question about PM appt

[Pamster]

Hey all, I am just wondering why my PM doc wants me to bring in my meds, any of you run into that before? A month ago I called and asked for something stronger due to a broken tooth and I talked with him about it at the last appt, and he said what I have is enough. I am just wondering if that is related to why he wants me to bring in my meds, I don't want to be labelled as a seeker, God forbid, I always take them as rx'ed and lately they haven't been cutting it as well for the pain. :(

Could it be he wants to change my medication to something else? I still can't figure out why he wants the actual bottles in. I don't think they have ever asked me to do that in the four years I've been going. I hope he's willing to up to something a little stronger, I take lorcet 10/325 and it's just not doing the trick like it used to. I have shooting pain in my hip and back, though he's treating me for my neck, don't they care about pain in general too? Not just the ONE area they are 'treating'?

I need some reassurance about this as I am scared he might suggest something like injections and stop my meds altogether and I feel I am too young for starting injections, I just can't stand the idea of something going into my neck and the risk something could go wrong I just can't stomach. What does it all mean? He just wants to see I have seven pills left of the narcotic he rx's to me? I just don't understand if it's because I said I was in more pain, that just frightens me because he said his first choice is injections...but was willing to treat me with meds. I am so afraid, HELP!

[shotspine]

Hi Pam...
I don't think you should worry. My PM always wants me to bring in my meds. No big deal if the count is going to be correct. I also take my meds to my PCP, not because he asked, but just because I want to make sure I do everything possible to make life easier for him. He said he really appreciated the fact that I brought the bottles in. He has never counted them, but he said it is much easier for him to look at the bottles than to go thru the records for any changes that may have been made.

As for injections, I too was absolutely terrified. My PM assured me all would be fine. He uses versed and fentynl and floroscopy (of course). I now trust him completely with the needle and have many many TPI's along with Nerve Blocks and Lumber and Cervical ESI's. I've had no complaints whatsoever. If I even make a sound or move that suggests I'm feeling any pain, he ups the versed immediately. Just make sure you have a PM that has LOTS of experience with injections. Ask the office staff which Dr. they trust the most with injections.

My PM is a total jerk, but I don't want anyone else putting needles in my spine.

Hope all goes well at your appt. and your mind is put to ease.

ss

[Pamster]

Phew, I hope that is all it is, I just don't want to get blacklisted and was afraid this was some sort of red flag indicator, it might be new policy for the office so I will have to wait and see. :) Thanks so much for your post SS. I really appreciate you sharing your own experience with this. :)

[Nana4&cntn]

Pam,

I would have told you the same thing ss did. My PM has never asked for the bottles and never gives refills for muscle relaxers or other non C11 narcotics. Earlier this year he had all of his patients give urine samples, this was to make sure we had the right amount of meds in our systems, not too much or too little.

Take care and a deep breath
Kathy

[shotspine]

As we see on this forum all the time, every Dr. has his own way of doing things. Sometimes they change the rules, seemingly out of the blue. As long as we aren't doing anything wrong....we have nothing to worry about. Urine test...fine. Bring in meds...fine. As long as I get the help I'm there for they can ask for whatever they want. My PM does not write RX's at all, for anything. He just gives my PCP his opinion. Sometimes my PCP doesn't change what is working just because PM says so. He knows me much better than my PM does.

Thanks for your thoughts on the other thread.

ss

[Pamster]

That's what concerned me SS, that I wouldn't get the help I am there for now, like suddenly injections are all he's going to offer me, if that's the case I will come home in tears because I just can't let anyone do that to me right now in life. Hopefully he's going to go over my meds and offer me omething a little stronger because I think I have a tolerance for the med I take now for pain...

I meant every word I said in the other thread SS. ((((((hugs))))))

[911]

my doc used to occasionaly ask me to bring in my bottles , i also had to do urinalisis and keep up with my contract , i noticed your said your taking just one lorcet 10 mg that seems a lil on the low side my first pm doc had me on that and when i saw my next pm doc they said WOW and changed me to a long acting patch that worked great cept i have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis ( coz of alot of pain) and i stayed with them and since 99 till this year when we moved to florida they treated me like a human , unlike my family who thinks i am a drug seeking addict , it may not be my place to say but if it were me and it is NOT i would be looking around for someone who really treats chronic pain , it is my understanding that a doc who truly treats C/P uses mostly long acting meds , i can see you becoming tolerant to the lorcet 10's , but what he is doing isnt really out of the ordinary for docs prescribing narcs , my first pm doc told me all he could give was lorcet hmmmmmmmmmmmm go figure ,, sorry to have voiceed my opionin ,,,,,,, dave

[Pamster]

Thanks Dave, you made me feel a lot better, I really do think a longer acting medication and tomorrow I ask for one. Thanks for posting what you did, it is an PM doc I see but he's prone to giving injections over rx'n medications and I felt lucky he was willing to see me, there are only two PM docs in my part of FL and it's like I am seeing the one I want to, the other one I haven't ever been to but I like this man, he's kind and caring but hopefully he'll be able to help me tomorrow. I can't go on with this pain as bad as it's been. :(

[Jo6]

It is not unusal to have urine test, bring in all meds for a count, I can't remember all the things they have you sign, just a worthless piece of paper.

