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Avatar universal

So Ticked off at an ER Doctor!!!

WARNING THIS IS GROSS: I went to the ER last night.  I know this has nothing to do with Chiari, but you all have been so good to me and maybe you can identify. I obviously still have my migraines and neck pain.  I also have horrible pain in my back - disc is herniated again and those other issues.  Well, I had to go to the ER because I thought I was compacted. I had been going just fine until last night. I went and then I felt something going on and thought is was stuck. Well,the hospital thought maybe I was too apparently. I was having issues of a hermroid that came out. As I found out today, the rest of the hemroihd came out and I was fine. The hemroid still hurts. I was not compacted. It was the hemroid that had come out and was painful!

So anyway, the doctor at the ER called my dr and also had looked up my prescription history though the pharmacies and said that I was on an unbelievable amount of narcotics and I told him it was for my back. He said I was on way too much and I need to be on something that is not a narcotic!!! He told my doctor and said that the amount I was on is more than anyone else is on, that he has not seen anyone on so much. My doctor wrote for that much and he is the one who up'd it because of my horrendous pain. Well last night in the ER I was in pain too because of my back and the hemroid. I had not taken a pain pill since early that morning. The hemroid coming out scared me and it was bleeding.  I am written 100 pills for every 8 days. I am supposed to take 2 every 4 hours. So that is what I was doing.  So now that he told my doctor to stop writing it, he is going to! I won't be surprised if they say I am a drug seeker now!  I so am so ticked off! He had no right to do that! He is not my everyday doctor. I hardly got to say a word because I was in pain.  I didn't know that it was a hemroid trying to come out the rest of the way because I thought it was all out at that point. I should have never gone to the ER! I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It was awful! I was so upset about the hemroid and thought it was going to get infected.  

Thanks for listening!  
19 Responses
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Avatar universal
Also Note to Selma (cuz you know about one thing I have talked about before Ito you I think) I have a separate issue besides the back issue, neck/head issue (the stuff I don't want to talk about right now until I find out what they can do for me, if they can). Recently I saw a neurosurgeon who confirmed my brain tumor and he said I need to go to a neurosurgeon who specializes in that area of the brain, because it is a risky surgery and he won't touch it. Nice, huh?!! Real great surgeon! He knows it is causing me more pain in my head and symptoms (besides my other issues) and that it grew since my last MRI, and it is affecting that area of the brain, but yet, just send me to a different doctor. I thought the guy I went to was a brain doctor.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
We did get to the bottom of what is causing me pain. He is sending me to the a specialist for it. I just had another MRI done since my last one and a CT done and some blood work as well. I have some other things going on that I haven't even put on here yet. They scare me as much as the first stuff I found out.  I am more worried about what is going to happen to me than what pain will be like down the line from what he seen was going on. I have my reports and I know what it is. I want to throw up thinking about what they say - it really upsets me thinking about it.  They were pretty self explanatory and I didn't need to ask the medical forums anything about them, because the doctor who ordered them knew what they were as well. Even me who doesn't know a lot of stuff on MRI or CT's understood the newest one from the other day.
Helpful - 0
4760166 tn?1398357313
Nobody is saying you are not in pain.  Like I said, we are a community of mostly people with some sort of chronic pain.  I still am not sure why you are so defensive about your medications.  You need what you need.  I can just tell you that unless I was actively dying, I would not stand for needing round the clock pain medication, narcotic or otherwise.  I would not leave my doctors office until he found someone that could help me get to the bottom of what was going on.  Any doctor that would prescribe 100 narcotics every 8 days should have his license revoked.  There will always be doctors out there that will prescribe narcotics till the cows come home, you might have to shop around to find another one, but you deserve to get to the bottom of what is causing you to be in constant pain.  
Helpful - 0
1891806 tn?1391119037
Well it sounds like you have it all figured out! I hope the changes you're making will help your pain and keep things going well for you. Keep us posted on all your changes...curious to see how they work out.

Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Okay I had to read what you were saying last again. I wrote too fast. Actually that 20 to 30 iboprofen is what I took before a day about every 3 or 4 hours.  As for me saying: In your initial post you said "I am written 100 pills for every 8 days. I am supposed to take 2 every 4 hours. So that is what I was doing."  well, yes, that is what I was doing - when it was bad. I didn't take them all day long.  
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Avatar universal
Yes, that is what it is written for. I am not taking that much! I cannot handle that much. It may be written that way, but I don't have it filled that much! So yes, it is written that way, but I do not take that much. It is for 8 days and it is 12  to 13 a day it equals not 30 a day. I don't know anyone who takes that much a day or anyone who would.  I can't take that many a day. I can't hardly take 8 a day (and that is only on severe days).
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Avatar universal
p.s. as a matter of fact. I am going to call them first thing tomorrow and ask them to rip up that prescription and ask to go back on cymbalta - after all I have the least reactions from it. I just develop rashes all over my body and my throat feels like it is closing up. It doesn't give me jitters and uncontrollable movements like other meds do like I am going to crawl out of my skin or I am itchy on the inside of my skin.  Plus take some 20 or 30 iboprofen or aleve everyday. Yep, that will be much better on me. I agree. Plus I would rather go back to the torn up stomach and stuff with the iboprofen and aleve. I had better ask them to stop writing my tresimet and toprol also, because what I have to take is an awful lot too - I am written for more than the usual dose one is written for on the toprol and the treximet well 9 a month is way too much. Afterall they are pretty strong.  I don't take the percocet on the days I have to take the treximet. I don't like taking the 2 the same day.  Oh and I don't take the percocet 5 hours before the lunesta. I need to stop taking the lunesta too. I might become addicted to that. Although last week I didn't take at all because it wasn't working at all because I was having a bad week with pain - the worst after my 2 falls in one week - flat on my back. Plus I had to make them last anyway because insurance won't pay until next month because of an issue where they messed up on what was getting covered and we had to go through the whole thing again.  Well, doesn't matter now. I am having them take me off that too. People are right. I am just going to call tonight and leave a message to take me off all the meds. I just flushed some of my meds down the toilet. No more sleep for me. I flushed my lunesta first and some of my migraine meds. I don't know if you are supposed to or not, but I don't want someone on the street getting them. I am sure my husband is going to enjoy me crying with pain. :) :) I don't care though. cuz I don't need pain meds of any kind, nor do I need my heart pills, sleep meds (again I don't take them all the time either)., I don't need my neck/head pain meds either.  I will just go without and come live with anyone who thinks that I am not in any pain and let you see that I am in pain.  I have my latest test results since the one before that I put on here and I did not feel like sharing before my doctor goes over them with me.  He doesn't know I got them this fast. I just had it done the other day.  However, I will. Again, I DID NOT ASK TO be put on that amount I wanted a shot in my back, but insurance will only cover one shot a month. Plus, again it would equal 400 a month if I had it filled every 8 days. I mis-wrote that and misunderstood the doctor. I cannot take that many pills a month.  As a matter of fact after surgery this last time, I took them for a little while and then I stopped. I stopped on my own and did not take anything but over the counter ibopfofen and aleve (tore my tummy up big time) and my treximet and heart meds for awhile Until I suddenly took a turn for the worse during PT it I bawled my head off during it and I suddenly started falling again and a lot! I have had a few tests recently and again one of them I did not put on here yet.  I am not feeling well at all and had a horrible migraine for the last 4 days of sleeping on the couch (for reasons) and I cannot think straight. My head/neck and back hurts too much. Again, not keeping up on the pain. I am not taking my pain medication like it is prescribed. I just don't want to. So, you see, I could be without my migraine, but I don't take them that much.  So I thought in the end if they just cut it down to 5 a day (that would be I thought 200, but I am bad a math - it is less than that).  Well, it doesn't matter anyway, I am leaving a message as I type to rip up the script and not send in my scripts for the lunesta and my toprol that is due. The treximet is already set for refill. I am just not going to pick it up when it is due.
Helpful - 0
4760166 tn?1398357313
In your initial post you said "I am written 100 pills for every 8 days. I am supposed to take 2 every 4 hours. So that is what I was doing." ...

30 OTC pain medications a day is extremely excessive.  If you literally cannot live without constant pain medication, your doctor should have treated your pain as an emergency and gotten you into doctors that can help get to the root(s) and treat them.  Primary doctors usually have connections.

Nobody says you are addicted,  DEPENDANCE is different than addiction.  But why so offensive?  You are posting in a community of people where most of us have first hand experience with EXTREME, chronic pain.  There is so much stigma that surrounds ADDICTION and even dependance. With chronic painful addictions, it sometimes just happens, and it's nothing to be ashamed or defensive over.

I was sharing my experience.  I fell victim to a lazy doctor that treated my pain, and would have happily written me prescriptions until my liver failed, I'm sure.  I had my come to jesus meeting in that ICU, and quickly realized that I've been duped.  I deserved better than a round-the-clock narcotic and so do you.  Your doctors should be exhausting ALL avenues to get to the bottom of your pain.
Helpful - 0
1891806 tn?1391119037
xmelax...nobody is accusing you of being an addict. We care about everyone going through painful illnesses and diseases and hope everyone gets the care they need. Voicing a concern for your wellbeing when it comes to medication is meant to help you...not upset you.

