How does one find a doctor that will listen?
- TvBabe
- Jausten
- AmberW_2
- TvBabe
- AmberW_2
- TvBabe
- CindyI
- Jausten
- Starstuff
- ______MarcellaGM
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» TvBabe - Contact the FM Network (their website is located at http://www.f
Contact the FM Network (their website is located at http://www.fmnetnews.com). They have a database of FM knowledgeable doctors. Email them with your location and they can provide you with a short list of doctors within your region that other FMers have felt comfortable recommending.Michelle
Contributing Suite101 Editor : Disabilities
-- posted by TvBabe
» Jausten - Leslie, I moved your other message to this message thread bec
Leslie,I moved your other message to this message thread because they were really the same. Michelle is right. Check out the FM Network page. If you still can't find a doctor through them, try finding a local FM support group in your area. Usually you can find where they are through the Arthritis Society. If not, try the yellow pages of the phone book. Another option is to interview doctors before actually going to them on a regular basis. This can be expensive, but you have the right to interview them first.
Also, any doctor who says that he/she won't give you pain medications for fear of addiction isn't worth seeing. People in chronic pain do not become addicted, and if a doctor still believes that they do, then he needs his head examined.
Jausten
Suite 101 Contributing Editor: Fibromyalgia
-- posted by Jausten
» AmberW_2 - I have the list for Illinois from the Fibromyalgia Network. The
I have the list for Illinois from the Fibromyalgia Network. The closest MD is 90 miles away! Add to that, I'm on Public Aid. I have not been able to work since one day early last fall (I'm a substitute teacher). I've applied for SSI but, even if I'm approved, that could be months away and the medical is the same as what I now have. I know because my son receives SSI. What do I do now?Leslie, I've been told the same thing about Tylenol w/ codeine. Even after I've pointed out to doctors that a bottle of 30 would last me for 2-3 months, the doctors still won't give me a refill!
-- posted by AmberW_2
» TvBabe - Amber contact that doctor that's 90 miles away, he might be able
Amber contact that doctor that's 90 miles away, he might be able to provide you with some leads of someone more local
Usually pro-FM doctors know each other! Michelle
Contributing Suite101 Editor : Disabilities
-- posted by TvBabe
» TvBabe - Amber there is a Canadian doctor who wrote a Paper entitled "The
Amber there is a Canadian doctor who wrote a Paper entitled "The Denial of Chronic Pain" it's located at the following URL : http://www.pulsus.com/Pain/02_02/teas_ed...Read this paper over and print it out, it's possible that it might provide you with some of the ammo you require to convince your doctors into proper pain management
Michelle
Contributing Suite101 Editor : Disabilities
-- posted by TvBabe
» CindyI - HELP AND ADVISE NEEDED. How to start? An autobiography would
HELP AND ADVISE NEEDED.How to start? An autobiography would be sufficient, but alas too little time. I will attempt to summarize my predicment in the hope that someone out there has had a similar experience and can offer any advice.
I worked in a manufacturing facility for 10-years...most of the time running the Waste and various environmental regs concerning the solvents, toxins, etc. While I cannot in good conscience place the blame entirely there - it didn't help breathing noxious chemicals every day.
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia over 4-years ago, have Linear Scleroderma, and unfortunately Hepatitis C. The Hep-C is not active currently, but someting else, much scarier is happening. Every joint, everything body part that moves has been under attack. Most of you know that Fibromyalgia is like that -- it racks you with pain -- then takes a vacation...This last attack left both knees severely weakened. ( Ithey sound like popcorn popping when I walk up steps). I've recently suffered a flare-up -- I think Fibromyalgia. Every joint in my body feels like it's being slowly weakened, is increasingly painful.
I have been on permanent disability for almost 2-years, receiving half from SS & the remainder from my former employer's plan. I became so sick at work that I couldn't function. I couldn't think.
To get to the point of this dialogue, my former employer's HR person had me sign the "disability" papers quickly,,,I didn't even read them. I only learned 6-months ago that my "disability" was classified as "Major Depression". Not Fibromyalgia, not Hepatitis. It was just the simplest and less costly long-term for them. As it turns out "Major Depression" has a two-year lifetime payout. No more money for me after September, unless I can provide "almost impossible testimony" that it was indeed misclassified. Fibromyalgia would have been covered for the remainder of my life. Duh. Think the depression could have been caused by one of the underlying medical conditions?
Is there anybody who can offer any suggestions at all. I don't know where to turn. No insurance, a simgle mother with a child to raise, the threat of losing my meager income. A mere 40-years old.
I know anyone reading this has had doctors tell them they could work a job as good as the next man. But in reality, who in their right mind would hire a person with "three" auto-immune diseases, and majorly depressed too. Do others suffering like this have to resort to pumping gas?
Please excuse the long-winded speech. This is truly my first real internet interactivity so I should improve with time.
Please, please any and all suggestions, similar experiences, or just talk is welcome.
