OMG.. Pain Specialist gone from cancer center

I finally had my onco get me into palliative care. I only had three appts. so far with her and was scheduled to go back on 4/7 for her to see me to write another rx for my percocets. I already have an appt. with the oncology center (same bldg.) this Thursday.

I wanted to see if the pain specialist could see me this Tuesday (I figured there were cancellations) so that I only had to go on one day. I call her number and there is a message from my pain doctor that she will be out of the office for the FORESEEABLE future and will not be returning any phone calls left.

Not sure if they fired her (she was only there for six months) or if she has the virus.

And that to speak to your oncologist if you need a prescription. So I cancelled my car for that day and am now trying to find out if my appt. this Thursday is still on.

They must be so short-staffed that no automatic emails are being sent to confirm or cancel any appts. Now, I am stuck. Glad I called bc now I will have to wean myself down slowly from the pain medication. I can't reach anybody at the cancer center but I imagine they are overwhelmed and understaffed.

You forget how many things are completely upside down now. Now, I will have to wean myself down from the pain medication that I have left very slowly.

Not sure if my onco is even still in. This is so so bad. I do not want to go in unless I can get both taken care of and I know my onco won't write me for pain pills. I would rather cancel my appt. for the injections if that is the only reason I am going there and risk leaving my apt.

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Anne Marie -

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this! Especially on top of all of the other stress right now!

Wishing for the best...

Lynn

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I would go in. They probably don’t have time to return phone calls because they are doing the work of more than one person. If you cancel then they have to figure out how to get you in again. The best thing you can do is not to make extra work for them! I am sure your pain specialist is helping Covid patients with pain or filling in for someone else. I would bet that your oncologist will write your pain med prescription because he is now doing her work and his. Just go in with a written list of the meds you need to have renewed. And thank him at the end of your appointment for still being around to help the patients who have chronic problems that still need to be seen. He’ll be grateful!

Elaine