Fentanyl Cut Off

[john999]

The VA just put a hold on my fentanyl with no warning. They also reduced my oxycodone with no warning. I got the meds in the mail today. I was all over the VAMC a few days ago to get my pain meds straightened, and now without any discussion or warning they just stop the fentanl and reduce the oxycodone. I have been on the phone for an hour trying to talk to a doctor. So I guess I go into withdrawl now. What other professional pain clinic would cut off a highly addictive medication with no warning and no explanation. I will be on the phone with these people in the morning. The night nurse told me the pharmacy refused to fill the script. I am afraid to go out to the VAMC because I will get arrested. Commander Bob will have to fly down and get me out! I can't stand be jerked around like this. If I was to go to detox they would put me in the mental ward and torture me for weeks. This is the world class care the VA provides?

[Vync]

John,

That's wrong for them to do that to you. They are supposed to taper you off of them over a period of time.

Have you had your annual PCP appointment within the last 12 months? My VAMC shafted me before, so I had to go in. It did not matter that VA specialist doc saw me monthly and was managing my care. Stupid hospital politics.

[john999]

VYNC

If they can just cut off my drugs they can cut off anyone. Someone must know that sudden withdrawl from powerful narcotics is dangerous. The night nurse I talked to knew that, but the doctor and pharmacy did not know it. I will call every news station in town about this treatment. This really amounts to torture since I go into withdrawl soon.

I will be on the phone Wednesday starting at 8am. Those who think the VA is a great place take heed. Your day will come.

[Pete53]

That's just plain wrong to do that to you. Wish I had an answer but its the usual drill I guess

[john999]

Yes, you come to depend on VA care and they screw it up so bad you end up on detox ward or jumping in the river. The care at my VAMC is so inconsistent and poor some of those people should be in jail. VA health care is an contradiction in terms. If this is government health care then we really are in trouble. I think they screw it up on purpose. That is the VA's secret mission to drive all those with options out of the system.

[Testvet]

John they did that to me last summer or was it the year before I can't remember anymore all the years seem to be the same but in August they just would not send my percocets I had called and they said they would be mailed the day they came in the mail normally came and went I called the VA and left a note for my doc that I had NOT gotten my percocets yet and I was out of them, he called and said they would be there at most in 2 days that came and went I called back and he wasn't there I left a message with the clinic nurse finally it was about 10 days I called the Directors office and asked them why they were trying to kill me that I am a cardiac patient and to force me to go thru detox at home was a good way to make me have a heart attack the doctor called me about 30 minutes later and told me if I ever had a problem again to please call him and NOT the director I haven't had a problem since then about getting my meds refilled

if they are going to cut off narcotic pain meds they should either wean you off them or hospitalize all veterans before starting the detox if they are going to do a cold turkey method to many will either die from unexpected medical issues or commit suicide from the effects of going cold turkey after being on these drugs for years cutting them off is just plain dangerous