Aa
How do I find a doctor willing to help?!
I have been on the phone with my insurance's behavioral health, and called the doctors she recommended- I am on 120mgs of methadone and an no longer afford to travel an hour and half to the clinic, not to mention the fees. I know there are people who go into doctor offices here in town and get a precription, but I cant find them. The ones I called all say "we dont do that" Even our main drug crisis place says, they dont do that. I'm getting ahead of myself because I'm nervous and anxious. I'm scared. Dont do what? I just need a doctor to prescribe it to me and help me ween down or off. I never knew it would be so hard, but I know they're out there. How would I go about finding one? Just keep calling around? I want so desperately to be taken seriously and so many dont take people like me seriously. I'm in Knoxville, TN. Any chance anybody know of any doctors around me? I've already started going without and at 120mgs I am terrified!
If you have Fibro than you have pain!! The Methadone is keeping that at bay.
I wish you the best. Once you are labeled it is difficult to be taken seriously. I did have multiple reasons for pain (and still do) and was never an addict though I was treated that way for years.
Keep looking someone will help you with get to the bottom of things.
Take Care,
Tuck
I wish you the best. Once you are labeled it is difficult to be taken seriously. I did have multiple reasons for pain (and still do) and was never an addict though I was treated that way for years.
Keep looking someone will help you with get to the bottom of things.
Take Care,
Tuck
Thanks so much for your comments! Your story is inspiring! I am new to the site and am still learning. I was asking about a doctor, so I thought it would be better suited in pain management. I do see your confusion, and I apologize. I am on methadone for abusing hydrocodone. Sometimes it feels like a vicious cycle, even though in my opinion methadone saved my life. It's confusing, because I started taking pain meds because of chronic pain in my legs. Then I had a car accident and was already addicted, so it got worse. The only thing I was finally diagnosed with by one lone doctor was fibromyalgia. He didnt take me seriously I could tell. From then on, all following doctors I saw treated me as a drug seeker, which I was after so long. I have been all but convinced by most that my pain was all in my head. The addiction was why I hurt. But what about the pain that led me to pain doctors in the first place? Probably nothing, I am told. So I feel guilty saying I suffer from chronic pain when there are obvious people like yourself who really have suffered this. My biggest issue was addiction. Hopefully I can find a doctor to spend enough time with me and let me know if I do, or ever had a chronic pain issue. Good luck with everything! :-)
Hi Smilezalot,
Honesty, there is no better approach, no better way to build a trusting relationship with a physician. Talking from your "heart" with your physician will get you much further than hiding or telling half truths. Peaceinknowing is so right in that area!
Most good physicians have a 6th sense when a patient comes into their office in pain. I have been in chronic pain for years and quit looking, quit complaining and had given up. I had to see a new PCP when my regular PCP left the clinic six years ago. It took two visits for the new PCP to recognize my pain. I didn't even tell her and I was not there for that reason. It was just a follow up for kidney stones. She put her hand on my shoulder and said, "You're still in pain, why." In a flood of words I blurted out my chronic painful journey. I told her the worst, being labeled as a drug seeker, no longer telling any physician of my chronic pain, laying awake night after night trying to sleep with horrid throbbing pain and to muster enough energy to get myself out of bed and up for work, etc. The tears flowed down my eyes like water released from a dam and soon she was tearful too. I left the office with a prescription and another follow up in 5 days.
The next appt she diagnosed the reason for my chronic pain and has treated me ever sense, never doubting my word and never questioning my pain. I know know that it was my blunt honesty (according to her) that was so "refreshing" in her words that began the best patient doctor relationship one could hope for. That is what I wish for you and everyone, especially those that suffer with chronic pain.
"Remembering a feeling that I loved so much" as peaceinknowing said, does not and never has applied to me or for most true chronic pain suffers. So I am a bit confused by that statement. I assume you are a chronic pain sufferer and have been prescribed the methadone for pain, not for addiction issues. Most most ppl that come to the Pain Management Forum are Chronic Pain patients and not Substance Abuse patients. So maybe I have misunderstood.
If you are in need of addiction assistance than the Substance Abuse Forum may be better suited for your needs. Can you clarify that for us? You may be forced to drive to your current prescribing clinic until you are able to locate one closer to your home. Have you asked the your current clinic/physician for a referral?
Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your next update.
Peace,
Tuck
Honesty, there is no better approach, no better way to build a trusting relationship with a physician. Talking from your "heart" with your physician will get you much further than hiding or telling half truths. Peaceinknowing is so right in that area!
Most good physicians have a 6th sense when a patient comes into their office in pain. I have been in chronic pain for years and quit looking, quit complaining and had given up. I had to see a new PCP when my regular PCP left the clinic six years ago. It took two visits for the new PCP to recognize my pain. I didn't even tell her and I was not there for that reason. It was just a follow up for kidney stones. She put her hand on my shoulder and said, "You're still in pain, why." In a flood of words I blurted out my chronic painful journey. I told her the worst, being labeled as a drug seeker, no longer telling any physician of my chronic pain, laying awake night after night trying to sleep with horrid throbbing pain and to muster enough energy to get myself out of bed and up for work, etc. The tears flowed down my eyes like water released from a dam and soon she was tearful too. I left the office with a prescription and another follow up in 5 days.
