Ok I get that thanks to those who abuse, legitimate pain sufferers have to (in some pain clinics) go in for random “pill counts” within 24 hour notice but hear me out…
I’ve been going to this clinic 6-7 years & never once have I got called in for a pill count nor have I heard any of the other patients mention having to get called in for one. I knew the clinic I was at years before did but I assumed this one didn’t.
I get a call from the nurse telling me if I’m not there by 2:30 tomm (today) for a pill count that I’ll be terminated. I’m like what!?! First of all I had no idea y’all did those but I can’t come tomm I have an appointment with my other doctor. The nurse says “well u can be here at 8 am & it won’t take us long then u can get back for ur other appt. The pain clinic is 2 hours from my house. My other doctor (my regular PCP) is an hour from my house THE OTHER WAY. I told her there was no way I could go there & get back in time for my other appt (and do they not know gas is at an all time high!?!) anyway I told her I’d be glad to send them a picture of me holding my meds to see what I had left or take a video of me counting them whatever they wanted but I couldn’t come that next day bc again I had an appt which was an hour from my house in the opposite direction, she insisted that was policy but I ask to speak with the doctor or manager & she said they were busy but would call me back. I said ok but im leaving I won’t be here by the house phone bc I have to go pick up my son so have them call my cell if they don’t get me try again bc service is spotty the way I have to go to pick him up she says ok. I never got a call but a voicemail notification popped up at 3:22 “hey this is the manager here at such & such pain clinic calling u about the pill count call me back at #”.
I called back as soon as I got the voicemail which was just 8 min later at 3:30- the recording that plays when the office phone is shut off picks up. I know they usually cut the phones off at 4 but 3:30!?! I called the main hospital line (my clinic is inside a hospital) & ask if they could page someone at the clinic to pick up the phone cause it was important she said no they didn’t have that option so not having any other option I called the number back to managers office & left a voice message that I had returned his call 8 min later or tried to but was getting the recording bc the phones had been cut off . Ok today I get up get ready head to my other appt then realize I haven’t heard anything back from the clinic so I called them & finally got to talk to the manager. I said “This is so & so I tried to call u 8 min after u left that voicemail but they had cut the phones off bc I got that recording , did u get my voicemail I left u yesterday?” He said “umm yea yea I got it this morning ” (I’m thinking okayyyyy why haven’t u tried to call me back then!?!) but then proceeds to tell me phones don’t get cut off til 4 I’m like sir no I have proof I called on my phone all I was getting was the recording then I called ur office line n left the voicemail I tried to get thru I can’t help if they cut the phones off I said they cut them off early a lot even the switch board lady I had called to try to get her to page someone yesterday at the clinic said they cut them off early a lot he’s like “well I’ll have to look into that, but since u didn’t come in ur terminated I’m sorry” I of course went thru the whole “I had an appt thou with my other dr I told the nurse that I explained to her the distance to them & the distance to y’all & how I couldn’t do both etc etc I’ll be glad to come tomm bc I kno if I head there now I can’t make it before y’all close but I couldn’t bc I had my other appt today but nothing I said changed a thing he said that was policy blah blah blah
So two things –
1. How is this legal !?! I had another appt -oh & btw I even called my regular PCP & ask if they could see me any the next few days & they had no openings said only way I could do that was if they had a cancellation. I just don’t see how this is legal bc it def isn’t fair!!!
2. Had the office staff not cut the phone off I would have been able to talk to the manager yesterday & would have known they was only giving me the option to come in today or get terminated & I dang sure would have just had to of moved my PCP appt to whenever & went for the pill count but I thought surely the doctor/manager would be understanding of me having another appt as I told them they were welcome to call & verify it , had they not cut their phones off I would have gotten to speak with him yesterday & known so how is that not their fault for cutting the phones off early !? Furthermore had the manager called me back this morning when he said he got the voicemail I would have even been ok then bc I could have obviously cancelled my other appt & flew to that dr for the count .
Please help!!! I’m just tired of being treated like addicts all I want is relief so I can care for my 4 year old as a single mother & have a somewhat decent life not miserable in bed hurting day in & day out & it just seems to be getting harder & harder for those who truly suffer with chronic pain
Suffering from chronic pains, my clinic want to terminate my access
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Could you not have gotten your pcp to count the pills and inform the pain clinic? Or does your pcp not know of your pain clinic attendance? Knowing how important pain pills are, I would have postponed the pcp appointment. Not that any of that helps now, sorry. I don’t think anyone here can really help…..you will just have to take your pills in and beg to be reinstated
I’ve never heard of a medical facility telling a person to stop, what they are doing and report to the office for a med count. Doctors give notice in advance.
I’ve seen medical offices give ultimatums in your situation if, 1. Dodging testing 2. Positive testing/or no testing of meds in the blood stream. 3. You have been reported for abuse of meds.
In either situation Pain Management doctors are getting stricter. And, will not risk losing there license or going to jail. There’s nothing you can do legally. You just have to find another doctor.
