Saw the pain specialist
#302836 - 03/22/07 12:52 PM
|
|
|
|
michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
|
|
|
I am still working on photos from my trip to Mexico and will post them soon!!
Today though, was back to reality. I spent 5 (yes FIVE) hours at the pain clinic. My appt was at 9:45, got there at 9:30, the doc didn't see me until almost noon! But, than she spent 2.5 hours with me.
Let me start by saying I just don't know what to think. First of all, the office is more like a spa, on the new patient forms they ask if you are interested in botox, skin treatments and other cosmetic stuff. This pain specialist was recommended to me by my rheumy doc.
She has a western medicine degree, but practices very eastern medicine. Ok, I'm cool with that. She did a FULL medical history and exam. My hands are killing me so to keep this relatively short, the jist is-----yes, she also agrees that I have sero negative, ra, fibro, ibs, polyrheumatica arthritis, neuropathy----all things I have been told before.
She also says my adrenal systems, lymphatic system and liver are shut down. My pupils no longer respond to light, I am a bit jaundice, I have a systemic yeast infection, my chi is blocked(??), I have pelvic floor something or other---a few others things I can't remember at the moment.
She says the swelling in my limbs is being caused by myofascial muscle con stricture something, something something----basically all my muscles are constricted so tightly that blood can not flow, the tendons and ligaments are being damaged and the waste that your cells produce can not be carried away. Ok, makes sense.
She had no comment at the moment on the causes of the miscarriages.
She is drawing more blood tomorrow after fasting, didn't exactly understand all of what its for but a more intensive thyroid and sugar test, hormones, I guess a lot more but I can't think clearly right now.
I will see this special physical therapist next Wednesday who treats this sort of thing. After the blood work comes back, I will start a two month treatment course for the yeast and IV infusions to supplement the organ failure and whatever hormones and vits I am low on.
She is checking to see if she can get the insurance to pay for acupuncture and massage therapy. I am not exactly sure on what the treatments are going to be at the moment. She wants me to stop working and apply for disability but I explained to her that I can not afford to stop working, let alone stop working AND pay for these treatments.
My head is spinning, I am hurting and just can't stop crying. I just have no more energy to deal with this or anything else for that matter. Can I just run away to Mexico forever and pretend this is not my life???
--------------------
Taking it one day at a time.....
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm fairly new to the Living Room here, been on the Diet board for awhile, though. I'm trying to catch up on what everyone has going on with them BESIDES IBS! From reading this post, it sounds like you have had a really rough time; I'm so sorry that you have to go through so much pain. How do you feel about the specialist you saw? What impression did she give you? Was she really focusing on you and what you had to say, or did you feel like she was just rambling off standard questions? Are you going to go ahead with the treatments? Does she think she can really help you?
Sorry for all the questions! Just wanted to say I've been reading your posts for a little while now, and have been thinking about you! I hope you find relief soon.
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks! My impression was that she WAS listening to me, which is not a small thing I have discovered when it comes to any sort of doctor! I do believe in what she has to say, mainly because I have already done and tried everything else and nothing has worked. She is focused on the whole body and not just a specific body part, like most of the doctors I see.
She says I have a lot of things wrong, which i already knew-she does believe she can help me but that it will take at least 6 months. I will go forward with the special physical therapy and other treatments. I figure I have nothing to lose and as long as I can continue to pay my bills, I see no reason not to try it. 
--------------------
Taking it one day at a time.....
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Reality is vastly overrated. Seriously, Michele, I'm sorry this is so hard. I can certainly understand your wanting to run away and if I knew how you could do it I'd tell you. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out any way to do that.
As for what the pain doctor has to say, I'd be skeptical but I'd probably be leaning toward giving it a try. Considering how miserable you are and how little help more conventional medical approaches have been, it would be hard not to.
However, if you have a Family Practice doctor or a General Practice doctor or a general Internist you trust, I'd get paperwork from the pain doctor on exactly what she says is wrong with you and sit down with that trusted doctor and see what he or she says about all this.
