Aa
isn't this patient abandonment
My dad is 85 and has some significant health issues. He sees the same pain management doctor I do. He did not sign a contract with him. I called for his refill of 5 mg oxycodone 3 times a day last week. Monday I let them know I hadn't received the script and they said give it another day. I like the script in hand before he's out as his meds 5 mg oxycodone can sometimes not be carried in the local pharmacies. Anyway, I called yesterday and said we didn't get it. A nurse said let me look around a bit. Oh. Here we are. The doctor is not going to fill it any longer because he was a no show for four appointments. I pull out my appointment book and told the girl that two of the appointments were because I had swapped myself in for an appointment as I was having really bad pain and my dad was stable and no one said that's a bad idea. The third time was because I had an emergency meeting for my son and I told them that. The fourth appointment I can't speak to as it was someone else who made it and I guess was going to take him to.
I do not want to see my dad go through withdrawals. I feel like if he wasn't going to write another script he should have said so at the last script. Just stopping meds that someone's been on for well over a year is very risky, especially considering his other health issues and age. Of course, I won't let that happen. I have similar meds, just a higher dose and will cut it in half for him. Unfortunately that means I will go into withdrawals and when that has happened in the past, I wind up in the hospital. I called the office this morning and I spoke to the nurse about how this is not my dad's fault and I will make sure he's there at the next appointment no matter what. I have underlying health issues and when I have been in withdrawals, once when I was very sick and couldn't keep things down, I wound up hospitalized for 8 days. I do not want this to happen again because I don't think anyone should be cut off and made go CT. I feel like this doctor is abandoning my dad. Unfortunately my only other option is my primary care but of course she's out today. I am hoping the doctor will at least write a script for a month and I will taper him off but I have a feeling he won't. This *****. I need to find a better pain management doctor for my dad and possibly for myself as well. I don't want a doctor that doesn't care.
I do not want to see my dad go through withdrawals. I feel like if he wasn't going to write another script he should have said so at the last script. Just stopping meds that someone's been on for well over a year is very risky, especially considering his other health issues and age. Of course, I won't let that happen. I have similar meds, just a higher dose and will cut it in half for him. Unfortunately that means I will go into withdrawals and when that has happened in the past, I wind up in the hospital. I called the office this morning and I spoke to the nurse about how this is not my dad's fault and I will make sure he's there at the next appointment no matter what. I have underlying health issues and when I have been in withdrawals, once when I was very sick and couldn't keep things down, I wound up hospitalized for 8 days. I do not want this to happen again because I don't think anyone should be cut off and made go CT. I feel like this doctor is abandoning my dad. Unfortunately my only other option is my primary care but of course she's out today. I am hoping the doctor will at least write a script for a month and I will taper him off but I have a feeling he won't. This *****. I need to find a better pain management doctor for my dad and possibly for myself as well. I don't want a doctor that doesn't care.
Sadly you posted on a very old thread instead of beginning your own question. These old threads are often over-looked and not even read - as you can see my the posts above yours that never obtained a reply. I encourage you to begin a new question in the future.
Your questions, concerns and input is important to us. I'm sorry I didn't check this old thread sooner - and sorry my response to you is so tardy. I hope you are still monitoring our site.
The climate has changed in Pain Management - through no fault of the many honest chronic pain patients that exist. Drug dealers, abusers and addicts found they liked prescription drugs. Physicians, most of them well meaning ordered opiates a bit too freely sometimes - patients did not always take them as ordered - or left them in the medicine cabinets for their children to discover - and abuse and misuse! Approximately 2005-2010 Pill Mills sprang up and the borderline "legal" prescribing of opiates began. The DEA stepped in along with other governmental law enforcement agencies. They became involved to stop the over prescribing and abuse. Ppl were dying from prescription drugs by the 100s every day, in ever state! Someone had to due something.
Fast forward to 2016. Most of the abusers, dealers and addicts have moved on to street drugs, specifically the cheap Heroin! We Chronic Pain Patients are now treated like those abusers, dealers and addicts. We have become second class citizens.
In my opinion the majority of PMP are not sensitive and compassionate physicians. Don't get me wrong, there are some and they are great! PMPs are generally anesthesiologists. It's well known in the medical community that anesthesiologists like anesthesia - they never wanted to develop relationships with patients - certainly not long term relationships. However being a PMP ensures great hours and lots of income - even better than what a typical anesthesiologists could encounter. So here we are!!! It's a sad situation that I doubt will get better any time soon.
