Any suggestions

[katieoxo60]

My GP is joining the POD in January which will cause pain prescription problems as my painkillers cannot be sent electronically. They have been reduced but when I have my knee operation my pain will be increased in the recovery period so I will need my pain releif increased Temporarily,. Does anyone know what the process is for repeat controlled drugs when a repeat prescription is changed to the POD? I will be seeing the GP in January but my next reveiw is not for four months. I have been put on the reserve list for knee replacement, does this mean I only get operated on if some else on the list falls ill? or will I be given a date for op? Its very confusing as the waiting list is only fifteen weeks supposedly but when I return for my physio pre op tests it will be 17 weeks since my last appointment with consultant and around 36 weeks since referral. None of this makes sense but if I contact Pals it will just be put on a longer waiting list and seen as a complaint. Can anyone else throw any light on this quandry and does anyone know why some peoples referral is on a pink form and others are on a white form ? furthermore has anyone had their hospital number changed recently ,is it to do with computorisation, or does every hospital have a different number for patients as I thought your hospital number remained the same come what may unless you moved to another hospital region i.e scotland to wales. Any suggestions on this would be much appreciated. Maybe someone else might have had a similar experience.

[SquirrelsHolt]

Good morning dear Katieoxo60 and after reading your post im wondering if you are talking about medications that have to be written on blue prescriptions? I have this for my opiate based medication. Its always on a blue sscript seperate to all my other many pills etc? Im probably not able to help you but i do agree 100% that the methods and restrictions regarding "pain" medication, is as you rightly say, a postcode lottery!

[katieoxo60 in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Its OK apparently earlier this year some opiates or controlled drugs were added to electronic prescribing just need to get my GP to plus it on my repeats which I can do next month, as this months is being dispensed today. To answer your question it is not a blue prescription drug but it used not to be in the category that it is in , now it is classed as controlled drug requiring special action. In USA you can buy it on line.

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to katieoxo60]

I have to laugh when you say "in the USA you can buy it online!" OMG is there nothing that can't be purchased online in the good old USA????

[katieoxo60 in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Seems like it, but of course people there pay highly for treatment too and buy most prescriptions on line for cheapness I guess.

[SpinalPain in reply to katieoxo60]

Hi Katie,

I have been using online GP service for a couple of years now. All of my medication is on repeats and just tick what I need when I need it. My Gabapentin was put on the secure meds list awhile ago. I order my Gabapentin, my opioids and regular meds all at the same time. What happens then is the regular meds go across to the pharmacy electronically and the chemist then send a driver to my GP’s practice to collect the prescription for the secure medication. Then the chemist dispense, bag and deliver all of my meds at the same time. I have to sign for them when they deliver to me.

If anything I find online to be better as the chemist seem to not make any mistakes like they did before online system came to action.

Have a chat with your GP regarding your upcoming operation Katie. You may find that on your release from hospital they may send you home with pain relief meds. After the operation when the specialist visits you on the ward have a good talk to him/her and ask for a pain relief prescription for your release home.

Then you could ring your GP to let them know and repeat from there as and when needed. I am sure your GP will understand what you may need once you have had that chat.

Re:your upcoming operation. If the waiting list is 17 weeks long then you will not have to wait more than that. In fact by the sounds of it, if a cancellation comes up then you could go in their place. Which is good need for you Katie. Please keep us posted and let us know once you have been in to see your GP.

Sandie x

[katieoxo60 in reply to SpinalPain]

thank you I will keep you involved when any news occurs.

[SpinalPain in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you Katie

[katieoxo60 in reply to SpinalPain]

With reference the 17 weeks. Its supposed to be a 15 week wait when I return to hospital it will be 16 /17 weeks since the consultant accepted me for surgery saying that was my only option. Its just one big waiting game that disrupts all other plans. That must be why we are called patients It really annoys me as I am losing my life plans as I am seen as too ill to do anything that's another year of my life wasted on waiting for people to process my needs. Why are other people dealt with in a straight forward manner I ask ?? Bye for now will catch up when more news

[cyberbarn]

Just to add, the hospital should issue you with sufficient post surgical drugs when you have the surgery, and they should take into consideration what you are already taking and what you will need.

Although it doesn't always work out. I can't take opioids and needed naproxen but the hospital is one of those little day surgery only units and didn't carry any!

With reserve lists usually they will offer you a date as soon as someone else cancels. My ex was given four weeks notice when he was bumped to a cancelation. Mind you, that then got cancelled too!

[mixedgrill]

I can help with the controlled drugs problem my gp is using pod I am on 2 controlled drugs on repeat prescription 1 is fental patches and gabapentin both can and are sent electronically i have not had any problems to date although if some is picking your meds up some chemists require a signed statement from you saying that you give them permission to pick them up this has to be written each new time they pick them up as it has to be dated

[katieoxo60 in reply to mixedgrill]

Thank you for reply about controlled drugs. My chemist as assured me there will be no change only the number I have to ring to order the prescription. So looks as if it will be straight forward.