Kelly would like some advice and prayers too

I keep thinking about Kelly and her stuation and have a few more thoughts...

Reading about the way Kelly felt before she realized she had been without her patch sounds so much like withdrawal. This feeling is something I have gone through myself and it is just terrible! I think it is probably the worst feeling I have ever had...worse than migraine, worse than childbirth...hard to describe! Withdrawal syndrome can also be very dangerous and may cause such things as seizures. I learned this my deciding to quit taking a medication I was on for the anxiety of PTSD. I landed in the ER with seizures :(

If Kelly does not have the medication she needs for pain or if the doctor feels she is indeed on too much medication....then he is also obligated to give her the support and medical care she needs to safely wean down from her pain control. That office manager could well be the cause of any reaction that Kelly faces as a result of not having her medication. It really bothers me to read about this. Oh how I hope she is able to be treated better and that this office manager will be properly dealt with. If Kelly DID have an adverse reaction to suddenly being denied pain medication - that woman could cause plenty of grief for the doctor. Surely he will realize this!!

I'm so sorry that Kelly is going through such a difficulty. There is a stigma attached to those in pain in this country that is little short of barbaric. :(

I am so sorry to hear that Kelly is going through such a terrible time with that witch. I hope she is able to talk to her doctor about it and get this situation settled once and for all.

Wolflady, here is a copy of a PM that I sent Kelly about 3 weeks ago that maybe you could relay to her since she doesn't have too much use of a computer.

Hi Kelly:

I just finished reading your thread, "I Miss You All" and reading something in my Woman's World today made me think of you. I wanted to send it here in case you missed it in the thread if I put it in there.
Her it is;
Looking for an understanding doctor?
Log on to www.aapainmanage.org to find a member of The American Academy of Pain Management, physicians devoted to treating pain.

I thought this might help you in case you needed to look elsewhere.

Take care
Lorraine

I know that Kelly likes her doctor, but thought she could keep this link in her file, for further use.

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way for our darling Kelly.

First, thanks so much for your advice, love and concern for me! (((((((((hugs))))))))

Second, I need to apoligize for my LJ entry. That anger is stemmed from YEARS (approx 10) of stuff like this. That was written as soon as I got home from my pharmacies...I hope you understand the state I was in when I wrote it. I don't usually speak like that about anyone.

You've given me AMAZING ideas, thank you soooo much!!!

Update:
Friday night, I was driving home (to mom's house - still living at CiCi's) and kind of praying to God. I was proud of how I sort of kept my center calmed, while I was going to battle with the reeptionist and office manager (not medically trained, btw). I realized that when my Cedars specialist wrote me pain meds to get me until I found a pain doc, I had some partials left over. I called them and asked them to fill them - just to get me through the weekend. When mom and I went to get it, I had 70 pills ready to pick up.

I survived the weekend. :)

Today, I called my pharmacy to try and fill it again, today was the absolute due date if I took the minimum amount. He told me my doc's office had called early that morning to fill it for me. Hmmm....sounds WAY different than the attitude (and quite honestly, screaming match) I'd gotten Friday. :rolleyes:

I saw there was a message on my cell phone, but I had to work, so I checked it on the way home. It was the office manager. Telling me she talked to my doc, gave him my file and called in the rx. She asked that I called her.

I returned the call. Receptionist was nice and rude, so I wondered if I was going to be divorced from the office. Yea, not so. She was SUPER nice, told me she spoke with the doc, that I'm not a usual patient for them - thus my prescriptions aren't usual. Uh huh, struck me as odd...anyway, long story short, we're starting again and like Auntie Laurie suggested ((((hugs))) when I come in on the 27th, we're going to all talk and make sure she fully understands my prescriptions.

She asked if we could start anew because, "I'm not hard to get a long with and I'm quite sure either are you..." So I agreed and told her to have a nice holiday.

I will be telling my doc all about what happened. Debbie, you are RIGHT ON about I'm sure what he spoke with her about. Not weaning me was a HUGE no no. I told her that when she refused to fill the RX. I said, "So you'd rather a call at 3:00 a.m.?" Guess what she said?? "They wouldn't be calling ME!!" (ie: they'd call the doc...)

Anyway, I must get going. I'm helping mom bake tonight and I need to get CiCi and Phil to the tire store (got a flat) before 5:30. I'll check in tomorrow night, OK???

Hugs and LOVE,
Kelly :)

Kelly, I'm so glad to hear that things went much more smoothly today!

(((HUGS)))
Kim

It sure sounds like once your file got in the doctors hands things became clear to him that you were in need and that maybe some miscommunications from his office occurred. Glad the office manager realized she wasnt the most professional person in the office. It's good that you all will sit down and chat that way noone misunderstands.