Being a hearing impaired person you are entitled to instructions, questions and answers and so forth delivered to you in a manner that you can understand. You are protected by the ADA. Stand up for your rights my friend in pain. Present your PMP (and staff) with a written concern - insist on communication that is clear and precise. You were treated horribly - and the ppl that threw their arms up in the air should be disciplined and educated. We all deserve respect - and you didn't even get that!
Our choices are few - we have to walk the path that has been laid out for us and never deviate - or be suspected of deviation! As opiate therapy pain patients we have no rights! It's one sided! Someday this will change - and we all need to work to begin that change - for now we walk this thin tightrope hoping to never upset that apple cart.
Please let us know how you are doing. If you need help beginning a new questions please just ask me - or anyone. We'll help. Click on the box that says, "Post A Question." It'll walk you through.
My Best to You,
~Tuck
Your questions, concerns and input is important to us. I'm sorry I didn't check this old thread sooner - and sorry my response to you is so tardy. I hope you are still monitoring our site.
The climate has changed in Pain Management - through no fault of the many honest chronic pain patients that exist. Drug dealers, abusers and addicts found they liked prescription drugs. Physicians, most of them well meaning ordered opiates a bit too freely sometimes - patients did not always take them as ordered - or left them in the medicine cabinets for their children to discover - and abuse and misuse! Approximately 2005-2010 Pill Mills sprang up and the borderline "legal" prescribing of opiates began. The DEA stepped in along with other governmental law enforcement agencies. They became involved to stop the over prescribing and abuse. Ppl were dying from prescription drugs by the 100s every day, in ever state! Someone had to due something.
Fast forward to 2016. Most of the abusers, dealers and addicts have moved on to street drugs, specifically the cheap Heroin! We Chronic Pain Patients are now treated like those abusers, dealers and addicts. We have become second class citizens.
In my opinion the majority of PMP are not sensitive and compassionate physicians. Don't get me wrong, there are some and they are great! PMPs are generally anesthesiologists. It's well known in the medical community that anesthesiologists like anesthesia - they never wanted to develop relationships with patients - certainly not long term relationships. However being a PMP ensures great hours and lots of income - even better than what a typical anesthesiologists could encounter. So here we are!!! It's a sad situation that I doubt will get better any time soon.
Being a hearing impaired person you are entitled to instructions, questions and answers and so forth delivered to you in a manner that you can understand. You are protected by the ADA. Stand up for your rights my friend in pain. Present your PMP (and staff) with a written concern - insist on communication that is clear and precise. You were treated horribly - and the ppl that threw their arms up in the air should be disciplined and educated. We all deserve respect - and you didn't even get that!
Our choices are few - we have to walk the path that has been laid out for us and never deviate - or be suspected of deviation! As opiate therapy pain patients we have no rights! It's one sided! Someday this will change - and we all need to work to begin that change - for now we walk this thin tightrope hoping to never upset that apple cart.
Please let us know how you are doing. If you need help beginning a new questions please just ask me - or anyone. We'll help. Click on the box that says, "Post A Question." It'll walk you through.
My Best to You,
~Tuck
I hate PM & feel it's a waste of time. I used to have a regular PM. Doctor but he left so ended up seeing a nurse practitioner. She asked about pain level & I told her she gave me my script & off I went.next month same thing & so on. They ended up lowering my dose & I told them I tried it for a few months & it's not working. The doctor who left worked so closely with me to find a med & dosage that worked & boom they lowered it as soon as he left. Also I am deaf so when I ask them to briefly write things down they throw their arms up in the air and won't do that either
1 Comments
If they lower the dosage, they need to switch the medications as well.
My mother is a paraplegic, so it's hard to get her out of the house in winter. We have come to a situation where it was hard to get her medication because the doctor is supposed to have seen a patient within a certain amount of time to write them a prescription. It ensures that there's been an exam and keeps either a patient or their relatives from getting a no-longer-needed drug for the black market. We were able to get a script written by a doctor who had seen her that would cover her until the date of the rescheduled appointment.
I am in a similar situation . I have had chronic pelvic pain for the last 13 yrs , on disability . The pain is out of control , pain management treats me like a drug seeker , when I am anything but , pain is so bad I can't even clean my house without hurting myself or causing extra pain. Walking the dog , making dinner , having a sexual relationship with my boyfriend are so difficult that I can't do them without causing the pain to sky rocket .
