Foremost, I'm not going to blab how to convince your doctor to write you the pain medication you want. I'm probably a pro after the thousands of addicts I've seen run through, but I'll keep my secrets to myself. In any event if this is what you are trying to achieve, please go see a primary care doctor who actually isn't a pain physician and pay them a boat load of money.
Anyway if you're trying to not be such a jerk when you come in for your follow up here are some tips:
1. You really do not know which medication is best for you. If you've already tried these medications maybe you should check yourself into a rehab.
2. If you haven't had your pain longer than three months, it is not considered chronic and you have no business making an appointment at a pain management office. You just had a tooth pulled? Follow up with your dentist. You just had a surgery about three days ago? Follow up with your surgeon. None of these instances are considered chronic.
3. This is not walmart. This is not burgerking you can't always have it your way.
3. This is not walmart. This is not burgerking you can't always have it your way.
4. I have yet to meet anyone that is actually allergic to aspirin, Tylenol and anything that isn't dilaudid. Just because the tylenol makes you "sick", it does not mean you are allergic to it. The doctor is NOT going to write you the hydromorphone or 'oxys' you prefer, that you said you've been taking for YEARS. If this is the case, go back to your old doctor. Oh wait? He's in jail?
5. There is a slim chance that the reason you are positive for meth/cocaine/marijuana is because someone put it in your food or drink. If you are taking these drugs you shouldn't be in a pain management clinic. End of story. Maybe your long history of addiction is causing your body to shut down and now you really are in pain, but congratulations your reputation has caused everyone doubt what you say.
6. If you can sit with the doctor and argue with him, argue with me, and slam doors and basically act like a two year old, you've lost all credibility regarding your "chronic pain". Please get out.
7. Pay your flipping copay. Medicaid only has a two dollar copay. If you can't afford two dollars, you better go elsewhere.
8. Fibromyalgia does not warrant a script for oxycodone. If your primary care doctor told you you had fibromyalgia, chances are he just wanted you to get out of the office. It isn't real. Get up off the couch. Stop feeling bad for yourself. Narcotics aren't going to solve your problems. Anyways do a little research for yourself, neuropathic pain doesn't even respond to opioid medications.
9. If you're in SOOO MUCH PAIN and the doctor suggest different types of treatments aside from pain medications, take it into consideration. Upping your dose of narcotics is stupid, and unlikely to happen in our office.
10. Do not talk about your medications with other patients. I'm listening. If I hear it I will tell the doctor. You will be discharged.
11. It's probably time you've sought out a psychiatrist or therapist.
11. It's probably time you've sought out a psychiatrist or therapist.
12. Above all, please treat the staff with respect. We understand you are either agitated because of your withdrawals and your previous pain management doctor just left the state or you really are in pain but treat the staff with respect. It is discouraging on a daily basis to meet such miserable people who are ALL CONCERNED WITH MEDICATIONS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, IN LEGITIMATE PAIN OR NOT. If you consistently treat us like crap, we do tell the doctor, and you'll be discharged. But I doubt our time with you will even get that far as you have already moved on to the next doctor who will write you your script of dilaudid. Good luck trying to get that filled.
Elizabeth - you said:
ReplyDelete"8. Fibromyalgia does not warrant a script for oxycodone. If your primary care doctor told you you had fibromyalgia, chances are he just wanted you to get out of the office. It isn't real."
Are you saying fibro is not a 'real' diagnosis, and is just a catch-all for PCPs to use when they are sick of hearing a patient complain of pain?
If that is the case, I urge you to get educated about this chronic, and debilitating, condition.
It's real, very real, and in some cases the pain does respond to opiods.
I have had fibro now for 8 years, and it's a constant battle for acceptance. I look forward to the day it's as accepted as, say, rheumatoid arthritis. Heaven knows that those of us who do have it already have enough of an uphill climb every day. We certainly don't need our pain management doctors, PAs, and nurses to look on us with suspicion.
Now, if you didn't mean that fibro is not real, never mind most of what I just said. Except the part about the opiods. Fibro pain is as individual as the person suffering with it, and where Lyrica might work for one (didn't for me, just made me feel crazy), Norco might work for another (works for me, but I take it only for breakthrough pain and use the Ultram for daily mgmt). Education and acceptance are something we sufferers of fibro need, expect, and deserve from our caregivers.