Pain Clinic runaround..grrrrrrrr

[Coleen]

Well I called and tried to make an appt at a pain clinic that I got a Dr.s name from a IC Support group meeting I went to last Sat. I had a referral sent from my Primary Dr. The office called me back and asked why I was being sent there. (DUH! Doesnt my file say enough). So then I was told the doctor would look over my file and call me back if she wanted to make an appt with me. WHAT??????? She has to decide if my file says enough on wether or not i need to be scene? WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!!

[Amber O.]

Coleen,
That is just how they work. I had to wait for my Pain Clinic to "accept" me & then they called me. It is b/c they willingly give out pain meds and tehy have to make sure that the person is really in pain. There are alot of people out there that would fake it just to get the meds. Don't be offended by it they did it to me too. On your first visit they treat you lik e acriminal or something & make you pee in a cup can't flush & no running water in the bathroom. I hav ebeen to 2 pain clinics & both were like taht but i really like mY Dr now. Good luck & hang in there!
Amber

[kelly McC]

I hope they call you back :pray: :pray: Best wishes,
Kelly

[Coleen]

No news yet! And god I hope they call me back too. Getting harder day by day to make it thru a full day of work. Then home to take care of Fiance, and 2 kids.... NOT EASY! Why do they have you pee in a cup? WEIRD..... ANYWAY thanks for your encouraging words. Ill keep ya posted if I hear anything....

[Hangin' Tough]

They probably have you to pee in the cup to screen for illicit drugs. Most are very careful about who they take on, but once your in, it should change. We will keep our fingers crossed for you.

Steve

[DanaW]

I was turned down by 2 pain clinics. They told me that there was nothing they could do for me. I am angry to this day! So my Uro. has been treating my pain but, now I have been on the same pain meds for such a long time that I am becoming more tolerant. I am taking the maximum dosage and I still have breakthrough pain. I am so tired of the side effects and it not working as well. I just got off the phone with my Uro. and he said that he can not help me with any medication. He told me to contact my family practic. I have an appt. in 2 days. I also am going in today to have a urine culture done to rule out an infection. My uro. gave me the number to a Uro. over in Minn. that treats PFD. I cannot get in until Aug. 17. Meanwhile, I have to either suffer or try to have my primary Dr. help me. I wish that I could be put on something that does not make me tired and cranky. Something that lasts longer. I am sick of taking pills. What do I do if my family Dr. doesn't help me? And, it still really bothers me that the pain clinic here won't help me. What other options do we have when we get turned away from everyone? :( DanaW

[Coleen]

Dana, I am sorry to hear all that! This is my first attempt so I am hoping to be accepted first try. That may just be wishful thinking. I can understand your frustration as I need to call like every 5 days for my pain med. He never writes me a script for more than 5 days. I just told him that the percocets that we tried last week were working well for my pain. I also told him I was taking them 3 times a day two at a time. That this was good for my extreme back pain and my constant bladder pain. I was having a uti last week and my bladder was killing me. Anyway I went back and saw him Monday of this week and again he writes a script for 30.... Well ok that will get me thru till friday then what? Its the long weekend and they close at 2 on Friday. Im almost scared to call and ask for more!.... I need them to help me get thru the day. As i sit with a heating pad as it is at work for my back and cramps. Im afraid he may say no... I havent called yet to ask for a larger script. Biut I am going to because the weekend is coming and my only other choice would be emergency room and thats no fun. Plus half the time they dont help anyway!. I have no idea what the max amt of meds he can write a script for but the thought of running out scares me..... especially on the weekends..... Hope your other dr.s helps u out....

[DanaW]

Thanks for you kindness Coleen. I pray that you do not get turned away. I still to this day do not understand that if they are experts at treating chronic pain, why would they turn away someone like me, who, has chronic pain? I obviously have the diagnosis and have been going to the Uro. Sorry. I am venting about something I have no control over, obviously. I really do pray that you get help. I am thankful for my Uro. He has tried really hard to help me. And, his nurse is a sweetheart. Good luck Coleen ! Let us know how it goes..... :pray:
DanaW

[Katrina]

Danna and Colleen:grouphug: :grouphug:

Colleen sorry friend....I hope things improve.

I hope you both feel better and don't even need a pain clinic...but if you do I hope they make things easier on you.