I tell my PM dr. That the meds I'm on aren't giving relief and they say there is nothing they can do. Or the continued medication is not working well enough or at all.
I beg for alternative pain management like injections or the nerostimulator or the drug pump. And still all they seem to focus on is the fact that I'm taking narcotic pain meds for multiple years, and treat all requests for other forms of pain treatments I request as unavailable or incompatible for my symptoms..
Yet they are unwilling to increase any dose of medication because they don't think it will help or is too much . I
I am not sure why pain treatment is hard to get , well I guess I should say achieving pain relief is so impossible to get.
Is it the war on drugs that make these doctors afraid to give pain medications ?
Yes there are drug seekers , but to be honest it's easier to get heroine , than to get adequate pain relief with prescription pain medications.
It's cheaper too , so why don't these pain doctors realize if I wanted to get high or buy drugs it would be so simple, as to be laughable.
But getting high is not what I am looking for. I am looking for a way to live my life , walk my dog , grocery shop , sleep through the night .....
This is an impossible situation and I have been considering moving to another country where there pharmacy and prescription laws are much looser..... I just don't know where to go ...
any suggestions on how to manage the pain or knowledge about foreign countries and there pain management options or even info on real online pharmacy s ...
Or even better a pain doctor who actually treats pain , and trys to find a way to stop or minimize it with other method ,, I will try anything at this point.
I'm afraid they are going to leave me with no options,
and I will become a real drug addict just to stop the pain.
Or I will end up killing myself because I'm not sure how long I can do this without any hope of
change or relief.
I feel as if I am being tormented by pain ..... I can see what I want to do but I am unable to do it.
And I am left behind while those around me do all the things I can't.... and they don't know how lucky they are and worry over small things that don't matter .
When I would kill to have half of what they take for granted.
Pain takes everything.
I tell my PM dr. That the meds I'm on aren't giving relief and they say there is nothing they can do. Or the continued medication is not working well enough or at all.
I beg for alternative pain management like injections or the nerostimulator or the drug pump. And still all they seem to focus on is the fact that I'm taking narcotic pain meds for multiple years, and treat all requests for other forms of pain treatments I request as unavailable or incompatible for my symptoms..
Yet they are unwilling to increase any dose of medication because they don't think it will help or is too much . I
I am not sure why pain treatment is hard to get , well I guess I should say achieving pain relief is so impossible to get.
Is it the war on drugs that make these doctors afraid to give pain medications ?
Yes there are drug seekers , but to be honest it's easier to get heroine , than to get adequate pain relief with prescription pain medications.
It's cheaper too , so why don't these pain doctors realize if I wanted to get high or buy drugs it would be so simple, as to be laughable.
But getting high is not what I am looking for. I am looking for a way to live my life , walk my dog , grocery shop , sleep through the night .....
This is an impossible situation and I have been considering moving to another country where there pharmacy and prescription laws are much looser..... I just don't know where to go ...
any suggestions on how to manage the pain or knowledge about foreign countries and there pain management options or even info on real online pharmacy s ...
Or even better a pain doctor who actually treats pain , and trys to find a way to stop or minimize it with other method ,, I will try anything at this point.
I'm afraid they are going to leave me with no options,
and I will become a real drug addict just to stop the pain.
Or I will end up killing myself because I'm not sure how long I can do this without any hope of
change or relief.
I feel as if I am being tormented by pain ..... I can see what I want to do but I am unable to do it.
And I am left behind while those around me do all the things I can't.... and they don't know how lucky they are and worry over small things that don't matter .
When I would kill to have half of what they take for granted.
Pain takes everything.
