Internal Medicine Doctor Appointment
I don't know what to think about my appt yesterday. I wasn't overly impressed. He seems like my doctor and poo poos chronic fatigue syndrome...said the "jury is still out on that" and then he proceeded to tell me doctor's don't prescribe gabapentin for anxiety which my pdoc has. Then when I said I requested to see a rhuematologist he kinda laughed and looked at his intern. They are running more blood work to rule out other stuff....although I don't know what stuff and I see him again in two weeks. His intern was leaning towards the fibro diagnosis. So I guess I won't know anymore until then. They did recommend my pdoc put me back on Cymbalta and that I should try Lyrica instead of gabapentin. So will see what pdoc has to say on Friday. I just feel so fucking frustrated and tired. I am having more days of feeling suicidal. I just feel like I can't keep living in this pain day in and day out. He also said it's not normal for fibro to be worse in the summer but I have read some people are worse in the humid days. The cooler days do seem to have less pain for me but not completely gone. I know I need to reduce stress because it makes it flare but I don't see how I can do that right now with the situation I am in.
I am also pissed at my family doctor because she didn't even refer me to the internal medicine doctor I requested who is supposed to be really good and understanding of fibromyalgia. I may just tell her I want to see him anyway...I know she'll probably say no. What is it with these fucking doctors. They act like other people, if they can't see it with the naked eye they think it doesn't exist?
I wish I could afford to go to Toronto Ontario to a really good doctor named Alison Bested who wrote a great book I have called:Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
I really wish I could go see her but it is so far away and she also does "courses" for people who suffer and how to pace yourself and feel better. I've read some of the book and want to read it all but some of it is pretty detailed and for me gets a bit confusing.
I really like what a woman wrote on a message board for Dr. Oz after his show on fibromyalgia last week; she says:
“Finally! Tired of people acting like this is some fake made up disease as an excuse for people to be lazy. Because let’s face it, what human being would enjoy being in horrible pain, always on the brink of collapse from exhaustion, and never getting to do what they love anymore? C'mon people, who would choose that for themselves? People just don't get that it's something we can't control and all the diet and exercise in the world won't "cure" it (maybe lessen some symptoms but not make it go away completely)! It's hard being in the "prime" of your life when you should be full of zest and energy, yet you are confined to the body of what feels like an 80 yr old woman. People think you're boring because you’re in bed by 9pm on Friday nights when if you had the energy you'd love to join and be a part of the action but you just can't! I'm lucky I can make it to that late without falling asleep standing up! Thanks Dr. Oz for acknowledging the Fibromyalgia-troopers who put up with horrible disease, or sometimes even worse criticism every day!”
I am also pissed at my family doctor because she didn't even refer me to the internal medicine doctor I requested who is supposed to be really good and understanding of fibromyalgia. I may just tell her I want to see him anyway...I know she'll probably say no. What is it with these fucking doctors. They act like other people, if they can't see it with the naked eye they think it doesn't exist?
I wish I could afford to go to Toronto Ontario to a really good doctor named Alison Bested who wrote a great book I have called:Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
I really wish I could go see her but it is so far away and she also does "courses" for people who suffer and how to pace yourself and feel better. I've read some of the book and want to read it all but some of it is pretty detailed and for me gets a bit confusing.
I really like what a woman wrote on a message board for Dr. Oz after his show on fibromyalgia last week; she says:
“Finally! Tired of people acting like this is some fake made up disease as an excuse for people to be lazy. Because let’s face it, what human being would enjoy being in horrible pain, always on the brink of collapse from exhaustion, and never getting to do what they love anymore? C'mon people, who would choose that for themselves? People just don't get that it's something we can't control and all the diet and exercise in the world won't "cure" it (maybe lessen some symptoms but not make it go away completely)! It's hard being in the "prime" of your life when you should be full of zest and energy, yet you are confined to the body of what feels like an 80 yr old woman. People think you're boring because you’re in bed by 9pm on Friday nights when if you had the energy you'd love to join and be a part of the action but you just can't! I'm lucky I can make it to that late without falling asleep standing up! Thanks Dr. Oz for acknowledging the Fibromyalgia-troopers who put up with horrible disease, or sometimes even worse criticism every day!”
Replies
That doctor who looked at the intern when you asked to see the rheumatoid dr. Seemed arrogant to me Sandra. I know it must be frustrating, at their mercy. I hope your regular doctor will give you the referral..make a stink about it..you know the old saying about a squeaky wheel gets oiled.
I hope you cm also get some answers and relief from your pain in the fibromyalgia. I don\'t know much about it, I heard it has something to do with nerves..but I hear now pain and exhaustion and even a backlash from others..awful.
Those suicidal thoughts, very bad. I have them..and in a sick way they are soothing..but they are not healthy. So please, when you have them, catch yourself, and try hard to stop. Think of something pleasant. My therapist told me about this tapping thing that she was all jazzed up about from a workshop she went to. When you have a bad thought..tap your body, your thigh, and think about a happy time in your life.
I didn\'t want to think about a happy time..so I thought about a creek or ocean. I don\'t like to think of you feeling bad. Hugs.
Oh, I can SO identify with this whole journal. With my medical journey, I have met some of the most egotistical, rude, stupid, uncaring, (the list goes on) doctors that I could ever imagine.
Then I have met some really caring, good, and kind doctors.
It seems we are at the mercy of whatever their opinions on different issues are and that is not acceptable at ALL. They don\'t understand the suffering at all and that is beyond cruel.
Right now, I\'m in a pretty good place with my doctors, but had to change so many times to get to these.
My heart goes out to you . While our illness are different, the impact on body and mind are the same...Total exhaustion, pain, suffering and the mental anguish that goes along with that. I\'d like to see one of these doctors live in our bodies for a few days and then see where their level of compassion would be.
Hang in there... Ask your family doctor to refer you to the Internist that you want to see. Demand it.. Annoy the crap of out them until you get what you need.
Meanwhile I send gentle loving hugs and the promise of I care SO much how you feel ..physically and mentally.
xoxo Rach
i dont blame you for being upset with your doctors .................just keep after them ................i know someone that has fibromyalgia ...and he realy suffers you can actualy see him cringe when he thinks you might hug him ...............i will keep you in my prayers .....................and hope you get the help you need ........god bless