Pill counts are pretty standard with pain management and certain class medications. Many doctors that require them are willing to let your PCP or even a pharmacist do the count an report to them if needed, for future reference.
maybe get the note from your PCP today when you go. Then, go directly to the other doctor asking for a pill count and show them the doctors note, and do your pill count. Maybe they will reverse their decision? After going 6 years, it makes me wonder if someone called in and reported you for something
I wondered the same thing!!! How can they just go off someone calling & saying something thou? It’s just so unfair
I have several autoimmune diseases and my spine has several things wrong with it I see pain management. Been there 10 years. Once I got called at 11am and was told I had until 2pm to be there for pill count. I have a disabled son with medical equipment, I babysat all my family’s babies. The clinic is over 2 hours away. I wasn’t even dressed for the day. I tried explaining that I could come the next day but I had a house full of children and everything they didn’t care yet children aren’t allowed in the clinic. My husband at the time had to drive a hour home from work early just to take me and all the kids to get my medicine counted. Got there the Dr said oh if I had known your situation you could have came the next day… unfortunately the staff in these clinics are not friendly or understanding that we do have lives at home. Legal though. It was on the paperwork I signed when I started because if I didn’t sign it I got no help for my pain so I have to jump through hoops like a animal in a circus to have relief that a human should have to be able to continue a life of any quality.
I would have just brought all the kids with when they want to demand a certain time with no notice that’s on them and they can deal with it
my office doesn’t allow children inside.
that’s their problem if they want to be demanding
that’s how you loose your place then and here there’s no where else to go. If you want a quality of life at all you cooperat with their rules.
how are u managing to tend to so many kids?
I’m not now. That was the beginning of all my diseases taking over my body. Now it’s just me and my son. Occasionally I’ll let a nephew spend the night but only one kid at a time and they are all 5 years old now. They were babies when this happened. I had 3 babies same exact age and a 3 year old, 4 year old. Plus kept my other nephews that were 10 and 9. I do though take full care of my son who is mentally, and physically disabled. He’s 15 now. That’s why I need to properly be managed by the Dr’s so I can function as well as possible. So I can do what has to be done. People like me who have the diseases I do still have obligations and a life they just can’t forget about just because we’re in nonstop pain 24/. We have to find a way to be able to handle daily life and not suffer to the point we cannot function.
Chronic pain is a spectrum, and many people suffering even from severe pain still tend to littles, work full time jobs, and tend to the home. The difference is they are suffering physically while doing so, hence the need for pain management. Hope this helps
I had to sign a controlled substance contract before being prescribed my pills and it had random pill counts and drug testing listed as possible requirements. If you signed something, ask for a copy and see what it says. It’s very likely in there
Should have been able to coordinate counting your meds right at your PCP’s office via zoom plain & fairly simple in my eyes especially last minute pop and hopefully squeaky clean history
I was 1 pill off one time, was sick and forgot I had already taken my morning pill, and had to have a paper notarized monthly for a year saying I wasnt selling them.. They did a drug test and a breathalyzer test every time I went.. crazy but definitely understood.
I would print out screenshots of the calls, any communications about this subject. I’d get proof of your other dr visit, and I’d find a new clinic. These people clearly don’t want to work for you. But you don’t want to get red listed either. Where no pharm will help. Look up clinics in your area and maybe check out work it health online
the problem is most places only have so many pain management providers. And they are on a wait usually.
work it health online? Is this an online dr that does pain management?
The clinic is covering their asses because doctors can get in trouble for overprescribing pain medication. It’s policy and you didn’t follow policy. They had a right to term you (and you probably signed a contract confirming you’d comply or else). I would find a closer pain clinic if you can’t comply to what one 2 hours a way wants. A red flag is someone making 100 excuses on getting their medication counted.
yep. When the only solution someone wants is them not coming then the dr is going to terminate.
I’ve worked for a pain management Dr before.
When you first were taken as a patient they had you sign forms that outlined the expectations and rules.
With pain management they don’t play, simply because many abuse the system.
We once had a patient that somehow managed to obtain 300 Percocet, 200 other meds and another 600 of another. I caught it too. I live close to another state, and they were going to other states to get meds. The PMP pulled it up. Another took their whole bottle to the beach, and claimed water got into the bag, getting all the pills wet.
Anyway, it is legal, as it’s the office policy for treatment.
They can and will drop patients swiftly due to less “violations”.
You can attempt to appeal, supply proof of the other appt as well as distance, phone records, etc.
But knowing how these clinics work, odds are you’ll have to find another Dr. I’m sorry.
That’s how it is with all controlled substances (sometimes even Benzos!)
Suboxone people have strip/pill counts
Methadone patients have vial counts, and pain pill patients have pill counts. It’s to be sure you aren’t abusing/selling your prescription and it is 100% legal. It’s to try and keep prescription medication off the streets.
Also sadly in this day and age, making excuses as to why you can’t get to the clinic is a huge red flag to doctors/nurses, so they probably were like “well the client is doing something with their medication they shouldn’t be, and wanted you there 100% to be sure your pills were on point.
It’s honestly because of the Epidemic and all the people who do abuse their prescriptions, and not just any one person.