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violating a pain contract

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Posted 9/24/2013 10:41 AM (GMT -5)
please help i am in chronic pain ,and have been going to the same docter for years . and this doctor knows i am in pain i have went to him for 5-6 years (but i do always have a problem with 1 of the nurses ) but any way it seems like it happens every 4 month my meds are due and because i live in a very small town the drug store there is not open on sat. or sunday's

Any way she would give them to me a day earlier .well the 4 month is always a hassel cause when i call to get them ready she said no you can't pick them and it was 30 days from the last time i got them filled ,but she added all those days up and made me wait 34 days .well that wouldn't of been to bad but i had no car ,which my daughter goes to collage so i gave her my car , any way she was coming for 1 day to go to the store ,and such so i called the office to see if she could pick them up and get them filled because medcaid would of filled them because it really was 30 days but the nurse said no pretty rude i must say.

Any way i was also not in the greatest mood not having a car the last 2 or 3 weeks and i have had a lot of personal problems too (i live with my son who throws fits and breaks everything in my house he's disable ) any way i said well i guess i need to start looking for a new doctor who cares.

well i guess that was the wrong thing to say .. because a certified letter came to my house saying i am .. I VIOLATED MY PAIN AGREEMENT AND I HAVE 30 DAYS TO FIND A NEW DOCTOR ,PLEASE HELP I DON'T NO WHAT THIS MEANS ,OR I DON'T NO WHAT TO DO ,OR WHAT CAN I DO and i don't even no in what way i violated my contract and i really didn't want to find a new doctor but most of all i need this meds. to just get up in the morning this meds make my life live-able i don't no what i did either ,how to handle this nand is there any thing i can do.

i am disable also so no money for a lawyer .i am not no drugy ,or sell them i need them to just function or can i just go to a nother docter or will this follow me ,i am on meds that people say are hard core oxy.that he put me on for the last 4-5 years please help me ,i want to live i was planning on moving to boston with my other daughter so she can take care of me.

Should i just get my doctors papers and go ,i got the letter 2 weeks ago and the doctor isn;t returning my calls and i don't even no how i violated it shouldn't they tell me please help thanks so much tina


"I took the liberty of splitting up your post, so that it is easier for our members to read." Please consider doing so on future post. wink Thanks!

Post Edited By Moderator (Screaming Eagle) : 9/24/2013 4:21:52 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/24/2013 12:24 PM (GMT -5)
Hello Tina and welcome to HW. Im sorry that this has happened to. As for violating the contract each one is different yet some very commanalities
Requesting early refills is one of those. I know that your thinking its been the 30 days but for some reason the Dr thinks otherwise. It really depends on what and how much you get and how its exactly written.

Add that getting rude with staff whether the deserve it or not and especially over medicine will almost always get you discharged.

I've found that this is where having a good relationship with your pharmacist comes in handy as Drs pay more heed to them calling for a new script and explaining that the last was a 30 day supply only.

One more thing is if that meds written on an as needed basis the 30 day rules dont apply if your Dr doesn't want you to use that many a day on a regular basis.

Which ever applies here the fact of the matter stands, they wont change their minds, and whatever they have documented regarding this situation will now be part of your permanent medical records. Its a rarity if another Dr will prescribe for you without having your previous records.

That includes another state as well. You can however, write the Dr who discharged you about what you think and I wouldn't be nasty nor rude just explain like you did here, that letter will at least also be entered into the record as well.

I would immediately began to taper the oxy you have left otherwise your going to experience some bad withdrawal on top of your pain issues. Its most likely going to take longer to find a new Dr then you have meds for

Good luck.
Posted 9/24/2013 12:44 PM (GMT -5)
Tina, I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Vickie is right with everything she said.
Posted 9/24/2013 4:24 PM (GMT -5)
Hello Tina!….and Welcome to the forum!

So sorry that you are going through this! Vickie has given you some very good information, and I agree with her, that you need to start tapering your meds down,... if you have any left over. There are some things you can do for yourself if you happen to suffer withdrawals. Please stay in touch with us, and by all means start seeking another PM and or Dr right away.

One thing I encourage patients to do, is to always keep a small stash of meds, just for occasions like this. It's not always easy to do, especially if a patient is under medicated to start with.

The meds I have in mind of keeping a few in case of emergencies are the BT meds. BT meds should be used just for that…"Break Through" and taken only as needed. Today, we see so many patients using their BT meds on a daily schedule, because they are generally under medicated. That is the fault of the Dr in my opinion. I have been there and done it, and it has taken several years to finally find the right combination of meds, so that I can finally use the BT meds for what they are intended for.

Also, when you do find another PM to take over your chronic pain treatment, make sure you have a long chat, and go over the contract throughly with him/her so that their are no surprises in the future. Please make sure and discusses the what if's, concerning the refill dates falling on a weekend and or a holiday.

