Re: Pain Clinic Update cont'd-Ginny
From: smithy@maine.rr.com
Fri Jul 16 19:10:19 1999
At Fri, 16 Jul 1999, gking@myrickre.com wrote:
>
>At Fri, 16 Jul 1999, chris wrote:
>>
>>Hi again:
>>
>>The pain clinic called and said no, they would not be able to make a
>>verbal report to my pcp and that he would get the faxed report on
>>Tuesday. So I took 600 mg ibuprofen and planned to take it every 6
>>hours. 5 minutes later the pcp calls (guess the nurse told him I was
>>very upset) and tells me the reason he said no was because there are two
>>drugs that sound exactly the same, Celebrex and Celesta (something like
>>that) and he wanted to read the report to be sure which one it was.
>>Celebrex is an antiinflammtory and Celesta (or whatever) is an
>>antidepressant. I told him the doc said "one of the new
>>antiinflammatories with less side effects" and the fact that I knew the
>>Celesta was an antidepressent convinced him I guess because then he said
>>"well, in that case if you're sure we can try Celebrex and see if it
>>helps. Come into the office and pick up some samples". I can't start
>>it until tomorrow because I didn't wait long enough before taking the
>>ibuprofen! At least I won't have to fill a prescription (very expensive)
>>if the samples don't work as well as I'm hoping for.
>> Hey, was this an example of effective communication?
>>
>>--
>>Chris S.
>>
>Hey Chris,
>
>Sounds like you handled the "communication" thing very well. Too bad
>they had to upset you so before they did something about it. I hope the
>medication works for you. I am a firm believer that "other" outside
>forces can complicate adhesion pain. I know I have adhesions, and the
>pain I have partially comes from that, but there is something else going
>on in my GI system that is aggravating an already bad situation. I sure
>hope they find something. This last episode of bleeding and infection
>have been going on for almost three months now and I am sooo tired. I'm
>sure all of us can relate to the pure fatigue that sets in from being in
>pain for so long. Best wishes over the weekend. (Thanks for the tip on
>Fleet. Probably too late for me to do this go around as it's Friday
>night and I'll never get the doctor to call me back over the weekend!?
>but I will keep it in mind for the next time, as I'm sure there will be
>one.) I guess I'm sounding like I'm having a pity party, sorry. Just
>tired. Take care. Ginny
Hi Ginny:
No, you're not having a pity party. Being in pain so long does that too
you. I decided my problem is that I don't complain about pain loudly
enough so I probably give them the impression that everything is okay. I
thought back to the recovery room after my last lap. They kept asking
me if I wanted pain med and I didn't think I needed it so I said no. I
knew from experience the real pain wouldn't begin for a day or two. So
maybe I do this in the doctor's office too, without realizing it. And
my doctor isn't the type to offer it himself I guess. Then, when it
gets to me I blow up and everyone wonders "what's her problem?" I
couldn't believe this pain clinic could be so inflexible not to call
over a verbal recommendation of the drug. I will put this on the
evaluation form they gave me. At least my pcp came through in the end.
I still have to discuss giving me the wrong MRI report with him though.
I hope everything goes well for you on Monday and you get some answers.
Please let us know as soon as you can.
Chris