Hi, everybody, and especially those of us needing controlled substances to deal with our chronic pain of whatever sort.
I would be grateful for your thoughts about back up sources for meds. Here are some situations that could affect any of us...
SITUATION: I typically make prescription renewal appointments with my pain management doctor four weeks ahead of time (i.e. generally at the same time that I pick up the previous prescriptions). On one occasion recently, I went to the appointment, only to be told that the doctor wasn't there, and wouldn't be there for almost a week. He apparently went on vacation, and either his staff inadvertently scheduled the appointment during the vacation period, or they neglected to inform me of a change. Regardless, there was the risk that I would run out of meds before he could return and have an appointment time available.
This was a real situation, and the doctor and his staff were appropriately apologetic. Nevertheless, the experience made me think: what could I do if I were to run out? I posed this question to the doc, and his answer was just that I'd have to go to the emergency room. Not a comforting answer...
SITUATION: I go to a regularly scheduled prescription renewal appointment, and am informed that the doctor is indefinitely or permanently unavailable...maybe something has happened to him or her...injury/death/whatever. Finding a replacement in the (presumably) limited time the meds will last poses definite challenges.
This situation has not happened to me, but it's not hard to imagine that it could happen---to me or to anybody with chronic pain being treated with controlled substances.
I'd like to see a discussion of alternative courses of action in the event of situations like these. One (the emergency room) has already been suggested, and I don't know anybody happy with that.
I'll suggest another: accumulate "cushion" supplies of the meds. This is loaded with issues: how do you do it without engaging in a tissue of lies to the doctor, the phamacist, etc., putting both them and you at risk if they are uncovered? or manipulating your consumption of the meds in unhealthy ways...etc., etc., etc...Not good, anyway you look at it.
Ideas, anybody? All of us face these situations, at least hypothetically...
Thanks! Frank Paine