Fml. Missing/possibly stolen meds!!!

Minette,not sure what state you live in but the Drs in ERs here do not write for fentenyl or any schedule II in most states. The insurance companies I've dealt with will not pay for replacement meds either and it's not okay for me to fill anything and then tell my Dr. I am darn sure in violation of my contract if I do and he darn sure is in his rights to discharge me.

Im trying to make sure she's prepared for the worse that could happen and that's possibly being without the patch for a week and relying on b/TS and any other relief she can.

Her Dr now is strung between 2 states so she's really in limbo as to which states laws apply.

My contract clearly states "no early refills " not even for theft. Let's be real here,anyone can file a police report about anything. And they do!

Leaving her patches on an xtra day even though its not the best pain control along with her b/t meds may be her only option. It may not be great but we've actually had folks here have to go a lot longer than 8 days without meds.

She has to be prepared to compensate if all else fails and we can help her do that and will give her all the tried and true methods and tricks we have. First she has to make sure its truly gone and find out if she has any options of getting any meds. When she doesn't we will help all we can.

In Florida I would just be up that proverbial creek and have been.

Hopefully all this wīll be unnecessary but just in case it truly is not the worst that could happen as she still has break thru meds to fall back on,many don't.

I edited to say : I'm not trying to be mean or rough but to help we sometimes have to be brutally honest. You asked for help and that's what I've got to offer. I always want the bare truth from others and that's what I try to give. Once you have that then you can work from there. Sorry if I sounded blunt or mean. Not my intentions.

Minette,

I would have to agree with Vickie. Here in SC, you would never get a script for Fentanyl from any ER visit or trip to an Urgent Care facility, and I don't know of any insurance situation that would pay for lost meds. Other than her own doctor (who is changing states if I read the story correctly), it would be difficult if not impossible for any other doctor to write her a replacement re-fill.

Unfortunately a bad situation to be in.

david

I am being real. I live in Colorado, and this is what my doctor told me. If something happens and my meds are stolen or lost, she has to see me again to write a new prescription, or some other doctor does. I have to inform her at the earliest possible time if I get an emergency prescription from some other doctor, including an emergency room doctor. It can't be done over the phone, but it can be done. I'm talking about oxycodone here. This is based on federal law, not state law. You might want to double check what the laws are in your state; if you've never had this problem and talked to your doctor about it you might find that you are mistaken about the possibilities. If you have talked to your doctor about it and she says otherwise, ask her to double check the law, not just rely on her memory of it, but actually check.

As for insurance companies, the only thing I know for certain is that they do their best to get out of paying what they owe, but it is possible to fight them, and worth doing so.

Minette

Even if you change your patch every 48 hours normally, try and stretch out any remaining patches by keeping them on longer because there IS medication left in the reservoir and any little bit helps.

At this point all you can do unless you find your purse is to keep withdrawl at bay until you can get your next regularly scheduled script. The break through meds should help with that, but since you are doing a police report you should also be able to go to the ER and get meds to help ease the symptoms if they come up.

When I used the patches, I got extra copies of the script info that gets put on each box...so that I could literally stick one on a single patch envelope and legally carry around a single patch....so I could leave the rest at home. That saved me the fear of having to carry two weeks worth of meds on me to stay "legal".

I have been in your shoes. My meds were also stolen, and I did file a police report.Some of you may remember that was when I joined this forum. I live in NC and I know as a fact that you cannot get replacement narcotics for any reason,even with a police report. (loss, theft,left in a vacation spot) I toughed it outalso as I had no choice. I also know as a fact here if you accept narcotics (script filled) from any other doctor, for any reason the pm provider will drop you. ( I know this because I broke my arm and had to refuse narcotics until they coould reach my pm for approval. Fortunatly he oked it) My pm told me its not weather he believes me or not, he will not put his medical license on the line. The laws here are very strict. I have a safe in my house and have my meds locked up 24/7. I only have it open long enough to get each dose. NO ONE not even my husband knows that combination.

