Are you ready for a sob story? (long)

[ChickMagic]

The doctor I've been going to for years quit with
no notice. He told me to go to Dr. X which I did.
My doctor has worked long and hard to get my meds
balanced for chronic pain. What I'm taking works
well.

Dr. X thinks I shouldn't be taking them. As soon as
he walked in the room, he copped a major attitude.
He obviously did not want to deal with me and the
second time I saw him he said, "I am not comfortable
with your pain management. You need to go to the
pain clinic."

Okay, fair enough. It turns out that the doc in
the pain clinic only makes recommendations - he
doesn't prescribe anything. He wanted me to get
an MR of my spine. Okay. I went twice to try to
do it, but I'm having this neurological problem.
Every time I kind of doze off, my body jerks violently.
They were unable to do the MR because of that. I'm
scheduled to have another one next week with
sedation.

Pain guy chewed me out for not getting my MR.
I explained the situation, but he either wasn't
listening, or didn't get it.

He says I have to go to my PCP in order to get
my meds. I explained to him that 4 docs have
turned me down after talking with Dr. X. One
guy was really nice and thought my pain management
wasn't that big a deal. After talking to Dr. X
he called me back to say he couldn't take me.
The woman who managed my pain in the hospital was
very good. I contacted her, but after talking to Dr. X
and the major bug up his butt, she said she's not
comfortable dealing with my pain management.

Since when do I have to make them comfortable?

Anyway, I have an appointment with a Dr.
in November in a different department, out of reach
of Dr. X. I've already been told that the pain
clinic should prescribe my meds, but they say
my PCP should do it.

I'm in physical therapy at the behest of the
pain guy, and it's exacerbating the pain. Last
night I didn't sleep a wink. I alternated between
lying really still and crying my eyes out. I'm
in agony. I went to see pain guy and he said he
would prescribe Ultram. He then said it conflicted
with my antidepressant, so he didn't prescribe anything.
He said to talk to my PCP. I reiterated that I DO NOT
HAVE ONE.

Okay, so I am in medical limbo. Then I learn
this morning that our storage unit at Public
Storage was broken into and burgled.

If anyone needs me, I'm going to be outside
eating worms.

[VenusRising]

1. I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with all of this.

I wish you good luck getting this settled out.

I hope the pain subsides soon.

Good thoughts and vibes coming your way.

Hang in there.

:hug::hug::hug:

[ChickMagic]

3. Thank you so much

I can use whatever vibes you can throw my way. :hug:

[lost-in-nj]

2. I'm sorry you are going through this....

I have no advice just some
:hug: :hug:


Some people just should not have authority.....
and I hope nothing of personal value was stolen.....
other things can be replaced.....
but one of a kinds and memories can't be

lost

[ChickMagic]

4. So true

I'm starting to feel paranoid. The pain doc
said, "You seem depressed." I said, "Do you
blame me?"

Thanks for the hugs. It means a lot. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

5. I'm so sorry

:(


You don't deserve this. Nobody deserves this. :hug:

[ChickMagic]

8. Thanks, lizziegrace.

I agree that nobody deserves to be lost in the system.
It sucks - no two ways about it. :hug:

[redqueen]

6. Jesus God...

what the hell is it with doctors around here?! :grr:

My ex goes through that same cycle of BS... it's farking out of control, this narco-phobia these docs seem to all have. Drives me up a wall it does.



Here's hoping you manage to find a way out soon... I'll check with my ex and see who he's with now... maybe they might be able to help you.

Good luck honey. :hug:

[ChickMagic]

10. I would love to know who he's with

These fuckers keep passing the hot potato
and I'm the one who suffers. I don't understand.
My ex-doctor was so wonderful and this is
really hard to take.

Oh, and the nice guy who got his mind changed?
He emailed me and said he would pray for my
healing. Thanks a heap. :hug:

[MissMillie]

7. I'm so sorry you're being given the run-a-round

:hug:

feel better soon

[ChickMagic]

11. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger runaround

I just called my oncolgist to see if he would mind filling
in the gap until I see a doc in Movember. Keep your fingers
and toes crossed for me. :hug:

[Connonym]

9. I'm sorry you're having chronic pain

It's such a tricky issue. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Dr. X thinks you're exhibiting drug-seeking behavior and has told this to the other doctors and that is what is making them turn you down. There is a valid reason for them wanting you to get stuff from your PCP and that's because they don't want you to be getting multiple medications from multiple physicians. Many doctors will ask you to sign a contract with them regarding use of pain killers -- you must always use the same pharmacy, you must not accept pain medication from another physician, etc. It's because of the controlled nature of the substance and the addictive nature. Sounds like Dr. X is an asshole and I hope you don't take it personally because I don't think it's personal.

My nonprofessional advice to you would be to ask the pain clinic for a recommendation for a PCP. Explain the issue. Get copies of your medical records sent to the new physician, get documentation from your pharmacy that you take your medications according to directions, that you're not getting drugs from multiple doctors, that you're not using more than you should and asking for early refills etc. It's a pain in the ass I know and I'm really sorry that you have to jump through hoops because I know that's the last thing you need when you're in pain.

