Fibromyalgia Support Group

I was wondering how many of you guys have seen pain management doctors? I was talking to my dad tonight and he wants me to switch to a different doctor. He doesn't like how the pain management doctors prescribes meds. He doesn't disagree with me taking medicines, he actually encourages it. He's just concerned that the pain management doctor is only writing prescriptions and not paying so much attention to side effects/follow ups, real treatment etc.

What have your experiences been like?

I have been thinking about going to a Pain Management Clinic in my city. I have been seeing a Rheumatologist and he prescribed a medicine that when I checked online it says not to take if you have diabetes. Which I do and I told him. Because I have several health issues, I even wrote it down and went over it with him. It made my blood sugar go to 200 (90 is normal).

I guess the lesson here is no matter what doctors we see it is still up to us to check ourselves. We really have to take a pro active approach to our own health.

You're right Wintersnow!

We all need to be our own health advocates. If we can't speak up for our wants and needs then we should have an health advocate who knows what we want/don't want.

Your personal advocate should know what medications you take and the dosages. Your health advocate can speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself. It should be someone you'd trust with your life.

There are too many horrific stories out there of people having wrong limbs removed, wrong breasts removed and even brain surgeries gone awry.

I Pray nobody else has to be a statistic...

Sonni

I agree with all of you. But do you find that it is very hard to approach the doctors? They still do not believe in advocates or others in the room, even though it is posted on the wall. They get angry. They want you to take their one drug even though it has terrible side effects and if you dare say anything, you are not compliant, or psyche or difficult.. I honestly dont know what to do, because I had a provider that was with me from the beginning of the disease, and I got used to commmunicating openly (later she threw me under the bus), but when I went to the next doctor I had NO IDEA, that I was not communicating "correctly" I thought I was kind, and normal... I suffer, and cannot work, and I know I could work , if my pain was controlled, and at the very least volunteer and be a member of this society. What do you do?

I don't know. Lately I feel like a lot of the doctors I see don't take kindly to me being informed. I always give them an updated lists of my meds, the reactions, the different ways I've tried taking them to prove they really don't work(times of day, with food, without, etc). I feel like after about 6 months or so they are getting frustrated. My primary gave up on me a while ago.

My dad wants me to try a rhumatologist ago. Even though the first one I saw was so rude and arrogant. He actually walked out of the room on me and my mom and I practically had to beg the nurse to get him to come back. The other one didn't believe it was fibromyalgia but had no other answers and didn't believe in medicines.

I guess its just a battle. I'm scared in the search for a new doctor I'm going to end up untreated.

This happens to me too. Some say you are to be informed and organized, with your dx and chart, others say, dont bring any of that in.. I have no idea, but have not had good luck. I am going to do half way in between, and hopefully someone will believe me.

I go to a pain management md, I love mine but I will say that I went to one before him that I could not stand. He only wanted to do shots and would not give you any pain meds, in fact, he treated me like I was a drug seeker and I have NEVER had that happen before, most of my mds will tell you that they have a hard time conviencing me to take it or go up on them. But anyway, the one I have now is great, he listens, gives me meds, tries new things and tells me that he knows I am in a lot of pain. I say give one a try, if you don't like him they are just like every other md, get another one. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks BC! I guess its hit or miss. I was getting confused on whether pain management doctors were strictly for prescribing meds or if they actually diagnosed/treated

Mine does both, try to call around and see what they do and how they treat patients. I have been told that some will only give meds and some will try and help with dx, and other things as well as give meds. Mine also will do x-rays and bloodwork to try and help.

Sounds like you got a good one BC thanks for the information, I appreciate it