As some of you know, I've had a nightmare dealing with my primary care physician for going on five or six years. He had never even heard of Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia when I first presented this as my opinion of my diagnosis.
Two appointments ago, he called me an addict. Excuse me??? How any physician can invalidate a patient like that is beyond my powers of comprehension. And take into consideration that this is the same doctor who, when asked to test me for MS or other neurolgical problems during a two year period of constantly falling, for no apparent reason, REFUSED to run any tests...and stated there was no problem other than my being a klutz.
This past week, I received the results of a drug screen that I've volunteered for on many occasions and had encouraged him to perform. The results were that I tested NEGATIVE for all illegal substances and any opiate medications that were not prescribed to me. The results futher stated that my levels for Vicodin, which I am prescribed, were LOW.
I'm happy to report that I've found a pain management doctor who has a mother with Atypical TN. He called me at home and spoke with me for about 20 minutes. He was very compassionate and said he would work with me to find the right pain medication that is the safest for my system. He agreed with my opinion that as far as pain medication was concerned, I was taking about half the normal adult dose, which would not categorize me as an addict. I felt like I'd won the Lottery!!! The only thing better would've been that he had Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia himself. I will be seeing him on Dec. 1st and am thrilled I can leave Dr. Nitwit in the dust and close that unpleasant chapter in my medical journey.
It's a shame that there are doctors out there, like Dr. Nitwit, who do not put the best interests of the patient first. I understand that most are paranoid about the DEA breathing down their necks about prescription pain medication abuse. But when there's a diagnosis to back up the need for pain medication - please consider the fact that the patient may have a legitimate chronic intractible pain condition ((( in my case 5 different chronic intractible pain conditions ))), may be in need of opiates and may - just may - be telling you the truth when you ask them if they're abusing other substances.
I can't wait for my next ((( and last ))) appointment with Dr. Nitwit and remind him, while going over the test results, that he'd accused me of being an addict.
I expect any doctor to treat me with the same professionalism, care and concern that they would expect of a doctor who was treating one of their family members. Period!!!
In your face, Dr. Nitwit!!! You were wrong!!! Learn from this experience, quit marginalizing your patients and admit your mistakes.