BrittleBones
03-16-2007, 09:46 PM
Hi everybody. I had posted recently that my pain management doctor was leaving the pain clinic that I go to and that I would be seeing his replacement today. I had been pretty stable on my meds (methadone 120 mgs. a day and 30 mgs. oxycodone, 4 per day) for about a year, but just recently started experiencing increased pain in my right hip, right femur and mid spine and the oxy wasn't really helping me like it has in the past. I made an appointment to talk to the new doc about my options for a different plan of action and perhaps a change in my break thru med.
Well...I met with the new doctor who turns out to be a Fellow in anesthesiology at the University. I experienced so much of what other posters have gone through when dealing with a new health care provider and it wasn't a very good experience! First of all, the new doc (who looked about 18 years old) came in and looked over my chart and I told him why I was there. He asked me about other medications that I had taken in the past (other than the oxy) that had helped my pain. I gave him the list...there wasn't really anything that I hadn't tried in the past. Then I mentioned to him that I had taken Actiq at one point in my treatment. Well, you would have thought that he suddenly saw a blinking, neon sign over my head that said: DRUG ABUSER....DRUG ABUSER...ADDICT...ADDICT!! His entire tone of voice and body language changed. He told me that doctors could only prescribe Fentanyl and Actiq for extreme cancer pain and that it wasn't used in pain management practices any more. I tried to remember what everyone here has said in the past about not losing your cool, not getting defensive, not over-reacting...but I was so shocked by his accusatory stance that I was numb! I referred him to my chart where it clearly showed that the doctor who had just left the practice had prescribed Actiq for me for almost 6 months a few years ago. He himmed and hawed and stuttered....then he said that my doctor had personally told him that my medication should not be changed!! I didn't believe him...I mean, he had never met me and he wouldn't have had any idea why I was coming to see him. He made it sound like he was clairvoyant or something and had foreseen my medication problem and specifically spoke to my regular doc about it before he left the practice!! What a crock!! But I know enough now to not waste my time, my blood pressure or my stress level on folks like him. I've known his kind in the past!
It wasn't a completely wasted trip. He ordered some new x-rays for my hip and femur to rule out another fracture or problem with my hip replacement and handed me a prescription for a compounded cream. I've never heard of it and I wondered if anyone else had ever been prescribed this combination before: "DMS 0.5%, Dextromethorphan 10%, Gabapentin 10%, Lidocaine 10%, Marcaine 2%, Amitriptyline 5%, Diclofenac 5%, Cyclobenzaprine 5% in Anydrous base/PLO base. What a cocktail, eh? All of this is to be compounded by the pharmacist and I'm to use 1 gram three times a day on my skin...over the parts of my body that hurt.
Then he told me that he couldn't think of anything other than the cream to help my increased pain. He said, "The problem is...I don't KNOW you and I don't KNOW the kind of person you are!!!" I wanted to hit him I was so mad! It's not MY problem that he doesn't know me!! If he is questioning my honesty about my increased pain complaints right from the get-go, then we are going to have a very big problem! All he needed to do was take a little time and look over my history to see that I've always been compliant, have never asked for early refills, have never called the clinic for help after hours or on weekends to ask for meds, etc. Then he told me to try the cream and come back to see him in a month. I asked him if he was going to be my doctor for the long-term and he said, "Well no, I'm only here until July and then I'll be moving on!"
I've decided not see him again. Instead, I will call and ask for an appointment with one of the "permanent" doctors. My health care is too important to me to have it passed to every new "fellow" that comes through the clinic. The head of the department is supposed to be excellent and I'll make an appointment with him, even if I have to wait months!
So I guess I'm not asking for any real advice here. I just wanted to vent and to add my voice to the regular chorus of folks who have to deal with these kinds of doctors every day. Oh, and I would like to know if anyone has an opinion (like Shoreline or anybody else) on the cream. Have you used it? Did it work for you? Thanks for letting me b_ _ ch! KathyMac
Well...I met with the new doctor who turns out to be a Fellow in anesthesiology at the University. I experienced so much of what other posters have gone through when dealing with a new health care provider and it wasn't a very good experience! First of all, the new doc (who looked about 18 years old) came in and looked over my chart and I told him why I was there. He asked me about other medications that I had taken in the past (other than the oxy) that had helped my pain. I gave him the list...there wasn't really anything that I hadn't tried in the past. Then I mentioned to him that I had taken Actiq at one point in my treatment. Well, you would have thought that he suddenly saw a blinking, neon sign over my head that said: DRUG ABUSER....DRUG ABUSER...ADDICT...ADDICT!! His entire tone of voice and body language changed. He told me that doctors could only prescribe Fentanyl and Actiq for extreme cancer pain and that it wasn't used in pain management practices any more. I tried to remember what everyone here has said in the past about not losing your cool, not getting defensive, not over-reacting...but I was so shocked by his accusatory stance that I was numb! I referred him to my chart where it clearly showed that the doctor who had just left the practice had prescribed Actiq for me for almost 6 months a few years ago. He himmed and hawed and stuttered....then he said that my doctor had personally told him that my medication should not be changed!! I didn't believe him...I mean, he had never met me and he wouldn't have had any idea why I was coming to see him. He made it sound like he was clairvoyant or something and had foreseen my medication problem and specifically spoke to my regular doc about it before he left the practice!! What a crock!! But I know enough now to not waste my time, my blood pressure or my stress level on folks like him. I've known his kind in the past!