I truly hope the doctors get it figured out and you are able to manage your pain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It was only temporary, because he saw first hand the pain I was in and couldn't do anything else for me until I get to the Ortho Neuro next month. There is some other issues that I did not mention that they believe is causing the pain. It was difficult. The thing is that I did not take that much every day and did not have it filled every 8 days.  It was for every 8 days.  I had it filled much later than that.  If I would have had that done the way it was written and picked up every time the date was out it would have been that. I never took that amount.  I did however take 2 every 4 hours some days and 2 and then 1 here and there. So it was less than that.  So actually it was for 20 days 100 of them.  My husband said I misunderstood how much he said he saw on there. (I was clearly not in the mind to listen at that point, because I was in tremendous pain). When I went there I was hoping for them to fix the problem, not give me more pain meds by no means.  I told them that from the beginning.  Apperently they did not listen.  I did ask to be cut down.  I just asked for 100 for a month.  Now I know you think that is a lot of pan medication and well, I will make sure I ask for 30 per month and that I just use 30 iboprofen a day instead or 20 aleve or something. Those are sure to tear up my stomach, but oh well - they made me bleed and have terrible stomach issues when I would take a lot before during between when I did not ask for pain meds - in which I don't normally ask, they just put me on them.  Between my daily migrains, horrendous back pain and stuff. Oh and no problem, I am allergic to about 20 medications I have been tried on before and 20 trips back and to the ER with allergic reactions - so I know carry and epipen incase given a med that I am allergic to so I don't have to go to the ER for the allergic reaction. But hey yeh I should make sure I go back on one of those and take my chances and just keep taking benedryl and shots of the epipen - I will stock up on the benedryl and eppipen. I AM NOT ADDICTED. There were times I did not take them.  As a matter of fact I did not take any the other day and I did suffer a lot with pain - not withdraw! I never have problems stopping a medication. I have always been that way.  Now cigarettes, yes I have a problem stopping those.  I am addicted to smoking cigarettes.
Helpful - 0
1891806 tn?1391119037
I agree with The_beat_goes_on. That is a lot of pain medication. I have Chiari, which is very symptomatic, and I just had spine surgery for CSF filled cysts attached to my spine. I see a Pain Management doctor who regulates the narcotic medication extremely well. Your doctor should have been more aware than to allow that much medication...exactly for this reason. Now your body has to get used to less and that's a hard thing once you become dependent. Maybe this is a good time for your body to adjust to less medication so you can ween yourself down.

Good luck!
Kim
Helpful - 0
4760166 tn?1398357313
That is a LOT of narcotic pain medication.  You mentioned cancer -- I was one of the caretakers for my grandfather who died of very aggressive brain cancer and he was on a similar schedule during palliative care (every 4 hours, to the point of waking him up to take medication to stay ahead of the pain)  ... while you may not be addicted, whether you admit it or not, your body has a dependence to it if you've been on that schedule for any significant amount of time. (a sign would have been having to up your dose, because we build tolerances to these things)

... I ran into this problem after my surgery on the 16th of last month.  I was in the neuro ICU and the doctors and nurses COULD not manage my pain effectively.  Come to find out it was because I had such a high tolerance from prescribed pain medication prior.  The amount of IV dilaudid that it took to put a DENT in my pain made my blood pressure bottom out and they literally could not give me any more without risking cardiac arrest or a coma. I was literally almost there, and still hysterical, in pain.  

The ER doctor is in a tough spot, because, what can they do, pain-wise?  certainly not send you home with another prescription for pain medication and let's face it, that's what ER doctors do.  Check you out, scan appropriately, give you IV pain relief, and send you home with a prescription for narcotics.  And while they could have handled it more delicately, I'm betting you would have run into a similar situation at any hospital emergency room simply because they don't know what to do for you in regards to pain relief.

I would talk honestly with your doctor about options that aren't narcotics if it's at all possible  -- and have them on hand for break through pain.  I would especially try to get a handle on it before having surgery..  I know I am much more likely to try and OTC pain medication now, first ,and even if it doesn't make me feel totally better, I've found that my tolerance for PAIN has changed.  I do not EVER want to have a tolerance inhibit my ability to have relief from pain immediately after surgery.   I never even considered that a possibility.  Because I was in the hospital, right?  the best place to have your pain taken care of.  It just didn't work that way for me.  Good luck with getting your pain under control.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Yup makes a lot of sense to me as I have the same issues....if I sit and do nothing I am ok...but when I get to doing a lot I have pain....

