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Posted 4/18/2008 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I recently posted here (chronic left flank pain) possible LPHS...I have several issues with my left kidney (never officially diagnosed w/LPHS as my urologist doesn't acknowlege this diagnosis) I am currently about to run out of my monthly "alottment" of 180 norcos (can take up to 6/day) i have an appt w/ pain dr on friday (25th) at 9am. but will run out in 3 days (which leaves me short about 4 days)...the reason I am running short is I had a temp crown come off my tooth (was supposed to go for root canal/permanent crown, but haven't had the money...so anyway, my toooth is soooo painful I had to take extra...also I have a kidney infection right now and that causes excruciating pain in my kidney (worse than usual) AND I have been having pain in gallbladder (really bad last night for over an hour) I KNOW i have a huge gallbladder stone already (have had it "silent' for many years)my question is...do I go to ER w/ kidney infection, gallbladder pain and tooth pain? will they think I'm "drug-seeking?" Do I tell them my meds I take already? they will tell me I should "have enough left" untill I see my dr and not give me anything....or  they may want to do surgery for my gallbladder (pain today at work off and on...sharp!)Help! eyes
Posted 4/19/2008 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I would think if the pain is so much increased due to the gall and kidney stones that a trip to the ER is needed. Explain that the meds you are taking are not relieving your pain and it is past what you can tolerate. Worst case they turn you away, but with what is going on I am sure they will do what they can for you.
Hope you find relief quickly!!! and feel better soon!
Posted 4/20/2008 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and sorry about the misery you're going thru. One thing to think about in the future...if your pain level goes up, immediately call and/or go into your doc and tell him you need to take more NOW! That way there's no lying or panic with where you are now. I would call doc on Monday and tell him exactly what happened. Now! that's my great doctor and I know him well and he trusts me. You are the one who knows your own doc and how he'd react. You could call right now, get the oncall doc and ask to get his permission to take a few extra for the extra pain. And if he gives you permission then tell him you won't have enough for that and throw the ball in his court. He may script you more. ABOVE ALL...get your caboose in to the ER and get those medical conditions taken care of and stop the pain. Pills are a band aid for those conditions.

Keep us posted,
Chutzie
Posted 4/20/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for replying and your advice. It's now sunday, and I was in extreme pain last night (had to break my pills in 1/2...I have only 15 1/2 pills left) this has to last me til Friday (and maybe Monday-when my actual due date is!) I'm going to go to the ER this morning when my kids wake up and just tell them I think I have a kidney infection and pain in upper right rib cage area (feels like a "charlie horse") and let them dx me...right now my gallbladder doesn't hurt (it's only on/off)..I also found an old (2 mo's old rx for Tylenol #3 in one of my purses (from my dentist, that I didn't have filled because I had my normal meds "Norco 10's" and they don't do much anyway...) should I go to a different pharmacy and pay cash for these just in case? Or will they find out about what I normally take? I really hate this...I WISH I didn't have such pain! As far as my pain dr goes...he already wants to switch me to "long-acting" meds on our next visit...My family (husband and 3 kids) are planning on going to Mexico for his grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary (not beautiful mexico...were talking dirt roads mexico...no dr's....only pharmacias "that require a dr's "stamp"...about 1 hour drive away (and they only give you "10" of whatever you need)<I know...weird! *I know because we did this on our last trip there 2 years ago! Anyway, we are planning to go when I get my next refill (can't possibly go until then) and we are driving! But we have to be there before the 30th..the party is on May 1st! (my refills are due on the 28th!) My kids are waking up now (hubby is at work-he's a maint man and on-call) so I have to take all the kids! I'll let you know what happens later! eyes
Posted 4/21/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Im in agreement that you need to go to ER- for the severe pain, prob is gallbladder or kidney
its up to them to determine the cause of that pain & to do whats right

will be thinking of you
hoping for the best
Posted 4/21/2008 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
You really should have the kidneys checked. Even if you have never had gallbladder problems before it is very serious if it gets infected. Mine was infected and I had a heck of a recovery time. I know the operation now is quite simple, but it might be more difficult if you have an infection. I would't go to Mexico without my prescriptions. I've been to the nice parts and also the dirt road areas of Mexico. The paharmacies do dispense drugs that we normally need a script for but I'm not sure if they are quite the same. I have had quite a few adventures in Mexico, good and bad. Hope you enjoy your trip and are in good health and pain free. june
Posted 4/21/2008 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
I think you should go to the er and get checked out  or call your dr and tell them whats going on. Gramps I always  thought a script was good for a year from when it was written. I hope you get some releif soon and are feeling better.
Posted 4/21/2008 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your responses and concern. I really appreciate it! Sometimes I feel soo alone in all of this..anyway, I went to my local er (they've seen me multiple times for kidney infections) they did an ultrasound of gallbladder and kidney and I have a large gallstone (I knew) and my gallbladder is "inflamed" but not infected (per blood tests) which means it shoud come out as soon as possible (not emergency though) and gave me name/# of surgeon. My kidney showed "moderate dilation of ureter and moderate dialation of calyces of kidney...possible distal stone" and they gave me #15 vicodin (5/500) which leaves me with this to get through til my pain dr appt on friday...geeze, how generous! *sarcastic* My question Is: 1. Do I call my pain Dr and tell them I went to the ER and what's going on? 2. Do I just wait til my appt on Friday (reg appt) and tell him then? I don't want to be a "drama queen" or anything...*I'm going to call my local pharmacy and ask about the tylenol #3 rx...to see if its' too late to fill it* Thanks again everyone who's got my back! eyes
Posted 4/22/2008 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I would call the pm and just leave a message with the office about your trip to the er. I would never want it to look like I was hiding anything and since your er records are most likely faxed to your doctor I would probably call.
