New Here/Having Problems Managing Pain

I've been reading the forum for several days and decided to see if I could get some advice. I'm 39 have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Scoliosis, Degenerative Disk Disease, and Celiac Disease. Am trying to get SSDI, in the appeals process now - been waiting since Oct. 2009. I have no health insurance and as of yet do not qualify for Medicaid. So any dr visits come out of my pocket. Obviously I'm not able to work and husband lost job back in August. So money is tight. My gp has been good at letting me pay out my visits. Last time I went he prescribed Cymbalta for fibromyalgia and depression, Tramadol for pain, Hydrocodone for pain. The Cymbalta is working (somewhat), the Tramadol not so much, the Hydrocodone works wonders. On my last visit about 4 weeks ago, he told me to try this mix of meds for 3 months and if it wasn't working he would increase the Hydrocodone so that I could take at least 3 a day. I've tried this mix for a month now, and its not helping. I called his office and asked if I could go ahead and get more hydrocodone for the breakthrough pain. They called this am and said no. He now wants me to go to a PM dr. Which I'm willing to do, but how am I supposed to pay for it?????  I've been taking the hydrocodone since May of 09. I only receive enough pills for 2 a day. They are 5/325. Its not like I take 5 or 6 a day and am asking for more. I would just love to have one day without pain. And not have to decide if I'm going to be pain free only in the morning or wait until the evening. 

Since I'm in the process of disability I don't want it to look like I'm doctor shopping right now. I'm don't know what to do and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Joysotay

Thanks for your advice. I do know that the dr is very hesitant to prescribe narcotics. The nurse told me he had a bad experience in the past from a patient. But what frustrates me about that is, I'm not that patient. He been prescribing this medication for me for 2 years and I haven't abused it in all that time. And now that I'm still not getting relief he won't prescribe more.  What I'm afraid will happen is that I try to find another dr and they won't prescribe it at all. And then I'm really going to be miserable.  I guess I have no choice but to do what he has suggested and see what happens. I'll keep everyone posted.

Joysotay 

J -

I understand what you are saying...especially when you've seen him for 2+ years and have properly taken your meds and all that.  Unfortunately, it's a common thing to happen - for a doctor to have a bad experience w/ giving someone narcotics...and then it reflects onto anyone else who needs meds.

I'm sorry!  Maybe someone else will have some offer suggestions.  Hang in there...

--Tina

 

Perhaps you should be prescribed amitripylin. This is an antidepressant as well as muscle relaxer and is only $4.00 at Walmart uness they've gone up recently.

I use it at night "will make you sleep but side effects for me are uncontrolled leg spams" before bedtime for Fibromyalgia.

Hello Joy!

Welcome to the CP forum!


I have been running behind here on the forum, but wanted to welcome you here. We have wonderful members as you can see.

Please take a peek at the Chronic Pain 101 at the top of the forum. It is good reading, and I'm sure you will find some helpful information there.

SE

I live in MO also. I will check into that. There is Access Family here that uses a pay scale so you pay according to your income. I'm just afraid of going to one of those places and them not being willing to give the medication that helps. But I guess all I can do is try huh???

I appreciate everyones responses. I've enjoyed reading all the posts on this site. I have learned some very interesting things from all of your experiences. I makes me feel better knowing that the symptoms/pain that I have are not just in my head. There are so many people on here that have things similar to me. I will definitely keep posting and reading.

Hi Joy Boy and welcome to the forum.

You are in that state of limbo so many of us float in between losing our shirts and waiting for SSD to get around to us and thats a nother discussion but there are some ways to expediate getting a hearing,you might check out Petes SSD thread as it has some of those there.

You might be in a state that has such a thing as a spend down card thru your medicaid office that is just for these kinds of things. Your allowed a certain amount of medicaid for a certain amount of time based on the need for unforseen care your requiring.

Like stated its not Doc shopping if your only consulting and that means up until which time you actually take a script for opiates from a Doc other then your prescribing Doc without his knowledge,in other words if you find one that is willing to help you more notify your old Doc immediately that you thank him for his care but his services are no longer needed. Request a transfer of your records and do all of this in writing keeping copies. Then your free to see whomever.

Try PM Docs associated with medical schools as these are generally funded better to care for the indigent and fees are income based and even if you have to drive a bit to see one the savings are worth it.

Shop around for a pharmacy discount card and alot of these can be obtained for little or no costs and can save half of your costs. The bigger chain pharms all have them and are found to be helpful. I use one that gives me more then half off the 2 meds not covered by my medicare drug plan and couldnt get those at all if I didnt have it.

Sadly to say many many GPs will not adequately treat pain with opiates since all the stigma associated with doing so. Some will and you might be able to find one. I dont know where you live in MO but I had a very good one at a "quick care" in Tulsa for 2 years out there with my son going to school. It was about $50 a visit but hey thats not too bad considering the alternatives.

Good luck to you and hoping you find someone to help you alittle more and hoping you get that hearing real soon.

Hi Joy, and welcome to the family!

So many people have offered wonderful words of wisdom and great suggestions. I'm merely glad you found this place as sometimes the one thing a doctor can't give you is the emotional support those of us with chronic pain so desperately need; someone to talk to, who understands what we're dealing with.

From some of the people I know with Fibro they all agree that Lyrica is one of the best meds out there. It takes awhile to build up in your system, but is definately worth it. Celebrex is another one. If you can rely more on the tramadol then the hydrocodone, you're better off. Believe me, I've been on narcotics for over three years, generally four times a day. One of the things I found was that every year or two my pain management doc had to switch what I was taking. At first he'd start by increasing the doseage; like he upped my percoset from 10mg, to 15mg, but tried to get me to cut back to only 3 pills a day instead of 4. This worked for a very short time before I found myself back to needing 4 a day as my bad days started to out-number my good ones. Before that he had me on loritab, and about every six months as my pain increased (and my tolerance to the meds) we'd have to up the doseage. Before loritab, there was vicoden. So you can see what happens. Another thing you can discuss as a possible option is extended release meds.

You mentioned that you had tried to apply for Medicaid; was that before your husband lost his job? If so, go and try to reapply again, or at the very least have your file updated to reflect your current income status. I'm not sure if it'll work, but it's worth a try. I found when I was getting unemployment the state considered it to be "to much income" to qualify for Medicaid, but as soon as my unemployment ran out, they had no problem approving me for it. The bad thing was as soon as my SSD was approved they cut off my Medicaid, was I was back to "to much income", however because of the way SSD works I didn't get my Medicare for another 10 months.

I understand the fears of doctor hopping, or shopping around, and certainly with something like Fibro a pain management doctor will be your best bet for getting your pain under control and on a good progam medication-wise. Just remember some meds do take time to build up a continual level and work effectively.

I wish you the best of luck, and make sure you keep us all up to date on how things are going, or even post just to vent, get things off your chest, and remember that you're not alone, that eventually this rough time will pass and things will get better. *hugs*