I have FM, arthritis, 11 herniated discs, degenerative discs, lumbar and cervical stenosis, migraines, TMJ....I am always in pain. Sometimes is worse than others. In the past 2-3 months it's been worse. The holidays are hard on me. I moved to AZ 3 years ago. The medical care here is not good! Most of the doctors seem to still be in the dark ages about FM and not think it is a real condition. Also, for ANY pain meds, you have to go to a "pain management clinic" where all they do is write prescriptions. They don't care about you, what's wrong with you, your history, if there is anything else you could be trying. I just started at one a couple months ago and it is awful. I have never experienced anything like this before.
Friday I called bc I needed a refill. Turns out it was 3 days early, and I was unaware of that and also unaware it was a big deal....but it is! They had me drive all the way down there on a Friday afternoon in traffic and bc of the hassle they gave me there, I missed another appointment. So when I got there, they made an actual prescription for 6 pills! I have to go BACK on Monday to get an actual whole month prescription. Is that crazy or what??? I mean, I have to pay the same co-pay whether it's for 1 pill of 100. AND they were SO RUDE & disrespectful to me when I got there. Chiding, even combative in the way I was spoken to. I was really taken aback. I am a 53 year old woman, a professional for 30 years. I am SICK. And they are treating me like a juvenile delinquent???
I realized on the way home that the reason they were acting like that is bc they think I'm trying to get extra pills out of them (oooh! all 6!!!) Like I'm a drug addict, rather than a pain sufferer!
I was SO upset at the dehumanizing way they talked down to me! I am so sick and tired of all this hysteria about anyone taking A PILL, even one, and they are transformed like the Wolfman under the full moon into a DRUG ADDICT. Muwahahah...this elaborate ruse I've pulled off for 10 years.....SERIOUSLY??? It's like fighting all the time...like climbing a never ending mountain. I'm already in pain and exhausted.
I was so upset when I got home I just collapsed. I slept from about 4-5 pm to 1am. Then I had very severe pain. I really can't afford to get upset like that! Now I really feel like I don't ever want to step foot in that office again. I want to report them to the medical board! But on the other hand, I am out of meds and I don't know how long it will take to get in to see another doctor.
Advice, suggestions and ESPECIALLY and decent doctor recommendations in the Phoenix area are welcomed.
My primary care doctors treats my pain. He has told me that in the next couple of years I will most likely have to go to pain management because of chronic illness. I am sorry you had such an experience. Hopefully some one will come on from your area and no of another doctor you could see. If you go under doctors at the top of the page their may be one recommend for your area.
Liz. I too am sorry for the way you were treated. I know in my case that my insurance will only pay for my pain meds every so many days. I found this out one month when I went to drop my script off and the gal at the directory said that they couldn't fill it for like 2 more days because the insurance would o my pay every so many days. So she kept it and I went back 2days later and picked it up. I live in Mesa and I have been seeing my rheumatologist for over 5 years. So if mesa is not too far for you to go then send me a private messy and I will share his info.
That is true, it could be about insurance, but how can they give me 6 then? And why wouldn't they just say that so it didn't escalate? Jackie, I messaged you about the rheumatologist. Thank you. And thank you all for your replies. It's just so nice to get support and know I'm not a lunatic! LOL...ok maybe I am, but not in THAT way...!
I'm not sure if they have a patient relations at that office, but I will try. I agree, everyone does deserve to be treated with respect. I don't know why but it seems OK to treat the chronically ill like this. I mean younger ones. The older folks it seems to be expected, and therefore more accepted. I don't get it!
IM SORRY YOU WERE TREATED LIKE THAT.ITS NOT LIKE WERE FREQUENT FLIERS IN THE ERS YOURE GOING TO A DR HAVING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.GO TO THE DR PAGE AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER RECOMMENDED ONE IN YOUR AREA.YOURE IN MY THOGHTS AND PRAYERS.KET US KNOW WHAT HSPPENS.IVE BEEN IN A LOT OF PAIN AND MY DRS NEVER TREATED ME LIKE THWT.IVE HAD 3 DRS BEFORE THE DIAGNOSIS.I HAVE A RHEUMI NP NIW SHE WOUKDNT TRAET ME LIKE THWT.MY ORIMARYS TREATED MY FAMILY FIR 3 GENERATIONS.
