Is it just me or do any of you ever get that same ole feeling when you have to call the doc's office for some more pain meds. I just hate to call. I feel like I am putting them out. But mine takes a script everytime. I can only get 6 pills and then I have to call and they have to mail a script to the Pharmacy. But I usually run out every 6th day and have to call them back. I will be asking them how this could be better for the both of us. The nurse is starting to get a crappy attitude every time I call. You can tell it makes her mad by the tone of her voice. But I don't know how else to go about it. Do any of you have to go thru this? If so do you have any suggestions on how I could maybe make it better some how.
Don't feel bad for a moment. I workded for Dr's for 14 years and that what these people are there for.....to help their patients in whatever way they can minus the attitude. When I was working if we treated anyone like they were putting us out, we would be out of a job.....things have really changed.
I would let this person know in a very nice way that you detect the unhappiness in her voice. I would let her know that you are in chronic pain and have no other choice but to call her and have her order your meds the way things are currently set up. Ask her if she knows of a way to make it easier on everyone or if you should speak with the Dr. personally as you dont like the feeling that you are upsetting her everytime you call.
That's what I would do....see how she reacts and take it from there. You are the one in this terrible pain, you feel bad enough don't ever let anyone make you feel badly for trying to get what you need for relief. They are your only way to get the med, if this was her family member in this kind of pain, I'm sure she would stop everthing and make sure they were getting what they needed.
Good luck, gather all the "girl power" you can muster just before you dial the phone and just take care of #1.
Let us know what happens:0)
RLS2,
I agree with everyone else, although I have to admit
I'm always the apologetic one, and always feel guilty.
And if they (or even the pharmacy) sound disturbed,
I'll wait a few days to call back. I need to get some
more confidence!!
Anyway, it seems like only being able to get 6 pills at
a time would be much more expensive, if you are
having to pay a copay?
My RD still tells me to increase pred and take
anti-inflamatories when in pain. I get the feeling he
doesn't perscribe pain pills although I have asked for
them a few times. And Roxy, I know what you
mean...I'm not wanting to be a drug addict, I just like
to have something stashed away for the bad days
that come on suddenly. I think I might see my gp
and see if he will perscribe for sciatica.
Can't wait to hear how it goes when you talk to the
nurse.
Well I don't know when to give her a call for my next script. Do I wait till I'm out or do I call tomorrow. She has to mail it and it has been taking 5 to 6 days to get to the pharmacy. I really do need the medicine, but I am really getting upset about the call. The medicine is Actiq suckers which I have found to really help with my horrific pain. I try to always be nice to others, because you never know what they may be going through.
I just don't like to upset people and make them unhappy. But I don't know what else to do.
Thanks for all your support and advice. I will let you know how my next phone call goes.
This is a little off topic....
Have you noticed that the receptionists/nurses (who answer the phones, make appointments, etc.) have so much attitude?!?! They always make you feel bad for calling for any reason. They speak to you as if they own the clinic themselves. What is up with that?! lol.
I am so sorry that you all go through that... I LOVE my RD and his receptionists are SOOO nice... I usually stay and talk to them for about 5 minutes after my appt. When I have had to call in scripts, they have had them called into my pharmacy within 24 hours! I wish i could clone my RD and send him to all of you who need a good RD!!! He is funny, So nice!!! and he even asks about my job and my ferrets when i had them...he looks at each and every joint every time... he allows me to be proactive in my meds.. he pushed embrel over a year ago and didnt make me take it til i said i would...
He had been released by the one hospital when they did major layoffs,... it was over a year before he got a new position AND took my insurance.. the minute i found out he did, i made an appt! I went back to him!!!!
Sending you all GOOD DOC vibes!!!!
My doc's office prefers that the pharmacy call and request refills. It's so easy for me to call up the pharmacy and ask for a Rx refill. If none are available, they fax the doc the request.
For those who don't get the pain meds that they think they need, use the net and research. Let you doc know that you are informed. Maybe you can enlighten them on a few things. We simply cannot function properly in pain. Knowledge is power!
