Referral process to PMP

[Ashelen]

Well I have an appointment on Friday afternoon with my PCP to get the referral to a PMP. Can she refuse to refer me? I don't see why she would. Also...can I wait until right before my new appointment to have my records sent over to the PMP? I'm nervous enough about switching doctors without getting a call from my neuro's office asking why I'm leaving them....because I'm pretty sure they don't want my brutal, honest answer, lol.

I'm still very anxious about the whole process. I'm going to call the PMP today and ask how long it will take to get an appointment once they receive the referral and see if they can schedule an appointment NOW that can be canceled if they don't receive the referral by, say, Monday....but that way I'm already on the waiting list.

I just don't know what to do from here. I'm not sure my PCP knows about all my issues, except my chronic kidney issues, because I've only ever seen her once after I chose her. So I'll have to explain the whole story to her, go through the list of things we've tried, and explain why I want to be referred...right?



I guess I should just ask...How did YOUR dialogue with YOUR PCP about referral to pain management go?

[Ashelen]

Oh flower that's exactly what I needed to hear; I DO forget sometimes that doctors are there to help you! I don't know when my appointment is, I'm going to call on monday and gently urge them to get a little giddy-up in the process. I want to be fully switched by my next refill. I will definitely update you all when I get some info...thank you so much again!

[flower12345]

♥ Hi Ashleen. You're going to be fine at the doctor! Did you make your PM appt. yet? Is it coming up soon? I really do understand getting nervous, but remember that most doctors really do want to help you. Please keep updating!

♥Hugs,

Flower

[Ashelen]

Thank you guys so much you are all so wonderful...I really couldn't have done all of this without your support. I have been so scared of going to a PMP and I was even more scared that I would try to get a referral and they wouldn't understand...but my PCP was so incredibly awesome and understanding...now for the actual referral process (dramatic music!).

[KittyKat23_78]

That is GREAT!! What a relief it is getting THROUGH the appointment you just got through. I remember how nervous I was...and I cried through a lot of it - mostly because I was so scared!!!

GOOD THOUGHTS coming to you for your first PMP appointment and that your insurence covers it! :)

Kat

[peekawho]

Never hurts to have a fresh set of eyes looking at a problem.  You'll do fine, I know it.

Good luck,
Peek

[namnam46]

YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  YAY!

I CAN'T tell you how VERY excited I am for you!!!!!  You DESERVE this so much - to be able to get the pain relief that EVERYONE who is a CP Patient should be able to have!!!

Ashelen - You just made my ENTIRE day!!!  :)

Honey - I'm sending you {{{{{{SUPER HUGS}}}}}} right back to you......Mama Sherry  :)

PS I've been WATCHING the Boards ALL day to be SURE that I saw your post!!!!  Now I will start PRAYING that your Insurance Company WILL cover this PM Doctor AND if not, like you said, then SWITCH to the one that they DO cover!!!!  :)

[Ashelen]

YAY!!! She's writing the referral :-). My PCP is AWESOME...she is just absolutely the sweetest funniest person...unfortunately she doesn't have a DEA license so she doesn't prescribe, but she was totally sympathetic and agreed that I should get a referral.

The only problem is that my insurance might not cover it :-/. Luckily we have a little extra money right now from me working too so if they do reject the visit I can pay out of pocket and see if the doctor is even worth fighting the insurance company over. So either way...w/insurance or without...I've got the referral. It's SUCH a relief...now the next hurdle is talking to the new PMP and getting them to run all the appropriate tests...when my PCP asked if I had records of scans done and stuff I was like "yeah my neuro hasn't run any new tests in like 5 years" she was shocked...she was like yeah it's time to move you to another doctor who can test you and offer you options other than meds, which I told her was my #1 priority.

So it went super well...I love my PCP. I hope to stay with her either way...and if this PMP doesn't work out, there's another one my insurance accepts so I can try them too....I'm just relieved!!! THank you guys SOO much for the support and advice...I couldn't have gotten through this without you all; I wouldn't have had the courage, truly!!!!

*super hugs to everyone*

[namnam46]

I'm sorry - I MEANT to add that this will give you PROOF that you have been receiving the meds for a VERY long time.  :)

[namnam46]

BEFORE your appointment CALL your pharmacy and ASK them for a print-out of your pharmaceutical records dating back to when you started with the neurologist!! OR at LEAST the past 12 months!!

GOOD LUCK - you WILL do fine.

We're ALL here for you and you DON'T need to worry!!!

Much Love and AGAIN {{{{HUGS}}}}...........Mama Sherry  :)

[flower12345]

Please keep us updated! Thinking of you!

