with doctors. Quick run through of what I have been going thru:
I went off my Humira inj Jan.5. I had a golf ball sized cyst removed and left open to drain Feb. 1. I finally got to do my humira inj April 9th. I was getting vicodin 750mg from surgeron and I went to see my rheumy in early March. It was basically a waste of time....he wanted to see me after I did my humira inj twice in about a month. He asked me if I needed refills, I said no, my surgeron was taking care of my pain meds. Which they were but then I was released from his care. On March 27th I got a refill from my primary. I called and explained to them I was having major pain in my knees (which I have never had before). The nurse said doc would give me a script for 60 750mg Vicodin. Take one in morning one in evening. Well, There was no way I could do that. I was taking 3 a day so I ran out. I called Friday to see about a refill. Told them I don't see rheumy until May 8th. She said because of the way they worded the script that insurance probably wouldn't fill it. She asked me to call pharmacy to find out when they would refill it and to get back to her Monday. I called primary on Monday...she says all the pain management has been turned over to rheumy. I call rheumy...the nurse said (with a b!tchy attitude) that the doc is out of the country until next week and there was nothing she could do. I said should I call primary back. She says, I don't know what to tell you. I call my primary back. The nurse says that doc will not refill that rheumy nurse said I had 200 vicodin from them last month. I told her....by this time I am very pissed off and crying......it wasn't me, they must have confused medical records. I haven't gotten any pain meds from rheumy in months because of my surgery. THe last script I got was March 27th from primary. She says I am very sorry, that's what Vickie the rheumy nurse said. I just hung up......I am so sick and tired of all the bs of feeling like I am a junkie. Part of me wants to prove that it wasn't me. I thought of getting a printout from pharmacy but I don't know if they list the doc's name who prescribed it. My sis in FL is an RN and she is outraged at the way I have been treated. She said any doc that leaves on vacation or whatever always has a back up. I am so fed up. I do feel better today. I think my anger and frustration is over ruling my pain but my stress level is sky high. HELP ME! Any ideas. What should I do? If I get a new doc it will take months to get in. My next inj. is next Monday and I don't have refills for that either.
I AM SO FRUSTRATED!
CINDEE
I am very very sorry you are suffering so much. A print out at the pharmacy won't do any good because you (if you had a problem) could have gone to another pharmacy. Unfortunately, there are very strict rules on certain pain medications. I don't think calling any of the doctors at this point will help. Unless you, knowing them-have a better idea. You might inadvertantly sound like a junky now with the calling. If/when you call anyone about it be sure you speak in a low, calm voice. No crying. Doctors have been arrested and their licenses threatened, so try not to blame them. Except getting your Ra under control.
What about a pred burst?
If not that, I recommend keeping your mind occupied and taking what ever anti-imflammatory you think will help and wait till Monday. Hot showers and then turn on the cold. Hot/Icy rubbed on the joints. It sounds horrible but at this point, you might make the situation worse. The covering doctor will not fill viciden. It is really strict.
Early in this process, I had a perscription problem. Before every dr visit, I check all refills. I keep my meds with only two doctors, the long term ones to help me keep track of them. Its hard for us without these hassles but we are stuck with them.
Sorry, so sorry
Bee
What a run around! If a doctor writes a new script, your insurance should pay for it. I have had the docs up doses on varies scripts, pain pills included. They won't refill the same script if its not time but if the doctor writes out a new one, they should.
Thanks you guys....I was rotating last night between heat and ice. I also used icy hot and took a hot bath.
I am so embarrassed that I broke down crying on the phone. I have just had it. My knees feel better today but now it's in my shoulder bad and hips. I just want a little relief and I am really worried because I have never had hip or knee problems until recently.
I am sorry, Cindee. I hope you can get it all straightened out soon, and get some relief from your pain.
Huggs
CinDee, been there, done that. The doctors are creating the situation that forced you into crying. Don't feel bad about and you are not even close to being a junkie. Call your primary office back first. Tell them that you only need a prescription for 3 Vic a day until your appointment on _____________. You can't get anything from your Rheumy until then because he is out of the office.I don't know the exact dates of what was prescribed. I know that I haven't gotten any from rheumy in months because of surgery. Will the pharmacy have info on all that? I am just getting the run around. One says call the other. blah blah blah.
I do know there is a woman(from our town of 100,000) who has the same name as me except her last name starts with an N and mine is an M. I changed pharmacies before because they got my meds mixed up with her several times. It sounds the same when you say it. Same age, same first name.
Sheeesh. We should all go on a high dose of pred and just rampage these doc offices and demand they give us what we want lol. What a run around! I feel so bad for you.
YOU ARE NOT A JUNKIE!! With that said, I take morphine and vicodin DAILY and I am not a junkie. Sometimes I don't take anything til the late afternoon when I'm about to start housework and know I will be in misery if I don't. I get either 90 or 120 vicodin a month depending on how I am. My doc saw me the day I called him for my refill and he said you look like it's a 120 month lol. Please make sure you call someone for Humira refill. I have a great pcp tho that I can fall back on if my rheumy is not in town that will do that stuff for me.
A pred pack may be just the thing for you. We all hate them, but sometimes they are necessary.
