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Re: At what point should a dr be concerned about prescribing pain meds?

From: andrea (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon Jul 30 19:14:17 2007

Hi Sunam,

It seemed that EVERY gyno I had been to over the years wouldn't even consider giving me pain meds or even discuss it. My general practitioner who I found about 7 years ago finally started giving me 30 vicodin and those would last me 3 months. I had explained to him that I had been to the emergency room several times because my pain would get so bad.

Some periods would require about 12 pills over 3 days, while others only required 6 over 3 days. But, I would try to stretch them out and was always worried about running out like you, taking too many or my doctor thinking that I was taking too many. He was always nice though.

Now, I have more proof of my endo and pain because a pain/endo specialist did a sonogram that showed my ovaries were glued down by lesions and I had a cyst and an abnormally thick uterine lining. So, he is pretty nice about giving me what I need. His nurse said they have patients who go through 60 lortabs in only 10 days! I was worried about going through mine in 2 1/2 months. I called him today, actually to ask about it. I have been taking more than usual because my ovarian cyst hurts!

If your doctor is hassling you about only 30 pills over 3 months you should probably see a endo/pelvic pain specialist because your pain is legitimate and you should not have to feel stressed over it. Tell them all your symptoms or get an ultrasound like I had to document your pain, then they won't be able to turn you down.

Hope everything goes well for you! 

--
Andrea


At Mon, 30 Jul 2007, Sunam wrote:
>
>Just curious because with the chronic pain often associated with Endo, I
>have known many women who require prescription pain meds (narcotic
>level) for several days a month.  As a general rule, I have cramps for
>about 3-4 days each month that Advil just isn't touching nor is any
>other anti-inflam that I have tried (rx or otherwise) A prescription of
>20 Lortab can last 2-3 months if I really stretch it and endure a couple
>of tough days to make it last.  My dr, however, (or maybe its more his
>nurse because so much gets lost in translation) seems to think that
>every 2 months is a red flag and I need to see a pain specialist.  This
>coming from the same dr who after the birth of my son (no epi) and an
>emergency lap a few months ago was amazed at my pain tolerance.  I have
>friends whose drs prescribe everything under the sun with multiple
>refills and seemingly no questions asked.  They just trust the patient.
>I'm having a hard time not getting the umpteenth degree grilling when I
>call and ask for a prescription.  I understand that there are people out
>there who abuse the system and that drs have to be careful.  But stories
>I have heard are people with addiction issues who are taking 20 pills a
>day if not more.  We are talking 10 a month here.....is that really at a
>level that I should be concerned about and the drs really are
>"protecting" me or is it more likely that this dr or clinic has been
>called on this before and having to be over-cautious or what? I just get
>so tired of the mess that Endo brings with it much less having to dread
>calling the dr for relief.  Is this typical?





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