How to Prevent Suicides in People With Pain
Kelly Catlin’s Suicide
“My sister Kelly committed suicide last night. She’s the one person I had shared almost my entire life with, and I shall miss her terribly. I’ll post updates as needed.” Colin Catlin posted that tweet.
He was one of triplets. Now he has only one living sibling.
Kelly Catlin, the 23-year-old Olympic cyclist and a Stanford University student, took her own life.
How Could We Let It Happen?
I have to confess that, when I read stories like the one about Catlin’s suicide, I become angry at those who have made it impossible for some people in pain to be treated. How can we turn away from someone who suffers from pain? It is observing torture without intervention.
We all want to prevent abuse and addiction. I am not suggesting that Catlin should have been taking opioids. I am saying there is a cruelty that I am seeing from people in medicine, the legal profession, and policymakers who have created the wall of deafness.
A Personal Loss
Catlin’s story opens a painful wound for me. She reminds me of a vibrant young lady I knew many years ago. Danielle Byron Henry, my friends’ daughter, chose suicide over living with debilitating migraines. She was 17 years old.
Where have all the voices of compassion gone? Where are the voices that understand the meaning of a life and that can express the incredible sorrow of a life lost unnecessarily?
This is tragic and I do not know how to express my feelings or condolences. If it is enough to just know that I am here and I do care. God Bless you and keep you in your pain and loss. I know words can never help my hopes my prayers will. People must know someone must help but where do you turn. I have searched for two years for help in my situation. Attorneys won’t touch it and it is always the same”well let me get back to you” or we’ll check on something and let you know” Never a call back it just never comes.
If it is any consultation please know she is at rest and asleep with the Lord and in the day those that are asleep in the Lord awake she will sit at the right hand of God. I don’t know if you are religious or if you are a believer but I am and I deeply the believe in these words.
God Bless You and Yours.
Larry
There is only one way to stop the suicide’s and it’s simple, give us enough medicine to treat pain so we can live life with quality stop treating us like drug addicts
A person’s life and their “choice” of suicide are two complex matters. As someone with severe chronic pain and 9 spine surgeries, I don’t pretend to be an expert on anything other than myself. I found out a while ago, having a good pain management doctor is critical. And that’s where the problem begins – medical care or lack thereof. I worked as a licensed clinical mental health professional for 37 years and my colleagues are not as well versed as they need to be.
People in chronic pain try to hide their pain and pretend they’re doing OK – for themselves, their families, their friends – …everybody. No one wants to be labeled “weak”, a quitter, a drug seeker…anything. We all want to show everyone that we are strong and resilient. Asking for help is hard and repeatedly asking for help when doctors don’t have the answers is even harder. One time after a complicated spinal fusion, I was experiencing +10 level pain. I begged my husband to take me to the ER – he thought I was laying around too much. The ER Dr. told my husband that I was “drug seeking”. At that time, I had a huge bottle of MS Contin, Oxycodone, Valium etc. Enough meds to take the pain away from my entire neighborhood! Turns out I had a a life-threatening staph infection in my spinal fluid and bones – I’m lucky to be alive.
Pain is personal and it causes your brain to go haywire. People stop thinking rationally and tend to think about options….sometimes irrational options, like suicide. I’m always so saddened to hear about a fellow pain person and their choice to commit suicide. Thoughts of suicide when in severe pain is not rational but not a mental disease. It’s the person’s way of thinking about “How do I get this to stop?”. If we talked about this to our medical pain management patients, it might help. I’ve had 4 pain management specialist physicians – NOT one of them ever asked me about suicide or depression. That’s even sadder!
Make
Empathy
Great
Again
Yes!!
You Got It !!!
You are “not suggesting that Kelly should have been taking opioids??!!
How else do you think we should have helped her treat her chronic pain?
Chronic pain would wipe out the vast majority of us. We must learn how to use opioids responsibly and calmly. There are a lot more Kellys out there. Doing the right and moral thing often means going against the grain.
Spot on Kimberley. The solution IS truly as you stated so simply. The CP community has been forgotten.
“Addicts” can choose to be helped.
Intractable CPP’s should be so fortunate.