I don't know much about the adrenal or lymphatic systems, but if she's saying your liver is shut down in the Western medicine sense (rather than the traditional Chinese medicine sense) that's pretty serious stuff and should certainly have shown up on your blood tests.
And, yes, the botox and other cosmetic stuff would make me a little uncertain also. However, it does seem that an awful lot of doctors are offering cosmetic sidelines. I think it's because those are good money-makers since they aren't usually covered by insurance and therefore the doctors aren't forced to charge whatever the insurance company allows. Even my dentist - whom I adore - has gotten really big into the whole teeth whitening thing.
I'd say proceed but with caution and a second opinion. Once the pain doctor and the therapist decide on exactly what treatments you need, see if they'll give you some idea how many treatments and whether you can definitely expect to see results and in what time frame.
Take care.
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Wow!! No wonder you are crying - that is a lot of information!!
I've been doing some more research myself and finding alternative therapies - including the Naturopathic dr. I interviewed with - the stuff about your liver completely makes sense! Your body is so full of prescriptions and illness that it is too much! No wonder you are swelling and having muscle difficulty. As soon as I started to read your post it was like a cloud being taken from in front of my eyes. It's not just 1 thing, it's everything that is attacking your body, and your liver is taking a brunt of it!
I sure hope that you are able to have some relief with the physio and the treatments that are recommended. I'm going to research some more about what I have been lately - IV therapy, liver detoxifying, etc - and see if it is also suggested for your conditions. I'll try and let you know.
Take care of you! I know, this is OVERWHELMING!!!! HUGE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish you could escape back to Mexico too, but maybe this dr. is on the right track!
--------------------
Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was just wondering if you had thought about trying Michael Mahoney's hypnotherapy CD for chronic pain?? His IBS program has worked such wonders for me, and I'm sure his other programs are great too. Just a thought!
Glad to hear you got some "good vibes" from this doctor. But I like what Sand said about discussing all of what the pain doctor talked about with your GP. I say give it a shot, especially since it sounds like traditional western medicine hasn't been much help.
EVERY DAY I want to just run away to the Caribbean and forget everything. I wish there was really a way to do that. 
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey, Michele:
First of all, {{{gentle hugs}}}.
I've got to tell you, I LOVE doctors who do the East-meets-West thing, so I would really encourage you to give this a try. In my case, I had been having premenstrual spotting for almost 18 months. I saw an acupuncturist, and she stopped it within three or four months, not to mention that I got pregnant on only our second month trying. Now, you have a lot more going on physically, but I would try it for at least three months and see what happens. I know money is tight, so hopefully she can get your insurance to cover it. If your insurance won't, you can probably negotiate with her for a lower rate.
Eastern medicine is about kind of healing your body/stimulating your organs to get them to do what they're supposed to do, whereas Western medicine is more about covering the symptom. So, in theory, Eastern medicine could go a long way to healing what's broken.
Try not to get stressed about it, but do see if you can find a way to give this a try.
{{{more gentle hugs}}}
--------------------
Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
2.5 hours that is great she spent that much time with you but also a lot of new info to take in.....+ what you already knew going in.
I agree with Sand..... the Botox etc is just like teeth whitening at my dentist too... something else to try and make some fast cash on....(I was a sucker...LOL)
Your poor liver..... but man does that ever make sense....!!
Yes, see if you can get insurance to pay for acupuncture and massage therapy....I'm sure it could help you in someway....
So the yeast.... is all over inside your whole system? Reason? Too many antibiotics, foods with yeast, stress, etc etc???? Treatment? Just a change in diet or more meds? Any idea? (think I could add another question mark?) hehehe
I sure wish I could help you escape to Mexico or somewhere where you can just spend your time in warm salt water and not hurt 24/7....
{{{hugs}}}
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
So much for you to digest. I vote for giving it a try. So far, nothing else has seemed to work much, so what's to lose? I also like the East meets West type of doctors. I hope this works for you.
--------------------
***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I hope it works for you! I love east meets west docs too.. miss my doc who moved to CA almost 2 years ago now... but I like my DO now... but she isn't as nontraditional thinking as Dr March was...
--------------------
Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Posts
