Fabrashamx
03-13-2007, 07:23 PM
Hi Gang,
I did it! Well, at least I know I'm hopefully not going to be thrown into withdrawal when my refills run out. I had an appointment this morning with the financial people from the county clinic and they took me as a patient for a $20 per visit pay and $10 prescriptions!
If you dont remember, and I dont blame you if you dont, lol I had a double whammy in the last few months when I first lost all state enhanced medicade benefits because our eligability income went over by $60 a month :mad:
and then my doctor of 14 years who was not only my pm doctor but a huge part of my support system, closed her practice suddenly.
That left me with chronic pain and several ongoing medical issues, no doctor, no insurance, and not much hope.
Now I just have to call the clinic in the morning and get in with someone and keep my fingers crossed I get someone helpful and supportive, I dont expect them to just follow along with my old docs orders if they dont agree, but at least offer me some options and most importantly, a voice in my treatment plan. This had better work, because its the last hope I have of getting health care I can possibly afford.
So..wish me luck! you all have always been there for me and the things I have learned on this board will help me on my way to finding a new doctor.
Thanks again!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
I did it! Well, at least I know I'm hopefully not going to be thrown into withdrawal when my refills run out. I had an appointment this morning with the financial people from the county clinic and they took me as a patient for a $20 per visit pay and $10 prescriptions!
If you dont remember, and I dont blame you if you dont, lol I had a double whammy in the last few months when I first lost all state enhanced medicade benefits because our eligability income went over by $60 a month :mad:
and then my doctor of 14 years who was not only my pm doctor but a huge part of my support system, closed her practice suddenly.
That left me with chronic pain and several ongoing medical issues, no doctor, no insurance, and not much hope.
Now I just have to call the clinic in the morning and get in with someone and keep my fingers crossed I get someone helpful and supportive, I dont expect them to just follow along with my old docs orders if they dont agree, but at least offer me some options and most importantly, a voice in my treatment plan. This had better work, because its the last hope I have of getting health care I can possibly afford.
So..wish me luck! you all have always been there for me and the things I have learned on this board will help me on my way to finding a new doctor.
Thanks again!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
Sponsor
rayefaye
03-13-2007, 08:14 PM
Hi Fabby, sorry to hear your doctor closing her practice.:( the same thing happened to me. I had finally found a doctor who knew what was wrong with me then five months later he suddenly closed his practice. I thought I would never find someone to replace him:confused: but I finally found a doctor who understands my condition:) But it wasn't easy and I had some who looked at me like can't you do this and can't you do that, I'm like does it look like I can:mad: So I wish you good luck on finding you a new doctor and hope you can find a very caring and understanding one.
IZZY'SMOM
03-13-2007, 08:27 PM
Hi Fabs~
I hope that you get someone who will be kind to you, as you are to everyone here when you post, you so deserve it.
My doc is already retirement age, and splits his time between where I live and his home 45 miles away. I dread the day he decides to stop, as there are no other docs in this town Id take my dogs to. YIKES! For now, Ill just be greatful for the wonderful doc I have. Ill be thinking of you in the morning, and please let us know ow it goes, ok?
Hang in there!
xoxoxoxoxoxo,
IZZY'SMOM:wave: :wave:
I hope that you get someone who will be kind to you, as you are to everyone here when you post, you so deserve it.
My doc is already retirement age, and splits his time between where I live and his home 45 miles away. I dread the day he decides to stop, as there are no other docs in this town Id take my dogs to. YIKES! For now, Ill just be greatful for the wonderful doc I have. Ill be thinking of you in the morning, and please let us know ow it goes, ok?
Hang in there!
xoxoxoxoxoxo,
IZZY'SMOM:wave: :wave:
BrittleBones
03-13-2007, 10:17 PM
Hi Fabby! I am so relieved to here this news! I was truly very worried about you and what was going to happen in the future when you lost the insurance. Sometimes we think that things will never turn around for us and then, bingo, we get a little luck on our side and things work out.
