HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New Doctor appointment....

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/4/2014 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Monday, I will see a new PCP, after move and now new insurance. I will be making appointments with RH and GI soon. I am getting my records sent from old docs.

Of primary importance, blood work. It has been 6 months since last tests.

Secondary, almost out of muscle relaxers. I take generic flexeril, works great for me. I have plenty of pain killers to last until new RH appointment. I take as little as I can get away with to deal with the pain. (fibro, CD/UC, CD-related arthritis, likely Ankolosing Spondylitis). and use diet and exercise as pain relievers.

My last PCP refused to work with me on pain issues, most likely due to concern about prescribing painkillers. She insisted I use my rheumatologist for this, which is fine by me.

This is not really a question, more of a cranky whine. I hate new doctor appointments. I (We?) really get anxious when seeing someone new. I purposely went with an insurance (Kaiser Permanente) that keeps all docs in-house, sharing records. I want that connection between caregivers-after having had far-flung interactions in the past which often duplicated or missed issues.

Ack. New doctors. Boy, I'll be glad when it's over.
Posted 1/4/2014 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Myself, I think all of us cringe at the thought of new drs, I know I do. I am starting the new year out with a new PM dr, I have a pain pump. I have already done my meet & greet to see if we are going to be compatible. Even though I have already met him, I am dreading my refill appt on the 18th with a passion.

I hope that you end up with some decent new drs, let us know how they turn out. Take care....Susie
Posted 1/4/2014 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Think of it this way.... You are paying for a service. You are the consumer.... You get to approve them. They also need to be on their best behavior if they want to provide care for you. If you are not happy, move on to the next interview.

I know it can be extremely intimidated but right now you hold the cards. Take your meds and make it clear that you do not need pain medication right now. That will help them see that you are there for altruistic reasons. Its sad that we have to face this kind of situation with such anxiety. Try to remain calm and remember that you are ultimately in control of this situation. If you feel uneasy, move onto one that makes you feel better. I love my doctor but I have had some that made me feel like they didn't take endometriosis pain seriously so I stopped seeing them.

Let us know how it goes. . I hope you are pleasantly surprised!
Posted 1/4/2014 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Please do let us know how it goes. I've had Kaiser in the past, but am, well, afraid of it from past experience (not PM related). My insurance has changed as well (not Kaiser), but it is an option during open enrollment. I'm really curious about their PM program.
Posted 1/4/2014 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
The new dr may not want to rx the flexeril. Just go along with what he wants to rx. Good Luck ! New Dr Appt can be really stressful. Let us know how it goes.
Posted 1/5/2014 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all! I have my records ready, and all my meds next to the med bag. I really want for this visit: a complete check-in to lay the basis for further doctor's visits, blood work, including a thyroid check. and a new script for the muscle relaxer. Even with the one I am currently on (generic Flexeril 10 mg), I tend to cut it in half most nights. Otherwise, I get the slightly drugged feeling in the mornings.

My last PCP refused, flat-out, to send me to a pain management doctor. She insisted I go to a rheumatologist, and was very clearly not at all willing to work with me with the fibro. After a while, I got the sense (though never corroborated) that she didn't believe in it. The only rheumie in my town was absolutely awful. After a year of visiting her, I insisted on a change, so she sent me to the teaching hospital in the state capital. This was a terrific experience, I got a terrific rheumie, and it's where I was until I moved, and then lost my insurance. My last rheumie had NO ISSUES whatsoever prescribing pain killers, and in fact was the one who put me on the muscle relaxer, which really made a huge difference in my perception of pain.

So, this is the basis for a lot, my own hang-ups about the medical profession as well as my new PCP's hang-ups about chronically ill patients. I believe in being knowledgable about my conditions.

I read a great books How Doctors Think by Dr. Jerome Groopman, and really recommend it to others with chronic issues. Drs are humans, too, and make mistakes, and can err due to pride, or incompetence, or a misreading of the clues.... or just through a lack of asking the right questions. What we want, as patients, is a doctor who is on our side and is asking the right questions, and our attitude and behavior is a huge part of that.
Posted 1/6/2014 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
If u r in CA I have also been seen at the PM clinic at the university hospital in the state capital. It's a cutting edge campus for sure (and this was 15 years ago). If this is the place u were referring to, sometimes even kaiser will farm out to the campus for the very complex cases. Wishing you the best of luck.
Posted 1/6/2014 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks One day at a time! I am glad you found help there. Mine was in Virginia-at Virginia Commonwealth University Med Center. He was a great doctor.

I am currently in the DC metro, and might have to drive to get what I want, but certainly will be able to find good specialists.

Two hours until appointment!
Posted 1/6/2014 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I hope it goes well.
Posted 1/6/2014 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
hey myself, hope your appt. goes/went good. tell us all about it..


mark
Posted 1/7/2014 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
It went fairly well. She spent over an hour with me taking my history. Had no problem renewing my muscle relaxers, and put all my scripts in her system so we can renew as needed. We ordered all my old records, and she will do a review, and I will go back in a month. Then, we can update bloodwork and xrays.

She informed me they do a pain meds contract and testing. I assured her I am okay with that. I never take more than prescribed, and have a generous amount to work with. It probably did help matters that I wasn't asking for pain meds at the first appointment. She does want to get me off the hydrocodone, because of the tylenol. I really ought to be avoiding that, with stomach issues. I am happy to try what she suggests.

My fog was kind of bad yesterday-losing words and having to be careful as I tried to articulate the issue.

My only bummer is that I will have to change my mental health therapist as well, to the insurance's system. Boo, hiss.

Thanks all for your concern!

She seemed to believe in fibro, which was one of my main concerns.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply