Re: Getting ready

[Guest guest]

Thanks Someryn (or is it Someryn :-)

I had stenosis and ruptured discs in my lower back when I was younger. (due to

injury) It was awful. I had met with several 'young' orthopaedic surgeons and

they all said that the damage was inoperable. Then

in January of 1992, I had the good fortune of being introduce to a wonderful,

elderly ish orthopaedic surgeon. I think he was 71 years old at the time.

He told me that he could operate, but that there was

only about a 40% chance it would help me and that there was also a risk it could

make it worse. I went for the surgery anyway. I didn't have a whole lot to

lose if it didn't work. The recovery was slow and

painful, but it was worth it. I no longer have sciatic type pain in my legs or

backside. I don't get a feeling like fire ants are biting the " h " out of my

legs. I still trip over dustmites and I still get

lower back pain, but it's not anything like the excruciating pain that I had

before surgery. I can knock this pain out with a couple of tylenol 3. The

before surgery pain couldn't even be dulled by morphine.

If these young hot shot doctors that I have now are even half as good as that

old Scotsman, I will be happy.

Lyndi

Someryn wrote:

> I have spinal stenosis in my lower back from a fall I took at work 3 years

ago... it causes some good pain down in that area and I have trouble walking at

times because of that and other pain in that area...

> It showed up on an MRI as well.. there was a bit of controversy over it for

me, however, because it was a worker's comp case...

> I'm so sorry you have it in your neck!

> Someryn

[Guest guest]

Thanks Someryn (or is it Someryn :-)

I had stenosis and ruptured discs in my lower back when I was younger. (due to

injury) It was awful. I had met with several 'young' orthopaedic surgeons and

they all said that the damage was inoperable. Then

in January of 1992, I had the good fortune of being introduce to a wonderful,

elderly ish orthopaedic surgeon. I think he was 71 years old at the time.

He told me that he could operate, but that there was

only about a 40% chance it would help me and that there was also a risk it could

make it worse. I went for the surgery anyway. I didn't have a whole lot to

lose if it didn't work. The recovery was slow and

painful, but it was worth it. I no longer have sciatic type pain in my legs or

backside. I don't get a feeling like fire ants are biting the " h " out of my

legs. I still trip over dustmites and I still get

lower back pain, but it's not anything like the excruciating pain that I had

before surgery. I can knock this pain out with a couple of tylenol 3. The

before surgery pain couldn't even be dulled by morphine.

If these young hot shot doctors that I have now are even half as good as that

old Scotsman, I will be happy.

Lyndi

Someryn wrote:

> I have spinal stenosis in my lower back from a fall I took at work 3 years

ago... it causes some good pain down in that area and I have trouble walking at

times because of that and other pain in that area...

> It showed up on an MRI as well.. there was a bit of controversy over it for

me, however, because it was a worker's comp case...

> I'm so sorry you have it in your neck!

> Someryn

[Guest guest]

*nods* the young 'hotshot' doc that worker's comp sent me ti conveniently

ignored the stenosis and told me that there was nothing wrong... it was an old

gentleman who told me about it and if I could keep him as a doctor for

everything I would... but I'm sure he's retired now ... he had to be at least

70 as well... he also told me (I am a larger woman) that they would try to blame

all of my pain on my weight and that I shouldn't let them because I had always

been heavier and my body was probably used to it at this point (weird to hear

from a doc, huh?)... he says my personality also makes me seem larger than I am

because I am 'larger than life' *L* (I went to see him in tie-dye)... I do like

him very much and I refer people to him all the time-- with the added 'if he's

still practicing'..

The problem I'm facing now is I have been labeled as a pain med-seeker and a

hypochondriac... I don't have a dx as yet... and no one will help me... my last

doctor took a bunch of tests and when they came back normal he said that it was

'all in my head'.. it gets so frustrating sometimes! I've come to the point of

giving up so many times but this feeling I have that something is wrong will not

fade, even when I try to tell -myself- that it's all in my head. I guess my mind

and body won't believe that it's normal to be in pain... *shrugs*

Oh... it's Someryn... my middle name is ... Nice to meet you!

