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Have Chronic Pelvic Pain. Taking Methadone. Suggestion?

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Posted on Wed, 7 Aug 2013
Question: Hey, the Dr that I have been using for past 6 or so years have been prescribing methadone for my chronic pelvic pain and he has recently sold his practice to a new Dr and he won't prescribe methadone any longer to any of the patients, the methadone really helps me, what can I do now? I have tried to see if any other Dr.s in my area will please take me as a new patient and continue to prescribe me the methadone. With no luck 4 offices have turned me down. This is the only medicine that helps me, I have tried so many others. I don't know what to do, please help if you can.. Thanks,XXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)
Hi,
Thank you so much for this query. I am Dr. Ditah and feel honored having this opportunity to address your health question today. I am so sorry to hear about this chronic pelvic pain that you have had over the past 6 years. I understand your frustration especially when you are unable to get what makes you feel better.

The honest truth is, if you call up a doctor or a clinic and make it explicitly clear that you want methadone prescription, they will tend to think you have a drug problem. They will not understand you have a genuine reason for requesting it. Almost all clinics/doctors will behave in the same manner. It is not surprisin they have all turned you down. The procedure below will help you and should work.

Call up the clinic and tell them you have a pelvic pain and you need to see a doctor. They would for sure secure an appointment for you. Go in, get consulted and let the doctor choose which medications to prescribe. Take them and try, if they do not work, then return to him for review. He/she will continue to work with you to find which drug works best and for sure you will somehow return to methadone or another effective drug. Do not insist on getting this drug but passively guide him/her to it by working honestly with him/her. NEVER REQUEST FOR IT and more so at the first visit. Suggest to him that it used to be very helpful but you will like to try any other options he thinks are equally effective. This will work because it is not the patient requesting. He will be able to justify that every other thing has failed and then he will feel comfortable trying this drug. No doctor starts prescribing pain medications with methadone unless otherwise indicated especially in this era when so much restrictions are placed on these class of drugs.

I hope this helps you. If there are any ore questions related to this query, please feel free to ask them for I am very ready and happy to address them. I hope you soon get to have the drugs that work best for you.
Keep me updated.
Dr. Ditah, MD.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (42 hours later)
Thank you for answering my questions. I have another question I would like like to ask. I have started looking for another Dr. But each time I call and try to make an appointment with the Dr. I am told that the Dr needs to see my records before they will see me, 2 Dr offices have already told me they cannot see me as a patient. The town I live in is very small. There is not a lot of Dr.s to see. What if I can't find anyone to see me? The Doctors have a right to turn people away who need help? Also, I had surgery for a ventral hernia repair in 2006, I have been in pain every since then. In your opinion, could I be experiencing nerve pain, or something with the mesh that was put in me? I realize you haven't seen my records or anything. I just desperately want to great better and stop having this horrible pain every day of my life.... I am sorry if I have asked you the same questions... I really appreciate your help............


Thanks,
XXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Hi and thanks for this follow up questions. You don't have to feel sorry asking me more questions, helping you is our singular wish on this panel.

I cannot for sure tell what the exact cause of this pain is. I think you will need a detailed interrogation, review of records, examination and may be some tests to try and address this problem. It could be the mesh, adhesion secondary to surgery, or something else. Please, talk with you doctor when you find one.

Doctors do have the right to turn down patients but they cannot turn down their patient in an emergent condition. if your doctor is to terminate a relationship, then he must notify you and give you sometime to find a new doctor before he terminates the doctor-patient relationship.

If the pains become severe and unbearable, make an emergency visit to the ER. No patient can be turned down in the emergency room. From there, they will arrange visits for you. Also, negotiating face to face may make it more likely in this case for them to understand your pain and be more willing to help.
If i were there, i would have taken you as my patient at a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I can dictate or criticize others especially when it is ethically correct though morally concerning.

I wish you the best with this process and also a solution to this pain problem.
I wish you good health.
If you have more specific questions related to this query, please we are ready to address them.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (3 days later)
Good morning,

Hope you don't mind, I have another question. I have scheduled an appointment with the Dr. That denied me the methadone. Can you please advise me on what I can say to him. Sorry for short notice my appt. Is tomorrow Friday 7/12

Thanks,
XXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX

I a happy to at least hear that you have secured an appointment. This is a major step getting to where you really wish,: having the right pain medications for your pains.

