Visit to Pain Clinic a Bust!

Not sure if you guys remember me but I posted a while ago about how I was finding it hard to find someone to prescribe hydrocodone for my fibro, that along with Zanaflex is the only thing that seems to help. 

I only took, at the most, one a day, when I got home from work and it helped me function.  Believe me - I am not looking for drugs to get high, just want to be able to live a hal-way normal life and go to work every day so I can survive.

My Primary went on early maternity leave and her "successor" would not continue with her prescription so I have been to 2 rheumatologists, the ER and a new primary care.  The second rheumotologist suggested accupuncture but I just can't afford it.  My husband was in a car accident back in March and hasn't worked so we are struggling to pay our ortgage and for the meds we both need.

This particular rheumotologist that sent me for accupuncture is very nice.  He originally prescribed Tramadol but I can't take that as it makes me so dizzy, I can't stand up.  He could not or would not prescribe the hydrocodone.  He even said that he could tell that i was not someone who would abuse drugs.  He also cautioned me against taking Lyrica or Savella as they are forms of Gabopentin, which I had a problem with about 10 years ago.  I became suisidal after about a week and a half of taking it.

So I suggested a pain clinic.  He thought it was a great idea and told me - in sort of a roundabout way - that they would be able to prescribe the hydrocodone for me as he couldn't.

Well, the long awaited appt was last Monday.  I had kept a pain diary for 2 weeks, had typed up a couple of pages telling about the oset and history of my fibro.  The nurse spent quite a while with me and asked me what had worked for me in the past.  So I told her, a combo of hydrocodone and Zanaflex.  And I told her about my issue with gabopentin. Well, then the doctor comes in, he was so cavalier about my condition!  He said, what's with this suicide thing?  I was so shocked that he was so rude!  He then suggest I try Lyrica, and I told him my reasons for not wanting to try it.  I also have a severe panic disorder and I do not want to add anything to my mix of meds that will give me any other side effects.  I am funtioning and working now and can't afford to mess that up.  The hydrocodone doesn't give me any lasting side effects and doesn't interfere with my other meds.

Well, he did up my Zanaflex to 2 before bedtime, so that was great and has helped but he said he would not prescribe hydrocodone and prescribed Lidocaine patches.  He told me to "put them where they hurt" - Honey, I hurt EVERYWHERE!  Does he have a wet suit made of lidocaine?  He then proceeded to tell me that sometimes Fibro goes away!  Really?  You are a pain doctor and this is what you've seen in your practice?

He wants me to come back in a month to see how I'm doing.  I already paid this guy 40 bucks to insult me.  Not to mention that he and the nurse were giving each other little looks during the whole time.

I called the rheumotologist the next day, told him what ahppened and asked him if he would prescribe for me and he said, "I can't.  Unfortunately, you'll have to play the game with this other doctor.  Go back and tell him that what he gave you doesn't work and then maybe he'll prescribe."

Frankly, I do not want to go back to this insulting and unfeeling man, pay him 40 more dollars and still not get what I need to make me feel better.

I can barely move and NOTHING is helping.  I have a feeling that he wouldn't give me the scrip because of the suicide issue I told him about.  This happened 10 years ago, I was on a medication that can cause suicidal thoughts and they went away when I went of the med.  I do not see this as a problem.

Really, what is the issue, WHY can't I find anyone to help me?  I am SO tired and sick and tired.  I am now starting to look like a drug seeker.  I have never done any illicit drugs in my 52 years.  I barely took an aspirin until I was 28 years old.  Why is the medical community making it so hard for me to get help?

I feel like Elaine on Seinfeld when her chart was marked "diffiduclt" and every doctor she went to had access to it.

Sorry, just needed to vent.  Thanks for listening!

 

Thanks Kathy - I appreciate the encouragement. It's just frustrating that I have to "play a game" as suggested by my other doctor. It shuoldn't be like that. I have taken hydro in the past, it worked for me, my doctor prescribed 2 a day for me and I only took one so my scrip lastest at least 2 months. But you're right, he doesn't know me, but I don't know him either! What if I don't like him (I hate to say that I already don't after he was so rude to me). I guess I'll give him another try. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks Alcie - I'm just not sure anymore - this has been going on since mid-March and as I said, I'm just tired. My psychiatrist told me that I can't take Savella because of the other meds I'm on for my panic disorder so even if it isn't gabopentin, I still can't take it. The best doctor was my Primary and she should be back after her maternity leave in September but I have a feeling (a very strong feeling) that her partners in the [practice will not want her prescribing narcotics anymore. They cut off anyone she had prescribed for, cold turkey. Luckily, I was not that kind of physically dependent on them so I jsut had paina nd not withdrawal. I appreciate your feedback!

I have run into a situation too. My doctor is retiring. I have to call the medical records department on Monday and get hooked up with a different doctor. I don't think he is going to prescribe the norco that I am use to taking. My doctor gave me two refills on it, but that is only going to take me through three months. I don't know if I should start tapering off now so that I don't have to go cold turkey. I am just thinking this from a comment that my doctor made about would I take neurontin? So right there tells me that he probably wont prescribe the norco. At least I have three months to get ready for this. My doctor also made the comment that me and the new doc might not see eye to eye on things. So I really think I am in trouble. But a friend of mine started taking savella and it is working for her, but she still gets methadone. She has a doctor that is kind of far away though. So wish me luck in three months. I am scared that they will make me go off of my meds cold turkey too.

