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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / June 2006Stitches Removal: Registered Nurse?
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. Absolutely, but be sure she is registered with the correct agenc ...... it would be the Mortician's Society -- Joel34 > Could a registered nurse be satisfactorily qualified to > remove the stitches I had put in for an apicoectomy? [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > I think I can do better. 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 > 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. 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. >>As far as pain relief, I can only surmise how the >>discussion took place. If the two prescriptions were on [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > 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 > Six years ago the pain following a root canal was > overwhelming and debilitating. A doctors' job is in part to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > To Joel: Sarcasm flatters no "professional" nor the > profession that employs you. Your post is useless. Oh I am sorry .. I misread it as a registered Norse ..... -- Joel34 |
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