Seeing A Different Doctor

[Purrsephone]

So, I am a PR refugee, and I haven't made my introductions because of time/stress/etc. I have been on a low dose of mef@don for DDD and herniated disc, failed back surgery, arthritis, I think that's it. The breakthrough pain was getting intolerable again, and my pain doctor was gone on leave. My GP was handling my meds, but could not adjust them at all. It took me almost two months, and being sent to the wrong doctor twice to get in to see a pain doctor. Some PR folks might remember my predicament, but never got to update on what happened. I get sent to this anti-narcotic nazi guy, and he starts cutting my meds in half to get me off of them. Puts all my eggs into the epidural basket, which I have tried many times before with very little success. Somehow he thinks he can do it better. Meanwhile, my pain has gone up tremendously.

All my muscles are freaking out due to the mef being cut. I can't even take a sick day from work, and I am suffering and pissed. I am being given all these NSAIDs which do nothing. I think I have tried 4 in the past month. Finally I was given steroids, which worked for a bit, but three days after stopping pain came back! This doc won't work with me at all, he is stuck on his own agenda, and has this tunnel vision anti opiate thing going on.

I talked to my PT, and the insurance company, and was told I could see someone else. The only appointment they had was with a doctor at the same clinic! I expressed my concern that this doctor would undoubtedly hold up his colleagues recommendations, and they told me it doesn't work like that. They probably won't even talk to each other about it. So I am going to go tomorrow!

Meanwhile, I also made an appointment with my original clinic, but with a different doctor there as well since mine is still gone. I am able to take care of myself in the meantime, and if all else fails, I will drop my insurance because I have referrals to other doctors outside my insurance that are humane and respectful. I refuse to be tortured !!! I pay too much money to these people got them to put me through this! I am just wishing and hoping this guy tomorrow has some sense and some respect for Human life and dignity!

This may be doctor shopping, but that is exactly what I want to do! Find a good doctor I guess by trial and error! I definitely will not get double prescribed or anything, that is not what I am after, and I don't think it is possible in the system I am in! I read someone say that doctor shopping is switching doctors when you don't like the answers one gives you. Umm, isn't that what a second opinion is???

Anyway, it feels good to get that out, and would be grateful for any input!! I need to make my introductions too!!

 

[2earls]

First of all, doctor shopping, in the negative sense, is seeing multiple doctors for multiple presriptions.

Going to different doctors until you find one that works with you and for you is just good sense. I too have endured the lecturing, egotistical, time and $ wasting doctors. You are paying them for a service and if you're not satisfied, move on! We should have rights as patients too! Why keep repeatedly paying for treatments you have already tried and do not work? It is demoralizing to go from doctor to doctor with no success.

My friend finally referred me to one that

has been great. So don't give up til you are happy and in the meantime this site can help you out.

2E

 

[Purrsephone]

Thank you 2E!! I am in my way here shortly. Couldn't sleep at all, because of pain and anxiety!! But I am just wishing and hoping here!!

 

[Purrsephone]

Well... That was BS of course. Sorry, but I am going to uphold the recommendations of my colleague... Blah blah blah. Of course!! The guy was nice, but what a waste of my time, energy and money!! And I didn't sleep all night because of it, I have a huge day tomorrow!! He did give me two hints, try another clinic, they are all like-minded at this clinic. Or go back to the GP who was writing my scripts before. I sent her an email, but I really doubt she is going to override the pm dept like that! I have an appt at a different clinic at the end of the month, but even they might not want to override this guy now!!

My other option is just to buy new insurance so I can get out of my network where all info is shared, and see a doctor I have a personal recommendation for ! Then wait til open enrollment and drop this plan. I am so scared that that might not even work !!

 

[2earls]

Sorry you had no success. I am actually in the process of cancelling my insurance so that I can go back to my old doctor. I lost her at the beginning of summer due to getting new insurance. It has been a nightmare! Spending so much time and energy on all this. I was better off uninsured, it's crazy.

 

[Mr. Crowley]

Well... That was BS of course. Sorry, but I am going to uphold the recommendations of my colleague... Blah blah blah. Of course!! The guy was nice, but what a waste of my time, energy and money!! And I didn't sleep all night because of it, I have a huge day tomorrow!! He did give me two hints, try another clinic, they are all like-minded at this clinic. Or go back to the GP who was writing my scripts before. I sent her an email, but I really doubt she is going to override the pm dept like that! I have an appt at a different clinic at the end of the month, but even they might not want to override this guy now!!

