[optimumeg]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum to post in, but this seemed to be the most accurate forum for my post.

I was wondering the experience people here had with changing doctors and getting their medications refilled. Does the new doctor accept your old doctors medication recommendations or do new doctors usually try tampering with things? I have this fear that since I'm on scheduled drugs that a new doctor will try putting me on non-scheduled before prescribing scheduled. It would be like doing everything over even though the person has your medical records.

[Wittesea]

When I have switched doctors, I would always look at the initial visit as an interview - I interview the doc to see if I am comfortable with him/her, and the doc interviews me to see if I am a patient that they would be comfortable caring for.

You could go on interviews for new doctors while still keeping your old doctor -- then if/when you find a new doctor that you are comfortable with, you can then officially switch doctors.

During the interviews, you should certainly talk about your schedule meds (making it clear you do not need refills during the first "interview" visit, but also making it clear that these medications work well for you). Talk to the doctor and specifically ask if they would be comfortable continuing your current treatment plan - also ask what their treatment plan would be if you did officially become their patient.

Many people who take pain medications (or other scheduled meds) become worried when interviewing new doctors because they want to avoid any appearance of "doctor shopping" (trying to get multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors). I take pain meds myself, so I understand this fear/worry and the need to be careful..... it's one of the reasons why during the "interview" appointment it is important to make it clear that you do not need or want any prescriptions until you make a decision and choose a new doctor.

It's OK to interview - that it not "doc shopping".... it only become "doc shopping" if the patient accepts prescriptions from more than one doctor (like getting a months supply for the month of April from 1 doctor and another months supply for the onth of April from a 2nd doctor).

I hope that helps - and I hope you find a good new doctor

take care,
Liz

[optimumeg]

Wittesea do you have any suggestions for people who move to another state and need a new doctor? It's kind of a different story than the one you talked about above.

[Curious]

if you like your current dr(s) ask for references from them. that would make the sending of of your records go smoother.

if there are any members here who live near where you are moving, maybe pm them and ask for references?

an yep..like liz said, interview. even if it is by phone or email. most will have no problem sending you their credentials by email.

[Wittesea]

Yes that is different...

I have never done it, but if I had to change doctors because of moving out of state I would try to set up my "interview" appointments with the potential new doctors a month or 2 before the move (of course this depends on how far away the move will be).

If I was unable to do that, then I would set up interview appointments that would take place within a week or 2 of my move. I would then talk to my current doctor - let them know about the move, let them know that I have set-up interview appointments with potential new doctors, and ask my current doctor if he/she would be willing to continue to prescribe my current medications for at least 2 months AFTER moving so that I had time to find a good new doctor (basically a back-up plan).

I would also look into my insurance company to see if they offered the 3 month supply of mail order meds that many prescrition insurance carriers now offer. If that option was available, I would set it up with my current doctor to get that 3 months mail-order supply right before I moved so that I would have that safety net of a 90 days supply of meds instead of just a 30 day supply.

When I got to the new state, I would try to find local support groups for medical conditions that are at least similar to my own medical problem (since I need pain meds for my medical stuff, if I could not find a group for my medical problem I would look for groups that are for other painful medical problems).

I would do this to be able to meet local people and get recommendations for a local doctor. I would also contact the local hospitals and local walk-in clinics and ask for their recommendations for area pain management and primary care doctors.

Finally, (and again, this depends on how far away I was moving) I would try to set aside some money in my budget to plan to return to my home state and my home state doctor 3 months after moving -- just in case I could not find a new doctor yet in my new state.

Especially with scheduled medications, a doctor who prescribes them usually insists on seeing the patient at least once every 3 months -- so "in case of emergency" I would plan to have to travel back to my home state and home doctor after 3 months so that I had a plan in place to ensure that I could get another 3 months supply of my current medications in case I was unable to find a good doctor within the first 3 months (or in case the good doctor I found was unable to schedule an appointment for me within 3 months - because good pain management doctors often have waiting lists). Before I moved, I would talk about this plan with my current doctor to make sure that he/she would be willing to prescribe an additional 3 months if I was unable to find a new doctor and I traveled back "home" for an appointment.


My entire life I have always lived within 3 hours of where I am now, so I am not totally familiar with moving long distances - also I have not moved at all since I became a chronic pain patient.... so my advice/suggestions may be totally off-base... but those are the types of things I would try to do if I were faced with moving.

I hope that helps - and I hope the move goes well and you are able to find a GOOD new doctor quickly and easily.

Let me know if I can help with any other brainstorming

Liz

[optimumeg]

Do you guys think it will be that hard to find someone to prescribe the same exact stuff if you have been on it for many months? I hate being on scheduled 2 medications, but it's the only thing that has worked.

[Wittesea]

A lot depends on the quality of your medical records -- if your current doctor is great at documentation then that and the fact that you have been on the same medications for quite a while will paint an accurate picture of your medical needs and the success of treatment.

Another factor is the new doctors thoughts/feelings about class2 medications, and the local tone of medical professionals when it comes to class2 medications. Members of the chronic pain forums that I have visited for years have remarked that certain areas of the country are horrible when it comes to the medical professionals feelings/thoughts about class2 meds... of course, in any area there wil always be at least a few good doctors, but they can be hard to find in these areas, and because they are so busy it can be hard to get an appointment.

Overall though, the most important factor is your medical records. Even a doctor who is essentailly anti-pain meds will have a hard time denying them to a patient who shows a clear need, a clear success of the treatment, and a clear history of no problems (problems such as signs of addiction).

Have you obtained copies of your medical records yet? It's important to take a look at them before you give a copy to the new doctor - just so that you can make sure that there are no errors in them and to verify that your doctor has done a good job documenting your medical conditions and clear need for treatment and clear success with treatment --- even if the records are horrible in terms of poor documentation, you can always ask your current doctor NOW to write a summary letter of your conditions, treatments, needs, success, etc... so that things go more smoothly when you go searching for a new doctor.

Another thing that might help is having your current doctor call the doctors you are going to interview with. Your doctor (with your permission) can give them a brief run-down of your history and your doctor can also ask the new doctor about his/her thoughts/feelings regarding prescribing class2 meds -- essentially, your current doctor can screen your potential doctors for you, which could save you time/energy if your doctor is able to say "this one is narcotics-shy and would never prescribe your meds" or "this one sounds great and indicates no hesitations about continuing your current treatment".

A final thought would be to go to your current pharmacy and get a copy of your complete pharmacy records. (You will have to show ID and many pharmacies also have you sign a release form).

The pharmacy records can show the new doctor what you have tried before (without having to sort through a stack of old medical records) and it can also show the doctor how long you have been on your current treatment. Plus, it's just a good idea to obtain your pharmacy records as part of your entire medical record when you move.