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Re: At what point should a dr be concerned about prescribing pain meds?
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon Jul 30 20:05:46 2007
My obgyn was and is uncomfortable prescribing pain meds for endo and
that is why I am going to a specialist in October. He would only
prescribe 15 darvocet a month (like super motrin) and it barely kept the
edge off the pain. It was awful cause I was still in bed. His nurse
treated me as if I was a drug addict. She of course didn't believe I
had an issue, but I took care of her and won't be having problems with
her anymore (let's say we had a conversation where I confronted her
about giving me appts and meds, she assured me that there would be no
more problems). When I recently had a relapse, my pcp GLADLY prescribed
the meds for me. I asked for 20 7.5mg lortab and she prescribed 60 10mg
lortab (which I still have plenty of and got at the end of May). Her
belief is if you need it, you need it. We did go over proper usage,
take motrin first, if after an hour I don't feel better, then take a
lortab. But always motrin first. I have abided by that. She said if
my obgyn would not prescribe it she would. My obgyn is VERY aware that
she prescribes it for me. Someone told me from here that obgyns are not
used to prescribing meds like this, they are used to dealing with a
young healthy population. However, pcps are more "qualified" to deal
with chronic pain and have no problems prescribing it.
But what you are taking, I would not be concerned with. It's when you
get a rx for 30 and then 2 weeks later get another rx for 30 more. Then
60 more a week after that. Or you are shopping pharmacies (I always
have the same pharmacy rx). Or you are shopping drs (all of my drs know
what meds I am taking and why).
At Mon, 30 Jul 2007, andrea wrote:
>
>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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