New PCP doesn't believe I have pain, so yet again limited meds because I don't have a diagnosis

[SLadylani]

Well I finally saw my new PCP today. She seemed on top of it more so than my other doctor and immediately sent the referral for a GI specialist being that I was just in the ER again for 2 days for another impaction. When I explained to her what was going on she told me that she wasn't going to prescribe narcotics for just fibromyalgia. I reminded her I didn't just have that and I'm working on finding a diagnosis, and even the rheumatologist said I needed a pain clinic. My PCP said she couldn't fax a referral to a pain clinic because there are non in San Diego that take Medi-Cal!

I feel very frustrated and feel like my age is a barrier to being heard and listened.to. My probono chiroprator who's also a family doctor agrees that b ecause I'm so young doctors won't want to order tests on me until I'm order and the disease, whatever it is, has progressed more, i.e. more resistant to treatment.

I remember in nursing school to listen to your body, because only you know when there is something wrong with it. I trully believe, and know there is something going on with me. It's impossible for me to have this many symtpoms, be this fatigued, and in so much pain otherwise. Why else would a 23 year old girl continue to be hospitalized simply because her intestines stop working?

The Dr. also requested to see my back xrays before she believed there was something wrong with them and I in fact suffered from a back problem. So I have to wait another month to get a referral to an orthepedist. Good news is I scheduled an appointment with a pain specialist, $350, but it's not until Jan 25th. I just want someone to believe me. I have deep bone and joint pain, chronic severe constipation, extreme fatiigue to the point where my life is dramatically affected and I feel everyone is telling me there is nothing seriously wrong. I have extreme back pain but myu chiropractor continues, which I think I should stop seeing, even though he's been so nice.

I'm more scared than anything. I wanted to stay off the narcotics, but yesterday the pain got so bad I couldn't take it and took the pills offered to me at the ER. Now I fear I won't be able to stop. But my PCP only gave me 10 doses to last a month despite me telling her my old PCP gave me 2 doses a day. I feel like my life is collapsing in on me, and just as I was beginning to relax from the search for a diagnosis, I see the importance of it, for I, as a young 23 year old girl, will never be believed until I have one.

[SLadylani]

I totally believe that. I'm so desperate I'm going in there as self pay! I found the otheere two doctors I did that with seemed to take me more seriously ( not that pain meds came up with them). I guess they think if I go the length to get the help, I must really need it. I'm scheduling an appointment with the UCSD MS specialist down here as I trully have a gut feeling I have the early signs and symptoms of MS. Unfortunately, that will be cash pay too. I just gotta get that diagnosis to be taken seriously, even though I have a legitimate back injury.

[atonicat]

I'm in the same boat you are except I'm actually seeing a pain management doctor. They are more than willing to do injections and RAF's but are really not wanting to give me opiates. I just went today and got 30 Percosets to last a month and she told me to take them only when the pain is horrible. ugh. I'm only 27 and have been told by my PM that long term opiate therapy is not an option for me even though I've been in chronic pain for years. She thinks that the RAF's I'm getting next month will take away all the pain. I'm scared of what will happen if they don't.

I read a forum for doctors (pain management doctors) and most of them said that they do not take Medicaid/cal/care patients! I don't really know why but I think it has something to do with them not paying back as well or something. They also say that patients with that insurance are more likely to be drug seekers. I'm not even joking that shocked me. I read a 274 page report on this and it was mentioned several times. I have no idea why they do that.