I think it will vary depending on where you are and what the profile of a typical drug user is, in your area.
Some years ago we were on holiday in a part of Queensland where drugs are apparently more of an issue than in many other places. As many of you know, I take strong painkillers all the time anyway, they are prescribed with all the required government supervision, checks and balances. But sometimes things go wrong, and part of my medical history covers incidents where, for whatever reason, I have vomiting and can't keep my pain medications down. That can rapidly progress to shock and more vomiting, this time from uncontrolled pain. WHen tis stuff used to happen at home, I would call the doctor who would come round to see me at home and give me a shot of anti-emetic and pethidine.
So when we were going on holiday, the doctor gave me a letter with my medical details on it, all the medications I take and why as well as the required numbers etc of the government paperwork. Every year he would update the letter.
Well, this time in Queensland, I( got food poisoning. Vomiting, big-time. Then with no medications on board, my pain levels began to g et out of control and I was heading for shock and shut-down. The vomiting escalated, now from the pain as well. So husband took me to the hospital I had my letter, but didn't have my medications with me - no point, I was not keeping anything down anyway. I needed the injection.
BUt they wouldn't give me an injection I was on a gurney too out of it to be able to fight for myself, husband was sitting beside me frantic, finally they gave me an anti-emetic shot. I think they had a bag of fluids up - I was clearly dehydrated. And you can't fake that. But they told us that they had no pethidine in stock at all. An ER - you have got to be kidding me! husband heard them talking about "drug-seeking behaviour" and they told him that the letter we produced from te GP was typical of what patients would do, if they wanted a 'fix' So the letter I had which I thought would back up my story, streamline things by giving them the usual doses etc, actually is what stymied my treatment.
They had kept me all night; by about 4 am the vomiting had stopped and the fluids seemed to be working, I was able to walk to the bathroom. Still in a great deal of pain, still very nauseous, but not so shocky. That is when te doctor said, "We can't give you the medication you say you usually take because we haven't got any, but we can give you X." [a weaker painkiller, I knew it wouldn't have much benefit].
So because I was desperate, I said OK< give me the pills and let's hope that I can keep them down now. I'd been there almost 12 hours by this time. So I took the pills, then because it was nearly sunrise and I knew that light was greatly aggravating the headache (migraine standard, with the nausea to match), we headed back to where we were staying, so I could (at last) take my own supply of stronger pills.
We'd gone to the ER for a fast fix, one which had always worked before. But they had taken 12 hours to do very little, totally ignored my history, did not even telephone my GP whose phone number was on the letter - nothing. Put me through purgatory. And all because my having a letter from my GP was "drug-seeking behaviour".
I mean - for pete's sake - what else could I have done? If I had said nothing, not handed over my letter, I would have not got the treatment I needed. At other hospitals in other areas over the years, the letter has helped a lot.
I have now decided - I tell the truth. I confront the "drug-seeking" suspicions head on and divulge EVERYTHING. I've had this happen a couple of times since, and not had this problem, but I do now have the difficulty of the usual dose of pethidine they're willing to give, not working because of my usual medications boosting my tolerance to it. But since I am open with the medical staff about my dosages, this shouldn't be a problem. THey usually give me enough pethidine to get the pain a little under control. Once I can cope, I can leave the ER and then take my own oral medications.
It's not satisfactory, but at the moment it works, in most places.
What helps best is when the medical staff have access to your history. Either you tell tem, or te hospital has files already. If you are open about helping the hospital have access to information, it generally undermines the "drug-seeking" suspicions. But not always.
Sometimes it doesn't matter how well you try and prepare and plan to avoid this issue - you will still get caught by their filter.
I actually talked to the local hospital about tis, at my last ER attendance for an emergency shot. I described what happened in Queensland and asked them how I could have avoided alarming the hospital staff. How could I have reassured them tat I was genuine? What steps should I or my doctor take, to make it clear that I do not yell for help unless I am desperate? Because to be left in pain like that for so long, is dangerous now.
They had no answer for me. Basically - this WILL happen again.
The best advice I can give you, in this situation - have the letter from the treating doctor (I know - it was a red flag for drug-seeking - have the letter anyway). Also check with the doctor that he/she will accept a phone call from the hospital, if the situation really is dire. Have a list of your medication. And if at all possible, have your own medication with you, in the boxes with the prescription labels on them. If I had tis with me in Queensland, I probably would have been believed, I was told later.
That seems to be the best way to 'prove' that you are genuine.
Sometimes you can't win. Whatever you do, you will get caught with the label. All you can do is hope that over the hours, the doctors work it out and give you the help you need before they waste too much time.
Marg
