Aa
after a year my doc refuses to refill oxycodone knowing I'll withdraw
I've been on pain meds since a wreck and 1 1/2 year bone infection, untreated, being crippled, also having Gaucher Disease and chronic body-wide, severe pain. In Jan 2009 I was assigned to a new doctor, and she had seen me before and remarked that I needed the pain meds, fought with my insurance company to make them pay for them, and has called in my refills every month since. A few months ago I lost my TennCare, and though I've no idea about Obama's new plans, I'm uninsurable, and disabled, have no income to speak of to purchase my own insurace. On the 20th of this month I got a letter from my doc saying she would no longer refill my pain meds, tho she'll continue with my other chronic problems. She does know Im uninsured and has offered to see me free, tho I havent taken advantage of the offer since I lost my tenncare (for having no minor children). After being on pain meds 14 years, and for about 8 months its been Oxycodone, 30 mg, 1-2 every 6 hrs (have intestinal absorption problems and metabolism problems due to gaucher), I know I'm about to get very very sick. My previous doc told me I'd have a heart attack in the 3rd week once when i tried to quit pain meds on my own to prove i could. I've kept all appointments, have never tried to fill my meds early, I've done all I could. I dont know why she decided this now. What can I do. I hate being medically addicted, always have, but I dont want to be that sick. I swear to you I'm a good girl and have not abused anything, not the relationship, not the meds, not done anything wrong.
I have a physician who has become terribly ill. whenI called another physician to see me and they asked what for, I was honest and said I had pinched nerves and three disc in my neck pressing on my nerves. I have had MRI's and reports to indicate my pain level is severe. The new doctor office states .... they will see me for flu, and regularthings butthey do not ever prescribe pain medications for patients.
I am so discouraged. I am not a candidate for surgery on these discs according to a neuro surgeon and have had a really bad reaction to the shot in my neck. It is my C1, C4, C5 and C6 with my C4,5,and 6 being the worst ones.
What am I supposed to do now? Idon't see a real life ahead for me like this. Is this what it means when a physician swears to do no harm? I wonder what they will do in their future if faced with the same pain? Kill themselves to stop the pain or try to buy the drugs illegally? Where are you, the doctors who will help me hold my new granddaughter and play with my six year old grandson. They deserve better than me on the couch or bed afraid tomove.
I am so discouraged. I am not a candidate for surgery on these discs according to a neuro surgeon and have had a really bad reaction to the shot in my neck. It is my C1, C4, C5 and C6 with my C4,5,and 6 being the worst ones.
What am I supposed to do now? Idon't see a real life ahead for me like this. Is this what it means when a physician swears to do no harm? I wonder what they will do in their future if faced with the same pain? Kill themselves to stop the pain or try to buy the drugs illegally? Where are you, the doctors who will help me hold my new granddaughter and play with my six year old grandson. They deserve better than me on the couch or bed afraid tomove.
Did you sign a pain contract?
My pain contract stses that I may be dischaged for any or no reason thats its the Dr discretion to discontiue treatment at anytime
My pain contract stses that I may be dischaged for any or no reason thats its the Dr discretion to discontiue treatment at anytime
Sorry Jasmine. I got your name confused with another poster.....I apologize.
Some days are crazy for me..and this must have been one of them. :)
Some days are crazy for me..and this must have been one of them. :)
My heart goes out to you as you are in such a tough spot. I do hope you have written that letter. As I said earlier even a not so well written letter is better than none at all. And I do think you are able to communicate what happened, what is happening and your feelings appropriately and understandably.
I know your fear of losing a physician, one that you have built a trusting relationship with. I think we all have that fear to some degree or another.
If it is inevitable that your physician will cease prescribing medications for you I cannot beleive that the board would look harshly on her if she helped you through withdrawal. Indeed I would think it would be more cruel and unprofessional to simply drop you and cease all prescriptions at once.
