[annada]

Hi everyone,

I will ask a question and hope for your replys. I need to know if I'm being unrealistic. My rhuemy says that I am "addicted " to lortab. He says he will not try me on anything else and that he treats only arthritis, not lupus. This was my criteria for going to him in the first place, that he sees Lupus patients and I was told YES! This has been about two or more years now that I have been seeing this Dr., over time he has increased my lortab to four daily, that's one every six hours, right? Well, after the "addicted" statement I went looking for a Pain Specialist and my rhuemy did agree to request an appointment to see him. So on the 30th I will finaly get to see him. I am so insulted by the addicted thing and I feel the rhuemy will give that to the pain Dr. too so how do I aproach this.??????? The lortab does not take care of the muscle pain for any length of time untill I'm hurting again. I think there is so much more to what is going on with me than this dr. is willing to mess with. His nurse was just horrible to me yesterday on the phone, saying "no the dr will not refill till Monday", when I asked why she unloaded on me. Later I called my pharmacy and talked with the pharmacist who told me that I was due a refill and that I wasn't but a few over, not enough to matter. He promply refilled for me, god bless him. I know the nurse will be angry about this, she was just really cold almost mean to me. How do I talk to the Specialist? I don't want him to think I'm drugie (sp)? Is my pharmacist in trouble for doing this? He better not be.
Anyone else ever have this problem? How do I handle this? Please:worried:

Thanks in advance,
Annada

 

[sam101360]

HI:

I too would be offended by a Dr telling me I am addicted to a medication he prescribed to me! You pharmasist would not risk his license so it must have been an approved refill, S%R&W the nurse and her attitude, she's just a peon!

Talk to the pain management Dr without clouded judgement about what has transpired...just explain where you are and what has been happening with you and don't bother with the other doctors words.

If there is a physical problem with the medication and addiction, it is obviously not an emotional issue, so they will help from a practical direction with proper weaning and replacement if necessary...DO NOT...try to prove anything by not taking the med, follow your current dosage and wait to see gthe pain Dr.

As for the Rhumy...GET A NEW ONE ASAP!!!

Hope all works out well.

Stephanie

 

[Maia]

The pain management doctor, if a good one, will realize there is a difference between physical dependence (which you probably do have... which just means your body is accustomed to having this drug every so many hours and you would in fact go through withdrawal if you went off it) versus addiction or using the drug for a high or for purely emotional reasons.

Your rheumy was incorrect to use the term addiction with you, and I think anybody would be offended by that nurse. No one knows the kind of pain we live with every day, and we deserve to be treated for that pain. The pain management doctor should understand that and will hopefully develop a plan that will work for you possibly changing your medication to a better one if this one has stopped working well for you.

It is very important though that you do your refills exactly as instructed and take medication exactly as instructed once you are with a pain management doctor - they are very strict with those kinds of things and will even have a contract with you about your use of any medications they prescribe.

Try not to worry too much - the pain management doctors are generally speaking very good and will work with you.

 

[Gwennie]

Hi there,
You have had some good advise there but just to add to this...
In general we tend to put these people on a pedastool, when really they are only human and are no better than you or i. I too have had a few run in /difference of opinions with one and i found the best way to deal with these people is to firstly keep calm,then firmly and very politely put your point across.
All too often have i kept my mouth shut and cowardly shyed away from conflict then went home n cried and stressed over it.Worrying what this one and that one will think of me.
Slowly but surely with my husbands guidance i have slowly learned the art of sticking up for myself in a very respectful manner. (This can take quite some practice and confidence) but trust me the benefits are very rewarding.
DO NOT LET ANYONE PUT YOU DOWN OR MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE!
Dont let them take your power away,reclaim it in a nice way.
Its the only way to be taken seriously with regards to this illness.As many of us here will tell you we have had a long road to diagnosis and it aint been smooth.
As for the nurse,making these people aware of their behaviour usually embarasses them into a corner.A very simple "oh your obviously having a bad day" in a nice manner ofcourse,usually does the trick for me.
Good luck and i wish you lots of confidence to deal with these so called "professionals".
Luv Gwennie x

 

[annada]

Thank you Stephanie, Maia, & Gwennie

Your information, thoughts and careing has been like medicine for my soul. I have hope that I can make it through this now. I know there is more to what is going on with my body and i'm not being taken seriously by my Rheumy. I think I will try to put it all down on paper and take it with me along with my questions for the pain mgmnt. dr. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering everything I wanted to ask.

God bless you for your help and encourageing words !!

annada

 

[Flibble63]

I really hope for your sake the Rheumy didn't mention anything in your chart about having an addiction because that will shoot you in the foot for every other doctor. I had a doctor misread some info in my chart about meds and he accused me of being a druggie(this was five years ago) and it is still being brought up today even after I have had a thousand different discussions with doctors and explained how the first dr. read the info wrong. They just see the ADDICT word and freak out. I wish you loads of luck!
Laura

 

[pennylp]

Hi there,

I dont understand a doctor who prescribes a drug to you and then says you are addicted to it... My doctor started me on morphine fifteen years ago and I am still on it... Yes I am physically dependant on it... But if it were not for the morphine I would not be functioning on a daily basis.... I never abuse my dosage and if at any time I need a higher dosage because I can't tolerate the pain... I speak to my doctor first...
Obviously your doctor doesn't understand pain... And Going to the pain clinic is the best place you can go... they will understand what you are going through... I hope you get in quickly so you can get your pain under control...
Keep your chin up and dont worry... they will understand....

:love2: Love Penny

 

[annada]

Thank you Penny

Your reply has given me hope and courage to not be so afraid. Yes, I had asked myself why I would be prescribed this and then be told I'm addicted. I never wanted this, only to be able to function in this world as much as I could. I have been told that the Pain Specialists KNOW that some Dr.s don't know how to adequitly treat people with Chronic pain. This also gave me hope that he will have an open mind about my situation.

Thank you Penny for your reply
Hugs to you,

annada

 

[tbunny1]

Get a new rheumy! It is obvious that the trust between the two of you has been damaged pretty severley. No sense in going to see a doctor that you don't trust, and don't feel comfortable discussing the TRUTH with.

Ask the pain management doctor, perhaps they could recommend someone in your area?

 

[annada]

Thank you tbunny1

I think I will ask when I go in. You are right about the relationship being damaged. He tried to help and then just seemed to think it's all made up with me I guess. I've thought so much about it all and it is just better if I move on to see just who can help me and take me seriously. I will ask the pain management Dr. for a recomendation.

Thank you so much


annada

 

[F Jean]

pain meds

I too am on pain meds and having worked in the medical prefession, I hear what people say re; pain meds. Some not having any idea of the pain some people go thru. I sometimes hesitate to use my prescribed meds because of being call addicted! Their is some real education that alot of drs and nurses need to be more sensitive to their pateints. I wonder how many of them have suffered with the daily pain of fibromyallgia and luous? Thanks for listening:wink2: