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Avatar universal

I need your opinions - PCP ripped me to shreds today...

So I saw my primary care physcian for the first time since I told him that I was stuck on oxy. When I told him, he said he would not see me until I was stable. So I got into my sub program...lasted the 8 months...im 31 days clean...and went in for a physical today. Going into the physical he had no knowledge of my treatment.

When I was seeing him regularly, he was treating me for attention problems and some anxiety. I was self medicating with pain meds because none of what we were trying was working or had awful side effects. Clearly the selfmedicating got out of hand.

So basically I am going to describe the visit...and I want some opinions as to whether I should find a new doc....

Got in...first thing I did was apologize...."I said I am sorry for my past behavior and decisions, it was disrespectful. You have been a great doctor for me, and I apologize for my behavior"... he looks at me and goes... "and" .... "that's maybe 10% of it".... I was totally caught off guard, and stumbled for a second .... them I say, I am sorry for being dishonest about what I was doing.... he responds "yes, lying, i don't like having to coax this out of you" .... I had assumed that the lying fell under my saying that my past behavior and decisions were disrespectful. It seemed like he really wanted to call me a liar and hear me say it. (this all came in a very snide tone)

So that was a fun start....

We do some physical stuff...and I try to ask him a couple questions about addiction. .... Does he see it as a disease or a symptom of other issues? Does he believe there is a difference between becoming naively physically dependent through recreational use and being a full blown addict? He is a great doctor, I trust his opinion and wanted to know what he thought.... his response "how do you not know this stuff, you were in treatment for 8 months"

As we are finishing up, I ask him if he would consider me a drug addict... "yes you are a ******* drug addict, and you  will always be one. you are not a special case, you are not different"

He then completes my lab test request form and checks off an HIV test, saying "hell i don't know if you have been sticking needles in your arm."


He didn't ask me a single question about my treatment, besides when he bashed it. He didn't ask what drugs I had abused. He didn't want to know anything about my use or treatment...he just treated me like a complete junkie....eventhough I am in recovery.

I left the office feeling about as depressed as I did when I hit rock bottom using. When I got to work I started feeling guilty and thought I should write him a letter trying to explain somethings.

By the time I got home I wanted to drive to his house and slug him.

What do you guy's think?





17 Responses
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Avatar universal
i was appalled when i read about your experience.....and i am SO sorry you had to endure that type of treatment.....totally uncalled for....totally.....imo, NO ONE deserves to be treated like that, especially after all you'd been through and all you'd done to help yourself overcome the addiction.....i'd drop the doctor like a hot potato and TRY to move on, even though i can understand how difficult it is to get it out of your head once and for all....hard to forget being treated like that....makes you feel like ****....no need for that whatsoever....you deserve to be pissed....i would be,too.....just hang in there, find another caring, compassionate doctor, one who is NOTHING like this one, and keep moving in the right direction.....good for you for coming this far....you deserve congrats, not bashing.....that doctor has major problems himself obviously!  

good luck to you....

blessings,
kim
Helpful - 0
617347 tn?1331293081
i hope you are talking of  House as your doctor !! otherwise, he sounds terrible and i'm sure he is just waiting for you to go . Give him a couple of headaches like telling him to behave with you as a good profesional not  as before or  you will be  the one to  leave him to find a better one for you and  not for being another addict  as he would like to think but for him being a bad doctor for you, his patient. Don't leave just because he is "dropping" you but because you are  in need of help and the best  doctor for you  and that's not him and be proud of yourself and your recovery  ( WTF !!)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I appreciate the opinions and support. Not sure what I am going to do. What he said has really f-ed with my head. I am thinking you all are right, but I am going to wait until my labs come back before I do anything. Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
521742 tn?1255107015
That is awful Im so sorry you had to deal with that.I had a situation with a dr and when I asked for help they discharged me as a patient I sill get mad over that but I think what you went through was worse.
Helpful - 0
611067 tn?1458591483
I would definitely find a new doctor.  My doctor has been so supportive and helpful.  I called her on her cell phone this past Saturday crying and shaking so badly from the withdrawals.  All she did was say, "I'm so sorry!!!"  She felt horrible for me.  She told me to call her Sunday to let her know how I was doing.  That's the kind of doctor we need.  Someone who is helpful and caring, not someone who thinks they are above us.  So, yes, find a new doctor.  Find someone who is understanding and kind.  Maybe interview a couple doctors before you choose one.  Tell them your situation and see who has the most compassion.  Maybe that seems weird, but why shouldn't we be able to interview our potential doctor!  We pay them!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'd go with slugging~lol! I am po'd at my pain mgnt dr today too....sometimes they suck!
Helpful - 0
539620 tn?1220990377
Please find a new Dr. now. And tell him/her how you were treated by the old one. You can even look up doctors online and I know in florida it shows if they have any strikes on their record so to speak. You current doctor may have some strikes of his own...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Short and sweet advice - ----- Lose this doctor immediately and permanently.
Helpful - 0
306455 tn?1288862071
Doctors are not Gods, but some of them don't know that. I would have given him a tongue bashing for sure. Either find a new doctor and write him a letter OR go back to him and let him know you don't appreciate his attitude and will not be treated like that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Regular physicians and even Pain management Doc's don't like to talk about addiction.  they don't mind talking about Alcoholism, Eating Disorders or any other kind of "addiction".......they prescribe these pills to their patients knowing what "can" happen, and when you confront them....they turn their back and treat the patient like a "low life".