Thank goodness things are going better Kelly. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers always sweetie! Take care. (((((HUGS))))) :)

MMM, Kelly, that is indeed good news - your prescription filled - everyone seeming to calm down.............BUT, I would still have your say when you meet the Dr.

He has a problem in his office that must be dealt with. The woman has some issues that are harmful to her bosses patients.

But I am glad that you are feeling better now.

You know that you have my support and love.

xxoo Gini

Do you think the nice phyrmists had some hand in the change of adittude ? Maybe they called and made her give the phone to the doc?

Kelly, thanks for the update. I'm glad things are looking up. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gini

MMM, Kelly, that is indeed good news - your prescription filled - everyone seeming to calm down.............BUT, I would still have your say when you meet the Dr.

He has a problem in his office that must be dealt with. The woman has some issues that are harmful to her bosses patients.

But I am glad that you are feeling better now.

You know that you have my support and love.

xxoo Gini

---

I agree.

I'm glad that all of you will be sitting down and having a chat next time you're in there, but I'm also glad that things have taken a positive turn. Thanks for updating all of us! :D

Lots of love,
Karen

Hey guys!! :)

Thanks again for your advice...it really, really helped me a lot.

Now I have more time to tell you all that happened. At least, what I think happened.

I think that Monday, Penny (not so sweet office manager) went to my doc and wanted to complain about me. When he heard what she did and told me, I'm SURE he freaked out on her. Like Debbie said, he is under professional and moral obligation to wean me off...otherwise he's liable for anything that could have happened to me.

She was telling me on the phone Friday that my DOCTOR was the one refusing the refill and that HE said I was taking too much medication. I knew that was wrong...if I was taking too much, he'd have changed my prescription the last time she freaked out on me (this was the 3rd time, but she never refused it before, just "had to call me back" after she remembered how to count! :rolleyes: ).

She said a few things that didn't jive with the situation. That thing about me taking "too much" was crap. My last visit he prescribed me hydromorphone - medication stronger than morphine - so that I'd avoid so many ER visits. Somehow I don't think he'd have a problem with me taking the max amount of my rx HE PRESCRIBED. I wasn't taking MORE than prescribed, just the maximum per day. Got all that? ;)

Friday, she also said, "And I'm SURE your not waking up at 3:00 a.m. to take these!" I said, "really? Have you lived with me?? Are you aware that I DO wake up to take my meds? That if I don't, I wake up with uncontrollable pain???"

Monday, she told me that "Your prescription is different. Normally, he prescribes medication 'po'". PO means "by mouth". Not even sure what the heck she was even trying to say. The medication in question...all meds prescribed by him actually, besides the patch...are by mouth. Can you tell she has no idea??

There were just lots of little things like that I've noticed that make me certain the following is happening:

While working at the vet (1 1/2 years), 2 doctors offices (approx 1 year) and now a hospital (3 months), I've learned that the doctors rarely see faxed refill requests from pharmacies. Staff is told to check the patient's file to make sure they are due for it, OK it and fax it back. That's it. No medical training...especially a degree needed! Illegal? Probably! Kind of scary, huh?

On Dec 27, I'm telling my doctor EVERYTHING. He needs to know whats going on. I'm not an idiot and as you all know, I'm ambitious as heck. I'm not going to do ANYTHING to my body to hurt it. I keep track of what I take and when...and why. I rate my pain many times a day, eat well, take my maintainence meds, etc. I called that office on Dec 12 to make an appointment ASAP because my pain has gotten MUCH worse. I told them I was having to take more medication - though NOT going over the maximum amount on my prescription. They should have A: TOLD MY DOCTOR!!! (how hard it that? Seriously?? I ASKED them to let him know that!! and B: have taken that into consideration on Friday like I asked her to.

I'll be telling him about the pharmacist as well. He can call the pharmacist, I'm sure if my doc calls, he'll be honest. Especially if he comes accross and wanting to know about his staff.

My mom is also coming to my appointment that day. ;) Yea, my mom...she wonderful, but screw with her kid and WATCH OUT. ;)

Anyway, I hope that answered your questions. Oh!! Forgot. Here's a quick recap of what happened Friday:

Thursday Night approx 5:30 p.m. - called pharmacy and asked them to fax a refill request to my pain doc's office

Friday, 11:15 a.m. - called pharmacy to see if they'd gotten a response. No.

11:20 a.m. - called pain doc's office. Asked receptionist if they'd gotten my request. Recept said yes, that Penny was faxing them all back. (READ: If I was calling, wouldn't the average person ASSUME that I would WANT my refill???)

11:25 a.m. - called the pharmacy to let them know doc's office was faxing request in a few minutes

1:00 p.m. - called pharmacy to see if they recieved approved request from doc's office. No

1:05 p.m. - called doc's office. At lunch.