Hello all! This is my first time here. About three months ago I was discharged from my PM. I had been with that PM clinic for over 2 years. The reason for my discharge was receiving a script from my PCP. My first year there I was doing great. No issues. About 11 months on I had a injury with my back which caused increase pain. I had to call in an early refill due to increasing my dose. They gave me a warning. At my 2 year mark, my pain had increased and my PM doctor switched up my scripts. They gave me methadone twice a day and oxycodone, up to 5 times a day. When my fiancé found out they have me methadone she flipped out. I told the doc I didn't want to take that. She them tried morphine for the BT pain. That medicine caused me to throw up. I couldn't continue on that med. she switched me to OC 30 mg twice a day for the BT pain. They OC really made me drowsy so I had to go down to the 20s. In addition to all the med switches all the pharmacies in my area, stopped carrying the only brand of oxycodone that worked and that was Watson. I found myself upping the dose to compensate and taking more OC. During all the med switches I had been 100 percent honest with my PM and brought back all meds that I didn't take when the kept trying different meds. All most two honest to a fault. I ended up running out early on the oxycodone and OC. I called and told them what happened. I thought we were still in this trial as my PM doc was adamant about finding the meds that worked. I ThOUGHT WRONG! They refused to refill early. I had 5 days till my refills were due. They recommending me going to the ER or a medcheck to get relief. She said someone might write something to get you by. Due to the costs, I went to my PCP and was going through withdrawals and in dire pain! I told him everything that happened with my PM. He was aware of my contract, he was like why would they want you to go to ER or a medcheck and me prescribing isn't ok. He also wanted me to switch clinics. He had put in a new referral for me. He ended up giving me only 10 OC. 2 a day or get me by till my scripts were do. I was relieved. 5 days later I picked up my scripts and headed to my pharmacy. The pharmacists realized I wasn't due for another 2 days due to my PCP prescribing the OC. She called my PM and told them what was going on and wanted to know if they could refill early. I ended up talking to the practice admin and she said I was discharged for receiving my script from my PCP and said she was so mad she could scream. She called me a drug seeker and said the fun is over and hung up. I was in complete shock and pissed! I didn't know what to do! I called my PCP and told him what happened. I asked him if he would treat me till I got into the new PM doc. He refused and said I can either wait for the new PM doc or got to a recovery hospital. I was like what the H was a "recovery hospital"? It ended up being a rehab. At this pointe I was freaking out! I couldn't believe I was hung out to dry like that. I called my PM clinic and everyone refused to talk to me. At this point I started wondering if I needed rehab? I was desperate at this pointe. I was in serious pain and withdrawing! My fiancé and I decided to go do an assessment. They lady said it was very important and needed to stay. Me never having a problem with drugs or alcohol was stunned! She said that they would give me medicine for my pain and would stop the withdrawal symptoms. That sold me right there. Doing some reflecting I started to wonder if I was a "drug seeker"? This is my first time ever on pain meds and seen a PM doctor! At rehab I was given suboxone. I'm still on it 2 months later. It helps me with the pain a little but def doesn't give me the relief I need. Now, I am wondering if I will ever be trusted by a doctor again? I never talked with my previous PM clinic. No letter, nothing. Last I heard from them was I was a drug seeker and hung up. I ended up calling again when I got our of rehab 5 days later and the receptionist said she couldn't talk to me. I told her I want my medical records copied and mailed home. I told her to tell the practice admin about me wanting my records. It has been since FEB 26th since I was called a drug seeker and discharged. I have not heard a peep from them. I got curious if they did any thing wrong? I know I violated the contract, but did I deserve what happened to me? Did my PM and PCP do anything illegal?
My life for these 2 months have been extremely tough. Mentally and Physically! I'm looking for any legal advise or suggestions. I just can't believe I am in this situation! What doctor would ever treat me without bias or prejudice? Once my back gets injured again, what will I do? Where will I go? My degentive disc disease and arthritis isn't getting any better! Thanks in advance for anyone that would respond!
My life for these 2 months have been extremely tough. Mentally and Physically! I'm looking for any legal advise or suggestions. I just can't believe I am in this situation! What doctor would ever treat me without bias or prejudice? Once my back gets injured again, what will I do? Where will I go? My degentive disc disease and arthritis isn't getting any better! Thanks in advance for anyone that would respond!
As bad as my pain is, and it is bad enough that I am considered totally disabled, I could never let my dad be in withdrawal or terrible pain at his age. I think it would be wrong. Going into withdrawal could be dangerous for him and he has a fair amount of health issues. It would put me in a tough spot but I'm willing to do that so that he's okay. I also think this doctor doesn't offer enough different modalities, likely because of the size of his staff. My previous pain clinic was available for same day (and if not same day at least the following day appointments.) They had different procedures available by anesthesiologists and used various treatments than just medications. My gripe with them was when I wanted to come off everything (because IMO) I was told I shouldn't as I needed the meds. They are staffed well though and a lot of the docs are more reasonable than mine was.
What I meant to say in paragraph 2 was that I can see how hard it is trying to get a moments notice appt. to see this Doc. Small one Doc clinics wouldn't have the necessary means to see patients on an urgent care basis.....
