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Problems with Primary doctor after admitting addiction
Has anyone else ever had problems with their primary care doctors after admitting their addiction?
I went to mine today because I have strep throat. While I was there, I told him that I had been having headaches also and was wondering if he could give me anything non narcotic like imitrex. When I said this, he actually laughed at me and in a snide voice said, "what? Tylenol doesn't work for you?". It was a very uncomfortable moment. It was almost like he was laughing at me because he just KNEW I would come in and ask for pain meds. I felt humiliated. He wrote me the script anyways and on my way I went.
Should I find a new doctor? Have I burned that bridge? For the record, I never ONCE got a narcotic prescription from this doctor. I only ever got meds from my pain management doctor.
I went to mine today because I have strep throat. While I was there, I told him that I had been having headaches also and was wondering if he could give me anything non narcotic like imitrex. When I said this, he actually laughed at me and in a snide voice said, "what? Tylenol doesn't work for you?". It was a very uncomfortable moment. It was almost like he was laughing at me because he just KNEW I would come in and ask for pain meds. I felt humiliated. He wrote me the script anyways and on my way I went.
Should I find a new doctor? Have I burned that bridge? For the record, I never ONCE got a narcotic prescription from this doctor. I only ever got meds from my pain management doctor.
Yup I know what you're talking about. And I too was honest with my Dr. eventually and he still turned his back on me (basically) - stopped prescribing my blood pressure meds too - told me to get lost (actually he has his NURSE do that for him). So I did.
FIND A NEW DR. Vicki's right - you deserve to be respected when you're honest and looking for help. That's the bottom line. But in the end, I knew it was ME - that I was the problem and I had to find another way (and another Dr.)
Good luck to you! :)
FIND A NEW DR. Vicki's right - you deserve to be respected when you're honest and looking for help. That's the bottom line. But in the end, I knew it was ME - that I was the problem and I had to find another way (and another Dr.)
Good luck to you! :)
I had the complete opposite experience with my doctor. It was A HUGE deal for me when I told her I was horribly addicted to the meds (barbiturate) she'd been prescribing for me for years and I further added that I used her,lied to her,and on and on. I wanted to just die right there because I really liked her and she liked me...fast forward to now: I've been clean for almost 18 months from Fioricet. It's a great thing! Two weeks ago I got sick with a sinus infection,double ear infection,felt terrible and had a lot of head pain...I went in to see her. She was great.Not one word about the addiction. She's way cool. She orders an antibiotic and "something for pain" via computer,right to my pharmacy. I don't ask questions...she knows I can take any opiate but don't and I'm figuring it's ALL over my chart about the Fioricet and at my pharmacy as well and I just don't say anything because I'm just sick and the addiction was a BIG problem so who could forget?? LMAO!! I get home and I send a friend in the other direction to pick up my meds for me and bring them to me. I open the bag and there is my antibiotic and a bottle of FIORICET WITH 3 REFILLS!!!
I dealt with that properly,got more appropriate meds and decided this was probably a good thing...I was not labeled. Bottom line: getting labeled can be very bad for a person and, really, I learned that it's my own responsibility to do the right thing and my addiction is my problem and I have to keep MY guard up! I cannot count on anyone to protect me and in the meantime I feel a lot better knowing I don't have a "scarlet letter" attached to my records.
In your case, he was being self righteous and you don't need THAT bull! If it's not too difficult to find a different doctor, it would be better for YOU. You should always be treated with respect!!
The Imitrex: It works great for me. In 8 minutes the migraine is gone! But, it has an after effect with me that's just a total uncomfortable,achy feeling that's in every muscle and joint. It's weird but it beats the headache. I have an rx for maxalt which is much better and doesn't do that "thing"...I'll be filling that when these others are gone. I hope you have rx insurance because it's expensive but I think it's down to $100.00; used to be $400.00!
I dealt with that properly,got more appropriate meds and decided this was probably a good thing...I was not labeled. Bottom line: getting labeled can be very bad for a person and, really, I learned that it's my own responsibility to do the right thing and my addiction is my problem and I have to keep MY guard up! I cannot count on anyone to protect me and in the meantime I feel a lot better knowing I don't have a "scarlet letter" attached to my records.
In your case, he was being self righteous and you don't need THAT bull! If it's not too difficult to find a different doctor, it would be better for YOU. You should always be treated with respect!!
The Imitrex: It works great for me. In 8 minutes the migraine is gone! But, it has an after effect with me that's just a total uncomfortable,achy feeling that's in every muscle and joint. It's weird but it beats the headache. I have an rx for maxalt which is much better and doesn't do that "thing"...I'll be filling that when these others are gone. I hope you have rx insurance because it's expensive but I think it's down to $100.00; used to be $400.00!
