Re: Tips on how NOT to appear like a Drug seeker
Sadly to the unskilled the fact that you are allergic to NSAID's and Ibuprofen and ASA, with a history of kidney stones may get you lumped in to the drug seeker catagory reguardless . One of the best non-narcotic drugs for kidney stone pain cant be used for you because of that. Your best ally in your case is to always be very detailed with your history and to not leave anything out or be short with staff no matter how uncomfortable you are.
If your are having 10/10 pain try to look like you are having 10/10 pain, I know pain is subjective. Dont be talking to you friends, brothers sister on the cell phone at triage. Dont be asking for something to eat 10 minute after barfing you guts out. Dont make it look like the pain from the IV start is worse than the pain you are having, we notice these things. Having said that I have seen enough kidney stones, hundreds if not a couple thousand, to know I never want one.
Rj
Originally Posted by WillowBrook Having read through some of the threads regarding Drug seekers in the Emergency Department I must admit I now feel quite nervous of being misperceived in this way. I take medication which causes some urinary retention and increases my risk of Kidney stones. Hopefully this will never happen, but if it does and I need to present to the ED, what advice (on behaviour and what to say for example) can people here give me so I don't get wronly perceived as a Drug seeker. Taking into consideration I am a former Heroin addict, sensitive to NSAIDS and can't take Ibuprofen or Aspirin type medications due to asthma.
Tips on how NOT to appear like a Drug seeker
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