ARGH! Any suggestions?

[missychan]

Well, I can now join the "Left my meds in a hotel room" crowd. And I'm not happy about it, LOL!

I had hidden the "Big" stash of meds in our room, for obvious reasons, and the last two days was just using the small amount of pain meds I had in my purse. Of course, the day we left, I was tired and walked out without the hidden meds.

I realized it two hours later and called hotel, who of course had NO idea what I was talking about. I tried to tough it out for a few days, and finally had to call the doc yesterday. My regular doctor is out of town, but they got me in with another doc in the clinic.

I went in, explained the situation, showed reciepts from the hotel to prove that at least I really was out of town... and the doc I saw couldn't have cared less. Said that no way could any doc there authorize "early" refills, and I'm 10 days away...

I understand that they have to keep an eye on things, I understand all of the pain contract rules, and the reasons for them.

What I don't understand is how I can have been on that contract for over three years, same clinic, two different docs... have NEVER called for early refills, and now I'm just out of luck?

I spoke with my nurse who is completely on my side, but of course can't over-ride the docs, and there don't seem to be any options. I won't do urgent care or ER, for fear of breaking the contract, looking like a drug seeker and totally screwing myself in the process.

Any ideas? I'm in agony, and of course the stress of no meds has thrown me into a full blown flare! I can't just stay home in bed or I'll lose my job, but sitting at this desk all day has me in tears... my co-workers think I'm nuts.

I usually take either Percocet or Vicodin, but have been using IBU800 instead, which we all know is a waste of time. Heating pads aren't cutting it...

I hate the DEA and their stupid rules! (Even if I understand, I don't have to agree, right?)

Thanks for listening,

Missy

[dancemomof2]

How awful, not sure what you can do but sure hope things work out before the 10 days.

[LeeAnn]

what about

What about asking for something that's not considered "drug seeking." like instead of asking for vicodin or narcotics, ask for atarax or something these stupid doctors consider "harmless"? Just a thought. I agree with you that it's ridiculous that this is the first time you've ever asked for an early refill and they won't give it! Grrr. Do you think they would write a ten day prescription to get you through to the next regular refill? This has happened to me too but my doctors were understanding and just wrote scripts for the number of days I needed. Perhaps they'll do this for you?

[missychan]

Thanks gals, I just needed to vent to someone who actually understands.

No chance of any doc in the clinic giving me anything until the refills are due. I did have some Urised at home and am taking that, but it does nothing for my back, and not much for the spasms. If my OWN doc were here, she'd be fine doing what we needed to do, but everyone there is a resident and scared to death of getting in trouble.

I totally understand their rules, I just think that in some cases rules need to be re-evaluated.

Missy

[GriffsMommy]

Missy that just sucks. The hotel couldn't find your meds? I would be freaking out too. I wish there was something that you could work out for the next 10 days so you weren't in so much pain. Is your dr going to be back soon so she can do something for you until the refill is due?

[missychan]

I'm sure "someone" found my meds, they just aren't talking. Wish I could be there when they take the Urised and pee purple! That'll teach them to steal!

Hotel manager said she looked where I hid them, but nothing was there. Whatever...

Doc not back until next Weds. and by that time I'll be ok to call for the refill... ack!

~M~

[Berkshire Road]

I'm so sorry; I've had something similar happen to me. Actually, my bottle of percocet was stolen out of my bag at an all-day swim meet. Needless to say, I no longer throw the bottle in my sack, I just take a few pills in a pill case. Anyway -- I was lucky that time and the dr. wrote for a few exta pills. So how does that help you? Not. BUT -- here's an idea. If the Urised is helping but you still need something for your back, have you tried lidocaine transdermal patches? They are a prescription, but obviously not a narcotic. Even a walk-in clinic would probably be willing to prescribe them, if you just say you strained your back. Maybe you can survive with the combination. I know the lidocaine patches help my back enormously.

God, I am so sorry this happened to you! I could just strangle whoever it was that took them from your hotel room, but hotel staff in some places do see anything left behind as fair game. What a mess. Poor girl.

[missychan]

Thanks everyone... I'm making it, but feeling pretty crappy. I guess I haven't "had" to feel a full blown flare in a while. My hips and whole pelvis feel like I've been hit by a bus, and my bladder is maaaaaddddd.... but- I don't think it's as bad as some go through daily, so I'm greatful for that.

I don't have Azo, because I'm using Urised, it's the same thing with "extra's", pretty much. It's helping a bit, and I'm taking the IBU 800 for the horrible back pain. That's NOT doing much of anything, but without it I'm sure I'd know the difference, LOL!

I'll get through it, it just makes me mad that I (WE) have to, know what I mean?

Thanks again for the support!

