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1610425 tn?1298205880

*PLEASE READ-URGENT* Need 2 Find a PM Dr in Gainesville, Florida ASAP - Explanation Below

Please Read... I am in Dire Need of a Good/Decent Pain Dr in Gainesville, Florida (As Soon As Possible).....

I am in so much pain + anxiety, I don't know where to begin nor how to explain in a way so this all makes sense!  Bu to keep it as brief & concise as possible..here it goes:

In my profile, I've detailed my journey of Chronic Pain to best of my ability. OK, first let me say this, I've been suffering with Chronic Pain for 18 years, and, have been a Pristine Patient. I've been seeing a Dr in Spring Hill, FL for over a year (Dr.of Internal Medicine), who has been prescribing my normal course of Meds; 100mcg fentanyl patch ((1 patch every 48 hrs)), Loratab 10/500 (4 tabs daily), Soma (3/day), Xanax 1mg tabs (3/day). I relocated to North Central Florida a couple months ago, but was willing to make the 6 hour round trip to continue seeing him for awhile longer until I was settled into my new place. Yes, the trip totaled me even tho I wasn't the one driving. He has always been hassle free & empathic.

However "Major Problem" took place my last visit being February 2, 2011... while at the Pharmacy getting my meds filled, I was alerted my Fentanyl Patches required a Prior Authorization.  I am on Medicare. And Medicare switched me to another Insurance Co without my knowledge. Pharmacy said no big deal, they would fax the Dr the Prior Auth & it would take a couple days.  Here, the problems began!  It took the 'clerk' @ Drs Office up front several days to get the Dr to even look at the paperwork which NEEDED to be faxed to RX America (ins co) and the Dr neglected to fill out needed info, all he did wad sign & intial the form.  I called the insur co, pharmacy, drs offices several times daily for 8 days.  The Prior Auth was denied... the Drs clerk has been very rude, Dr will NOT get on phone with me (i've even called his after hours # several times-no response).  Fortunately, I had a few extra Patches on hand, from months when my appts were scheduled a few days early due to holidays, vacations, etc.  I have stretched those extra's beyond their means.....  Come this Thursday; February 24th, I am out of that medication!!!!!  March 2nd I am out of all my medications.  I have already experienced the very early stages of Fentanyl Withdrawl after merely 4 hours of not having a patch on my body (i.e. after showering, falling asleep & not placing one on asap)...This is NOT a medication one can simply discontinue abruptly, esp having Cardio-Pulmonary issues.

Well, after digging up some info on this compassionate doctor on the web, I have learned; he is still under a 5 yr probation period for Sanctions against him: such as, Dispensing Narcotics of a Schedule out of his realm of practice (several sanctions on that), failing to refer patients to Pain Mgmt,  failing to release patient records and OMG, worst yet...performing a Surgical Procedure which directly resulted in the 'Death' of a patient!!!  No wonder he is refusing to cooperate with my insurance on the Prior Authorization (a very simple form to fill out). Oh yes, I am going to report him to every agency there is but I must resolve my 'lack of medication' issues first & quickly!

I am in sheer desparation at this point! I am in pain, frightened, the panic/anxiety is taking over my entire body/mind/spirit PLEASE, I need a Good Doctor to adequately manage my Chronic Pain in the Gainesville, Florida area...I am not a candidate for surgery nor any invasive procedures. (no Shots, etc). I need Medical Pain Mgmt & fast. Please, anyone who knows of a Pain Doc in Gainesville, please PM me with info.  Right now I'm in tears...seems to be the norm here lately since this nightmare began a few weeks back :(

Thank You So Much In Advance For Any/All Help.  

Brightest Blessings,
Keya
9 Responses
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Avatar universal
Key - I MEANT to add that I'd love for you to PM me about your Husband.  I KNOW how difficult it is to lose someone but for you to lose someone in the way that YOU did, I just can't FATHOM that.

I'll be looking for your PM when you are up to it.  :)...............Sherry
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Keya - then that's what you need to do IMMEDIATELY is to get a NEW PCP!!!  Call one RIGHT NOW.  Explain what is happening and the meds that you are on.

Let the ER KNOW what is happening.  Take your pill bottles and Patch box with you. I HOPE that you STILL have them!!!  They MIGHT be able to help you get into a PM Doctor OR at the VERY least a PCP IMMEDIATELY!!!  

Write us here IMMEDIATELY when you get back and let us know what it happening.

Prayers are being sent your way!!!.............Sherry
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1610425 tn?1298205880
tuck, that dr is / 'was' the only pcp i had...the one who has me in this situation :( what is this new law, i mean where can i read up on the statutes?  thanks
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
I am so sorry that you cannot get a referral. Do you have a PCP that can do a referral? That's who did my referral. Have you tried just telling them that your former PMP has been sanctioned and WILL NOT provide you with a referral...as you simply cannot get a hold of him? Try it....you have nothing to lose. PMP must hear that often in this state with everything that is going on with the law that became effective Oct 2010.

Please let us know how the ER visit went. I'll be looking for your update.