It is possibble he is going to change your meds. They don't trust their patients. It soul;d be the other way around. Don't worry though, well, if you can help. I don't know where you are from so I am only used to things that happen around here.

Keep that chin up, that helps. I just want the best for you. Let us know how it all went. Then I can tell you what my shrink says. HA! He gives me 10 mins. 3 scripts and is pushing me out the door as he asked how I was and didn't get a chance to tell him??

I'm in a blue funk, thats for sure. Is the moon full?? must be;) Take care Pam.

Love ya, Jo

[Pamster]

Thanks Jo for the encouragement, I defintely am glad I posted about this, I am sure I am not the first that this has happened to. I just hope that it's not going to be pressure to move to injections when I would need them in more places then just my neck, my back, my left hip, my poor knee. *Sigh* I don't think those are the answer for me yet.

[Looking up]

Most of my specialists say that they want you to bring all your meds, but they seldom enforce it. Sometimes I get a nurse who is mad that I don't have my meds with me at my rheumatologist who gives me pain meds. Some medical personnel are more rule conscious than others. My rheumy is trusts me, so it is not a problem.

Most doctors' offices will tell you to bring all your meds at least at the first visit as a general rule. Many times it does not mean anything that you should worry about.

Having chronic pain is a bummer. Hang in there.

[Kathi49]

Pamster,

I just wanted to jump on and say that I am sorry for all the anxiety you are going through right now. But I just have no experience or I should say...just never had any problems with meds or docs. Actually, I started with a new PM, a female that handles the meds and I took the two bottles in that I take on a regular basis....just because I felt like I should. But she laughed and said that was totally unncessary. Go figure LOL! I guess it is because she had my chart and already knew. One thing she does know because SHE brought it up is that I am sooo sensitive to everything...so I guess that was in my chart as well. In any case, she had reviewed my chart before I even got there. And I see her again today. Beside the point I know...but I THOUGHT my appointment was yesterday and being retired it seems I am ALWAYS OFF by one day LOL! Anyway, I really like talking with her so I am looking forward to it.

And I know you are afraid of the injections. I was too originally. Just absolutely terrified. But ya know when the pain is that darn severe and because no meds would touch it, I just told them...finally...go forth! I can't remember what you said about your neck or what was wrong. But perhaps the doc has his reasons. I wouldn't view it simply as pain management. Those shots are diagnostic too. So, maybe your doc has his reasons. I would simply have a sit down with him and go through it all to get some reassurance and understanding. Of course it is your call but I really think the doc has his reasons. Just talk it out with him and see what your options are. :)

[Pamster]

Partially herniated disk/pinched nerve. I just don't think I can do it Kathi, I just think it would mean a total breakdown and chicken out to even go in the room they do them in. Thank you for sharing your experience though, I appreciate the post. :D

Thanks Looking Up, I did have to bring in all my meds when I first went to see him, but today it's kind of unexpected, though because I've never been asked to do it since. ANyway I hope it means he's ready to up me to a longer acting med. It's just agony lately getting things done. Thanks for caring! :D

I'll post when I get back and let you all know how it went and if we changed meds to something more effective. :) God please let that happen today....

[Pamster]

Well today went well, I don't know why they wanted me to bring in meds because they didn't even ask to look at them, I was kinda confused, but just left it at that, I'll just start bringing them with me is all.

Anyway he took me off the lorcet 10's and has me on MS Contin twice a day @ 30 mgs. I am just worried it's going to be too strong, I just took one when I got home since the lorcet is out of my system and I still don't feel anything, but it's only been about 25 minutes.

I am also worried about constipation, can any of you who've taken this med around this dosage tell me what I can do to avoid constipation. :eek:

[Kathi49]

Pamster,

I am glad you had a good appointment. :) I don't take MS Contin though.

As for constipation, I now use Lactulose but it is not an every day thing. I know others use Miralax.

[Pamster]

Thanks for the reply Kathi, I hope fiber pills will be enough with lots of fluids. But I am sure it's not going to be long before I end up needed something like Miralax or Lactulose. I wish this new medication would have worked better, I had my hopes up that it would help me and it didn't even touch the pain, PM Dr said to take one of my lorcets and to be patient, to see if it works by morning....I have a feeling I will be going by to pick up a RX for more lorcet to cover this breaking through pain, I mean it was like I was having more pain then I have had in months. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts KAthi, I appreciate it. :)

[Lil E]

I remember having to build up a level in your blood. A generic stool softener should help 100 mg once or twice a day to start, you can go up as needed. I use 250 mg twice a day.
They're relatively benign.