Author: jonathanm1978
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:20 am
So I had my regular appointment yesterday (Feb 9) with my Suboxone doctor. Anyone who’s been keeping up knows that I mentioned having those 5 teeth pulled on 2/7, just 2 days before my Sub appointment (and as a testament to my sobriety, it just happened to be time for my to take a UA at this visit…two days after some MAJOR dental work that was very painful).
I also haven’t been to an appointment since joining this site, so I’ve learned QUITE a bit since my last visit to him, in November of 2011. I also had some things to share and throw out to my doctor, since I’ve read some horror stories about people and their doctors, I wanted to test the water and see what kind of doctor mine was.
Needless to say, I was VERY happy when I left his office. I told him of my dental work, and obviously he asked about pain meds when I told him that i had 5 extractions…and I told him that the dentist offered, but I turned down the lortabs and just took the antibiotics I was given. I also told him when he asked about group "therapy" that I had found something that worked pretty well for me, and I explained my finding of this site, told him there were many people here who were in recovery..and that I had actually met a couple of folks that had told me my story had helped them, or I’ve provided advice that has done someone else some good.
Then I moved the conversation toward my treatment. I told him that I was glad he wasn’t one of those doctors who put everyone through a 6-month or standard time-alotted program. He said the words that made me feel GREAT — and I quote: "Not every patient is the same, what works for one, doesn’t always work for someone else. We are doctors, and we can’t always remember everything about everyone, so it’s good that you’re getting information and learning things on your own"
When I mentioned the 6-month programs, he beat me to saying that the relapse rates were TREMENDOUSLY high, and in closing he told me that I had always done good with my treatment, and then he told me this:
"As long as your doing good and are comfortable where you’re at, then I’m comfortable keeping you where you are with your suboxone. But if you decide you want to drop down or taper off, just talk with me about that and I’ll help you do that."
I hope no one thinks I’m bragging, as I’ve seen some of you say some pretty scary things about your doctors, but this visit was one that I wanted to sorta investigate my doctor and see what his responses were. I had never asked the hard questions, and just usually went in, said yes to a couple of questions, and left. So I was taking what I had read about other doctors, and making sure that my doctor wasn’t going to suddenly say "oh, by the way, this is the last time I’m going to see you."
I had to make sure, but I thought that my doctor was pretty decent from the start..because of the way he helped me financially when I first started seeing him…but it never hurts to be positive about it. And now I feel better knowing that he’s not just in it for money, and he cares about each patient and their treatment, and what works best for each individual. I know we’re all at the mercy of our doctors, and some of those doctors change their course on a whim, but it’s good to find out exactly where you stand and what your up against, and whether you should look to other options, or if you’re at the best you’re going to get with your current choice.
I for one do not see myself changing doctors ANY time in the near future. I just hope that my doctor doesn’t decide to move away or pursue other areas of practice…but I somehow doubt he will.
I do think that it’s ironic, VERY ironic, that the same doctor that helps me and feels the way he does about addiction and ORT, will take the next patient after I walk out of there and prescribe them 120 Lortab 10s a month. It just seems..like I said, PURE irony. But, different things for different people, and just like the man said, not everything works the same for everyone….so true.
