To be honest I'm afraid to ask.

For my Rheumatologist to continue to prescribe me a very low dose of Ultram, I was forced to take a urine test. They found nothing besides what I was prescribed >ng/ml.
I know that a nanogram is a millionth of a ml. Yet that did not help me. 😕 we're all afraid to ask, many are labeled drug-seeking, even though they nor I have any history whatsoever of doing so.

It's sad and hard to move and live like this. I do, we all do, and we have to. I'm a mom and I keep on going, I try not to think about the pain, but as we chronic pain folks know, that's hard to do and some days it feels impossible.

I only wish I had physicians like you; who seem empathetic and interested, as well as possibly wanting to figure out and solving a simple issue. Thank you for listening...

Just this week, I was advised to go to the ER considering I am contending with chronic pain/depression. Bad idea in my case. I was deemed a moderate threat for self harm, put in "safety scrubs", placed in an empty room but for the bed, with a guard, until such time the ER doc told me he did not understand why I was there, that there was nothing to be done (but did offer an injection of my current painkiller because he felt bad). I was given my clothes back, the guard went away, and I was, very politely the whole time, shown the door. I am no whiner, but maybe think one move ahead and think of the effect this had on my depression, at the least.
In the eyes of the ER, my depression trumped my chronic pain and this is erroneous. When I am asked for the complaint, it is "chronic pain exacerbated by depression exacerbated by chronic pain, etc". Just recognize the challenge. They don't have to understand or agree. Just recognize. Please.
Be well!!
Pitfall

I apologize. I did not clarify. The point of going to the ER, according to both pain and psych docs, was to be admitted to inpatient pain management and IV meds. That's the relevance to the article.

The relationship we with chronic pain have with our caregiver/prescriber is complex. Due to the current zeitgeist, our providers are deeply concerned about being accused of encouraging and or causing addiction. (A topic for another day).
Therefore are in a situation that any complaint about care, particularly related to pain medication, can be misinterpreted as “Drug seeking behavior.”
It helps to have a long term relationship with your providers and pharmacy. It helps not to whine but to raise issues with a solution. For instance, my provider can do nothing about the fact that the pharmacy does not have the drug on stock, or that the insurance company is enforcing some odd procedure, or that the drugs cost so much.
While the current environment is really an obstacle to care, we benefit from a positive solution approach.
Bring system issue to the attention of your elected reps. No whining, just facts and solutions.

I hear a lot of justifiable fear from the people who’ve connected with me here and I’ve learned the importance of avoiding “adverse events”. Seems it’s often when people go without maintenance meds due to Dr. or Pharmacy. Consistency is so important!