Posted by liliths on December 6, 2006, at 12:59:11
In reply to Legal/Medical Advice, Please! » liliths, posted by happykat on December 6, 2006, at 12:13:03
thank you both for replying
here's the scoop from the earlier thread I mentioned and I'll post the update below it
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"In a nutshell, I graduated from school for Massage Therapy with high honors in May, aced my boards scoring "high" in all content areas in August and when I filled out the form to the Dept. of Health for my license, was honest about being treated for depression/add/anxiety. My pdoc told me they weren't allowed to discriminate against me and I did believe my records would speak for themselves, including the documentation I provided.HAH! They referred me into a system for Impaired Practitioners. I had to have a psychiatric evaluation from one of their doctors (at my own expense) and as I was leaving the eval, this pdoc sprung a "verified" drug test as part of the process (of course, also at my own expense). Want to feel degraded? Go urinate in front of a lab tech, whose job is to 'closely watch'
I've barely left the house for months. I got the 'results' of the evaluation and it was good, except that, of course, he wants to change my meds! Writes that I'm doing well on my current regimen but he doesn't see the need for the hydrocodone or the klonopin. How much sense does THAT make? Gee... she's doing well on her meds, she must not need them? Isn't that usually considered a sign of a severe disorder? sheesh.."
=====UPDATE:
the final recommendation that went to the board states that they will advocate granting me a license IF I am willing to stop using hydrocodone AND submit to random urinalysis for the next 5 years to prove I'm not taking any opiates. Plus they said something about speaking with my doctor about the klonopin. They state that the use of lortab is "not a recognized treatment for depression"Now, I have probably every easily available document already from doing google searches and yes, most leans towards even stronger drugs than the one I'm taking. Which might be why, in over 4 years, I haven't had to change my dose to gain some therpeutic result. I also have a lot of documentation for buprenorphine, which my pdoc doesn't want to deal with prescribing, for some reason, though I'm quite keen to try it
now personally, I am furious about this entire ordeal! It's already cost me close to $1000 and I haven't been able to earn a living. I had a slot waiting for me on our local Sports Massage Team (part time but great networking) as well as an opportunity to work with Hurricane Katrina victims, and I've watched both just go by because I have no license. Had I not been honest on my application, they would have just given me the damn thing. The depression from dealing with this has me barely able to leave the house. I'm suicidal most of the time (obsessing about its inevitability, not really about to do it - but I need the comfort and just about the only thing I am capable of doing is trying to organize my life and work on my letter to my partner for when I'm dead... and that's a REALLY LOUSY LIFE!!)
pseudoname is who was most supportive and we seemed to pretty much be in the same place in our lives. I was devastated to learn he had left us and jealous as well... I wish I were ready to leave but I'm not. I'm still angry and fighting.. but who knows how I'll feel after my 'meeting' with the Review Board on January 17th. I am NOT willing to change my meds because some stupid doctor doesn't like them - that he could actually state that I am "stable and safe to practice", then turn around and say, but let's change her meds, is utterly ridiculous. I am also totally unwilling to submit to random drug tests... I will NOT live looking over my shoulder. I haven't done anything wrong
I'm consulting with a lawyer tomorrow who deals with this kind of thing. Unfortunately, I doubt I can afford to retain counsel as the consultation alone is costing me $300
well, that's it... thanks for listening and I apologize for ranting
I really hurt and feel pretty defeated right now. I sold my house to go back to school, gave up every ounce of 'normalization' to get through the year. It was really hard for someone like me to 'show up' every day, take tests and jump through those hoops. I'm a middle aged woman (Oh, don't I just HATE saying that!) trying to re-build her life... and I don't think you really want all those details LOL
thanks again
namaste,
lilith
poster:liliths
thread:710822
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061206/msgs/710892.html