Running out of meds, etc I'm ANGRY! - Pain Management Message Board

kristinita9 · 03-22-2005, 03:30 AM

I rarely post here but read here almost everyday, and after just reading the message about "Running out of meds" I am almost shaking with anger at what so mnay chronic pain patients must go through to be treated properly.

Just yesterday morning I caught 'part' of a pain patients interview I think it has with Hattie Coffman<sp> on the early show or one of the morning news shows. The poor man had endured YEARS of severe pain without proper care and then of course the depression that goes along with that; and had eventually attempted suicide; but thankfully survived and FINALLY got taken seriously with proper treatment etc. and finally has a decent quality of life. Which is all anyone wants and EVERYONE DESERVES.

I was tempted to try to get a copy of the entire interview, he was with his wife (and they have a young son who of course was affected by the non-care his dad was receiving) and she talked some about how she did what she could to help him, how she suffered along with him watching him in such horrible pain, I cried when I watched it and thought of so many people that post on this Pain Management Board.

I have been with a Pain Mgmt Dr for the last year and am finally being properly treated, listened to, and I feel with the respect I deserve after suffering an excruitating 4-5 YEARS of pain when my entire "Pain Management" treatment plan was 1 (one) Ultram tablet a DAY! It's a sin what I endured, how much I suffered needlessly and I have read scientific reports that show this kind of long time pain does actually CHANGE the way the brain perceives pain.

I must be very careful to take my pain medication AS described, if I'm having additional pain for some reason and take 1 extra pill for a day or 2 throught the month I know that I will have to 'make up' the difference somewhere along the way by taking one pill less on several days or run out of meds before my next appointment....course that causes extra stress on a person which does tend to cause more pain! a vicious cycle.

My heart truly aches for chronic pain patients who are made to feel like some kind of druggie, be put through so much embarrasement trying to get help. I know all about the true drug addicts that abuse and make it so difficult for patients (and of course for doctors to sort them out) and don't know what the answer is but something really needs to be done in this country to properly treat a patients pain.

I am totally upfront and honest with my Pain Mgmt Dr; if I feel that I am becoming tolerant to the dosage I'm on, that I'm having just too much time when my pain is which I call out of control I will calmly let the doctor know this and we discuss what needs to be done about it. I am not made to feel like a drug seeker, I am so thankful for that and I hope that some things can be changed in the lives of those that must constantly be handled in such a despicable manner.

girl75 · 03-22-2005, 11:30 AM

good post kris, alot of us can definatly relate. you know i also was seeing a pain mangt doc who was not taking me serious and unfortunalty it was probably due to the fact that i had no insurance and had asked for a payment plan. well after a couple of visits he let me go as a pt and said that he could not do anything for me anymore. fortunatly i found a pain doc that did listen to me. at first though he prescribed norco which was great but i had already been taking that and it was just taking the edge off of my pain. he said that he did not want to try anything LA yet that he wanted to try a couple things first, injections, aquatic therapy, nerve burning and a couple other things. here 2 yrs later i still had no relief and my pain just felt like i could not tolerate it anymore. it got to the point that the pain was all i would think about from the time i woke up till the time i went to sleep. finally i went in for an appt. and let the nurse pract. know that i have been seeing, that the pain i have has gone out of control. i let her know that i had been on line doing some research on some meds and i felt that there were meds out there and i did not understand why i should have to be in so much pain and be suffering. also reading some stories on this board has helped me to gain the courage to let her know how i felt. she finally said that we could try duragesic patch. i was so happy that she finally took me serious.
i have been on the patch for about 2 wks and taking norco 3times a day.
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg. maybe that will help.
well i hope i have not bored you or anyone to death. i hope every one is having a good day. the weather is beautiful here in Texas and that always helps.
robin (girl75)

SheSparkles · 03-22-2005, 02:46 PM

[QUOTE=girl75]i have been on the patch for about 2 wks and taking norco 3times a day.
unfort. i am really not getting the relief i thought i would. i am only on 25mcg and will ask for 50mcg.

This is a fair trial for a 25mcg patch. More than fair. Now ask (and get) an increase to 50mcg and later perhaps more. It's whatever it takes.
SS

surgicaldisaster · 03-22-2005, 03:11 PM

Good post! I ended up switching from my first pm Dr. because of a few things...first he would always seem to forget why I was there...huh? Then he would poke and prod me each time only to make things so much worse. Then when we were going on vacation, he knew I would run out (completely) of my meds. 3 days before I could see him(2 being the last part of our trip) and he said, oh well...I'm sure you'll be fine. I was NOT o.k. with that, how could he let me suffer through the beginnings of withdrawal and the horrific pain when he knew(I even showed him my tickets) when I would be back? But he did. Boy was that a great way to end a vacation. Anyway, thankfully I have a new pm Dr. that is truly great, I would not trade him for the world. You are so right that so many of us think of the unthinkable because we are denied the proper care. I once had a Dr. say, well, you aren't some 80 yr, old lady who needs pain meds., so you really should just take tylenol.....WHAT? So, unless I am closer to possibly dying due to older age, then deal with horrific pain that makes me want to die?

Ummmmmmmmm...o.k. We all deserve to live, not survive day to day on a shoestring that is ready to snap at any minute. Hope you are all doing welll as can be...Surgical Disaster

StMishl · 03-22-2005, 06:15 PM

Great Post. As someone currently having to deal with inadequate pain relief (my dr is a total jerk), all I can say is allelejah!

I was under control, finally, but because I started asking questions and wanting a second opinion he has "decided" I don't need pain relief anymore. Isn't there some sort of law that says patients are entitled to pain control??

As someone who doesn't have a Pain Doctor (seperate from my back suregon) how did you all get one? Did you take it upon yourselves to call and set up an appt or were you refered? I am quickly learning that I desperatly need pain control seperate from the "medical care" of my back...

Thanks you,

Michelle