Brian73
12-02-2007, 04:09 AM
I have been receiving methadone for my back pain for approx.15 years.I received a call from my doctors secretary last weak saying that he can no longer write for that type of medicine.Without any type of referal to another doctor.About 3 years ago the same exact thing happened with another doctor of mine.What is the situation with all of this.I do not use any street drugs or alcahol and have been on this medication for years.Problem being that i am haveing a hard time finding another DR. as they act very funny when i tell them the medication i am on.If it is legal why is this happening?The entire situation makes little sence to me.Thank you for any help or comments someone can give....
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barbie62
12-02-2007, 05:21 AM
Hi Brian, I am having the same issues. I moved to a new state and need to find a doctor to give me my meds, Methadone is one of them. When I explain to them what kind of care I need they have all said we don't take people who are on that. My other PM did not have a problem he is the one that started me on it. I am now on rations because I do not want to run out before I find a doctor. Anyone that has any insight for Brian and me?
Thanks,
Barbara
Thanks,
Barbara
trowftd3
12-02-2007, 06:34 AM
Barbara,
[removed] What is the cause of your pain?
What treatments have you done other than pain meds?
I'm hoping that you brought your medical records with you when you moved. Then you can show a potential doctor everything that you've tried...what worked and what didn't work. I'm sure there are docs in the wonderful state of Washington that can help you. Your new doctor may want you to try a few treatments or medications that he thinks may help. I do know a couple of people who take methadone for cp so someone in WA is prescribing it!
Have you found a new gp/family doc/internal medicine/primary care doctor?
Maybe this doctor will be the one to take care of you medications.
Good luck and keep us posted.~Mush
[removed] What is the cause of your pain?
What treatments have you done other than pain meds?
I'm hoping that you brought your medical records with you when you moved. Then you can show a potential doctor everything that you've tried...what worked and what didn't work. I'm sure there are docs in the wonderful state of Washington that can help you. Your new doctor may want you to try a few treatments or medications that he thinks may help. I do know a couple of people who take methadone for cp so someone in WA is prescribing it!
Have you found a new gp/family doc/internal medicine/primary care doctor?
Maybe this doctor will be the one to take care of you medications.
Good luck and keep us posted.~Mush
Shoreline
12-02-2007, 08:49 AM
Hi brian, The dea or any medical board wouldn't tell a doc he can't prescribe any more of one particlualr drug like methadone. If he has been sanctioned he may have lost the abilty to prescribe all C-11 or he may simplybe going the the process of an audit and every C-2 he writes is being scrutinized. When it comes to a docs livelyhood, Given the choice of not prescribing clas 11's or not practicing medecine at all, I think most will choice the first and avoid the C-11's if the have been investigated, warned or sanctioned. I would bet most of his patients got a similar call and the doc is backing out of treating severe chronic pain with C-11's for one reason or another.
Good luck, Dave
Good luck, Dave
barbie62
12-03-2007, 04:33 AM
Trow, Thanks for the response. First, No I did not get all of my records. I am in the process of doing that now. Also my last PM dr is going to write a letter on my behalf. Basically stating diagnoses, prognosis, past treatment and current treatment. At least I hope he is. He has an office that does not return phone calls. I have failed back syndrome, RSD in right leg and foot starting on left side and mulitiple buldging discs in neck that are effecting my arms and hands. So I am being medically managed with meds.
I have had many different types of injections for back and rsd. None for neck. I have not had any thing good that has come from anything that I have had done. My body takes alot of meds to work. After my last surgery to remove scar tissue, the anesthesioligst said that I was given 2 times the amount of a 250lb man and it was not working.
[removed]. So I am close to may cities. I am looking into the UW pain clinic but I have to send them records and they decide if they want to see you. I also do not have insurance or money right now. That is also an issue with getting narcotics and paying cash.
Sorry to ramble but I am very frustrated. I fell on Friday and needed to go to get checked and couldn't because I don't have insurance. I am afraid that I damaged my back not to mention that my legs are getting weak. This is the 3rd time I have fallen in 10 days.
