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Posted 1/2/2011 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
hey everyone. So at my last appointment they changed my medicine to ms contin saying that I needed continuous pain relief with the two vicoden for breakthrough pain. they had tried prescribing the ms contin before but after three days it was hurting my stomach and making me so anxious. This time I swore I would keep an open mind and try the medication. Well its been two weeks and I get NO relief at all...in fact my head hurts worse and muscles cramped. I spend the day looking forward to the times where I can take my two vicodens because that is the only time I get any relief at all. The past two weeks have been horrible..I missed spending time with my family during the holidays and have cried most all days. My husband is getting mad because he can't believe the medicine isn't working. Well my next appointment to discuss medication isn't for two more weeks...but I have to call tomorrow (the pain clinic) for my refills. I have no idea what to do...they seems so annoyed and irritated everytime I try to contact them or discuss something I always feel like I'm a nuisance and in trouble. Do I call and get the refills even though its not helping? Do I call and tell them its not working? Do I try to schedule a sooner appointment? I hate feeling scared of my dr...and I'm already depressed from being in so much pain and missing the holidays I don't think I can handle being chastized by the drs office. Thank you in advance.
Posted 1/2/2011 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have a clue to what you are speaking about.......I've come to realize we hire/pay the doctors to take care of us and that includes their staff. They are human just as we are and should treat one another with compassion and respect.

As much as I hate to find another doctor because we all know the hardship that comes with that, that at times it may be necessary........(I hope this helps because this is my little pep talk before I see my doctor this week)
Posted 1/2/2011 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
I understand what you mean, I have felt the same way even use to feel that way with my kids doctor. Just remember they are no better than you and you don't deserve to feel that way. If you need to call and discuss your medication you have every right to do so. If your current medication isn't helping you should tell them as many times as it takes. It's ok to feel a little intimated by the doctor but don't let that keep you from trying to get the relief you need.

I think you should call and tell them it's not working and try and make an earlier appointment or talk to the office nurse, sometimes they can be a good middle person between you and the doctor and just be honest and tell them whats happening and you need to try something different. It's their job and they are there to help.

When I call my doctors office the nurse doesn't always agree with me and sometimes she will tell me to try it a little longer or whatever advice she has so I listen and if I'm still having issues I call back if I have to.

Don't let them chastise you, they have no right to do that and you don't deserve it. You are not a nuisance and don't let them make you feel that way. Good luck, I hope you get the help you need.
Posted 1/3/2011 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have to say I have had the same experience myself.  My rheumatologist splits his time between two clinics and his home office.  The receptionist at the clinic I go to has forgotten to pull my file ( I sat in the waiting room while people w/appts after mine were seen), is rude and not helpful on the phone, and fogets to give the nurse my messages.

So, now I just ask for the nurse by name. If she isn't available, I leave a message.  If she doesn't call back in a timely fashion, I call again.

They used to make me feel like a "complainer" and a nuisance.  The last time I called their office, they didn't call back. I was in a lot of pain and distress. I finally got fed up and called the rheumy's home office and told them what was going on.  They were not happy.  They told me to call the clinic again because that is where my chart is, and if I didn't get a proper response, to call them back.

I did what they said, and the nurse called back within ten or fifteen minutes asking for the name of my pharmacy. The doctor evidently responded quickly once he knew I needed some help.

It is such a shame to have to fight for something that should be handled properly to begin with. It is especially distressing when one is in a lot of pain. 

I was actually in tears once when the receptionist was rude.  I just told her to nevermind and said thank you very much and hung up. She was back peddling and sputtering as I hung up the phone.  Then I decided I would never let her treat me like that again.  nono

So sorry you are having so much trouble.  It certainily seems to be the way of the world these days.

Best Wishes,

V

Posted 1/3/2011 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I get so disturbed hearing of this bloody nonsense. I had a psychiatrist that just wanted to look out his window, fill my script and say goodbye. He only asked about my situation when HE thought it was time to change my meds.

For us it is doubly difficult just to explain how we feel let alone stand up for ourselves with a doctor. I made the decision to try working with my GP and she has been absolutely wonderful. She sees me for all my issues and prescribes what I tell HER I need. Of course we discuss my situation and more often than not, come to a mutual understanding of what I need.

It's not easy and can require a lot of energy and explaining, but I think your best bet is to find another doctor. You may be able to get some help from the nurse(s) as a go between but you do need someone new. Talk to friends and neighbours about who they see and you need not divulge the exact nature of your problem in doing so.