What I didn't understand was that if you were in added pain and having a hard time, how would you be able to give your Dad your medication? I understand that you'd do anything for him but what about you? I'm under the impression that this will not be so good for you and you need your meds but completely understand that you won't let him suffer. You're kind of between a rock and a hard place.
I truly, truly hope that you both can find some pain management that has a great staff. I think that this is the first time I've ever come across someone telling me that they don't have urgent care appts. Seeing that this Doctor works alone, I can understand that.
Sorry for your troubles. I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope that this will all work out for the both of you.
Good luck and take care,
Molly
I truly, truly hope that you both can find some pain management that has a great staff. I think that this is the first time I've ever come across someone telling me that they don't have urgent care appts. Seeing that this Doctor works alone, I can understand that.
Sorry for your troubles. I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope that this will all work out for the both of you.
Good luck and take care,
Molly
doesn't sit well with me especially their abuse of power over the vulnerable. It is so absolutely wrong.
We see the results of that kind of mind-set in the poisoning of our water and our air.....of our animals and trees and people! No respect shown. Cash is what will get respect....and cash comes from exploiting our limited precious resources.. ....and look at all the I's the me's the mine's all about Me and what i can get.
Well the doctor can't get anything from your dad or you---except obedience! And punishment for transgressions.
And they control the relief.....and have total power. and it just ***** marycarmel. And the sheep put up with it! Baa Baa.
ombaa
We see the results of that kind of mind-set in the poisoning of our water and our air.....of our animals and trees and people! No respect shown. Cash is what will get respect....and cash comes from exploiting our limited precious resources.. ....and look at all the I's the me's the mine's all about Me and what i can get.
Well the doctor can't get anything from your dad or you---except obedience! And punishment for transgressions.
And they control the relief.....and have total power. and it just ***** marycarmel. And the sheep put up with it! Baa Baa.
ombaa
Thank you, omhome. I feel like if he was upset about him missing appointments, which weren't his fault; it was mine, he should have said at the last script, unless you come in before such-and-such date, I will be unable to write scripts for you. It just seemed wrong to me. There had been no pain contract signed. He is a solo doctor with a medical assistant and a secretary. He books out 3 months at a time and there are no emergency slots available. This is my second run in with him and I think I need to find a new pain management doc. My feeling is we need to be working together. He's like a dictatorship. Doesn't sit well with me.
if he was rich the doctors would be lining up to treat him.....
what does that tell you.......?
cause no harm.....relieve suffering where you find it......parts of an oath?
Punish those who screw up?....even if they are an elder (who deserves respect no matter missed appts.).
And these drs. mess it up for the "Real" drs. who do have and show compassion and who do make room for the elders...the frail....i think Jesus says even the least of these....lepers....prostitutes...addicts! One bad story and.....the 70% (guessing) of the good drs. get the heat.......
There is no excuse no matter what to treat an elder in that manner. None.
omelder well close....ha!
what does that tell you.......?
cause no harm.....relieve suffering where you find it......parts of an oath?
Punish those who screw up?....even if they are an elder (who deserves respect no matter missed appts.).
And these drs. mess it up for the "Real" drs. who do have and show compassion and who do make room for the elders...the frail....i think Jesus says even the least of these....lepers....prostitutes...addicts! One bad story and.....the 70% (guessing) of the good drs. get the heat.......
There is no excuse no matter what to treat an elder in that manner. None.
omelder well close....ha!
I've come off my pain meds and tried managing the pain with other things. It was serious pain but I would rather be off meds and suck up the pain. That worked until my blood pressure skyrocketed. Even being on 2 BP pills, it would not come down. My primary doc sent me to the pain doc in her practice. He works alone. It really is months before you can see him. I had him years ago for fibro and one of the reasons I left was availability. I thought this time around it would work out better.
I'm not sure what doesn't make sense, Mollyrae. If I have my pain meds on hand and my dad had none, I would give him his dose out of what I have (I take a slightly higher dose than he does.) It would certainly leave me with more pain and possibly put me in withdrawal but I would rather that than have him suffer at 85 ... that seems wrong to me.
When I go in for extra appointments for pain, it's not about upping my dosage of pain meds or looking for more. Pain pills are only one part of my arsenal against pain. I use many other things to help with the pain. This isn't like a pain clinic like I went to in the past where there are many different people from anesthesiologists to NPs, to doctors, nurses, etc. This doctor is likely quite overwhelmed from his patient load as there is no one else to see patients but him.
