Where is the caring and advocacy for ME when I really need it????

[LoveActually]

My sister died unexpectedly yesterday. I am flying a red eye home tonight. I am so hysterical & I HATE flying. Like hate it to the point where I have diarrhea, throw up, feel like I'm going to pass out. I sweat the whole flight. Nevermind the fact that I just mentioned MY SISTER DIED, and I am alternating between being numb, and hurting beyond belief right now

So I call my the doctor on call at my office. I tell the answering service my problem in a nutshell. I tell them my sister just died, I have to fly tonight, and I would like a few xanax. The ***** at the answering services goes, "yeah he's not going to do that for you." I say, "why don't you let ME speak with the doctor?" So...the answering service calls back, NOT the doctor and says, "So and so can help you out on Monday." Monday?! I just told you my sister died, I have to fly and I need xanax!!! I was asking for a couple - not 60!!!! And how passive-aggressive that the god damn doctor doesn't call back himself. I am SO done with that office.

So I've only lived in the city I've lived for a few months, so I call my old doctor, who doesn't even know I moved, b/c I never transferred records etc. I saw her in Spring of 2009. She is amazing and miss her so much. Unfortunately she is not on call, and I get one of her associates. I calmly try to tell him the situation and what I need. He asks how I know what xanax is. I tell him I'm a nurse, and I've taken it to fly before. He asks me what airline I'm flying, what time I'm leaving. I tell him I'm flying US Airways and flying red eye. He the proceeds to tell me that he can't do that over the phone, it's a dangerous med, and I need to find another way to calm myself down. I stop him and say, "That's fine if you won't prescribe it for me." He keeps talking to me like I am a drug seeker, and I say, "LOOK. I APPRECIATE YOUR CALL BACK I JUST SAID I UNDERSTAND. HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!" and hung up on him. He just wanted to hear himself talk!

I'm always there for my patients... Where's help when I need it? Are we the only ones that care?

[LoveActually]

I empathize and wish you well. I'm sorry for the loss of your sister. Under the circumstances I wouldn't have given you a script for Xanax either. Caring and advocacy have nothing to do with it. You should understand that health care workers deal with med seekers all the time. They present with emergencies and stories similar to yours that can be very convincing, but their stories are cock and bull. It can be hard to differentiate the legitimate from the crap over the phone or during a first brief in person assessment, so prescribers err on the side of caution and avoid prescribing any number of anything abuseable or with a street value.

There are ways to deal with your anxiety about flying other than popping Xanax. For starters, you could choose a method of travel other than flying. I'm sure your family would understand if you had to travel by car or train.

You must be joking? What's a good use for xanax if flight/anxiety coupled with the death of a loved one is not a good enough excuse?! Like I mentioned, I asked for a few xanax, not a whole collection. Caring & advocacy have EVERYTHING to do with it. It's OUR job as nurses to advocate, NOT side with the doc's opinion, as you just did. Unfortunately I didn't get a nurse to talk to. I should have gone to my own ER where I work, and would have gotten whatever I needed. Had I thought of it, and had time before my flight, I would have. This all happened so fast. And my original doctor would have prescribed be a few xanax in a heartbeat, because I have taken them to fly before.

And drug seeker? I am their patient for crying out loud!!!!!!!! I have had SIX appointments with them in 2009, and am helping to pay their salaries!!!!!

Oh, and yeah...I'm sure it would have been safe for me to DRIVE 2500 miles from AZ to PA? It took me FOUR DAYS and FORTY hours of driving to get here. I would still be driving and the funeral is tomorrow! I hope you are NEVER my nurse, or any of my loved one's nurses, and I hope you re-evaluate your outlook. Maybe you are old and burned out, and it's time for you to move on.

To everyone else, thank you SO much for your kind, kind words, and suggestions. I got my hands on some klonopin, and my flight was bearable, no panic attacks. Was actually able to speak, and sat next to a very kind man, and even managed to dose off for a little while once I was up in the air.

[nursel56]

So happy you finally got what you needed-- that post above was so off the wall I'm hoping she just misunderstood you. What you asked for is exactly what the med is intended for sheesh. Blessings to you as you face a very difficult ordeal tomorrow. :redpinkhe

[Batman25]

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. I'm also sorry you were let down and not given a few Xanax to ease your anxiety during this horrible time. You were a known patient to the doctor and they should have complied with your request immediately. Take care of yourself and your family for now and change doctors when things calm down a little. Please know all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs.

[caliotter3]

I read here all the time about Excelsior students getting prescriptions to calm down for the CPNE test so I sympathize for your plight. I can not see where you were not justified in your request.