Spondy 43
Don't let this woman's prejudice upset you, she's hardly a good mother, not making the effort to see her family for so many years and consequently not being there to offer you any help or support. She has no right to judge you, she is not feeling your pain, if she was in your position would she suffer or take the medication prescribed by the doctor? People like her make me so angry, they judge you without having any idea of what you are going through. You have coped without her for all these years, you don't need someone so negative in your life. My mother was a lot like this, totally against taking drugs of any kind but she was a secret alcoholic, you often find the people who are the most judgemental actually have their own secret vices that they are terrified others will find out about.

They are picking on the wrong group of people, if you really need pain meds you usually don't "abuse" it because we didn't want to lose our right to take it. My doctor swore I would feel so much better off of it......not true struggle everyday. I am sick of being treated like a criminal if I ask for pain meds. I actually asked my doctor if the people who made the decision that pain meds are dangerous and killing people with overdose if the ever researched the suicide rate of pain patients who are denied medication. He was speechless. Sorry about the rant but quality of life is much less enjoyable without pain meds.

Not only do I have AS, but my daughter does. It's hard . She does understand, so sometimes we just rest together.

I got off Hydrocodone because I didn't want to deal with the stigma of it! Folks don't differentiate between"dependent" and an addiction!
Now I am in agony!
I get angry at the people who take substances to get high?
I was not a part of the problem, I was a victim! As I feel certain many more were. I don't think the individuals who were under the care of a physician, and compliant were the ones who overdosed.
Funny, I am a retired substance abuse counselor, 😆. I retired early due to cancer, (11th year free,😁 thanks for listening, I will return the favor ❤

Karen, I think it is definitely a step in the right direction. The drug tests can also tell if they are taking too much. I just smile and nod my head yes to whatever hoops my pain dr wants me to jump thru because I need my pain meds. There are days when I don't need them all but also days when I need everyone pill I'm allowed.