Stone Butches

[DamselFly]

the primary care dr. i went to see when i first got here refused to refill most of the meds i was on from my previous primary care dr. so i've had to taper myself off as best i could. now, however, i'm running out of my pain meds, which are heavy-duty, and i really lack the expertise to taper myself off of these! i've left calls w/her that i need help plus am out of what she DID refill! she has not returned my calls. i could be in trouble if i went off these cold-turkey (not only extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms but life-threatening.) not to mention the fact that no dr. i've seen so far is offering me anything to replace what i've gone off for little things, like MS, RSD, Fibro, and migraines (which are getting worse)! i'm trying to find a new primary care dr. but i'm having a difficult time doing so. is it ethical for a dr. just to say "you shouldn't be on these" and not help you with HOW safely to stop taking the meds?
namaste,
DamselFly

[cuddlyfemme]

Originally Posted by DamselFly

the primary care dr. i went to see when i first got here refused to refill most of the meds i was on from my previous primary care dr. so i've had to taper myself off as best i could. now, however, i'm running out of my pain meds, which are heavy-duty, and i really lack the expertise to taper myself off of these! i've left calls w/her that i need help plus am out of what she DID refill! she has not returned my calls. i could be in trouble if i went off these cold-turkey (not only extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms but life-threatening.) not to mention the fact that no dr. i've seen so far is offering me anything to replace what i've gone off for little things, like MS, RSD, Fibro, and migraines (which are getting worse)! i'm trying to find a new primary care dr. but i'm having a difficult time doing so. is it ethical for a dr. just to say "you shouldn't be on these" and not help you with HOW safely to stop taking the meds?
namaste,
DamselFly

I remember there was one medicine that i had to be taken off of because it was damaging my liver big time. It was medicine for seizures and I had be carefully "weened" off the med and put back on the replacement drug. Now I have been to new primary care doctors who don't agree with the medicine the previou doctor had put me on but he/she always help me get off the med. I think that if a doctor wants you off a medicine that can have life threantening withdraw's then they should help with the withdraw. I hope this made sense since its 4am here[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[DomnNC]

Originally Posted by DamselFly

the primary care dr. i went to see when i first got here refused to refill most of the meds i was on from my previous primary care dr. so i've had to taper myself off as best i could. now, however, i'm running out of my pain meds, which are heavy-duty, and i really lack the expertise to taper myself off of these! i've left calls w/her that i need help plus am out of what she DID refill! she has not returned my calls. i could be in trouble if i went off these cold-turkey (not only extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms but life-threatening.) not to mention the fact that no dr. i've seen so far is offering me anything to replace what i've gone off for little things, like MS, RSD, Fibro, and migraines (which are getting worse)! i'm trying to find a new primary care dr. but i'm having a difficult time doing so. is it ethical for a dr. just to say "you shouldn't be on these" and not help you with HOW safely to stop taking the meds?
namaste,
DamselFly

Call your Dr's office and ask to speak to the Dr's nurse and go over all this with her. Most often you can get the nurse to return your call. Dr's for the most part do not return patients calls unless they've been your PCP for a long long period of time. Don't leave a message with the receptionist, chances are the Dr will never know you called.

[Toughy]

once again unethical and dangerous behavior from a clinician..........please call your state medical board and file a complaint as well as ask them for assistance and guidance.....

[Miss Scarlett]

Originally Posted by DomnNC

Call your Dr's office and ask to speak to the Dr's nurse and go over all this with her. Most often you can get the nurse to return your call. Dr's for the most part do not return patients calls unless they've been your PCP for a long long period of time. Don't leave a message with the receptionist, chances are the Dr will never know you called.

This is excellent advice...especially about not leaving a message with the receptionist...i had a similar experience many years ago but with an endodontist...was having a lot of trouble following some root canals...every time i called the receptionist said the same thing..."Continue your warm water swishes..." Ended up just driving down to the office and demanding to see the dentist...that and the fact that my jaw looked like i had a softball in it finally got results.

