Today is the day for the battle of the PM's

Wish me luck today guys....please!!  Today is the day I have my "meeting" with my regular PM to discuss my treatment plan and the day I have my "second opinion" meeting with the possibly new PM.  I say possibly because I don't know what he will have to say and I want to know everything before I change....you know the old "devil you know" thing.

Anyway, I meet with my old PM at 8AM to discuss my treatment plan and with the new PM for a second opinion at 2PM in a different city.  I'll really have to be getting it to make it to both, but I've done all of the paperwork and I'm as ready as I can be.  I don't know anybody who sees the new guy at all. I just did some blind calling after looking on the internet for PM in the area and he showed up as have a sub-office about 35 miles from here. His main office is much farther, but that's OK if I have to go for a procedure or something (I guess).  Even so...I don't know much about him and I'm a little scared.  I had to get copies of all of my films for him from everywhere and I consider that a good thing because the one I see now only uses the "notes" written by the radiologist (which I do not find to be accurate much of the time).  In fact, each time I am evaluated by a Dr who does look at films, they totally disagree with the information provided by the radiologist...so....we shall see.  None the less, wish me luck!  I will need it and if all goes well, I could just end up with a new PM today that may help me!  That would be WONDERFUL!

Retired mom

Wishing you all the luck in the world. I really hope this works out and you have a pain management doctor you feel really comfortable with. I'll be waiting to know how it goes.

Take care, you will be exhausted by this evening!

Jane

Sending out prayers for you and I really hope that this new PM is great match for you!

Will look for an update later on this evening..

This was one of the worst days I can remember....with both of the PM doctors. I ended up seeing a DIFFERENT Dr than the one I was SUPPOSED to be referred to. My primary PM decided I should go to Mayo or Augusta ... Mayo has refused to accept my case three times and Augusta is a JOKE. His recommendation did give me the option to drop in the fact that I support his recommendation and actually had a second opinion this afternoon. He was a little quirky about it and I told him I didn't mention it because I didn't want to upset him. He said it was be a very juvenile to be upset about that and then basically refused to do anything except stop the RFA's that aren't working anymore. He suggested a SCS and possibly methadone (but NO increase in the MSContin that I needed. He basically said that I had issues at home and that my pain problems were not "real" even without saying it exactly. It was HORRIBLE.

On to the second one....I saw the second Dr...had to do a comprehensive Drug screen they are going to send off (why, I don't know because I won't be his patient...he doesn't want me). He did an exam and acted like I was lying about my pain and how and when I hurt. He said I should go have more surgery or consider the pain pump and that the SCS would not do me any good at all. He then said I needed the surgery and take too much medicine and should loose weight instead of taking more meds. Then he proceeded to ask me how long I had been bi-polar and I told him I was not bi-polar, but had a great deal of anxiety and depression. I have no idea where he got the idea I was bi-polar. Anyway, he refused to call my PM that had asked him to call and said he would send him a report. He did admit that many people need three doses of MSContin a day instead of two and then said he would say that in his letter. I'm betting the rest will be horrible because he wanted me to go to Emory to let another surgeon look at me and have more surgery done.

Overall it was HORRIBLE and I can't begin to tell you how bad I feel for now.

Ohhhh...what a terrible day for you:(

The only thing I can say even though it's difficult...is to not give up..It took me until the 5th appt. with a new PM to find the one I have now.

I can't believe that they made you take the urine test when you aren't even going to be his patient! I would have refused at that point as you weren't asking for meds and I would have questioned what in the world he would need it for.

That is so strange that in the end he is going to go ahead and suggest to your Dr. to let you take the MSContin 3 times a day. So maybe something good will come from this in the long run? I will still hope for that!.

I see on your signature that you have had the one fusion and it failed. Have you had any before that? Obviously surgery is always our last choice but maybe they should be doing a new MRI and it just may be that another surgery can help you some..

The only reason I say this is that even though I have chronic pain after my 3, two-level, fusions...this last one where they went in from the front and the back of my neck took away the majority of my nerve pain. I even was able to stop taking the Cymbalta because of it.