They don't mind Rx'ing the pretty little mult-colored pharmaceutical  Heroin dispensed at the local pharmacy.  maybe, they want to keep the stigma alive because they don't want to have to deal with the consequences of their own actions. As long as they keep that stigma alive..we will won't come back to them because we are to embarassed or shamed about becoming addicted.  I think it's just the perfect plan for  "them"  don't you?.......

Prescription drug abuse is astronomical.....we don't need street heroin, when we can get the pretty ones.  Methamphetamine  is only a problem because we don't have access to  pharmaceutical speed anymore, or not as easy to get like it was in the 80's......and cocaine is expensive.

Okay, I am getting off track......Personally, I think you made this doctor very uncomfortable.  He didn't want to talk addiction. He left that up the addiction doctor, like don't talk to me about it....its not my specialty....thats why we have rehab?  dunno?  I am not shocked at the response......I get it, but it's not right.  He could have said things with more tact.

Nauty.......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so pissed about this I can't sleep.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Doctors are not gods, although they sometimes see themselves as being above the people they treat. Ive had a few doc's over the years who were disrespectful, so in return Im not very respectful. There scared of people who have addictive personalities because of the potential malpractice lawsuits for giving addictive medication, or atleast I had a doctor tell me that. Sorry you had to go through that, I know it can be very degrading, but dont let that SOB get to you, he's human, just like the rest of us. But definetely time for a new doctor, and maybe a comlplaint to his supervisor about his attitude towards a patient. My mom is a registered nurse, and she could practically tell daily stories of arrogant doc's, not to say they all are because there not, but just like in everything else there always that few that give the rest a bad name. Dont be discouraged uphill, just move on, he's should have been congratulating you on your recovery not mocking it, and forcing some sort of apology, and for what, Im sure he still got paid, be glad you dont have a temper cause I probably would have laid him out and got sued. Get a new one, theres better out there and you deserve better care. Peace buddy!
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
I would never pay someone to treat me that way...who in the he!! does he think he is?  not a doctor thats for sure becuase lots of addicts are out there especially in the chronic pain community/dependent or whatever...find a new doctor
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with paaddict...there is no reason to EVER treat someone this way, especially a patient!!!  Your doing great...just stay on the right track and don't even let what this physician said to you block your way!  GOOD LUCK!!!


...Sarah
Helpful - 0
548568 tn?1291847324
Hi,
No patient should ever be treated like that by a dr.
He is there to help you, not upset you. He took an oath to help his patients, plus your are paying him, right? You or your insurance is.
there a ton of other drs around, maybe time to start
looking
good luck to you
paaddict
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, my short answer is get a new doctor. You don't have to be treated badly b/c you are an addict. Especially since you are clean. But I don't feel anyone should be treated that way!

That's my 2 cents...and I am really sorry you had to endure that. That is horrible in my opinion.

Take Care!

JoAnn
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When I say my doctor had no knowledge of my treatment, I mean he didn't know details...he knew I was in it.
Helpful - 0
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