Pain and Hassles

Yesterday I spent the whole day in pain...I was out of pain meds and the doctors were giving me a run around. I had switched getting the prescription from the neurosurgeon to my PCP since I have a hard enough time trying to get to the PCP's office no less the neurosurgeon's office...I guess that was a mistake?!

This is the 3rd time I've tried to get my pain meds through my PCP and she was out of the office. I sent an email at 5:30 AM and at 8:30 AM I called them to follow up. I got the "you just filled it on the 10th and 19th" and you shouldn't be out...Ok...once again I explain the neurosurgeon said (and I have it in writing) that I should be taking 2 every 4 hours...which means I am going through 12 a day...yes the pain still wakes me up in the middle of the night so yes, I am still taking them every 4 hours because the pain is still bad enough to wake me. I directed the nurse to the neurosurgeon's email which clearly states that he is recommending that I take the 2 every 4 hours...which means when they give me 60 pills, it's only a 5 day supply....Of course, I am still paying $15 for a 5 day supply when my policy outlines I should be paying $15 for a 30-day supply...there's "nothing they can do" because they are only allowed to prescribe up to 60 at a time anyhow. That's fine, I just need enough to get me through til I can talk to my PCP herself anyhow....3:30 rolls around and I have still heard nothing about my meds...I am in tears and pain and feeling pretty darned edgy!

Finally I get a call back from the nurse (a different nurse than who I have been speaking to and emailing with all day) and she says one of the 'partners' have agreed to refill my pain meds BUT that she is suggesting I take only 1 every 4 hours since it can cause liver damage and I need to be weaning myself off of them. Trust me I AM trying to wean myself off of them...I explained that even when taking 2 every 4 hours it only takes the edge off the pain, but I have been trying to extend the time to 5 to 6 hours in between. One does nothing for me...might as well be taking tylenol. Well this doctor takes it upon herself to go ahead and change my prescription to read that I should take 1 every 4 hours....which means I will not be able to fill it for 10 days...even though the neurosurgeon clearly said elsewise....I told the nurse that I had BRAIN surgery 4 weeks ago and yes, I am in pain...I'm not being addicted, trust me, I would rather be off them and able to drive...and not in pain!! The nurse said she was not aware I had brain surgery...GIMME A BREAK!!

So after this phone call, I call back the neurosurgeon's office, in tears and pain still...and explained that this doctor won't give me the full prescription and is giving me 60 and expects that to last 10 days...I went on to explain what they said about the liver damage, which the nurse at the neurosurgeon's office went over with me...it's not the percocet that would cause that but the tylenol...I cannot exceed 4000mg of tylenol a day. Theref0re, I should not be taking tylenol INSTEAD of my pain meds since the pain meds contain tylenol. At my current dosage, I am taking 3900mg a day and they feel that is safe for now. There is nothing else they will give me for pain.

The nurse at the neurosurgeon's office totally understood my frustration and said that she would make a note and flag my file that I had this surgery and that the doctor is suggesting 2 every 4 hours until at least I see him on the 8th. We'll see what happens when I finally get through to my PCP.

I also found out that I need to be on prednisone for another month still...yuck! I do not like this stuff, it makes me shake and unable to sit, no matter how much pain or how tired I am...I am to continue on predinisone until the doctor tells me I can stop taking it and that could be up to SIX months?! I am having so much swelling and it does help with the swelling...I am still not able to take ibuprofen or aleve or any product like that...I am not able to take benadryl or anything other than what's been prescribed (I double checked with the surgeon's office yesterday!).

Ok, I guess this all sounds like I am complaining...It started as a complaint about how the doctors were giving me the run around with my pain meds...but I have to at least be thankful I have health insurance....at least for now....I hope the dr returns me to work as of the 9th or I don't know what I'll do to pay the $400 a month in premiums ....