what can I do?

[messinfl]

I have chronic pancreatitis and occipital neuralgia. My old Dr gave me a standing script for vicoprofen to take when I get a pancreatic attack(along with my everyday maintenance meds). He no longer takes my ins. and I'm having trouble finding a Dr who even understands pancreatitis will give me my script. How can I prove I"m not an addict looking for a fix?? My conditions are very well documented....and every Dr agrees that there isnt anything else that can be done. So why am I being forced to writhe and scream in pain for days when an attack hits????

[Tuckamore]

I am sorry you had a bad experience with your new physician. Don't you sometimes wonder where they receive their training or how they passed their boards?

Does the physician you recently saw specialize in Internal Medicine or is he a Gastroenterologist? If not I again recommend that you seek out one of those physicians. It is included in their specialty.

Again best of luck and take care, Tuck

[kitty51]

I know a few people that have pancreatitis attacks and they all go to hospital and are put on a drip and also very strong pain killers for up to a week.They have these attacks because of medications 2 do the other is unknown why.I have seen them while they are an attack,they look terrible and suffer terribly.Can you be helped at an ER?

[Mollyrae]

Hi messinfl:

I too am sorry for the pain. Sandee and Tuck had some great advise. It sounds like you have more scripts to worry about than just the pain meds. There are a few things you can do in your situation. The first is to call your Insurance Company and get a list of providers. Generally your Insurance policy manual will provide a list but if not then call them. After you have found a Doctor that takes you Insurance, call your old Doctor and tell him that you have found a new one and you need ALL your scripts filled for a month or so until you can get in to see the new one. If you have a good relationship with your old Doc then I'm sure he will have no problem filling your meds.

Most all Doctors will do this, especially if you've had this Doc for a while and he knows you.

Take care and good luck with your journey,
Mollyrae

[messinfl]

All the pain Drs I've found only treat back pain and not internal pain. Most Drs dont have a clue what pancreatitis is.I had to explain to the new one today that not everyone who has it is an alcoholic...some of us were born with it. He had no idea. Fabulous.

i have ins...its just that my old (good)Dr doesnt take it anymore

[sandee1818]

I am very sorry for your pain and your having trouble finding and getting help.
Have you tried a pain management doctor? I am not familiar with your condition but you should not have to live in pain with no medical care or help for it.
I would try and speak to the doctor who is treating you and ask if he can maybe use a sliding pay scale for you as you no longer have insurance at least until you can get into a pain management clinic. If all he does is write your script he may be willing to help you out.
Also have you checked into state and government medical care for those who don't have insurance? I know medicaid is an option for some. If you need any help looking into this please let me know and I will do what I can to help:)

[Tuckamore]

Hello,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum at MedHelp. I am glad you found us. I am sorry to hear about the problems you are having locating a physican that will correctly treat your condition. We all know how horrid chronic pain is and I empathize with you.

Your medical records should speak for themselves. Any competent physician knows what pancreatitis is an how it should be treated. Most health professional will want to see you every 3 to 6 months to make sure that your pain medicine is helping you and that you have not developed complications of your chronic pancreatitis. Treatment for pain usually include medicines to ease pain (such as Demerol or other similar opiates) as well as medications to suppress stomach acid (such as Pepcid, Zantac, Prilosec, or Prevacid).

I wish you the very best of luck. I beleive that if you search includes the two types of physicians that I mentioned you will find on that will treat you. Unfortunately you have apparently just run into some ignorant physicians, and yes they are out there. Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your next update. Take care, Tuck

Usually an Internal Medicine Physician or a Gastroenterologist best treat Pancreatitis. Have you contacted either of those specialists. Internal Medicine Physicians normally will be your (a) PCP.  Indeed my PCP is an Internal Medicine DO. So I suggest that you make an appointment with one. Prior to the first visit you may go into the office and sign a medical record release to obtain your medical file and the results of any diagnostic tests you may have had confirming your disease. The documentation that your former physician has on file should be all your need to confirm you are not a drug seeker.

The medical community is over cautious due to the many drug seekers that exist as well as the CP sufferers who unfortunately do illegally distribute they opiate medications. And yes, unfortunately there are some incompetent physicians in the medical community.

I wish you the very best Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your next update. Good luck and please take care, Tuck

[Amphitrite]

hi, I'm sorry you've been stuck with this pain and no meds to help you. That's a really tough situation to be in I know.

The infortunite part about finding a doc and getting them to believe the pain is what you're there for not a fix, is that the only way to do it is to just keep looking for a doc that will take your insurance

Just don't give up because there are good pain doctors out there who believe that not all pain sufferers are trying to scam them for a standing script.
You can request a book of providers from your insurance comapny or if you have one you can start looking through it and just calling.

You can also google pain docs in your area and start looking for one that takes your insurance that way.
Have you asked your old Dr. if he can refer you. You were his patient so he can still make a referal for you especially because he was the one treating your pain.
Can any other doctor you see make a reral to a pain doc for you?

I'd check those things out and just try to hand in there. It will happen. If the pain get's to be too much and your body and mind can no longer take it you can always visit the ED. If your pain is that bad where you can't function at all then they'll more than likely treat your pain and may even give you something to take home.

You can't prove your not an addict. Though we all wish theer was a test that could. You do your part by making sure you have all the documents that prove you have a painful disease and nothing more can be done.  
There aren't certain things to say that will prove you're not addicted. The addicts who scam the doctors are the ones who look to us for what to say and do. When you're in real pain, there is nothing special you have to say to get treated. You just tell them the truth.
Let the documents do the talking for you. The right doctor will see them correctly.

Can you get a copy of your ex docs records on your treatment. That may help as they could then see how he was treating you and can see that there are no red flags cgarted saying you have shown behavior an addict may show.

I really hope you find help. It's out there. Just hang in there and don't give up.

Amph