Here I am rambling, any help you can offer would be great.
Barbara
I have had many different types of injections for back and rsd. None for neck. I have not had any thing good that has come from anything that I have had done. My body takes alot of meds to work. After my last surgery to remove scar tissue, the anesthesioligst said that I was given 2 times the amount of a 250lb man and it was not working.
[removed]. So I am close to may cities. I am looking into the UW pain clinic but I have to send them records and they decide if they want to see you. I also do not have insurance or money right now. That is also an issue with getting narcotics and paying cash.
Sorry to ramble but I am very frustrated. I fell on Friday and needed to go to get checked and couldn't because I don't have insurance. I am afraid that I damaged my back not to mention that my legs are getting weak. This is the 3rd time I have fallen in 10 days.
Here I am rambling, any help you can offer would be great.
Barbara
Director
12-03-2007, 02:55 PM
I saw this thread and I just had to jump in and post a response to what's going on with you guys. I too, [removed] and have been on Methadone for almost five years now. Brian and Barbie, your doctors (especially Brian) must have run into some kind of problems with the DEA, like Dave pointed out to you.
We have a couple doctors doing Pain Management here, but I've always gotten my meds from my PCP. I'm on 180 mg per day and last July, my doctor retired. I had to find another, so I called one doctor who use to be in the same office as my doctor. She had access to all my records and when she went through them, I got a call back from her nurse saying she (the doctor) didn't feel she could take me on as a patient. I ended up making an appointment with another doctor and when I went in to see him the first time, I had made arrangements for him to have all my records available to him. He had no problem keeping me on the same meds as I was currently on, and he even asked if I needed anything that day. I said all I would need was my Methadone, but I wasn't due to fill it for another 10 days or so. He said he would just go ahead and write it, to save me another trip to pick it up. So, I walked out of his office with my monthly script of Methadone, which is 540, 10 mg tabs. I filled it about 10 or 11 days later, when I needed it.
I don't understand why you are having trouble finding doctors to write Methadone for CP. Especially, if you live near Seattle. Barbie, the U of W Med School might be a good place to get into and receive some help. [removed]
Please post and let us know what happens and how you come out with this problem.
We have a couple doctors doing Pain Management here, but I've always gotten my meds from my PCP. I'm on 180 mg per day and last July, my doctor retired. I had to find another, so I called one doctor who use to be in the same office as my doctor. She had access to all my records and when she went through them, I got a call back from her nurse saying she (the doctor) didn't feel she could take me on as a patient. I ended up making an appointment with another doctor and when I went in to see him the first time, I had made arrangements for him to have all my records available to him. He had no problem keeping me on the same meds as I was currently on, and he even asked if I needed anything that day. I said all I would need was my Methadone, but I wasn't due to fill it for another 10 days or so. He said he would just go ahead and write it, to save me another trip to pick it up. So, I walked out of his office with my monthly script of Methadone, which is 540, 10 mg tabs. I filled it about 10 or 11 days later, when I needed it.
I don't understand why you are having trouble finding doctors to write Methadone for CP. Especially, if you live near Seattle. Barbie, the U of W Med School might be a good place to get into and receive some help. [removed]
Please post and let us know what happens and how you come out with this problem.
barbie62
12-03-2007, 08:02 PM
Director, I have called at least 20 offices and explained as I was told by my PM what I needed. When y asked what kind of meds I was taking I told them and then they stated "oh, we don't treat people who are on Methadone." I was even told by a pain psyc. that he would not take me because the dose is to high. My normal dose is 20mg every 8 hrs. That is not much. I am now only taking 10mg every 12. I have been taking much more of my breakthru med. I am waiting for a letter from my PM and hopefully that will help with my situation. I really need to get my pain under control. I needed to up my dose and now I can't even take the minimum.
