Help Chronic Pain

Question:

One bit of advice for others about changing doctors though, check and make sure that the records your former dr sends them are complete (or at least complete enough that they can tell what has been going on in your case) as often what is sent ov

Actually from a "health care providers point of view"…..a COMPLETE summary is far more likely to be read by a new provider….a packet of pages that resembles a phone book will only draw groans from any new provider…there simply is not TIME to totally peruse it,,,sift out the important stuff,,,,etc… NOw,,as Karen says….do make SURE the OLD provider makes it very clear what your medication and treatment history is…what has been tried…what has failed..what diagnostics were done,,and when ,,and what the results were (copies of these study results ARE important) and of course what WORKS for you,,and what your CURRENT regimen is…..those are all vital to continuing good care.. However,,just a word here….don’t always expect that Dr B will agree with or continue what Dr A was doing for you…It is a fact of life,,,unfortunate as it seems,,,that docs have pretty big egos…and most do NOT like to be told what to do!!!!  Also,,,in defense of the medical community….each provider must be allowed the discretion to design his own treatment plan….just don’t let it LOWER your quality of life….STick up for YOUR rights,,of course….. just some ideas,,,from the other side of a prescription pad…. rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -However,,just a word here….don’t always expect that Dr B will agree with or continue what Dr A was doing for you…It is a fact of life,,,unfortunate as it seems,,,that docs have pretty big egos…and most do NOT like to be told what to do!!!!  Also,,,in defense of the medical community….each provider must be allowed the discretion to design his own treatment plan….just don’t let it LOWER your quality of life….STick up for YOUR rights,,of course….. just some ideas,,,from the other side of a prescription pad…. rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

In my particular case, I’m HOPING the new doctor doesn’t agree with the last doctor’s treatment plan.  It didn’t do diddly squat for me. I’m sure I remember all the medications we’ve tried and that have failed.  I have high hopes that I’ll have a provider who is willing to listen to what I have to say this time.  THanks, Hawki, for the fresh perspective. Brenda English

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good luck  Brenda!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Brenda, We haven’t formally been introduced but I have been dealing with the highs and lows of migraines and doctors for a long time now (seems like forever). When people tell you that you are lucky to have such a good advocate for a husband take them seriously.  I have seen so many people’s suffering made worse by noncaring spouses it isn’t even funny.  they can make a headache worse and even bring on a migraine! One bit of advice for others about changing doctors though, check and make sure that the records your former dr sends them are complete (or at least complete enough that they can tell what has been going on in your case) as often what is sent over is sort of like a reader’s digest condensed version of your records. It really does help to have your current doctor write up  a letter telling the new doctor what medications you are on, the dosages and what meds you have tried that didn’t work.  This is especially important if you are taking anything that even remotely resembles pain medication. If I hadn’t had my chronic pain doc write me a letter when I moved I would have been in a world of trouble as our beloved HMO didn’t send m,y new little country doc much of anything.  I know that I had four HUGE files when I left CA, when I finally got in to see my new doc here in UT they had only ten pages! Thank goodness I had the sense before we left to make sure I had enough medication to last me three months and that letter with me, otherwise it would have been just like starting from the bottom all over again! Good luck with your new doctor, I truly do hope it works out for you. A long time headbanger, Karen

Thanks Karen.  Fortunately, my old doctor and my new doctor used to be in practice together, so I feel pretty sure the records will be fairly complete (at least as of the date I started here after moving….one of my former doctor’s offices was destroyed by fire, my records with it). I sure do appreciate my husband.  He’s wonderfully understanding about my migraines.  It’s so much easier to have someone to rely on when my thoughts are jumbled by the pain. Here’s hoping you can tame your migraine monster as well! Brenda English

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Hi Brenda, We haven’t formally been introduced but I have been dealing with the highs and lows of migraines and doctors for a long time now (seems like forever). When people tell you that you are lucky to have such a good advocate for a husband take them seriously.  I have seen so many people’s suffering made worse by noncaring spouses it isn’t even funny.  they can make a headache worse and even bring on a migraine! One bit of advice for others about changing doctors though, check and make sure that the records your former dr sends them are complete (or at least complete enough that they can tell what has been going on in your case) as often what is sent over is sort of like a reader’s digest condensed version of your records. It really does help to have your current doctor write up  a letter telling the new doctor what medications you are on, the dosages and what meds you have tried that didn’t work.  This is especially important if you are taking anything that even remotely resembles pain medication. If I hadn’t had my chronic pain doc write me a letter when I moved I would have been in a world of trouble as our beloved HMO didn’t send m,y new little country doc much of anything.  I know that I had four HUGE files when I left CA, when I finally got in to see my new doc here in UT they had only ten pages! Thank goodness I had the sense before we left to make sure I had enough medication to last me three months and that letter with me, otherwise it would have been just like starting from the bottom all over again! Good luck with your new doctor, I truly do hope it works out for you. A long time headbanger, Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The doctor’s office that I used to go to has closed, with my doctor retiring.  I had my records forwarded to hubby’s doctor and called late in Jan set up an appt.  The first one I could get was Feb 28.  When I had a nasty migraine, hubby called to ask them to call in a script for Tigan to control my nausea.  They didn’t want to do so because I hadn’t been seen yet.  Gotta love my advocate husband.  He called several times and explained it was stupid to let me suffer when I had used Tigan many times.   Finally, they called it in for me.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this doctor listens and understands what’s going on and is willing to work with me to find a preventive that auctually WORKS!  Thanks ya’ll. Brenda English

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LIZ COULDN’T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER!   SORRY, I AM NOT SHOUTING, MY CAPS LOCK KEY IS STUCK.

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What a GREAT husband!!!  It’s tough to be an advocate for yourself when you’re barfing!! Here’s hoping that you find this new doctor receptive and open to your pain. Liz

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The doctor’s office that I used to go to has closed, with my doctor retiring.  I had my records forwarded to hubby’s doctor and called late in Jan set up an appt.  The first one I could get was Feb 28.  When I had a nasty migraine, hubby called to ask them to call in a script for Tigan to control my nausea.  They didn’t want to do so because I hadn’t been seen yet.  Gotta love my advocate husband.  He called several times and explained it was stupid to let me suffer when I had used Tigan many times.   Finally, they called it in for me.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this doctor listens and understands what’s going on and is willing to work with me to find a preventive that auctually WORKS!  Thanks ya’ll. Brenda English

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The doctor’s office that I used to go to has closed, with my doctor retiring.  I had my records forwarded to hubby’s doctor and called late in Jan set up an appt.  The first one I could get was Feb 28.  When I had a nasty migraine, hubby called to ask them to call in a script for Tigan to control my nausea.  They didn’t want to do so because I hadn’t been seen yet.  Gotta love my advocate husband.  He called several times and explained it was stupid to let me suffer when I had used Tigan many times.   Finally, they called it in for me.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this doctor listens and understands what’s going on and is willing to work with me to find a preventive that auctually WORKS!  Thanks ya’ll. Brenda English

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