Since November, I have been on a mission to seek pain relief from my chronic pancreatitis. I believe this task will be simple. Go to the doctor. Present your seven years of medical records indicating you have chronic pancreatitis. And instantly, a prescription will be written in which pain pills will soon be in your possession. Of course my blissful visions and reality are vastly different.
My first stop on this merry-go-round is my primary care physician (PCP). I present everything to him and wait for my prescription. “I am sorry. Your issue is your pancreas. I do not treat the pancreas. You should go see a pain specialist.” Bummed, but not defeated, I go in search of a pain specialist. After waiting five weeks for the appointment, I think, “This is it! I will finally have some pain relief.” The pain doctor notes my medical history. He then says, “I do not treat the pancreas. This needs to be dealt with by a GI specialist. Go to a GI doctor. He can prescribe you pain meds.” A bit baffled why a pain specialist can not treat pancreatic pain, I continue on my adventure.
I search diligently to find a GI physician who specializes in treating the pancreas. I send over my seven years of medical records and patiently wait two months for the appointment. When the GI doctor sees me, he immediately dismisses I have pancreatitis. Despite my endless hospitalizations and stacks and stacks of medical records indicating the contrary, the physician refuses to treat me. “Go to a pain specialist for your pain.” I asked him for a recommendation, but he never responds to my inquiry.
Completely heart-broken, I search for another GI doctor. I find a clinician who used to be my GI doctor six years ago. I figure he can not deny my previous medical records as he treated me for chronic pancreatitis in the past. I make the appointment and wait another month. In the meantime, I search and search for a pain specialist. Not finding any pain specialists near me, I decide to try to see the first pain specialist again, again pleading my case and begging for his help. I wait a month for the appointment. A few days before the appointment, my insurance calls me. “The pain specialist you are going to see on Wednesday no longer accepts your insurance. If you go to the appointment, you will be responsible for the charges incurred.” Absolutely shocked but grateful for the information, I call the pain clinic. Yes, it is true. The pain center no longer accepts my insurance. I cancel my appointment.
The next week, I have my appointment with GI doctor number two. The appointment goes well. But as I speak with the physician and more and more of my medical history is revealed, I see panic and worry in his face. He decides not to treat me but to refer me on to one of his colleagues. I leave the appointment with only a referral and no pain medications.
Next, I try to find another pain specialist. To my great relief, it only takes a couple of days to get in to see the doctor. When I explain my need for pain meds for my pancreas, the doctor seems stunned. “I do not treat the pancreas. That is a GI problem. Go see a GI specialist.” When I explain I have seen two GI doctors already, the doctor has some compassion. He does give me a prescription for a few pain pills. Albeit a small victory, I am grateful for his kindness.
After waiting and waiting for my GI referral to GI doctor number 3 to be processed, the appointment is finally scheduled. Another five week wait. When my appointment comes, the physician explains she does not treat the pancreas. She says she will help me, but no pain meds are prescribed, and no follow-up appointment is scheduled. I again seem to have been dropped as a patient by another doctor.
Through all this, I have been suffering daily pancreatic pain and have had many pancreatitis attacks. When I am in the emergency department, I am yelled at for not taking pain medicine at home. When I explain I have failed at getting a prescription for any significant quantity, the information I provide falls on deaf ears. I am always sent home empty-handed. I have also been hospitalized three times with pancreatitis. I have been given massive doses of pain medication while hospitalized. At discharge, again, no pain medication is prescribed. When I insist from one of my one hospital doctors I need pain meds for at home, he tells me to get them from my PCP.
I have recently switched PCPs. The next time I see my PCP, I ask for pain medication. “I am only a resident doctor. I cannot prescribe pain medication. I will have to ask my attending to write out the prescription.” I do not know if the resident doctor ever asks his attending or if the prescription request is denied, but no pain medication is ever given to me.
So, that is my story (so far) about trying to get pain medication. I have given up hope that I will ever have pain relief. Instead, I will try to endure as best as possible and cling to God that some day this pain shall all be a distant memory.
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