That's a great idea to write to our representatives. YES!! There really should be FM/CF specialists, bc no one understands us. We need our own docs that don't have those restrictions, yes, yes!! If even one state were to start, others would follow. It was great it got recognized (and therefore validated and deemed credible) by the AMA, but it's not nearly enough. That will sure pave the way to further change, though, IMO. And I don't think it's a political fighting issue, we are all on the same page, we all need help.Good idea! What's that Petition site? Oh, I think that's what it's called. Hm maybe I'll start one
Thank you suzyq. I did look on the suggested doctor area and there are none in this state, AZ. Not too surprised there, unfortunately. As for ER's, my primary sent me to a neurologist for migraines. He didn't prescribe me anything. but gave me a brain scan & eeg whatever, and said it all came back normal. I said well what do I do for my migraines, he said "Go to the ER, I can't help you". I don't know about anyone else, but driving to an ER and being in that environment when I am having a migraine is not a good idea. So I just kept getting those meds from my primary, though he's not an expert, at least he cared. And now that I got Medicaid as a supplement I can no longer see him :(
hey liz,glad you were able to do the discussion! Yay.. it is awful to be mistreated. I hope you can find some better medical people to deal with. As far as the meds, they are not allowed by law to refill or give out prescriptions for a certain amount of time. so that was not personal. i just wanted you to know. it was actually good you were able to get those 6 pills. the journey through pain and illnesses is not easy ., i send you love and healing prayers. was nice to be with you in the chat room the other day and hope to see you again. xoxooxoxoxox
Wow, Tracy, THAT is ridiculous! I guess my little problem could have been worse. I've heard a saying before: "Rejection is God's protection" (or the universe, or life, etc...not to get religious here-that's just how I heard it). It seems in your case, that must have been true. Nothing good could have come from seeing those heartless (not to mention unprofessional!) people in that office! I don't know if it's always true, but I used to work in a chiropractor's office, and where I worked, whatever happened at the front desk trickled down from the doctor. For example, he had one woman who was just ruthless about going after money. That was direct from him. HE didn't like talking money with people. That was why he hired her!
I'm glad you found good doctors...it gives me some hope. There must be some out here, somewhere....
Aw thanks, Suzie....and really I do thank you for being there & letting me cry on your shoulder :) I get it about the regulations, but I just never ran across this when I saw my doctor, as opposed to the pain management. I will be on the search, as Tracy said. The whole thing stressed me out enough that I went into a fibro flare and had some other stress related stuff.
HI Liz, You should see Dr Rigden! http://www.drscottrigden.com/ I live in AZ and when we started looking online for a decent doc it seemed EVERYONE was bad to terrible, expect him. I have insurance issues at the moment so I've not been able to get back into him, but I absolutely LOVE him!! He's been helping people with FM for 30+ years and is in it for the long haul! The last time I was there he told me there was a woman he'd been helping for 20 years, twice he thought there just might not be any hope to help her, but they kept at it and the woman is now in her 60s living on her own and able to function and enjoy life. I really wish I could see him as often I he wanted me to - really hope we get our insurance worked out soon! He works with whatever we can make do. He's understanding to tight budgets and the inch by inch progress Fibro is. He can be kind of busy, but seriously try him out! The receptionist seems to be a bit stressed out most the time, not real bad, but just that sense of she's got too much to do in too short amount of time and struggles to cope with it a bit. She's still nice and we have caught her in better moods on slower days. The nurses have been sweethearts and like I said I LOVE Rigden! He's in Chandler off of Ray near the 101 (east side of the freeway). Really hope and pray things workout for you!
I have found this to be typical. The pharmacy can be awful and because they think just an addict they don’t believe what we say. That is if course until I could prove it to them…lol.
IM GLAD THE OFFICE MANAGER SPOLIGIZED TO YOU.THATS A GOOD IDEA TO GET AN ONLINE PETION.ILL LOOK INTO THAT.IT EOULD HAVE TO BE A US SRNSTOR OR REPRESENATIVE.BOTH HOUSE SND SRNATE.THE BILLS THEN SENT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR DIGNING SOUNDS GOOD.ID SURE LIKE THE GROUPS SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHATS IN THE BILL AND THE WORDING.I HAVE A COUEIN THATS MY COUNTYS DEMOCRATIC CHAIR.HE WAS A FIRMER CITY COUNCIL FORMER STATE REP AND NIW COUNTY SUPERVISOR.HE HAS CONNECTIONS AND CSN HELP ME. THANKS GANG HAVE A GOOD DSY.