Not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot (I'm new) but I have a pretty serious problem with my clinic regarding vacation bottles.
I am going to try and be as short and to the point as I can.
I am going out of state for 2 weeks, so I put in a request for extra 'take home' bottles. I've done this before, as has my husband, so I know it takes time, so I put in my request several days ago.
This morning during my bi-weekly meeting with my counselor I asked her about the bottles and if everything was going okay. She then called the doctor to see if the papers were in order. It seemed that they were not, and that the doctor needed to sign them or whatever.
SO a few minutes later the doctor called my counselor back and informs her that I would only be able to get 12 bottles instead of the 14 I put in for because there was not enough time for the doctor to notify Lansing and get 14 bottles okay'ed.
I asked my counselor what I was suppose to do for the 2 days I would be without my prescribed methadone and she said the doctor suggested I take a little bit out of some bottles to make up for the two bottles I wouldn't get. (I am not kidding, she actually said this).
Now I am very angry because why should I have to "take a little bit out of some bottles" ? Why shouldn't I get 14 bottles I put in for? I got 14 bottles before, why not now? I did everything properly, I made sure I put my request in early, I follow all rules etc.
It is my opinion that what the doctor advised is very medically unprofessional! But I guess I do not have a choice in the matter if I want to go. And I really want to go! The airline does not do refunds and I really want to see my grandchild!
Our son is in the Army and he had to move himself and his family to New York. We're a really close family and this is the first time somebody
moved far away and we like to visit them wherever we get the chance,
so, as I have stated earlier, my husband and I have been through this
before with the clinic.
We do everything exactly how we are told, turn in our request usually months early, (always at least several weeks early, but it doesn't seem to matter) and keep reminding the counselors and nurses or whoever about the extra take homes were suppose to get, but every time, because somebody at the clinic does not bother to do whatever it is they are suppose to do (?), it gets really stressed out.
My counselor told me she would support me in any way regarding turning in a complaint but I have no idea where to start. I wasn't sure if I wanted to turn in a complaint until I got home, so this is why I am contacting you. She can also vouch for me in that I am doing really good with my program in the clinic. All of my urine tests have been clean and I go to all my meetings etc.
I have absolutely no other complaints as this clinic is a good one. It's just this process they have with the vacation and extra take homes. It is really very stressful! And now this! I'm going to have to fool around with my dose to make up for the 2 days I can't get. I dread doing this! I feel like I am being punished because I am on methadone. If I were on any other medicine I would not be having this problem. I would have enough med's to go on vacation. My doctor would not tell me to take a little bit off here and there to make up for 2 missing days!
If you can help me in any way I would really appreciate it. If not, well, I feel better just writing this out. (venting helps!)
I just hope a day will finally come where methadone patients can feel just as good as any other person on any other prescribed medicine feels.
Thank you,
Susan Knight
PS: By the way, the date I am leaving on vacation is May 18. The clinic doctor informed me this morning, May 14, that she would not have enough time to "okay the 14 bottles with Lansing". (Even though I turned in my request last month). I am returning from my vacation on June 1.
I live in Fraser, Michigan.
The name of my clinic is PremierCare,
address: 23700 Van Dyke, Warren Michigan 48089.
Their phone number is: 586-758-6670.
www.premiercare.org
My counselor's name is JoAnn Brown and my identification number is: 4522.
The doctor's name is: Dr. Cardova.
Thank you again.