Re: Re: Getting ready

Thanks Someryn (or is it Someryn :-)

I had stenosis and ruptured discs in my lower back when I was younger. (due to

injury) It was awful. I had met with several 'young' orthopaedic surgeons and

they all said that the damage was inoperable. Then

in January of 1992, I had the good fortune of being introduce to a wonderful,

elderly ish orthopaedic surgeon. I think he was 71 years old at the time.

He told me that he could operate, but that there was

only about a 40% chance it would help me and that there was also a risk it

could make it worse. I went for the surgery anyway. I didn't have a whole lot

to lose if it didn't work. The recovery was slow and

painful, but it was worth it. I no longer have sciatic type pain in my legs

or backside. I don't get a feeling like fire ants are biting the " h " out of my

legs. I still trip over dustmites and I still get

lower back pain, but it's not anything like the excruciating pain that I had

before surgery. I can knock this pain out with a couple of tylenol 3. The

before surgery pain couldn't even be dulled by morphine.

If these young hot shot doctors that I have now are even half as good as that

old Scotsman, I will be happy.

Lyndi

Someryn wrote:

> I have spinal stenosis in my lower back from a fall I took at work 3 years

ago... it causes some good pain down in that area and I have trouble walking at

times because of that and other pain in that area...

> It showed up on an MRI as well.. there was a bit of controversy over it for

me, however, because it was a worker's comp case...

> I'm so sorry you have it in your neck!

> Someryn

[Guest guest]

*nods* the young 'hotshot' doc that worker's comp sent me ti conveniently

ignored the stenosis and told me that there was nothing wrong... it was an old

gentleman who told me about it and if I could keep him as a doctor for

everything I would... but I'm sure he's retired now ... he had to be at least

70 as well... he also told me (I am a larger woman) that they would try to blame

all of my pain on my weight and that I shouldn't let them because I had always

been heavier and my body was probably used to it at this point (weird to hear

from a doc, huh?)... he says my personality also makes me seem larger than I am

because I am 'larger than life' *L* (I went to see him in tie-dye)... I do like

him very much and I refer people to him all the time-- with the added 'if he's

still practicing'..

The problem I'm facing now is I have been labeled as a pain med-seeker and a

hypochondriac... I don't have a dx as yet... and no one will help me... my last

doctor took a bunch of tests and when they came back normal he said that it was

'all in my head'.. it gets so frustrating sometimes! I've come to the point of

giving up so many times but this feeling I have that something is wrong will not

fade, even when I try to tell -myself- that it's all in my head. I guess my mind

and body won't believe that it's normal to be in pain... *shrugs*

Oh... it's Someryn... my middle name is ... Nice to meet you!

Re: Re: Getting ready

Thanks Someryn (or is it Someryn :-)

I had stenosis and ruptured discs in my lower back when I was younger. (due to

injury) It was awful. I had met with several 'young' orthopaedic surgeons and

they all said that the damage was inoperable. Then

in January of 1992, I had the good fortune of being introduce to a wonderful,

elderly ish orthopaedic surgeon. I think he was 71 years old at the time.

He told me that he could operate, but that there was

only about a 40% chance it would help me and that there was also a risk it

could make it worse. I went for the surgery anyway. I didn't have a whole lot

to lose if it didn't work. The recovery was slow and

painful, but it was worth it. I no longer have sciatic type pain in my legs

or backside. I don't get a feeling like fire ants are biting the " h " out of my

legs. I still trip over dustmites and I still get

lower back pain, but it's not anything like the excruciating pain that I had

before surgery. I can knock this pain out with a couple of tylenol 3. The

before surgery pain couldn't even be dulled by morphine.

If these young hot shot doctors that I have now are even half as good as that

old Scotsman, I will be happy.

Lyndi

Someryn wrote:

> I have spinal stenosis in my lower back from a fall I took at work 3 years

ago... it causes some good pain down in that area and I have trouble walking at

times because of that and other pain in that area...

> It showed up on an MRI as well.. there was a bit of controversy over it for

me, however, because it was a worker's comp case...

> I'm so sorry you have it in your neck!