It's not personal, they're just trying to cover their asses and not being very good clinicians in the process. I hope this all gets worked out soon and that you get your pain under control. I wish every physician had to live with chronic pain so they would understand. :hug: (hopefully a cyber hug won't hurt)

[ChickMagic]

12. You're right, of course

I have signed a contract with the pain clinic and they have
access to my profile in the campus pharmacy. They really have
no reason to be behaving this way. I called my oncologist's
office to see if he would be willing to prescribe this once
until I see a doctor in November. He's done it in the past -
he doesn't seem phobic. I just don't like to impose, but some
of the pain is due to multiple myeloma.

We'll see. In the meantime, ow. Thanks for your kind words.
:hug:

[Maraya1969]

13. I've been there and I'm so sorry. You have to keep fighting these

people. They make you, (me) feel like I am a drug addict looking for a fix. I swear the whole thing can make you nuts.

I hope you get things taken care of soon. I so identify with the not sleeping because of pain and general feeling of going crazy because of it.

Don't give up. I finally got someone to help me and I'm sure you will too.


:hug: :grouphug:

[ChickMagic]

17. I just don't understand these people

I have a medication plan that was arrived at through
blood, sweat and many, many tears. Everyone wants to
pee on it and make it their own.

They do make you feel like a cheap junkie and a criminal.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

14. I really, truly wish you were here so I could take you to my doctors.

:cry:

Your pain management doctor is an asshole. x(

He's clearly intimidating your prospective PCPs, probably to make them 100% responsible for your pain management, which should be his job.

I wish you could find a better pain management doctor, and a PCP, and get the prescriptions you need. :(

[ChickMagic]

18. My oncologist is helping me out

temporarily. However, that might void my contract with the
pain clinic. Tough. He told me I needed a psychiatrist.
The sympathetic doctor gave me a contact in another part of
town and said he'd make an official referral. That might be
what I need to do.

:hug:

[Connonym]

27. Let us know how that goes, I've been thinking about how unfair this is

and worrying about you. :hug:

[pitohui]

15. that's awful, can you get an attorney to sue this doctor x?

it's quite obvious that he has entered something into your file about "drug seeking behavior" and now you are going to have a problem forever getting the help you need unless you can get it removed

doctors need to pay a price -- a high one -- for denying needed pain medication

[ChickMagic]

19. Derby says I need to file a

denial of care with the hospital. The only "drug
seeking behavior" I have is seeking the drugs that
worked with my previous doctor. He and I went round
and round until we found something that worked.

The interesting thing is that I was taking
quite a bit of hydrocodone. I didn't need it anymore
so I quit taking it with no ill effects. That should
prove that it was strictly for pain. *sigh*

:hug:

[hedgehog]

16. It's stories like this that really make my blood boil whenever I

hear about he war on drugs!


Quite seriously, is this something that can treated with acupuncture or massage? It might be worth a shot, but then you'll probably end up fighting for reimbursement.

[ChickMagic]

20. My physical therapist did massage yesterday

and exacerbated the pain. I don't know why. I would
never be reimbursed for massage. There is a hospital
here that has an outpatient massage clinic and they have
one lady that specializes in fibromyalgia. I also have
degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, pre
multiple myeloma that's symptomatic and scoliosis.
Stir and you've got mondo pain. Drug seeking behavior?
Please.

[hedgehog]

25. I have several relatives with chronic pain.

My FIL will not ask for pain relief because he's afraid of getting addicted. His knees are not going to get any better without the surgery that he refuses even to consider. Pain killers would let him function. Why are we so afraid of addiction!

[ChickMagic]

26. Like I said in another post

if you're actually in pain, you don't get addicted.
I was able to quit taking hydrocodone suddenly and
for long time with no ill effects because I was actually
taking it for pain. It's hard to convince people - even
doctors and pharmacists.

[SPKrazy]

21. Blame the Feds for this stuff

they bust docs who prescribe pain meds all too easily

makes them all paranoid to do it

too many rules for chronic pain

:hug: :hug:


sorry you are suffering for the rulemakers lack of understanding

[ChickMagic]

22. I hope they succumb to the same fate as me

I'd like all of them to spend one week in my shoes.
Everything would change in a heartbeat. :hug:

[Spacemom]

23. Chronic Pain is so under treated

Docs are so afraid of prescribing meds that actually work.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this, all I can offer is :hug:

I hope you find someone willing to work with you.

[ChickMagic]

24. I can't believe how nutty the pain clinic is

The hug will do wonders. Thank you. :hug:

[Corgigal]

28. My husband is a pain patient

and went years trying to find the correct doctor. He, get this, called the state agency is charge of monitoring DEA slips and asked who does he have please in this state to get the medications he needs? The director was floored. They never, ever had a patient call them before and put them on the hot seat. They actually gave him a doctors name and he has been with the doctor for years. He now a friend of the family.

After awhile, oral medications don't work. He now has a pain pump and they work much better then any oral meds. Not to mention the creditability issue. He goes in every two months to have the pump filled and he's quality for life issues have improved by at least 60 percent. Oh my husband was intentionally struck by a car in his back area but then bounced off the car with his hip. He knows pain and you might want to look into a pain pump.