The government controlling our pain medication has turmed my life and millions of others in the United States to hell. I have a strict pain management they have always bern careful in administering pain medications. We are randomly drug tested. Now they must bring all of our pain medications down to 90 MME’s per day. I have had digernative disc disease since my early 20’s, i have 3 bulgging discs, and severe kyphosis ( hunchback). I am nearly 70 now and live alone, but have a caregiver mon-fri. My pain meds are taken down each month because my pain drs are forced by a policy Trump started and the goverment is foorving on 0ver 6 million pain patients. The options i have seen and heard of by the pain groups i am in. Go to the street to buy drugs or suicide. The suicide rate for us is up. It is horrible to lose people when that is their only option. I have talked to my pain drs and chidren about suicide. Me of all people. I think i am only here because of God. I have an incredible belief in God. But the fear of more pain each month is horrible. I have many more things wrong with me then the fee listed. I hope someone will come up with answers for us. Thank you for readinancy nickleng this
For Nancy, I don’t know what kind of pain group you are going to but if they’re giving you only 2 options like street or suicide, it’s my opinion that you seek another group! I’m a chronic pain sufferer and have been force tapered as well. My only group and only help has been Dontpunishpainrally.com. Don’t remember how I found them as I’m not a social media person, never have been. You’re a big believer in GOD? I believe that is what led me to them. If you want to fight for our rights and not feel so hopeless, helpless, try us out. No profits, no obligations, just your voice, others who understand and more that do listen. We do rallies, protests, nationwide. Look me up when you get there. Tee Battaglia Pezzella. Hang in there, don’t do anything drastic!
The government controlling our pain medication has turmed my life and millions of others in the United States to hell. I have a strict pain management they have always bern careful in administering pain medications. We are randomly drug tested. Now they must bring all of our pain medications down to 90 MME’s per day. I have had digernative disc disease since my early 20’s, i have 3 bulgging discs, and severe kyphosis ( hunchback). I am nearly 70 now and live alone, but have a caregiver mon-fri. My pain meds are taken down each month because my pain drs are forced by a policy Trump started and the goverment is foorving on 0ver 6 million pain patients. The options i have seen and heard of by the pain groups i am in. Go to the street to buy drugs or suicide. The suicide rate for us is up. It is horrible to lose people when that is their only option. I have talked to my pain drs and chidren about suicide. Me of all people. I think i am only here because of God. I have an incredible belief in God. But the fear of more pain each month is horrible. I have many more things wrong with me then the fee listed. I hope someone will come up with answers for us. Thank you for readinancy nickleng this
In this case they Can stop it.
Help the patients by reducing their pain to a tolerable level!
That’s all it takes! The Drs only need to do their jobs right!
Thank you Dr Webster for continuing to call attention to this issue. Compassionate care has gone by the wayside as doctors fear for their medical licenses. And I have no idea how Tylenol has suddenly considered as potent as Morphine for severe pain. Tylenol’s own label acknowledges it is only for minor aches and pains.
I remember having surgery for a spontaneous lung collapse when I was a young teenager at Duke University Medical Center after chest tubes alone had failed. I had a 8 inch incision under my right breast and they had to break ribs to get to my lung. The hole they repaired was about the size of a quarter. When I awoke from surgery, I was in searing pain and involuntary urinated on the recovery table. The nurses had me connected to a morphine pump and increased my medication until I left the hospital. I left the hospital with a prescription for Darvocet for a minimum of a few weeks while I healed. I never became at all addicted. I easily stopped taking the pain medication when I felt better. I remember going back to school about a month after I got home from the hospital. I didn’t take a pain medication again for over 24 years until I began having pudendal neuralgia problems. And that was only after trying several other more mundane medication first like Elavil and Lyrica.
Addiction and pain are two very different things and need to be treated as such.