I may look for a different pain clinic where there are more staff on board. We met a lovely man one town over. As far as the ER is concerned, I use that as an absolute last resort. They do not look kindly on people that are coming in for out-of-control pain. This has been a long battle with me, since 2007 with many surgeries, many doctors, therapies, and pain management meds and procedures.
In hindsight, I should have checked with the doctor directly is it okay to swtich out appointments instead of just asking my dad and the secretary.
Right now I take 20 mg. OxyContin twice a day and 10 mg oxycodone three times a day. I also take nortryptyline, clonidine for pain, ibuprofen, and a compounding cream.
I'm not sure what doesn't make sense, Mollyrae. If I have my pain meds on hand and my dad had none, I would give him his dose out of what I have (I take a slightly higher dose than he does.) It would certainly leave me with more pain and possibly put me in withdrawal but I would rather that than have him suffer at 85 ... that seems wrong to me.
When I go in for extra appointments for pain, it's not about upping my dosage of pain meds or looking for more. Pain pills are only one part of my arsenal against pain. I use many other things to help with the pain. This isn't like a pain clinic like I went to in the past where there are many different people from anesthesiologists to NPs, to doctors, nurses, etc. This doctor is likely quite overwhelmed from his patient load as there is no one else to see patients but him.
I may look for a different pain clinic where there are more staff on board. We met a lovely man one town over. As far as the ER is concerned, I use that as an absolute last resort. They do not look kindly on people that are coming in for out-of-control pain. This has been a long battle with me, since 2007 with many surgeries, many doctors, therapies, and pain management meds and procedures.
In hindsight, I should have checked with the doctor directly is it okay to swtich out appointments instead of just asking my dad and the secretary.
Right now I take 20 mg. OxyContin twice a day and 10 mg oxycodone three times a day. I also take nortryptyline, clonidine for pain, ibuprofen, and a compounding cream.
Hi Mary,
As I said, Doctors offices, PM offices always keep a certain number of urgent care appointments available each day. While your regular Doc might not be available, one of the Doctors are always appointed as the urgent care Doc for the day. These appointments usually become filled right away in the morning so you would have to call right away. There is not a clinic that I know of that doesn't practice this.
You also had another option and that was the ER. If you were having a really hard time of it then the ER and their level of care was the place to be.
I'm wondering how it's possible that if your Dad is out of luck getting his pain meds...how in the world are you going to give him some of your meds when you are needing these extra appointments to keep your pain in check? It doesn't make sense.
I'm going to tell you a little story about myself. When I was taking pain meds or opiates I had gotten to the point where I needed more and more to ease my pain. I was aware that taking these drugs everyday could create more pain than I would have normally have. It's the adverse effect thing. Well, I managed to stop taking the opiates and try other medications that were not narcotics and by the second month of not taking the opiates 60% of my pain had vanished. I was truly amazed. You have no idea how much these opiates created added pain for me. This was back in Feb. and I have never looked back. BTW, what are you taking? Just curious.
Good luck to you and your Dad. Gosh I hope that you can straighten this out. Even though I don't know your Dad, I feel bad for him.
Molly
As I said, Doctors offices, PM offices always keep a certain number of urgent care appointments available each day. While your regular Doc might not be available, one of the Doctors are always appointed as the urgent care Doc for the day. These appointments usually become filled right away in the morning so you would have to call right away. There is not a clinic that I know of that doesn't practice this.
You also had another option and that was the ER. If you were having a really hard time of it then the ER and their level of care was the place to be.
I'm wondering how it's possible that if your Dad is out of luck getting his pain meds...how in the world are you going to give him some of your meds when you are needing these extra appointments to keep your pain in check? It doesn't make sense.
I'm going to tell you a little story about myself. When I was taking pain meds or opiates I had gotten to the point where I needed more and more to ease my pain. I was aware that taking these drugs everyday could create more pain than I would have normally have. It's the adverse effect thing. Well, I managed to stop taking the opiates and try other medications that were not narcotics and by the second month of not taking the opiates 60% of my pain had vanished. I was truly amazed. You have no idea how much these opiates created added pain for me. This was back in Feb. and I have never looked back. BTW, what are you taking? Just curious.
Good luck to you and your Dad. Gosh I hope that you can straighten this out. Even though I don't know your Dad, I feel bad for him.