So, I would at least speak with a new Board Certified Neuro or Ortho to just see what they think that if a new surgery may help.

And one other thing...have you looked at your medical records recently to make sure that no one has accidentally put down the bi-polar diagnosis?

Just trying to throw out some thoughts...I totally empathize what it's like when it feels like the Drs. aren't listening to you or believe you.

As I've mentioned many times....around the time of my 2nd surgery that went terribly with a jerk of a Neuro I was seeing an awful PM as well. They of course were friends and why I got referred. They always made me feel like an idiot for having pain. The morning after my surgery before being discharged my Neuro berated me for having any pain and needing medication as he said, "I only take Tylenol for pain, I fixed you, you should be fine". I was speechless! I was discharged with 15, 5mg Percocet and that's it...

So...I was left scrambling for a few months over the holidays as this happened right before Thanksgiving and it was an awful time I was in so much pain I couldn't see straight. I went on appt. after appt.

Sorry for rambling...just trying to say that if I had given up I would have never found my now amazing PM and Neuro. My Neuro gave me a big hug during my first appt. saying he was so sorry I was left to suffer like that and he would make sure I never go through that again!

And for some quick laughter to boost you up...on that first appt. I accidentally put the gown on with the opening in the front as I had been to my Ob/Gyn recently....and he comes in and is like..."Ummm...I think I'll get a better view of your neck and spine with it the other way" LOL!! I was so embarassed as he is also one hunky guy!

I'm just so upset and frustrated for you:( I am going to continue my prayers that you can still find a good PM somewhere!

Sending you lots of hugs (( ))

RM,
The suggestion to go to Emory might not be such a bad idea. They are supposed to be one of the top spinal injury hospitals , with top notch surgeons and pain management people, as well as physical therapy/rehab departments on the east coast.....
Why not call them? See what the surgeon has to say.....get new updated MRI's /CT scans, or whatever other tests they want- and then make an appointment with one of their PM doctors. You never know, this new path might lead you to the right PM doctor at the end of the rainbow.
Sandi

Good luck retired mom. Please let us know how you make out.


Jazzie

 

     retiredmom....again, I feel and understand the pain and fear you are going through. There are times I feel the same way. Maybe I would have been better off without surgery, and the pain was something I will never forget.

 My wife happend to run across photos of me last night while on her computer,...showing me in the hospital after surgery, and after one look, it instantly made me sick to my stomach and asked her to turn it off. I never want surgery again!

    PCD's...PM's...I dont even know what to tell people these days...as it seems the system is getting worse, and of course we are the ones suffering.

     All I can advise is to give it a few days, and rethink some of this....just don't give up. I know it's more than hard at times, but keep trying.

    Take care, and again I'm sorry,

   SE

So sorry that all of this has happened to you Retiredmom. I can't imagine how difficult it must be being in this position. Like Michael say, sit on all of this for a few days, think it thru and then take it from there. Take it one day at a time and do the best you can each day, it's all one can do. I wish it was easier said than done in finding a good pm doctor. I hope that your load will lighten up a bit and that you can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Keep on trying and never give up.
Take care

Suzane

Am so sorry that things turned out that way. I have been in PM almost 20 years and have been blessed with compassionate docs both my PM docs and my ENTs. I wanted to ask where you live in relation to Emory, north, south, east or west. I live about 2 hours north of Atlanta over the border into NC and have an excellent PM doc and if you were close enough I know that she would see you and my recommendation. She is very special. Last year my husband and I went on a trip out west. He schedule our return on the wrong day (the 19th instead of the 12th) of course all the flights on the 12th were full and we had to wait until the 13th. The 14th was my next PM appt and I only carried meds to get me home on the 12th. I ended up having to take a couple of my husband's Lortabs and that was a violation of my contract. Of course when I got there on the 14th it was a pee day. I was so upset my bp was sky high. When she asked me what was wrong I told her what happened sobbing all the time. She gave me a big hug and said she never wanted me coming to see her in fear and nothing was every said about the urine results.

