Hi Friends,

I was scripted new meds for break thru pain on 6/9/09. The script is for Tramadol(Ultram), 50 mg.,2 tablets every 6 hrs. That is 8 tablets per day. The tablets are instant release vs, the 300 mg UltramER(extended release) 300mg, 1 per day...which did nothing for break thru pain for me.

I called the PM doc's office and spoke to receptionist, expressing concern that this new script would not last until my next appt., 7/7/09.Receptionist told me to have pharmacy call office and new script would be approved. I asked receptionist if I am to take these tablets every 6 hrs, and she said,"yes..and to stop the 300 mg ER". This was on 6/9/09.

The new script calls for 50 mg.,2 tablets every 6 hrs. That is 8 tablets per day. The script was written for 90 tablets. That is 11 days and 2 tablets for the 12th day. Today is the 12th day..and even though I called pharmacy on 6/19/09, to have script called in by doc...pharmacy said that that doc office said it was too early for me to have tablets. They should have lasted til next weekend! I had the pharmacist "do the math" on the pills I was scripted on 6/9/09. Pharmacist agreed with me, and said she would fax another script with a note that stated that tablets would run out early Sun. Morning,6/21/09..which is today.

This conversation took place on 6/19/09. I called doc office back, and spoke to nurse. Nurse said that my script should last til next weekend. I asked her which script she is referring too..she said Opana 20 mgER.

I told her that I was calling about the Tramadol(Ultram) 50 mg. She said that she would call me back in 5 min. I waited 20 min., and called the office back. No one answered the phone..the answering machine came on and said that the office was closed for the weekend!!! I called the emergency # and spoke to the call service, explained my issue, and the svc. told me that all they could do was to make sure my PM doc knew that his rec. and nurse did NOT return my call. PM doc would NOT do scripts after office hrs.

So, tomorrow..I will be calling the office back. This is the second time that I have had to "hold on"..til a Monday. So upsetting, as I did what I was suppose to do...why should I have to call and remind them of my script running out? Is it that difficult for the doc to write a script that will last until my next appt.?

The funny thing about this situation, is that in the State of Oklahoma, Tramadol(ultram), is NOT a controlled medication.
There is no high..no street value. The switch to the instant release tablet has calmed my pain, with the Opana ER.

This behavior from my PM and his staff is unacceptable. I see them because it is WC ins. choice. I do not feel comfortable having to monitor them to do their job, and then looked upon as I misused my meds, because they are incompetent, and cannot write a script for the correct amt. of tablets.

I will be calling my atty. tomorrow.

I'm so sorry to hear about the nasty experience you had with the receptionist, Dew!!

I really hope that you are able to get things sorted soon as you really shouldn't have to put up with things like that! You'd think that your doctor would know when your script ran out and order another one for you seeing as though he is a trained medical professional!!!

I totally understand what you are going through. I was telling Pete on Facebook yesterday about the experience we had with the pharmacy near us last week. My mum went to put my prescription in for Ketamine and the receptionist/'nurse' said that she couldn't get it ready for us because of what it is as it is too strong. She has a note from my PM Doctor stating that he has prescribed the Ketamine for a serious chronic pain condition I have and that it is OK for me to get repeat prescriptions every 3 weeks if neccasary but yet they still wouldn't give it to us and kept saying if any drug addicts saw us with it, we would be in trouble.

It REALLY frustrates me how some people just automatically assume that anyone that is prescribed meds like Ketamine are drug addicts without actually realising that it is also used for pain!!! Ketamine is the only thing that helps me a little and I have been in a pain flare for a few weeks now as no one would sort it out.

I think we will have to start going through to the hospital for my scripts if this carries on which we don't want to do as it is about an hour away from where we are whereas the pharmacy is only about 2 minutes away. Hopefully they will look through my records and see that my doctor has indeed prescibed it. We were told that if they could get it, it would take at least 5 days as they need to order it in which is really frustrating!!

I'm sorry that you have had to deal with that also! It really annoys me how some people can be so uncaring. If the receptionist promised to call you back, she should call you back instead of just ignoring you.

