Fibromyalgia Support Group

I'm VERY new to this site(which is wonderful btw) so I actually posted the following in another discussion, but thought I'd try starting my own-to learn the ropes, you know

Ok everyone, had some problems I need your input on. First, my new specialist has yet to return any of my calls. I only managed to talk to a receptionist cuz I put myself through to the wrong extension on purpose so I COULD talk to someone. As of Monday, they were supposed to call in my refill for Lortab(which according to the receptionist is the only one I will get). Anyways, I called Mon, Tues and today with all the same results, no RX has been called in. Tried calling the specialist later yesterday but the phones were off for the day. Anyways, I called my GP, made an appointment for tomorrow for a Lortab refill. Also called my insurance to ask that any RX that was called in from the specialist wasn't filled(to protect myself from being called a ""drug seeker"") she told me to call the pharmacy and let them know, but she also said that the specialist's office had yet to return any calls back to the ins. company regarding getting my refill for Savella pre-authorized(if this doesn't happen, of course, ins. won't cover it). So, I guess I have a couple questions: 1) Even though I just started with this specialist(my 1st), I'm not getting a warm feeling considering my ins. co. can't even get a call back from them. So, I'm thinking I need to research some more and try another specialist-WHAT DO U ALL THINK?

2). My family doc referred me to a specialist because all the sudden (after 2 years) of prescribing me pain meds (along with trying everything under the sun for FM), he's scared to(local drug bust, need I say more??). So how do I argue my case that I need him to refill my pain meds until I can get to another specialist??

Oh, and I read something about the 2009 Guidelines for Prescribing Opiates for non-cancer pain-does anyone know the link to that??

Any help is appreciated. I'm in pain, even on my 1st day at 100mg of Savella and some of the side effects are kickin my butt and I'm soooo depressed. I will not give up on Savella yet tho, results appear to be promising and I'm willing to try anything once lol.

Tanya, I would be very concerned about the situation. Did your gp send you to this particular md? If so make sure you tell him the whole story because he may not wish to continue to refer to him. If not, as him for a referal that way he can have in his records that he is sending you to someone else. I think that it is so bad that the laws are now making it hard for mds to do their jobs. IF your md cannot give you pain meds when you need it what is going to happen next. Good luck, I hope you find a md that will be there for you.

I would find another doctor, do you have a pain clinic they are much better about not being afraid to help more with pain meds. I went through a few doctors before I could get help with pain and some doctors I would go to all I had to do was say I was in pain and they handed me over to another doctor, please keep looking and don't give up. I couldn't give up cause I couldn't live with the pain HELL I was going through and thank god I have a great doctor he understands the pain I will pray for you to find a good doctor so you won't have to suffer hugs donna

Hi Tanya,

Boy, you have quite a dilemma here ~~~ I m sure it is very frustrating to you when your calls are not returned so you worry that you won t get your meds.

I guess the best advice here is just keep calling until you get results. I know that doesn t sound like a great way to spend your day but being me, I would ""bug"" them until I get some sort of results.

As for having your regular doc give you a refill, I would think all you would have to do is explain to him/her what is happening and that you won t be taking your meds as prescribed because you have none at this point in time. Maybe he could write you a 'script for a partial refill just to hold you over ~~~

I haven t read/seen anything of the 2009 Guidelines you mention so no help there ~~~ sorry !!

I m sorry you re having side-effects from the Savella but I m sure you need to give it longer than 1 day to start completely working for you.

Good luck ~~~ I hope the rest of your day is better than the early part has been. I also wish you less pain soon !!!

Marilyn

Well, I am in the same vote...teying to get something for pain is like trying to get blood from a stone..I have just about had it with my doctors...As of this week I am seeking out a pain clinin for better results..I am not a "drug store cowboy" and have never done anything illegal or used illegal substance, and only pain pills I take are trammie and Ibuprophen which does not work, I am also thinking of trying natural products..I wish you th best of luck and you deserve alot better treatment than what your getting now!!!