I have suffered with chronic pain since my childhood. I’m now 49, there is something to be said for the pain resilience of youth. But also, my condition obviously has worsened with age. About 5 years ago, after be accused of med seeking. After it was suggested that my pain isn’t as bad as I make it out to be. Despite my x-ray and MRI was described by the same Doctor, as ALARMING. I started to have thoughts of suicide. I even went as far. As to research the history of suicide. Not the how to. But why is it acceptable in some countries and not others. What I discovered was very interesting to say the least. In the end, two main factors helped me get through that time. One my wonderful, beautiful wife, and her lifetime of work in mental health. (To be honest though, it didn’t actually stop my plan) but the second thing was. While planning the day and time, how I could end my suffering without causing a great deal of mess for my wife and family. Through the blur of tears, sadness and pain. My Border collie, (Paladin) My mythical protector. Came and laid his head in my lap. For that moment, those brown eyes looked at me in way that suggested that he understood my pain and sadness. It was at that moment that I realized, even if I left a note, or video explaining my choice. There would be no way to get Paladin to understand. I have seen the internet videos of dogs grieving the passing of their owner. Suddenly, I knew I had to fight through this because I couldn’t break his heart like that. So for now, I’m still here, I’m still fighting, I do get wore out, but I come back. I can’t say what will happen when he leaves us for the rainbow bridge. He is getting pretty old himself. But for now, we will fight as long as we can together.
I too have chronic pain.
Addiction is always a. Issue when talking a out pain relief. BUT, if you were the one expecting severe chronic pain your number one goal is to get some relief. ADDICTION? WHEN YOUR DAY TO DAY EXISTENSE IS SO HORRIBLE FROM PAIN YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ADDICTION. WE HAVE A CHOICE. LIVE WITH UNBEARABLE PAIN EVERY SECOND TRYING TO BELUEVE THAT LIFE IS WORTH LIVING. AT SOME POINT DESTH IS THE ONLY RELIEF. LISTENING TO PEOPLE DISCUSSING PAIN AND OPIOD ADDICTOON WHO NEVER HAD PAIN IS ABSURD. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE US. HOW DARE YOU …. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ANOUT. SUICIDE IS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE WITH CHRONIC PAIN
NO THERE IS NO OVER EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR. NO SCREAMING AND YELLING . AT SOME POINT LIFE IS TOO PAINFUL. EXISTENSE, WITH CONSTANT CHRONIC PAIN IS AT TIMED, NOT WORTH IT. PRESENTLY, I AM LUCKY ENOYGH TO RECEIVE DECENT CARE. NO, MY PAIN DOES NOT GO AWAY COMPLETELY, BUT WITH WITH PROPER OPIOD CARE IT CERTAINLY HELPS. BUT LOSING ACCESS ITO PAIN MEDS IS JUST ARIUND THE CORNER. THAT THOUGHT IS CONSTANTLY AT MY FORETHOUGHT. ALWAYS. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. IMAGINE. SUICIDE IS ALWAYS JUST UNDER THE SURFACE. ALWAYS
i has a wonderful Rheumatologist who handles my chronic pain. I won’t list all my conditions, but they are real and they can’t be fixed. After about a year of trying different meds to give me some quality of life we did it. I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep without waking up in pain. I was able to do light housekeeping, gardening, traveling. I was on the same dosage for 9 years without once needing early refills, losing them, etc. I passed every drug test. I never ever abused my medication. Then last year I was told I had to cut back to an amount the government said was all I could have. My life sucks now. I have to plan if I want to sleep or be able to take care of my basic needs. I don’t call this living. The only reason I’m still here is because I do not want to put my children through the horror of losing their mother less than 2 years after they lost their dad, my husband of over 30 years. But I do wish every night I just wouldn’t wake up the next day.
Dear Rose, you said it. You have to plan to try and sleep, eat, bathe, etc. It’s like you’re in prison and the guards have control of our ability to function. First they help us and let us have a taste, a semblance of a life. Then they take away the help or minimize it and then tell you, oh well you’re in prison, live with it or not? Then when you can no longer take it an decide you can’t live with it anymore, there’s no way to end it. Hah, took away your gun, any meds strong enough, etc. Well something like that.
Come see me and us at, Dontpunishpainrally.com. Help us and yourself fight for every citizens right to pain and or health care! Boo Hoo, leave behind the blamers and join the solution seekers. Read all the posts, articles, media, etc. Truth with facts to back it up! Advocates, experienced and connected. Legislation, CDC, DEA, hho, AMA, Kolodny and PROP, all beware! They are hearing us. There are committees being formed, meetings being held, task force agendas on opioids and chronic pain sufferers! TV commercial on Fox business. Rallies, protests. They are hearing and listening! We need solutions to pass on. The powers that be are trying to figure out what to do? Pass on your ideas. Attend or hold one of your own rallies, nationwide. Contact info, any you want or need. Petitions, letter formats for calling, emailing, etc., Disability, VA, Medicare/Medicaid, Your legislatures, Congress, governor of ur state, etc. Don’t fight alone any longer. Dontpunishpainrally.com, it’s YOUR right!
