redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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Hello -
I am visiting my doctor tomorrow for a checkup and I am deciding, with an eye on the upcoming Ashcroft terror regime, to chance it all and ask for all the painkillers I can get away with.
This is a new doctor who seems rather nice and trusting.
My big question is: what will make me seem less like the obvious drug-seeker, and more like the actual drug-seeker in pain (I can admit that) that I really am.
I reallly want pain drugs, and I really want them for pain. I've had enough conflicts with doctors in the past, so I'm not walking on eggshells around them anymore; I am just going for the gold and asking my doctor for help.
I am sure thousands in the past have wondered the same thing. Which of the two looks more honest. If I go alone, do I seem more desperate, and will it look as if I am the only one aware of my intentions to take pain meds. If I take my wife, do you think I will look more like the "family man" who doesn't hide these things in front of his family.
It's not an easy question, I just wonder what some of your opinions are. Thanks very much in advance.
Red
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amaz
Member
Reged: 11/18/03
Posts: 123
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I'm guessing your cause will "appear" (I say this as I know it legit, but we are addressing doctor strategy here which indeed we've all considered, I'm sure) more legit, in terms of both true need and honesty if your spouse is with you. Funny after all these years, I've never even considered taking my husband with me, yet hate to let him go for a check-up alone as nothing is ever accomplished. I send him with a detailed list of symptons, concerns, labs to request, etc. If I don't I know exactly how the visit will go. Doc: So how are you? Husband: Pretty good - feeling fine,...and he walks out thinking he had a physical and proclaimed healthy despite not a single test being done?! My friend says her husband is the same way. Unless she goes with him, little is accomplished. However, maybe it is different for women as I don't know of any woman who takes her husband to the doc (except for when your pregnant and maybe he comes to the ultrasound one where you learn the sex, ha ha)...My Dad's doctor even requested he bring his wife to the last appt he had, despite nothing special going on, perhaps just to get a better read on his symptons? Good Luck and let us know how it goes....
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Princeton
Newbie
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Frozen Tundra
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Take her. Dress nice, but not to nice. Have her act concerned about how you move "are you ok honey", etc. If you are in pain and have a support system in place you are more apt to get a 'script. Having said that, I've gone in and coulda probably lopped off my right arm and still not gotten anything other then 2 tylenol.
I'm feelin' lucky for you - just DON'T take any pain meds before the visit, you want him to see that you are actually in pain which is registered in several different ways - pulse, blood pressure, facial expressions and stance.
Let us know how it goes.
Priceton
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so take me as i am this may mean you'll have to be a stronger man rest assured that when
i start to make you nervous and i'm going to extremes tomorrow i will change and today won't mean a thing
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Ah, but the doctor could think you're in on it together! Doc might be a step ahead of something like this. You see, I take calls for many doctors at my job and there are literally people that we do not accept or take messages for the doctors because they definitely are drug seekers/abusers and there was a husband/wife team. They were both addicts. Oh, you should see the way that these two try to scam. It's hilarious because everyone at work has their patterns down to a science. But that's why I bring this to your attention, because these type of situations do occur and you don't want to over-emphasize, you know what I mean? Overkill can be a bad thing.
Regardless of how trusting the doctor may seem, they are taught to be on their guard. So, just be straight up with the doc. Tell him like it is and don't try to pull anything over on him and I think you two can come to a fine compromise.
I hope this has helped. Good luck and take good care!
lemongrass
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Princeton
Newbie
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Frozen Tundra
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Wow Lemongrass - some definate "food for thought". I was looking at it entirely from a laymans point of view. Not having been on your side of the fence I guess the thought of teamwork at a DOCTORS office just never crossed my mind. (yeah yeah yeah, I probably do need to get out more-ha) My friend always takes the spouse along, but then again we've all doctored with the same person for many years now. Another plus is the spouse just happens to be a professor with a very good working knowledge of the human body - it's the doctor's version of going outside & kickin' the tires. You've given some good advice and with your expertise I'd follow your lead on this one, even though my original thought was to have her husband go & be concerned. Whichever decision she makes, I just hope it turns out to be productive. I've gone in on an emergency basis and did not catch my own doc on call, the 'on call' guy was horrid, so the fact her doc seems to be good is a plus.
When is your visit - tell us who went and how it turned out. We're here for ya.
Princeton 
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so take me as i am this may mean you'll have to be a stronger man rest assured that when
i start to make you nervous and i'm going to extremes tomorrow i will change and today won't mean a thing
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piper65111
Member
Reged: 12/16/01
Posts: 105
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I have a great Doctor I just tell him Im in pain and he gives me vicoden.Every time I go Im amazed Im so used to dealing with Doctors that act like your a murderer if you have the nerve to ask.
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booker
Board Addict
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 348
Loc: The Moon
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Redhill - please don't keep us in suspense. Post how your appointment went!
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"would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better off than you are, or would you rather be a ....."
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