I hope you can get the help you need - just remember that there are many of us around and the number of understanding and educated doctors is rising. Know that you're in our thoughts - you are not alone.

Brian
Posted 1/3/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hippychick,

Yes, I also know just what you mean. But when you think about it, not only are we paying them, but if it weren't for us, they wouldn't even have a job!

I would say if you're not having any pain relief after 2 weeks, and in fact it's making you feel worse, you've tried the stuff and it's not for you. If your doctor and staff get irritated with you because of that, it's THEIR problem! Easy for me to say, I know, but it makes me mad at them just hearing your story! I went through so much crap with medical people when my parents were declining, (let alone my own stuff) that it's still a raw subject with me, I'm afraid.

You deserve better!!

Debbie
Posted 1/3/2011 8:20 AM (GMT 0)

hippychick79 said...
hey everyone. So at my last appointment they changed my medicine to ms contin saying that I needed continuous pain relief with the two vicoden for breakthrough pain. they had tried prescribing the ms contin before but after three days it was hurting my stomach and making me so anxious. This time I swore I would keep an open mind and try the medication. Well its been two weeks and I get NO relief at all...in fact my head hurts worse and muscles cramped. I spend the day looking forward to the times where I can take my two vicodens because that is the only time I get any relief at all. The past two weeks have been horrible..I missed spending time with my family during the holidays and have cried most all days. My husband is getting mad because he can't believe the medicine isn't working. Well my next appointment to discuss medication isn't for two more weeks...but I have to call tomorrow (the pain clinic) for my refills. I have no idea what to do...they seems so annoyed and irritated everytime I try to contact them or discuss something I always feel like I'm a nuisance and in trouble. Do I call and get the refills even though its not helping? Do I call and tell them its not working? Do I try to schedule a sooner appointment? I hate feeling scared of my dr...and I'm already depressed from being in so much pain and missing the holidays I don't think I can handle being chastized by the drs office. Thank you in advance.

Don't let your DR intimidate you. If he's in a big office with alot of other DR's then there should be a manager for the whole office that you can talk to about your DR and how this person acts towards you and you can also do that with any staff that work there.  If it's just a small office with one or two DR's and one or two staff and no manager then you might want to ask for your file and go elsewhere.

I left messages of the sort where I go to be seen and my DR got put on sabatical for a while and it wasn't only me that was leaving messages about him either. I found out later..hehehe

Yes, they are there to help not hinder you. If what you are taking for pain isn't working ask for something else. Demand it. (Just not so everyone can hear you though)...lol

Posted 1/3/2011 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was lucky in the beginning. My original Dr had M.E. Everyone felt sorry for him but when I told them I had Fibromyalgia no sympathy crazy innit. Just because he had done 5 years working in a hospital learning how to prescribe tablets and knowing how to fix things in a human body hes Gods gift to the human race. I'm sorry I don't rate Dr's very highly it's because most of them are inept! My advice is search for a Dr who is sympathetic. Ask around! People love to talk about how good or bad their Dr is...
The advantage of having a health service in the UK is you can go and see whatever Dr you like!
Posted 1/3/2011 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for the advice. I did call this morning and left a message for my nurse that the ms contin was not cutting it and that I did give it an honest shot for two weeks and it only made me feel worse. I asked if they could just prescribe me the original medication that I was on when I first started going there until I could see the doctor face to face. I'm really hoping that they will listen. It is actually my nurse that has the problem..not my doctor. But I rarely see/talk to him unless I have mt monthly appointment or getting trigger point injections. The doctor is wonderful and will listen. It is my assigned nurse that makes me feel like I'm a nuisance...the way she talks to me and tries to punish me with threats of not calling in my medications and telling me that I'm not the only patient at that clinic. I do understand that I'm not the only patient and that there are patients way worse off than me. But in the two months I've been going I've invested a lot of time/money there as well..I had to sign a contract to follow their rules and I do. So is it wrong that I feel that they should hold up to what they said they would do? Sorry I'm venting..thanks.
Posted 1/3/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry that the mscontin didn't help you. That is morphine and it is a very strong drug. When my first husband had to take it for lung cancer, it made him sleep all the time and it made his stomache hurt. They switched him to dilaudid after that. It works well, is at the high end of the pain med scale though and there isn't much after that other than pain patches. I hope that the doctor finds something that will work for you. They might give you oxycontin, which is time released oxycodone. It is a very good medication for pain. But morphine is too, I am surprised it didn't help you some. Luckily the vicodin works for you, maybe you could take norco. It is a strong vicodin. I hope you find some pain relief soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/3/2011 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting that morphine didn't help you. I only had that once, for a heart attack, but it did absolutely nothing for me then. No pain relief, no sleepiness, just didn't do anything at all.

