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From one Rick to another here is my first suggestion. Dump your doctors! They sound like spoiled children who could benefit from a kick in the damn pants. What you need is an HIV specialist that does total primary care. The three conditions (HIV, DM, and AN) are a common triad. I wish the majority of my patients ONLY had three major medical conditions. My typical patient has HIV/AIDS, substance use issues, severe pain, cancer, HTN, cardiac disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, bone issues, morbid obesity, and then we add in the social issues. You are being screwed. Go to the American Academy of HIV Medicine Website and look for a specialist in the Denver area (they are many. My biases is you seek out a board certified Nurse Practitioner.....if you cannot find one to your liking send me a private email and I will help you.
Having just been diagnosed with AIDS 3 months ago (CD4 at 20 - and candida) has put me in a place of shock. The clinic I go to moves me through like a robot telling me the tests I need, the meds I need, and what my new numbers are. BUT... I have had Type 1 diabetes for 45 years. I've been in treatment for about 8 years for complications related to that (none of the normal kidney, peripheral neuropathy stuff - other stuff) and now I see that those complications could be related to HIV. And my doctors toss me back and forth. The endocrinologist says what I'm describing is related to HIV (now that she has something else to blame it on) and the infection disease doc says it's related to the diabetes. The neurologist (I have autonomic neuropathy) says well it's related to either the HIV or the diabetes so he won't treat it but here's what he recommends I ask them for. What does a person do? How do you battle this? Especially when I just plain feel sick. And am I feeling sick because I'm a not-at-risk person who suddenly has a diagnosis that comes from no where (just as I'm the only diabetic in either side of my family) so the emotional toll is high - or is it due to the actual illnesses. I live in the Denver area - if anyone has suggestions of great docs/clinics I'd be all ears! Rick
Not sure who you are commenting on Michael but if you have a clue in the world what the hell the other reader was saying I would appreciate your insight...if you are call me a "sanctimonious jerk"..well, yea on the sanctimonious but no to the jerk...R
What a sanctimonious jerk...
think,what we do we do unconditonally,we put in footwork leave out come alone,
Hello Steve...reality calling. The DEA does not tell us prescribers how to practice medicine and what pills to give. Either you are being handed a line of bullshit (likely) from your doc or you may be taking too many pills which is clouding your quality of life...so it seems I take a slam at Part II of this epistle.
thanks for your responses. As you probably know it is sometimes nice just to have your pain validated. I wish there were someone like you in this area. As a casual observer you guys (Clay and Richard) should meet for coffee. You already sound like a long married couple.... But seriously Richard, please keep up what you do for your patients. wether they ever say it, you are making a difference in their lives and making them more comfortable. Let them deal with the PM natzi's that I have seen and they will treat you like a saint.
Redbearatlanta
Amen! Have heard of others who get 100's of pills a month for pain...knowing if they actually took them correctly they would only about half that (for those truly in pain). Having started treatment for HIV recently my only real side effect is having some to the bone pain in my legs from time to time. Instead of asking for pain meds I've chosen to take other paths to deal with it ( hot baths with Epsom salt, wrapping hot towels from the dryer around them and using an electric blanket to stave off the pain, and some transcendental meditation ), so far this has worked fairly well...I've mentioned the pain to my Doc just so he knows, but never asked for the pain meds...so there are always some alternatives to try first. Apparently Georgia is a pill mill State...so I applaud you for taken a stand with your patients, educating those who need to steer clear of the meds when not needed and being an advocate to those who really do need then when the time comes! Just wanted to say Thanks and admire you for it. David
March 1, 2011