Honesty with psychiatrist

[MrMoonlight]

I want to get well and am now actually taking steps in that direction. I have an appointment in three weeks with a Psychiatrist to get diagnosed and intend on being brutally honest with the doctor and myself.…but I need some guidance.

Fifteen months ago I quit my antidepressant, xanax, percocet, ambien and adderall. I did that because I didn’t know who the real me was anymore and needed to see what that looked like without all the drugs. So those things were replaced with medical marijuana, legal in my state.

I stopped seeing my Neurologist and and now rely on my primary physician for my medications. This change for me has been positive in many ways and I can see more clearly my emotional ‘baseline’.

My percocet use is for migraine pain, something I’ve suffered with for 30 years…something that I discovered I really do need.

So I was creating a time-line for my life out of this tangled mess of memory and came to a point where I need to add my history of symptom relieving drug misuse. (carefully worded I know). For a time I misused many things including percocet.

I need to tell the Psychiatrist about my full history but CANNOT jeopardize my ability to relieve pain which is what I’m concerned about. I don't know their protocol or how they are trained to deal with these issues.

If I tell him about opiates I worry I will be cut off even though I haven’t misused them for many years. Should I just say it was alcohol instead or is it important he know about every substance?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ladee]

This is a hard one.... I am an addict , clean for 32 yrs, and still tell all new Dr's this... you were an abuser.... a different thing all together... if you feel that in the long run it will affect your healing journey by not saying... then you will have to take the risk... if you feel you have made huge progress in no longer abusing, as in years, then no need to disclose... and if something should come up later, you can always share that you were afraid you would be taken off your pain meds... which you need for pain management.

Just follow your gut... a hard choice to make... but do what you feel is in your own best interest...

This has become a nightmare for those of us who need pain meds.... to tell or not to tell.... but take care of yourself and congratulations for getting these things done so you can have a good healing journey.... best of luck to you.

 

[MrMoonlight]

Oh WOW, congrats ladee..32 years is really something to be proud of...really that's amazing! Thank you for opening up and sharing that with me.

You know I didn't really differentiate between types of misuse. There was a time when I would get my 3 month prescription and finish it in the first month...the last two months I wouldn't have any to use but the cycle repeated when I got a new prescription. My body didn't rely on it but I used it as an escape from a very troubling time.

I think he needs to know I used a substance as a coping mechanism to get a proper diagnosis but maybe I'll just say it was alcohol so that I don't jeopardize my ability to relieve pain? I have a migraine 3x +- a week for the last 20 years...I just can't risk.

Do I risk losing pain meds if they know I misused any substance in my past?

 

[Deleted member 541]

Something's to consider.....

1) migraines can turn into repeat migraines if medication is used continuously to stop them.
2) there are better treatments for migraines than what you are using now. Triptans, fieoricet, and even Botox is now approved.
3) food journals to see if food is a trigger, sometimes even a simple glass of wine will trigger a migraine. Many foods are triggers.
4) some types of lighting can also trigger a migraine.

I would consider getting off of what you're taking, and be honest with all drs. JMO!!!! I've suffered with migraines since I was in my 20's, I'm now in my 60's and they are lessening with each passing yr. I take triptans to alleviate mine.

 

[Cannottakethis]

It's hard to be honest with the drs but I don't think they can properly diagnose you without knowing as much of the truth as possible.
I abused Valium in my early 20s because I couldn't stand the feelings coming up due to my newly acquired memories. And as soon As I realized I was considered an "addict" I quit, cold turkey, not recommended. I Have never abused another drug like that. I might share this story during an intake session and never bring it up again. I'm prescribed other benzodiazepines now and have no problems so it hasn't become an issue.

Fast forward to my 40s. My psychiatrist prescribes all my psych meds, including topama x, which I originally started taking for migraine prevention. I used to get migraines 5 times a week. Topamax changed my life. I take triptans (imitrex or relpax) or occasional fioricet when I get one now, and I just started getting Botox last year. It helps a lot as @She Cat was saying, there are a lot of new treatments available.

Now, Medical Marijuana. Legal in my state for Ptsd, and I have it, but my psychiatrist doesn't know. I'm going to switch to one of the psychiatrists that prescribes it so we're on the sAme page. I did tell every hospital and outpatient dr that I was using it. For some reason I feel uncomfortable telling my own psych dr. I want to replace the benzodiazepines with the weed so I'm titrating myself off.

All you can do is be as honest as you're comfortable with to get the most optimal results.

 

[MrMoonlight]

So tough, my first appointment is in two weeks...so nervous.

For me these migraines have been with me from the age of 13-14 (46yo now)...about a year after my big trauma. Not sure if they are related but a possibility I guess. After completing a timeline of my life I was surprised to find this possible relation.

I have been on many preventatives like depakote and nortriptyline (10+ years) and use both imitrex 100mg pill and syringe (20 years). I use these things before using the percocet. Last time I looked into botox was maybe 18 months ago and was extremely expensive for me anyway. Maybe the price has been reduced since then.?

Thanks