You story line should be that you are sick. I have pains. He will investigate and make suggestions. Abide by them. Even if s/he prescribes pain medications which you think will clearly not be effective, accept and try. When you return for you follow up visit, tell him/her what your honest experience was. Progressively, you will finally get the drugs that will work for you, and why not methadone. Don't make the doctor sense for once that you are requesting for this drug and that this was the idea behind your visit. If s/he does, s/he will most likely never believe your genuine plight.

I hope this helps.
I wish you all the best tomorrow as you go in for this appointment. If you want some more specific information, please let me know.
Dr. Ditah, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (6 hours later)
Hey Dr. D,

Thanks for writing me back, I with tell him what you said. In your opinion, is Methadone a bad medicine to take? I know there all bad if you abuse them. I wasn't sure if maybe there is bad side effects in methadone. Is there a pain medicine you feel is around the same strength as Methadone? That I could take, I take 3 tablets, 3 times a day of methadone. Thanks for answering my questions. Talk to you soon..
XXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (9 minutes later)
Hi and thanks for this follow up.

Methadone prescription is restricted because it is widely abused. it is a good drug for pain management and has others in the same family that can do a similar job.

Suggesting any other which is still a possible drug of abuse will raise suspicion. Walk in, present your story as it is. No preference for any drugs. Together with your doctor, you will finally get the drug that you need which could be methadone but please, don't rush. Doctors don't like to be rushed on possible drugs of abuse with limitations on prescription.

Hope you find this helpful.
Wish you good health.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (21 hours later)
Hey Dr.D,

I wanted to update you on my Dr.s visit today. I really liked him, he was nice, and seemed to care for his patients. I explained my history with him, and about the pain medicine's. He explained the good and bad of pain medicine. We decided on some medicine's to start on after I finish what I already have. I am happy with the end result. I. Am grateful for your help you've given me. Please take care
XXXXX







doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 days later)
Hi and thank you so much for keeping me updated.

I am happy you really liked him and the outcome of your visit. I am humbled to know I was of help to you on this. Please do return to me for more answers in future.

You may now rate the answer and write a short review to help us improve on the quality of our services. I wish you good health and above all a peace of mind!

Thanks so much for this opportunity you offered me to contribute to your healthcare.
Stay blessed!
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Have Chronic Pelvic Pain. Taking Methadone. Suggestion?

Hi,
Thank you so much for this query. I am Dr. Ditah and feel honored having this opportunity to address your health question today. I am so sorry to hear about this chronic pelvic pain that you have had over the past 6 years. I understand your frustration especially when you are unable to get what makes you feel better.

The honest truth is, if you call up a doctor or a clinic and make it explicitly clear that you want methadone prescription, they will tend to think you have a drug problem. They will not understand you have a genuine reason for requesting it. Almost all clinics/doctors will behave in the same manner. It is not surprisin they have all turned you down. The procedure below will help you and should work.

Call up the clinic and tell them you have a pelvic pain and you need to see a doctor. They would for sure secure an appointment for you. Go in, get consulted and let the doctor choose which medications to prescribe. Take them and try, if they do not work, then return to him for review. He/she will continue to work with you to find which drug works best and for sure you will somehow return to methadone or another effective drug. Do not insist on getting this drug but passively guide him/her to it by working honestly with him/her. NEVER REQUEST FOR IT and more so at the first visit. Suggest to him that it used to be very helpful but you will like to try any other options he thinks are equally effective. This will work because it is not the patient requesting. He will be able to justify that every other thing has failed and then he will feel comfortable trying this drug. No doctor starts prescribing pain medications with methadone unless otherwise indicated especially in this era when so much restrictions are placed on these class of drugs.

I hope this helps you. If there are any ore questions related to this query, please feel free to ask them for I am very ready and happy to address them. I hope you soon get to have the drugs that work best for you.
Keep me updated.
Dr. Ditah, MD.