I get no fibro relief from any NSAID, but Advil does help a little with my shoulder bursitis and tendinitis if I take 3 at a time.

Fibro is a funny thing. A lot of people don't have any reduction in muscle pain with OTC meds. Exercise seems to be as good as most meds.
Posted 1/3/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I thought nurses wanted to help people, I think that nurse should have chosen a different profession. I wonder if you can ask your doctor for a different nurse without causing any problems for yourself.

Just follow the rules you agreed to and stay calm with that nurse and document every time she is out of line, I'm sure you aren't the only one she treats that way. I guess there are other nurses in that office? I hope you can get a more compassionate nurse. She can't threaten you, sounds like she's on some kind of power trip and I hope someone puts her in her place.
Posted 1/4/2011 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I switched doctors because of a nurse once. I tried so hard to get along with her, but nothing worked. I even made her a bracelet when I was making jewelry and she still never warmed up. She made my blood pressure go up. It was that bad.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/5/2011 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
The way you are being treated makes me very angry.  I hope you find some way to stand up for yourself.  It is difficult, being in so much pain and feeling mistreated, but you can get through this. 

Please, keep us posted.  We want to know how you are doing.

 

Posted 1/5/2011 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
UPDATE... they did call me back and told me to come in (to the pain/fibro clinic) and they would work me in. I was so relieved. When I went there and the dr came in he said that he had never had a patient that was as annoying as I was and that I was literally exausting him. That the time he spends on me he could be saving someones life (at a pain clinic..really???) And that I'm acting like I'm 70 when I'm 31 and he wishes that he could lock me on a remote island with no doctors to see how id do with no doctors. Then he said he would put me on the three vicoden a day protocol and would not change or talk of medications until I saw a psychiatrist and the psych dr told him that I was okay. It is clearly marked in my darn folder that I have anxiety and ptsd before he agreed to treat me. I left there literally in tears. I spend about 50 dollars a week going there and I'm crazy because of that?? There are two other pain doctors there and I have a card for the guy who runs the clinic. I'm planning on calling and seeing if I can possibly see another doctor but at this point I don't really know. Anyway thanks for the encouragement and hope you are all having a good day. *soft hugs*
Posted 1/5/2011 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hippy, I am at a loss for words.........I have never heard of a doctor talking like that to someone.  I would have been in tears also.  shakehead

I am so sorry that you got treated like that.

Posted 1/5/2011 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hippychick,
I haven't either, and your story literally makes me feel sick. There must be some way you can get satisfaction, and give them some *&%$ at the same time!! There are times I wish I was like my sister-in-law, she would have had THEM in tears before she was through! (or running for their lawyers)....but I'm not. I tend to cry, too.

Keep us posted?

Debbie
Posted 1/5/2011 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Bloody Hell! That Dr should be reported to the AMA. Most definitely find someone else and DO tell them about this guy. I would even consider calling the BBB. I am so sorry to hear about this and pardon my anger but there is no excuse for any person to speak to another that way - doctor of no.

GGGRRRRRRR - makes me madder than *#$@$


Brian
Posted 1/5/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry that you were treated that way by the doctor. I think he needs to find a new profession. Drs. are supposed to be compassionate and what happened to do no harm. In my opinion hurting ones feelings like that is as harmful as purposely doing something that will hurt someone physically. Please do turn him in to his boss before he treats another human being the way he treated you.
I hope the next doctor you see has alot more humanity than this one.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 1/5/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
This doctor has no compassion for anybody. What he said to you really makes me mad too. I am sorry that you had to go through this. But at least he gave you the vicodin. That is something.

I am glad that you are going to switch doctors. It is hard to find a good doctor anymore, one who understands how we feel. Best of luck with this and keep us posted.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/6/2011 3:33 AM (GMT 0)

Sorry you have to go through this, hippychick.  The others have already voiced my anger at that nasty doctor.  He does not deserve to practice medicine.  Most of us get a little anxious as it is, with all the pain we put up with.  A pain management doctor is supposed to understand.  Hang in there, and let us know what is going on.

I wish for you to get some relief soon. 

gentle hugs,

Free Spirit

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