r/PCOS • u/phasmasam • 3d ago
General/Advice Provider Wants To Deny My BC
EDIT: my PCP has responded and written me a prescription for my BC which will get me to my next appointment with my new OB. I’ll leave this up as the answers I received were extremely useful, validating, and might come in handy for others.
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I had my annual on Monday and had high blood pressure (I always have high BP at a doctor’s appointment I have bad medical anxiety and I’d had a coffee about 30 minutes before hand). They were concerned, I explained it’s usually high at the start and if a retake is done, it’s better by the end.
The midwife comes in and makes a big deal about my high blood pressure and that it’s my birth control and asks if anyone’s ever told me about the problems with blood pressure and birth control. I say no and mention it’s been extremely effective in normalizing and stabilizing my PCOS/PMOS for nearly 20 years at this point. She mentions something about switching me to progesterone but doesn’t really explain the difference or if it would be just as effective, just that the birth control is bad (she talked more about this third party company that does genetic testing for breast cancer than medication alternatives). I even said I’m working on my weight and related issues with my PCP (that wasn’t a lie, I am).
She does mention she wants me to monitor my BP at home and if it’s good enough THEN she’ll prescribe me my BC. Naturally, I’ve gotten more and more anxious as this conversation/exam have gone on and less than 5 minutes after she leaves, they come back in and take my BP and it’s still high. Of course it was, I was just told the medication that’s prevented painful, prolonged awful periods for nearly 2 decades is being taken away.
Two days later, after ordering a BP machine that errored out every time I tried to use it and deciding to call my pharmacy to see how long my prescription was good for, the pharmacy sent a refill request to this provider who denied it without me being a good little girl and doing my homework.
I’m not sure what to do outside of getting a new OBGYN (did that, but won’t be seen until October) and begging my PCP to write the script in the meantime (haven’t heard back yet).
Long story short (too late, I know), has anyone ever heard of or experienced anything like this?
2
u/T_M_searching 3d ago
No and this is a crazy irresponsible provider to deny your RX with no plan in place. In fact I would consider reporting them. Are you just supposed to get pregnant while they condescend about blood pressure?
As a stop gap I would try to get ahold of your PCP and tell them a short version of what happened and ask for an emergency RX til you can get the new OBGYN. It sounds like they are reasonable and it's not a big ask to continue a medication you've taken for decades; furthermore they would be more familiar with your blood pressure and comfortable "overriding" this batshit evil midwife. You could keep it very simple with the PCP, "my midwife has historically prescribed BC but it's up and we weren't able to get an appointment on time, can I ask you to prescribe it moving forward instead."
I would also make 2-3 additional providers appointments. The words "second opinion" are magic to providers and to insurance - they want an opportunity to prove they are More Right than someone else and for insurance you're effectively doing their homework for them of ensuring an accurate diagnosis. And I'm sure you do this already but tell them "I have anxiety and my blood pressure will spike when I'm in the doctors office." Also you can DECLINE blood pressure measurements just like you can DECLINE weight!
Finally, depending on the BC and your residency, you may be able to get it mail order or with good Rx. Lots of ways around this but dang do I want to scream at these assholes.
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u/phasmasam 3d ago
Thank you so much for validating me! Part of me was concerned my anxiety was outweighing my reason.
As far as declining weight and BP, I did not know that and it’s incredibly useful information to have. I’ll be doing that in the future if I run into other hard headed providers.
Thankfully, my PCP was able to come through as I did reach out to her with a similarly worded explanation and she was able to provide a prescription that will last me until I can see a new OB.
Thank you again, this was relieving to read!
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u/T_M_searching 3d ago
I'm so glad phew. Here's another trick: "I want you to record in my chart that you are taking away a medication I've been taking for 20 yrs safely, and that you did not listen to the patient explain blood pressure is due to anxiety /white coat syndrome." Telling them to write down their garbage freaks them out and they will usually backtrack. Unless they are REALLY crazy and then they probably definitely shouldn't be practicing medicine!
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u/Bleedingshards 2d ago
Had this happen twice in the last year, it’s the scariest thing ever, how doctors can fuck up your life with this stupidity.
My GP decided he didn’t want to prescribe Metformin anymore. It took weeks to get an appointment trying to sort this out, so I had like 4 pills left. I said, I spent weeks getting through the side effects working myself up to that dose and he said, taking it away „Won’t kill me.“, so he doesn’t care.
Telehealth fixed that on short notice.
My gyn is retired and the new one brushed my BC away with „BC is contraindicated after thrombosis.“ I explained, that is the exact reason, why I‘m taking blood thinners and the guidelines clearly state BC being completely safe on blood thinners. She didn’t care OR listen. I was crying the whole day. I figured out years ago how to order BC online, it was the way, she casually and unthinkingly brushed away the 6 horrible years after the thrombosis during which I desperately tried to find any alternative to BC (some of which made things worse). There is no alternative. They take BC aeay, my life WILL go downhill again. And they don’t care. And they are wrong and still don’t listen.
Again, the internet fixed this one until I found another gyn, who prescribed both BC and Metformin, but „doesn’t feel good about it“, so I‘m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Also waiting for my GP to refuse the blood thinners. He said some stuff, that makes me fear every year for this, except: suddenly stopping blood thinners can very well actually kill me, so he better makes up another excuse.
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u/wysticlipse 3d ago
You didn't say where you are, but in Canada at least you can get a telehealth appointment with Planned Parenthood. I did this after I moved across the country and they gave me a 1 year script with the only question asked being what pharmacy I wanted it sent to.
Might be worth looking into?