> Someryn

[Guest guest]

No my boss doesn't know and he can never know about it. In this

environment having FMS wouldn't work for me believe me. I had the flu

twice last year and he expected me to come in when I had that, even

though I was throwing up.

Its not that I can't use the days its the university at as whole. I

get written up if I miss a certain day and it goes on my personnel

record its part of my union contract.

I know it don't make sense but it would be useless for people here to

know about it, they would unsympathetic.

Tara

> Tara,

>

> I also get 10 days. Does your boss know you have FMS? At my last

job, everyone knew. I started a new job about 9 months ago and

haven't told anyone about the fibro yet. They know that I leave

early once a week for physical therapy, but don't know my neck pain

is caused by FM.

>

> I drag myself to work on bad days too, but sometimes I just can't

force myself.

>

> Ruth

>

> >>> u2tree2000@y... 01/04/02 08:20AM >>>

[Guest guest]

No my boss doesn't know and he can never know about it. In this

environment having FMS wouldn't work for me believe me. I had the flu

twice last year and he expected me to come in when I had that, even

though I was throwing up.

Its not that I can't use the days its the university at as whole. I

get written up if I miss a certain day and it goes on my personnel

record its part of my union contract.

I know it don't make sense but it would be useless for people here to

know about it, they would unsympathetic.

Tara

> Tara,

>

> I also get 10 days. Does your boss know you have FMS? At my last

job, everyone knew. I started a new job about 9 months ago and

haven't told anyone about the fibro yet. They know that I leave

early once a week for physical therapy, but don't know my neck pain

is caused by FM.

>

> I drag myself to work on bad days too, but sometimes I just can't

force myself.

>

> Ruth

>

> >>> u2tree2000@y... 01/04/02 08:20AM >>>

[Guest guest]

Physical Therapy never helped me cause all the moves they taught me I

already did most of them in my regular day of Yoga.

Yoga is my lifesaver during this, it relaxes my muscles allowing the

pain to subside. I am going to try Tai - Chi too. I will try anything

to help me not take meds for the pain. So far so go.

I got to an acupuncturist in Chinatown in Philly and he knows about

my FMS and after a session with him I feel fantastic but I can't

afford him all the time so I go to him when I am at my worst and my

insurance won't take him. Besides my doctor my biggest support and

comfort has be my massage therapist and my acupuncturist.

I don't know what I do without them, I wish insurance companies would

realize that but hell the give out viagra pills like it was candy.

What do I know about health. Sorry that viagra thing is really

pissing me off about my insurance won't cover my BC pills but cover

those damn Viagra pills.

Tara

> Lyndi wrote

>

> Have you had an MRI done on your neck?

>

> I've never had an MRI. My rheumy did order x-rays for my neck

because she thought that I had osteo arthritis. The x-rays came back

normal and she concluded that the fibro was causing the pain. The

neck and shoulder area has always been especially bad for me (bad

posture and I work at a computer all day). I've been doing therapy

for about 3 months now and am noticing improvement.

>

> What is stenosis?

>

> Ruth

[Guest guest]

Physical Therapy never helped me cause all the moves they taught me I

already did most of them in my regular day of Yoga.

Yoga is my lifesaver during this, it relaxes my muscles allowing the

pain to subside. I am going to try Tai - Chi too. I will try anything

to help me not take meds for the pain. So far so go.

I got to an acupuncturist in Chinatown in Philly and he knows about

my FMS and after a session with him I feel fantastic but I can't

afford him all the time so I go to him when I am at my worst and my

insurance won't take him. Besides my doctor my biggest support and

comfort has be my massage therapist and my acupuncturist.

I don't know what I do without them, I wish insurance companies would

realize that but hell the give out viagra pills like it was candy.

What do I know about health. Sorry that viagra thing is really

pissing me off about my insurance won't cover my BC pills but cover

those damn Viagra pills.

Tara

> Lyndi wrote

>

> Have you had an MRI done on your neck?