2:10 p.m. - called doc's office again. Was RUDELY told that yes, they were faxed...and that my request was denied. When I asked why, recept said I was too early. I told her that I was not, that the pharmacy and my INSURANCE wouldn't allow a refill if it was too early. She said that wasn't her problem - and that Penny (office mgr) had already gone home for the weekend. That I could call back MONDAY!! I asked her, "What am I supposed to do without meds for the weekend?" She didn't care and said that I had to call back Monday. I asked to have Dr. call me back. She told me that he was in surgery in Thousand Oaks and she wasn't going to bother him. I said, "Thanks so much for all your help" and hung up.

Hung up, cried. Co-worker Ray and Supervisor Theresa told me to call back and demand to talk to the doctor.

2:20 p.m. Called back doc's office. I wasn't mean, I was to the point and was MAD. She was even ruder!! I said, "I need you to get a message to Dr. xxx to call me as soon as he has a free moment." She told me "I already told you he was in surgery and I'm NOT going to disturb him." I softened my voice a tiny bit...maybe got a bit like I was talking to a 2-year-old and said, "You don't have to disturb him. You can call to the surgicenter and tell them to leave him a message to call me, that it is VERY important. That it can wait until he had a free moment to spare, didn't matter what time, when he was done."

At this point, I kind of forget what she said back, but it was really, really rude. I lost it. I said, "Look, its not my fault if that girl cannot *(only bad word uttered)* count! I don't know what I did to make you all hate me and be mean to me. I baked you guys Christmas cookies, I brought you a Christmas card, I'm nice to you, I say please and thank you! What is it, what did I do that was so horrible to you??" Apparently my little slip up made her mad. She started telling me that she was going to tell on me to my doc, that he wouldn't want people like me as a patient anymore! That me making them cookies had NOTHING to do with what we were talking about. I said, "apperently not....you don't seem to care about what I need or how to help anyone!"

She refused to give my message to my doctor. Told me she'd have Penny call me. I again, told her "thanks for your help" - not in a nice manner, of course. :o

2:30 p.m. - I called my pharmacist to make sure I wasn't counting wrong, that I was actually DUE for my refill. He did the math, ran the insurance and said I WAS due for it. I told him my situation and he recommended calling my doc's office number Saturday (when he'd be on call) and telling him I needed meds. It was then (I called Penny a B**CH at that point and then said I was sorry, I was so mad.) that he told me he was having a hard time with her as well. Told me she had faxed him TWICE that day regarding my refill request with HUGE "NO!!!!!" all over the page. He also said she was very, very rude when she called about my patch rx on Tuesday. Can we say unprofessional?

2:40 p.m. - I get my call from Penny. She is equally as "nice" and tells me she doesn't appreciate me being rude to her recept and saying she doesn't "*bad word* know how to count". I was actually nice to the recept because I knew she couldn't do anything...outside of actually giving my message to the doctor. It went on from there...her telling me I took too many meds....that my DOCTOR is the one who is denying me, not her. (YEA RIGHT!!!) Making me feel bad because I had to postphone my procedure because I couldn't afford it. Ect. ect. ect. It was also during this call that she said that I should go to another doctor!

OK....so I think I've shared it all...

Thanks again for your advice, guys. It really helped me.

I'll be sure and let you know how everything goes on the 27th.

Hugs,
Kelly

I discovered some time back that the medical field can't see pain, it don't show up in your blood on on a X-ray, it don't discolor like a bruise so since it can't be seen, some doctors act like it isn't there. I also learned that it does take more pain killers for some than it does for others to get the same results.

Unfortuanlly, those who use it for fun only make the ones who need it pay the price and when you ask a doctor for it, they think you just want a "high".
Right after my ordeal, they had it on TV that people who are really in pain, do NOT get addicted to pain medication. How come they have stuff like this on TV and not inform the doctors?

I hate that she has to be going through this. In todays world, a person should not have to suffer like that or have to go through all that mess to get something to make her life bearable and pain free. That really stinks!

I would be back at that doctors having a talk with him and getting some things streight and seeing if he is doing that or that girl at the desk is. If she is doing that, he needs to know and if he does not believe she is in that pain, she needs another doctor!

Kelly this all sounds very much like an incident I had with my new shrink's staff. They failed 3 different times to properly get my brand new medications for Bi-Polar II called in (refilled) , so I finally got angry and treated her like a child as well. Instead of my doctor being professional and attempting to hear MY side of the story, he dumped me. My husband had to call his office back to get them to SAFELY wean me off of these new "mind" drugs that they started me on! If a psychiatrist's office that deals with people with mood disorders and such EVERYDAY, can't understand why a patient might get irritated after having their refill postponed and screwed up for 3 days in a row, can't handle the patient, then what good are they? Again, I think this whole situation was unethical, and down right dangerous, just as yours sounds! :mad:

(((HUGS)))
Kim