kristinita9
03-22-2005, 06:30 AM
I rarely post here but read here almost everyday, and after just reading the message about "Running out of meds" I am almost shaking with anger at what so mnay chronic pain patients must go through to be treated properly.
Just yesterday morning I caught 'part' of a pain patients interview I think it has with Hattie Coffman<sp> on the early show or one of the morning news shows. The poor man had endured YEARS of severe pain without proper care and then of course the depression that goes along with that; and had eventually attempted suicide; but thankfully survived and FINALLY got taken seriously with proper treatment etc. and finally has a decent quality of life. Which is all anyone wants and EVERYONE DESERVES.
I was tempted to try to get a copy of the entire interview, he was with his wife (and they have a young son who of course was affected by the non-care his dad was receiving) and she talked some about how she did what she could to help him, how she suffered along with him watching him in such horrible pain, I cried when I watched it and thought of so many people that post on this Pain Management Board.
I have been with a Pain Mgmt Dr for the last year and am finally being properly treated, listened to, and I feel with the respect I deserve after suffering an excruitating 4-5 YEARS of pain when my entire "Pain Management" treatment plan was 1 (one) Ultram tablet a DAY! It's a sin what I endured, how much I suffered needlessly and I have read scientific reports that show this kind of long time pain does actually CHANGE the way the brain perceives pain.
I must be very careful to take my pain medication AS described, if I'm having additional pain for some reason and take 1 extra pill for a day or 2 throught the month I know that I will have to 'make up' the difference somewhere along the way by taking one pill less on several days or run out of meds before my next appointment....course that causes extra stress on a person which does tend to cause more pain! a vicious cycle.
My heart truly aches for chronic pain patients who are made to feel like some kind of druggie, be put through so much embarrasement trying to get help. I know all about the true drug addicts that abuse and make it so difficult for patients (and of course for doctors to sort them out) and don't know what the answer is but something really needs to be done in this country to properly treat a patients pain.
I am totally upfront and honest with my Pain Mgmt Dr; if I feel that I am becoming tolerant to the dosage I'm on, that I'm having just too much time when my pain is which I call out of control I will calmly let the doctor know this and we discuss what needs to be done about it. I am not made to feel like a drug seeker, I am so thankful for that and I hope that some things can be changed in the lives of those that must constantly be handled in such a despicable manner.
Just yesterday morning I caught 'part' of a pain patients interview I think it has with Hattie Coffman<sp> on the early show or one of the morning news shows. The poor man had endured YEARS of severe pain without proper care and then of course the depression that goes along with that; and had eventually attempted suicide; but thankfully survived and FINALLY got taken seriously with proper treatment etc. and finally has a decent quality of life. Which is all anyone wants and EVERYONE DESERVES.
I was tempted to try to get a copy of the entire interview, he was with his wife (and they have a young son who of course was affected by the non-care his dad was receiving) and she talked some about how she did what she could to help him, how she suffered along with him watching him in such horrible pain, I cried when I watched it and thought of so many people that post on this Pain Management Board.
I have been with a Pain Mgmt Dr for the last year and am finally being properly treated, listened to, and I feel with the respect I deserve after suffering an excruitating 4-5 YEARS of pain when my entire "Pain Management" treatment plan was 1 (one) Ultram tablet a DAY! It's a sin what I endured, how much I suffered needlessly and I have read scientific reports that show this kind of long time pain does actually CHANGE the way the brain perceives pain.
I must be very careful to take my pain medication AS described, if I'm having additional pain for some reason and take 1 extra pill for a day or 2 throught the month I know that I will have to 'make up' the difference somewhere along the way by taking one pill less on several days or run out of meds before my next appointment....course that causes extra stress on a person which does tend to cause more pain! a vicious cycle.
My heart truly aches for chronic pain patients who are made to feel like some kind of druggie, be put through so much embarrasement trying to get help. I know all about the true drug addicts that abuse and make it so difficult for patients (and of course for doctors to sort them out) and don't know what the answer is but something really needs to be done in this country to properly treat a patients pain.
