Posted by JohnL on June 9, 2000, at 3:47:06
In reply to Re: Do you ask your pill doc for certain meds?, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 17:28:37
> You guys are awesome!!! I have an appt this coming Monday with the Virginia Mason clinic here in WA, a new insurance provider since I switched jobs. I'm on the perfect combo of meds right now and have felt normal for 15 months now, since I started Remeron, but when I told the doctor's office all I was on and the length of time I've been on meds, they about freaked and told me I need to bring in all medical reports of past doctors in order to stay on my meds. I'm very nervous about switching doctors from a brilliant doctor to someone I know nothing about in an HMO, but my brilliant doctor wasn't listed as a provider on my new insurance. I pray that I won't encounter the "Klonopin is an evil thing and we won't give you any" mentality. I'm definately going to check out the website you all suggested!
Cari,
I'm not exactly sure how to handle it or what to say, but you might want to plan in advance long and hard about what to say if they threaten to remove some of your medication. Whatever you say, keeping it professional and polite at first will go a long way. But if that doesn't work, I would not hesitate to strongly reject their plan of removing medication. As a matter of fact, I personally would probably refuse to leave the office if they intended to send me out in the world without the medication that keeps me well. That would be totally irresponsible, though perhaps well-intentioned. But good intentions don't count. Results do.You're having good results. That's what matters. The worst thing to do is to mess with it. The last thing we want to do is try to fix something that isn't broken.
It's easy to feel intimidated and hold back in the doctor's office. But don't. Do not under any circumstance accept anyone's notion of removing some of your medication. If that is threatened, it's time to be firm and bold, take the lead, be the boss, and stand up for yourself. But like I said, if this possibility really exists, it might be time well spent to really think hard of what and how to say the right things to defend yourself.
And one more thing...just because your doctor isn't listed under the HMO doesn't mean you can't continue with him. Most HMOs will chip in part of the payment for a non-HMO physician. And even if you have to pay outright cash, that might not be a bad option. Also, you can ask your previous doctor to call the new one in your defense. Tell him they are threatening to remove some of your medication. Ask him if he could please call so-and-so to discuss your case and why it might not be a good idea to remove any of your medication. Ask your doctor to go to bat for you.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:36235
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36671.html