Why I hate doctors

[smileyeagle1021]

So, apparently I didn't just worry myself sick... apparently there was also some help from the world's least favorite type of organism.
I got diagnosed with a combination of tonsilitis and bronchitis (not a fun combination).
The doctor at the clinic wanted to prescribe me z-tab for the infection... I said, "no, I already know from experience that z-tab just isn't very effective for me." She said, sure, no problem, I'll prescribe amox-clav instead (which I know amoxicilin based medicines work very well for me).
Great, now for the cough suppressant, prescribed benzonatate, and I asked if it had codeine in it... again, I know from experience (I've had bronchitis several times before) that the only thing that truly keeps my cough in check is codeine. Well, no, because there is too much of a chance that you are faking the cough just to get codeine. Okay, well, can I at least get a higher dose of whatever it is you are giving me to make up for the lower effectiveness? No, because I don't think the cough is nearly as bad as you are making it out to be.
Umm... excuse me, you just chastised me that I had taken too much over the counter cough suppressant and it had raised my blood pressure to 50 points above normal (the clinic I went to shares a computer record system with my primary care provider, so they can see what my baseline numbers are) and I'm still hacking up a lung and you're telling me it isn't as bad as I think it is?
So, instead of getting the cough suppressant with the small amount of codeine I know would knock the cough right out, I've got to risk my heart health supplementing this nearly useless cough suppressant with OTC stuff just to prevent having a coughing fit so bad that I can't breath and pass out (which, oh yeah, has happened).
God I hate doctors sometimes. I know how much easier it is to just assume I'm a druggy than to actually, you know, treat me, but I'm one of those weird patients who actually wants my problem treated and fixed.
eta- I just looked it up, the doctor could have prescribed me up to twice as much of the benzonatate and be within FDA regulations... son of a whore, I could use that extra.

[Tash]

When I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago, they prescribed me the same thing. Until I ended up back there in a week with horrible night terrors (one of those fun side effects they don't tell you about). Then they gave me the codeine cough medicine.

[mathnerd]

I have a slightly different rant about doctors. Another day though. I feel too shitty to type it out. But, I feel your pain. I hope you feel better soon.

[notalwaysright]

I had a doctor I really liked before I moved... My current one I'm not sure about. Had an incident where I fainted. My own stupid fault, but I went in anyway. Basically I was really nervous and she asked a few questions to which I guess my answers were nervous, and she suggested counseling. I was nervous because I thought I might have a serious health problem! The idea that I sounded like I needed to talk to a professional about anxiety actually made me anxious. *sigh* I'm normally a pretty stable sort of person, and it was my first time seeing this doctor, so I don't think she had a good grasp of my personality.

[Sapphire Silk]

You know I don't blame doctors for being cautious about controlled substances. They do get a lot of trouble from drug seekers.

But if you believe the patient enough to prescribe antibiotics, you should believe the patient enough to use a cough medicine that works; and codeine is great for suppressing coughs.

Many states participate in a database that let them check for this sort of thing. There is no reason to treat patients like the enemy.

I would tell that doctor just how offended you are. If he's in a group, complain to his manager/medical director.

[paxillated]

Here in the US, they can also get in trouble with the thrice-damned DEA. I have had trouble with doctors not wanting to prescribe codeine because of the Almighty War On Drugs. Last month the stinkers made Tramadol, the only non-controlled drug that has any effect on my fibro, a controlled drug.

I am SO TIRED of having to live in pain because some idiots abuse drugs.

I had a dream the other night: I had an IV drip of Demerol, and actually got a good night's sleep. The dream happened as I began to wake up, as usual, because of pain. Sigh. (I had Demerol, just once, when I broke a couple of ribs. Wonderful stuff for pain.)

[AccountingDrone]

Many states participate in a database that let them check for this sort of thing. There is no reason to treat patients like the enemy.

I would tell that doctor just how offended you are. If he's in a group, complain to his manager/medical director.

I like this idea. We are so damned happy we have a PCP that knows us and trusts us. He knows when I say that something hurts, someone else would probably be curled up on the floor in pain.

I am SO TIRED of having to live in pain because some idiots abuse drugs.

I had a dream the other night: I had an IV drip of Demerol, and actually got a good night's sleep. The dream happened as I began to wake up, as usual, because of pain. Sigh. (I had Demerol, just once, when I broke a couple of ribs. Wonderful stuff for pain.)

I know exactly how you feel.

I was on morphine when I broke my back 30+ years ago. I know exactly *why* people get addicted to it. There is absolutely NOTHING like the feeling of being snuggled in a giant fluffy kitten pile and absolutely everything that hurt is far far far away.

[raudf]

I wanted Ambien for a week to allow me a chance to get my sleep back under control. That's all I wanted and why I wanted it. I'd been dealing with insomnia for over two weeks and benadryl wasn't working.

"It's too easily addictive," was the excuse I got. "Take more benadryl" was the thing I was told to do. So.. now I'm running on four weeks of exhaustion and medicine that doesn't let go of me in the morning. If I take too much benadryl, I run the risk of itchy, burning feeling feet that won't let me sleep. Melatonin pills do nothing for me.

I'm thinking of going to another doc and seeing if I can get some for a week, so I can kick the benadryl (which I suspect my body is now addicted to.. or at least extremely resistant to) and get some sleep.

[Golden Phoenix]

On totally the other end of the scale, Mr phoenix has prescriptions for Valium, Ambien, and two potentially addictive antipsychotics (one of which I'm physically addicted to, which sucks)

But the number of doctors who don't want to believe he's allergic to Codeine is mind boggling.

[smileyeagle1021]

But the number of doctors who don't want to believe he's allergic to Codeine is mind boggling.

Wait, where is this mystical land where you have to refuse codeine? I must keep it in mind the next time I have a bronchol infection...
It only took several days of the antibiotics knocking down the infection for the benzonatate to finally start being able to control the cough.

[mathnerd]

I think it's more that the moment you say that you're allergic to codeine, doctors immediately think you're drug-seeking for the more potent stuff. I can't take actual codeine, but I can take the synthetic versions, which does sometimes happen. I always get a funny look every time I list codeine as an allergy, and I'm pretty sure it's because doctors are so used to seekers telling them that they're allergic to everything under the sun except morphine.

[bunnyboy]

Even worse is trying to tell them you ha a sensitivity/insensitivity. I know from experience with both prescribed and illicit drugs that in order to get the effects of stimulation from a stimulant, especially ones that rely on Adrenaline receptors, I need double, that's understandable. What isn't, is when I tell them that opioids and their kind need to be at the minimum, I mean with the number of times I've actually needed those kinds of pain killers (kidney stones, one major surgery) you would think I would know that they tend to send me off into a shallow breathing, even lower resting BP and pulse, deathtrap.

[Luna Baby]

I just tell them I break out in hives when they ask me what my reaction to codeine is. That usually stops them in their tracks and the back peddling starts. Robitussin and chloraseptic spray are about all I can use for cough and try to stick to OTC for pain meds.

[Valentinian]

I refuse codeine because it makes me high. I gather this is the reaction that drug seekers actually want?

(It's not a fun high - among other things, it messes up my proprioception and I feel like my head is floating about six feet above my shoulders. Nobody's ever given me trouble about it, at least...)

[Golden Phoenix]

Mr Phoenix has EDS and is in chronic pain from his joints, they keep insisting on trying to give him codeine and he keeps asking for prescription strength ibuprofen.

Last time I had a cough they tried to give me a codeine based cough syrup but we can't even have it in the house, I got a lecture about how it is really the best thing for my cough.