just got back from my first visit with pm doc

Kimberbella

Dear Michelle,

I am so sorry about your visit. Did you voice your concern to the doctor that you had about being off the pain medicine completely? Are you on a dose that is low enough that you are able to taper off of it with in two weeks? (Im trying to remember things that you mentioned in your previous post).

Im not sure about PT for your situation, so I cant help you there. I have done counciling for depression, through that they evaluated me and gave me an anti depressant. (I also have read that anti depressents help with fibro). Are you on meds now for the depression?

I understand that you are at a loss with your doctor and are confused at the situation. Perhaps it would help to write down questions that you might have or concerns and anxieties and then call the doctor back and ask him about these things... if you didnt at the appointment? And if you did, what did he say?

Some examples.. What do I do if my pain is at a high level the first day when I dont have any pain meds anymore? Who do I call? Where do I go?

Make a plan of action. This often helps me when I am in this type of situation. I have to sit down with my doctor, or call him and say "now, if I have cant stand the pain in the middle of the night, where do I go? What do I tell the ER exactly? How can they reach you?" It allows me some control over the things that I have very little of.

I am just so sorry. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Write back with anything, vent if you need to! Ill try my best to help, even if it doesnt

lindao1

Hi Michelle. I'm so sorry that your dr. appt has caused you so much disappointment. How frustrating to know what actual works for you and then to have the dr. disagree. I'm truly sorry.

I know when I first went to PM, I had to initially "attempt" physical therapy. The very first visit, I couldn't tolerate any of it, and it in fact, made my pain extremely worse. So when I told the PM dr. how it affected me, he said I thought it wouldn't work, but he had to try it first.

I don't know if that's where your PM dr. is coming from, but maybe it is the starting point for PM as it was for me. I would at least attempt it, and then let the PM dr. know what it did for you or to you.

In my case, though, he had me on pain meds from the very beginning. That was not an issue to him. I can't understand why he is reluctant to make you more comfortable, especially with wanting you to have PT. I would go back to the dr. and question him on this. As Kimberella said, go armed with questions and concerns about what to do when the pain is unbearable. If you have to resort to going to an ER for pain, then he is not doing his job.

I wish I had more uplifting info for you, but this was my experience. In fact, I had to go thru a whole "ritual"(to please the dr. AND the insurance co.) before getting to the point where I am now which is having the permanent pain pump put in.

I wish you the best and I would not take this lying down. Stand up for what you know is right. If I can be of any assistance, Michelle, please let me know. My thoughts are with you. Lindao1

Wes1212

ask him if he has ever thought anything before only to find out later he was wrong?

Jack Beanstalk

This doc is either big-time Opiodphobic or he really thinks you need to try his suggestions.Often,Fibro folks are coined as having some "mental problems" and then,too,a lot of "Pain clinics"will exhaust most all other methods to try and relieve your pain,using Opiates as a last resort.It may benefit you to keep a Diary of your daily pain experiences and results of whatever treatment options you,ve been given.If you show them you are willing to try any of the methods(within reason)they suggest,that shows them you ain,t just there to get drugs.I,m afraid if you try and dismiss this place without showing them that you are willing to try other methods besides pain pills,that might brand you as a possible drug-seeker and they,ll put that on your record.That record will pass on to the next pain doc that sees you.Besides,what if one of their methods did work?I went thru the whole routine too,Michelle,one injection her,another one there,till the options ran out,then I got plenty of meds.It also said on my record that I had tried"this and that"for relief and it did,nt work,so wherever I went,meds were not a problem.Jack Beanstalk