Hugs,

Flower

[Ashelen]

the appointment is actually tomorrow which is awful...I'm a nervous wreck :-(

[namnam46]

Yes, Sweetie, she can!!  BUT be sure that you SPECIFICALLY ask her about that today at your appointment.  IF she DOESN'T need your records THEN by ALL means ASK her to write it today for you!!  You DEFINITELY need to see IF she WILL do it WITHOUT your records.  TAKE your Pain Pill Bottle WITH you!!!! That way she will KNOW that you ARE receiving meds from him, PLUS that way YOU are covered AND she JUST might write the referral for you today.  :)

BE SURE that you let us know how it goes!!!

[Ashelen]

sorry I meant to add -  my neuro wrote the script and it's at the pharmacy, I just haven't picked it up yet.

[Ashelen]

OK so my PCP won't get my records until monday...I assume she can still write the referral, or at the very worst she can write it monday after she receives the records, right? In the meantime I asked my neuro to write me a low dose script (5/325) so that if I DO end up cut cold turkey by him it won't be as drastic..I'm going to wean myself to the lowest tolerable dose with which I can still function...which ***** because my back pain has been off the charts recently...but I know that if I slow it down so that I'm on a very low dose...try to cope...that way if he stops prescribing before I see the PMP, I won't be in such physical dire straights as far as withdrawals go. My pain will still be the same, but I've coped for short term without meds before so I can do it if I have to. Does this seem like a good idea?

[namnam46]

Ash,

You need to call you Neurologist tomorrow and ask for a copy of your records and pick them up and take them with you also - unless you ALREADY have a copy of them.

Just tell them that you want a copy for yourself and ALSO that you New PCP wants a copy of them.   Let them know that you have an appointment with her on Friday and that you'll pick them up tomorrow OR Friday morning BEFORE your appointment.

You WILL need them for your PM Doctor so that he KNOWS EVERYTHING that your poor body is going through.

Good luck, Sweetheart, you KNOW that we are thinking of you...........Mama Sherry  :)

[Ashelen]

Thank you both for the advice :-).

yes my insurance requires a referral, unfortunately :-(. And like I said, I don't know my PCP really well, so I'm hoping that worst case scenario she'll refer me just because she doesn't know everything about my situation and she'll let them look me over and decide what's appropriate.

I will probably have them print out a copy of my medical records and pick it up instead of sending it directly over....I'm thinking that'll go over better for me.

[SLCPMOM]

Dear Ash,
You may not need a referral unless your insurance company requires it.  The PM Doctors I know will schedule a patient without one.  There are too many PCPs that aren't even aware of PM and what they do.  I would suggest calling the PM and asking if you need a referral and if it was ok if you brought your records with you.  Some PM Doctors will require they be forwarded from your current treating Physician.  PM Docs need to document medical necessity to write most pain meds so having your records ready will speed up the process.  Just ask them what their office policy is regarding new patients.

[namnam46]

Hi Ash,

First let me tell you that I'm SO very happy that you are getting your referral to a PM Doctor!!!  He will be SO much better for you and be able to give you the help that you need so BADLY!!!

If I were you I would go and pick up my records myself and TAKE them with you to your first appointment UNLESS the PM Doctor requires that they be there sooner.  :)  

When we lived in Tennessee, my Internist kept ASKING me if I wanted to go to a PM Doctor and I thought that ALL they did was Physical Therapy - I DIDN'T know much back then.  :{  IF I knew then what I know now I would have had SO much better pain control than when we moved here to AZ.  

When we got to AZ, my New PCP sent me to a Rheumatologist.  I, of course, had ALL my records with me and I've been suffering from Osteoarthritis since I was 27 years old BUT never been to a Rheumatologist before this, and he looked at my records and within 10 minutes he looked at me and said that he "wanted" me to go to a PM Doctor.  I told him what I had ALWAYS thought to be true, and he VERY politely laughed and said "NO, that's NOT what they do."  From that point on he told me that there is ONE particular PM Doctor in ALL of AZ that he wanted me to see and I said OK and the rest is HISTORY!!!  From that point on AFTER I met My WONDERFUL PM Doctor it has been a "True Blessing" because of the RELIEF that he has given to me!!!  I've been on the patch from the FIRST day that I saw him and he started me out VERY low at 12 mcg's and we went up monthly until we hit a "good" level that gave me the pain relief that I needed!!!

Since that time - I've NEVER looked back and I'm SO THANKFUL for him and my PCP that started the ball rolling by sending me to the Specialists that I NEEDED to see.

That's how MINE came about.  NOW for You, just tell her the TRUTH of EVERYTHING that you are going through and EXACTLY what your Neurologist told you!!!  Don't hold ANYTHING back ESPECIALLY how the meds are NO longer working for you and the fact that you NEED help to get your pain under control.

Sweetie, you KNOW that I'm here for you as is EVERYONE here on MH!!  I've told you this before - BUT I'm not going anywhere and NEITHER is ANYONE else!!!

PLEASE keep us informed how your appointment goes.......Mama Sherry  :)