Still waiting and trying new med

Hi everybody,

I'm still waiting on my insurance to approve my surgery. I checked in via email last week and finally got a response today along the lines of have doctor call or resubmit request for authorization. I'm migraining hard today and can't really process all that well. I called Dr.'s office and left message hope to hear something in a little while.

I'm tired. This is never over, its never as simple as take a pill and feel better, or anything else. Last week the neurologist told me that she wants me to have the psych consult before I come back for a follow up. I took that as she can't figure out what to do with me and so wants to be able to put my treatment responsibility elsewhere. As in she's still a perfect success story, the problem must be I don't want to be well. They all do that when they can't fix a patient.

The pain clinic finally agreed to let me try a Fentanyl patch in place of the morphine. This is day 2 so I can't determine effectiveness yet. I'm about to pop another Relpax and Dilaudid and Zofran and try to sleep.

The one positive thing I can say today is with all the drama and pain, I have lost 6 pounds. Whewhew.

Love to all,
Kim  

I've had two doctors kick me out of their practices because I didn't get better. It cracks their egos.

I've been on the Fentanyl patch for 2 weeks, the 12mcg/hr. It takes 3-4 days to start working. I'm still not sure I'm getting any benefit. Hope it works for you.

Platy

Sorry they are keeping you waiting. I hope both of you do well starting the Fentanyl patch. I've been there, done that. Its a very good medication for some. Agreed it takes quite awhile; a few days to start up, and up to two weeks for full effect. It never seemed to give me relief, only rashes. However, I think its because they never seemed to stick in the middle.

I put a Tegaderm cover on them since I couldn't afford to lose any, and they would just come up in the middle in a puddle of sweat. When any of it isn't stuck, the entire patch dries out and you don't get near the full dose of medication.

Definitely something to watch out for. Its much easier to get the lower dose patches to stick though (size dependent on dose). If you do get relief but it doesn't last, be sure and tell your doctor, as the dosing schedule can be switched from 3 to 2 days (commonly needed).

I've also had a doctor insist on a pysch consult before treating me further. I only think its ok in pain management, where its just something they add to your chart to support prescribing opiates (or if its actually justified). Not when a doctor runs out of ideas.

I think if they had a true concern, they would have made the request on your first or second visit, not after a period of months of years. Out of probably 50 doctors, its only that one who ever did that. I have nothing again pysch services though. I've tried it out to see if I'd find it helpful. I've had two pysch consults (one for pain management and one for a nerve stim trial) and seen two different therapists. Best wishes.

Hugs to you Kim! I'm sorry you are going through this. It makes me so mad when docs force a psych consult on people with chronic pain. It's not that I don't feel that psych has a place in chronic pain treatment, as it can be a fantastic augmenting therapy, but when a doc throws his or hands up and forces a consult it is silly. When it is forced, the therapeutic relationship is never as effective when either party is there against their will.

I have just had a new option show up in my life to do some work with a chronic pain therapist. I'm open to this, but that is because I found the therapist on my own terms and it is not a condition of medical treatment. I'm sure my pain specialist will be thrilled if I tell him I've started though.

I hope the new meds work for you!

Hugs!

Gosh, it takes so long, grrr. Hugs, hugs hugs, the waiting does cause one feeling miserable and frustrated and hopeless.
So sorry you have to go thru this, Kim. Hopefully it's not much longer.

Fingers crossed on Fentanyl. most of people on old Ronda's like this med.

Risa