Be prepared that your mother may do this again even if you find another physician down the road. It is a shame that she has no understanding of your pain or of chronic pain. She is not alone. So many ppl simply see us as addicts. I must admit this is the first time I have heard of a family memeber "turning" in a physician for prescribing narcotics for a loved on that is suffering with chronic pain. In my opinion how you will deal with your mother's misconceptions in the future should be addressed. If my mother did this to me I would be livid!
Please let us know how this turns out. I'll be thinking of you.
~Tuck
I know your fear of losing a physician, one that you have built a trusting relationship with. I think we all have that fear to some degree or another.
If it is inevitable that your physician will cease prescribing medications for you I cannot beleive that the board would look harshly on her if she helped you through withdrawal. Indeed I would think it would be more cruel and unprofessional to simply drop you and cease all prescriptions at once.
Be prepared that your mother may do this again even if you find another physician down the road. It is a shame that she has no understanding of your pain or of chronic pain. She is not alone. So many ppl simply see us as addicts. I must admit this is the first time I have heard of a family memeber "turning" in a physician for prescribing narcotics for a loved on that is suffering with chronic pain. In my opinion how you will deal with your mother's misconceptions in the future should be addressed. If my mother did this to me I would be livid!
Please let us know how this turns out. I'll be thinking of you.
~Tuck
oh and i have followed all her instructions, and the only issue i can imagine is that she is indeed simply uncomfortable what with all the abuse of pan meds, tho i agree that i needed more notice and she could at least help me wean off of them (tho as i said, i've detested the condition of physical addiction, worry each month something will happen to prevent me getting them - since it has, such as her going on vacation and no other doc in the clinic would refill, etc - and worry about getting so sick. i've asked to be taken off the pain meds several times, tho not with this doctor, and was quickly and flatly refused, being told that i need them and wouldnt be able to stand the pain without them. i dont know if i agree, as most of the time it seems my main reason for taking them is to avoid withdrawal and i'd live with more pain than i already have to be free of that devil - they just have me sorta scared that it will be more pain than i realize
In the letter she sent me -which was dated 10 days before my next refill was due, then it had to get thru the mail too so i only had 8 days - she simply says she is "uncomfortable" and thinks i need to see a pain management specialist. i saw her in another clinic years ago n she treated me 3 years then, and has for 1 1/2 years this time, with no problems from me or in any other way. i've offered to let her test me randomly once when we were simply speaking of how some people abuse pain meds- the point starting the conversation being how she trusted me and i'd never tried anything. she says the tests wont prove anything, tho i always understood they'd show if you werent taking the meds or were taking too much. i'm delighted to do it if she is worried about state med board or something but she wont. the thing above about having no minor children is the reason tenncare dropped me. doctors in my area are notoriously unsympathetic to anyone undergoing drug withdrawals even if they have a spotless record like mine = unfortunately with no income i cannot even move. no income, no insurance, cant see another doctor, and i'm afraid patient abandonment may not cover me if she can say "well she cant pay me". looked for programs in my county and state to no avail.
Check with our local medical board to see if what options you might have in the complaint department.
To drop you, knowing that you will go into sudden withdrawal, seems to run close to malpractice, but I could be really wrong!
To drop you, knowing that you will go into sudden withdrawal, seems to run close to malpractice, but I could be really wrong!
I am so sorry to hear about your predicament. My heart goes out to you. As said above you do need to begin looking for another PMP or PCP immediately.
In my state it use to be that you had to have minor children in order to remain on BadgerCare, which I assume is similar to TennCare. There were no alternatives and no exceptions. Once that last child was no longer a minor you were dropped. I assume that is the same in Tennessee. In mid 2009 that requirement changed in our state but apparently has not changed in your state.
In my opinion you should have the right to know why your physician refuses to prescribe opiates for you. Insist on a answer. It could be a misunderstanding and it needs to be addressed or possibly challenged. You will need to know the answer before you see another physician. At the very least I would think that your current PMP would be required to help you through withdrawal.
