Another dissapointment trying to find a new PM dr.,what to do?
This is getting very old. The dr. I went to see today, I had high hopes for because he works for the same clinic as a gastrointerologist dr. I used to see and usually the drs. I've known from this clinic are good. This one was a nice guy, but after talking to me he says,"Well, I don't see why your dr. was giving you this much Oxy, it's too high." Like it was my choie to take this amount.And he said "You look like you move OK." I told him that it was still early in the afternoon, that my meds usually last thru the day OK.
I'm just getting tired of every dr. questioning me.I may just have to go with one of these guys who will cut my meds and just hurt all the time, that's what it's looking like.How does anyone find a dr. that will listen anymore? I am having no luck.
Re: Another dissapointment trying to find a new PM dr.,what to do?
Dear wfc33,
It is a compounded problem when a pain patient has to practically give a dramatic presentation just to be understood. This seems to be the case with you, and I'm sorry that you are hurting AND forced to overtly prove it.
I'm sure you must be IRKED when the strength of your pain medication is questioned--because we all react differently. I'll go out on a limb and say that the good pain doctors realize the same strength of whatever pain medication a person receives doesn't relieve pain in the same degree for everyone!!
Personally, I have ALWAYS had an extremely high tolerance concerning opiates--right from the beginning.
I do not see a pain management doctor any longer. My Internist treats the pain problems related to my Lupus. Have you tried going that route? My Internist is well-versed in the treatment of pain. Of course, not all doctors are this way, but maybe you could have a heart-to-heart with your main doctor. This is just a suggestion, of course.
Now, I must tell you that I have had a great deal of success concerning my treatment and have not had to increase my dosages in approximately 3 years. So, my Internist is comfortable prescribing my pain medications (Duragesic 75 mcg--1 every 48 hours, Actiq 800 mcg lozenges--approximately 1 box of 30 per month, and Dilaudid 8 mg--1 - 2 tabs every 4 - 6 hours as needed--approximately 100 tabs every 3 to 4 weeks). Also, I should point out that the Actiq is usually reserved for cancer patients, but I have fortunately been allowed to use this medication (as well as the Dilaudid) for breakthrough pain. Just so I make it clear, please realize I have an extremely high tolerance and have been evaluated by 2 different PM doctors in the past. Both of them moved out of the area, so I was sort of "stuck" in a difficult position.
Please keep us posted, wfc33, and I will be glad to respond again if you need additional information.
Do your best to be resourceful concerning the actual doctor who treats your pain. Even though many may not agree with me, I am still thankful that I do not have to suffer any longer with the aggravation of a Pain Clinic.
Re: Another dissapointment trying to find a new PM dr.,what to do?
hmmm,i must say i still hurt all the time too but i think if i was pain free i would be over medicated,and i know this is how my pm doc feels,he has a poster that states our gaol is to reduce ur pain by 50% and i am ok with that sure if i got complete relief with no side effects great but i cant.i surely dont know ur pain and u may not be getting 50% relief if not u need to find a doc that can help u achive and mantain atleast a 50% reduction in ur pain lv.but you and ur doc must have a good lv of trust with a pm doc its a must,when i first went to my pm doc i got no meds i took a drug screen and done a interview and we went over my current history and the meds i was on at the time,after that he confirmed my problem and established a direct link between it and my cp then i signed a opit contract and began working to get at the correct lv of Lt pain meds and the proper bt dose,and i was honest and followed his instructions and after a hard couple of months i must say i have reached a 50% reduction in pain and if i over do it i have the needed bt meds and i do now always overdo it cause i know if my pain spikes it will drop back quick because of the meds i have,so now i can and do push as far as i can everyday.but it was a slow go at first,the pm doc started at the lowest dose he felt i could use and went up til we got to where i am.
Re: Another dissapointment trying to find a new PM dr.,what to do?
Thanks, guys, for your thoughts. Conductor, my transplant dr. is my main dr. and it is he who wants me to find a PM dr. I would much rather just continue the way it is now, but he wants to concentrate on the liver practice. I am going to try and talk him into continuing to RX my pain meds, but I'm sure he's made up his mind.
And Tracer, while I'm not pain-free, I will say I'm better than 50% most of the time.I think it's rather sad that we, as pain patients, should have to settle for 50%. You wouldn't go to the dentist and say "Just make my tooth hurt 50 % less", would you? I realize that we are doomed to suffer some, but it should be better than that.And I feel if I reduce the amount I'm on now, I will be feeling a lot worse, and that's my objection to it. It's hard enough to lead anything close to a normal life now, if I reduce the amount of meds I' taking, which is what every PM dr. I've seen wants me to do,things will be worse not better. That's a pretty bleak outlook.
Re: Another dissapointment trying to find a new PM dr.,what to do?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wfc33
You wouldn't go to the dentist and say "Just make my tooth hurt 50 % less", would you? I realize that we are doomed to suffer some, but it should be better than that.
WFC,
PERFECT ANALOGY!!!
How ridiculous to even THINK of only a 50% pain reduction at the dentist!!! If they could only imagine the pain we are in CONSTANTLY!! Since we know no better (doctors fault) we settle for "just a little pain", or "yeah, I feel pain but I always do it's just better with the meds you dole out".
WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE PAIN FREE IF POSSIBLE???? Pain free to live our lives, pain free just to "be". LOL about the dentist. Imagine the dentist only shooting the novacain in "certain" areas so as to not "overmedicate" you LOL LOL
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