My other option is just to buy new insurance so I can get out of my network where all info is shared, and see a doctor I have a personal recommendation for ! Then wait til open enrollment and drop this plan. I am so scared that that might not even work !!

Ugh, that sucks! Best of luck finding the right doctor/coverage for you.

 

[Purrsephone]

This doctor I was recommended isn't seeing anyone until October 20th!! Omg!! I will be purchasing until then I guess!! Thanks for the good wishes!!

 

[wyldepixie]

This doctor I was recommended isn't seeing anyone until October 20th!! Omg!! I will be purchasing until then I guess!! Thanks for the good wishes!!

It's a giant mystery to me why patients have to jump through hoops and wait for ages just to find competent healthcare. Good luck!

 

[2earls]

I just spoke to a friend that has her mother slowly dying in a skilled nursing facility. They want to wean her off of pain meds and Valeeum. What has it come to when even hospice patients are denied medicine that can keep them comfortable in their final days? I am becoming angrier every day I hear these stories.

Enough so that I am considering finding some way to become an activist for patients rights. This has gone too far!

Sorry for the rant, but if a 90 year old bedridden invalid is denied what little comfort can be provided for her, this system is broken.

 

[Purrsephone]

Yeah, that's ridiculous!! What on earth is the logic behind that? We need patient rights activists for sure!

 

[zealious]

I just spoke to a friend that has her mother slowly dying in a skilled nursing facility. They want to wean her off of pain meds and Valeeum. What has it come to when even hospice patients are denied medicine that can keep them comfortable in their final days? I am becoming angrier every day I hear these stories.

Enough so that I am considering finding some way to become an activist for patients rights. This has gone too far!

Sorry for the rant, but if a 90 year old bedridden invalid is denied what little comfort can be provided for her, this system is broken.

UN FREAKING REAL!

this is like alcohol prohibition... its madness. and its going to lead to some serious underground opiate sales.

 

[zealious]

IM in this same boat my gp just cut me off cold... super nice right. where do you start with finding a new doc. Im completely riddled with anxiety. 

 

[jasmine3113]

I'm in the same boat.  Just opened up a bill from the stupid doctor I foolishly went to a week ago and they billed $85.  I only had to pay $20 for a co-pay but I really could not afford that and it angers me that they got $85 for providing no service at all.

All he did was sit there, listen to my story and then tell me "they" (whoever "they" is) wouldn't approve of him prescribing tramadol for me, because it is a scheduled drug and it is only allowed for pain.  I kept trying to tell him that Multiple Chemical Sensitivity makes your life nothing but a world of pain, but I might as well have been talking about life on Mars.  He totally couldn't relate to it.

Wanted to give me Buspar in order to feel like he had actually done something but I have no use for that even though I guess that's what they're supposed to huckster to people these days. 

It's as though everything has to fit into some neat little pigeonhole or nothing gets prescribed.  Well life isn't like that.  So disgusted.

 

[2earls]

I'm in the same boat.  Just opened up a bill from the stupid doctor I foolishly went to a week ago and they billed $85.  I only had to pay $20 for a co-pay but I really could not afford that and it angers me that they got $85 for providing no service at all.

All he did was sit there, listen to my story and then tell me "they" (whoever "they" is) wouldn't approve of him prescribing tramadol for me, because it is a scheduled drug and it is only allowed for pain.  I kept trying to tell him that Multiple Chemical Sensitivity makes your life nothing but a world of pain, but I might as well have been talking about life on Mars.  He totally couldn't relate to it.

Wanted to give me Buspar in order to feel like he had actually done something but I have no use for that even though I guess that's what they're supposed to huckster to people these days. 

It's as though everything has to fit into some neat little pigeonhole or nothing gets prescribed.  Well life isn't like that.  So disgusted.

Sorry that happened to you. I can't even remember how many egotistical doctors I've endured talking to me like I'm a 6 year old. For me, men have been worse than women. Thank god I'm back with my old doctor and I hope i don't have to find another for a good long time.

 

[2earls]

IM in this same boat my gp just cut me off cold... super nice right. where do you start with finding a new doc. Im completely riddled with anxiety.

Generally they are supposed to give you a 30 day supply if they kick you out. Mine gave me 2 weeks but that wasn't a very long time to figure out what to do. That's actually what led me to this forum.

 

[Twinkiefry:-D]

I agree with the above comment; it truly is a second prohibition! When is the government going to learn, that prohibition DOESN'T work?!?! It is nearly impossible for even terminally ill folks to get any pain relief, as doctors everywhere are scared of losing their license. This is supposed to be a free country :-(