>

> I've never had an MRI. My rheumy did order x-rays for my neck

because she thought that I had osteo arthritis. The x-rays came back

normal and she concluded that the fibro was causing the pain. The

neck and shoulder area has always been especially bad for me (bad

posture and I work at a computer all day). I've been doing therapy

for about 3 months now and am noticing improvement.

>

> What is stenosis?

>

> Ruth

[Guest guest]

Em, I don't know how others feel, but to heck with fibro! You can do this. I

know that it is a worry, but what is honestly the worst thing that could happen?

You get an awesome job, you have more motivation and " purpose " in life (which I

think is a prescription for feeling good in itself!), you get a new car,

probably new clothes, an " unset " schedule (I assume as a manager this would give

you more freedom to come and go). There are many reasons to take it and go for

it, and I don't honestly see one reason to not go gung ho here! Yes, you have

some medical issues. Who doesn't? And there are people out there that deal

with some pretty awful things, and they are " going for it " . Em, you need to

stop feeling guilt for having this fibro, and for feeling bad physically. You

have earned and deserve a promotion, and you will just deal with a new job and

fibro, just like you are now. I can't imagine that working in the ER in 12 hour

shifts isn't incredoubly stressful. I used to work in dental offices and that

was severe stress for me! Then I worked for a dental software company, with 10

times the amount of responsibility, and I loved it, and I can honestly say that

I will NEVER go back to the stress of a little dental office. The stressers,

working against a schedule that was never on time, working with dentists (many

of which are on major ego trips), and working in a small office with many women!

Talk about stress. At Dentrix, I managed the trade shows and also taught

seminars to dental office staff on how to use the software. I had a lot of

responsibility, but it was FUN and I loved it. I am guessing that your current

stressors are very similar to the ones that I used to have, and I will take the

management any day over the stress of a dental office. Please don't punish

yourself for feeling ill. They don't need to know about your health, and it is

really none of their business. If you are not taking more sick time and

vacation than is allowed, then they don't need to know anything and it would be

illegal for them to base a decision on that in the first place. It would be

illegal for them to " consider " that in hiring you. I am not sure, but I am

guessing that your current boss would not be allowed " legally " to mention this

to them if they use your boss as a current reference. I know if it was a

different company then they couldn't do this, but I don't know if they can

internally. But if they did, then you could sue them for millions and you'd be

set. So either way you win! (Just kidding about the sueing part). Sorry to

ramble. Just a little opinionated tonight. Em, you walk in there tomorrow and

know that you are " perfect " " Just the way you are " (for those who love the movie

Bridget Diary and make them believe that they can't go on without you.

Sincerely, Pamela Rauch

Getting ready

I already know the answer to this, but I'm curious as to how you guys feel

about this question.

IF I get this job -- big ' " if " -- just how honest can I be about my medical

conditions? I won't even ask about the psychological ones; I don't even

talk to my PARENTS about those.

Here's the thing, though. Since I would only be changing departments, not

become a new hire again, my anniversary of working with this hospital will

still fall on March 26. That is when I become eligible to take FMLA days

off. But in a managerial position, I know I will not be able to take

advantage of that.

I'm getting the cart before the horse, since I haven't had my interview yet

(1.75 hours and counting). I have no intention of broaching the subject

during my interview. But the naggingly honest part of me is going, Em,

what if the Kenalog doesn't work as well this time? What if you continue

to feel as you do now? And that just scares me to death, because the steep

learning curve of a new job and the MUCH higher level of responsibility in

this position are going to be very tiring.

It's just hard to weigh the two issues against one another. With the job,

I have more satisfying duties, a job that fits my skills MUCH better, and a

pay scale that will allow me to be able to afford maybe payments on a new

car (which I *desperately* need, mine is 12 years old and falling apart),

and so on. Without it, I'm stuck in a dead-end position, but I can do

FMLA, without worrying about the fact that if I'm gone, there is no one to

step in for me.

Any thoughts? Like I said, won't mention it in my interview. But a part

of me just feels like it's a lie. And that part of me isn't wrong.

*worried*

Em

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is the tale, not he who tells it.

I no longer need to punish, deceive or compromise myself.

Unless, of course, I want to stay employed.

Broccoli is bigger than all of us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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