Yes I know a lot of people besides you & me that have gotten ' that look"I see a new Dr tomm & am dreading it even though I need a knee replacement & have x-rays & MRI to prove why I am in pain.What is going on with this world that you feel you have to justify yourself & you are judged just because you take meds! Hope you feel better soon! Hugs, Laura

I'm sad to say that, yes, I know that look. I'm starting to think that all PM physicians are money hungry militants. (see my post!)

Then don't let them treat you differently. Hold you head up high, speak with a firm voice, and look them in the eye. If you sit and mumble and don't make eye contact because you don't like how someone looks at you or treats you, you're only feeding into their preconceived notions about pain patients.

So don't let that happen. Stand up tall and make a difference. Prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are equal to everyone else. You are a responsible, educated, knowledgable, lucid patient who happens to have pain and takes medication for it just as a patient with high blood pressure takes their medication for hypertension. You are no different and should not allow anyone to treat you differently.

Ignore the look; it's their problem, not yours.

I agree, I have gotten the look. Once I finally got good support for my needs, I was able to go quite sometime without getting the look again. There are doctors who won't look at you like that, a fraction though I imagine. Good Luck. You have the right to receive good treatment that restores your quality of life.

I agree with ihave pkd! The last Doctor that gave me "the look" got fired instantly, I didn't even waited for him to talk. Us as patient's have to remember that we are the consumers, we are the ones paying their bills, not the other way around, so we need to be firm and show the Doctor's that we have knowledge and that we are responsible human beings that know what we are doing. When we allow Physicians or anyone to talk to us like children, they will treat us like children.

Just remember that you are your best advocate, and that no one can treat you badly if you do not allowed them! OK? So go to that office with the facts and with the knowledge that you have accumulated with all of the years as a CP patient, and do not allow him or anyone else to give you the "look".

Oh Tip Absolutely. WE are paying these people. It has been thru a freakin nightmare(s) that it finally dawned on me. To the poster, don't let them get you down !!! I'm in alot of pain today so forgive me with the name(s). duhr, Hugs, Deb

omg do i they make you feel like crinmal somtimes, i m afraid to ask for pain killers, so i know just how you feel. as i read you post that said the look and did not have to read the rest i knew whAat you where going to say , dignatiy ya rigth , stay strong where all here big hugs minnie you migth have fibromyoalgia ,try muscel relaxer they help hugs minnie

I've been told before by TWO physicians - they said to me "if you have on makeup and your hair fixed you don't look as if you're in pain" But I told them I always do that daily if I'm in pain or not. They weren't judging me but they told me what other Dr's may think. So I said so - it I don't shower for day, wear no makeup and dress shabby then I will look the part? They laughed.

It is all ridiculous I think. If you have a true need for pain meds - documentation of why then you should be respected enough to be listened to and be given what you need. Who in their right mind wants to live their life in misery? Not me.

Good Lord do I know that "look"!! The most disturbing ones are from the pharmacy staff. It's embarassing because as soon as I walk up they see me and grab my pain Rx. No respect what soever, just that "look"!!

I was finally validated by a pharmacist this last Saturday when she pulled me aside and asked me why I have been taking pain Rx for so long. I thought, " YES! I'm going to make myself clear! I'm going to say it loud enough for the staff to hear! " But, they were super busy so I don't know it the staff heard me but at least I won't get the "look" from that pharmacist anymore!

thanks for your advice all, i see pain doc today and need to talk to her about more pain control, what we are doing now isnt working so well.

For those "senior" or "duh" moments (and to ensure any emergency responders know what medications I take, along with all of my medical conditions, surgeries, etc.) I keep a small laminated card in my wallet. It lists not only all of my medications by generic and brand name, dose and dosing, as well as allergies (in RED/BOLD top and bottom, front and back and in the middle), medical history, surgeries/hospitalizations, and emergency contacts. It's just smaller than a 3x5 card, slips into a credit card slot and fits in my closed wallet (plus I carry extras to give away to any doctor who needs it).

This way I can simply present the card, neatly typed and laminated, to any medical professional who needs it, without having to go through the process of remembering everthing I take and all of my hospitalizations. My doctors are all enthralled with the card as it tells the whole story and I've been saved from retelling the story and reciting my medication list time and time again.

I completely agree with ihavepkd and tipper. Yes, I've gotten the look and lectures. What pain patient hasn't? You are the customer and deserve respect. End of story.

I am blessed with my pain doctor now. I don't get that look. He is the best he use to be chief resident of John Hopkins and worked at Erlanger, how he ended up in po dunk Tennessee I have no idea but that God sent him.

I have gotten that look many times though from nurses when I have been in the hospital. One of my friends said the nurses actually set and talked about me coming in for a fix on pain meds. I believe that some day they will find out how they treat people cam come back to haunt them One day they are going to need understanding and it is not going to be there.