You know my Pain management doctor ticked me off too.
I remember when on my first day with him, there was a guy in there. A young guy in his 20's. He was OBVIOUSLY drug seeking. He was a MESS. I brought him up during my appointment and how he was harassing me a little bit as I was the only other young patient in the waiting room. At the time, I was only on 2 vics a day and sticking too it. Anyways, the doctor told me he keeps seeing him because he knows that if he didn't give him his meds, then he would get himself in trouble getting them off the streets. By keeping him in the office, he could monitor him and give him his drugs legally. I'll never forget that.
Then, when I asked for him to increase my vics to 3 a day he told me NO! I was thinking, you admitted to legally providing this guy his high every day, yet I need an extra vic for my legitimate pain and you won't give it to me. What a joke.
It ended up being good in the end because when he wouldn't increase my meds and I was running out early month after month, I decided to quit. But every time I went in there for an early refill, he would give me crap and all I could think about it why are you treating me like the drug seeker when you have patients like that? I guess in the end I wasn't so different after all. Except that I decided to quit and stuck too it.
I remember when on my first day with him, there was a guy in there. A young guy in his 20's. He was OBVIOUSLY drug seeking. He was a MESS. I brought him up during my appointment and how he was harassing me a little bit as I was the only other young patient in the waiting room. At the time, I was only on 2 vics a day and sticking too it. Anyways, the doctor told me he keeps seeing him because he knows that if he didn't give him his meds, then he would get himself in trouble getting them off the streets. By keeping him in the office, he could monitor him and give him his drugs legally. I'll never forget that.
Then, when I asked for him to increase my vics to 3 a day he told me NO! I was thinking, you admitted to legally providing this guy his high every day, yet I need an extra vic for my legitimate pain and you won't give it to me. What a joke.
It ended up being good in the end because when he wouldn't increase my meds and I was running out early month after month, I decided to quit. But every time I went in there for an early refill, he would give me crap and all I could think about it why are you treating me like the drug seeker when you have patients like that? I guess in the end I wasn't so different after all. Except that I decided to quit and stuck too it.
I TOTALLY agree.
As bad as I feel about how I was with my PCP during my addiction - there are still some things about that whole experience that tick me off. He was the one who gave me pain med after pain med and continued to call in refill after refill and then one day said "NO you're an addict and I WON'T be part of the problem only part of the solution" - yet he was the one giving all these meds to me whenver I asked (literallly) - so to take that self-righteous stance did tick (I want to say **** but I know medhelp will delete that word) OFF.
You're not alone - and if you no longer feel comfortable, find a new Dr. One you can make a fresh start with - and fresh start is always good.
:)
As bad as I feel about how I was with my PCP during my addiction - there are still some things about that whole experience that tick me off. He was the one who gave me pain med after pain med and continued to call in refill after refill and then one day said "NO you're an addict and I WON'T be part of the problem only part of the solution" - yet he was the one giving all these meds to me whenver I asked (literallly) - so to take that self-righteous stance did tick (I want to say **** but I know medhelp will delete that word) OFF.
You're not alone - and if you no longer feel comfortable, find a new Dr. One you can make a fresh start with - and fresh start is always good.
:)
You know I was wondering if maybe I was being too sensitive. I called my mom because she goes to the same doctor. She said he is like that with everyone. He doesn't like to prescribe anything but antibiotics.
The sad part is, that when I "came clean" with my doctor, I basically just told him that I had been in pain management and decided I wanted to stop. Since I had never asked him for meds, I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. I didn't confess that I was an "addict" just that I was dependent which was only partially true. I guess he still took it to heart though.
I've never taken imitrex before. I hope it goes ok because these headaches are a killer. What do you mean after effect? Like the next day or right when it wears off?
The sad part is, that when I "came clean" with my doctor, I basically just told him that I had been in pain management and decided I wanted to stop. Since I had never asked him for meds, I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. I didn't confess that I was an "addict" just that I was dependent which was only partially true. I guess he still took it to heart though.
I've never taken imitrex before. I hope it goes ok because these headaches are a killer. What do you mean after effect? Like the next day or right when it wears off?
So...he never wrote any rx's for pain med but he knows about your addiction? Hmmm...does sound like he was on the rude side; more than rude! Either that or you're like the rest of us and just a titch paranoid about the drug thing...What do you think?
Just for the record, I'm re thinking this whole "come clean with your doctor" business. Definitely if you're pregnant but otherwise it's not always the good thing that it should be...
How's the headache? I take Imitrex and it works well but there's an after effect that I find unpleasant.
Just for the record, I'm re thinking this whole "come clean with your doctor" business. Definitely if you're pregnant but otherwise it's not always the good thing that it should be...
How's the headache? I take Imitrex and it works well but there's an after effect that I find unpleasant.
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