Well, this is the final installment on a series about my experiences with medications I've taken for Fibro.
This one should be short, it's relatively recent. But let me first say that beyond the meds you see here, there are quite a few that I know a lot about that I HAVE NOT taken. One example is Zyrem. I watched the video for that and said, "No thank you". It is better known as the "date rape" drug and can cause vomiting and aspiration when you're asleep. I didn't want to go there. I had just about had it with "scary" meds. Now, according to my rheumatologist, there is a very successful NYC judge that had Fibro, took Zyrem and is as NORMAL as can be. Sorry, but I'm not a successful NYC judge. She had quite a bit to lose career-wise if she didn't find an answer, so maybe her fear was overridden by the fear of losing her job. I'm afraid of things I don't know enough about. I'll pass. However, it is supposed to give you the REM sleep and restorative sleep that you need to feel COMPLETELY better.
How many of you are on this med? ...I'm guessing not many....so...hmmm. Makes me wonder....
Now, as for me, the most recent change to my meds is the last I hope to make in a LONG time.
If my spouse hadn't lost his job in February, I might have changed NOTHING, but, because he did, I decided I needed to save money.
I went to the pain clinic doctor for a regular checkup about 2 months ago. In the past, he had been able to give me "discount" cards on my Avinza (Morphine sulfate). Well, that had run out and I asked if there were any other discounts. He found one for Kadian (also Morphine Sulfate) but a different version that I had heard of and was willing to try. It appeared it would cut my costs by about 100 a month at best. As it turns out, it's about $75 a month, which is FINE!
However, let me say this, he started me out low.....and by the end of the first week, I felt awful. I was 40 milligrams below the former 300 level I had "achieved". : )
I called the office and they added 30 milligrams (the only amount available to get me up to the level I needed).
So, when I went to the pain doc this past week, here's where the problems started. HE decided to prescribe 3 pills at 100 mgs a day. This was instead of writing 3 prescriptions at various milligrams all equaling 300 mgs. No problem, right?
I brought the Rx to the pharmacy. They said they would take care of it.
I came in the next day to pick it up and the pharmacist shook his head..."Nope, the insurance needs more authorization from the doctor to have me put this through". They didn't question 3 separate Rxs for the prior month, but now that I was taking 300 mgs with one Rx, they wanted a faxed authorization from the doctor.
I called the doctor's emergency line. No response.
I was in a panic. I started calling the next day to set this in motion. I was in tears thinking, now I'm going to go through withdrawal as the wheels turn slowly in this type of thing. Being on opiod meds is one thing when you have a cooperative doctor, a great pharmacy and a paying insurance company. But when ONE of these things goes "offline", things tend to "crumble". I also crumbled. I couldn't stop crying either. It was, to say the least, a pretty awful day.
Between the pharmacy, insurance company and the doctor's office, I probably called each a total of 4 times within 4 hours. I was distraught, stressed and in tears. I cancelled plans because of this "mess"....and was told it had to do with NEW FDA guidelines on narcotic meds.
NOW, I could have left this entire process to the doctor and the insurance company, BUT, I felt I couldn't do it. If I did, it would take days, maybe weeks and where would I be then?
The thoughts that have been going through my head lately have been beyond twisted. Hiding away to go through withdrawal and get off of these things, then laying in bed for the rest of my life...was the most recent thought. Is that the life I want?
Dear reader, is that the life you live? Please tell me. I'm so sorry if it is.
But with an unemployed spouse, I can't really do that right now. He needs my help in finding him a new job....and this contract work he is doing is killing both of us. The dangerous trips he must make, the age of our cars, and just life in general, are stressing me to the max.
Laying in bed is not an option, well, or is it??? But, for the future, I'm considering getting off of the meds....just not now....
Well, I'm going to try to go for a walk right now....to unstress.
I will return later. DO NOT GIVE UP FOLKS! We are going to work through this invisible disease together.
Together we can do great things...please comment and ask questions...if you are so inclined.
Blessings....are STILL around us.....see them...focus on them.....believe in them....
Mo M.
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