Also see your county social services to determine what may be available for you. Sometimes they will issue at least a one time medical consult payment. I wish you the very best and hope that you will let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck
In my state it use to be that you had to have minor children in order to remain on BadgerCare, which I assume is similar to TennCare. There were no alternatives and no exceptions. Once that last child was no longer a minor you were dropped. I assume that is the same in Tennessee. In mid 2009 that requirement changed in our state but apparently has not changed in your state.
In my opinion you should have the right to know why your physician refuses to prescribe opiates for you. Insist on a answer. It could be a misunderstanding and it needs to be addressed or possibly challenged. You will need to know the answer before you see another physician. At the very least I would think that your current PMP would be required to help you through withdrawal.
Also see your county social services to determine what may be available for you. Sometimes they will issue at least a one time medical consult payment. I wish you the very best and hope that you will let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
~Tuck
I also want to say that you should start calling around and looking for a PM doctor that is accepting new patients and try and find one that is affordable. Some do offer a sliding pay scale for Pt's with no insurance.
I am not sure what the laws are regarding Tenncare but if you had Tenncare before without dependants then you should not have been dropped because of it.
Did the doctor refuse to write your pain medicine at the same time Tenncare dropped you?
The reason I ask i s Tenncare may have dropped you for seeing another doctor or getting prescriptions from more than one doctor and they would have informed your doctor of this.
Did you see other doctors besides the one who was giving you pain medications?
I am not sure what the laws are regarding Tenncare but if you had Tenncare before without dependants then you should not have been dropped because of it.
Did the doctor refuse to write your pain medicine at the same time Tenncare dropped you?
The reason I ask i s Tenncare may have dropped you for seeing another doctor or getting prescriptions from more than one doctor and they would have informed your doctor of this.
Did you see other doctors besides the one who was giving you pain medications?
I really feel for you. It ***** that you are going through this. I would do my best to find another dr asap but without insurance I don't know if you can do that. I don't understand why she won't give you pain meds anymore and didn't give you a reason. After being on them that long I know you are in for a hard road ahead. I really don't have any ideas for you but if the withdrawl gets to bad I don't know if it would be a good idea to go to the ER or not. I'm sure the other people will give you some good advice on what to do. Good luck to you. You could past on the addiction board or just read some posts and see if they can help you.
Jamie
Jamie
Hi,
You need to call the doctor's office and find out why she dropped you from pain management. She has to have a reason for doing so. She also has to treat you for thirty days or until you can find a new PM doctor. otherwise it is considered patient abandonment.
The state laws are different in each state. Call and find out why she will no longer treat your pain. Also call your local legal services and get an appointment.
Have you tested positive for illegal drugs or medicines your not prescibed?
She is not dropping you for no reason. She may be getting out of pain ma with management all together. I can speculate all day but you need the reason why so you can do what you need to to get the medical help you need.
have you had any test done lately?
Has she requested something that you have failed to do such as test or seeing a pain phycologist?
Let us know the reason why she has dropped you and maybe we can help more.
In the meantime will your PCP help your medications?
You need to call the doctor's office and find out why she dropped you from pain management. She has to have a reason for doing so. She also has to treat you for thirty days or until you can find a new PM doctor. otherwise it is considered patient abandonment.
The state laws are different in each state. Call and find out why she will no longer treat your pain. Also call your local legal services and get an appointment.
Have you tested positive for illegal drugs or medicines your not prescibed?
She is not dropping you for no reason. She may be getting out of pain ma with management all together. I can speculate all day but you need the reason why so you can do what you need to to get the medical help you need.
have you had any test done lately?
Has she requested something that you have failed to do such as test or seeing a pain phycologist?
Let us know the reason why she has dropped you and maybe we can help more.
In the meantime will your PCP help your medications?
forgot to say the wreck was in 1996 n i've been on the pain meds since then.
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