The next appt she diagnosed the reason for my chronic pain and has treated me ever sense, never doubting my word and never questioning my pain. I know know that it was my blunt honesty (according to her) that was so "refreshing" in her words that began the best patient doctor relationship one could hope for. That is what I wish for you and everyone, especially those that suffer with chronic pain.
"Remembering a feeling that I loved so much" as peaceinknowing said, does not and never has applied to me or for most true chronic pain suffers. So I am a bit confused by that statement. I assume you are a chronic pain sufferer and have been prescribed the methadone for pain, not for addiction issues. Most most ppl that come to the Pain Management Forum are Chronic Pain patients and not Substance Abuse patients. So maybe I have misunderstood.
If you are in need of addiction assistance than the Substance Abuse Forum may be better suited for your needs. Can you clarify that for us? You may be forced to drive to your current prescribing clinic until you are able to locate one closer to your home. Have you asked the your current clinic/physician for a referral?
Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your next update.
Peace,
Tuck
The reason I tell a lot of people to be honest and upfront about their past history when they go see a doctor is because all in all, you have to look at the long term effects of what you're saying to this doctor. For example:
You go in as a "pain patient" and tell the doctor about the amount of pain you're in. The doctor gives you pain pills and sends you on your way. You start to take the pills and remember the feeling you loved so much, etc. Then starts the cycle all over again. Meanwhile, you've started to see this doctor more and more and the pain killers keep getting doled out by him/her to control your "pain" situation -- but in the meantime, you and this new doctor have grown to have a relationship with one another. One that he/she feels is a trustworthy relationship. But then you hit rock bottom and HAVE to come clean to your doctor because of where you are in life...this is when they see you as a pill seeker and will almost always refuse to see you again, because they feel as though you've been deceitful throughout the entire "patient/doctor relationship" that was obtained over the past few months and/or years. I only try and look out for the best for myself as well as others, especially when it comes to this sort of issue. I hope it all makes sense to you what I'm trying to say -- and know that I only tell you this from my very experiences with the situation. I have really lost a lot of trust in a few doctors, because they saw me as pill seekers. My only issue was, was that in the begining, they were accusing me of being a narcotic seeker when I really wasn't in the least.
I guess from then on it started to rub off on me that if they were going to call me that, then why not sort of thing. But we're doing good, and that's all we know to do right now, right? <3
You go in as a "pain patient" and tell the doctor about the amount of pain you're in. The doctor gives you pain pills and sends you on your way. You start to take the pills and remember the feeling you loved so much, etc. Then starts the cycle all over again. Meanwhile, you've started to see this doctor more and more and the pain killers keep getting doled out by him/her to control your "pain" situation -- but in the meantime, you and this new doctor have grown to have a relationship with one another. One that he/she feels is a trustworthy relationship. But then you hit rock bottom and HAVE to come clean to your doctor because of where you are in life...this is when they see you as a pill seeker and will almost always refuse to see you again, because they feel as though you've been deceitful throughout the entire "patient/doctor relationship" that was obtained over the past few months and/or years. I only try and look out for the best for myself as well as others, especially when it comes to this sort of issue. I hope it all makes sense to you what I'm trying to say -- and know that I only tell you this from my very experiences with the situation. I have really lost a lot of trust in a few doctors, because they saw me as pill seekers. My only issue was, was that in the begining, they were accusing me of being a narcotic seeker when I really wasn't in the least.
I guess from then on it started to rub off on me that if they were going to call me that, then why not sort of thing. But we're doing good, and that's all we know to do right now, right? <3
Thank you so much for your words and advice. I'm trying to keep it calm. You know, it's funny you say that about being honest. Alot of people from my pill days that I have talked to say "NOOO, dont tell the doctor about your drug history, go in as a pain patient" Well, I would feel so much better being honest! I want help. I want the doctor to respect me and take me seriously and not see me as just another pill seeker. It's been weighing on me because I dont want to be turned away. My gut tells me that I will get much further, as well as respect by being as real as can be with the doctor. You saying that just solidified it for me. I'm so glad I met you and others! This is really helping me with a lot of the mental part of this. :-) :-)
Whatever you do, try and stay calm right now. There are people out there that are willing to help, and I'm sure that you can go see another doctor about this. Even regular physicians can help you with this, not just "specialty" doctors, if you know what I mean.
I finally got off my rear and sought out a new doctor on Monday. I talked with her for wel over 45 minutes and told her everything that had gone on both in the past as well as recently with the anxiety that I had after coming off of the pills. Believe it or not, she respected me THAT much more in being honest with her about everything.
Do you think that you can look for a regular doctor to go to and seek help with this from?
I finally got off my rear and sought out a new doctor on Monday. I talked with her for wel over 45 minutes and told her everything that had gone on both in the past as well as recently with the anxiety that I had after coming off of the pills. Believe it or not, she respected me THAT much more in being honest with her about everything.
Do you think that you can look for a regular doctor to go to and seek help with this from?
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