It wasn't a completely wasted trip. He ordered some new x-rays for my hip and femur to rule out another fracture or problem with my hip replacement and handed me a prescription for a compounded cream. I've never heard of it and I wondered if anyone else had ever been prescribed this combination before: "DMS 0.5%, Dextromethorphan 10%, Gabapentin 10%, Lidocaine 10%, Marcaine 2%, Amitriptyline 5%, Diclofenac 5%, Cyclobenzaprine 5% in Anydrous base/PLO base. What a cocktail, eh? All of this is to be compounded by the pharmacist and I'm to use 1 gram three times a day on my skin...over the parts of my body that hurt.
Then he told me that he couldn't think of anything other than the cream to help my increased pain. He said, "The problem is...I don't KNOW you and I don't KNOW the kind of person you are!!!" I wanted to hit him I was so mad! It's not MY problem that he doesn't know me!! If he is questioning my honesty about my increased pain complaints right from the get-go, then we are going to have a very big problem! All he needed to do was take a little time and look over my history to see that I've always been compliant, have never asked for early refills, have never called the clinic for help after hours or on weekends to ask for meds, etc. Then he told me to try the cream and come back to see him in a month. I asked him if he was going to be my doctor for the long-term and he said, "Well no, I'm only here until July and then I'll be moving on!"
I've decided not see him again. Instead, I will call and ask for an appointment with one of the "permanent" doctors. My health care is too important to me to have it passed to every new "fellow" that comes through the clinic. The head of the department is supposed to be excellent and I'll make an appointment with him, even if I have to wait months!
So I guess I'm not asking for any real advice here. I just wanted to vent and to add my voice to the regular chorus of folks who have to deal with these kinds of doctors every day. Oh, and I would like to know if anyone has an opinion (like Shoreline or anybody else) on the cream. Have you used it? Did it work for you? Thanks for letting me b_ _ ch! KathyMac
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rayefaye
03-16-2007, 10:09 PM
I sorry to hear things didn't go so well. I can understand how angry :mad: :mad: :mad: you must have been and especially if all he gave you was some kind of cream. I've heard of this cream before a man on the RSD board was prescribed this. I think :confused: he said it didn't help him. Sorry I can 't help you more and hope you will be able to get an appointment with the other doctor soon. But that's how the young doctors are:dizzy:
TraveltoSL
03-16-2007, 11:27 PM
OHHHHH....KathyMac,
I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience today....I am proud of you for not "hitting" the young fella right in the jaw!!! LOL....I know it doesn't make it any easier to say that I can emphatize with you and have had awful experiences like that before too and it just seems to make the pain even worse when you have to deal with sucha novice and having to start all over explaining yourself to somebody....I know what you mean by "feeling" like you have this big sign over your head when you mention certain medication....but will give ya a big cyber hug ((( )))...
I know it says that you live in Central Md. but the Pain Mgmt. Dr. (Dr. Thomas Nguyen) I see who is at the Virginia Spine Institute, is in Reston, VA...along with my wonderful surgeon....is such a caring, empathetic, and great Dr. who looks at you as a person and what you want to accomplish each day and level of activity and helps you get there with opiates, muscle relaxers, depression med, sleep meds, injections, accupuncture, massage, etc.....Just saying that he is open to anything and everything and whatever works for each person....Obviously including natural things as well.....but is not "afraid" of any medication since he truly cares for each patient nd talks to me about every little detail of my life since my job is traveling as a missionary so I am very active for a month, then much less pain when I'm at home for a month....so we have worked together on finding the perfect pain mgmt. plan just for me....
I would personally drive many hours each month to see him so if you want to look them up on the internet you could see how long of a drive it would be.....It's also great having my surgeon in the same office as well as their own x-ray machines that you look at the results instantly as well as lots of other equipment like the floroscope, etc...so one stop shop...LOL....could someone take you so you could rest on the drive???