I am totally upfront and honest with my Pain Mgmt Dr; if I feel that I am becoming tolerant to the dosage I'm on, that I'm having just too much time when my pain is which I call out of control I will calmly let the doctor know this and we discuss what needs to be done about it. I am not made to feel like a drug seeker, I am so thankful for that and I hope that some things can be changed in the lives of those that must constantly be handled in such a despicable manner.
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girl75
03-22-2005, 02:30 PM
good post kris, alot of us can definatly relate. you know i also was seeing a pain mangt doc who was not taking me serious and unfortunalty it was probably due to the fact that i had no insurance and had asked for a payment plan. well after a couple of visits he let me go as a pt and said that he could not do anything for me anymore. fortunatly i found a pain doc that did listen to me. at first though he prescribed norco which was great but i had already been taking that and it was just taking the edge off of my pain. he said that he did not want to try anything LA yet that he wanted to try a couple things first, injections, aquatic therapy, nerve burning and a couple other things. here 2 yrs later i still had no relief and my pain just felt like i could not tolerate it anymore. it got to the point that the pain was all i would think about from the time i woke up till the time i went to sleep. finally i went in for an appt. and let the nurse pract. know that i have been seeing, that the pain i have has gone out of control. i let her know that i had been on line doing some research on some meds and i felt that there were meds out there and i did not understand why i should have to be in so much pain and be suffering. also reading some stories on this board has helped me to gain the courage to let her know how i felt. she finally said that we could try duragesic patch. i was so happy that she finally took me serious.
i have been on the patch for about 2 wks and taking norco 3times a day.
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg. maybe that will help.
well i hope i have not bored you or anyone to death. i hope every one is having a good day. the weather is beautiful here in Texas and that always helps.
robin (girl75) :D
i have been on the patch for about 2 wks and taking norco 3times a day.
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg. maybe that will help.
well i hope i have not bored you or anyone to death. i hope every one is having a good day. the weather is beautiful here in Texas and that always helps.
robin (girl75) :D
SheSparkles
03-22-2005, 05:46 PM
[QUOTE=girl75]i have been on the patch for about 2 wks and taking norco 3times a day.
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg.
This is a fair trial for a 25mcg patch. More than fair. Now ask (and get) an increase to 50mcg and later perhaps more. It's whatever it takes.
SS
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg.
This is a fair trial for a 25mcg patch. More than fair. Now ask (and get) an increase to 50mcg and later perhaps more. It's whatever it takes.
SS
surgicaldisaster
03-22-2005, 06:11 PM
Good post! I ended up switching from my first pm Dr. because of a few things...first he would always seem to forget why I was there...huh? Then he would poke and prod me each time only to make things so much worse. Then when we were going on vacation, he knew I would run out (completely) of my meds. 3 days before I could see him(2 being the last part of our trip) and he said, oh well...I'm sure you'll be fine. I was NOT o.k. with that, how could he let me suffer through the beginnings of withdrawal and the horrific pain when he knew(I even showed him my tickets) when I would be back? But he did. Boy was that a great way to end a vacation. Anyway, thankfully I have a new pm Dr. that is truly great, I would not trade him for the world. You are so right that so many of us think of the unthinkable because we are denied the proper care. I once had a Dr. say, well, you aren't some 80 yr, old lady who needs pain meds., so you really should just take tylenol.....WHAT? So, unless I am closer to possibly dying due to older age, then deal with horrific pain that makes me want to die? :rolleyes: Ummmmmmmmm...o.k. We all deserve to live, not survive day to day on a shoestring that is ready to snap at any minute. Hope you are all doing welll as can be...Surgical Disaster
StMishl
03-22-2005, 09:15 PM
Great Post. As someone currently having to deal with inadequate pain relief (my dr is a total jerk), all I can say is allelejah!
I was under control, finally, but because I started asking questions and wanting a second opinion he has "decided" I don't need pain relief anymore. Isn't there some sort of law that says patients are entitled to pain control??
As someone who doesn't have a Pain Doctor (seperate from my back suregon) how did you all get one? Did you take it upon yourselves to call and set up an appt or were you refered? I am quickly learning that I desperatly need pain control seperate from the "medical care" of my back...