Sj
Posted 4/23/2008 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Porteyoz, The best advice that I have seen anyone give on here is to be straightforward with your doctor. For one thing, many pain doctors require that you use only one pharmacy and that you fill only narcotic prescriptions from them via a "pain contract." I have known doctors to check records at area pharmacies for patients who they think may be doctor shopping; while you are not doctor shopping, your doctor may see it as a violation of trust. Secondly, how can your doctor hope to ever control your pain if you are not including him in all of your medical decisions? Even if this doctor completely shuts you out you can atleast say that you were honest, and that is VERY important when searching out a new pain doctor, which you will eventually have to do anyways. (Doctors don't stay in practice forever!) Also, you mentioned that your doctor was switching you to long acting meds. In your case, because your pain is chronic in nature, a long-acting pain medicine is really the best option. Many short-acting opiates contain tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen, and sustained use of these painkillers can negatively effect the kidneys, liver, stomach, etc. A long acting opiate is nothing to be feared; once you get the dosage down, you should have continuous around the clock pain relief. Remember, he is the doctor and as long as he is willing to address your pain, he is most likely wanting to very much relieve it to some degree. So, give it a chance and for God's Sake be honest with your pain doctor if you are honest with no one else in your life.
Posted 4/23/2008 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again to everyone who responded...I at this point am going to wait to speak with him at my regular appt on Friday (25th). I don't like "relaying messages through the reception"..as it might be taken out of context. I will definatly let him know I had to go to the er w/gallstone pain/kidney infection. I've decided it's better to talk to him directly than to call (I don't want to be a "problem Patient") I've worked pain management and know how it is...but it's soo hard being on the other side...I'm very honest with everyone who needs to know..there's just a lot of people who DONT need to know (about my pain/meds) the ONLY medication I take is (norco 10/325). I've had 3 kids and my last daughter was 13lbs at birth and not so much as took a Tylenol when I was pregnant with her (she's 4) and that was extremely painful! After my c-section I went back to my Norco's. I just had to wean off when I first found out I was pregnant...(I told my dr I was weannig myself) and didn't take not ONE while pregnant...I look back and I don't know how I did it...but I did..although my pain is now a little bit more (I had surgery 6 months after she was born) on my ureter (to cut out a stone and reattatch to bladder!) ouch! I will never do that again...AND the surgery was a failure...I still have same problems/even worse! Anyway, I am now rambling...I will be out of my meds on friday (the day of appt) and "technically" not due for refill untill Monday (28th)but will let him know of change of pain (gallstone/infection/tooth) and going out of town (mexico for my husband's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary) and HOPEfully he will refill early...otherwise will have to wait untill I get meds to go...we will have to drive straight thru (16 hour drive to cali, then on to mexico (another 6 hours)...I'm nervous he won't refill early-I've NEVER gotten/asked for early refill in almost 2 years at this pain clinic! The owner of the clinic said he had "no problem w/ refills, in fact, when I first started going there (after about 3 visits) he said "I am not a "problem patient" and gave me my monthly Norco's with 3 refills (because it's hard for me to get out of work" and then, a new Dr joined his practice and I was "suggested to see him"..and had to sign a contract and NO refills..(he's more hard-*ssed) and I've been seeing him for about a year....with no problems so far. This is a private practice and very hard to get into (had to wait for almost 6 months for first appt!) and have never been asked or had to do drug test of any kind...just wondering do all of you do drug tests? I've heard of that, but at the pain dr's ofc I worked at for almost 5 years...we NEVER did not ONE drug test on anyone...and we had our share of patients who were caught "dr shopping" and even a few who wrote out their own prescriptons and the dr. didn't do anything to them...(no police, nothing) I know because I was his assistant and everything came through me...(I even wrote out all the prescriptions and he would just sign them) We also had cupboards of narcotic "samples" and when I was hurting (this dr knew all about my kidney problems) he actually gave me a handful of "hydrocodone/ibuprofen" samples (forget the name right now) but all of this (including fentanyl patches,lidoderm patches,duragesic patches, valium,anything you could think of was right there!) At the time, I wasn't in as much pain as I am now...believe it or not..I never took anything without permission! Right now I wish I still worked there!!!!!(ha ha) Now, I work at obgyn (just birth control!) Also, the post about the insurance company "taping" them for w/c or disability...at that dr's office we did a LOT of auto/w/c..and yes, we had an entire closet full of videotapes...just letting you know...I never personally saw any of them, but I know the insurance companies would send them...geze...If I only knew then what I know now! Geze, sorry this is soo long! I'll go now...everyone have a "pain free" day/night!
Posted 4/24/2008 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have found that acupuncture really helps reduce pain. I am so lucky - my doctor is a board-certified MD and also an acupuncturist and herbalist. He doesn't just try to shove drugs at me. He uses that as a last resort because prescription meds can be so dangerous.
Posted 4/24/2008 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor - an MD AND an acupuncturist with a very, very busy practice - called me back personally within 30 minutes one Saturday night after I called him. Wow!
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