I hope you are able to get this sorted once and for all Dew as I know how frustrating it is.

You are in my thoughts and please keep us posted as to how you get on!

Sounds like the wc ortho I was forced to deal with. He obviously couldn't do simple math either! He wrote a scrip much like was done for you and I was called a junkie and I was "taking too many." ROFL No matter how many times I explained the VERY simple math, they didn't care. He was the 2nd doc to have dx me with rsd too! *sigh* I am so glad that is all behind me!

I hope you can get it all sorted out before the pain gets too bad again and you have to try and run to catch it and wrestle it into submission. :-)

Hugs,

Karen

Hey. I am so sorry. I never understand why some of the office staff at doctors office are so rude. I always thank the ones who go out of there way to comfort as it makes a real difference. You know when I was at Costco the other day a lady was having an issue getting her rx filled for a similar. I know Mrs D said they are really cracking down and I am not sure if that may have something to do with it. Regardless there is a way to handle it. I hope you can talk to them about your concerns and os this does not happen again. I thought they can put a refill on it but it can't be filled till a certain date from the prior. Again I am clueless. I know it is hard to relax with this added worry but hopefully it will all work out tomorrow. Many thoughts and I truly feel for you who have to deal with WC.

That is crazy. I hate being at the mercy of the office people. Most of them tr to do a good job, but I'm afraid there are some you shouldn't be dealing with people at all. As you had already called the office about the math error, you would think that it would have been noted in your chart or maybe a note at the phone. I used to work for a medical practice working front desk, and whenever people were upset, they were always sent over to me to handle. A little understanding really does go a long way, even if you can't help them. I know this doesn't help your pain level. please take it easy until you get a hold of the dr try to take it easy.

Hugs
Mary

Hi Linda,

I've been thinking of you, wondering how you were making out with your new meds, hoping they were helping you cope with your pain better than the previous script.

I have learned from experience, like you, that Fridays aren't a very good day to call your doc's office to get your scripts. I always try to shoot for Thurdsay instead. On Friday people just want to start their weekend, especially in the summer, and they tend to slack off, and that tendancy grows exponentially as the day goes on.

Hope your weekend wasn't too tough for you, and that you get what you need quickly tomorrow morning. You should also follow up on the a@@hole who was supposed to help you. People who work in pain clinics are, by definition, supposed to be helping us with our pain problems by getting us what we need when we need it.

Take care of yourself, Sandy

Hi Dew,
That's crazy, having to go thru all of that. It's exactly what you said would happen and tried your best to prevent it. The receptionist obviously has not had the kind of pain we experience. If she had, she would have made sure you had your meds. I view treatment like that as disrespectful, lack of trust on THEIR part, undeserving, and makes me MAD! And I don't get MAD very often. I'm so sorry you are going thru this. It doesn't help our pain does it. Hope you can rest well-TOMORROW is MONDAY yeah loretta

I got the Tramadol medication issue resolved, and received the meds today. Of course, the PM doc's recept. played dumb, and apologized..and the nurse that was suppose to call me back, was out of the office today because of a funeral.

My atty. and I spoke about this situation and he advised me to do certain steps..which I did, and the mess was cleared up. The entire situation was unnecessary and caused me added stress to my already stress filled days and nights, because of the RSD.

I see the PM doc on 7/7/09. I am to leave for AZ on 7/9/09 by plane, alone. The time I am able to be in AZ is dictated by the amt. of OpanaER tablets I receive before departure;specifically, WC ins. comp. will only allow 68 pills at a time, and a new script is required(one that is sent via snail mail or handed to pharmacy in person). Laws vary state to state, so my doc has no clout in AZ, as he is licensed in OK! If it isn't one thing, it is another...all too exhausting to think about now.

Thank you for your comments and hearing me out.

,
Dew

Luckily you were able to get it sorted out, but why does it have to be so complicated to begin with?

I am glad it got cleared up but I know how uneeded stress and aggrevation can be. I am going through something similar but different I guess but the uneeded aggrevation is the same. Try to take a deep breath and hopefully now you can relax a little more. Feel better