taosdaphne
06-23-2008, 09:22 PM
I'm trying to get hold of one of my neurologists. The guy who initially diagnosed me gave me the polite brush off today--says since I went to Mayo fo a second opinion, THEY can manage my case. Great. I'm in need of drug refills and can find no one to write them for me. I need to tak to Mayo, but my doc there has not answered phone, email, fax, or regular mail. So Im going to have tp spend another $100 to see my GP for five minutes and see if she'll give me the scrips. She's unhappy messing with anything that has to do w. MS--but I'm going away for a month, and CANNOT survive w.o valium and Lortab or its equiv. I know how to cry on cue, and this may be a case where I'll have to.
Sheesh. Mayo is a 2 day drive from here, so we're talking 4 night in a motel plus $4 gas. I wouldn't mind if I had other reasons for going, but realy I'm doing OK. It's such a rip-off--$100 for a dopey visit to make sure I'm not a drug addict or whatever. And I can't get into the pain clinic till August.
We're planning a 1 month trip up into the Tetons and other exciting places, and I'm not changing all those reservations to fit Mayo in. This is what I get for living in the back of beyond--the closest decent medical care is 1.5 hrs away,3.5 if I go all the way to ABQ, and 2 days to see an MS specialist.
I'm feeling abandoned by the health care system and more so by doctors I genuinely like and respect.
I'm going to be snarky w. the nurse tomorrow, and insist that I talk to him TOMORROW.
And the horse was highly uncooperative today--just lazy, and I could pound on him forever without him moving. I've dealt with his sort before, and he's going to be getting a lot of ground work on the lunge, and then he's going to be surprised by spurs. :) Not the ones with rowels, but the kind dressage riders use to make their signalling clearer. He responds nicely to leg,but I haven't got enough oomph in my leg mucles to make him really pay attention.
Sheesh. Mayo is a 2 day drive from here, so we're talking 4 night in a motel plus $4 gas. I wouldn't mind if I had other reasons for going, but realy I'm doing OK. It's such a rip-off--$100 for a dopey visit to make sure I'm not a drug addict or whatever. And I can't get into the pain clinic till August.
We're planning a 1 month trip up into the Tetons and other exciting places, and I'm not changing all those reservations to fit Mayo in. This is what I get for living in the back of beyond--the closest decent medical care is 1.5 hrs away,3.5 if I go all the way to ABQ, and 2 days to see an MS specialist.
I'm feeling abandoned by the health care system and more so by doctors I genuinely like and respect.
I'm going to be snarky w. the nurse tomorrow, and insist that I talk to him TOMORROW.
And the horse was highly uncooperative today--just lazy, and I could pound on him forever without him moving. I've dealt with his sort before, and he's going to be getting a lot of ground work on the lunge, and then he's going to be surprised by spurs. :) Not the ones with rowels, but the kind dressage riders use to make their signalling clearer. He responds nicely to leg,but I haven't got enough oomph in my leg mucles to make him really pay attention.
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Nenu
06-23-2008, 10:10 PM
Eeek. It's not like second opinions are that uncommon. That's what smart patients do. I can't believe your original guy just brushed you off (as you say).
Does he not want to earn his living? Geez.
Does he not want to earn his living? Geez.
Canadian gal
06-23-2008, 11:12 PM
Aren't Lortab and valium fairly habit-forming meds (I don't do meds, so don't know too much about them)? If so, I can see why the doctors would want to you stick with one professional, as people could just go from one doctor to another to get additional rx's.
A friend of mine has MS and finds that valium is the only thing that helps with some of her symptoms. Her doctors won't even rx it to her because they don't believe how much it helps with her symptoms.
Cherie
A friend of mine has MS and finds that valium is the only thing that helps with some of her symptoms. Her doctors won't even rx it to her because they don't believe how much it helps with her symptoms.
Cherie
MSNik
06-23-2008, 11:25 PM
Daphne..just want to say Id settle for a snarky horse than NO HORSE anyday! I miss riding more than anything, and one of these days, Ill have the energy and $ to rent a horse for a lousy hour! Its just been soo hot here, I have no energy to do anything that doesnt include sitting in the a/c!
Sorry to hear about this doctor..and yes, they can be a real hassle when you need something- but your vacation sounds terrific, and dont let anything mess it up! Im sure youll get what you want- crying on cue only works on my doctors, not my spouse unfortunately!
big hugs..
Nikki
Sorry to hear about this doctor..and yes, they can be a real hassle when you need something- but your vacation sounds terrific, and dont let anything mess it up! Im sure youll get what you want- crying on cue only works on my doctors, not my spouse unfortunately!
big hugs..
Nikki
taosdaphne
06-27-2008, 11:20 PM
5 actually thinks he's afraid I'm going to sue him--he never ordered any follow-up blood work for Rebif, which sent my liver enzymes into the life-threatening zone. Don't think I'd win though, because I had prior liver issues.So I wept at the therapist's for an hour.
But get this--we grew up within mere miles of one another. The big entertainment was the drive in, which had weekly rafles and prizes.SHE won a pony--she won my fantasy of a free horse--NOT FAIR!! And her parents let her keep him, which mine never would have done.Sheesh. I only ever got a horse (wll, the 1st 2) by mucking more stables and tossing more hay than I care to remember--have always worked off board, until I hit my forties. But she got my horse--a Welsh pony noless.
Got my pills today, see a pain specialist in August, and my MS doc in October. And I fell again today--after months of no fallling, I'm back to on\ce or twice a week. It's the heat.