~M~

[Moonheart]

Thanks everyone... I'm making it, but feeling pretty crappy. I guess I haven't "had" to feel a full blown flare in a while. My hips and whole pelvis feel like I've been hit by a bus, and my bladder is maaaaaddddd.... but- I don't think it's as bad as some go through daily, so I'm greatful for that.

I don't have Azo, because I'm using Urised, it's the same thing with "extra's", pretty much. It's helping a bit, and I'm taking the IBU 800 for the horrible back pain. That's NOT doing much of anything, but without it I'm sure I'd know the difference, LOL!

I'll get through it, it just makes me mad that I (WE) have to, know what I mean?

Thanks again for the support!

~M~

Missy,

You need to go to tell the Hotel that you will be going to the police and filing a police report that the meds were stolen. You know you left them there and if you are willing to give an affidavit then you should be allowed one replacement per year.
Maybe the hotel will at the very least write a statement to the cops stating that they did not find your meds in the room. They can't say otherwise can they?

Good luck!

[blue]

I used to work for the police Dept and if you file a police report, some doctors will write a new script. That doesn't mean that insurance will pay for it, but if you need the medications, maybe that will work. The problem is you have to file the report in the city that the meds disappeared from.

I can't believe your doctor is being so stubborn. If you've never asked for early refills before, it shouldn't be a problem. It's when people are always finding excuses to get their meds early that they should beware.

My pain doctor has even given me samples before. I was on a patch, but they did carry sample coupons in their office. I could use the coupons to get meds when I was broke.

I would take the suggestion given about asking for something else. Maybe they will work something out with you.

So sorry you are suffering.

[catlover2]

You said one of the nurses at your pain doc's office was on your side. Can you call and ask the nurse to call your normal doc? Your normal doc has a cell phone number and her office should have it. I know most offices will not call docs while they are on vacation but this is a special circumstance. Does your doc have an e-mail address or a website? You could send your doc an e-mail explaining that you need a new Rx for your pain meds because you accidentally left them behind in a hotel. This next idea is probably against your pain management contract but it just might work. Do you have a primary care doc who would be willing to write for a 7 or 10 day supply of pain meds? I'm pretty sure that your normal pain doc will understand why you had to get an Rx for a week's supply of pain meds.

[vm]

We accidentally left one of my kids' Gameboys and all his Gameboy games in a hotel room. We called the front desk after we got home, talked to the manager and a couple of people went to check for it and said they'd check with housekeeping. No one found the stuff.

On a whim a couple of days later we called housekeeping directly and spoke with the supervisor. The stuff has been turned in, staff just weren't communicating. It wasn't at the front desk, it was in housekeeping. They sent it all back to us in the mail.

I know it is a HUGE longshot, but you might call housekeeping just to see....

[missychan]

Wow! Thanks for all the ideas, let's see if I can remember from one page to the next and address them... LOL!

Police Report- duh! Why didn't I think of that? You'd think that would have been my first call! Thanks for the idea, but... the meds were left in San Diego and I'm in Az. I AM going to call the sherrifs office there, it was actually a tiny "outskirt", and maybe they can help? At least scare the hotel a bit. Funny, it was an itty bitty town, but the hotel is one of a large chain. We paid $250.00 a night, not like a Motel 6, know what I mean?

Housekeeping... already tried to talk to them, but apparantly nobody speaks english. I'm at work today, I'll try to get one of our Spanish speaking gals to call them for me. Another good idea, thanks!

(We had the same thing happen with my youngest sons "barbar"- his favorite blanket, made by Auntie Barbara. We left it behind, called the front desk, got nowhere. A month later we were passing through the same town, and on a whim stopped at the motel. Of course, two weeks before, they'd changed owners. We thought, "no way". But- the new owner was soooo nice! She asked what it looked like, got a big grin on her face, and went into her office. Came out to Matt, got down to his level and asked, "Is this BarBar?" and handed him his blankie! (He was 2) The look on his face was priceless! And daddy and I actually got some sleep without a crying kid in our bed that night, LOL!)

Primary Care: this IS my Primary Care doc, or office I should say. I did ask the nurse to try to contact my personal doctor and go around the doc I saw last week, we'll see what happens. I can call the re-fill in on Weds... and should have them by Friday. I'm also changing Pharmacies, which is another reason I wanted to get new paper scripts... keep it all on the up and up.

If it gets much worse, I'm just going to go to Urgent Care and beg. I'll tell them the truth, and see if they can't give me enough to get me through the week. What's the worst they can do, say no? And as for the contract, I'll tell my regular doc that I did everything "right" and got nowhere and that I'm in pain, and what would she have had me do? She's really good about my meds, and I'm sure she won't have a problem. She graduates next month though, and I'll be stuck with a NEW resident and get to start over. I just hope it's not the doc I saw this week!

Thanks again everyone for all your support and ideas... I hate being such a whiner, it's just that I'm SO tired of defending myself! Aren't we all?

Missy