the PM doctor has to know everything i know what you mean and no you are not crazy they just have to know all these things about you and everyone has bad pain days and its ok you vent all you need to get out what you are feeling hang in there know you are not alone

Dear Lynn, i know exactly what your talking about. Did you mean you had to fill out an application for a pain doc? To see weather they would accept you or not? I can't believe it.
y husband upsets me a lot too and i know it makes me worse. I am sorry you are having a hard time. Sending you a big hug.

I may be wrong, but I think the psych questions might have to do with the meds. If your depressed to the point of being suicidal maybe you'd take the entire bottle. I could be wrong, this is just a guess. I have had only 2 PM doc's so far, one when I lived in NY and the other when I moved here to Jersey. I can remember a check box for a psych question on the things I filled out too. I agree with ICP, the doc does have to know just about everything that is going on with you because he is going to be handing you some dangerous drugs. Has to make sure it won't interfere with anything. I also, again I could be wrong here, remember hearing something about some pain meds interacting with one of the heavier anti depress out there and the reaction is a deadly one.

Hang in there, I too send you a big hug. *hugs*

Some psych meds like benzos or barbs or bipolar meds are dangerous when combined with opioids. One must adjust their doses and be careful--- or take something else. Some pain docs Rx depression meds since pain and depression register in the same area of the brain. Don't take the questionnaire personally! Take care.

Anxiety and depression are really, really, really common.

Lyn,
All Doctor's will ask these type of questions so they know exactly what you are taking and for what so that way they do not prescribe a medication that can have a bad reaction or even kill you, so is not about weather you have mental issues or not, it is about making sure that they know your whole medical history so that way they do not make a mistake when prescribing opiods. I also take meds for depression and believe me, my Doc does not think that I am crazy.

I worked for mental health 30 years and also because of job had alot of stress and took meds alot of the time I worked. Very high stress job. When I tried to get extra insurance I found myself denied because of mental health issues. Discrimination. Odd..when not working suddenly I was mentally in great shape. Work was such an awful place...harrassment, yelling, cussing, hitting tables/pc's, threats...this was a government job too. I was upset ALL the time. Why didn't I leave? I had family to support and the money was excellent! High level tech job. Arguing all the time. You wouldn't believe that place! People yelling, crying, it was a zoo! But I LOVED the CASH! And the hours. No OT as in other places. With family you don't want calls at 3am. OK for single folks but I couldn't do it. So I stayed and suffered. Anyway I guess I'm sensitive to discrimination like being turned down for extra insurance due to being on antidepressants. Every NOW and then I get upset because of pain and not being able to get around. I'm an active on the go type person, high energy. So when I'm 'in a mood' :) ANYone can get me upset. My poor husband is good to me...but you can't be married without being upset at something sometime. Yesterday I was ultra sensitive to my condition and he said something wrong and I went defensive like I used to when working. It happens. If I wasn't disabled I could just get in the car and drive for a coffee, stop to shop, take a walk...disabled in pain you can't get away. So you all were my outlet. I didn't expect so many wonderful comments! I so appreciate it! I know docs need to know about meds you're on. I've been discriminated against for taking meds when in that awful job and just cringe when anyone asks about psych meds. Like the article 'does love stop pain'. Dumb article. I'm in love and I'm in pain. Stupid people. ANYthing besides meds. Like the pm doc who told me to take advil lol! Some days I'm just more sensitive to this trash talk. I slept the mood off after pouting all day :) Woke up today to all the caring messages and my strength is restored...I'm ready for another day. I appreciate the support. Thanks for the thoughts and words. Re meds I still won't take them. I'm not depressed every day..it's situational/occasional so I'll make it without them and I don't want to be labeled. If I were suicidal I would though. I think everyone thinks about suicide at some point in their lives but if ever the feeling becomess too real or a plan trust me I will move on it and get help. But the kind of thing I went through yesterday wasn't that. I was just very down. And I've been conditioned after 30 years of that job to react to people being short with me that it's the beginning of a fight...even if it isn't. It's hard to get over that reaction to someone being short...back when working that meant get ready for a fight. I was warned before starting to work there what it was like but it did raise my kids with ease. I made good money. That means alot when you're a single mom. But it leaves scars. As long as I can realize that I can deal with it. But it sure helps to have people around who understand and care enough to give you a kind word to get you past it/through the day. Funny too how sleep seperates a bad day from a good day. I'm not one to get that down usually...so again, thanks for the kind words. Husband doesn't even know he said anything wrong :) Sorry guys...you all just don't know how sensitive we can be at times :) Not to sound sexist. Men can be sensitive too. Just I think that women are prone to feeling vunerable more Some of us need a tougher shell. Men get upset and head for the workshop/garage to divert attention. They are taught to 'suck it up' from an early age. Generally speaking. At least when I was raised I was told to be sensitive and caring and soft. Then led to a life full of wolves ready to chew you up! I got tougher but I'm still too sensitive/soft I guess. Especially when we have pain to deal with we need outlets/diversions for times when we feel vunerable/hurt/beat up by the world. Oh well I'm chatting too much :) Just wanted to say thanks. Here's to better days.

I know what you mean I go in for a dental apt and they ask for mental history, how hows dows that make a difference one way or another of how healthly your teeth is. I never understood that either. That is fine to vent I have plently I am having it rough right now too so I can releate to having bad days I hope your day turns around

I just went to a pm for the first time last week and of course had a mountain of paperwork, the human diagram incl....I found it strange that there was a sheet of paper made up of six columns each with six blocks...in each block was four words and you had to pick only one from each block and skip if none applies. I wondered if that was to try to catch ppl they may not be honestly in the need of pm, what i mean to say i think the dr may have pulled the written expression of my pain and symptoms and then see if i diagramed it correctly and then also picked the words as well...

just wondering if anyone else had come across this...

lyn, so sorry, i know every dr i been to like thet say they ask. and some doc do take it thay way like you said, but if you get a goodc doc then that differbt, i agree with ya on on insurance.. b.c my son that bipolar and autism. mt united health care i had thru my job, the hospital knew this when diag him. they had to put i might not say this eight it been along time ago, i belive it was called pervaise deveolment disorder, which was nos b/c if they put aspbergeror any autism in his diag the insurance will not pay for his hospital bill or dr office visit for psch & pschiatreic drs.

that made me mad that was partail lie, but they did to get they bill paid. now medicaid paid for autims, but like said they crappy.

yes i agree on insurance and disrrimnation., i hope you the best dear... i know that type of job wad very stressfully. huggs ang

Lynneat

I had to fill out a stack of papers that was thick enough to use as a door weight.
It asked all of that stuff and questions like
1. Have you ever been the victim of sexual abuse or rape?***none of your business!
2. Have you ever felt worthless or depressed?****of course I have, I am 36 and disabled in chronic pain!
3. Do you now or in the past feel different than others?****please refer to #2 above!

UHHHH, REALLY???!!!???
I only went to this PM once...I canceled my steroid injections and told them to take a flying leap. I did fill out the paperwork, half the crap on there was none of their damned business and the other half was un-necessary. I went to the appointment to get my pain meds and start treatment and they treated me like crap. I was literally in and out of the MD's sight in 3-5 minutes for a first appointment!
I scheduled my epidural injection and asked them to please mail me the procedure information so I could know what was going to happen and I could research the information. I got in the mail 10 days later a 1/2 page of things NOT to do within 7 days of the procedure and NOTHING on the procedure.

All of that time, trouble, waiting, and this 17 page booklet completely filled out and they sucked!