I'm having some real anxiety myself this week. My pain management doc who I've been with for more than a year left the University pain management practice that I go to. He opened his own practice in a different part of the state and is no longer associated with the University. I've been having some increased pain lately and I will see the new doctor that I've been assigned to this Friday. I have so many worries about the continuity of treatment and fear that the new doc won't be nearly as easy to talk to and deal with as the one that just left. Anyway, that's not on topic, is it? Back to you - keep us informed about the appointment and the new doc. All the best - KathyMac:wave:
I'm having some real anxiety myself this week. My pain management doc who I've been with for more than a year left the University pain management practice that I go to. He opened his own practice in a different part of the state and is no longer associated with the University. I've been having some increased pain lately and I will see the new doctor that I've been assigned to this Friday. I have so many worries about the continuity of treatment and fear that the new doc won't be nearly as easy to talk to and deal with as the one that just left. Anyway, that's not on topic, is it? Back to you - keep us informed about the appointment and the new doc. All the best - KathyMac:wave:
Fabrashamx
03-13-2007, 11:51 PM
Thanks so much for the kind replies! I will for sure post back in the morning and let you know if I get in with a doctor. Kathy, Izzy, and Raye, Isnt it awful we have to always be worried sick about losing our doctors??
It seems like there is no one standard of care for pain patients, even though it is light years better than it used to be, If these doctors only knew how we cant sleep or eat for days before meeting them, afraid they will scoff at us or even just treat us like a pain in their rear, it is so demoralizing, on top of the constant pain, to add that worry and stress is just so unfair!
Kathy, you can talk about yourself on my thread silly! Please let us know if this new doctor seems nice, if not, is your old doc far away? If he's in the same state, it might be worth the drive time!
Izzy, I will let you know in the morning, thanks so much, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you that your doc doesnt retire for many many years!
Ray, Thanks for your post, I know it stank to lose your doctor, but you found someone new that is working with you and thats great, It gives me hope that I can too!
So many people think chronic pain is just about people taking pills, if they only knew what all we go through, even when things are good we have to think about things like, hey, my doctor is getting older, what will happen to me if he retires? I hope things continue to improve for us and I think these boards and ones like it are a great way for us to 'band together' and see that we have a right to ask for a protocol, for respect and concern, and that every pain patient deserves that, not just ones that are old enough, or rich enough, or tragic figures or something, but everyone!
Sorry LOL I will climb off my soap box now. Thanks again for posting!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
It seems like there is no one standard of care for pain patients, even though it is light years better than it used to be, If these doctors only knew how we cant sleep or eat for days before meeting them, afraid they will scoff at us or even just treat us like a pain in their rear, it is so demoralizing, on top of the constant pain, to add that worry and stress is just so unfair!
Kathy, you can talk about yourself on my thread silly! Please let us know if this new doctor seems nice, if not, is your old doc far away? If he's in the same state, it might be worth the drive time!
Izzy, I will let you know in the morning, thanks so much, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you that your doc doesnt retire for many many years!
Ray, Thanks for your post, I know it stank to lose your doctor, but you found someone new that is working with you and thats great, It gives me hope that I can too!
So many people think chronic pain is just about people taking pills, if they only knew what all we go through, even when things are good we have to think about things like, hey, my doctor is getting older, what will happen to me if he retires? I hope things continue to improve for us and I think these boards and ones like it are a great way for us to 'band together' and see that we have a right to ask for a protocol, for respect and concern, and that every pain patient deserves that, not just ones that are old enough, or rich enough, or tragic figures or something, but everyone!
Sorry LOL I will climb off my soap box now. Thanks again for posting!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
youngone00
03-14-2007, 01:02 AM
Hey Fabby. I'm really sorry to hear about your Dr closing her practice, for this to happen after everything else you been through lately just sucks. I really hope that the Dr you get in with is good and compassionate, and willing to help you!
Bryan
Bryan
TraveltoSL
03-14-2007, 01:21 AM
Hey Fabby,
I will be praying for a wonderful and compassionate Dr. to help you with a pain mgmt. plan that fits your lifestyle both physically and financially!!!!
Please let us know how it goes as soon as you get back....I am so proud of you keeping your spirits up during all these issues and you give me inspiration going through my divorce right now as well as so many financial things as well....
Blessings!
Ingrid
I will be praying for a wonderful and compassionate Dr. to help you with a pain mgmt. plan that fits your lifestyle both physically and financially!!!!
Please let us know how it goes as soon as you get back....I am so proud of you keeping your spirits up during all these issues and you give me inspiration going through my divorce right now as well as so many financial things as well....
Blessings!
Ingrid
Fabrashamx
03-14-2007, 06:25 PM
Thank you so much, Bryan and Ingrid, it is so kind of you to worry about me when you both have so much going on in your own lives.