Just want to throw that suggestion out there since I just love him so much but will certainly pray for you to get another appt. soon with another Dr. that will treat you with kindness.....Did he only give you the cream and take away all your medicine???? That would be horrible to put you into withdrawls with all of that and very irresponsible as a Dr.....I will pray that you have enough medicine to keep you comfortable until the next appt. as well.....
Haven't heard of or tried the cream so maybe someone who has experience with that will chime in....Like you said....it certainly has a lot of things mixed in it that I've never heard of....
Blessings,
Ingrid
I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience today....I am proud of you for not "hitting" the young fella right in the jaw!!! LOL....I know it doesn't make it any easier to say that I can emphatize with you and have had awful experiences like that before too and it just seems to make the pain even worse when you have to deal with sucha novice and having to start all over explaining yourself to somebody....I know what you mean by "feeling" like you have this big sign over your head when you mention certain medication....but will give ya a big cyber hug ((( )))...
I know it says that you live in Central Md. but the Pain Mgmt. Dr. (Dr. Thomas Nguyen) I see who is at the Virginia Spine Institute, is in Reston, VA...along with my wonderful surgeon....is such a caring, empathetic, and great Dr. who looks at you as a person and what you want to accomplish each day and level of activity and helps you get there with opiates, muscle relaxers, depression med, sleep meds, injections, accupuncture, massage, etc.....Just saying that he is open to anything and everything and whatever works for each person....Obviously including natural things as well.....but is not "afraid" of any medication since he truly cares for each patient nd talks to me about every little detail of my life since my job is traveling as a missionary so I am very active for a month, then much less pain when I'm at home for a month....so we have worked together on finding the perfect pain mgmt. plan just for me....
I would personally drive many hours each month to see him so if you want to look them up on the internet you could see how long of a drive it would be.....It's also great having my surgeon in the same office as well as their own x-ray machines that you look at the results instantly as well as lots of other equipment like the floroscope, etc...so one stop shop...LOL....could someone take you so you could rest on the drive???
Just want to throw that suggestion out there since I just love him so much but will certainly pray for you to get another appt. soon with another Dr. that will treat you with kindness.....Did he only give you the cream and take away all your medicine???? That would be horrible to put you into withdrawls with all of that and very irresponsible as a Dr.....I will pray that you have enough medicine to keep you comfortable until the next appt. as well.....
Haven't heard of or tried the cream so maybe someone who has experience with that will chime in....Like you said....it certainly has a lot of things mixed in it that I've never heard of....
Blessings,
Ingrid
ozzybug
03-17-2007, 10:14 AM
(((((Kathy Mac)))))
Good morning girlie! I'm really sorry you had a bad first appointment with the new guy. I am glad to hear that you won't be seeing him again. I know it's common practice for doctors to discuss patient history when they are leaving a practice, but it sounds like this guy was contradictory when talking with you.
I mean, first he stated that he spoke with your other doctor, then he said he doesn't know anything about you and that he doesn't know what kind of person you are??? Give me a break! If he really did speak with your previous doctor, he would have KNOWN what kind of person you are. I'm sure the other doctor made this new doctor aware of any patients who might not be totally on the "up & up". If he had actually taken the time to thoroughly review your file, he would have known when and for how long you had taken Actiq in the past, AND he would have seen your track record in not requesting early scrips, calling on weekends for refills or other medications and so on.
You are an established patient with this practice and I know it must have been frustrating to feel as though you had to sit there and justify what you were saying and to have to prove yourself to him- especially since he is only there for a few months. You did the right thing in keeping your cool.
Hopefully, your next appointment with one of the other practitioners will go better for you. Please have a great weekend!! :wave:
Good morning girlie! I'm really sorry you had a bad first appointment with the new guy. I am glad to hear that you won't be seeing him again. I know it's common practice for doctors to discuss patient history when they are leaving a practice, but it sounds like this guy was contradictory when talking with you.
I mean, first he stated that he spoke with your other doctor, then he said he doesn't know anything about you and that he doesn't know what kind of person you are??? Give me a break! If he really did speak with your previous doctor, he would have KNOWN what kind of person you are. I'm sure the other doctor made this new doctor aware of any patients who might not be totally on the "up & up". If he had actually taken the time to thoroughly review your file, he would have known when and for how long you had taken Actiq in the past, AND he would have seen your track record in not requesting early scrips, calling on weekends for refills or other medications and so on.
You are an established patient with this practice and I know it must have been frustrating to feel as though you had to sit there and justify what you were saying and to have to prove yourself to him- especially since he is only there for a few months. You did the right thing in keeping your cool.
