withdrawals

Well my friends, I guess I'm headed into withdrawals again. I called last Monday and told them that I needed my Fentanyl patches and oxycodone refilled. I called the pharmacy last Friday, and they didn't have the scripts (My doctor sends them to my pharmacy). I called them Saturday, and they didn't have them. I called them today, and they still didn't have them.

I called my doctor's office, and the lady that answered the phone looked and said that the physician's assistant wanted the doctor to refill them. She said she would send it back to my doctor that I had called again.

The reason I say that I'm going into withdrawals again, is that I have my last patch on, and it's supposed to be changed tonight. I actually thought that this wouldn't happen again. I guess I was wrong.

I really don't want to go thru this again. Is there anything I can do to make it where the withdrawals are not so bad?

Will you all please pray for me? I really would appreciate it.

love and hugs
Loretta

Loretta,

First of all - you know you have my prayers.... always!

Next... and you know me well enough to know that I say this with love! - you've got to figure out a way to get this straight with your doctor! Especially w/ all of your other health issues - it's not healthy to go off/on the extended release meds - especially fentanyl.

I know you have transportation issues..... how often do you physically go in to see your PM doctor? For instance, I see mine monthly - which is when I get my scripts. That way - no issues. If I'm too sick or something comes up and I miss a month - not a big deal, she'll have my scripts ready for my husband to p/u.... but I try to see her every month, as much as I can.

From what I can remember w/ you - does the doctor fax in your scripts and then mail the hard copy? Mailing the hard copy only takes one or two days at most for the pharmacy to receive..... so this makes no sense why the delay. You've been on these same meds for a long time now...

I just REALLY encourage you to be pro-active and advocate for yourself, Loretta. Find out what the exact procedure is that they want of you..... to avoid this situation from repeating itself. For instance - does the office want you to call 1 week before your refills are due?? Etc.

Like I said.... you've been on these same meds.... for a long time.... There should be no delay at this point. Am I missing something??

Side note.... did you ever get in to see the doctor regarding your kidney issues? I hope so!!

Please know that my words are all out of care and concern....!! Withdrawal is horrible - especially when there is NO need for it!!

Love, Tina

Loretta,

Awwww bless your heart (((((hugs)))))). I'm so sorry to hear that you are having to go thru this again.

I just wanted to let you know that you'll be in my prayers daily. I really hope that your Dr's office gets things taken care of so that you get your meds ASAP.

I agree with Tina this shouldn't be happening on a regular basis. I know I see my primary care doctor once a month and depending which military pharmacy I fill my meds at I either get a 30 day supply or a 60 day supply.

If I am to sick to go in to see her, I just send her an email. She will enter the prescription into the pharmacys computer and hubby picks them up.

I really hope that you express to them how this ISN'T good for your health and they need to work it out. You'll be in my prayers.

Hugs,
Barbara

Let me stress blessedx8's suggestion thst you do NOT remove your remaining patch. Do you have any BTP opioids? They will help you a LOT if you can drag them out until you get the first WD symptom, like restless legs. Keep calling that Dr. I always drive 50 miles out of my way to pick up my scripts to avoid such crises as well as keep a backlog. Physical dependence must be paid strict attention to and WDs avoided at all costs...Q

Ohh...Loretta...I am so sorry to hear that this is happening to you again as this has been such an ordeal over the years for you with getting them to mail it to the Pharmacy on time as well as not have other things mess up.

I think one of the options that we had suggested was talking with your Dr. at a visit and let him know how many times this has taken place and whether you can have just a few extra patches to have on hand for emergencies. Obviously you aren't asking for a month's worth of extra meds....but just enough to have so that when these glitches come up, you won't go into withdrawals.

I had an issue happen once when I first started seeing this PM back in 2006 as I went to go pick up my prescriptions on a Friday afternoon and it was a few weeks before Christmas. Well, it turns out they had closed early for a company Christmas party! So I was completely out of meds! I called the after hours number and asked what to do.

This is when my PM drove all the way from his home later that evening to bring them to me!!! He then prescribed a bit more for the next month which allowed me to keep a small amount on hand for things like bad storms or other possible glitches.

I will pray that it gets sorted out ASAP for you but also that you can get this settled with them once and for all to have enough so that you are never left without if there is a delay like this again.

Loretta -

I know you got your medicaid transportation "reinstated".... can they take you to this doctor to p/u your script?

Anyway, try to post when you can.... just worried about you and trying to brainstorm solutions, my friend :)

--Tina

That's what they say about the fentanyl left in your system.... that being said, I'm not so sure I believe it.... as I've been on/off the patch several times -- and once I remove a patch..... I NEED to get that other one on board!

Check in Loretta when you can --Tina

Oh yea Tina. I don't mind you adding anything to my post, as I know you have my best interest at heart. I love you my friend. Thank you for being here for me.

love and hugs
Loretta

Just an FYI, most pharmacies will open the boxes and give you anywhere from 1-4 patches from said box. I had this done when I received a partial script, I got 12 patches so 2 boxes and 2 patches separate in a bag.

Dear Momtofour, I don't often wish people ill but when my meds are carelessly late, like the physician has never heard of physical dependence, I just can't help but wish they could have just a little taste of what I go thru when they mess up an order that has been the same for 3 years. I don't think that you will incur any bad karma for wishing your Dr a mile or so in your shoes . . . Q

No I haven't got my meds. I am still waiting for my doctor to actually print the scripts. I called again today, and the lady said she was going to print it out and give it to her supervisor. So, hopefully he/she can get it done.

I feel like my doctor just doesn't care. It will be two weeks on Monday since I called the first time to get the scripts done. I feel like finding another doctor, but I'm scared that the next one wouldn't prescribe them at all, as this is my pcp. There aren't any PM doctors here that will take medicaid.

I hope you're all having as good a night as you can under the circumstances.

love and hugs
Loretta

Unfortunately I can say been there done that. My PCP is bad about this kind of thing to unless her nurse prints out the scripts and hands them to her and says sign them. Just leaving them in her mailbox or on her desk means they are liable to get misplaced and/or ignored until the pile gets so deep she has no choice but to go through it.

One time after waiting for over a week and making nearly daily phone calls trying to get a script for my pain meds I couldn't take it anymore and broke down and went to the ER. I took with me a print out of my medications to show that I was on these meds as well as the dates the scripts were filled and explained to the ER doctor that I was having trouble getting my new scripts and that I had been trying for nearly two weeks. The doctor I saw in the ER was disgusted by how long it was taking and good easily see how much pain I was in and wrote me a script for 2 weeks worth to hopefully get me through as well as orders for a followup with my PCP which meant they had to get me in within the time frame the ER doc ordered. A week later I was in for an appointment and had my scripts in hand. Even though I had signed a standard pain contract nothing was ever said about me going to the ER to get some pain relief.

I can see that you have been thru this as well Jim. I don't trust the ER, but I just might have to do that very thing. I still have one of the empty boxes that my patches came in, and it has the prescription on it.

Thank you all so much for the support and care. It really means a lot to me.

love and hugs
Lorertta