I called this morning, and after being on hold for about 3 days :dizzy: lol, the receptionist told me there is a waiting list of about 40 people, and about 2 or 3 people a month get in, That it could take up to 18 months for me to get a new patient appointment!:eek: I just told her my situation, that I couldnt possibly wait that long, I have a 2 months supply of the meds I have been taking every day of my life for the past 12+ years, and when they ran out I would be a mess of pain and seizures and I would end up in the hospital with no insurance and then possibly driven into bankruptcy and madness lol, I'm laughing, but I was serious, It would not be pretty as we all know to just run out of meds all at once.
She said she was going to do me a HUGE favor, I started thanking her over and over before I even knew what it was lol, she bumped a new kid patient from the family practice doc over to pediatrics (She said technically, shes not supposed to do that) and gave me that appointment on the 27th of this month! hooray!:jester:
I feel kind of bad, there are other people who have had to wait a long time for an appointment, but I truely have no idea what to do if I had to wait 18 months! Even better news, I KNOW this doctor. He has been my hubbys doctor for about 8 years and I have met him many times and like and trust him! He may want to change my treatment plan, but I know he's a kind and diligent person, and he's not afraid to prescribe opiates, Hubby has bi polar and this doctor has given him oxycodone a few times for broken ribs once and pancreatitus and things like that. He is careful to monitor him on them, but he's no opiatephobe.
When I go in on the 27th, I will still have about 8 weeks of refills, My plan is to take in all my prescription bottles, and offer to bring in a pharmacy print out from the past year or whatever he wants. Then if he wants to wait until he can have my medical records shipped over from the old doc before prescribing for me, I will have enough. Or do you think he would want to void my refills then and write me new ones in his name?
Thanks for all the support and advice, you guys are the best PM group on the net, imho.
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
I called this morning, and after being on hold for about 3 days :dizzy: lol, the receptionist told me there is a waiting list of about 40 people, and about 2 or 3 people a month get in, That it could take up to 18 months for me to get a new patient appointment!:eek: I just told her my situation, that I couldnt possibly wait that long, I have a 2 months supply of the meds I have been taking every day of my life for the past 12+ years, and when they ran out I would be a mess of pain and seizures and I would end up in the hospital with no insurance and then possibly driven into bankruptcy and madness lol, I'm laughing, but I was serious, It would not be pretty as we all know to just run out of meds all at once.
She said she was going to do me a HUGE favor, I started thanking her over and over before I even knew what it was lol, she bumped a new kid patient from the family practice doc over to pediatrics (She said technically, shes not supposed to do that) and gave me that appointment on the 27th of this month! hooray!:jester:
I feel kind of bad, there are other people who have had to wait a long time for an appointment, but I truely have no idea what to do if I had to wait 18 months! Even better news, I KNOW this doctor. He has been my hubbys doctor for about 8 years and I have met him many times and like and trust him! He may want to change my treatment plan, but I know he's a kind and diligent person, and he's not afraid to prescribe opiates, Hubby has bi polar and this doctor has given him oxycodone a few times for broken ribs once and pancreatitus and things like that. He is careful to monitor him on them, but he's no opiatephobe.
When I go in on the 27th, I will still have about 8 weeks of refills, My plan is to take in all my prescription bottles, and offer to bring in a pharmacy print out from the past year or whatever he wants. Then if he wants to wait until he can have my medical records shipped over from the old doc before prescribing for me, I will have enough. Or do you think he would want to void my refills then and write me new ones in his name?
Thanks for all the support and advice, you guys are the best PM group on the net, imho.
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
TraveltoSL
03-14-2007, 09:37 PM
Hey Fabby,
I am SO excited for you and that the nurse was so nice to fit you in by the end of this month!!!! And to already know that he is a kind Dr. who has treated your hubby before is even better:)
I think it's a great idea to bring in all your bottles of medicine, prescriptions by the other Dr. and a printout from your pharmacy...That way, you can give him an idea of what is working for you now, what you have tried before, and then you and he can work out a great treatment plan to help you going forward....
