The doc would not put a lense in the eye even though is was flaming in his office and a cluster of filaments were removed. And I do not believe they refuse to prescribe pain meds because they genuinely believe the pain does not warrant it. Would have to be quite ignorant in the literature for that. They are either running scared because of DEA pressure, are so self-righteous as to assume all that request pain meds are "drug seekers," or both. OR they may also like you suffering as that ensures more frequent visits and more money for them. When you get a lot more years under your belt you will lose some of your faith in humanity if you are true to reality, even regarding those with the mystique of the white coat.
Hey, I'm sorry I haven't been around the past few days. My grandmother that I lived with for my entire life passed away on saturday. This is the first time I've gotten out of my saddened state and felt like coming on the computer.
I'm sorry you are having such a problem getting pain meds. I can identify with that. In 2003 I developed gallbladder problems. I knew about it, and we decided to wait until the summer when I was done with college to remove it. My primary care doctor had no problem prescribing narcotic pain meds for when I had an attack. However, when I had my last MAJOR attack, I wound up in the emergency room because I was in absolute agony. (imagine a kinife stabbing you in the gut and twisting and turning constantly). I was begging for pain medicine because the Percocette I had taken prior to coming was not even touching my pain. The E.R. doc who saw me prescribed Morphine. Now, I mask my pain very well. I can be in agony and still carry on a conversation. So since I was able to speak to her, the nurse thought I was not in that much pain. She started to roll me down the hall for an ultrasound, and I stopped her and asked where my Morphine was. She told me I didn't look like I was in that much pain, and she asked me straight out if I was "drug seeking". I was laying there scrunched up on the gurney with my hands clutching my side because I was in so much pain and I couldn't straighten up. And she asked me if I was drug seeking. I called her every name in the book and told her to give me my freakin Morphine or I was not going for the ultrasound. (an ultrasound can be uncomfortable anyway!) I eventually had to ask for the doctor because she was so against giving me any pain medicine. He basically told her that he had prescribed Morphine for me, and it wasn't up to her to decide if I should have it or not and to just give me the damn shot. I had a few other choice words for her as well. I was so insulted. Then once I was admitted they put a standing order in my chart for Morphine every 4 hours if I needed it. Well, the nurse on the floor didn't want to give it to me either. My parents had to go out and scream their heads off until she came and gave it to me.
How can a doctor or nurse decide what is painful for a particular patient?
I definitely understand that a lot of doctors are very ignorant when it comes to that. But they have to understand that there is a standard of care that they should be living up to.
You're also right that a lot of doctors are scared of the DEA. I read an article about that a few months ago, and the DEA is really cracking down on a lot of them.
I'm not naive. I know a lot about doctors. A lot of my family works in the medical profession, and I have been around doctors for my entire life. I was also a sick child, and spent a lot of my childhood visiting different doctors. (they think I have had my MS since I was about 13. I was also born with a lot of illnesses.)
I am only 25, but I am a very old 25!
There have been plenty of instances where I have gone to a doctor and thought he was a total jerk who just brushes off his patients, and I have left and never gone back. As patients, we've got to be ready, willing and able to go to as many doctors as it takes to find someone that we like and trust. I was fortunate that I didn't have to do that with my ophthalmologist because the second I met him I knew he was the doctor for me, and he has proven me correct.
I hope you are able to find some relief for your pain very soon.
Sorry about the death in the family, can relate to that kind of grief...
There is ONE opthamologist that takes Medicaid in my town, and I live in a major city. He is from India and heartless, laughed at me implying I was a drug seeker. Ignored the article I presented him from "The Handbook of Ocular Management" which states my condition can involve "severe pain." Obviously mine is severe and chronic! He about has me blind in one eye for repeatedly taking off filaments with forceps. I cannot read any letters on the charts. My optometrist who has some knowledge with this (has no bandage lenses, cannot prescribe pain meds) is out of town for 5 more days. Is not much he can do anyway! I went to the optometrist covering for him today and he said I have three abrasions which no doubt come from the filaments removals of yesterday, plus several new filaments, but he cannot treat me. I can think of nothing else to do but go to the ER and beg or call the other eye docs in town and beg for charity or a very easy payment plan. I want a damn American doctor and one that has more to offer than yank, pull off the filaments, "tears twice a day, see you in 2 weeks"... I am beyond desperate. My neighbor said they could never do what I do, said they would end their life but I cannot. I love life!!
I am glad that you are not thinking of ending your life over this. It is bad, but nothing is worth killing yourself over.
I know the kind of pain you are in, believe me. I basically stayed in bed and lived on cold compresses when I had my abrasions. Not fun.
Can you possibly get to another city with a different ophthalmologist? How far would it be for you to travel?
It's not a bad idea to call and ask the other eye docs in town if they take medicaid. Sometimes the information that medicaid gives you is not the most up to date. Someone may have been added to the list since you last inquired. It can't hurt to get out the yellow pages and make a few phone calls. That's how I found my guy. Yep, I found him by looking in the phone book and asking if he takes my insurance and if I could be seen.
I do not understand the philosophy of this one doctor. Maybe you can help. He did not want to put on a bandage contact because of infection risk. YET I had a lense on a month, taking it out cleaning it once a week, had no infection and the eye returned to full health. By not putting in a lense, I am collecting filaments and new one as soon as they are removed. So constantly, like at present, I have abrasions from the removals AND new filaments. These are the source of the pain, and I am about blind in the eye. Such frequent removals open me to scaring and permanent lose of eye sight. This may have already occured due to his constant use of forceps. A second doc will not put a lense in either, claiming it is "no solution," yet it should be obvious to all by now after four months and numerous treatments that the eye is not healing and needs a break, protection from crops of filaments, which the lense provides. Infection? Sure there is risk but you can use an antibiotic with the lense, and anyone that uses a contact has this risk. It just seems to me that warding off the slightest chance of getting sued is more important to them than giving me proper treatment. And they obviously have been little concerned about the pain.
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