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...
On Monday morning I had an early appt for my med refill, and at 8am I get a call saying my doctor and his partner both went to Joplin to help with the tornado, and would not be back till the end of the week, and they needed to reschedule my appt. She told me she knew I would need a partial refill to get to that point, and they had a dr who was covering for them.
GUESS WHAT!!! NO call, no med refill, NOTHING from them all day, took the last pill, have none, tried to call the office, and get the recording: if this is an emergency....................." I normally make my appts only 25 days or so apart so as to never run out. Unfortunately with the weekend, I only had till today 's worth or meds.
I believe that IF I keep my part of the deal, I never ask for more meds, I never make excuses, I never take more than I am told to take, I always keep my appts, that it is his responsibility to keep his part of the deal.
BUT living in a rural town with only 1 dr willing to even prescribe these meds, I have no choice. Sure, he will apologize, and it will be somebody elses' fault, BUT I HAVE NO MEDS.
Now I will , if I get a partial script, have to pay $25 for it or more, and then $68 for the new one a few days later.
There is no use telling me to insist, or get another dr, these are NOT options. There is no other dr, or I would have been there, there is nobody in the office to write the script as they are both gone, BUT, I will bring it to his attention, and will not request my scripts to be written to take 1 pill every 8 hours, may increase to 2 at night, and have the number increase by at least 10 or 15 pills, so that I am covered. I have done this before.
It is so ridiculous for doctors to expect patients to keep appts,or cancel more than 24 hours ahead of time, in order to get meds, and sometimes they are charged even if they miss the appt. Doctors have responsibility also, and need to be so. Obviously, this one knew I needed the meds, as the nurse told me she knew it, BUT NOBODY got them for me.
GUESS WHAT!!! NO call, no med refill, NOTHING from them all day, took the last pill, have none, tried to call the office, and get the recording: if this is an emergency....................." I normally make my appts only 25 days or so apart so as to never run out. Unfortunately with the weekend, I only had till today 's worth or meds.
I believe that IF I keep my part of the deal, I never ask for more meds, I never make excuses, I never take more than I am told to take, I always keep my appts, that it is his responsibility to keep his part of the deal.
BUT living in a rural town with only 1 dr willing to even prescribe these meds, I have no choice. Sure, he will apologize, and it will be somebody elses' fault, BUT I HAVE NO MEDS.
Now I will , if I get a partial script, have to pay $25 for it or more, and then $68 for the new one a few days later.
There is no use telling me to insist, or get another dr, these are NOT options. There is no other dr, or I would have been there, there is nobody in the office to write the script as they are both gone, BUT, I will bring it to his attention, and will not request my scripts to be written to take 1 pill every 8 hours, may increase to 2 at night, and have the number increase by at least 10 or 15 pills, so that I am covered. I have done this before.
It is so ridiculous for doctors to expect patients to keep appts,or cancel more than 24 hours ahead of time, in order to get meds, and sometimes they are charged even if they miss the appt. Doctors have responsibility also, and need to be so. Obviously, this one knew I needed the meds, as the nurse told me she knew it, BUT NOBODY got them for me.
I'm like you too - i live in a rural area, and there is only ONE DOC in this whole area that prescribes narcotic pain meds. Believe me, I've called them ALL. If i could change doctors, i would. Plus there are 3 pain clinics around here and not ONE of them prescribes pain meds -- they only do procedures, and i've had them all done, so they won't take me. LOL
Like you, I'm stuck. I wish you the very best. I hope you can get thru this okay. God bless. Hugs, Lee
David.
Your doc, who is definately putting his medical knowledge to good use by helping in this current crisis, is also responsible to make sure that his patients are covered before he leaves and there is NO excuse for that.
I full understand coming from a "one horse town" myself where you are at...however; I would HOLD him accountable. I would be very clear and in no uncertain terms, relay to him what this has done for you and to your body, to your pain, to your emotional well being and to your trust in him. I hope you are not on medication that has huge side effects for sudden cessation.
HUGS to you and I hope your new plan will work better. i agree with you, it is probably the best idea.
I hope you get your meds soon.
Just an idea, good luck to you !!!! Cindi
Just my opinion...I sure hope you get some help!
Huge healing hugs,
Millie
Hope you get your meds.
Or if you have been on this for a while call the office back and tell them that you want them to authorize a full months refill. No reason you should have to pay more. And if there is no one to sign (must be since they were getting you a partial) then go to your pharmacy and tell them what is going on. Maybe they will be able to get the refill pushed through.
But don't wait. You have 3 more business days this week to get this taken care of.
So about 2pm, I get a call they have my script. I go to the office, and GUESS WHAT< it is a fullscript signed by MY doctor just like always, but dated today, when he is supposed to be 300 miles away.
I am just thankful to have the meds. However, I do intend to address what happened at my next appt. In a small town, it is hard because we have a osteopathic hospital and medical school, and many drs per pat. but have a huge number of patients who travel for care, due to the type of people our physicians are.
At an appt. for a pre approval for surgery in Columbia, the Dr I saw said he used to ask his patients why they traveled from here to see him, 100 miles away. After a few stories he understood. He actually apologized to me for the type and way we received medical care in our town.
In a small town, as those of you who live in them know, everybody knows everything about everybody else, including medical personnel in dr. offices. It is difficult to go and not worry about what will be revealed about you.to people who should not know it. Yes, I know it is illegal, but GOSSIP
The dr I see is relatively new, probably been in practice two years maybe, but is building a huge new clinic to open in July. HE is compassionate, caring, and Christian in his behavior, but his business needs some backup.AND personnel who follow through. Perhaps what was needed was sent to the back up dr, BUT nobody followed through to make sure it was done. As an RN, I spent hours, making sure what was supposed to be done, was done.
Thanks so much for all the compassion!!
Speaking of living in a small town...... I lived in Key West, Fl. for 4 years, the island is 2 x 4 miles, talk about a small town! It was so hard to not know everything about everyone else, and I worked for an ASO (AIDS service organization) as a social worker, and it was so hard to keep the confidentiality of our clients, it was crazy! So I feel your pain! I am so glad that you got your meds, that is awesome!
Hugs,
Worth a try and I would call early in the morning and say they need to call who ever it is on call and need a emergency refill call ASAP not when they get around to it or when they get in, but right now that is unacceptable certain meds should never go with a missed one it can make you sick and end up in the ER which will cost lots of money and it can be unavoidable.