I know that sounds drastic, but I NEVER want to though it out again!
Lesley

Post Edited (care???) : 7/23/2013 6:49:41 PM (GMT-6)

Hi all.

Update. Have made a police report. Also spoke with security at hospital. AND talked with nurse from my doctors practice that she just left. I am following her to Colorado. The fact that everything is documented, I should hopefully be ok. My nurse has given me 3 options.

Which are:

1. Ask my general practitioner to prescribe the 5 patches I need until I can fill my new prescription. Have the police report and all other documents printed out and sent to (nurse, who will fax it immediately to my pm dr when she starts in Colorado), and bring it with me to my general practitioner dr.

2. I can go to the ER and they can help me out hopefully.

3. I can try and go cold turkey with my breakthrough meds for 10 days, which she didn't recommend due to my heart condition and the fact I have major issues with anxiety.


I have experienced withdrawal from these patches and yes I know they are only 25. But to me that is strong! I change them every 48 hours. The reservoir is usually empty on most days I change them. That's why my dr made me change from 72-48. I don't know why that is though.

I do have a pain contract and I do have a safe for my medication. I keep track on my phone. On a calendar on the wall and in a journal in the safe. I also notify the pain drs nurse about anything that may be off.

I am in Nebraska and I have never had issues like this before. I'm gutted and extremely scared, anxious and very upset that this has happened.

I'll update more during the week. Hopefully I'll have some good news to report. As they are most definitely not in the house, hospital, garage or car.

Post Edited (PerfectDisaster86) : 7/22/2013 10:46:47 PM (GMT-6)

I respect your opinion and the advice which I asked for. I understand where you are coming from but I do keep them in a safe. I have never ran into a problem with any of my medications. Ever.

The fact that I am human and let someone tell me to bring them in is a mistake which I am sorely regretting every minute. However it doesn't mean I want to be made to feel worse.

It was a mistake. They were obviously stolen. I'm trying my best to make sure I will be ok. Instead of telling me obvious things like using a safe and never bringing meds out again. Maybe help me with how to use my break through meds to get through the tough time ahead. So I can be ready for anything.

I'm not trying to be rude or anything but none of you can make me feel any worse than I'm already feeling. I got positive news from nurse and cops. I'm trying to make my patch last longer. I'm trying.

Perfect, I am sure no one here meant to make you feel worse. I don't know what precautions you take. When mine was stolen it was in my purse on my kitchen counter. I needed advice on securing my meds. I think all on this forum, share their stories so you don't feel like this only happens to you. It can and has happened to all or most of us. I since you can't unspill the milk we/I were trying to look at moving forward.

This group of people have been a life saver for me. They are symthetic, caring and most of all honest. Even when they have to say something I may not want to hear, they do it with empathy.

I hope you realize no one here wants to make any one feel worse, we all feel pretty crappy to start with. lol :)
Lesley

Post Edited (care???) : 7/23/2013 6:51:47 PM (GMT-6)

PD, I agree with the other posters, no one meant to make you feel worse. I would imagine you already feel about as bad as you can feel about the missing meds. I know I would be devastated. In a peer to peer forum like HW CP, our best asset is sharing our personal experiences and things we have learned along the way. So please take these posts in that context, just our collective way of trying to help you.

When I visited the new neuro clinic doctor last week, they insisted by letter, and by phone, that I had to physically bring in all my meds in person. I did not think it was wise, as I have printed drug lists with all my meds on it. But I didn't want the new doctor to think I was "special" or non-compliant, especially on a new consultation visit. So I brought them in a double plastic bag (in case it split), and I was concerned every second of that visit where my meds were. Was afraid I would get up and walk away and forget, or when I went to the rest room, etc. I didn't feel safe until I had them safely back in my car.

And in the end, the doctor never asked to see the meds. So that was a lot of risk for nothing.

I am hoping and praying you get a good solution. what happened to you, could just as easily happen to any of us.

david