Mike
You are so right Mike. I was forgetting what it is like to be awake and not be in pain. I woke up this morning feeling 100% better. I resent all the days I had so miserable. NEVER AGAIN. I took 20 mg. pred. this morning and I don't feel like I will have to take pain meds today. No desire. I get to clean house and put my life back together. My rd said he would have given me a shot of cortizone instead of pain meds. when I went to the clinic. I am beginning to think all my doctor knows how to give is steroids. !!!!!!!!!! He made this big deal out of not seeing any inflammation except in my wrist. WELL I AM SO SORRY YOU CANNOT SEEEEEEEEEEEE MY PAINThanks to all of you for your concern. The reason I only get 6 is because it is a very strong narcotic, I guess. They gave me 16 once and I was hurting real bad a couple of days in there and so I used 3 on those 2 days. The script says not to use more than 4 a day. So I was well within the limit. But they felt that I had abused them I guess, so now I am back to 6 at a time. The script has to be mailed to the pharmacy each time because of it being a narcotic. But it has been taking 5 to 6 days to get it here. So I don't know what else to do except keep calling them. I asked my gp if he would give me a script for prednisone and the nurse said that it is only given for colds. So she was not even going to ask him if I could have some. Well I just called her and told her that I had found a old script of prednisone 10mg and took 1 and took 3 pain killers with it. And I am finally starting to feel alittle better. So I asked her to ask my doc if he would give me some. So we will see what happens now. Oh yea plus I sucked on one of my next to last Actiq suckers. Now I am down to 1 left. So who knows when I will get 6 more.
As for the wheelchair, she said that she had mailed the script for a chair. If you don't remember I had talked about Medicare denying me a chair 2 times now. So I am going to try again. Instead of them sending it to the pharmacy, I am going to get ahold of a wc rep and have them come to my house and I will see if I can get one. I don't care if Medicare refuses me again I can no longer go without one. It is either that or home bound and almost bed bound for the rest of my life. I am getting so depressed that I can no longer get out and do anything. If anyone has any suggestions on a certain brand of chair I would sure like to hear from you.
Thanks for listening!
Oh yea, my wc has to powered because I can not use my hands to wheel myslef around. I forgot to add that to my last post.
RLS2, I guess that you don't have the option of chaning docs? I would be curious as to why your doc won't prescribe more pain meds. Has he been in trouble with the state medical board? You can find the answer to that online I would think. Basically I'm thinking WTF? He's a crappy doc if he allows his patients to remain in pain, or he's a total idiot, or both.
Mike
What most do not know is that most doctors are afraid to give an Rx for strong pain meds. Go to a Pain Specialist, they will help you find relief for your pain. They specialise in Pain Relief, but not curing it. Why go thru life with pain, the disease is bad enough without PAIN, So if your Doc will not help, go seek out a Pain Specialist!Mike
I had a doctor like that and it was a nightmare. I get so mad at the way they treat people. I don't know how easy it would be for you to change doctors but I did and lucked out with a wonderful doctor. It was the best thing I could have done.I have seen ads for the scooter store... they claim that they will help file medicare paperwork and if denied, you still keep the chair...i havent looked into it, but it wont hurt to try!!!
Good luck
I'm finding out as I am progressing through this disease and waiting on the meds to take affect that the more I lay around in my recliner and feel bad for myself the worse I feel.
The more I sit on this comuter and search on everything that can be causing this horrible disease to infect by body, the stiffer I get.
I know I have to be proactive, it's just hard to do it when you feel so bad.
Come Monday (Jimmy Buffet?) I'm gettin' up off my a@@ and walking, it's just been so damn hot it's hard to get outside. But I think the air conditioning blowing on me just makes it worse.
We all know sitting around thinking about it is not helping. We've gotta get up and boogie.....even if it's turning on some music and dancing in the living room singing in a soup spoon. Anyone know what I'm talking about.?????
Luv Ya and above all......
Feel Better
Kat
RLS, I LOVE THAT GRAPHIC. THAT IS WHAT MY AZZ IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF I STAY ON PREDNISONE.