I would think that he would want to cancel any refills from your previous Dr. so that only he is prescribing you medicine....I would think this would be in your best interest as well so it doesn't look strange to the pharmacy or DEA as such....As you can see from my other posts.....I am OVERLY cautious when it comes to all my medicine and treatments as have had some really awful experiences before and I document everything, and every 3 months, not only get a printout from my pharmacy, but my Dr.s office of my records to keep....Just in case my Dr. goes away like what happened to you or something goes wrong with insurance, etc.....And to also look everything over to make sure their aren't any mistakes like one time, my pharmacy accidentally printed out that I got my prescription of Percocet twice in one month, when it was only one....One of the assitants entered it in wrong and I talked with my regular guy and he fixed it right away...This could have looked very bad on me if my Dr. had called for whatever reason and it looked like there was this extra prescription for meds that he didn't prescribe...
I believe in doing everything I can to protect myself...even though I have the best Dr. I have ever had....it makes me feel secure to stay on top of everything myself and not leave it to anyone else's "record keeping"....as their can always be mistakes and of course, who will it look bad on???? The patient....
One more thing, as an extra precautionary measure, please make sure that your new Dr. has you SIGN for any prescriptions that you recieve....I had a Pain Mgmt. Dr. office a few years ago that did not do this and I was accused of picking up my medicine and I was in NC!!!! I had to fight VERY hard to clear my name and finally got cleared when I showed them date/time stamped receipts from gas and atm and food down there and traveling.....The receptionist said, "ohhh....sorry....it was someone who 'looked' like you"....She didn't even remember it right since it didn't get picked up by anyone....Well.....needless to say that I found out this last year through a friend that it turned out to be one of the Nurse Practioners that was STEALING the prescriptions from people!!!!! But I'm the one who got the bad name and had to PROVE myself to them....Because my name being so unusual....as well as my last name.....there wasn't a chance of someone with the same name.....But....I learned a valuable lesson because they did not have a signature rule when you picked up your scripts but my new doc even checks ID.....and of course....my pharmacy has a separate signature just for medicine....on top of the signature if you pay your co-pay with a check card....
Ok, so sorry to go on but don't want anything more to happen to you, (or anyone here) again in that dept. if I can help offer advice in anyway from my terrible experiences....I know that it wasn't the case with you but it just go me thinking of Things That Can Go Wrong In The World Of Pain Management......Maybe I should start a new thread of "Cautionary tales".....LOL.....
So, again, I'm saying that it also shows to the new Dr. that you don't want to have 2 prescriptions for the same medicines, possibly, sitting out there that COULD look bad....Make sense???
Please keep us posted and I will be praying that he helps you find a whole body/mind treatment plan that includes many modalities to help with your pain since I'm a broken record about so many things that include much more than opiates to live the best life possible...But.... SO happy that he doesn't seem to be "afraid" of prescribing them as so many of us need that as part of our plan....BTW, so glad that you have enough medicine to wait until then so that you are not suffering!!!!
YEAH FOR YOU:):):) :angel:
Blessings,
Ingrid
I am SO excited for you and that the nurse was so nice to fit you in by the end of this month!!!! And to already know that he is a kind Dr. who has treated your hubby before is even better:)
I think it's a great idea to bring in all your bottles of medicine, prescriptions by the other Dr. and a printout from your pharmacy...That way, you can give him an idea of what is working for you now, what you have tried before, and then you and he can work out a great treatment plan to help you going forward....
I would think that he would want to cancel any refills from your previous Dr. so that only he is prescribing you medicine....I would think this would be in your best interest as well so it doesn't look strange to the pharmacy or DEA as such....As you can see from my other posts.....I am OVERLY cautious when it comes to all my medicine and treatments as have had some really awful experiences before and I document everything, and every 3 months, not only get a printout from my pharmacy, but my Dr.s office of my records to keep....Just in case my Dr. goes away like what happened to you or something goes wrong with insurance, etc.....And to also look everything over to make sure their aren't any mistakes like one time, my pharmacy accidentally printed out that I got my prescription of Percocet twice in one month, when it was only one....One of the assitants entered it in wrong and I talked with my regular guy and he fixed it right away...This could have looked very bad on me if my Dr. had called for whatever reason and it looked like there was this extra prescription for meds that he didn't prescribe...
I believe in doing everything I can to protect myself...even though I have the best Dr. I have ever had....it makes me feel secure to stay on top of everything myself and not leave it to anyone else's "record keeping"....as their can always be mistakes and of course, who will it look bad on???? The patient....
