What if your doctor refuses to talk to you?

[pattisun]

I have severe pain and have been taking a number of pain meds for almost ten years now. I also had gastric RNY bypass and this limits what pain meds I can take and I believe it affects how my meds are absorbed and metabolized.

My pain doctors (who just give me steroid shots) do not prescribe meds. They want my primary doctor to do that. I was increased to 50 mcg of Fentanyl with vicodin for breakthrough (my pain doctors suggestion). I went to my doctor every four weeks complaining the Fentanyl patches would not stay on and the side effects were not worth it. I wanted less Fentanyl and weaker vicodin (she had changed me to Norco--wanting me to only take 2 per day). This last visit 2 weeks ago I finally got back on a weaker Fentanyl patch and I am doing much better. I decreased my Norco from 4-5 day down to 3. When I went to refill my RX for Norco my doctor refused it. They will not answer my calls and I guess I no longer have a doctor.

I am fine not taking Vicodin--but I have pain so I did take ibuprofen. I am not supposed to take that because of my bypass surgery.

Anyone get kicked out of their medical group? I am not worried about Vicodin withdrawal I'm sure I can get through that---but what about Fentanyl withdrawal? How to I find a new doctor without looking like some crazed druggie? I think I should never take vicodin again. I've taken all the other types of pain meds (like Ultram and Neurontin, etc.) prior to Vicodin (I refused percoset, Oxy, and morphine-Kadian).

How/where do I find a doctor that will understand my needs and believe that I have no interest in getting "stoned" just would prefer to stay active and have my pain decreased.

[Jon2111]

I sent in my regualr refill to my Doctor on a Tuesday explaining we were going away (family) on Satudrday, I know for sure he was open. He ignored three faxes for the request. I have been on the medication for almost five years and go through this every month with him. The drug store said they could set up my meidcation so it would be ready every thirty days and the doctor refuses to take part.  We have since cancellled our vacation and on Monday I will be down his throat and put the fear of god in him.This will be my last appointment for cure with this idiot with an ego on a power trip.  What an arrrogant embarrassment to his profession.. Perhaps he should read the oath he took when he became a Doctor? I have chronic pain which makes his ignorance even more magnified. I am currently looking for a new Doctor,then reporting him and then suing him. I have the money so I am going make it a point to ensure his career is over the legal way. No one should ever have to endure the abuse I have been through..

[Weathergirl21]

Just FYI...this post is from 2008.....

So if you have specific thoughts or need help with your chronic pain...starting a new thread is best...

I don't know of any law that prevents a Dr. from dismissing someone from their practice....

When dealing with opiates...most Dr.s are now having their patients sign contracts that explicity state that if someone does not follow all the rules they will be dismissed...

But Dr.s can leave their practice...shut down....or decide that they no longer can treat you properly and dismiss you.

Proving actual 'neglect' from a Dr. is very difficult and usually doesn't happen...

When dealing with opiates....there is usually more to a story and a reason why a Dr. stops prescribing suddenly...

[Abbyinokc]

A doctor in Oklahoma CANNOT just fire you or stop seeing you.  Our laws state:  Generally speaking, a physician must continue to provide services as long as the case requires it.

Unlike a patient, who may lawfully terminate the physician-patient relationship at any time, a physician may withdraw before the need for his or her services is at an end only after giving the patient prior notice. That notice must afford the patient ample opportunity to secure another equally competent physician prior to the withdrawal.  

Check with each state's medical board for help with the LAWS about patient dumping!

[debbiedoeshair78]

Thursday morning, i was getting ready for work when pain hit my chest and neck, almost brought me to my knees. i have severe COPD but keep on working for fear that if i become docile, i will wilt away, not my style. i was whisked away to the county hospital by my fiance and was took directly to the back for an EKG. Hmmm, nothing there. so, next step is to talk to these drs to see if there was possibly another answer. about three months ago, i had been in the same hospital to get a cat scan with dye, surprisingly i remembered that my personal physician told me that in this pic, you could see the diverticulitis flair-up, so i told the dr from this group and sure enough it also showed a hiatal hernia (classic heart attack symptoms) in the meantime, my COPD is giving me a run for my money and i am having panic attacks, asthma attacks, dizzy, etc.....you name it..i was a mess.. i now weigh 100 lbs more than i did a year ago from all the Prednisone, despite all my efforts, it will not budge. so, i was in the hospital for 9 days, and had a cardiology group from Jacksonville who did extensive testing on me, but found nothing, so they signed off on me. great people. now i am left with a doctor who calls himself a lung specialist, only has no degree as to such. i asked him about my condition and all he told me was :be patient (as he walked away.)  now i'm scared. about a year ago, there was a spot discovered on my lung, but no one ever did anything about it, so i asked him if there was a way to tell what this was...again. be patient. WHAT? is this all you have to say. as far as the other dr goes, the one from the internist, i was on flagile i.v.s, along with Prilosec and Nexium, and who knows what all else. the amount of i.v. steroids that i was being given was so high that it could not be reduced to pill for in order to turn me loose to go home. so, on the 9th day, Dr. "Be Patient" came in and said, ready to go home? not another word, no further instructions other than that i have severe emphyzema
(Really, knew that), then it was the other dr.s turn to maybe make this right. well, he refused to talk to me at all, with no further prescriptions, no explaination as to what my prognosis was, no nothing. i left the hospital feeling totally empty inside, like someone had stolen 9 days of my life. i went straight to my drs office and she gave me enough steroids till i go in on monday 8a.m. what the heck, you recon? can they really just stop treating you, kick you out and refuse to talk to you? do i have grounds to sue these people? help, i need a serious answer, please!
    

[TrayCee]

In PM you MUST keep ALL appts.  Or risk being discharged

So sorry about the situation you find youself in.... This is my NIGHTMARE that this could happent to anyone at anytime for any/no reason
good luck!!

[ddllpn]

My cousin goes to a pain management doctor who has continuously increased her dosage of methadone until now she is getting 480 tabs per month, He has suggested epidurals as well as a visit with a neurologist (the apt has been made and is May 21st). It is believed she will need back surgery.
She has one epidural and did have some relief with it but on the date of the 2nd scheduled epidural she cancelled because she was sick and the same for the 3rd scheduled epidural. She has irritable bowel syndrome and I think she gets herself all worked up over getting the epidurals that she cant get off the toilet.
Anyway, she just got off the phone with her pain mgmt. doctors office who said they will no longer treat her because she cancelled 2 epidurals and they said this means she is abusing her pain meds.(?)
They have left her to go "cold turkey" and I am hoping someone out there can help us to find a way to have the doctor be understanding that he cant prescribe meds of that quantity and then stop it cold turkey. She made the neurologist appt as requested and did have the one epidural so she is trying..., Any suggestions? Thanks, Debbie