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Elle
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:26 am Post subject:
Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?
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Could a registered nurse be satisfactorily qualified to
remove the stitches I had put in for an apicoectomy?
In nine days I am scheduled to have them removed at the
endodontist who did the surgery, but I would rather not see
him again.
The endodontist wrote me a prescription for a supply of 800
mg Ibuprofen and some Percocet. I did not request the
Percocet. I even asked if it was really necessary. He said
it may or may not be. His assistant subsequently said to get
it, explaining I didn't want to wake up in the middle of the
night in terrible pain and not be able to get to the
pharmacy for hours. At the pharmacy I asked if I could just
get part of the Percocet prescription filled. I didn't want
more than I might need. I am frugal and don't like to waste
money; also, I don't like drugs in general. I also asked if
there was any difference between 4 tablets of regular, OTC
200 mg Ibuprofen and the prescription the doctor wrote. The
pharmacist said they were the same stuff. I have a big
bottle of ibuprofen at home and asked for just the percocet
prescription to be filled. The pharmacist said s/he was
required to call the doctor to omit the ibuprofen. The
doctor's office told the pharmacist I could not omit the 800
mg ibuprofen. I spoke with the doctor's office subsequently
and what I feel an illogical response ensued, amounting to
IMO paranoia about prescribing percocet to potential drug
addicts.
I have an abscessed tooth. X-rays from yesterday at my
regular dental's office and today at the endodontist
document it. My root canal of several years ago failed.
I won't waste money and do not have it to waste, anyway.
Given the conditions, I turned down the prescriptions, went
home, and am now loaded up on the recommended dose of
Ibuprofen using my OTC supply. But I sure would like the
percocet as a backup. I think it's outrageus that this
doctor would sacrifice good pain management on the basis of
utterly unfounded suspicions. I paid his office nearly $1400
(credit card, and for the full amount) on the spot, with no
insurance papers or collection to deal with, for this
procedure. And this is how I get treated?
I think I can do better. |
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Joel M. Eichen
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 4062
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Steven Bornfeld
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 492
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject:
Re: Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?
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Elle wrote:
| Quote: | Could a registered nurse be satisfactorily qualified to
remove the stitches I had put in for an apicoectomy?
In nine days I am scheduled to have them removed at the
endodontist who did the surgery, but I would rather not see
him again.
The endodontist wrote me a prescription for a supply of 800
mg Ibuprofen and some Percocet. I did not request the
Percocet. I even asked if it was really necessary. He said
it may or may not be. His assistant subsequently said to get
it, explaining I didn't want to wake up in the middle of the
night in terrible pain and not be able to get to the
pharmacy for hours. At the pharmacy I asked if I could just
get part of the Percocet prescription filled. I didn't want
more than I might need. I am frugal and don't like to waste
money; also, I don't like drugs in general. I also asked if
there was any difference between 4 tablets of regular, OTC
200 mg Ibuprofen and the prescription the doctor wrote. The
pharmacist said they were the same stuff. I have a big
bottle of ibuprofen at home and asked for just the percocet
prescription to be filled. The pharmacist said s/he was
required to call the doctor to omit the ibuprofen. The
doctor's office told the pharmacist I could not omit the 800
mg ibuprofen. I spoke with the doctor's office subsequently
and what I feel an illogical response ensued, amounting to
IMO paranoia about prescribing percocet to potential drug
addicts.
I have an abscessed tooth. X-rays from yesterday at my
regular dental's office and today at the endodontist
document it. My root canal of several years ago failed.
I won't waste money and do not have it to waste, anyway.
Given the conditions, I turned down the prescriptions, went
home, and am now loaded up on the recommended dose of
Ibuprofen using my OTC supply. But I sure would like the
percocet as a backup. I think it's outrageus that this
doctor would sacrifice good pain management on the basis of
utterly unfounded suspicions. I paid his office nearly $1400
(credit card, and for the full amount) on the spot, with no
insurance papers or collection to deal with, for this
procedure. And this is how I get treated?
I think I can do better.
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It is unlikely that a registered nurse will be able to judge the
success or failure of the procedure without gross infection. The
followup by the endodontist to check the healing is the issue here, not
who removes the stitches.
As far as pain relief, I can only surmise how the discussion took
place. If the two prescriptions were on one form (that's not how it's
done in NY where I am), you may have no alternative. If they are on
separate forms you are of course within your rights to only present the
percocet form to the pharmacy.
From my perspective this argument is over minutiae, and if you were
haggling over what he thought was a trivial issue and he was busy (and
esp. if this argument was with office staff that generally is trained to
follow the boss' instructions to the letter), I think you're making too
big a deal over this. Let him check your healing, remove the stitch,
and if you don't like the office you never have to go there again.
Steve |
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Elle
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 28 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:
Re: Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?
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"Steven Bornfeld" <dentaltwinmung@earthlink.net> wrote
| Quote: | As far as pain relief, I can only surmise how the
discussion took place. If the two prescriptions were on
one form (that's not how it's done in NY where I am), you
may have no alternative.
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Correct, one form was used.
| Quote: | If they are on separate forms you are of course within
your rights to only present the percocet form to the
pharmacy.
From my perspective this argument is over minutiae,
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From mine, it's over pain management, patient/doctor trust,
and being reasonable about health care costs, a national
problem.
Six years ago the pain following a root canal was
overwhelming and debilitating. A doctors' job is in part to
reasonably treat pain. I would rather have had a couple of
percocet in the last 24 hours. Instead, I take a boat load
of Ibuprofen and hope my stomach lining survives it.
To Joel: Sarcasm flatters no "professional" nor the
profession that employs you. Your post is useless. |
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Steven Bornfeld
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 492
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| Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject:
Re: Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?
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Elle wrote:
| Quote: | "Steven Bornfeld" <dentaltwinmung@earthlink.net> wrote
As far as pain relief, I can only surmise how the
discussion took place. If the two prescriptions were on
one form (that's not how it's done in NY where I am), you
may have no alternative.
Correct, one form was used.
If they are on separate forms you are of course within
your rights to only present the percocet form to the
pharmacy.
From my perspective this argument is over minutiae,
From mine, it's over pain management, patient/doctor trust,
and being reasonable about health care costs, a national
problem.
|
I agree 100%. There could be ego involved here on the part of the
doctor--you haven't made it clear if your beef was with the doctor or
with the front desk.
In any case, patients decline pain meds from me all the time. Usually
they don't even call me up at night to beg me to phone a prescription
in. But I don't generally delight in patients telling me what
prescriptions I should write for them.
In any case, if you feel this doctor has abused your trust, you may
choose not to go back. I would go to some dentist though. And you
should be prepared to be worked up as a new patient. Or go back to the
endodontist, have him look at you (should take 5 minutes), take out the
stitch, and not have to deal with him again.
Steve
| Quote: |
Six years ago the pain following a root canal was
overwhelming and debilitating. A doctors' job is in part to
reasonably treat pain. I would rather have had a couple of
percocet in the last 24 hours. Instead, I take a boat load
of Ibuprofen and hope my stomach lining survives it.
To Joel: Sarcasm flatters no "professional" nor the
profession that employs you. Your post is useless.
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Joel M. Eichen
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 4062
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