I am so sorry for what you are going through right now. Luckily you were only taking one a day, that is easier to go off of because that is a low dose. My heart goes out to you as I am going to be going through the same thing. I am going to try not to worry about it though. That only makes my pain worse.

Hugs, Karen

It is just a game, not a fun one. I have other stuff besides fibro, I went to pain clinic and it was a few months before he gave me hydrocodone. I had to do alot of drug tests also, and still do. It is this bad because fibro and some other diseases and disorders are invisible. There are many people who go just looking for a high or to sell the drugs they get. It isn't right that we are treated this way, but I can understand why. These drs pay alot of money for their education and in some states they are watched quite closely. If they were easy, they could lose thier license. I had a primary that gave me pain med for 5 yrs before she went out for her own health problems and it took a year to find drs to help and send me to the right places. You really don't want an easy one, they may give you more than needed and then you would be left in the cold when they get caught. Ask if he has any other methods of pain control, I had to go through more PT and steroid injections before I got anything else. Try to be patient and keep a diary for the whole month you are waiting. Try to think of how long you have already waited and give him his month. He is a pain specialist, so he is there to help with pain. He just needs to make sure you are a real pain patient, think of all the others he gets that aren't and put yourself in his place. Sorry, but it is a process.

Thank you all for your understanding - who knows better than you do what this merry-go-round is like?  I do understand the doctor's side but they obviously don't undertand mine.  I just can't afford to go to another doctor.  My copays are too high and I can't do PT because that would be 40 dollars a visit.  I know money isn't eveything but it would sure help me now, to be able to get the care that I deserve.

Karen - I wish you luck - it's a pretty scary feeling but at least you can prepare yourself (not that it will help your pain) - can your doctor recommend someone that you can see eye-to-eye with? 

Sherrine - thanks for the articles - I'll check them out.

Thanks all!

I take them both togther also by the same doctor

DEb

Suzboop,

Thank you for your compassion. I might try a fibro specialist, but she is 50 miles away. I have a friend that sees her and she is on methadone, though I wouldn't want to take that, but at least she would probably let me keep my norco. The thing is that the fatigue is harder for me to handle than the pain, so as long as I can stay on my adderall, I am fine, but I have a different doctor that prescribes that, my psychiatrist. I dont think that he would prescribe norco though, but he might. He might even be able to suggest a doctor.

Either way I am going to prepare myself for the withdrawal symptoms, don't want to go through that in a hard way. Thanks again.

Hugs, Karen

I had a similiar experience with a pain clinic. I was seeing a neurologist and she prescribed me hydrocodone, 20 of them would last me three months! She said that she couldn't continue to prescribe it and I needed to go to a pain clinic. The doctor told me at my first visit that they did not treat fibro with narcotics - I felt like saying "then what am I here for!" It took one or two more visits and some medication changes and then they started prescribing it.

I think it is more of a test than a game. If you are a drug seeker you are not going to show back up if you don't think they will give you what you want. A lot of times you won't even see the dr anymore, you will see a PA or NP. They are usually a lot nicer anyway! I hope it works out.

You are right Sherrine, and that is what my husband says, I wont know until I see him. I was just taken off guard when I found out the the doctor was retiring, I didn't ask any questions, such as if this other doctor even believes in fibromyalgia. But I will take this one day at a time, but I am still going to try to cut back on my meds just incase.

I have to take this one day at a time, just like I tell everybody else to. I call tomorrow to get our records transfered to the new doctor. So one thing at a time and no anxiety. Anticipatory anxiety can really mess a person up.

Thanks,

Hugs, Karen

I prefer to not take narcotics because it's too easy to get dependent on them. But even gabapentin has an awful withdrawal. I just got done with that after I realized the muscle spasms in my legs and abdomen were serotonin syndrome.

I've now looked up all my medications using: tramadol and ________ as a search phrase. It was the tramadol that was cousing the serotonin syndrome when combined with the gabapentin. Tramadol and just about anything, even more than two pills a day of itself can cause it in a sensitive person, like some of us fibromytes.

I'm also one of those on Medicare, and although I have a decent supplement, I've found the PCPs aren't accepting new patients because of the 21% pay cut being imposed.

Thanks everyone - for your compassion and feedback.

I went to my psychiatrist today (I've been going to him for over 5 years and I totally trust him!) I told him about what's been happening and he asked me if I would try Cymbalta as he thinks it will help me. I was under the false impression that it would mess up my Lexapro but he says that it most likely will not. He wants me to start out with 30 mg at bedtime for 2 weeks and then if I'm tolerating it, then go up to 60 for 2 weeks and then he'll prescribe it for me. The only thing that I see wrong with this is that it will probably be another $50.00 copay per month so that's kind of scary. Hope it works for me! Also - he gave me a months worth of samples.

My sister takes it and if she take the 60 mg - she gets manic but the 30 is okay for her.

any advice?

They are running scared because they are so closely monitored by the government. I think the government should be worrying about pushers standing outside of school yard instead of sticking their noses into the lives of people who REALLY need pain meds. It's really a sad state of affairs.