Hello all,
It's been quite a long time since last I posted here, and a LOT has happened. I'm nearing the end of my graduate MFA program at California State University, Fullerton, where I have also taken up teaching figure drawing part time. COVID-19 swept in like a hurricane and knocked the wind out of our university's programs, but I have been able to maintain consistent work with them and my students and have no room for complaint.
All of that said, my wife and I are looking into moving to Oregon sometime in the relatively near future, possibly toward the end of this year, or early next year, depending on when I am able to successfully graduate, etc. Since 2017, I have had the same doctor for treatment of back pain and Zubsolv (the version of Suboxone my current insurance will cover) maintenance. Picking up and moving could be disruptive to that, and my wife and I have had no shortage of chilly, defensive talks and arguments over the medication and my relationship to and dependence upon it. I don't like the idea of being dependent on anything, but I like much less the idea of falling back into alcoholism and equilateral abuse of any medication I can get my grubby mitts on.
Therein lies my question: Does anyone have any idea what the Suboxone landscape looks like in Oregon? I have been doing a bit of research into specific doctors and laws regarding Suboxone maintenance, but the information is fairly obtuse and hard to crack. I doubt very much that my situation is a unique one and that others have made or considered making this step before. I am not against weaning myself off, but that has not been a big part of the conversation for sometime and I've been able to get by under the banner of pain management to avoid exorbitant medical costs for maintenance. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!
Yours Sincerely,
BB
Moving to Oregon (US)
Re: Moving to Oregon (US)
Thinking about moving can give us Suboxone users a panic attack wondering if we will be able to find another doctor to keep prescribing maintenance medication.
I faced the same issue moving from CA to NV. Got on the phone and just started calling every doctor who could prescribe it. Lucky for me I found one. His view was all his patients must be off the medication within six months. Then I panicked knowing there was no way I could be forced into quitting. What saved my bacon was getting a deadly disease where he took pity on me and let me continue maintenance. That was 8 years ago and he's also learned more about addiction. He found that if he filled his 100 patient cap then he had no room for an ex-patient to come back. So he keeps it at 85%, which makes me feel a whole lot better if and when I decide to stop.
We want to move back to California eventually and I'm afraid my chances of finding another doctor will be difficult. All you can do is try to move forward and be pro-active. Get on the phone and keep calling until you find one who will take you. Don't give up. My guess is you'll find one and be just fine. My brother lives in Eugene and his doctor prescribes plain buprenorphine for pain. You can try that route if the Suboxone doesn't work out.
Good luck going forward. Keep us up to date on your move and how things worked out. And yea, post more often too!
I faced the same issue moving from CA to NV. Got on the phone and just started calling every doctor who could prescribe it. Lucky for me I found one. His view was all his patients must be off the medication within six months. Then I panicked knowing there was no way I could be forced into quitting. What saved my bacon was getting a deadly disease where he took pity on me and let me continue maintenance. That was 8 years ago and he's also learned more about addiction. He found that if he filled his 100 patient cap then he had no room for an ex-patient to come back. So he keeps it at 85%, which makes me feel a whole lot better if and when I decide to stop.
We want to move back to California eventually and I'm afraid my chances of finding another doctor will be difficult. All you can do is try to move forward and be pro-active. Get on the phone and keep calling until you find one who will take you. Don't give up. My guess is you'll find one and be just fine. My brother lives in Eugene and his doctor prescribes plain buprenorphine for pain. You can try that route if the Suboxone doesn't work out.
Good luck going forward. Keep us up to date on your move and how things worked out. And yea, post more often too!
Don't take yourself so damn seriously
Re: Moving to Oregon (US)
Couple thoughts to reinforce what Rule has said and perhaps you are already considering.
DIscuss with your current provider how long they are willing to take care of you cross state lines. In the past I have allowed people 6 months to get established with someone new when moving out of state.
Consider stockpiling several weeks to months incase you end up having to come off.
Start the search early, use multiple data bases and local pharmacists to find who is actually prescribing and taking new patients.
Does your current doctor know anyone they can get you in the door with?
With the recent Covid relaxation in requirements that should not be much of an issue. Currently, for many of us we are not doing drug screens and visits are by phone or video.
In my view it is time to stop using the term Suboxone doctor. It has been a while since we have added N.P.s and P.A.s. Our work force has really expanded in Minnesota and I find they are providing excellent care. Nurse Practioners bring a different perspective that has been a great asset.
By the way, congratulations on completing your graduate studies. In my view that is a BIG deal and needs to be shouted from the rooftops.
Purely conjecture but considering how progressive Oregon is I would expect there to be many buprenorphine providers.
DIscuss with your current provider how long they are willing to take care of you cross state lines. In the past I have allowed people 6 months to get established with someone new when moving out of state.
Consider stockpiling several weeks to months incase you end up having to come off.
Start the search early, use multiple data bases and local pharmacists to find who is actually prescribing and taking new patients.
Does your current doctor know anyone they can get you in the door with?
With the recent Covid relaxation in requirements that should not be much of an issue. Currently, for many of us we are not doing drug screens and visits are by phone or video.
In my view it is time to stop using the term Suboxone doctor. It has been a while since we have added N.P.s and P.A.s. Our work force has really expanded in Minnesota and I find they are providing excellent care. Nurse Practioners bring a different perspective that has been a great asset.
By the way, congratulations on completing your graduate studies. In my view that is a BIG deal and needs to be shouted from the rooftops.
Purely conjecture but considering how progressive Oregon is I would expect there to be many buprenorphine providers.
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xxchelliozxx
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Re: Moving to Oregon (US)
Obviously this was written a long time ago, but if you're anywhere near Portland I know an amazing doctor.bunsonbyrner wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:48 pm Hello all,
It's been quite a long time since last I posted here, and a LOT has happened. I'm nearing the end of my graduate MFA program at California State University, Fullerton, where I have also taken up teaching figure drawing part time. COVID-19 swept in like a hurricane and knocked the wind out of our university's programs, but I have been able to maintain consistent work with them and my students and have no room for complaint.
All of that said, my wife and I are looking into moving to Oregon sometime in the relatively near future, possibly toward the end of this year, or early next year, depending on when I am able to successfully graduate, etc. Since 2017, I have had the same doctor for treatment of back pain and Zubsolv (the version of Suboxone my current insurance will cover) maintenance. Picking up and moving could be disruptive to that, and my wife and I have had no shortage of chilly, defensive talks and arguments over the medication and my relationship to and dependence upon it. I don't like the idea of being dependent on anything, but I like much less the idea of falling back into alcoholism and equilateral abuse of any medication I can get my grubby mitts on.
Therein lies my question: Does anyone have any idea what the Suboxone landscape looks like in Oregon? I have been doing a bit of research into specific doctors and laws regarding Suboxone maintenance, but the information is fairly obtuse and hard to crack. I doubt very much that my situation is a unique one and that others have made or considered making this step before. I am not against weaning myself off, but that has not been a big part of the conversation for sometime and I've been able to get by under the banner of pain management to avoid exorbitant medical costs for maintenance. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!
Yours Sincerely,
BB