Well sorry to report that the withdrawals are on! The doctor I saw yesterday would only give me 15 vicodin 500's. Also called me a drug addict, and said that I was just a drug seeker. Telling me I would be better off NOT on any of the big opoids. So no more ms contin for me, or ativan, that is addicting also.

It is a sorry world we live in when the doctors that have the tools to relieve pain believe they have to protect us from addiction.

This leads me to the question.

Does the doctor I was seeing, have a responsibility to make sure that I wont suffer withdrawls, or harm from the decision to terminate our relationship? Shouldnt that doctor have made sure I was off the drug, or help find another willing to continue the same treatments, or at least give me time to find another doctor willing to continue the same kind of pain treatments?

Instead of just giving me notice, and just dropping me. Leaving me to suffer the withdrawals, and basically I feel jeopordizing my well being. The sweats and pain is almost unbearable, and I feel like im about to pass out from all the weird feelings overcoming my poor body. After 2 years of treatment with ms contin, then just stopping. Seems to me that is dangerous to say the least, and quite possibly illegal.

Hurting unit

hey allen!

I'm no lawyer but i have a funny feeling that by your doctor dumping you and causing you to go through withdrawls is unethical and possibly illegal. my guess is the only one who could answer this for certain would be a lawyer. so...if you have one or know one you could call... that is what i would do.

all the best to you my friend...
(((allen)))

abbie

[QUOTE=allentgamer;56643]
Does the doctor I was seeing, have a responsibility to make sure that I wont suffer withdrawls, or harm from the decision to terminate our relationship? Shouldnt that doctor have made sure I was off the drug, or help find another willing to continue the same treatments, or at least give me time to find another doctor willing to continue the same kind of pain treatments?

Allen,

I'm sorry you're having to go through this! What your doc did doesn't sound right at all. I went through a similar situation with a doctor who didn't believe that I was having a severe reaction to Flexerill. He said I was possibly a hypochondriac...and dropped me... after I called the lab that makes Flexerill and one of their doctors called him and scolded him. I was starting severe withdrawals. But fortunately my PM doctor said they would "walk me through" the withdrawals, etc.

Was this a PM doctor that dropped you? I live in the Palm Springs area & my PM was fantastic! Are you anywhere near Palm Springs? His name is Dr. Roland Reinhart in Rancho Mirage.

Good luck to you!

Denise

The patient abadonment protection is to provide one month medication and allow you to find a different treating doctor.
IF this guy thinks that 15 vicodin are drug seeking he is absolutly the wrong philosphy to treat you.

Check in the phone book for pain managemnt clinics, and doctos....not the ones that just short term give Epidurals or trigger points, but one that treats patients like MS and CP.

It takes a while, keep searching,
Di

Allen,
What part of California do you live??? If anywhere near San Francisco I can give you the name of the PM Clinic I go to. We drive from about 50 miles east of Sacramento all the way to Mill Valley on the west side of the bay to see him. You can PM me on here & I will give you the phone number. I don't know how long a wait it is to get into them, but you can tell them your dilema & see if they can get you in quicker. You can also tell them that I referred you to this clinic. They do take Medicare but not MediCal. I hope this is helpful.

And your old doctor should have given you atleast one more month of pain meds. It is called continuity of care. Also get your Insurance invovled especially if it is an HMO if you have private ins.

Take care my friend,
DebbyV

I can barely sit here, just wanted to let everyone know im not dead
Thanks for all the replies, will try to give a better one soon.

My hubby just had to sign a contract with his doc as he's been on hydrocodone for almost 6 months now that his dr could terminate his meds at any time if he sold them, over used them, smoke pot or drank while on them, or even if they suspected any suspicious activity....

It was strange, I've never heard of anything like that - I know they have junkies trying to get meds but as he has a documented condition I never thought anything of it...I'm guessing it's there way of protecting themselves though as they also wrote that they would not be responsible for addiction, withdrawls, etc.

Hard to believe though.

I live 3 hours or so from S.F., but I have medi-cal

Goin in to see the doc this time, found out it was only a P.A. I saw friday. She told me he probably wont do ms contin, and that is fine with me. 15 vicodins towards these withdrawals is like throwing a bucket of water on a forest fire.

All im going to ask is that he help me come off all of them, as I know it is gonna take some time to find someone that will help with the pain. I was told by the doc that dropped me there is no one in the area that takes medi-cal that will prescribe meds. I was at the last one, and now they dont accept medi-cal either.

Bummer having everything taken from you from a doctor oops. Totally changed my world permanently.

Hi Allen,
I'm sorry that you are going through this. Was this PA in the PM's office or something else.

I see that a lot around here. The PM DRs. here are doing better then they were but I have friends that went from Dr. to Dr. until they found one that would take care of them and give them the narcotics they need.

My PCP takes care of my meds and there's only one other PCP in this area that will do it. We have no PM's in the area so it makes everyone have to leave the area. Even in Co. Springs it's hard to find a PM Dr. that wants to give anyone Narcotics. Makes you wonder why they are called PM Drs.

I have seen people dropped also because of meds and medical problems by a Dr. I have a friend here that was dropped by her Dr. because she had too much wrong with her. She got a letter in the mail. This Dr. won't take Fibro patients either. He makes his office girls ask people when they call if they have Fibro.

The laws have became so strict over the past few years that even the PM's don't want to give out meds.

I have a feeling you will find that a Dr. can anymore do what the hell he wants to do. I talked to several lawyers that said it has been made a lot harder to sue a Dr. these days.

Just keep looking though, there is a Dr. out there that will give you the meds you need. Also ask about Methadone if you haven't tried it. It has the least side effects of most and is becoming the pain med of choice for Drs. and patients.

Feel better soon.
Ada