One more thing, as an extra precautionary measure, please make sure that your new Dr. has you SIGN for any prescriptions that you recieve....I had a Pain Mgmt. Dr. office a few years ago that did not do this and I was accused of picking up my medicine and I was in NC!!!! I had to fight VERY hard to clear my name and finally got cleared when I showed them date/time stamped receipts from gas and atm and food down there and traveling.....The receptionist said, "ohhh....sorry....it was someone who 'looked' like you"....She didn't even remember it right since it didn't get picked up by anyone....Well.....needless to say that I found out this last year through a friend that it turned out to be one of the Nurse Practioners that was STEALING the prescriptions from people!!!!! But I'm the one who got the bad name and had to PROVE myself to them....Because my name being so unusual....as well as my last name.....there wasn't a chance of someone with the same name.....But....I learned a valuable lesson because they did not have a signature rule when you picked up your scripts but my new doc even checks ID.....and of course....my pharmacy has a separate signature just for medicine....on top of the signature if you pay your co-pay with a check card....
Ok, so sorry to go on but don't want anything more to happen to you, (or anyone here) again in that dept. if I can help offer advice in anyway from my terrible experiences....I know that it wasn't the case with you but it just go me thinking of Things That Can Go Wrong In The World Of Pain Management......Maybe I should start a new thread of "Cautionary tales".....LOL.....
So, again, I'm saying that it also shows to the new Dr. that you don't want to have 2 prescriptions for the same medicines, possibly, sitting out there that COULD look bad....Make sense???
Please keep us posted and I will be praying that he helps you find a whole body/mind treatment plan that includes many modalities to help with your pain since I'm a broken record about so many things that include much more than opiates to live the best life possible...But.... SO happy that he doesn't seem to be "afraid" of prescribing them as so many of us need that as part of our plan....BTW, so glad that you have enough medicine to wait until then so that you are not suffering!!!!
YEAH FOR YOU:):):) :angel:
Blessings,
Ingrid
rayefaye
03-14-2007, 11:16 PM
This is good news:blob_fire I glad you will able to see someone you know that always helps. Good Luck:bouncing:
trowftd3
03-17-2007, 02:30 AM
Fabby,
Yippee! I am soooo glad that things are working out for you(knock on wood...right?). Continued good luck. I live in fear of losing my health insurance.
My hubby has been out of work for 2.5 years with a shattered calcaneus and three surgeries. He just started back to work yesterday(4 hours!) and I'm hoping he can take it. His migraine medicine costs $748...every two weeks!! With our insurance we pay $15. When I go to pick up our prescriptions I hear so many people paying $100-$200+ for their medicines because they have no insurance. We need to fix the healthcare system in America. How? I don't know.
Anyway, sorry to hijack your post...hope your doc is compassionate and fixes you up with a combo of treatments that help you have a great quality of life!
Take care and keep us posted~Mush
Yippee! I am soooo glad that things are working out for you(knock on wood...right?). Continued good luck. I live in fear of losing my health insurance.
My hubby has been out of work for 2.5 years with a shattered calcaneus and three surgeries. He just started back to work yesterday(4 hours!) and I'm hoping he can take it. His migraine medicine costs $748...every two weeks!! With our insurance we pay $15. When I go to pick up our prescriptions I hear so many people paying $100-$200+ for their medicines because they have no insurance. We need to fix the healthcare system in America. How? I don't know.
Anyway, sorry to hijack your post...hope your doc is compassionate and fixes you up with a combo of treatments that help you have a great quality of life!
Take care and keep us posted~Mush
ozzybug
03-17-2007, 10:19 AM
Fabby-
I'm sorry I'm so late seeing this post! Please forgive me Fabby...:dizzy:
This just goes to prove that good things come to good people. I am so, SO happy for you! I know this is such a welcome relief and you deserve this. I know there are LOTS of people here who have been praying for you and keeping positive vibes coming your way.
I wish you the very best of luck and medical care with these doctors. I'm so happy for you. Please do keep us posted.
Hugs!!!
I'm sorry I'm so late seeing this post! Please forgive me Fabby...:dizzy:
This just goes to prove that good things come to good people. I am so, SO happy for you! I know this is such a welcome relief and you deserve this. I know there are LOTS of people here who have been praying for you and keeping positive vibes coming your way.
I wish you the very best of luck and medical care with these doctors. I'm so happy for you. Please do keep us posted.
Hugs!!!