Thanks you,
Michelle
I was under control, finally, but because I started asking questions and wanting a second opinion he has "decided" I don't need pain relief anymore. Isn't there some sort of law that says patients are entitled to pain control??
As someone who doesn't have a Pain Doctor (seperate from my back suregon) how did you all get one? Did you take it upon yourselves to call and set up an appt or were you refered? I am quickly learning that I desperatly need pain control seperate from the "medical care" of my back...
Thanks you,
Michelle
Msdesertrat58
03-22-2005, 10:47 PM
The problem is also that Dr's. are affraid to prescribe these drugs, I guess they can get in trouble. I am another pain suffer and take only Norco. I read that there is also a patch to help in one of the posts. I have been in chronic pain for 5 years (Yes I get the leactures from people), about taking pain killers, but let them walk on my legs (6mos post op. knee replacement) and my other knee isn't much better. Have to just not let it get to you. Hell isn't that what these drugs are for?. And Drs do have to make a call weather the patient is really in bad pain. Well MRI's, X-rays, what they found during surgery was all the proof my Orthopedic needed. :(
girl75
03-23-2005, 02:57 AM
hello shesparkles, this is robin and thanks for understanding. i will go in and hopefully get the 50mcg (duragesic patch). i am so happy to have you and other postees on here like you to give great advice. you are such a great person to have on here and thank you very much.
i hope you get some restful sleep and i will be looking around for you tomorrow.
thank you so much
robin (75)
i hope you get some restful sleep and i will be looking around for you tomorrow.
thank you so much
robin (75)
girl75
03-23-2005, 03:03 AM
hello shesparkles, this is robin and thanks for understanding. i will go in and hopefully get the 50mcg (duragesic patch). i am so happy to have you and other postees on here like you to give great advice. you are such a great person to have on here and thank you very much.
i hope you get some restful sleep and i will be looking around for you tomorrow.
thank you so much
robin (75)
i hope you get some restful sleep and i will be looking around for you tomorrow.
thank you so much
robin (75)
NaeNae
03-23-2005, 05:13 AM
Thanks for your post Kristinita9! I take it one of the posts you read was Michelle's-where it had my story, very similar to Michelle's attached to it. You're right, it is horrible. Thank you for the compassion, it's nice we're all here for eachother!
Girl75, we must be close! I'm in San Antonio and I LOVE the weather we're having. I get Season Affective Disorder bad, so I live for sunny days!
Michelle, I am so sorry you're having such a bad time with your doctor. Depending on what kind of medical insurance you have, if you can self refer you can go right to a PM Doctor. I have an HMO and had to get a referral, but they are just like any other doctor, so if you have to look one up in your plan, they should be right there with Cardiologists, Gynecologist, I'm-so-sick-of-pain-ologists (kidding)! Hopefully you can get one real quick. I had the opposit of you, had a bad time at the PM, and my Ortho Surgeon told me not to go back to that mean man! So he's taking care of me now.
Msdesertrat58, don't you hate the lectures? I hate to tell anyone what I'm on because they'll say, "Be careful, you know that's addicting?" Gee, no, hadn't thought of that, didn't know it, wow, thanks for telling me. Then I want to add, "You do know these is actually used for pain and not some celebrities latest happy pill, right? I'm in a lot of pain!" I hate the lectures.
surgicaldisaster, I posted something a few weeks ago that happened to me with a Pharmacist, very similar to what happened to you with the vacation. The Pharmacist would not let me have my meds 5 days before they were to run out because I was leaving town. He actually told me I won't go through withdrawls without having any for a few days! He said to take Extra Strength Tylenol when I run out of meds. Ok, #1-Yes, I will go through withdrawls. He still insisted when I told him I'm on 5x a day routine for the past 2 years. #2-Tylenol is not going to stop withdrawls of pain meds. #3-If Tylenol helped in the first place-I WOULDN'T NEED PAIN MEDS now would I Mr. Pharmacist? #4-Mr. Pharmacist, did you say Extra Strength Tylenol? Wow, I hadn't tried that. Yeah, that'll work a whole heck of a lot better than pain medication. Jerk! I guess that goes back to the whole purpose of this post and what Kristina9 meant on how some treat us-as Pain Management Patients-bad.
