Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Or human incompetence take your pick.
Last month hubby spent hours on the phone trying to secure me an apt with my GP doc in accordance with the letter I got saying that since Hydrocodone is now a schedule II drug. My doc flat refused to see me (he will only see me once a year). The nurses assured us that the Dr would approve my already refill that was already placed in the automated system and we would just have to call in once a month to the office rather than the automated system for my refills.
Being as I am down to about a week's worth of hydrocodone, I called the automated system. Nope, not been approved. Sigh. Call the Dr office sit on hold for 30 minutes, and get the nurse who tells us we need to call in for the new refill the DAY we get it in the mail... Otherwise she can't guarantee I will get it in time... the fact that we made all those phone calls the day AFTER I got my last bottle and we talked to this specific nurse does not seem to be part of this whole equation.
Yup, I KNEW it was not going to go THAT easy.Sigh. It just means I have to take things easy to stretch my meds out for a couple extra weeks. So much for getting any packing done.
yadlim - one step at a time and eventually I will get there, where ever that is
Last month hubby spent hours on the phone trying to secure me an apt with my GP doc in accordance with the letter I got saying that since Hydrocodone is now a schedule II drug. My doc flat refused to see me (he will only see me once a year). The nurses assured us that the Dr would approve my already refill that was already placed in the automated system and we would just have to call in once a month to the office rather than the automated system for my refills.
Being as I am down to about a week's worth of hydrocodone, I called the automated system. Nope, not been approved. Sigh. Call the Dr office sit on hold for 30 minutes, and get the nurse who tells us we need to call in for the new refill the DAY we get it in the mail... Otherwise she can't guarantee I will get it in time... the fact that we made all those phone calls the day AFTER I got my last bottle and we talked to this specific nurse does not seem to be part of this whole equation.
Yup, I KNEW it was not going to go THAT easy.Sigh. It just means I have to take things easy to stretch my meds out for a couple extra weeks. So much for getting any packing done.
yadlim - one step at a time and eventually I will get there, where ever that is
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Can you identify these rom-coms from just a screenshot from the middle of the films? This is a multiple choice quiz so even if you're not entirely sure you can always take a guess and at least have a 25% chance of getting it right anyway, so why not have a go?! https://www.buzzfeed.com/alysaurus688/rom-com-screenshot-trivia-quiz
THEN I am going to give this office the attention they deserve! Yet another set of complaints to the Patient Advocate and I am getting a new GP!
The good news is that I still have the Gabapentine to take the nerve pain away. So even if I run out of opiates, I am not dead in the water - just damn unhappy, uncomfortable, and stuck doing nothing. (I HATE withdrawal!!! and darn tired of pain)
Next Thurs I get to go talk to my Pain Management group about how the gaba is going... Which may mean I will be weaning off the gaba while on a low dose of opiates so we can try something else. The gaba and I are not really the best of friends so to speak.
I just got a secure email from my doctor stating they in California they are set up to send over my Hydrocodone script electronically. They can't call it in or fax it in, but they are on a secure email system where my doctor has an electronic token signature that can't be hacked. So, I guess It will business as usual for me hopefully. I will keep you all posted.
Scroll down to VII. Requirements for Handling HCPs, then go to Prescriptions.It is towards the bottom of the page.
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2014/fr0822.htm
I have to say though - at least VA doesnt push their patients into surgery and if you are out of meds, ER will give you narcs without any problem.
I hope things get better for you soon!!!!
Hugs
So, honestly, it is not a PROBLEM, just a pain in the rear. I will be at the VA hospital on Thursday anyway, so if I am out of opiates and have not gotten them in the mail yet, I can set it up to pick up a few days worth while I am there.
It is just a new system for this drug, and it is going to take a while for them to work the kinks out - BUT as I have complained to the Patient Advocate about this Dr not refilling my meds on time before, they don't like me there. I am also pretty sure that he does not think I need them. I have only seen the man three times. The first two times his nurses had sent me into a panic attack before he even got to see me, so my 100lb Service Dog stayed between him and me as I was curled up on the floor trying not to scream. The third time he just kept his distance anyway. So this Dr has never even shaken my hand, let alone examined me.
He inherited me, literally, when my fantastic GP had a heart attack and had to suddenly retire for his own health.
I get 180 hydrocodone, 5mg, at a time. The post office just leaves it in my mail box. Sigh. Maybe now it will have to be signed for again. I would be more than happy to go into the post office to sign rather than hope they don't get stolen from my mailbox.
That was the reason my GP refused to see me last month, when I got the notice. I have been on this med, this dose, for better than three years. It is not like it is going to change any time soon. Hopefully that is not true, but that will depend on the Pain Management people working something out so I can get off the opiates. Nine months in, and no luck so far, so I am not holding my breath.