Signed,
Desperate
(and long-winded Cindy)
-- posted by CindyI
» Jausten - Hi Cindy, I'd suggest that the first thing to do is to make a
Hi Cindy,I'd suggest that the first thing to do is to make an appointment with your primary physician. Depression can come due to fibromyalgia or actually any illness. You didn't say where you live, and disability coverage is different in different countries. I'm on permanent disability with longterm care adding to the amount that I receive, and my primary diagnosis is fibromyalgia. I also have depression written as a secondary diagnosis due to the fibromyalgia. Your physician needs to make it clear to the disability insurance company that your primary diagnosis is your physical illnesses, and the depression is secondary. Whether this is true or not, doesn't matter. He/she just has to write that. Also, it is important to have it written than you are unable to work at any job at this time by your physician. If you have a specialist, that adds more weight behind the decision. Plus, what information you give them must match what the doctors write. At least, that's how it is in Canada. Don't wait too long to see your physician. The next step may be a lawyer, and they are expensive. Hope this helps a bit.
Peace & Serenity,
Cynthia
Jausten
Suite 101 Contributing Editor: Fibromyalgia
-- posted by Jausten
» Starstuff - I have come to the conclusion that finding a doctor that listens
I have come to the conclusion that finding a doctor that listens will be as easy as convincing to government to confirm the existence of UFO's.At the age of 22, I went to the doctor for my extreme fatigue. After being poked and prodded, I was told it was probably allergies, (she sent me to a specialist who stuck me with 200 needles, gave me a list of do's and don't and a prescription for an antihistamine that knocked me into tomorrow), and told me that I should lose weight. I was 5'5" and weighed 140. She later went on to become a phyciatrist. I went on to a battle with weight I fight to this day.
The next doctor sent me for a barrage of tests, looked at me in disgust, and told me to lose weight. By that time the fatigue had forced me to cut down on my activities and I was 150. She moved to Isreal.
By now the fatigue was non stop and I felt like I had the flu all the time. The next doctor told me that I should look into an exercise program and join weight watchers. I was 165. I joined WW and gained 20 pounds.
Now the pain had developed in my shoulders, neck and lower back. The headaches were blinding. After a series of tests, the next doctor told me he could find nothing wrong, diagnosed migraines, gave me Toradol and told me to lose weight. I was 190.
I started going to my current doctor about 3 years ago. Every time I went to her with my pain she patted me on the head, gave me some penicillan (just in case) and sent me on my way. Oh, and told me to lose weight. By this time, I had convinced myself that I was a fat, lazy slob and maybe all my problems were my fault and I was a complete failure.
I began to look into alternative medicine. I gave in to my allergies, became a vegetarian, took every vitamin I could get my hands on, tried anything that looked like it might help. After some convincing I gave in and started going to a chiropractor for the headaches. After x-rays, he stated that the headaches were being caused by 2 dislocated discs in my neck. Somehow the other doctors had missed that. He told me I needed readjustments, and by the way, did I know I had flat feet? That led to orthodics. 6 months later, I was getting 3 treatments a week, that sometimes left me in sheer agony for days. I knew nothing of trigger points at this point and obviously neither did he because he managed to hit most if not all of them every time I went to him.
After complaining of the extruciating pain in my legs for 4 of these months to my regular doctor, she told me that it was the orthodics, to stop wearing them and to take some asprin. The pain got worse. She told me to lose weight and get more exercise. The pain got worse. She told me to take more asprin. The pain got worse. Finally, when I could not take it anymore, I went one last time. She sent me to a rheumitologist.
The rheumy, who asked me a dozen questions, tested and retested me, diagnosed me with FMS. He then proceeded to ask me if I had a benefits plan. I said no, not any longer as I had be layed off the previous November and I believe my benefits plan had run out. He gave me a prescription for Zantac, a systemic used for acidic stomachs. When I told him I could not afford it, he offered no other options. He then proceeded to send a letter to my GP that stated that he had given me such and such prescription, covered by my benefits and was sending me back to work.
Two months ago, I had to get a release for Employment Insurance asking me why I was claiming illness. I took it to the rheumy, who refused to sign it because he did not feel I needed the time off. When I explained his error to him, he said good luck getting health insurance with my diagnosis and let him know if I did because then he would treat me. As I sat in my GP's office trying to get her to sign the form, she stated to me that she agreed with the rheumy that I did not need the time off, would not sign it for more that 2 months because I had been diagnosed (officially) 4 months ago and FMS does not last more than 6 months. She too, offered no help when I explained the error.
I am currently looking for a new doctor.
-- posted by Starstuff
» ______MarcellaGM - Cindy, Kris, your stories sound like the nightmares I have been
Cindy, Kris, your stories sound like the nightmares I have been havng about this illness. Cindy, the same thing happened to me with my disability insurance. I plan to go to a lawyer. They are actually telling me I owe them. Kris, may the lord shine his love down on you and lead you into a peaceful and just solution to your problems. your story had me in tears. I won't go into my story but it began five years ago with alot of pain and no clear diognosis. I was told I suffered from major depression and the pain was all in my head. I only learned about Fibromyalgia four days ago. I seem to have all the symptoms. Now I am on a quest to find out all I can. MarcellaPacific Northwest Garden
-- posted by ______MarcellaGM
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