Question re: meds

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Kjones13
Kjones13 Member Posts: 1,520
edited January 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I know I don’t post as much as I used to, but I am doing good so...I am 5 1/2 years out from dx. I have been on pain meds and antidepressants the entire time. I have jumped through a ridiculous amount of hoops through the years spending thousands of dollars and countless hours at physical therapists, neurologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, general drs, hospitals, gastrointerologists, hospitalists, etc you get the picture. I had to fight tooth an nail to get Ritalin two years ago so that I could get up and function and actually be a mother to my children. My oncologists office has prescribed all pain meds and all antidepressants for the past two and a half years. I went to specialists to get the right dosage/med combo but the oncologist office has always prescribed all meds. Friday, I go in for treatment just like I have every 3 weeks for the past 5 1/2 years and the PA on call will not fill my prescription because she is not “comfortable “ with the combination of drugs. I asked to speak with her and my oncologist nurse said no! My chemo nurses came unglued...as did I. I did get to speak to the PA and she told me her reason she doesn’t feel “comfortable “ prescribing and says that they treat cancer. They don’t treat side effects of cancer or their meds. I about lost my shit! I hate that I cry when I am mad and that’s what happened. She said she would talk to my dr on Wednesday (the next time they worked together). Well I just got a call from the oncologist nurse and she told me that I will need to see a psychiatrist (even though I am in therapy) and that I will need to see a PA or LNP when I need my pain meds refilled. What the f$@*!!! ??? And who knows about the Ritalin. They question me about that EVERY single month. I am so mad right now. Trying to hold it together so I can cook supper for the fam. Does y’alls oncologist prescribe your pain meds and antidepressants?

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  • Mzmerz
    Mzmerz Member Posts: 1,054
    edited January 2018

    I'm so sorry.  I've had similar issues with trying to get medications.  For a while, no one wanted to prescribe me any kind of pain meds, even Tylenol 3.  I finally had to change oncologists to a center who had a palliative care Nurse and since then, I've been getting them on time with no issues. But my other meds come from my PCP and she just moved out of state, so I have to find a new PCP or convince the palliative care people to fill those meds.  It should not be like this for us.  I blame the FDA and the total scrutiny of all the prescriptions written.  We go though enough without having to jump through these hoops.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited January 2018

    KJones, first, I am glad you are doing good.

    Secondly, it is okay to be pissed off and angry at the actions of the PA. What a bitch. She has no idea what you are experiencing. Your anger is justified. She pulled the friggin rug right out from under you and that, plain and simple, just ain't right.

    Thirdly, ask for an immediate referal to a psychiatrist, and go and get yourself the meds you need. You may find that it actually works out for the best. The main thing is that you get the meds you need to help you cope daily.

    I get antianxiety and antidepressant meds thru my primary care physician. His nurse practitioner worked with me for several months to find something that worked, going thru different meds. When finally we found the right one, she said, "if this hadn't worked, I was going to have to send you to a psychiatrist." And I would have gone, because I was having difficulty coping.

    When my sister was younger she grew to hate psychiatrists because of bad experiences dealing with them to get help for our mother a long time ago. Then a few years ago, this sister was having some emotional trouble. She had a nurse practitioner, whom she loved, who worked and worked with her for well over a year to find some relief thru meds. Then finally, sister went to a pschiatrist-what she swore she would never do-and she was put on a combo of meds that has evened out her anxieties and depression and she is doing well. I am happy for her. I have no idea how she was convinced to see a psychiatrist, but thank goodness she did.

    The PA you deal with sounds compassionless. Be angry, but bite the bullet and get yourself the help you need.

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  • bigbhome
    bigbhome Member Posts: 840
    edited January 2018

    Wow kjones, I would have lost it too! It sounds like you need a palliative care Dr. I know that if I need anything other than cancer meds and prescription drugs I have already been taking, I have to go to palliative care Dr. It is ridiculous the hoops we have to jump through for meds. My original mo, when I mentioned that I was worried about addiction, laughed and said that was the least of my problems. She would worry about that for me. I no longer care. I hope you find someone to help with that.

    Claudia

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited January 2018

    Kjones, I have steam coming out of my ears right now. An oncologist MUST treat side effects as well. Quality of life is paramount. I would have cried, too. There are legitimate uses for these drugs, and if helping a person living with stage iv cancer isn't one of them, I don't know what is.

    Ok, I don't have direct experience with this (yet) but a couple things come to mind. Be careful how you phrase things so that you don't get labeled "drug seeking". Maybe state the problem (pain and fatigue that interfere with activities of daily living) and then stare at them expectantly and let them offer the medication. Also, ask any medical professionals who know you and are on your side to communicate with this provider on your behalf. If you have to see a psychiatrist get recommendations from patients and you choose one with expertise helping cancer patients. I like the palliative care specialist idea. I am treated at an NCCN center where they explicitly state their goal to integrate care and treat the whole person, so referrals to oncology social workers, oncology psychiatrists, and other specialties are part of care.

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  • Kjones13
    Kjones13 Member Posts: 1,520
    edited January 2018

    thanks guys. I know we all have to jump through hoops and it’s just a pain in the rear with all the other things we have to go through. But 1. Why have they prescribed all of my drugs this entire time and then just now refuse? 2. It’s insane for a cancer center to not treat the whole patient (just my opinion). 3. They had been filling those prescriptions for me (this exact combo) for a year and a half before they took me off of tomoxifen because of the drug interaction! I will call my pcp and/or see if there is a palliative care Dr they will refer me to. I’m going to have to take an Ativan now 🙃

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