At The Drop of a Hat
By Amber
@AmbiePam (92711)
United States
November 14, 2023 3:51pm CST
I left my acupuncturist this morning feeling great! My phone had gone off while I was laying there, and then I heard a ding that indicated I had gotten a text. As I walked to my car I checked to see who called: my pain management doctor’s office. I called them back, and they were calling me to come in to take a urine test and to do a pill count. If I wasn’t there by 2pm, I would no longer be their patient. Never mind I had something else to do! 
So I got there close to noon, and of course passed the urine test and the pill count was dead on. It still brought on that tension of being treated like a felon. I was so glad I was in town, because years ago (different doctor) I was on vacation in a different state! In that case, they gave me 24 hours to get back, which I did, but it ruined the vacation.
When was the last time you had to drop things suddenly because of an inconvenience? I’m going to say parents, especially moms, have to do it all the time!
So I got there close to noon, and of course passed the urine test and the pill count was dead on. It still brought on that tension of being treated like a felon. I was so glad I was in town, because years ago (different doctor) I was on vacation in a different state! In that case, they gave me 24 hours to get back, which I did, but it ruined the vacation.
When was the last time you had to drop things suddenly because of an inconvenience? I’m going to say parents, especially moms, have to do it all the time!26 people like this
21 responses
@snowy22315 (180690)
• United States
14 Nov 23
Ugh, can you change medical practices?
5 people like this
@snowy22315 (180690)
• United States
14 Nov 23
@AmbiePam It is just the state of affairs I guess. sad
2 people like this
@allknowing (136384)
• India
14 Nov 23
There could be many such instances but I do remember one when I got a call to say that my sister was very ill. I rushed to visit her.
Ordering a patient like that is never heard of.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
14 Nov 23
@allknowing Oh, good. It’s hard to be in good spirits when family is sick.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136384)
• India
14 Nov 23
@AmbiePam She was and I accompanied her to the hospital but it was not that serious fortunately
3 people like this
@kaylachan (69676)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Nov 23
I have turned my life upside-down to be my husband's caregiver while he's in the hospital.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (69676)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Nov 23
@AmbiePam We just have to adjust and adapt.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106230)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Nov 23
That is not right. It's been a long time since I had to drop and go
2 people like this
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Nov 23
Will they really drop you as a patient . . . I mean, what if you seriously can't make it? Well, while I was out to start the daily errands, Hubby called me to let me know our neighbor called to let him know our front door was open 
. I had not even left for 10 minutes - so I figured it was me who left it open. But luckily the neighbor shut it for us. Still I drove home right away to make sure all was clear . . . I felt so dumb!!
. I had not even left for 10 minutes - so I figured it was me who left it open. But luckily the neighbor shut it for us. Still I drove home right away to make sure all was clear . . . I felt so dumb!!1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
15 Nov 23
Oh, I’m glad it really was just you!
Yes, they would drop me as a patient. They just don’t care about your life; they care about covering their own rears. And if they dropped me tomorrow, five new patients would be waiting to take my place. It’s sad.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Nov 23
@AmbiePam Yah, but it interrupted the plan - so I scrapped that entire morning - did something else 
.
Wow, that's pretty strict! Geez, but if only they could give more slack to those who are fine consistently. I suppose this all has to do with liability.
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Wow, that's pretty strict! Geez, but if only they could give more slack to those who are fine consistently. I suppose this all has to do with liability.1 person likes this
@xstitcher (32465)
• Petaluma, California
16 Nov 23
My life is a bit inconvenient right now.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16389)
• Raurkela, India
15 Nov 23
I had to rush home in 2019 when my house was robbed of all jewelry and valuables.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16389)
• Raurkela, India
16 Nov 23
@AmbiePam Thanks for your concern. I lost everything valuable.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
15 Nov 23
My PCP does not do this. I only get one refill of pain meds every 4-6 months so maybe that's why. I would not submit to urine tests and pill counts. I'd rather just not take them. Humph! I hope you have a terrific day. I'm so glad that the acupuncture is helping you.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
15 Nov 23
In Oklahoma, the urine tests are law for each visit to a pain management office. These surprise call ins are not law, that is all up to the individual pain management office. But each pain management office makes you sign a pain contract, saying you will not get pain medicine from any other doctor, you will take a urine test each visit, and you acknowledge if you fail these you will be dismissed from the practice. If you don’t sign the contract, the doctor will not see you. Each pain management office here makes you do it, unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92711)
• United States
16 Nov 23
@LindaOHio Oh yes. Just to make sure they don’t sneak something in that you didn’t expect.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
16 Nov 23
@AmbiePam I have to sign paperwork each year too. I should read it more carefully.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84013)
• Rupert, Idaho
15 Nov 23
Never thought of that happening with something like that. That's good you could make it there and everything went well. I am sure there were times for me, but I can't think of any at the moment lol Edit - I guess that is not totally true, I was dropping and going a lot the past couple months with my grandparents and all that was going on
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84013)
• Rupert, Idaho
15 Nov 23
@AmbiePam I just didn't think of it being that way at first.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
15 Nov 23
When Pretty was little and the school called to say she had thrown up at school. When kid throws up, the kid isn't allowed to be at school for 24 hours. I left work to go pick her up and kept her home until the next day. Since she was doing fine, I took her to school.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Nov 23
I'm glad you got to the pain management doctor's office by their deadline, and everything was okay.
I've never had that kind of ultimatum from a doctor. I'm sure I've been inconvenienced, but I don't know how long ago it was. Not lately.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62487)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
15 Nov 23
I HATE when pain management does that crap. I get why they do it. But there the ones who perscribed me the medication to help me try to keep my pain under control so clearly i need the meds.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37452)
•
15 Nov 23
That seems unreasonable to ask that of you. What if you would have been out of town, or had the flu or something? Good grief, people are getting so impossible.
1 person likes this
