Wellness

[pigletsmom]

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@Trinity11 wrote:

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@twentysixteen wrote:

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@pigletsmom wrote:

@LilacTree I wouldn't worry about legally how long she has to keep you as a patient. She said she would treat you for everything else.

If you do decide to change doctors I'd make sure you talk to them ahead of time about what you're looking for. It's likely that they wont want to continue with the prednisone too. Especially if they are in the same groupl.

I think you really need to see a specialist. I know you've never wanted to take the biologics but maybe it's time to try. Not everyone gets side effects and predinsone has it's own side effects. I think your doctor has been trying to please you all these years against her better judgement.

Am I remembering correctly that she tried to cut you way back years ago or something?

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It looks like you're right @pigletsmom. 

"Can a doctor refuse to prescribe a med . . .

. . . that he/she has prescribed for you many times before, simply because you have asked for a very small increase in dosage due to increasing pain? I have been taking this med (prednisone) for RA for over ten years.
This is not a government-controlled "drug.""

https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/Can-a-doctor-refuse-to-prescribe-a-med/m-p/2393136/highl...

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I'm confused. Is the Doctor the same one now as the one in the thread from 2015? 

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I'm not sure @Trinity11  I didn't bring it up as any sort of slam. I just thought I remembered it because it was a difficult for her at the time. So I think the doctor was probably trying to help but has concerns now. I must say at 81 I think you should be able to take whatever works for you but I'm not sure doctors feel that way.

My other concern was her leaving the PCP and then finding out that another one wouldn't be helpful on this subject either. At least the current PCP will continue any other care for her. A specialist might actually be more willing to continue the Pred just based on more experience with the condition.

[LilacTree]

@pigletsmom 

I am amazed that you found an old post from many years ago that obviously I wrote but have no memory of, yet you remembered.  That’s quite a coincidence that it “just popped up!”  I don’t know the significance of it or what it proves, but go with it if that is your desire.

Thanks for saying an  81 year old woman should be able to maintain something that works though, I appreciate that.

[LilacTree]

@Drythe 

What a brave lady you were to agree to test a  brand new med.  what you went through sounds pretty horrific to me and I’m glad you survived it with no scarring I hope.

I just finished filling out a 7-page questionnaire sent to me by the new PCP  office I will be seeing next week.  No mean feat with these hands.  So far I haven’t seen any red flags.  I’m hopeful.

[LilacTree]

@GraceLady 

Sorry I’m not up on the “lingo!”  That said I am well aware that prednisone can be part of several drugs taken together.  I just happen to feel if pred is doing the job alone to my satisfaction, there’s really no need for more drugs.  I am really not interested in whatever you want to call it . . . Although “cocktail” is very cute, I must admit!

Oh, BTW, I always have one of my daughters with me, and they always explain everything to me that I didn’t understand.  Takes about one minute.  Thanks for the suggestion though.

[LilacTree]

@software 

Thanks software, your response was right on,  pragmatic and sensible.  I am 81.  RD  cannot be cured.  What difference does it make what I die of?  To me, none.

[pigletsmom]

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@LilacTree wrote:

@pigletsmom 

I am amazed that you found an old post from many years ago that obviously I wrote but have no memory of, yet you remembered.  That’s quite a coincidence that it “just popped up!”  I don’t know the significance of it or what it proves, but go with it if that is your desire.

Thanks for saying an  81 year old woman should be able to maintain something that works though, I appreciate that.

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@LilacTree I didn't find any old post, that was someone else after I asked about it. As I said in another post I just remembered you having a problem on this subject before because it was very upsetting to you at the time and rightfully so. I was just curious if it was the same doctor and that might have been the reason why she's pulling this now. That it was something in the back of her mind for a while.

No matter why she did it she certainly didn't handle it well.

[LilacTree]

@pigletsmom 

If that was 2015 then yes it was the same doctor.  She’s obviously doing now what she might have wanted to then, I have no way of knowing.  

It’s kind of  irrelevant now, as I have the problem to solve, not her.  That’s not new to me I’ve always had to solve my own problems.  

Thanks for for taking the time to explain, I’m glad because I like you as a kind person.

[CelticCrafter]

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@LilacTree wrote:

@Trinity11 

No, Trinity, she made it very clear that she is not going to treat the RD with anything, and only when I told her how low I was on the med did she say she would give me one last 30 day prescription.  In fact it was CVS who called me and said they weren’t getting her authorization to refill the scrip.  They said to call her, and I did, then she called me late yesterday.

I intend to find a new PCP and when I discussed that with her, she was very quick to say she would be fine with that, but that she is still willing to treat me otherwise.  Since I already have a gastro doc and an ortho doc, I guess she means for colds and miscellaneous whatevers.  So really she will not be a loss to me.

Sitting in the waiting room for an hour and then another hour in the exam room because she overbooks sometimes by three patient appointments will be a relief also.

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Just my opinion but that's all any PCP does anymore, everything gets referred to a specialist so why does one need them unless you belong to a HMO plan and have to have one to get the referral slip?  Go to Urgent care for the minor stuff.

[LilacTree]

@CelticCrafter 

Thing is I still need prescriptions.  I don’t think UC facilities prescribe ongoing scrips.  They treat you for one visit at a time.  I will look into this though if the new PCP practice doesn’t provide the services I need.  

I will be getting an hour physical exam by an NP, which is fine with me.  If she recommends a rheumatologist, I will ask for a referral, not a formal one, as I am on Medicare, but perhaps they work with several.

Truth is I don’t know what to expect, I am just hopeful.

[Trinity11]

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@LilacTree wrote:

@CelticCrafter 

Thing is I still need prescriptions.  I don’t think UC facilities prescribe ongoing scrips.  They treat you for one visit at a time.  I will look into this though if the new PCP practice doesn’t provide the services I need.  

I will be getting an hour physical exam by an NP, which is fine with me.  If she recommends a rheumatologist, I will ask for a referral, not a formal one, as I am on Medicare, but perhaps they work with several.

Truth is I don’t know what to expect, I am just hopeful.

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Good luck tomorrow @LilacTree on your visit. I hope you find a doctor who is understanding and helpful. Let us know how things went...