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Requirement for urine test
As a chronic pain patient i know how fortunate I am to have an understanding and caring physician. I see only one doctor and have for the last twenty years. My pain problem is from an auto accident and I am doing well at this point. The requirement for urine testing is the problem. I have chronic urinary tract and bladder problems and cannot void on demand. How often can a urine test be required for a pain management patient? My doctor has an assistant, not a nurse, who assists her with checking patient vitals, etc. the assistant makes frequent demands for a urine test...4 in the last 8 months which seem excessive to me. She gets quite testy if I am unable to comply and has left an unpleasant message on my phone once. Today she brought me a full paper cup of water and insisted I drink it. Am I legally required to submit to these tests? Is there a certain number of urine tests required per year? I take 10mg Nucynta three times a day and Norco as needed. Previously I was taking 10mg of oxycodone three times a day but was switched to Nucynta over a year ago. (I thought the OxyContin was the reason for the urine tests). Obviously I'm not in the kind of severe pain as others are here but am still just as strictly monitored and treated in an untoward way by other than my regular physician. Not pleasant! Perhaps I'm over reacting?
Because of the contract all of PM patients have to sign they can test us any time they way. Every month, and we can even be called in for a random test. If we don't come in that day we can be let go from PM. You'll have to read your contract to see if that last part is on there.
I agree that getting tested every month or every other month is too much. Especially since you've been seeing the same Dr for so long.
Ask to see the Dr at your next appointment. It doesn't sound like it's him that's requiring you to take so many tests. I would also tell him how the assistant is treating you. My sister has the same problem. She gets UTI's several times a year. Usually she'll drink a lot of water in the morning. Her appointments are always around 2:00 in the afternoon. The PM Dr knows about her problem so they also give her a big glass of water when she gets there. They've even let her leave for awhile so she can drink more water.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. We shouldn't be treated like criminals just because we need pain medication that can help us live a better life.
Do try to see the Dr to tell him what's going on. You're not legally required to take these tests but if you want to continue seeing your PM then you have to take them when ever they say so.
The way that assistant treats you really upsets me. If she can't be caring, doesn't have any patience and doesn't like her job,then she should find a different job. Many people have problems going to the bathroom on demand. And with you having UTI problems you need someone with patience.
I agree that getting tested every month or every other month is too much. Especially since you've been seeing the same Dr for so long.
Ask to see the Dr at your next appointment. It doesn't sound like it's him that's requiring you to take so many tests. I would also tell him how the assistant is treating you. My sister has the same problem. She gets UTI's several times a year. Usually she'll drink a lot of water in the morning. Her appointments are always around 2:00 in the afternoon. The PM Dr knows about her problem so they also give her a big glass of water when she gets there. They've even let her leave for awhile so she can drink more water.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. We shouldn't be treated like criminals just because we need pain medication that can help us live a better life.
Do try to see the Dr to tell him what's going on. You're not legally required to take these tests but if you want to continue seeing your PM then you have to take them when ever they say so.
The way that assistant treats you really upsets me. If she can't be caring, doesn't have any patience and doesn't like her job,then she should find a different job. Many people have problems going to the bathroom on demand. And with you having UTI problems you need someone with patience.
1 Comments
That's right they give you 1 hour to get there and if you don't go they drop you that's what drug heads has caused us that need it go through hell and our pain doesn't matter they don't care how many sleepless night you get like tonight I cannot sleep for hurting two nights in a row now because the head Doctor making my Doctor to cut back he wants to put needles in you and that's messing up a lot of people it should be our choice it's our life I do not miss use my meds I was in the bed 85 to 90 percent of the time until I heard God tell me to get off of the Gabapentin The generic name is nerotton I didn't spelled that right but they had me on 1800 mg per day I lost memory and I sight my eye doctor said it was from the gabapentin and give me eye stigma and dry I syndrome and I couldn't function I was in the bed 85 to 90 percent of the time and finally I got in with my Doctor now and she gave me life back but I still no my foundries to not overdo it or I will be in the bed for a day or two maybe three now that I'm being cut back I'm in bed more .
I don't know what to do I never thought about checking how fast they can cut you back .
They can drug test you are anyone every time you go to the doctor they can even call you in randomly for a drug test if they have suspicion they're just looking to see that you have your medication in you and not nothing else that you're not supposed to have which that is fine with me but my doctor is being made to cut me back oh my oxycodone by the head doctor because he wants to give shots and it should be our chores every do not want them shots in her back's we should not have to take them because they have paralyzed people and I'm not taking that chance they have test I have everything that is wrong with me and is getting worse she currently 35 beers last month and going to cut me again tomorrow at Brian has got worse and I don't know what to do I'm thinking about finding a new doctor I did not know what they are allowed to drop you on when you brown it for a long time .
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. Every other month UA's are required at my husband's doctors.
Unfortunately due to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients are now being targeted. It's the heroin that is killing most of them.
It is inhumane.
My husband has been with a pain specialist for 12 years. When the CDC guideline came out we were assured that because he had a pain management doctor, he had nothing to worry about. That was over a year ago.
In December the doctor said he was no longer accepting Medicare as of January 1st. He said in order to continue to be my hubbys doctor he would have to reduce his medication under 120 mg as the guidelines said, now I believe it is 90. So, we agreed to self pay.
6 months later he has been told that due to new state regulations he will have to take Suboxone.
It is happening all over the country. Any excuse to drop a long standing pain patient is being used.
They are making people in intractable pain feel like criminals. It is very upsetting to me. My hubby was doing so well. Now he can barely walk, both knees need to be replaced, he is bone on bone and bone in bone. His back is so bad the last neurosurgeon said he needed a fusion.
Don't feel it is anything you have done or not done. The DEA is going after all of the doctors so it doesn't matter how "good" you have been it is happening all over the US and in Canada
I only found out because the doctor said that news rules that came out July 1st are forcing him to place his patients on Suboxone.
I am sorry this is happening, it has been happening. I believe Tuck's medications were cut 60% over 18 months ago. I think that is why we don't see her here. I miss her.
If you go to Tuck's journals you will see the CDC "guidelines" then the Surgeon General Letter then you would have to look at legislation from each state.
Good luck!
Unfortunately due to the opioid epidemic, chronic pain patients are now being targeted. It's the heroin that is killing most of them.
It is inhumane.
My husband has been with a pain specialist for 12 years. When the CDC guideline came out we were assured that because he had a pain management doctor, he had nothing to worry about. That was over a year ago.
In December the doctor said he was no longer accepting Medicare as of January 1st. He said in order to continue to be my hubbys doctor he would have to reduce his medication under 120 mg as the guidelines said, now I believe it is 90. So, we agreed to self pay.
6 months later he has been told that due to new state regulations he will have to take Suboxone.
It is happening all over the country. Any excuse to drop a long standing pain patient is being used.
They are making people in intractable pain feel like criminals. It is very upsetting to me. My hubby was doing so well. Now he can barely walk, both knees need to be replaced, he is bone on bone and bone in bone. His back is so bad the last neurosurgeon said he needed a fusion.
Don't feel it is anything you have done or not done. The DEA is going after all of the doctors so it doesn't matter how "good" you have been it is happening all over the US and in Canada
I only found out because the doctor said that news rules that came out July 1st are forcing him to place his patients on Suboxone.
I am sorry this is happening, it has been happening. I believe Tuck's medications were cut 60% over 18 months ago. I think that is why we don't see her here. I miss her.
If you go to Tuck's journals you will see the CDC "guidelines" then the Surgeon General Letter then you would have to look at legislation from each state.
Good luck!
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