What i'm trying to say is that you have to take some proactive steps - this isn't some favour they are doing for you. You are paying for this and by accepting you as a patient they have a duty and obligation to treat you and do so responsibly. i hate to suggest you change doctors again but you may have to do that. Have you tried contacting your former physician to ask for some help? It's worth a try.

Your profile says you are in Oklahoma. Here's the link to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision Complaint Procedures

[cuddlyfemme]

Originally Posted by Miss Scarlett

This is excellent advice...especially about not leaving a message with the receptionist...i had a similar experience many years ago but with an endodontist...was having a lot of trouble following some root canals...every time i called the receptionist said the same thing..."Continue your warm water swishes..." Ended up just driving down to the office and demanding to see the dentist...that and the fact that my jaw looked like i had a softball in it finally got results.

What i'm trying to say is that you have to take some proactive steps - this isn't some favour they are doing for you. You are paying for this and by accepting you as a patient they have a duty and obligation to treat you and do so responsibly. i hate to suggest you change doctors again but you may have to do that. Have you tried contacting your former physician to ask for some help? It's worth a try.

Your profile says you are in Oklahoma. Here's the link to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision Complaint Procedures

I totally agree with not leaving a message with the receptionist. Its been my experience that the doctor (or nurse) never gets it. Luckily at my doctor's office there's a code you can push to talk directly to the nurse. I've also learned in my search for a doctor (have looked for alot of doctors in my time) is to make sure the doctor is Board Certified. I'm not sure why that is but its something many doctors and nurses have told me. Good luck!

[cuddlyfemme]

Gooood Morning all you handsome Stone Butches and those who love you all for who you are!!!

[DamselFly]

my glaucoma specialist, very kind and at the best eye clinic in OK (affiliated w/OU's medical complex), says that in one month, i have lost another 5% of my optic nerve in my R eye. he doesn't know why my vision is deteriorating so quickly but says that all i can do is use medication to hold on to what little remains of my vision in both eyes. since i have so little of the optic nerve left in either eye, surgery is not recommended. truth be told, i am now not so slowly going totally blind. that's the reason i am not online so much anymore-i have to rest my eyes after a session. i am learning braille, trying to determine where would be the best place to live (for very low-income person on SSD with impaired vision), and "seeing" into the possibility of getting a service dog. having made peace w/being alone for the second half of my life will now stand me in good stead, i will make a great friend to A/anyone but no longer anticipate any relationships in the future, though am still open to the possibility,
namaste,
damselfly

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by DamselFly

the primary care dr. i went to see when i first got here refused to refill most of the meds i was on from my previous primary care dr. so i've had to taper myself off as best i could. now, however, i'm running out of my pain meds, which are heavy-duty, and i really lack the expertise to taper myself off of these! i've left calls w/her that i need help plus am out of what she DID refill! she has not returned my calls. i could be in trouble if i went off these cold-turkey (not only extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms but life-threatening.) not to mention the fact that no dr. i've seen so far is offering me anything to replace what i've gone off for little things, like MS, RSD, Fibro, and migraines (which are getting worse)! i'm trying to find a new primary care dr. but i'm having a difficult time doing so. is it ethical for a dr. just to say "you shouldn't be on these" and not help you with HOW safely to stop taking the meds?
namaste,
DamselFly

It surprises me to think that your PCP would not give you information as to how you should taper your medication. Perhaps you should consider calling the physician who prescribed the medication? That person should be able to give you some advice and would be the one responsible for making sure you have the medications you need until you find a PCP you are comfortable with.

Also, around here pain medication is handled by pain management doctors and not PCP physicians. These doctors specialize in making sure folks are not in pain, yet don't fall into addiction (which can happen to the best intentioned individual).

I sorry you are having a hard time. I can see how it would be frustrating. Good luck.