:kiss: :kiss:

[Coleen]

Well I went home for lunch today and three was a call from that clinic I mentioned earlier. They said my file was reviewed and they would like me to come in for an interview. I made the appt for July 7th. Seems like forever away. Its the best they could do for time. Ill keep everyone posted..... Thanks for all your support

[DanaW]

I am really happy for you! One question. Are you in a big city? I am actually in a town of only 8,000 people and was wondering if it is just lack of experience with IC that made them turn me away? Good luck! DanaW

[alana rose]

Coleen-
I am so happy that you are able to go to the clinic. My gp sent a letter into the pain clinic where I live and they would not accept me. My gp has no idea why they wouldn't-I am in constant excrutiating pain. I have a extremely strict diet and the pain is still there. I use to be very hard on myself and would only allow myself to take 2-4 empracet a day (my uro will not give me anything stronger.) Then my gp put me on fentynl patches, but the lowest dose was not strong enough and the next dose up was too strong. So, now I take demerol 3-4 times daily. My gp is wonderful and tells me if I need to take it to have a normal life where I can plan things, work, have a social life-then that is what I am to do. I am very fortunate to have my gp as a doctor. Good luck at the clinic and let us know how your first appointment goes.
alana

[DanaW]

So, I am not the only one who got turned away from a pain clinic. I also have constant pain. I have an appt. with my GP tomorrow. I am going to ask him to help me with some other type of pain med. that will be more long term so, that, I don't have to take so many pills. I am pretty nervous because I don't have a clue on if he will help me. I am glad that you at least have a very understanding and helpful GP. Does anyone know why one GP but, not another will help with pain?? DanaW

[franya]

Colleen,

I met you at the meeting I told you about Dr. Paul Church. Did you get an appointment with him? The pain clinic is good but tough they will probably not give you anything the first visit so be prepared maybe you could ask your Dr. for enuf till you get settled into the pain clinic. Also you could print out some of the info on pain management and bring it to your Dr. so he might be more aware of your problem. Good luck.

Fran

[Morgan Stone]

Coleen I wish you well with your pain clinic.. i had a problem with the first one I went to as well. They told me they didnt treat IC pain then told my Uro the reason they didn't treat me was because I had admitted to taking a percocet that wasnt prescribed to me and admitted to using marjiuana once! Please be careful with what you say.. do NOT volunteer any info that might incriminate yourself :-) I am very fortuante to have an excellent pain doc now.. I wish you all the luck in the world!

[Coleen]

HI! No I didnt make an appt with anymore doctors. When they said I could go to the pain clinic, I cancelled any appts I had.. I cant keep mising so much work. So I figured I use my regular uro until I got into the pain clinic and got evaluated..... My copays are 30 each time I go..... Plus I thought better for me to get appt at pain clinic, then go see 5 different doctors..... If it doesnt work out then I will be going to another uro.. But for now Im going to wait it out..... Thanks everyone for all of your help..... I was so uncomfortable that day at the meeting thats why I got the info I needed and left.. I wish Iwas feeling better to have stayed and chatted... But I really couldnt wait to get home and rest...... mI did get some good info... And I am following up as I said.. Ill keep you all posted... Thanks

[Coleen]

Thanks for the advice. Ill keep that in mind... Since Im sure at some point we have all taken something that wasnt prescribed to us.... Sheesh! That should show how desperate we are to get out of this terrible pain, not that we are chemically dependent on these pain meds that we cant get.... What a crazy world..... Well my appt is July 7th... Ill keep ya posted......Thanks everyone again.....

[mwenke]

:) Hang in there. If the pain doctor knows her stuff you will get you're app't. I have been going to one for 4 months. I don't feel anybetter but at least I can get more than 30 percets a month. The pain is so bad at times. I'm now up to 3-4, 7.5 mg. My urologist wouldn't write me that many. My pain doctor is also tyring me on gabitrol and trazoldone. The trazoldone knocks me out. It's 12:30pm and I just got dressed. :rolleyes: Anyway the wait will be worth it. Good luck!
Marcy

[susie]

Hi, there is no limit on the amount of pain meds that a Dr. can write for as long as he or she has an active DEA license. Some Dr.'s are just not "comfortable" writing prescriptions for larger amounts.

Susie

[Katrina]

Good luck Coleen. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

:kiss:

[ad8123]

I have just been told to go to a pain clinic since my 4 ultram a day do NOTHING for the severe pain. My insurance company could nto t=give me any referals and neither could my uro (I moved to a different town about 35 min away). So I hit the phone book and called every pain managment md in it, I first asked if they took my insurance and then if they treated anyone with IC and would be willing to take a new patient. Of ALL the Md's in my town only 2 had heard of the disease and i believe they each only treat one patient, the most prominant clinic in my area-known for there research knew NOTHING about IC? And we are supposed to trust them?????? I have no idea what I am going to encounter, and i can not imagine being treated like a druggy! I never even smoked a cigaret? I hope I can handle this, I am loosing my patience with being paternized and critizized for something I have NO control over, sometimes the nurses are so RUDE like i asked to have this IC. Sorry about the anger but i can not believe that in a modern world, where we understand pain and how to treat it that we still make peole suffer! How long did it take the stoggy holy-er than thou MD to give terminal cancer patients meds it is absurd. ALMOST makes you long for the Victorian days when you could get opium at the local market! oops that was a vent. Good luck to everyone, stand up for yourselves we deserved to be treated with respect, we are ill, IC is a real disease not some made up delusion.

Angela
Florida