jayelle
New member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2014
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Undiagnosed
- Diagnosis
- 01/2014
- Country
- US
- State
- CA
Hi everyone. My name is Jayelle and I'm new here. As you've guessed, I'm also new to fibro...or at least having a diagnosis.
Has anyone else had a hard time just getting a doctor to listen to you? I've been told everything from, "Well, we can't find out what's wrong so we're not going to do anything for you." to "There's no point in finding out what's wrong." Yes, that last one is a direct quote. A doctor actually said that and then sent me to physical therapy stating, "the only treatment for back problems is physical therapy." The physical therapist just about had a stroke when I told him what she said. He also said that my problem wasn't muscular and that I needed to see someone for skeletal or nerve pain.
Well, now the pain isn't only in my back anymore, and I realized that I had to tell my doc I don't want pain meds so she would take me seriously. That was about 5 months ago. I wasn't diagnosed until this month when I brought a friend with me who also has fibro. My chiropractor had suggested that might be at least part of my problem "along with an overactive sympathetic nervous system between the neck and tailbone" and undiagnosed scoliosis (even though you can plainly see that my spine is curved, I have yet to convince the doctor to even look at it, so I'm not diagnosed).
*sigh* My fibro has progressed a lot over the last year and I've reached the point where I can't think clearly, and I've had consecutive days with high pain levels I never knew that pain alone could be so exhausting, or that it would be so consuming. I've even had to go to the ER a few times (but, there's no point finding out what's wrong, right? grrrrr!).
Oh there is so much more to say but I don't want to go overboard here. lol I just want to say that I thought I knew what pain was. Even as little as 1 1/2 years ago my whole thought process about chronic pain was completely different.
There is no illness or injury that I have had which could've prepared me for what I'm going through now. I thought I knew, but I didn't have a clue. Two weeks ago I had such a bad pain day that it took me 20 min to convince myself to get out of bed and use the bathroom (the toilet was only 5 feet away). I just hurt so much, I couldn't do it. I mean, I eventually did get up and go. But, it took far more effort than a simple trip to the bathroom should be.
I just can't wait until I'm finally on something that can help. I didn't lie to my doctor; I really don't want to be hopped up on pain meds. But, it's my understanding that there are medications that can help and aren't addictive pain killers that knock you out. I have 2 special needs children and a husband about to go on deployment (Navy) next month. I need to be able to be aware and functioning now more than ever!
*hugs* Thanks for listening to/reading my rant. I guess...I just need to know that I'm not alone with the whole being ignored thing. It's really gotten to me.
~Jayelle
PS I should add that I think one of the reasons that I was ignored is stereotyping. I'm a hippie with long colorful dreads and I can only guess that the doctors all assumed I was drug seeking.
Has anyone else had a hard time just getting a doctor to listen to you? I've been told everything from, "Well, we can't find out what's wrong so we're not going to do anything for you." to "There's no point in finding out what's wrong." Yes, that last one is a direct quote. A doctor actually said that and then sent me to physical therapy stating, "the only treatment for back problems is physical therapy." The physical therapist just about had a stroke when I told him what she said. He also said that my problem wasn't muscular and that I needed to see someone for skeletal or nerve pain.
Well, now the pain isn't only in my back anymore, and I realized that I had to tell my doc I don't want pain meds so she would take me seriously. That was about 5 months ago. I wasn't diagnosed until this month when I brought a friend with me who also has fibro. My chiropractor had suggested that might be at least part of my problem "along with an overactive sympathetic nervous system between the neck and tailbone" and undiagnosed scoliosis (even though you can plainly see that my spine is curved, I have yet to convince the doctor to even look at it, so I'm not diagnosed).
*sigh* My fibro has progressed a lot over the last year and I've reached the point where I can't think clearly, and I've had consecutive days with high pain levels I never knew that pain alone could be so exhausting, or that it would be so consuming. I've even had to go to the ER a few times (but, there's no point finding out what's wrong, right? grrrrr!).
Oh there is so much more to say but I don't want to go overboard here. lol I just want to say that I thought I knew what pain was. Even as little as 1 1/2 years ago my whole thought process about chronic pain was completely different.
There is no illness or injury that I have had which could've prepared me for what I'm going through now. I thought I knew, but I didn't have a clue. Two weeks ago I had such a bad pain day that it took me 20 min to convince myself to get out of bed and use the bathroom (the toilet was only 5 feet away). I just hurt so much, I couldn't do it. I mean, I eventually did get up and go. But, it took far more effort than a simple trip to the bathroom should be.
I just can't wait until I'm finally on something that can help. I didn't lie to my doctor; I really don't want to be hopped up on pain meds. But, it's my understanding that there are medications that can help and aren't addictive pain killers that knock you out. I have 2 special needs children and a husband about to go on deployment (Navy) next month. I need to be able to be aware and functioning now more than ever!
*hugs* Thanks for listening to/reading my rant. I guess...I just need to know that I'm not alone with the whole being ignored thing. It's really gotten to me.
~Jayelle
PS I should add that I think one of the reasons that I was ignored is stereotyping. I'm a hippie with long colorful dreads and I can only guess that the doctors all assumed I was drug seeking.
Last edited: