Docs forcing you to stop benzos?

[Westend]

** sorry for the above, I separated it into paragraphs with double space between while writing it but it’s not letting me post it that way, it keeps putting in one solid block even when I try and edit. Apologies, I never meant to write it in such a difficult manner to read.梁

I am not seeing a spacing problem on this end. Is anyone else having this problem?

Try clicking the "Go Advanced button" and then you can preview your post before making the post.

Westend

[Ludes-Vet]

[QUOTE=Gladheart;193626]I would recommend finding an MD that only takes $$ to see them. These doctors seem to be more open and passionate to prescribing benzos and working to slowly tapper patients off benzos in a reasonable time frame. Working with managed healthcare and health insurance makes is more difficult for MDs to make the best decisions for their patients.[/QUOTE

] Ref: post #59 That was excellent advice that gave you! Ref: post #60!

When my M.D. retired, after serving me with HTF meds, in 2019, due to bad health, after being his patient, for,
over 20 years, (my doc that retired, was age 73). I did my homework & networking for a backup shrink, who
was also aging, as well. Not a easy task to do! My former MD retired "suddenly with no prior notice", & no
referral for me. I knew him very, very well, but, his illness was sudden, & he went RIP in June of 2021.

space

I also had a stockpile of HTF meds, from my former doc. (that carried me for over 1+ year), Finally, I found a
replacement M.D, early in 2021, who was also, in his mid-70's! Very hard to do, as my metro city/county of
now over one million+ residents.

I currently pay this M.D, who prefers "cash in fist" payments! I am so happy to accommodate this M.D.! As
stated, my aging M.D. works only PT, & does not like insurance paperwork for his PT medical
secretary, He discourages even CC's but accepts them with a extra fee, if one pays that way.

In general, so many things have changed in my lifetime, with the medical profession, especially in the past
10 to 12 years! Even my long term dentist, I have used since the late 1990's, he used to prescribe me
a few pain meds, for procedures, such as Vic's & Val's, will absolutely not do this anymore, since around the
year 2010/2011 forward! I feel for you, as I grew up in a tiny village, in a rural area

Just my few cents worth:

Can you commute to a larger urban area for your medical needs?

A. always try to find a MD (preferably a Psychiatrist, or a Neurologist, who is at least in their 60's forward.
(old school mentality)

B. Sometimes MD's of ethnic origin, can help. (if they are so called "aged" like above) (like hard to
pronounce surnames) etc. ( In my case I got lucky as both my last 2 MD's were Scotch Irish, like
me).

C. Try to get some referrals from social networking, from someone you can gain their trust.
(like some self-help groups) FYI it is tough, in a small town (I get that).

D. Try to develop a relationship with a pharmacist (preferably a owner of a independent pharmacy)
I use a independent pharmacy (which are HTF in even in a huge city where I live) but this has
paid off for me, if the pharma owner, or, hired pharmacist, trusts you, like from many years of
loyality. (They know who scripts the most HTF meds) etc.

E. Always keep photocopies of your RX's (like I did) many, many years (before Covid-19 changed things)
about 3 years ago. This helped me immensely, as my current MD, (shrink) had a closed practice, but,
made a rare exception for me. (I had seen this MD once back in 2009, but, as you may well know,
most MD's do not keep medical records if they are over 7 years old, especially if they are not affiliated
with a group of MD's/hospitals, etc.

[rendersam]

Thanks ! The Go advanced option to preview will help, 😊 thank you. I had typed the whole post out once, but I didn’t get it posted in time before my browser timed out, so it dumped it. I started over and when I retyped it again, I tried to use talk to text, and go quickly so I forgot to do the go advanced to preview—I was just trying to get it to post without dumping me again lol, I haven’t been in a forum in years just have to get back into the swing of things again.👍

[rendersam]

Thanks also and , I appreciate your responses a lot. There are a ton of good tips in there! I live in very rural north central Idaho— a large conglomerate from up north bought all the rural clinics around me— they are all control in a centralized way, and none will prescribe benzos or pain meds ( outside of broken bones or cancer even then it is very minimal). I’m 100 miles from a more urban area on one side of me and all of those medical practices dump patients into a centralized pain clinic that is also run by the conglomerate. None of the MDs will take a so-called pain patient or one on benzodiazepines. The one MD who I know did prescribe those meds to other people I know was ran out of practice three years ago. He wrote a very public letter in the local newspaper, chastising the other doctors around here who were in his mind “too afraid to pull up their skirts, and actually prescribe meds they need to.” He was retiring so he didn’t care, and let them have it.To the east of me there is nothing—literally not even towns for 300 miles and then you’d be in Montana where I have thought about going, but the distance is a barrier for me. Also, I don’t have insurance, but you folks really got me thinking that there might be providers in maybe Spokane, roughly four hours away, but an easier drive, who are cash only, and perhaps outside of the umbrella of this state, which is very anti-certain types of medications, many providers around here have gotten grants for example to get patients off of these meds. It’s worth a try to look outside the state, that seems like a more likely bet to me rather than western Montana. I have managed since 2018 without Klonopin and I don’t intend on going back on it. The withdrawal was horrifying. I am interested in trying to find a pain doc however. Thank you!

[LeeAnn]

I find that message boards sometimes have moods and can randomly make a post vanish. So at times I have typed a post in a trustworthy editor and transferred it when I finished it. Also and it took me while to "get" this, At the lower right corner of the reply box, every 15 to 20 seconds a little yellow , box pops up which says "auto saved". So even if it looks like your post has vanished, it really has not. Return your cursor to the box you were typing in , open it and it will ask if you want to restore what was auto saved. And Voila some or most of what you had been typing is restored

[LeeAnn]

Also, for the formatting problems go to your settings, scroll down to Miscellaneous Options and you will see 3 choices. I use the first.

Message Editor Interface:

• Enhanced Interface - Full WYSIWYG Editing
• Basic Editor - A simple text box
• Standard Editor - Extra formatting controls

When posting messages to the forums or other members, there are three interface types available to you. The simplest of these is a simple text box, while the last is a fully-fledged WYSIWYG editor, which allows you to format your text as you want it and see the results immediately.

Depending upon the capabilities of your web browser, you may not be able to use all of these options. If you experience problems when posting messages, try switching to a different interface type.

[Westend]

Excellent info LeeAnn.

I had forgotten some of that knowledge myself.

Thanks for the refresher.

Westend

[rendersam]

Thanks ! When I get a sec I’m going to review all this information and make sure my settings are set to optimize how I post. Thank you so much. 👍😀

[patient_patient]

Your post was very insightful and eye opening as to why it’s impossible to find a doctor to prescribe pain medication for a documented condition. I live in the Northeast and doctors here and no one will prescribe pain medication.

[Helluvaguy]

Most doctors, particularly primary care, do not want to prescribe benzos. The patients health is of little interest to them. The various government agencies regulating this stuff and the insurance companiesMy doctor took me off 3mg of klonopin a day cold turkey. My insomnia was severe and the psychiatrist was a complete asshole.are what they are most concerned about.Still, if you look around, you'll find someone who will prescribe the benzos. I drug rehab facility. Mike

would suggest an older doctor not affiliated with a hospital. It was at a

[Banana Bandaid]

When I first got sick in 1995, I was put on benzos. I managed to keep a prescription till 2020, where I made the mistake of seeing very new and very young doctor. He forced a taper that wasn't too bad, and I got through it. I ****ed around though, and took them a couple times per week and finally one day I started having to take them daily. I just got in with a new doctor. I told him the truth, they had me on the stuff for 20+ years, taper was too quick, my anxiety was through the roof. So I got my own.

I don't know if he's going to taper me or not. To be honest, I DON'T WANT to taper. I know in the long run I would be better off, but the older I get, the more anxiety and insomnia I seem to have. I'm pretty p*ssed at myself, I was actually OFF benzos for a couple years, but the anxiety came back and I was weak. So here I am again. I have sources, that's not the problem. Figuring out what to do is . I have horrible anxiety that hits me at 3 or 4am , it's absolute Hell.

I take 5mg in the AM, 2.5 early in the day, and often 2.5 late in the day. That's not all that much but when it's time to dose, I FEEL I need it. That's really no good.

[Enigma]

I was off them for a few years too and was glad not to feel I had to take them. Unfortunately though the other meds I was being prescribed for insomnia simply stopped working and my doctor had no Plan B for that so I had no option but to start sourcing them myself again and I don't see any time soon where I will stop sourcing them as I quite simply need them.

[Selfhelp]

My doctor quit prescribing any benzos due to the new policy his medical group has adopted. They now refer new patients to another doctor (psych) to evaluate if you should really need a benzo. As for myself, I had a stockpile to help me taper properly. For the last few years I have been sourcing my Clonazepam as I occasionally need them a few days per week.

I find it unethical for doctors to deny needed medication to those who have shown responsible long term usage. Isn't that what the meds were made for?

[SteveEast]

My doctor quit prescribing any benzos due to the new policy his medical group has adopted. They now refer new patients to another doctor (psych) to evaluate if you should really need a benzo. As for myself, I had a stockpile to help me taper properly. For the last few years I have been sourcing my Clonazepam as I occasionally need them a few days per week.

I find it unethical for doctors to deny needed medication to those who have shown responsible long term usage. Isn't that what the meds were made for?

If you have any medical problems in this day and age that may require narcotic pain meds, benzos, amphetamines, etc on a regular basis... The doctors only look at you as a liability...

[Larry27]

I haven't had an issue getting a low dose of valium.