Well, this is interesting. It reminds me of the first
time I met my doctor. I was so emotional and bawled my
eyeballs out on my first visit. He thought I was
over-emotional. He said most women don't act like
this. He wanted me to take wallbrutin, an
anti-depressant. I went to my PCP who said he didn't
think that was the problem. That I never had
depression till this problem. He referred me to an
endo who put me on steroids. I finally went back to
the OB dr. and told him, this isn't working. It's not
in my head. I am not over-emotional, but in pain. He
gave me the lap. and found the intestine attached to
my ovary, and it had turned the ovary upside-down. We
had a one on one discussion, he told me this...that
it's up to the patient to communicate their needs, to
follow-up on all symptoms and tests. Do not lighten
your feelings with your doctor. I spent many months
previous doing so. When I finally revealed my real
person, I think he understood me better. But, as my
dr. did, any dr. who lets you sit empty-handed needs
to be changed. Sometimes it takes months to find the
right dr., you know eaerlier today I had a small bowel
movement (I am on my 6th day of recovery from the
surgeory). However, for dinner I had clam chowder and
vomited after 2 hours of running back and forth. I
wanted to make a bowel movement, vomit, anything to
stop the pain. My husband almost took me to the
hospital when I fell to the floor, he laid me in bed,
and after a while it passed. With every meal my
stomach has a diificult time. I guess I still need
more info. I have no fever. I do not understand. I'll
call the dr tomorrow (there's no way I can go through
that again). I can't believe that 6 days of recupe and
I still feel crappy. I can barely walk still. My back
is in a stupor. You guys are so awesome with your
endeavors, I just love ya....
--- Tami Dana <tami_dana@hotmail.com> wrote:
> At Thu, 28 Jun 2001, Ginny Halpern wrote: > > > >Hey Guys!: > > > >I've been working 5 hours a day getting packages of > info on ARD and the > >related suffering together to mail to local > surgeons, pain specialists > >and nursing staff coordinators in the hope that I > can spread the message > >that ARD sufferers are NOT lunatics, drug addicts, > hypochondriacs or > >Munchausen sydromers (people who pretend to have > illnesses by > >deliberately swallowing caustic substances, crushed > glass, poisons etc. > >to create illnesses and then arrive at the ER near > death, all for the > >atention) and that ARD sufferers need and deserve > adequate and > >aggressive pain medication WITHOUT judgemental > accusations or downright > >rude treatment by ER or office practice staff. > > > >On the A.S.A.P. pain site (dedicated to getting > stronger pain meds to > >long term pain patients by educating the government > and insurance > >companies on the use of opioids and narcotic > dervatives) there is a > >"pain form"that takes very little time to fill out > and return. It is > >then forwarded to your state legislator(s) and as > the list grows each > >day, these law makers must pay attention to our > needs and demands. > > > >I urge you to take a few minutes if you haven't > already and log on and > >fill out a form. It isn't a legally binding > document that holds you > >accountable to anything except being truthful about > your pain and the > >treatment or lack there of you've received. And it > is so important that > >we all have the option to be medically treated for > pain if surgery is no > >longer an option and pain is destroying your life > or the lives of your > >loved ones. > > > >Check out Skip Baker's site @ skipb@widomaker.com. > If you cannot locate > >the pain form, ask him for it. > > > >There is also some extremely well written, > enlightening information > >regarding "Pain patients using narcotics versus > addicts" your "rights" > >as a pain patient and alot of fascinating data. > There is even a concise > >page of info that you are urged to take to your > physician to make him > >aware of his responsibilities as a doctor to > diminish or alleviate your > >suffering. > > > >Meanwhile, to assist me in making my info package > to the doctors the > >most informative it can be, I am asking that each > of you sends me > >several pieces of information on yourself. > > > >1. Have you recently been refused or denied > adequate pain medication? > >(by "adequate" I mean, are you on a prescription > that is not relieving > >pain but the doctor has told you it "takes time" or > that he cannot > >prescribe anything more potent) > I was denied at first and he tried ALOT of no good > pain meds, like the > patch, lortabs, etc. > >2. What "excuse" did your doctor give you for not > prescribing > >narcotics/opioids? (fear of addiction, physical or > psychological side > >effects, etc) > His fear was addiction. > >3. What medication are you currently taking for > pain? (name, milligrams > >per dose and how many times a day). Is it > effective? > Right now I am on 30 mgs (one 20 mg and one 10 mg) > oxycontin 3 times a > day, percocet 4 times a day for breakthrough pain, > prozac 40 mgs once a > day, trazadone for sleep 1 at bedtime (it doesn't > work) and zantac 2 > times a day. The pain meds are WAY more effective > than the others but > it still is not enough, I want to ask for a higher > dose of oxycontin but > I am scared he will think I am "addicted" and then > take the 30 mgs away > from me, so I just keep quiet. > >5. Is your ARD related pain preventing you from > beiing a productive > >person? (able to work, take care of family, etc) > YES!! I have not worked in almost 2 yrs. I can't do > anything with my > children, husband, family, friends...I do well if I > get out of bed > everyday. What I used to call a "life" is now over > because of ARD. > *Hugs*Thanks Ginny for doing this, I think it is a > great idea and I > would like to try and do it too. Good luck hun! > > > >PLEASE SIMPLIFY EACH ANSWER. DO NOT GO INTO DETAIL > UNLESS SOMETHING > >EXTRORDINARY HAPPENED > > > >Thanks, gang. I love you all big time and am here > for you to talk to or > >laugh/cry with as always. I'm in need of your help > to try and get us > >the recognition we need/deserve. > > > >Love and hugs > > > >ginny > > > >Please e-mail back through the message board so > that you can all share > >your answers. > > > >To personally contact me, I am at gingin99@home.com > > > >Ginny > > -- > With love and understanding, > Tami Dana > > http://www.adhesions.org/forums/listcmds.htm