I agree that it is so sad that the government is punishing chronic pain suffers for the addicts to get sympathy. I have a high pain level but the lowering of my pain meds have reminded me of how my condition is worsening. I have extreme pain in my feet, legs and right arm from Neuropathy resulting from post ok spinal surgeries.. The difference for me is that yes so have considered suicide and have a plan set for it. Only my love of God has stopped me so far but the pain is intensifying while the pain meds are lower. God help us all who suffer from I tractable pain be cause we are the ones suffering.
Twelve years I have suffered with nerve pain. I go to the pain clinic every month. I missed three appointments in 12 years ( due to deaths). I have been misdiagnosed, tried every option but a pain pump or patches. I have Tarlov Cyst Disease and traveled to Dallas to have surgery with the only surgeon for this disease at the time. I was misdiagnosed with MS and did the wonderful shots three times a week, that actually feel like 5 hornets stinging you at the same time and same place. I have 17 more cyst on the nerve root endings of my spine. The pain is excruciating and I can’t have injections anymore due to the risk with my Tarlov Cyst Disease and CSF Leaks.I still to this day get called out on my opioids. I have had to put on a thicker armor to deal with the hurt and uneducated people speaking up about something they have never experienced. I just want to get out of the bed and live a good quality of life if possible.
Who thinks severe pain untreated will end any other way? It is all the CPP has left. Tell me a doctor left treating. Forrest Tennent was the last of them.Why must we suffer a henious life then kill ourself? BA TARDS, HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT?
Who thinks severe pain untreated will end any other way? It is all the CPP has left. Tell me a doctor left treating. Forrest Tennent was the last of them.Why must we suffer a henious life then kill ourself? BA TARDS, HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT? I am counting 20 dead üeople walkimg roght here per the CDC
90MME IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO LIVING TREATMENT
ITS DEPOPULATION
Where to start? First most of the people making these laws are not doctors and have no idea of the true crisis out there. They are going on facts that were handed out by people that don’t want opioids to be prescribed at all or have lost someone to overdose and addiction. I ask myself what has happened to the compassion in this country? What needs to be done is speak up to the people that can make this change happen. There are over 10 million pain sufferers in this country. We need to get our voices heard and let them know how all these laws and “guidelines” have affected us. We are being treated as criminals. I don’t understand how addiction and suffering became a crime. The laws that have been made from a guideline that was a guideline for family doctors not pain management. These laws were made out of legislatures that no nothing of the difference between addiction, necessary meds and procedures that can help us.They have and are practicing medicine without a licence. It’s not always the doctors fault for tampering a patient down. CMS, insurance companies and state laws have mandated that is what’s to be done. Other problems is the DEA, state overseers are threatening our doctors and ruining their lives, and putting them in jail for doing their job. The DEA has no idea on how to look at the numbers, they have no medical person on their staff to give them the numbers correctly. Our doctors are scared and I don’t blame them.This whole situation is a major debacle of uninformed people pushing their ideas onto people that don’t know any better and have ruined more lives than overdoses. This fight is being fought incorrectly, most people don’t understand there’s 2 different battles here and our press isn’t helping. The problem is street drugs not prescription. Now there are changes that have been made in the prescription that is good in very few ways, but knowledge correct knowledge has to be passed on to the press, legislators, etc. We as patients and advocates are here speaking up. We all need to make a phone call, write an email, letter, if possible go to medical board meetings in your state, attend a rally if possible. We need to let the people know that make these decisions know who we are and that there’s millions of us. Numbers will get their attention. Meet with your doctor and ask questions, check your insurance and see what they are covering. This is a long battle and a hard one but we can’t give up and we need more of us to speak up, stand up for yourself. If anyone needs help there’s lots of us advocates out there now that are here for you. The CDC made a guideline that was wrong and has ruined many many people and caused more trauma and deaths and are unwilling to correct their statement- why? Because they shouldn’t of done it in the first place. So to all those pain patients out there, keep up the fight. I too am a pain patients and my husband is a vet who can’t get pain treatment so I’m in the fight for good. WE have an election coming up in 2020 let’s get them on board see where they stand and school them with the truth… KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and let’s share it.