Posted by Mike L (198.81.16.41) on December 02, 2001 at 04:49:07:
In Reply to: want results in ER... posted by Wendy on December 01, 2001 at 22:16:52:
I have also had poor ER results and some ER physiscians sent letters to my CH Dr.. They suggested that since I was going in 2-3 times a month (which was true before relief was found) that I must be an addict. My wife asked the ER Dr. how often one must use pain meds to be called such a person. The Dr. replyed "At least daily use." Then my wife asked how getting a little relief 2-3 times a month from the ER and getting relief with meds that I was thn only prescribed enough for 10 days a month or so could be viewed as daily use? The Dr. said that he assumed that I was going all over town and getting pain meds every day from the ERs around where I live. My wife told him how unprofessional this appeared that someone would write to his CH Dr. that her husband is a drug addict based solely on 2-3 visits a month to the ER. She also told him that he could virtually ruin someones life and/or job from such an inacurate assesment. The Dr. was embarresed by this and apologized and said he would get the message to the other ER people. He just never looked at it this way. He said that he knew I was in extreme pain and my high blood pressure and many other things made it obvious that I was not "Faking" it. It really shook him up that he had become so as he said "totaly stupid" and unfeeling about pain.
After that the ER was never the same and they told us they established new criteria on pain relief given and what was reported.
Seeing people change is the only thing that makes life so wonderful. People can change and never take it for granted when someone does. Changing is the hardest and yet maybe the most rewarding thing in life.
Thanks Mike L