But get this--we grew up within mere miles of one another. The big entertainment was the drive in, which had weekly rafles and prizes.SHE won a pony--she won my fantasy of a free horse--NOT FAIR!! And her parents let her keep him, which mine never would have done.Sheesh. I only ever got a horse (wll, the 1st 2) by mucking more stables and tossing more hay than I care to remember--have always worked off board, until I hit my forties. But she got my horse--a Welsh pony noless.
Got my pills today, see a pain specialist in August, and my MS doc in October. And I fell again today--after months of no fallling, I'm back to on\ce or twice a week. It's the heat.
april1848
06-28-2008, 11:47 AM
I'm glad you got your meds, and I'm VERY sorry you fell! The good thing is that you're going to get away for awhile, which sounds great. I can't take a vacation day for 6 months, I'm at a new job, in my probationary period, and that's a bummer!
Occasionally I have very extreme pain that nothing will touch. My PCP gave me Percoset, and my MS Nurse isn't thrilled with it! I only use it when needed, and a month's prescription that I got in March is still half full. But I know I'd never be able to get it from my MS doctor. My PCP was basically horrified when I went to see him that day; my pain was obvious, and he had to help me in and out of the chair, etc. He said he wanted to give me Percoset. I know lots about drug abuse, because of my career choice, and we had a long talk about it. He basically told me that he doesn't like prescribing anything addictive, but when he sees that it's a quality of life issue, it's different. I took the script reluctantly, but now I'm glad I did. I have not abused it, I'm not addicted, and it has helped me a lot when I've needed it.
I hope you have a great vacation, and that your horse cheers up!!!
Occasionally I have very extreme pain that nothing will touch. My PCP gave me Percoset, and my MS Nurse isn't thrilled with it! I only use it when needed, and a month's prescription that I got in March is still half full. But I know I'd never be able to get it from my MS doctor. My PCP was basically horrified when I went to see him that day; my pain was obvious, and he had to help me in and out of the chair, etc. He said he wanted to give me Percoset. I know lots about drug abuse, because of my career choice, and we had a long talk about it. He basically told me that he doesn't like prescribing anything addictive, but when he sees that it's a quality of life issue, it's different. I took the script reluctantly, but now I'm glad I did. I have not abused it, I'm not addicted, and it has helped me a lot when I've needed it.
I hope you have a great vacation, and that your horse cheers up!!!
taosdaphne
07-02-2008, 01:15 AM
Yes, I'm asking for opiates, and my docs know I'm a recovering alcoholic. They are absolutely OK with 5-10 mg of valium per day, and inevitably I still have drugs left when I need a new prescription. They just make me sleep. I can't imagine why anyone would abuse them--but I monitor myself carefully, as does my partner (who had a pill problem back in the 50s and 60s, so I actually don't have a problem w. them--and there IS nothing stronger that isn't an opiate, so I'm sort of stuck when I wake up screaming with pain, unable to walk to the bathroom at all. I mean SCREAMING, and I have a high threshold for pain. Took 1.5 Lortab and 5 mg valium. hobbled to my recliner, and gritted my teeth for 20 minutes till the drugs kicked in. Then put on CNN at v low volume, which I find to be terrific white noise for sleeping. It's a wonderful recliner, and I can often stop spasticity just by moving to it--tho I'd rather stay snuggled with my honey. :)
april1848
07-02-2008, 08:11 PM
I fall asleep to CNN every night too! How funny! I'm sure it accounts for some of the bizarre dreams I have, but it's a great cure for insomnia!
Opiates put me right to sleep too, so I'm with you in that I can't see how anyone would want to abuse them. As soon as a half of a Percocet kicks in, I'm ready for bed!
Most of the opiate (heroin, morphine, pain pills, etc.) abuse cases I've seen had started out because they were prescribed something for pain. Then the patients kept going up a level, from Vicodin to Heroin for instance, because the pain was still so bad. I just can't understand because I'm in bed, and I'm certainly not craving anything stronger when I'm asleep. I guess some people can just stay awake on them!
However, when I need it, I take it. I get really bad joint and muscle pain, for no reason at all, and nothing else will help. When I told my doc I was taking at least 10 advils a day, at a bare minimum low pain day, he didn't hesitate in wanting to give me something stronger.
Opiates put me right to sleep too, so I'm with you in that I can't see how anyone would want to abuse them. As soon as a half of a Percocet kicks in, I'm ready for bed!
Most of the opiate (heroin, morphine, pain pills, etc.) abuse cases I've seen had started out because they were prescribed something for pain. Then the patients kept going up a level, from Vicodin to Heroin for instance, because the pain was still so bad. I just can't understand because I'm in bed, and I'm certainly not craving anything stronger when I'm asleep. I guess some people can just stay awake on them!
However, when I need it, I take it. I get really bad joint and muscle pain, for no reason at all, and nothing else will help. When I told my doc I was taking at least 10 advils a day, at a bare minimum low pain day, he didn't hesitate in wanting to give me something stronger.
Nenu
07-03-2008, 01:36 AM
I'm the opposite of you gals with opiates.
Percs here (Oxycodone or Endocet), made me want to stay up, because I enjoyed the 'high' I got from them.
Sad to admit. After my first prescription of 10, I was glad I didn't have another 10, because for a month I was wishing I had more of them.
They made me feel that good from the symptom misery I was in at the time. That's why when I saw my neuro again regarding my burning mouth saga, I strictly told him I wanted to avoid the feel good addictive drugs. For that reason.
Percs here (Oxycodone or Endocet), made me want to stay up, because I enjoyed the 'high' I got from them.
Sad to admit. After my first prescription of 10, I was glad I didn't have another 10, because for a month I was wishing I had more of them.
They made me feel that good from the symptom misery I was in at the time. That's why when I saw my neuro again regarding my burning mouth saga, I strictly told him I wanted to avoid the feel good addictive drugs. For that reason.