Geeeze, I hope someone fills something for you to get you out of this pain. ((((HUGS))))
[QUOTE=CinDee]with doctors. Quick run through of what I have been
going thru:
I went off my Humira inj Jan.5. I had a golf ball sized cyst removed and
left open to drain Feb. 1. I finally got to do my humira inj April 9th. I was
getting vicodin 750mg from surgeron and I went to see my rheumy in
early March. It was basically a waste of time....he wanted to see me after I
did my humira inj twice in about a month. He asked me if I needed refills,
I said no, my surgeron was taking care of my pain meds. Which they were
but then I was released from his care. On March 27th I got a refill from
my primary. I called and explained to them I was having major pain in my
knees (which I have never had before). The nurse said doc would give me
a script for 60 750mg Vicodin. Take one in morning one in evening. Well,
There was no way I could do that. I was taking 3 a day so I ran out. I
called Friday to see about a refill. Told them I don't see rheumy until May
8th. She said because of the way they worded the script that insurance
probably wouldn't fill it. She asked me to call pharmacy to find out when
they would refill it and to get back to her Monday. I called primary on
Monday...she says all the pain management has been turned over to
rheumy. I call rheumy...the nurse said (with a b!tchy attitude) that the doc
is out of the country until next week and there was nothing she could do.
I said should I call primary back. She says, I don't know what to tell you. I
call my primary back. The nurse says that doc will not refill that rheumy
nurse said I had 200 vicodin from them last month. I told her....by this
time I am very pissed off and crying......it wasn't me, they must have
confused medical records. I haven't gotten any pain meds from rheumy in
months because of my surgery. THe last script I got was March 27th from
primary. She says I am very sorry, that's what Vickie the rheumy nurse
said. I just hung up......I am so sick and tired of all the bs of feeling like I
am a junkie. Part of me wants to prove that it wasn't me. I thought of
getting a printout from pharmacy but I don't know if they list the doc's
name who prescribed it. My sis in FL is an RN and she is outraged at the
way I have been treated. She said any doc that leaves on vacation or
whatever always has a back up. I am so fed up. I do feel better today. I
think my anger and frustration is over ruling my pain but my stress level
is sky high. HELP ME! Any ideas. What should I do? If I get a new doc it will
take months to get in. My next inj. is next Monday and I don't have refills
for that either.
I AM SO FRUSTRATED!
CINDEE
[/QUOTE]I'd suggest you go to your pharmacy and have them print off a report of what medicines you purcased. Also, call your insurance company, and have them send you a report of which medicines they paid for. If the two reports match, then you aren't shopping around for drugs at other locations.
I know the first response is to beat up the doctor or his staff for this. Unfortunately there are lots of people that abuse pain pills. I've seen a lot of patients that doctors have sent for physical therapy, and when in the office they say they "had to come to show they will do anything for pain relief" and in the next breath say "it's the only way I can get more pain pills". It's sad.
I'm sorry you are in pain and in this situation. I hope you get it sorted out soon.
I am going to call the pharmacy tomorrow and get a print out. It took all my energy today to vote. They had my school district messed up and took over an hour to straighten it out. GEEEZ!
I actually feel better than I thought I would. I am so pumped up from being ticked off it has over ruled my thoughts.
I have been at the same rheumy since Oct 05....going on two years and they know my history. I also have been taking same meds for pain and I have told him repeatedly that it doesn't help much anymore. I plan on holding out until he returns next week (if I get too bad, I will go to er).....and I will call and ask to talk to him personally. I plan on telling him exactley what I think and they way I have been treated!
I have gotten progressively worse. It all started with my hands and feet. I got those xrayed in Sept 05 when I was dx. I haven't had any other xrays even though I have told him about problems with my shoulder, neck, and hip. I have blood work done that shows I am RA Positive...I have had nodules on my thumbs and fingers. So, oh yeah.....I plan on calling him next week!
Thanks for listening and letting me vent.
Cindee
Good idea Debrakay. Most of us don't even have to go anywhere but the net for the prescription history for pharmacy and insurance! It will have the Dr name on it although some of mine show a same office dr (probably couldn't read the writting and guessed from the list of docs on the script form).
After proving YOU are behaving have them to state so on the 1st page of your medical file, and let add your proof to the record. If it does not produce a good result tell them you will complain to the medical board - nobody should have to suffer like that.
Also I have found generic pain killers to be pretty cheap (under )- you can afford to self pay if you have to...
To prevent me from being addicted to my pain pills my family doc (who does my pain control) does NOT give me refills on them. I have to call him monthly for my refills and pick up my paper script at the office (I am only 5 minutes down the street so no big deal). I am responsible for holding myself to a limit on my pain pills. If I run out before my month is up...I get nothing. And it's my own fault if that happens. It has never happened because I don't want to be addicted and I certainly don't want to run out lol. I can't run to my rheumy should I happen to run because he knows my pcp does my pain control and would call him (they are also good friends) and tell him that I am seeking pain killers from him. Then I'm sure my pcp would be calling me and as nice as the man is....I do NOT want to be part of THAT conversation lol.
If you follow the instructions on how the pain killers are prescribed it lessens the chance of becoming addicted. If you are following those instructions and still in pain either you have built up a tolerance to the meds or your pain has increased and different methods or meds for control must be explored. Getting addicted is always painted as a bad thing. Most people that take pain pills on a regular basis do not want to be addicted. They just want pain relief and don't realize they may have built a tolerance or their pain has increased. Society makes it hard for us to ask for pain control. Only with educating people can that change.