I need help in a big way!!! WHAT CAN I DO!! PLEASE

I will make this brief.
Tore L3, L4, L5,  on the job 2002, i kept working, I did every thing I was ask to do.
July 2006 Distroyed my back at work, putting up 400lb markers boards!
been every where, no fix!
Surgeon from KU, 4 hrs drive one way from me, said I needed to go to a pain clinic, i told doctor and we made a appointment at a pain clinic at Joplin 35 min drive each way. Work comp the day before the appointment stopped it, and stopped my pay! Took 4 months to get to court, Judge laugh at them, and told me I could go to Joplin.
I hand delivered the court order to the sectraatery that makes the appointmnets, 3 weeks I had not hurd nothing, so I call over, and I was told I was to make the appointment, and I said that isn;t what the court order says! Then she told me that i was on top of the stack, so i ask her what was it, was I to do it, or was she going to do it, she told me I wasn't the only one that she ad to do things for, I got up set, and ask to talk to the head nurse, she got on the phone, in 15 mins. i had my appointment. the next day I get a register letter telling me that I could only come back one more time, that the Doctor wasn't going to treat me any more! I called my attroney and told him i needed a new doctor, I am on Fentanyl patch, which you can't quit taking, so he aggreed to see me, until I could get a new Doctor, you know how slow the court system is, after a few months, he told me I would have to see him after the last paintence of the day, and he would have a nurse check me in and right my meds! Fentanyl states death can acure if you stop immediaty. So I am out, i go, and set in the car waiting untill he gets everyone takin care of, the head nurse comes out and ask me what I was doing and I told her, so when she went back inside, she mentioed i was outside when ever he had time. He told her he wasn't going to treat me anymore! What can I do?
I don't want to die!
I will be very greatfull for any help!
ACE

Thanks Jennifer, after I posted this, about a hour later, he called and told me if i went to having bad dt's to make sure and call him!
 I told him thanks a lot!

Ace

Ace,
I think you posted about this problem before (maybe a month ago). Your doc is required to help you out for a time, but he is not mandated to keep giving you fentanyl patches indefinitely. I know you're in a tough place with relying on the court's to approve a doc for you, but I want to encourage you to really make finding a new pain doc your number one priority. Call your attorney, or the courts if you don't have an attorney, & explain the severity of your situation. See if they can approve a few interim visits with someone just to get you through until you are permanently assigned a new doctor.

I've gone through withdrawal myself from fentanyl & it is no doubt quite unpleasant. I'm not sure what dose you were down to. I think you said something before about being at 50mcg, then up to 75mcg & then I don't remember. Ideally, you would have been down to 25mcg, but the good news is that the withdrawal will be progressive & if you're getting dangerously ill you will have some warning. Usually, they say if you can make it through the first 72 hours off fentanyl that you will be just fine (still miserable for a few weeks, but out of the worst of it). I got Catapres patches to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Catapres will keep your heart rate, breathing & blood pressure rate in the safe zone. Plus, it helped me with the runny nose, watery eyes, goosebumps & some with the nausea. Your doc could probably just call that in for you if you are very sick. If you're kicking, they sometimes give benzo's, though I'm not sure whether he'll do that since you're not his patient anymore. There are plenty of PM's that won't even write them for their active patients.

It sounds like you're pretty mad at your PM, but I would gently suggest that you would be better off calling him if you really need medication for w/d than going to the ER. The ER is a roll of the dice. If you're out of other options, and are in a life-or-death situation clearly it's valuable. Beyond that, they may try to make you comfortable, or they might just give you Narcan, stabilize your vitals & send you on your way. It is safe to treat like that, but from what I've seen very uncomfortable. You won't have to worry about further w/d's after that, but you won't have anything to take for your pain either.

Do take care of yourself. Get plenty of water & try to stay warm -- bundle up, take warm showers, drink warm non-caffeinated beverages. If you get sick a lot, Gatorade really helps. Basically, all the things you would do if you got a horrible flu are good ideas for making it through w/d symptoms. Do try to relax any way you know how. I don't want to say there's no chance you could have severe problems, but I haven't heard of it happening to people going off the lower doses (under 100mcg) so you can be cautious, but try to keep the anxiety from getting the best of you. Relaxation will help keep your br/bp/breathing in check so there really is a lot of benefit to practicing yoga, meditation, visualization, prayer or whatever works for you. Hang in there & let us know when you've made it through the worst of it in one piece.

all my best,
frances

Post Edited (Frances_2008) : 2/20/2009 10:07:40 PM (GMT-7)

Ace I really can't understand your comp situation at all or the atty you have hired. But one thing I want to point out to you I learned a long time ago dealing with drs offices thru my work. I always made friends with the nurses before ever bothering with the dr. Why, because they are the ones that run the place, number 2 the dr listens to them no matter what. Never get your nurse mad at you, its like cutting your own throat as you have found out. In the future when dealing with a nurse just remember she can make you or break with that dr. Hugs, Susie

I want to thank all of you for the advice and the help. And I have learned my lesson's. What I hope is that someone one he can advise me?

I have 2 patches left, I was to put one on last night, but I didn't! I tried to only take 3 Vicdion Today i just laid around as normal, and plenty of hot flashes and te chills, nothing worst! Do I put on a patch tonight or do I try to hold out another day, I tried to get the 25mg ,no luck! I would be gratefull if anyone could advice me what I would be better off doing!

I would be great full for any and all help!

ACE