All I can say is bless your heart. I've been through the "waiting" for the doctor to call back and have even had my husband call in the evening when the doctor had not called me back. He usually scolds them and they usually apologize to him. But when I have called I have received the same treatment as you a few times. It's like they really "believe" I am sick when he calls. I don't know the reason. I am concerned about the way he treated you. If you can't talk to them without being scolded, how are they supposed to treat you correctly. As for telling you to put things in "medical terms" what does that mean? I think being unable to function in your normal daily activities is indication enough that your are having trouble with the meds. I do know that sometimes it takes two weeks or so to adjust, but I would think you would need to be able to manage the pain with meds while still being able to function with maybe some side effects such as a little dizziness or being somewhat sleepy, not incapacitated. Of course I'm not one to talk or give advice as I can't seem to get anyone to give me anything for the pain. As I mentioned in an earlier post my PCP is waiting on the report from the GI before she gives me anything and then she can't see me until August 9. I just keep trying to make through day by day. Maybe when you see your pain specialist in person on your next appointment he will treat you better. I would think that someone who manages chronic pain would need to be a very patient and caring individual. It did not sound like he behaved this way over the phone. Good luck and please take care of yourself and know there are people out here who care. Ginny
At Sat, 24 Jul 1999, pklippe1@nycap.rr.com wrote:
>
>Hello everyone I am having A bit of a problem adjusting to the meds that
>the pain management Dr. put me on.I started all the meds Monday evening
>at 5: 3o p.m and by Tuesday evening I could not even function.I felt
>like I was walking sideways and that everything was in a blur,And my
>speechwas slurred.I called the Dr. and he lowered the methadone dose
>down to taking it 2 times a day instead of 4.He told me to call hom back
>on Friday to let him know how I was doing,So I called his office at noon
>and left a message with his secretary telling her that as far as being
>able to function I was doing a little better,although I was still quite
>sleepy,But the problem was now that the pain medication was not workong
>as well as it did being on the 4 doses. She told me that someone would
>definatly get back to me that afterenoon.I waited all day and nobody
>returned my call.When I saw the Pain Management Dr. on Monday he told
>me that the meds would probably have to be adjusted and do not hesitate
>to call him,That is why they have telephones.They also told me that when
>the phones get turned off at his office the calls go directly to the
>Drs. home he has no answering service.I thought that this was great a
>Dr. that takes all his own calls from his patiences.So I called him
>about 8:30 lat evening and Was told that he was out with his sons and
>when he returned home she would have him call me.THe Dr. returned my
>call around 9:15 and sounded very annoyed with me.I first apologized for
>calling him at home and told him that I had called his office at noon
>and waited all day for someone to call me back but nobody had.I thought
>that he was very rude with me and I felt like I was being scolded,he
>first told me that right off hand he did not know who I was and that he
>did not have my chart in front of him and that he had seen 30-40 other
>patience this week .I told him that I had called hom on Wednesday to
>tell hom that I was capable of functioning due to the meds.he asked me
>very sarcastically to put it in medical terms on what I meant by not
>being able to function.I told him that I was very dizzy and was not able
>to do anything but lie in bed.he told me that there is an adjustment
>period to getting use to taking the meds and I told him that I
>understood that,But the reason I was calling him now was because the
>pain medication was helping me with the dose being cut in half.So now he
>has adjusyed the dose again and I will see if this will work.He told me
>that he was going to be away from Sunday Until Tuesday but to call his
>office and ket them know how I am doing for he would be checking in with
>his office on Monday.I'm Not too sure bif I like this Dr. yet or not I
>certainlly do not like being treated like someone who does not know what
>they are doing.Well I need to go for now but will like to hear from any
>one for support on this.
>"FRIENDS THAT STICK TOGRTHER" Peggy