As someone in the medical field I will never understand docs acting that way. Let me know if you would like her name.

Retiredmom You sound like you need a big soft hug ((((((((hugs)))))))) I miss talking back and forth in e-mail. We could start that again, if you want to. I sure hope you don't loose your PM dr. Love ya my friend.

love and hugs
Loretta

Thank you Loretta and Kaeley. I'd love to email again Loretta...I'll pull up your email and send the first. I am very careful not to put too much personal info on the web, so I don't have mine listed and I have lost several computers since we last spoke.

Kaeley, I really appreciate the info....truely I do, but it is very difficult because I cannot take NSAIDS (except aspirin) and ice is a pain trigger for me. I use heat though and that helps some. I know last night was horrible and I had my meds (except Ultracet because I have to do a 24 hour urine and can't have it for two days)... anyway, I MUST have pain management. I do not know what will happen, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I cannot depend on my PCP to prescribe anything more than possibly ultracet (maybe not even that). I "Might" get my psych to be realistic and prescribe a long acting med and a short acting (take as needed med), but I don't know. If it were to work this way, that would be OK as long as I get some pain meds. My psych knows exactly what my diagnoses is...anxiety, ptsd, depression, ocpd, and some other random things....but most people would qualify for those. Anyway, he is a good man and I think he will help me if worst comes to worse. I just am not positive.

I will cross that bridge when I come to it and pray I don't have to. I am going to be stuck where I am unless they put me out and that is entirely possible. It will leave a horrible stain on my medical history. I REALLY don't want that to happen, but I don't have a choice in the matter.

Does anyone know if you can MAKE someone change a medical record if it is WRONG? I don't know exact wording, but I am positive there are notes in my file that are lies to be sure. They certainly were when I was in the hospital at the same place...that's for sure. They had me as MR in one section and having a masters in another. They also had me as divorced in one section and married in another and all of my meds were wrong, despite the written paperwork I gave them with the exact names, doses, prescribing Drs, allergies, and even suplements I take. They still screwed it up. Waiting is very, very hard and I would like to know what the yaahoo is going to say about me in both the letter to my PCP and the note to the PM. Don't they have to give me a copy of my medical records if I request it?? I can go down there one day this week and do that.......it would at least give me an idea of what was to come.

I understand my PM doesn't give warning.....just a nasty letter saying you broke the rules by .......... whatever. I didn't brake any rules, but that's not the issue is it?

Sorry for the rambling this morning. I appreciate everything!

RM...I really am praying for you as I know this is such a tough time..

I certainly don't want to add to you being upset but I wanted to try and get you prepared that I don't think your Psych Dr. will prescribe any type of pain medication. The DEA and the states monitor these meds so closely and I think they would get contacted immediately if opiates were registered under their license number to a patient as that is not anywhere near their speciality. It would be the same if a surgeon or a PM prescribed psychiatric medication to treat things like that.

So....the only reason I wanted to tell you this is I didn't want you counting on something and then being terribly disappointed as I just think that would be even worse for you.

As far as correcting things in your medical record like Mr/Mrs...or what your education, marital status is....things like this....whenever you go to see a new Dr. that has gotten the records, you can easily point those out to them and have them change these for you. Same thing for correcting allergies you have or supplements you take. Bring in a new list. And I would even print out a list from the Pharmacy you go to so they can see the medications you have been on.

Now, as far as any notes or treatment plans from Drs. about your care or their thoughts on your care...that is not something that you can change.

I apologize for being a bit confused on whether you are still able to see the PM you have been seeing? Or did they somehow dismiss you from the practice? I think you are still able to see them and are just worried about them doing this....Hopefully you are still with them for at least the time being in that they will still prescribe what you normally have gotten so that you aren't going off opiates completely and will have some pain relief for now.

I know I keep saying it....but I'm still hoping and praying that you will find a better Dr. out there soon!...

Sending more hugs (( ))