I have been with my GP for three years. She is the first doctor that didn't tell me my symptoms were either in my head or depression, and the first to suggest what I already knew, that I had fibromyalgia. She sent me to our local arthritis center for an official diagnosis and has been treating me since. The rheumatologist told me that he would not be doing follow-up treatment, that my GP could attend to that. I have been through a deal of 'try this' and go here since I was diagnosed, and finally sat down with her last week to talk. I told her that I have two children to support, no job, and the money I get from the state is not paying the bills. (None of this has ever been withheld, she was already aware) I needed to point out that I've tried all the alternatives she has suggested and that I don't have my fibro under control and this is not acceptable. I have to be able to work. Not to mention, I have been denied ssdi twice and the state has a 'work' requirement that I must meet each week to be able to get my benefits, and that they too have denied my medical exemption. I told her that its come to the point that I need her to prescribe something stronger than tramadol so that I can bear to work, or support my claim for disability. She informed me that 'this office does not prescribe narcotics or support disability.' I have wasted 3 years and am livid. She has been WELL aware that I have tried for disability, state med exemptions, and has received paperwork for verifications of both. How could she not tell me sooner. I'm also angry to know that I might have been approved for disability 2.5 years ago, if I had a different provider. My question is... for those of you that are on Percocet or similar, and/or on disability... why are some key points of your provider that I might look for in a new doc. I'm at a loss and very discouraged. My anxiety is extremely high with facing going to a new doc. Any suggestions for 'doctor shopping' are welcome.
Hi and welcome to the group. I love this group. I don't comment a lot or write a lot but when I do, I feel like it is a safe place and that I am not being judged. My GP diagnosed my fibro and immediately sent me to see a Rheumatologist. I love my Rheumatologist office, they are great. I was also seeing a Chiropractor who specialized in fibro. I was having so much trouble getting around and in so much pain that one day he said to me, can you take some time off from work and I said, yes, how much time? He suggested I take a month off, so I did and three weeks into it, he, the Chiro. said I don't see you getting any better, I think you need to apply for SSDI. I talked to my Rheum. office and they said they totally supported what he said and that they would fill out any paperwork I needed. I applied for SSDI on Feb. 16, 2010. Mid Nov. of the same year, I found out that I was approved. Now when I talked to my Rheum. office about applying for SSDI, I also spoke to my GP and unlike yours she said she thought it was the right thing for me to do and she would fill out whatever was needed also. So I kept everyone on the same page and I do think that helped me to get approved the first time thru.I wish you a lot of luck as you go through the process.
Jackie