Take care everyone!
Girl75, we must be close! I'm in San Antonio and I LOVE the weather we're having. I get Season Affective Disorder bad, so I live for sunny days!
Michelle, I am so sorry you're having such a bad time with your doctor. Depending on what kind of medical insurance you have, if you can self refer you can go right to a PM Doctor. I have an HMO and had to get a referral, but they are just like any other doctor, so if you have to look one up in your plan, they should be right there with Cardiologists, Gynecologist, I'm-so-sick-of-pain-ologists (kidding)! Hopefully you can get one real quick. I had the opposit of you, had a bad time at the PM, and my Ortho Surgeon told me not to go back to that mean man! So he's taking care of me now.
Msdesertrat58, don't you hate the lectures? I hate to tell anyone what I'm on because they'll say, "Be careful, you know that's addicting?" Gee, no, hadn't thought of that, didn't know it, wow, thanks for telling me. Then I want to add, "You do know these is actually used for pain and not some celebrities latest happy pill, right? I'm in a lot of pain!" I hate the lectures.
surgicaldisaster, I posted something a few weeks ago that happened to me with a Pharmacist, very similar to what happened to you with the vacation. The Pharmacist would not let me have my meds 5 days before they were to run out because I was leaving town. He actually told me I won't go through withdrawls without having any for a few days! He said to take Extra Strength Tylenol when I run out of meds. Ok, #1-Yes, I will go through withdrawls. He still insisted when I told him I'm on 5x a day routine for the past 2 years. #2-Tylenol is not going to stop withdrawls of pain meds. #3-If Tylenol helped in the first place-I WOULDN'T NEED PAIN MEDS now would I Mr. Pharmacist? #4-Mr. Pharmacist, did you say Extra Strength Tylenol? Wow, I hadn't tried that. Yeah, that'll work a whole heck of a lot better than pain medication. Jerk! I guess that goes back to the whole purpose of this post and what Kristina9 meant on how some treat us-as Pain Management Patients-bad.
Take care everyone!
girl75
03-23-2005, 01:33 PM
naenae, oh my gosh we are close, i live in austin. i was actually born and brought up in san antonio. that is so awesome. my family still lives there on the south side which is where i grew up.
i noticed that you were on here at 3 in the morning. its funny because i am usually awake at that time too and if i do go to sleep early i still wake up at 3 every night. thats so funny. where do you have your pain and how did it start?
i've had pain for off and on since 94 and constant since 2000. i was dx with fibro about 2yrs ago. it really bites bad. mine all began with a car acc. and later on work comp acc. and various things between them. i too have had docs try and blow me off but i have been going to one (pain mangt) that he and the nurse practioner i see have really helped me so far.
i hate it too when people tell me about getting addicted, i am prepared for that because i am sure i will have to be on something for a while having fibro. to me taking care of the pain totally outweighs all that. with pain comes depression, anxiety and lots of sleepness nights but i guess unless you are in pain most people do not understand that.
well keep in touch.
your new neighbor,
robin :D
i noticed that you were on here at 3 in the morning. its funny because i am usually awake at that time too and if i do go to sleep early i still wake up at 3 every night. thats so funny. where do you have your pain and how did it start?
i've had pain for off and on since 94 and constant since 2000. i was dx with fibro about 2yrs ago. it really bites bad. mine all began with a car acc. and later on work comp acc. and various things between them. i too have had docs try and blow me off but i have been going to one (pain mangt) that he and the nurse practioner i see have really helped me so far.
i hate it too when people tell me about getting addicted, i am prepared for that because i am sure i will have to be on something for a while having fibro. to me taking care of the pain totally outweighs all that. with pain comes depression, anxiety and lots of sleepness nights but i guess unless you are in pain most people do not understand that.
well keep in touch.
your new neighbor,
robin :D