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...
So by now most of everyone on this board has heard the big to do about hydrocodone going to Schedule II and the issues it is causing. Sigh... and my trials and tribulations are on going with this, what should be a simple matter.
I got a letter in the mail saying that I needed to go and sign a Narcotic Medication Plan to get any refills after mid-Oct. Fine, does not sound like that big of a deal. Just an apt, right? Sigh. But this is the VA system, nothing is that easy.
We start by calling the automated system to refill my prescription - but I am out of refills and it has to be Dr approved. Great, but I knew that was coming.
Since I was last seen by my gen physician, apparently they changed the name of the clinic and the location by two blocks. Tweek. OK. An hour of tracking it down and we got the correct number to call for an apt. It takes three tries to get someone to answer the phone??? Fine. Hubby gets a live person on the phone and asks to set up an apt.
But wait! It has only been 9 months since I last saw my primary care provider and he specifically only wants to see me every 12 months. The nurse tries to dissuade hubby from making an apt for the next 20 minutes. Then she is sure we are taking about a NEW prescription for a new med... no, been on this same med, same dose for almost 4 years. But why would we need to see the Dr if nothing is changing?
After a total of 45 minutes on the phone, hubby has gotten an apt two days before I will run out. Cutting it a bit close, but the nurse is going to see if the Dr can do the paperwork without me so she can cancel the apt...
Really? Is there no reason why I might need to see and talk to my doctor more than once a year???? After we get this figured out, I am ditching this doctor like a bad apple!!!
Ok, done ranting. Nothing can be done about it just must keep poking through the paperwork with the phone number of the Patient Advocate on speed dial!!!
I got a letter in the mail saying that I needed to go and sign a Narcotic Medication Plan to get any refills after mid-Oct. Fine, does not sound like that big of a deal. Just an apt, right? Sigh. But this is the VA system, nothing is that easy.
We start by calling the automated system to refill my prescription - but I am out of refills and it has to be Dr approved. Great, but I knew that was coming.
Since I was last seen by my gen physician, apparently they changed the name of the clinic and the location by two blocks. Tweek. OK. An hour of tracking it down and we got the correct number to call for an apt. It takes three tries to get someone to answer the phone??? Fine. Hubby gets a live person on the phone and asks to set up an apt.
But wait! It has only been 9 months since I last saw my primary care provider and he specifically only wants to see me every 12 months. The nurse tries to dissuade hubby from making an apt for the next 20 minutes. Then she is sure we are taking about a NEW prescription for a new med... no, been on this same med, same dose for almost 4 years. But why would we need to see the Dr if nothing is changing?
After a total of 45 minutes on the phone, hubby has gotten an apt two days before I will run out. Cutting it a bit close, but the nurse is going to see if the Dr can do the paperwork without me so she can cancel the apt...
Really? Is there no reason why I might need to see and talk to my doctor more than once a year???? After we get this figured out, I am ditching this doctor like a bad apple!!!
Ok, done ranting. Nothing can be done about it just must keep poking through the paperwork with the phone number of the Patient Advocate on speed dial!!!
Worst case scenario...patient advocate at the clinic where the doc is located (wheter CBOC or Med Center).
Hopefully, though...after these intial pains are worked out, you won't run into further issues.
(((HUGS)))
~Michelle