I really feel you. I've been having horrible pains lately. I had my wisdom teeth out in the beginning of July and I made my loritabs last until Dec. I explained this to my dr and asked if there was anyway I could get something to help me through work. She looked at me like I was asking for crack. I didn't want many and I've been telling her for 6 months that I don't want them. I really don't but my job has one of those "no fault" points attendance policies so I can take the day off if I don't feel like working, but they won't accept a dr's note if I'm really sick. It really makes me angry that I have to fight so hard to get any type of help. I just want to be able to work. I'm one of these sick people that truly enjoy my job.

Samandag, thanks for your reply, I have defenitely received the "you must be a drug addict", looks. My poor mother has had lymes disease, fibromyalgia, diverticulitus, and the list goes on, and even then, her doctor looks at her as though she is an addict when she asks for a few darvocet, which in my opinion does less than an IB profin might!

I have the exact same problem. I don't think dr.'s understand how much we are actually in. In order to stay on the pain meds, I need to see my pcp on a monthly basis. If I can't come in and call for a refill, I end up with my dr. calling me back giving me the third degree about needing the meds. When I go in for an appointment, I am told that at that she is concerned about the the pains meds and thinks I shouldn't be taking them. When I say that sometimes it is the only thing that gets me through the day or otherwise I lay in bed in agony and miss work etc. We take the pain meds to live a normal life. My current dr. wants to send me to a pain clinic, not really sure what they will do for me. I just know it's another dr. for me to go to and more time I have to take off from work. I agree with everybody that this is so frustrating! If the dr. is only giving you a certain amount each month, I don't see how they do not feel comfortable. They are controlling how much you can take in a 30 day time frame.

The thing docs don't get is that we don't want to be on meds we must if we're going to live our lives! I don't want to take medicine that makes me out of it and constipated all the time but sometimes I can't get through work without it!
I think that most docs still look at women as hypochondriacs that couldn't possibly be in so much pain. It must be all in our heads!
Anyhow, just venting too! But, I did want you to know that you are not alone in this. Keep fighting for your right to live as pain free as possible.

I have been fortunate to be able to have a pretty frank conversation with my doc about meds..So sad to say that Docs are under such strict, horrible control that they have to walk on eggs to take care of their patients in what they give them. I honestly feel sorry for some of them...they aren't even being allowed to pratice medicine. Being told what to do and how to do it. So very sad. I have to wonder...since the federal gov. is so strict with this..do they ever put money into this disease for research, anymone ever heard of researh for endo? Too me this is as bad as the worst thing you can get, no cure, spreads, affects whole inside of body & for those of you who are "lucky enough to have adhesions too" the whole inside of your body is just one big rubber band that keeps tightening and even the meds give very little relief. Your all right...we are being looked at as druggies, when I have no doubt that there isn't one of us who would appreciate NO PAIN and being able to throw the dumb meds..I can find a lot other things I would rather spend money on than meds! I'm 62 & had my hyst at 19...it has been a very long struggle..and sad to say it is not getting better. Have to wonder ...do the docs ever read this site...do they know what we really go through, the hell of it, I have to ask, would any of you chose to be born if you new that this was to be your lot in life? I have to wonder....Take care all..this site has been a God send..at least we can talk to one another one here and know we aren't alone! Love to all....

I have been struggling all weekend! I am in so much pain and called the pharmacy for a refill on my pain meds on Thursday. Still no refill called in from my doctor. Last time I refilled it she had mentioned she didn't like me taking so many and I really should try Lupron. I am so against it and am not ready. Also not ready for a hysterectomy like she mentioned. I cry at the thought of either one. Those options to me are much more major then taking vicodin to help the pain and help me function because it makes me feel so much better and I am not laying down in pain. Besides that, I don't have the money to spend on all the Lupron and more surgeries. It isn't like I am taking a handful at a time. I actually only take 1/2 an extra strength and I am fine for hours. Nobody who isn't actually going through this does understand. I can't take advil or anything that could be bad on my stomach because I have a history of chrones so that would mess me up more. So yes, I struggle to get pain meds. I am just ready to cry.

