for your post.
Grandma Kerri

Toonces1 · 04-26-2009, 01:20 PM

GK, it's good that you at least called your doctor. I agree that you probably should have told the pharmacy person right away, too, just to clear up any questions. Depending on who is handling it, it could go a few ways. Do you have a good relationship w/your doctor?

I have left my prescriptions on the table a few times, but I live alone w/my husband. I definitely would not leave them out under any circumstances, ESPECIALLY if anyone is coming over, even family. I usually get post dated prescriptions for my oxycodone, and one time my husband tried to "help me get organized" and filed them in our file cabinet and I couldn't find them anywhere. Let's just say he now has orders to never touch any of my medical info, prescriptions, notes, or meds ever again without talking to me first.

I really hope this works out okay for you. Your good history with your doctor will probably help. Ultimately though, in severe circumstances you could be charged with attempting to fraudulently obtain a controlled substance (depending on your state laws). I assume you will be more careful in the future.