Hopefully, your next appointment with one of the other practitioners will go better for you. Please have a great weekend!! :wave:
dani808
03-19-2007, 12:12 AM
I am new to this board and it is comforting to hear that I am not the only one having these issues although I am sorry you had to go through that. I work in law and have seen a few docs go to jail, not for overprescribing, but underprescribing! It is a form of malpractice. People really need to start complaining more about these kinds of docs. I had a similar situation when my doc went out of town and I didn't fill my meds in time, so I went to my primary doc per her instructions and he called and lectured me and said he was NOT going to prescribe me any narcotics even though he had my history and instructions from the PM doc. He kept callin my Actiq, "perca pops" which I later found out is the street name, and how they were selling on the streets for $50 a piece implying that I might be selling my meds. He even went back in my records a year to see I had taken Tussionex one time when I had the flu and mentioned how people go through a process of seperating the "good stuff". I just remember thinking, "this guy us obsessed with all the tings he thinks I could be doing with my meds!" I was so insulted. And by the way, Actiq is prescribed for pain other than cancer pain. It is even starting to be used for Migraines. My insurance covered it when I was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago, but they still covered it year later for my back surgery, so he was wrong about that. Anyway, I would go to that site I gave you the link to, at the very least so that if it happens again you know your rights and the law so you can make him aware that he is messing with the wrong girl!
Fabrashamx
03-19-2007, 02:03 AM
Hi Kathy, OMG I am so sorry this happened to you! You would think that after years of being compliant, and within the same practice even, you could expect to be treated with concern and respect.
As you know, I am seeing a new doctor on the 27th, so I am more than a little worried I will have a similar experience, particularly since I have never been to this practice before.
I hope that you wont have to see this chuckleheaded charlatan again and they can get you right in with the head guy. I'll be sending good thoughts and prayers your way, and I'll let you know how I do on the 27th.
Please let us know if you get in to see someone better, and I also want to know, did this guy expect this cream to take the place of your other meds? :eek: or did he keep you on the meds the old doctor had you on and the cream is new?
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
As you know, I am seeing a new doctor on the 27th, so I am more than a little worried I will have a similar experience, particularly since I have never been to this practice before.
I hope that you wont have to see this chuckleheaded charlatan again and they can get you right in with the head guy. I'll be sending good thoughts and prayers your way, and I'll let you know how I do on the 27th.
Please let us know if you get in to see someone better, and I also want to know, did this guy expect this cream to take the place of your other meds? :eek: or did he keep you on the meds the old doctor had you on and the cream is new?
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
ibake&pray
03-19-2007, 04:37 PM
Ingrid,
The only problem with Dr. N. is that he doesn't accept insurance. I too go to him., The man should be elavated to sainthood. And don'tyou love those coats he wears?The french knots for buttons....I digress. I do agree with Ingrid, we are truly blessed to have someone whose sole concern is to reduce the pain and discomfort you are having.....
The only problem with Dr. N. is that he doesn't accept insurance. I too go to him., The man should be elavated to sainthood. And don'tyou love those coats he wears?The french knots for buttons....I digress. I do agree with Ingrid, we are truly blessed to have someone whose sole concern is to reduce the pain and discomfort you are having.....
marie59
03-19-2007, 04:54 PM
so sorry to hear you had a rough time with new doc. i too had a terible first visit with my pain doc.the last thing you need is to have to deal with an idiot when you already live in pain.but i am so glad that i saw here a second time oh what a difference mri make i dont know maybe she didnt believe my pain that is very sad .she does now and i just love her .so there are good docs out there.hugs to you love marie:angel:
Query
03-20-2007, 01:41 AM
[QUOTE=dani808;2866853]I am new to this board and it is comforting to hear that I am not the only one having these issues although I am sorry you had to go through that. I work in law and have seen a few docs go to jail, not for overprescribing, but underprescribing! >>>
I am wondering if there are any lawsuits about Hyperalgesia. If not now, there surely wil be soon. When doctors start taking people off their meds, claiming that they have Hyperalgsesia and not tolerance, there will be an uproar!
I am wondering if there are any lawsuits about Hyperalgesia. If not now, there surely wil be soon. When doctors start taking people off their meds, claiming that they have Hyperalgsesia and not tolerance, there will be an uproar!
dani808
03-20-2007, 02:01 PM
I have never heard of anyone being taken off their meds for hyperalgesia. Why would they take them off the meds for that? Isn't that just people who are over sensitve to pain?
I have heard of docs getting in trouble for just stopping someones meds though. A doc refused to prescribe because the person said their meds got stolen, (and she was on really high levels of stuff, and instead of tapering her off he just refused, and she tried to go to the emergency room when she started going through WDS and they wouldn't help her so she killed herself. The family sued the doc and won.
I have heard of docs getting in trouble for just stopping someones meds though. A doc refused to prescribe because the person said their meds got stolen, (and she was on really high levels of stuff, and instead of tapering her off he just refused, and she tried to go to the emergency room when she started going through WDS and they wouldn't help her so she killed herself. The family sued the doc and won.