I did look up PM on the net. I have called most of them. I am still working on it. I can not drive so they can not be to far from me.
Thanks for the interest, I am walking a very fine line right now of keeping it together. I am trying to get state medical assistance so maybe they will be able to help. I am so afraid to go anywhere because of the problem falling.
Thanks again,
Barbara
I did look up PM on the net. I have called most of them. I am still working on it. I can not drive so they can not be to far from me.
Thanks for the interest, I am walking a very fine line right now of keeping it together. I am trying to get state medical assistance so maybe they will be able to help. I am so afraid to go anywhere because of the problem falling.
Thanks again,
Barbara
Director
12-03-2007, 08:33 PM
Barbie...You are right, 20-40 mg of Methadone a day is a very low dose. When you call a doctor's office and they ask about meds, who is doing the asking? The reason I ask that, if you are giving the information to some receptionist? Do they know you are on Methadone for pain control and not detox?
When I made my appointment with my new PCP, I just called and said I was a patient of Dr. So & so and he is retiring in July. I want to make an appointment with Dr._____and they went ahead and made the appointment for about a month before I was done with my old doc. I went in and had a sheet of paper with all my medications, as of a certain date, that I had made up and stored in Word. I have it now, and if I need to see another doc for a consult or whatever, I can go in change the date and any med changes if there are any, and I have a current list, which I gave to my PCP's nurse when she did the blood pressure, etc. before I saw the Doc.
I just don't understand why you can't find a doctor there. You may need to just omit the fact you take Methadone and give the nurse or doctor that information when you see them. Especially if you'll have a letter from your old PM. You might consider that. Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of the phone book where the break down Physicians by specialty? You might try that too.
Take care and let us know what's going on and if you have any success.
When I made my appointment with my new PCP, I just called and said I was a patient of Dr. So & so and he is retiring in July. I want to make an appointment with Dr._____and they went ahead and made the appointment for about a month before I was done with my old doc. I went in and had a sheet of paper with all my medications, as of a certain date, that I had made up and stored in Word. I have it now, and if I need to see another doc for a consult or whatever, I can go in change the date and any med changes if there are any, and I have a current list, which I gave to my PCP's nurse when she did the blood pressure, etc. before I saw the Doc.
I just don't understand why you can't find a doctor there. You may need to just omit the fact you take Methadone and give the nurse or doctor that information when you see them. Especially if you'll have a letter from your old PM. You might consider that. Have you looked in the Yellow Pages of the phone book where the break down Physicians by specialty? You might try that too.
Take care and let us know what's going on and if you have any success.
barbie62
12-04-2007, 10:41 PM
Director, Thanks for your info. I am going to try again tomorrow and I decided that I would give as little information as possible over the phone. I am still waiting for the letter and he may possibily write me a script for a month and give to my son who is coming for x-mas. That would give me more time and not have to worry about changing meds.
I will keep you posted as to what happens.
Thanks again for your help,
Barbara
I will keep you posted as to what happens.
Thanks again for your help,
Barbara
slipperyslope
12-06-2007, 09:41 PM
I agree with Director. DON'T tell the receptionist you are looking for a Dr to prescribe you methadone. Its going to automatically make them say No to you and you won't even get an apt. I remember when I first moved here from california 3 years ago and I was in Pain management, every Dr I called I was told that this paticualr Dr does not prescribe any pain medication at all AND DID NOT treat anyone for pain, yah right that was a lie. so I called again the next day to the same office and told them I had an ear infection and needed a physical. I got right in and was prescribed vicadin on the first apt and all my other meds, paxil and at the time I took ativan for anxiety. You can't tell the gate keeper at the front desk anything more than your a new patient looking for a new Dr. Plain and simple. To much information will make it so you won't even get in the door. They probably think you are a drug seeker looking for meds. so be careful what you tell them.. talk to the Dr about this, not the receptionist, they are just trying to keep away druggies and we know your not one but they assume everyone is.
Good luck, SS
Good luck, SS