Need help please

It is illegal to take prescription meds in any way other than what is prescribed. Therefore, it is illegal to go to Dr A and get 60 Hydrocodone, be told to take one every 4 hours as needed, then go to Dr B, not tell Dr B that 8 days ago you received a Rx for 60 hydrocodone, and get 60 more, then go to ER and not mention the 120 hydrocodone and get 60 Oxycodone...etc.

This is breaking federal law not state law and yes they do track this stuff! It is a very slow process, but the insurance co is watching, the pharmacies, and the hospitals. She will eventually get caught, hopefully before she kills herself or someone else.

I would let her hit rock bottom. Sometimes saving people from themselves is not what is best for them. Letting people fall on their faces is sometimes just hwat they need.

I know it is hard to see someone you love going through this, but you cannot control the actiosn of another adult. All you can do it offer her guidance and emotional support.

Good luck!

You are right that even just the Tylenol by itself can screw her liver up. I was just curious, has she having these behaviors for a long time, or come up more recently? With prolonged use as with anything else, she will have multiple system problems if her body can't metabolize the drugs as fast as she is consuming them.

I do hope she gets help, before her actions cause injury or death to her or anyone else.

Anne, RNC

It is also illegal for healthcare providers to discuss the patient without written permission, so be aware.

It is also illegal for healthcare providers to discuss the patient without written permission, so be aware.

Be aware of what? This person is talking about her sister, whom none of us know. I'm assuming that she isn't also the health care provider for her sister.

My point was mostly that things are hard to prove. Yes, they're tracked, proving them is a whole other ball of wax. Like I mentioned, my ins co was on top of what I was getting/taking....but so were my docs. The amounts never exceeded what was prescribed, and they we concerned about scripts from different MD's....some were ER docs, some were surgeons (of various specialties, and throw partners in to the mix)....I always submitted things through insurance, and I always went to docs within my group. These things will STILL raise red flags, although I was diligent and never did anything wrong.

I guess she does need to hit her bottom, and after reading all your post it sounds like anything that I was thinking might help may actually land her in jail and that's the last thing I want. I just can't understand why her insurance company hasn't stopped this. Let me say that I do believe she is in pain, but I believe the pain is due to withdrawal when she runs out.

In another way this really makes me mad, because my back really hurts and my husband and I are self employed, I haven't seen a doctor because we don't insurance and I don't want to make it pre-existing before we get insurance. So, it hurts most of the time. I just don't do as much as I used to because I can't, and it's people like her that make insurance so high.

Thanks again for all your support and I hope her bottom doesn't kill her.

I guess she does need to hit her bottom, and after reading all your post it sounds like anything that I was thinking might help may actually land her in jail and that's the last thing I want. I just can't understand why her insurance company hasn't stopped this. Let me say that I do believe she is in pain, but I believe the pain is due to withdrawal when she runs out.

In another way this really makes me mad, because my back really hurts and my husband and I are self employed, I haven't seen a doctor because we don't insurance and I don't want to make it pre-existing before we get insurance. So, it hurts most of the time. I just don't do as much as I used to because I can't, and it's people like her that make insurance so high.

Thanks again for all your support and I hope her bottom doesn't kill her.

Yes, you are right about the insurance thing. If she has it and gives the information to more than one, I think one of the pharmacies will most of the time refuse to fill the script. These in our state also call then, I think, and report them. I'm really surprised they are still fixing her up.

Good luck to you - Anne, RNC

Oh, by the way, I wanted to say she is really lucky to have someone like you trying to help her.

Anne

You are right that even just the Tylenol by itself can screw her liver up. I was just curious, has she having these behaviors for a long time, or come up more recently? With prolonged use as with anything else, she will have multiple system problems if her body can't metabolize the drugs as fast as she is consuming them.

She has been doing this for years, but off and on I think.

Now (at least while she lived with us) she has done nothing else. She works from home, or she used to, but she won't answer the phone or return business phone calls. She stayed locked in her room at least 20 hrs a day. She came out to go to the doctor and ER, and really thats about it. It's very sad she has no life. Also 2 yrs ago she had gastric bypass surgery, she went from 270 to 115 lbs. she has lost too much weight, she looks terrible!! I do wonder if having had that surgery makes taking some drugs more dangerous.

I should have added this, also.....she really does have to hit bottom for herself. Until that happens, she just will not see what she is doing to herself. It's an unfortunate reality regarding addicts. If they don't see the problem, they can't want help, and they need to want to help themselves.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this, and I hope she sees what she is doing to herself (and to you!) and can accept some help, and soon.

I think the best way to handle someone like her is to be blunt and confront her with the information you have on her. If you have proof, show her the proof in a loving way so she knows that you know. You and the other family members have to be a united front against this so she can see she doesn't have a choice but to stop it.