Molly
I called back the doctor and asked them to explain to the doctor what had happened. In hindsight I would have done things differently. When I had tried to get in when I was having a rough time, it was 6 to 8 weeks before I could be seen. I also feel like the doctor's staff should have said something, maybe like, "If your dad misses another appointment, he won't get his prescription filled." I'm also going to ask for a contract to be signed. I like having a contract because it makes everything very clear. I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong switching out his appointments. I told the secretary I was switching them as my dad was doing well and stable and I was in a really bad place. The disconnect was I didn't specifically say to the doctor (I don't think) that I switched appointments (twice) with my dad. I called the primary care who works with this doctor and we have it that they filled his prescription and got us an appointment that coincides with another appointment he has. So lesson learned. He hasn't been asked for a urine test yet, though I dread when he is because he has that problem of that he only dribbles very little. He seems to have lost some urinary function, though the doctor has checked him and there's no prostate cancer suggestion. He says he has to go and the urge is like he can't get to the rest room fast enough and then all it is is a dribble with hardly any urine coming out. I'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Maybe they can do it by blood when they're checking his coumadin level. I'm glad this was resolved. It is in the high 90s here with very high humidity and that's projected out through the weekend. I was concerned about him. But I will never switch appointments again. This is a doctor who is extremely busy and it is very hard to get an emergency appointment. I think you only get one if someone cancels. I think he doesn't always work at that office so that complicates things that he is in other offices not affiliated with this medical group on different days. I may switch my dad back to his original pain management doc who he really liked. He also did therapies and not just narcotics. We switched as the primary thought it would be good having all his docs under one umbrella and the ease of records. But my father is not overly fond of this new doc. It may be worth the extra hassle to everyone having him with his old doc. And it may be better to seperate our medical care a bit.
In my opinion this is not the doctor's fault, nor is it adornment by the doctor.
Even regular doctors don't like appointments being missed.
Even regular doctors don't like appointments being missed.
PS- I truly don't think that this is patient abandonment. The clinic went well beyond it's protocol.
Hi Mary,
That's a really sad story. I hate to say this but your PM Doctor is right. Your Dad actually received many more scripts than most PP would get.
It's was your responsibility to make sure that your Dad was able to be seen. If you scheduled another appt. and couldn't make that one, you should have left a direct note for the Doctor and re-scheduled. If the second appt. was missed again because you had a problem getting him there, you should have had a back-up ride for him. You could have even called him a cab and given the clinic heads up that he was coming that way. You should have told the clinic to call you or the cab company or yourself when his appt. was complete so that he could get home.
There were many options for you to keep your Dad on track.
Pain Clinics can usually get you in at a moments notice if you're having really bad pain, I know this because I was in Pain Management for years.
I am glad that you won't let your Dad suffer as that's very important for an 85 year old man. It could make him very sick...sicker than you withdrawing. It could almost be dangerous. Please believe me when I tell you that I'm not scolding you but disappointed that things were not handled in a different manner. I truly hope that you can rectify this situation and find your Dad some good Pain Management.
Does your Dad have a PCP? Can you go to your Dad's primary Doc?
Well, be well both of you and you'll be in my thoughts. Keep me updated as I will be curious as to the outcome to this horrible situation your Dad is in.
Take care,
Mollyrae
That's a really sad story. I hate to say this but your PM Doctor is right. Your Dad actually received many more scripts than most PP would get.
It's was your responsibility to make sure that your Dad was able to be seen. If you scheduled another appt. and couldn't make that one, you should have left a direct note for the Doctor and re-scheduled. If the second appt. was missed again because you had a problem getting him there, you should have had a back-up ride for him. You could have even called him a cab and given the clinic heads up that he was coming that way. You should have told the clinic to call you or the cab company or yourself when his appt. was complete so that he could get home.
There were many options for you to keep your Dad on track.
Pain Clinics can usually get you in at a moments notice if you're having really bad pain, I know this because I was in Pain Management for years.
I am glad that you won't let your Dad suffer as that's very important for an 85 year old man. It could make him very sick...sicker than you withdrawing. It could almost be dangerous. Please believe me when I tell you that I'm not scolding you but disappointed that things were not handled in a different manner. I truly hope that you can rectify this situation and find your Dad some good Pain Management.
Does your Dad have a PCP? Can you go to your Dad's primary Doc?
Well, be well both of you and you'll be in my thoughts. Keep me updated as I will be curious as to the outcome to this horrible situation your Dad is in.
Take care,
Mollyrae
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