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...
Hey Guys,
Well, today one of my providers said that I am taking way too many prescription meds and that it has become impossible to sort out what are viable new symptoms and what are from interactions between the meds. I take 15 different medications so this is not a surprising statement. What makes things even more complicated is that there are multiple physicians who prescribe me medications and NONE of them communicate. I have tried so hard to get them to talk and I've been bouncing around trying to find a primary care doc who is willing to monitor all of the medications, even those prescribed by specialists. I think I might have finally found a PCP who was willing to help me manage things, but I've only met with him once and can't get in till Friday.
It seems that it may be too little too late because I've been having what seem to be symptoms of interactions occurring between the medications I take for the last week. Dr Z recommended going inpatient somewhere and weaning off of all of the medications to figure out what is being caused by what. Also to determine what medications are actually necessary. He said it would almost have to be inpatient because of how strong a lot of the medications I take are. It wouldn't be safe to do it without supervision.
What I don't know is where in the world would I have to go to do this. I mean, I hear inpatient and I think hospital or rehab facility. I'm not addicted, I don't want to have to go to a rehab facility. Have any of you had experience with a situation like this? Please, I'd appreciate any guidance or support you guys can offer. I am scared.
~Megan~
Well, today one of my providers said that I am taking way too many prescription meds and that it has become impossible to sort out what are viable new symptoms and what are from interactions between the meds. I take 15 different medications so this is not a surprising statement. What makes things even more complicated is that there are multiple physicians who prescribe me medications and NONE of them communicate. I have tried so hard to get them to talk and I've been bouncing around trying to find a primary care doc who is willing to monitor all of the medications, even those prescribed by specialists. I think I might have finally found a PCP who was willing to help me manage things, but I've only met with him once and can't get in till Friday.
It seems that it may be too little too late because I've been having what seem to be symptoms of interactions occurring between the medications I take for the last week. Dr Z recommended going inpatient somewhere and weaning off of all of the medications to figure out what is being caused by what. Also to determine what medications are actually necessary. He said it would almost have to be inpatient because of how strong a lot of the medications I take are. It wouldn't be safe to do it without supervision.
What I don't know is where in the world would I have to go to do this. I mean, I hear inpatient and I think hospital or rehab facility. I'm not addicted, I don't want to have to go to a rehab facility. Have any of you had experience with a situation like this? Please, I'd appreciate any guidance or support you guys can offer. I am scared.
~Megan~
I would check with your local hospital for a referral. Also check with a good pain management clinic. They would be a good starting point.
I hope you find the right help and everything works out for you. I do think the doctor might have the right idea though. Maybe it's time to start from scratch with one doctor and see what exactly is going on. Cause maybe you don't need all those and only need 5 of them or whatever. Who knows.
Best wishes,
Paula
I guess it works out for me that I hardly ever take OTC things because I do have to take so many pills. The only thing I take consistently is Iron. In my mind, if it's not a prescribed thing I absolutely have to take, I don't take it. I guess it's an after product of the four years I had the Lap Band and was severely limited on how much water I could hold and how many meds I could take.
Dr Z is the advanced-release certified chiropractor who is in joint business with my pain management clinic. He said one of the calls he was going to make was to Rob Hoffman who is the nurse practitioner with my pain doctor (Dr Aijaz is out of town all week). I do think I'm going to check with his office tomorrow to see if Dr Z remembered to call them.
im wishing the best for you, im sure you will be in great hands...please let us know how things turn out..im sure a lot of people here will be concerned, me included (((hugs)))
I went through pain the last 9 months due to side effects from medications and I feel so much better being off, best i've felt in yrs in fact as other things seems to be also settling down as well.
I hope you get things sorted
keep us posted
tori
I am calling my psychiatrist in the morning to update her on what's going on. I also am going to check in with the primary care doctor and pain doctor tomorrow too. I don't know exactly who is looking into the best place for me to go. I know it was Dr Z's idea, but I don't know who would actually initiate the process or who I need to followup with about it.
Hugs & God Bless
Lisa
I feel that one doctor needs to be in charge of that. The specialist only keeps up with the meds that they use in their field. A good pharmacist should be able to flag any pills that may interact. You could take this to your doctor appointment with your primary. It might help. The primary, I think, should be the one co-coordinating the detox if it is necessary.
Wishing you well. Let us know how it goes.
Hugs-RJ
What you are going through is all too common unfortunately. It is vital that you only use one pharmacy and this way the pharmacist can also keep up with the various meds and their interactions. I used to say this all the time but I will say it again. You are your greatest advocate. Your primary physician should communicate with your specialists about the medication you are taking. Dr. Z should write the admission orders and you should be admitted to a regular hospital. In the hospital you will be taken off of the meds that are deemed unneccessary and weaned down to only the ones that are necessary to manage your condition. Typically this can take between 48 hours and up to 10 days. During this time you will be closely monitored and tapered down safely off of the meds that can have serious reactions. If you develop symptoms you will be given other medications to counteract the side effects in a controlled setting. Typically you will be in a med/surg room (regular room) on telemetry (a monitor to record your heart rate and rhythm) during this time.
Please call Dr. Z, go into the hospital, and do what is recommended to keep you safe. We will be here for you when you get back!!
(((((((((((love and hugs)))))))))))))))))))))
So, I do only have one pharmacy. Target has handled my meds for over 5 years. The only one that isn't filled at Target is the Opana because Target does not keep the med in stock and it takes over a week to order it and get it in. That one I fill at HEB, but I did have my pharmacist input the Opana into the list of the other meds and she said nothing was alerting her system. I am confused why nothing has showed up on the system.
The specialists I have seen for over a year, the primary care situation has been a very confusing, disappointing, and long journey. I had to leave the primary doc I'd seen for several years in May. Since then, I've bounced around. Some of these docs knew what I was needing when I met with them and they said they could help, but then they just blew it off and didn't follow up with anything. That was with Dr Lewis who I established with in June. When it was clear he wasn't up for the job, I tried establishing with two other providers in his practice and both of them turned my case down. One said lack of ability to provide continuity of care was the reason and the other just said she "wasn't the right fit." I don't know what that means exactly.
I've talked to nearly all of the internists and family practitioners that have been recommended and all are extremely busy and overbooked. I guess cus they do their jobs. I had finally gotten in with Dr Molina on Aug 26. As I do feel he is a great fit for me, I am going to stick with him.
I guess all of this slipped through the cracks. I myself look up side effects and interactions of drugs that I have concerns about. But with so many medications out there, I do trust my doctors to not prescribe me something that would hurt me. They all know my medications as I make sure and update them when changes occur. I definitely agree the primary care doctor needs to oversee the medications that are prescribed to me, it has just been an extremely arduous road to find a good one.
Thankfully, I found a PM who is willing to use vitamins, herbs, PT, meditation, and other treatments with a small amount of opiate for break thru (panic days). So I have only three scripts now. That makes for far less interaction and side effects.
Hope you do well and experience few withdrawal symptoms.
May I keep you in my prayers?
Sunny