Super bummed, saw a "flag" in my dental chart

I finally finished my crown.  It has been a three month saga, root canal in two parts, temporary crown, then today my permanent.  The root canal was super painful.  Both stages.  I ran into a lot of trouble managing my pain, my Dentist was only willing to give me one Tylenol three for pain every six hours.  That of course didn't touch it and in agony I had to call them for stronger pain relief.  That was a big issue because they wanted my to take Motrin or aleve and I refused.  I even offered to have my surgeon call them to tell them it was not an option.

Fast forward two months and as I was checking out today, I saw a little sticky note in my file listing what I was prescribed, and by whom in the last 6 months or so.  They obviously flagged me as a drug seeker and called my pharmacy to check on me!!!  What are my rights here?  I will not be seeing them again, that decision was made months ago when the drama started.  I had to let them finish with the procedure since they already billed my insurance and I didn't want the hassle of having to re bill, etc.  So, now when I switch dentists, I will have a note in my chart insinuating that I am a drug addict.

GRRR!!!! I'm not!  I just can't get relief from plain Tylenol and can't take an NSAID.  Had I had that option, I know I would have been fine!

When you go to another doctor, do not list the previous one.  You don't have to have those records transferred.

My orthopedic doctor wanted me to take Ibuprofen for my arthritis.  He told me to check with my surgeon.  My surgeon said there are recent studies that indicate that RNY patients can take NSAIDS for short term therapy (6 mo or less) accompanied by an acid reducer like Prevecid.  He authorized me to take them if I needed them (I haven't because Tylenol still works fine).  Of course, I'm just sharing info here............please do not take my word for it..........check with your doctor.

I just had a root canal too.  My second in my lifetime.  I had no pain at all--I've known some people to have lots of pain and some none....isn't that odd?  I do have a very high pain threshold.

Hope your tooth drama is behind you now.

Your new dentitst will only have that note if you sign a release of information form giving your old dentist permission to forward your records to the new dentist.

You can write a letter to the old dentist asking them to correct your records.  In your letter, you can explain why you cannot take NSAIDS and you could include a note from your surgeon or other documentation.  Your old dentist is not required to make the requested changes in your chart, but you have the right to ask them to do it.

If you want your new dentist to have your records, but not the note about drug seeking, request a copy of your records from the old dentist, make copies of the part you want the new dentist to have, and give them to the new dentist.

Chances are your new dentist will only require your x-rays from the old dentist. Get copies of those when you go to the new one. I am a former dental assistant but I do not play one on tv, lol.

I wouldn't use this dentist anymore.  Not referring to the meds issue - but to the pain that you experienced with your root canal.  I had a root canal years ago that was the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life - including childbirth.  When I needed a second one, my dentist told me that he preferred to refer me out to a specialist - Thank God, why didn't you do this the first time buddy?  The specialist did it in about 1/10 of the time and with no pain.  So, the pain could be a result in the dentist's ability and experience.

OK, am I the only one thinking of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine's medical chart was flagged????

Sorry.....I think that what your dentist did was a bit harsh.  Unfortunately, there are people out there who do what they fear.  I don't believe the rest of us should have to pay for that, though.

If people want to kill themselves, why stop it.  I call it "Darwinism".

Good luck with your new dentist.  Please make sure you talk to him about this stuff before you have any major work done!

What really gets me is, even if I was prescribed medication from other doctors in the past, don't judge me until you know what it was for! I didn't think to disclose to my dentist that in December I had a hemmoroid from Hell clot and have to be cut open and drained. (Sorry, tmi). Or that I ran out of ultram for my cramps and called my gyno for help with a super clotted crampy period. Or that I don't keep leftover "meds" in the house, just as a precaution, because I have a teenage son that stays home alone at times. When they started questioning me about no NSAIDS and telling me I shouldn't be in that much pain, etc. I had a feeling something wasn't right. I had to get REALLY mad at them and actually gave the dentist himself a piece of my mind before he would help. Guess what? Once the pain was gone, I stopped the pills. Ugh! Is it just me or are medical professionals being paranoid and stingy with pain meds?

Something else just occurred to me.  They called your pharmacy and your pharmacist told them what meds had been prescribed for you in the past by other doctors?  Um, is the pharmacy allowed to give out that information about you without your permission?  I think I would call your pharmacist and ask about that.

I don't think most medical professionals are being paranoid or stingy, I think the abuse of narcotics is a serious issue and one they should consider.  However, they should consider other information, as well, such as whether or not the patient has a medical reason they cannot take NSAIDS.

 The doctor or office staff can run a report from the state on all narcotic medications given to you by any doctor.  It is called a MAPS.  Any doctor can pull this list on a patient suspected to be abusing narcotics.  The patient's permission is not needed to get this list.  That is how doctors know if narcotic  medications are being abused or not.  It is a good thing for doctors to be able to check and see how much narcotic medications are being prescribed for patients by any number of doctors.  There must be some kind of checks and balances on this as it is a huge problem in our society.  I am sorry that you were flagged a drug seeker as it sounds like you have a valid issue and were judged unfairly, however it is necessary in many other cases!

OK, but that's different than a pharmacist giving out that information.  The OP said they got the info from her pharmacy.  Wouldn't a pharmacist need permission to give out that info?