Tanya, it really does sound like you need to find another MD. I know it's a hassle, but if this clinic is giving you so much grief already, i doubt it will get better. You need to find someone who can (will) prescribe pain meds when you need them. Most of the people on this site have "gone through" many docs before finding one who was a) knowlegeable about FM, and b) empathetic about their pain. I hate that it has become so scary for doctors to prescribe pain meds to patients--because of the people who abuse them, those of us who have genuine need are suffering.

Marilyn, I meant that I'm only on day 1 of the 100mg dose. I've been on the lower doses for a week. I'm not one to give up a med until AT LEAST a month has gone by with no good results lol. Heck it takes that long for the side effects to stop for me on most meds.

Donna, yes the specialist I went to is a pain management doc. This was the 1st time I've been to a different doc besides my GP. The PM doc said that since I am on Savella now, I will only need one more month of pain meds. Ok, I don't know how he knows this, but ok fine, I was willing to try it. But as I stated, I can't even get ahold of a nurse or the doc (just the receptionist, who through no fault of her own, knows nothing except what the doc wrote in my files). The one month RX that was supposed to be called in by the PM doc has yet to be called in.

I'm really hoping my GP understands tomorrow when I go see him. Like I said, I covered my booty with the ins. co. and my pharmacy so they know what's going on. Even the lady at my ins. co. said I ought to considering trying another PM doc. She said considering myself and their company can't get a call back, that she's seeing warning flags that maybe patient care isn't really the top priority. Ugh, idk, it's all so confusing

tanya that bugs me them telling you you will only need pain meds one more month because you are on the savella, how in the hell does he know what your going to need to get you through your pain, I am on both and it takes both to manage my pain and then it only helps some of the pain. you know one pain doctor I went to she was very understanding and ofcourse they took her license away but she told us that when she was in med school they were taught not to trust anyone that says they are in pain. I had one nurse at the ER tell me I was an oxycodone junkie I went to administration and he was no longer working there, I was going through hell with the fibro pain and no one believed me, I would have some severe flares and would have to go to the ER, finally many more doctors are becoming more aware of the fact the fibro is real, big hugs to you and I hope you find relief soon donna

Donna, lol, I know-how can anyone rate someone's pain and what they need to cope?? And, I love my GP, but with all the heat lately from the recent 'bust' (which IS the biggest news that's hit our tiny town in a LONG time lol), he seems to be backtracking. Now, I understand to some degree. Of course a doc has to be careful, but I feel like myself and others are ultimately paying the price. Oh, I know it's running rampant all over the US-good patients being treated like junkies. Like I asked my GP the last visit I had with him (when he decided I needed to see a PM doc)-"why don't you test me-which he has never done to my complete amazement. And, if he was allowed to prescribe the meds before, why can't he now?? I know nothing has happened with him because of the bust(my father is actually on the medical board for the practice I go to). Before anyone asks-my dad would be of NO help whatsoever. He does not understand FM, does not believe in it and is soooooo against pain pills it's ridiculous(nevermind the fact he drinks about a 12 pack a night haha). Ok, I'm actually laughing a bit right now, which is good, cuz I cried all day yesterday and most of this a.m. I'm trying to be understanding to the position my doc is in, but quite honestly, anymore, I just don't give a darn. What about me, you and all the rest of us who are just trying to cope the best we can? I found the Guideline article I was looking for and I am printing it out and taking it to him when I go tomorrow and I have been researching other PM docs in my area so I can make an appointment with a different one. I'm tired of docs, or hell just some ppl in general, telling me how I feel, what I should do, etc. Dammit, somebody's going to listen to me one way or another haha.

It's doubly hard for us because so many people (including doctors) don't comprehend the kind of pain we're in and how all pervasive it becomes. They see our anxiety at running out of pain medication as drug seeking behavior and once that happens, we're screwed. Our behavior is being judged constantly, especially by the nurses who will report back to the doctor anything they SUSPECT might be drug-seeking behavior.

Doctors are scared of the DEA which monitors how many prescriptions they write for painkillers. They're afraid of us ODing and our relatives sueing them. They're afraid of getting a reputation as a pill-pusher. So those of us in genuine pain get shafted.

Add to that some stupid medical mindset that opioids don't work on fibropain...well you can see where I'm going.