I don't know how you guys even take pain meds. I would rather suffer through the pain than deal with the HORRIBLE diarrhea I get from them, which makes me unable to leave the house. I either am sick to my stomach, going to the bathroom non-stop or have stomach cramps and so in the end, I just deal with the pain unless it is truly horrible once a month or so. The only drug I have ever been prescribed for pain was anaprox, I guess in Canada they don't really prescribe pain meds as much.....you guys should know that painkillers do very little unless they contain anti-inflammatories, as I was told by a doctor. NSAIDS actually fight the hormones that rage during endo flare ups getting rid of the pain in the end, so maybe you would need less if you tried something like Anaprox for that reason. That said, they are not narcotics at all really and won't 'kill' pain, just fight the problem of endo...and they need to be taken at least 24 hours before the pain really kicks in.

Ladies, know how each of you feel. I get tierd of being hassled about pain meds. I mean look on my damn chart...it shows how many surgeries I have had, how many cyst, each doctors visit and so on, so I think that is proof enough for doctors to fall back on to give me a strong pain killer if I need it. Damnit, If this were a man going through this they would hand out what ever they asked for..I am just venting too, I am tierd of being tierd and in pain all the time.

my doc sent me to a pain doc, cause i think gyns can only treat pain for so long?
I have no prob w them believing me there, what a relief!

OMG.....my favourite venting subject!
At 54 I have learned to be REALLY forthright and honest and CLEAR about the amount of pain I have.
Don't let them get you!!!!!
Those of us who are older (and the mothers and grandmothers before us) put up with WAY more pain than anyone should EVER have to.
I was brought up with "Don't let them know you hurt....Keep smiling"
It is wrong for us to endure such suffering.
My prayers are with you to find what you need.
Keep us posted!

most of us prob dont get diareaha from pain med, they are constipating.
My pain doc is good about meds, she asked me if vic was working, i said not so good, she increased to 10mg., but it is hard to get people to understand what we are going through!

I am having the exact same problem. I thought it was just me. The only thing that works for me is percocet. Whenever I ask for a refill I am looked at like a drug addict. It makes me feel bad to even ask for a refill so here I am trying to not take my medicine so I can try to extend the life of this refill. It is so bad that my husband even ends up pleading with the doctors to refill my medicine. I am glad to see that I am not alone.

Thanks for the new replies. It is always nice to hear from others but so sad how many of us are struggling. The start of my troubles was when my first doctor looked at me and said she didn't prescribe pain meds for periods! I know I don't have to say more than that to this group for you to know how that got my blood boiling! Now the newest development has been that my doctor drug tested me?! At first I thought maybe they were checking for other opiates I had no idea why one would test me, until someone told me that lots of people sell their prescriptions and they were checking to make sure I have the vicodin in my system. It is so sad what has happened to the world, the doctors are terrified we are selling our meds and all we want is enough relief to make it through the day!
Again, thanks for the support, please know, I am here for all of you, as well!! Hugs, angc

Wow, I am reading all the replies here and it is good to know I am not alone. I try to go as long as i could without pain meds because I am at the point where I feel like it won't be refilled. As far as not being prescribed meds for horrible cramps and whatever in between, if only they knew the pain and the relief the pain meds give us. It is so hard to get through especially when there is no real cure. I do not like the other options. To me, pain meds are safer then putting Lupron or any other type of hormonal change in your body. These options aren't even cures. These cause blood clots or strokes. At my age, the birth control pill isn't safe.

until recently, I was on narcotics too but the one trip to the er, the dr that I had had that night told me that narcotics really don't work well with abdominal pain or gyne pain because the coedine and all the narcotic pills help somewhat with the pain but when the meds wear off, the pain is worse because of the meds...good luck hon!