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Possibly having to go off Percocet

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Posted 10/24/2012 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,    I posted here a little in the past, not really one to do this often though.  I mostly read whats going on here, and find comfort and inspiration.    My current situation has prompted me to seek some direction from people who may know about what I'm getting ready to go through.

I will try to make this as brief as I can. Been on Opiates for awhile, maybe a little over a year, before that was Tramadol, (thats a whole other story)   I was seeing a PM doctor in CA, we moved here to Wy, about 2 mo. ago. Even though me and my husband has called numerous times to request CA to fax our records here so the PM office will see us, it still has not happened.   The office lady who is supposed to do this finally said she faxed them on Oct 10, but the office here for whatever reason didn't recieve them, oh and the office here has even contacted them at least twice.

This is beyond frustrating!  I have terrible pain in my cervical spine ie the Percocet. Plus Fibro, and my husband is in the same boat with his back, he has been on Opiates, currently Morphine and Percocet for 20 yrs.     So we've been trying to cut back on these meds that we all know we become dependent on.   Jim handles it better than I do, probably because I am extremely sensitive to everything.    Just cutting back to 3 or 4 a day from 6 a day causes me to go into withdrawal.

We full well knew moving here would cause alot of stressors, was hoping this would not be one of them. Also, Jim has medical coverage, I do not as I'm waiting for an an appt with a ALJ who I hope will approve my disability case. One more thing, the pain doc here is an Anesthesiologist, so we do not even know what to expect when we can go. The only other PM doc in our area will not take new patients till Jan.

Anyway we each have enough to get us by for about 3 days.    Any suggestions? I'm trying not to panic! 

Posted 10/24/2012 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey HisFaithful...

Several years ago - we moved from CA to CO (and have since moved back to CA)... anyway, so I understand your panic for sure.

Couple of thoughts:

My Colorado doc was an anesthesiologist - and was an excellent doctor. Many of these doctors do pain management.

Do you have an appt w/ this doc - or will they not make one until they receive your records?

Re: getting your records - have you signed a release form for them? If not, I would fax a request in writing. Then, I would ask if they could at least fax to both you and the PM doc - a copy of the last dictation, showing your diagnosis and meds. That *should* be enough to get you an appointment w/ the doctor.... meanwhile, I would get on the phone - and sit on the phone - until the records get sent.

Re: the interim - even though I had my records, I too had a brief period where I didn't have a PM when we moved. I found a local primary doctor that was willing to script my meds while I got into see a PM. It was only a month or two.... but at least I was covered. That's also why having the dictated report from your CA doctor would be good - to show that you have a diagnosis and have been on opiates, etc.

Worst case scenario - you might go to the local ER w/ your med bottles, etc. I know ERs get a bad reputation in dealing w/ pain issues.... but I've also been helped great by the ER in situations like you are speaking of.

Good luck w/ everything --Tina
Posted 10/24/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there....Sorry to hear of your predicament..

A few questions..

Have you all just been using the prescription you got from your previous Dr. in CA? I'm trying to figure out how you all have been getting by for the last few months...

Or do you have a Dr. in WY who has been prescribing the Percocet (and your husband's meds) but just not the same amount as you were taking previously...

You could try to speak with the new PM to see if they will go ahead and see you even without all the previous records and have them speak directly to your CA Dr....

Usually they send copies in a package to your new Dr. and not sit there and fax the numerous pages...but I guess each place is different..

Do you have an actual appt. set with the new PM yet or have you been waiting to even do this?

My PM is an Anethesiologist as his background and he is absolutely amazing. It's really all about whether a PM handles chronic pain with a comprehensive approach using medications as well as procedures like injections, physical therapy, etc. Or whether they are just the injection type.

The way to usually find out without specifically asking if they prescribe opiates is to let them know you are looking for a Dr. to "use all modalities and a comprehensive approach".

My only concern is that they may also give you a urine test at the first appt. before prescribing any medication and just to make sure the Percocet you are taking now is from a prescription that is soley for you to show them.

The only other thing to do if things get too bad is to go to an Urgent Care but they may or may not give out any type of opiate.
Posted 10/24/2012 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Tina and Snowbunny  

Right after I made my post we found out we will be seeing the PM doc on November 6th. It is such a relief to finally get an appt.     Your replies has made me feel better! 

   Having no insurance is why I was trying to hold out and not see a regular doctor, but it is an excellant idea.   It is what I will do.   It's so hard when I can't even get medical insuance because I have preexisting conditions.   And when I do see the PM doc the first visit is $280. Ouch!  Then the following visits will be around $160.

   And Snowbunny yes, we both have been taking our meds from the last RX from CA. We seen him the day before the move and both had a little left from the previous scripts, so came here with the new one. I hope this makes sense.   We forseen this problem, so we both cut back a little.  But unfortunately my body starts having horrible symptoms if I go more than 5-6 hrs between doses.         I loathe having to take pain pills!  But hate the pain worse so take them I must, at least untill I am approved by SSDI then I will have Medicare. I started the disability process 2 yrs ago.  I'm hoping and praying I can then get better long-term treatment, possibly surgery on my neck, or at least try the injections. We just can not pay for something so expensive.   

  Jim just told while ago that he has not been taking hardly any of his Percocet in case I run out before this is all resolved. We take the same dosage, but he also takes Morphine, he got disability 2 yrs ago because of his back.   He also has carcinoid, a Neuroendecrine type cancer, which thank God causes him no pain. He told his new Oncologists nurse about his pain med dilemma, after speaking with the doc the nurse called back yesterday and said PMD will call him and get him in, this was the one who told us they will not take any new patients till Jan.    So I am hoping at least Jim can get in sooner than the 6th of Nov.    And the one who will see us both on the 6th, the receptionist did say he treats in many different ways.

Sorry to make this a book, I just wanted to explain the best as I could!    Again thank you both so much for replying. It means alot!

Posted 10/24/2012 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for explaining more...For some reason I didn't see Tina's post before I posted even though the times are a decent time apart...LOL..So I apologize for some of the duplicate questions/thoughts...:)

As I mentioned, just be careful about taking some of your husband's Percocets as when they get your medical records and see what the exact prescription was for you when you left CA...They will have expected those to last a certain period of time so trying to explain where you got more to take these two months (saved up meds or his meds) may cause an issue.

Just wanting you to get the best care:)
Posted 10/24/2012 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
No problem,  I do things like that all the time, I chalk up my memory lapses and my inability to pay attention, focus, concentrate and on and on lol to Fibro.   We gotta have a little humor in even in the midst of stress and trials.

Thank you,  I am aware of how careful we have to be.  It's crazy that people with chronic pain have to go through so much hassle to just try not too hurt as much.   The pain meds help lower my pain by about 50-60%.   Without them it is misery, but I know you all know this.

I guess I will tell them I tapered down the past several weeks and went through hell because of it, which is the truth.

Posted 10/25/2012 10:41 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah I would just tell them you have been tapering for the past couple of months and definatly don't mention you have been taking your husbands. I don't see anything wrong with it, but a PMD won't see it that way. My next appt is also Nov 6 so I will remember to be thinking about you and your husband that everything works out.
Posted 10/25/2012 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Maryann,     Yes I agree,  We can't tell them we are doing something that makes complete sense in certain situations like the one I'm in.  It's just the way it is and I realize all doctors are scrutinized so much now by the FDA. So sad that it has come to this point where chronic pain sufferers have to have such a hard time getting medication they need, and many are treated with suspicion when they don't deserve it. 

I hope all goes well with you on the 6th with your appt too!

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