Emergency Preparedness, Are you prepared? ( Judy)

[Guest guest]

Well what a small world!! You're just a hop and skip from me!

My husband and I use hospital. My husband goes to the Hulston Cancer

center every week. I received my RN degree through hosp, of course the

school was called Burge then. There are good doctors and bad doctors

everywhere but we've been blessed with good, caring doctors.

I did go to the St 's pain center for about 3 years when I first became

disabled. I had no problem with the doctor.

He looked at my myelogram, and the results of my liver biopsy and the report

from the rheumatologist (ms) and told me I was between a rock and a hard

place. He was so patient with me as we tried one pain medicine after

another.

Each one seemed to cause more liver problems within a few months of

starting them. After seeing him for about a couple of years I approached him

with the idea of surgery on my back or implanted pain pump. He said then no

doctor would touch you because of the amount of liver damage.

I stopped going to him because I became so frustrated with trying to find a

pain medication that worked. I just quit on all pain meds and did without

them until my husband's illness has left me with all the responsibilities

etc. Now I'm taking such a small amount of pain meds and there are days that

I can't take any. I do use the heating pad and a tens unit and just do the

best I can.

I saw the neurosurgeon again and he said no to surgery. And even though my

right knee needs a total replacement, the rheumatologist says no.

One doctor (none of these that I mentioned) told me I might as well go home

and wait to die because there was nothing else anyone could do. I wouldn't

believe that came out of her mouth except my husband was standing next to me

and heard her also. I laughed all the way out to the car but my husband was

so angry. I didn't go back to her!!!!

I'm looking forward to talking with you more. Judy from Mo.