Re: Report on my 1st visit to the Chronic PainSpecialist (Pretty Long.. sorry :( )

[Guest guest]

Wow, can you send that doctor here. I am in Canada and he sounds wonderful. I am

so happy

that you have found him. Congrats!

I hope that you can get insurance because that pain management course sounds

good, too.

Keryn Aikman wrote:

>

>

> Hi all-

>

> Well, I finally made it to see the chronic pain specialist on March 6

> (Monday). I live in town, TX which is right outside of Austin. So if

> anyone wants his address, etc... I would be more than happy to give it to

> ya. He is on the web if anyone wishes to take a looksie at

> http://tx-pain.home.texas.net/ His name is Graves T. Owen and he is such a

> nice doctor. My spirits were lifted even before actually meeting him. I

> didn't take any meds that morning (oh lemme tell you THAT was fun <insert

> sarcasm here>) so I would at least half way be at what a " natural pain

> level " would be. I am certain I still had some meds in me from the night

> before, but lemme tell ya, I DID indeed hurt that morning. But I digress...

> I guess I was moving my head or something that would show somebody else I

> was in massive pain... to recap, my main fibro spots that ALWAYS hurt are my

> neck, shoulders and upper back...this wonderful woman in the waiting room

> looked at me and said: " It's your neck that bothers you most huh? " . We

> started talking and I found out that she has had fibro for 15 years. She was

> there with what I could only assume was her 16 year old son and her nearly

> 2-year old daughter. We got to talking, and she told me some of what she was

> doing for treatment, and that Dr. Owen has actually been able to help her

> somewhat, and does NOT look at you like you are crazy.

>

> Her words proved true, as he was the 1st doctor to not " look down on me " or

> to doubt my symptoms at all. Prior to my visit, I had to fill out an

> extensive (125 question or so) questionnaire on everything about my pain,

> sleeping patterns etc... that had really impressed me already. The nurse

> practitioner also came in to ask me about more things from said

> questionnaire. She was VERY kind, and when she did the dreaded pressure

> point test she was the most gentle of ANYONE who has done it in the past.

> Now as we all know, there is no nice way to have it done. However, at least

> she stopped when I felt the least bit of discomfort. I explained about how

> my employers had fired me a few days prior to March, so that I no longer had

> insurance. Both she and the doctor took this into account. Again, another

> thing that really impressed me. I felt more like a person that just a file

> and a paycheck to them. It probably helped somewhat that when I signed in

> they took a Polaroid of my face, as the doctor and nurses like to have a pic

> to reference to in case you call. They prefer to " see " who you are as

> opposed to just overlooking the file. That also made me feel EXTREMELY good.

>

> Anyhow once more I ramble on.. please forgive me...the doc finally came in,

> but all together the visit was not a laborous affair at all. I was there

> maybe (from waiting room to leaving time) around 1 1/2 hours or so. The

> doctor was very nice, and again asked questions. He also had me walk for

> him, and tested certain reflexes. He also asked if I had had certain tests

> (thyroid) run recently, which I actually had. They (the clinic) are

> currently weaning me of the Soma and Lortab which I had been taking to take

> the edge off the pain. I am now on Methodone at a low dosage, which we will

> end up playing around with to get the correct doseage for me for pain

> control. However, for now I am lowering the usage of Soma and Lortab in

> conjunction with the Methodone slowly. I am remaining on my Celexa for

> depression, tomorrow he as me beginning an anti-anxiety drug (now here I

> thought depression and anxiety were the same) called Buspar, and then on

> Tuesday he has me adding Elavil to the routine to try to help me sleep. I

> have no clue if the other meds will help, but I can only hope. So far the

> Methodone seems to be helping somewhat... he chose that med as I have no

> insurance and in his words " it is dirt cheap " LOL. He is taking my lack of

> insurance into account, which I REALLY like about him. He also gave me a 2

> 1/2 week trial pack of the Buspar to see if it works prior to me spending

> money on getting a scrip filled. *IF* I get Cobra or any other type of

> assistance from my previous bosses, he wants me take a " Pain Management

> Course " which supposedly runs anywhere from 6-8 weeks. He said it gets VERY

> costly though, and does not want to put me through that until I can get some

> financial assistance. I thought this was quite admirable of him. He told me

> the course has 7 or so specialists that I would be working with... I have no

> clue what it is all about.. maybe biofeedback, counseling, massage therapy

> (which I already have a therapist there), chiropractic (again I already have

> one) or something to that effect? Has anyone been through this type of thing

> yet? If so, did it work at all? I am to see him in one month, at which time

> he will more than likely draw blood to see how all these meds are working,

> and see if we can do anything else to help? He also suggested I purchase

> this book:

>

> Managing the Pain before It Manages You: By Margaret A.

Caudill, MD, PhD

>

> I have no clue if it is any good, but I thought I would let you all know

> about it just in case. I haven't had a chance to browse through it yet

> myself. I did order a different book from Amazon.com as it looked rather

> good, and I sent a copy to my old roomie (she also suffers from FMS) as I

> thought it may help somewhat... that book is titled:

>

> Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome,

> Insights from Practitioners & Patients., by Mari Skelly and Helm.

>

> Both of these authors have FMS. It seemed pretty good. My ex-roomie has read

> it already and said it has helped her a tremendous amount, and seems to have

> a great deal of info in it. In any case, once again I thought I would pass

> that along to you all . I apologize for the lengthiness of this email,

> but I think some of you asked me to report back on how the chronic pain

> specialist had gone. I know I tend to get rather detailed.. but there ya

> go... if I were in 1st grade my paper would have been named " My Summer, a

> trip to the Chronic Pain Specialist " LOL. Oh well, I just woke up due to

> excruciating pain and had to take my meds... so I thought I would write you

> all. However, I think I am now going to try to go back to sleep.

>

> Gentle Hugs Always-

> Keryn Aikman

>

> ICQ # 14849817

>

> P.S. Aside from the meds, I am purchasing a Tempur-Pedic adjustable bed...

> NASA originated the idea, it is made out of foam and is dust mite proof

> etc.. when I lay on it I felt like I was actually floating. Apparently

> numerous people with FMS use it, and it helps us sleep through the night. I

> am getting mine from a chain of stores called Relax The Back here in Texas.

> At this point, ANYTHING that will help me sleep and feel even slightly less

> discomfort, I am willing to try! Just thought I would share yet again

> Nite all.

>

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