My Best to You,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
1610425 tn?1298205880
Sherry,

i've called so many have lost count...  they have all told me i need "that" dr. from  spring hill, fl to fax over a 'referral and my records',  and after they have those items, it'll take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month to get an appt. yesterday, once again I called the dr's office in spring hill i have been seeing for 1 1/2 years who put me in this position & requested to speak to the office mgr (he no longer has a nurse or med asst), they put me on hold for 18 minutes - then hung up on me!!  he knows darn well he's in for deeper trouble than he already been sanctioned for 'many' times. so therefore they are ignoring me hoping i'll go away. i figured i'd make a one last ditch attempt for him to at least Rx some methadone along with my other meds coming due on march 2nd....that's why i called there.  but they simply will not cooperate at all.  i also learned the pharmacy is in hot water (they are the ones who rec'd him to me in the 1st place)... i found a newpaper article about that pharmacy: several pharmacists are involved (from various locations).  They were charged with writing over 30,000 (yep thirty thousand) scripts for class 2 narcotics and billing medicare in excess of 2.5 million dollars --- some of these scripts were 'made up names... others were patients names stolen from prior pharmacies they worked for...they wrote scripts out under those stolen names also. oh Sherry, this is such a nightmare!!  I am T-Totally shot.... wiped out.... in tears constantly from the immense pain and emotional trauma from all of this.
i don't don't what an ER is going to do for me but thats where i'm headed this morning. i'm in shambles :(

i am so sorry about the loss of your husband. you know i can completely relate... i was married 19 yrs and mine passed away 8 yrs ago (he committed suicide)... a long story, i'll pm you about it when i can think better.

Thanks so much for writing me back... i would love to talk more with you.

Blessings,
Key
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Keya,

What kind of luck have you had in finding a PM Doctor?  Have you called any of them and what type of time are they talking about getting you in to see one of them?

I've been VERY concerned about you.  I meant to tell you that I'm ALSO on Disability Widows Benefits.  I lost MY Husband after 16 years of marriage to complications from Diabetes.

Thinking of you.........Sherry
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1610425 tn?1298205880
Sherry & Tuck,
Thanks for replyiing...sorry has taken me time to get back.. i'm in a bad way. cannot get that dr to cooperate in any capacity (he knows he's in for more serious trouble!). Looks like i'll be in an ER firrst thing in morning.  i'll keep you posted as i'm able. ty again ~keya
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Hello Keya,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am glad that you found us but very sorry to hear about your current situation. My heart goes out to you.

Sherry did a thorough job of covering your question and addressing your concerns. I just have my experience to add.

I relocated to FL several months ago.....FRIGHTENED out of my mind by all the media reports of the Pill Mills and crack down on PMPs in this state. My home state PCP was my PMP and our relationship was golden. I felt lost without her. I goggled the area PMPs and chose two that had great reviews. Much to my relief the first PMP I contacted in the area was able to see me in twenty days. I asked to be placed on the "cancellation list"...meaning if anyone canceled I would be called to take that appointment. Much to my surprise they had a cancellation in two days. In I went, shaking in my boots with my medical records in hand and my husband at my side.  

I was fortunate to find a compassionate and and very knowledgeable PMP. He actually listened to me and agreed with my previous physicians course of treatment and medications..... and continued it.

That is my suggestion for you. Do just what I did. If it worked for me it can work for you. We do not recommend specific physicians or clinics on this site.....for various reasons. Let me assure you there are so great ones out there. Best of luck and please let us know how your search concludes.

Peace,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Keya,

First, I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. I want to let you know that there are NO Doctors on this Forum, only CP  {Chronic Pain}  Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences that we have developed through our OWN CP Issues.

I read your profile page and I'm astounded at the TERRIBLE outcomes that you have suffered from your botched surgeries!!  Bless you heart!  I'm fortunate that I've ONLY had one back surgery and that was in "88 when I had a ruptured disc that led to SEVERE DDD Degenerative Disc Disease throughout my entire back.  But what YOU have suffered is UNCONSCIABLE!!! NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED INTO SURGERY!!!  For W/C to do that to you is TOTALLY out of line!!!  They should have to PAY YOU BIG BUCKS for that!!! The Government NEEDS to look into the W/C practices as WELL as the insurance companies!!  I'm just feel so badly for you!!!

I'm so TERRIBLY sorry for your predicament!!  I, too, am on the Fentanyl Patches, 87 mcg every 48 hours and Percocet 10/350 for BT Break Through) Pain, Gabapentin and Baclofen.  I KNOW how frightened you must be.  HOWEVER, I'm SO SORRY to tell you that on MH {MedHelp} we DON'T recommend Doctor's because a Doctor that MIGHT be a GOOD fit for me MIGHT not be a good fit for someone else.  :{

We, ALWAYS, suggest that you google PM  {Pain Management} Dorctors in your area and start CHECKING them out BEFORE you go see one.  That way you WON'T run into the problem that you are now in.  These days it's VERY important that you check out the Doctor's ESPECIALLY in Florida, Texas, California and Nevada. These are the states that the DEA are cracking down on the "Pill Mills" that dispense pills WITHOUT authorization as you have JUST discovered your OLD Doctor was doing!! Florida, in particular, is cracking down on the Internists, PCP, etc. that AREN'T PM Doctors!!  That's WHY your Internist is being looked at so closely and why he isn't autorizing your patches.  I'm SOOO SORRY for the predicament you are in!!

Check ALL of the backgrounds of ANY that you are thinking of and CALL and be sure that they DO give out medication!! This is VERY important as more and more are starting to do procedures and NOT giving out meds.  :{  Be SURE that they KNOW what you are being prescribed and TAKE YOUR RECORDS with you!!!  

PLEASE DO THIS IMMEDIATELY and DON'T HESITATE!!!  I HOPE that you will remain an ACTIVE Member here on MH {MedHelp} as you would be a GREAT asset on here in helping OTHERS with your experiences.

I wish you the best of luck and HOPE that you will let us know when you find a GOOD Doctor that gives you the care that you DESERVE!!!

I will be looking for you updates.  BEST WISHES and GOOD LUCK..........Sherry  :)
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