I have been a chronic pain patient for over 15 years and have never had a problem. My family doctor was awesome, prescribing and monitoring my medication for at over 10 years. Sarah is good at what she does, and I thought we had a very good patient/doctor relationship. I don't really blame her for what happened, as it was my own fault. I screwed up and used an old prescription (written by my family doctor prior to being forced to use a pain management clinic when all the rules changed) on a weekend or two when I was in agony..... and then with one day, with no warning whatsoever I found a VOICEMAIL informing me that I was "terminated" and no longer a patient of the clinic/practice. A voicemail.....
It's been pure hell the past few weeks as my Medtronic pump dried up. The alarm is still chirping every few minutes and I am sick, miserable, and in pain - in bed most of the day. For something like this, these people could care less. There is no forgiveness, no second chance, just out the door, good luck, and have a nice life - if you survive. This has wreaked havoc with my diabetes and high blood pressure, not to mention the pain that is now back with a vengeance. If anything good came of this, I now understand much better how legitimate chronic pain patients end up on the streets of Seattle, looking for (illegal relief). And they will be able to find it, as in Seattle, those who do use illegal drugs will soon be able to walk into a city-sanctioned site, given their drug(s) of choice, and all the needed supplies to support their habit, and all of this will be staffed to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Am I missing something here? What's wrong with this picture?? It sounds like the voters will have no say in this matter whatsoever, because this is has been deemed a "health crisis" and as such, the politicians and government will have total control.
It will come as no surprise to me when our government and politicians desire to take over our healthcare system will eventually kill more people than the skewed numbers of "overdose" fatalities. Too many people are being driven to the streets and illegal drugs by the "new rules". So - the moral of the story is: follow the "rules to a T" or you'll suffer the consequences.
One further note - Dr. Nelson, the one who did the surgery several years ago to implant this pump, refuses to even turn the ***** thing off, as I now am an apparently a hardened criminal. They left another voicemail suggesting that I call the Medtronic people (manufacturer of the pump) to see if "THEY can find someone (else)" in my area to turn this thing off........ unbelievable. I must be contagious. it would take the doctor (or PA) all of 5 minutes to turn this thing off, but I can't help but feel like (if they had their way) I'd probably be in jail right now. read more