Re: Feeling Lousy-Ginny
From: Christine M. Smith (smithy@maine.rr.com)
Tue Jun 15 05:09:15 1999
At Mon, 14 Jun 1999, Ginny King wrote:
>
>At Mon, 14 Jun 1999, Peggy wrote:
>>
>>Isn't it terrble when we hope that they find something when doing tests?
>>Just in the past 2 weeks I am having quite a bit of pain again,I am
>>waiting for the Dr. to call me back.He was is surgery all morning but
>>was going to be in the office this afternoon .I'm not sure what he can
>>do for me at this point.My last lysis was only 6 weeks ago.My husbands
>>work picnic was at a theme park yesterday and with all the walking we
>>did I did not have a very good night.I woke up around 3:30 with such a
>>sharp pain in my left side I thought i would have to wake my husband to
>>take me to the E R but the pain subsided after about 1/2 hour .Isn't
>>life wonderful? Sorry ,but you girls are the only ones that understand
>>whats going on .And today I am in a very low mood.Thanks for all your
>>support.Peggy
>
>I hope you are feeling a little better. There is nothing worse than
>waiting for the doctor to call you back, unless it's being told all is
>normal. I wonder how many of us are declared "depressed". I don't
>believe the depression comes first; its because we are in so much pain.
>Why can't they understand? You have my support. Best wishes. Ginny
>
>--
>Ginny King
Hi Ginny:
I think they do understand, at least I think my doctor understands and
I'm sure others do too. He once told me how awful chronic pain was,
very depressing. I think it's a matter of self preservation on their
part. If they got so involved with every patient that they personally
"felt their pain" as the expression goes I don't think they would last
very long in the profession. This doesn't mean I think that pushing you
away is the right response. They have to acknowwledge it and be willing
to treat you for it. You know, once I had another medical
merry-go-round experience with a rheumatologist. I really thought he
doubted that my pain was real because all the tests were negative and he
really saw some worse cases, so what was I complaining about? Well, I
had reason to collect my records for an outside opinion and couldn't
believe it when I read in the notes "It's obvious this lady is really
hurting and we can't seem to find the cause and help her." If only he
had said that to me! It wouldn't have been such a negative experience
for me. Doctor's really need to have people skills as much as
intelligence!
Chris S>