I know tho I do have EDS and TCS and I know they are the cause of my issues and I need to address them....U must have another related condition causing ur issues as well.

I however do not take daily pain meds....and go a long time with out....but I do have my days when I have to take them....

U will need to cut back and find a way to make them work for u....save up on them for those bad days....I take OTC NSAIDS to help take the edge off and when that doesn't work and it is bad, then I take my pain meds....

I had 4 weeks of laying flat on my back doing nothing but taking pain meds....I could not even sit....so I know what u mean,,,,

May I ask what Chiari Drs  have u been to and do u have ne other conditions that were DX'd?
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Avatar universal
I agree. I just talked to the Dr office and my husband said that he was proud of me for a minute as I called and asked to be cut down to 100 a month instead of what had equaled 400 a month. They had agreed. Then I realized it is only 3 a day and when I have a bad day, then that is not enough. So I called back and said it was only 3 a day and when I have a bad day, that I would need at least 5 a day. She said okay I will let him know. My husband said I probably made a mistake and he now will not write it. However, that is still cutting it wayyy down. That is not as nearly as much as what I was taking it is more than half. I just have some really bad pain days depending on what I do. If I lay in bed or the couch all day, and don't do a thing, then I am not so bad.  If I get up and do something or go somewhere it is horrendous. Does that make sense? Rest = less pain, some kinds of activity = more pain or depending on how I sleep = more pain.  I probably screwed myself either way. My mom said that I probably did because I am not keeping on the pain that way. She said it doesn't matter what that doctor at the ER said, that I am making a big mistake and should have just said can I cut it in half of what I was taking per month. That would be 200 a month. She said she was a pharmacy tech and seen this stuff happen and knows what kind of pain i am in and not keeping on top of it will screw me in the end. My husband said I am screwed either way now by calling back and asking to go from 3 a day to 5 a day because now he will say none a day.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  I hear u....and can see it would be frustrating...but what in this journey with Chiari hasn't been?.....it is the care for those with this and related conditions that is not there especially after we have surgery, the only Chiari Drs are surgeons and they only see us if and when we need surgery, once the incision is healed we r released....so we r left to our own defenses...

and with Drs that do not have a clue.....ugh....
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Avatar universal
I just don't know who to go to. It is frustrating, because around here they are  not good about that. I was surprised my doctor even wrote them to begin with. I have an appointment next month with another dr around here to go over my MRI reports with me. I hope he will help me with that.  I don't know though. I don't go until the 14th. Unless there is a cancellation.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Just the strain alone, can cause HA's let alone roids, so it is best for those with Chiari to use some sort of stool softener....

I do not understand the no meds at all,....that is not right....and I am sure u could get a diff Dr to over rule that as I am sure that ER Dr has no idea how Chiari affects us let alone all the other issues u have been dealing with....

Keep pushing for a Dr to hear what is going on so u get the proper help.
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Avatar universal
I don't know because I am allergic to Lyrica, Keppra, Cymbalta, Compazine, and more.  There are few out there that I am not allergic to. My husband said he is cutting them off all together because of that ER doctor.  I was going to just ask him to see if he can just cut them down in half instead, but my husband said no he will not.  I need them until this is all taken care of. Now, after surgeries I will not be allowed pain meds. How can a person get through surgery pain if not pain meds. I do not have an addiction!! I am not a drug seeker and he had no right to do that to me!!! I am so upset with him, that I may file a report with the state medical board for what he did.  Especially since I have real pain and not making it up.

If I had cancer, I would never be able to make it through it because they will not prescribe pain meds. I keep falling because of weakness in my leg.  It doesn't help any with the pain issue, just keeps it worse.  I should have never went. That was a big mistake. I don't take stool softeners. Ive been having regular bowel movements. I think I need to lose weight though because it doesn't help being a little over weight...I hear that causes roids too.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  That sounds like u had a horrid evening...so sorry....

May I ask, are u on stool softeners to help with the roids?....I have a lot of bowel and bladder issues too so I know what u were going thru....however I am not on daily pain meds....and did not have someone take them away...that I can only imagine.....and I liken it to having my INS cancelled, and the wait for info on new INS...that is frustrating and very upsetting....

I am sure ur experience was also very scary too....

Can u talk with ur Dr as to how to manage ur pain better with a change to ur meds instead of eliminating them?
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