My Dr has given me an extra script in the past to cover those instances. Chronic pain, and the proper treatment of it, is all about relationship, relationship, relationship with your Dr. You have to build trust! Once that is established, then working around problems such as this can be a little more forgiving.

If something goes wrong as is in your case, then the patient is always the loser.

Good luck, and I hope other moderators and members will soon be along to suggest other ideas for you.

Again welcome, and I hope you sincerely consider making this your support home for chronic pain. We are here to help each other, and self education and sharing is paramount for those of us who suffer from chronic pain.

SE
Posted 9/24/2013 5:22 PM (GMT -5)
Excellent point Michael! My appt this month was Monday, my meds however were to run out Friday, I called the office Thursday and told the nurse since my Drs not in on Friday but the staff is. Thursday afternoon I got a message to pick up a script for the weekend. That was it. No problems.
Posted 9/24/2013 5:35 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, proper pain management is relies on having a trusting relationship with your physician. I have had several doctors, only one for pain management. This is my current PCP and we have a very good relationship. I have opened up to her more about my pain recently based on her requests in order for us to build on this. This has helped as over the last few weeks my pain management due to med changes and this new dialogue has been the best it has been in ages.
Posted 9/24/2013 6:21 PM (GMT -5)
Tina, the fact that you're on Medicaid in combination with violating the pain contract will make it nearly impossible for you to find another dr that will give you the same meds. I am so sorry this has happened.
Posted 9/24/2013 9:48 PM (GMT -5)
Hello tina, sometimes bad things can turn into good. Your living situation seems very stressful with your son living with you. You have had thoughts of moving to your other daughters.

If your son is at least respectable enough to leave in your house in one piece. Is selling your house out of the question? HOw old is your son? If he gets mad and moves out well that can be a good thing too.

It is possible that your doctor does not even realize what the heck is going on in his own office. If you can manage to get your persctiption this time. Im not sure they can refuse you this on such short notice. After you get them, then I would send him a certified letter that HE has to sign for. He might not even realize what is going on. You might ash him what you did that you was shocked by the letter. You feel like he is actually breaking the rule himself. Keep it short but stress that being his patient made you feel so happy to have him as your doctor and that you just can get over it.

See what you get from him now......No telling how it might turn out. But, it may be a blessing too. Your son has no right to treat you so bad. You have more on your plate, and even finding a new doctor is difficult.....I feel so bad for you. Hang in there and let us hear from you. You have lots of friends here......hugs...Cathy
Posted 9/24/2013 10:06 PM (GMT -5)
Please be mindful that members need encouragement here. Painting a picture of doom and gloom is the last thing someone in a panic needs. Medication for our pain is the single most worry most of us have, and many of us have this same fear right up until we have the scripts in hand.


SE
Posted 9/24/2013 10:27 PM (GMT -5)
Well said, SE. I believe the OP already has enough sense of doom in their situation. I can only hope that they can find a workable solution in time before running out of needed meds.

As you said, even in the best of circumstances, nothing ever counts until you have a valid script in your hands. I go through this every month, especially with my Fentanyl scripts, and why I often drive the long drive to pick it up in person, since it has gotten delayed in the mail before, or had the wrong date written on it by mistake.

I would hate to see any of us in the situation as described by the OP of this thread. More than scary.

David
Posted 9/24/2013 10:28 PM (GMT -5)
False hope isn't encouragement. That said. Personally, I doubt the letter will do any good. But, if you do send it, send it Restricted Delivery addressed to the dr only. That way no one else in the office can sign for it. Just know that even if you send it Restricted and the dr signs for it, that doesn't mean he will read the letter. Chances are he will hand it to someone in the office unopened.
Posted 9/24/2013 10:54 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Tina Welcome to our chronic pain family. I'm sorry that this has happened to you. I agree with Screaming Eagle, that you should ration any meds you have, until you can figure out what is going on. I hope and pray that you can get your meds for this month at least, as that would give you more time to find another doctor.

I just thought of something. Is the doctor that prescribes your meds a Pain management doctor? If so, would it be possible for your primary care doctor to prescribe your meds this one time?

I wish you good luck with this. Keep us updated on how things are going.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 9/25/2013 6:00 AM (GMT -5)
Tina you did say the letter said 30 days right? So it seems they would fill one more time. They're kind of obligated by their own discharge letter to cover you medically for that 30 day time period.

If you end up being able to get a 30 day supply I would immediately cut that dosing into half giving myself 60 days of meds. You will see some additional pain I'm sure and here's where we can help give you tips for decreasing your pain using other methods.

That allows you 2 months to find another Dr and get in. Dont wait to begin looking!! Start immediately whether your moving or not. Find Drs in the area your thinking of going, internet, ask your daughter if she's heard of any.

If its getting down to say the last few weeks of meds left and still no luck I would cut my dose by half again that way your not going from the entire amount prescribed to nothing in 30 days.

Good luck.
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