Good news about SCS, but more headaches with PM

So glad to hear the good news that the SCS is working great for you!!

On the med issue, I have a few questions as I'm a bit confused on the way you wrote things as in on paragraph you write that "everything they gave to me ended 10 days after release...it's all gone"....but then write you have plenty of your regular meds from the PM but with extra...

So you didn't keep the meds in their separate bottles since they were from different Drs. and different strength?

I would think you could fairly easily figure out what you should have from your PM by taking the date when you filled them (you can call the Pharmacy if you don't have this info) and then count what you normally take each day until the 10th...

And if you have extra meds then that is a good thing and shouldn't be a worry at all.

I guess I'm just confused if you were taking meds that the surgeon prescribed then did you not take any of your PM ones or did you take them on top of what the surgeon prescribed? This is where I'm not quite sure from how you write it..

You say that the surgeon talked to your PM before the trial...but did you speak to them yourself as well? How about before the permanent surgery you just had?

The reason I ask is so that you have a time/date of getting permission from your PM for getting other prescriptions for the surgery.

I would think you are going to be just fine with not taking more than prescribed and having the amount that you should have, even if they aren't in the original bottle...

But certainly an FYI to all those who are reading it is best to never through away your pill bottles until you get your next month's prescription filled just in case you are ever called in for a med check as these are going to be done more and more in the future with the regulations tightening...

Hi RM I'm so happy that your SCS is working good for you. I have been wondering how it was going after all the problems you had at first.

As far as the PM and counting your meds, I haven't had to do it before, but since he approved the extra meds after your surgery, and you have been taking them properly, everything should be ok.
Try not to worry too much.

Take care my friend.

love and hugs
Loretta

Hi guys and thank you for the congratulations on the stim working so well.

I guess I went a little crazy in my med explanation. I'm sure that is mostly due to anxiety issues and OCPD.

What I was trying to explain is that I have a script for mscontin 30 mg two times daily from my regular PM and was given one for 60 mg three times daily for ten days. I was also given Valium 10mg three times daily by the hospital, but normally take Robaxin three times daily. The NS gave me 30 Percocet 5mg to supplement my 15mg oxy ir & I also had my regular ultracet the whole time.

In the hospital, I was under orders to take my home meds (except while on the ER floor and after seeing the hospital PM late the night before discharge (basically 9 PM until discharge at 1 PM the next day).

The only bottles that are gone are the ones that ended 10 days after release. I have everything from my regular PM office. The amounts are strange to me, but I think I actually have more than I "should". Obviously I did not take both of the mscontin at the same time and I did not take the Robaxin and Valium at the same time.

To clear up about the conversations with both myself and the dr's....I had a meeting with the PM the week of the trial (after it was removed) and gave him the surgery date. The NS called him (but was only given the nurse) on the day of release from the hospital the second time. It should all have been on the up and up. I do normally like to have a few pills "saved" back just in case the pharmacy is out or another emergency, but.cant give you the exact number. I even use a reminder program in my phone to make sure I don't double take or skip a dose.

I'm just afraid of this office and the way they function. I know they are angry because I had the NS do the procedure instead of them. In particular, this nurse has some strange position in the office and its like her word is law.

I always get nervous and uptight before I go in for an appointment with them. This time is just much, much worse.

Post Edited (RetiredMom) : 1/9/2013 4:04:47 AM (GMT-7)

Wow...That is quite unusual of a surgeon doubling someone's prescription by adding both a long acting and a short acting medication just for the recovery period..

It's so strange that he put you on 120mg of Morphine but then bothered with a few 5mg Oxycodone when you already take the 15mg IR....

A surgeon will usually work with the PM to just add a little bit more medication to help with your pain but have you take your regular meds and just add theres on top. But they seemed to take over your entire pain management..

But thanks for sharing more...So as you explain it you should have 10 days extra of your regular Morphine but then just contact the surgeon and have them fax a copy of the actual instructions to "add" the 5mg Oxycodone to your Roxicodone 15mg.

I don't see how there will be any issue with you having more medication leftover when you will have all the info from the surgeon to show your PM as well as the actual meds to show them.

You will be fine:)

I wanted to mention that if you go to your pharmacy and ask they will give you an extra bottle with the prescription label on it. I remember back when I was on oxycodone I wanted an extra bottle to keep some meds in my car and by law they have to be in the correct bottles. Walgreens had no issues giving me an extra empty bottle with the label. So this way you would have the bottles your hubby threw out.

SB is correct. You shouldn't have any issues since you should have extra meds left. Don't let these PM people and nurses stress you out. They aren't worth it.

I have done this myself several times and the label that prints out is the exact label that was on the original bottle - date and all. Some of my medications come in a big bottle and I'll get a second one to keep smaller amounts in - sometimes a week or two later. I've done this at two different pharmacies through the years. I'm not sure how someone could use this as a 'trick' because they would just keep the original bottle if they were going to do something like that and a second bottle wouldn't really make a difference. Or maybe I missed something! lol

Post Edited (Splashdancer) : 1/9/2013 1:23:22 PM (GMT-7)

I also think that the printout from the pharmacy will be enough for her doctor. I was just sharing my experience of getting second bottles with the same labels and that (in my experience) it did not raise any red flags because it's not that uncommon (per my pharmacist). But I don't think she needs to get a new bottle - just a printout, or even a printout copy of the label/receipt (depending on the pharmacy).

Thanks for sharing....I always like learning something new and wasn't sure how it would be handled later on like this...