I have noticed recently that there have been a recent incline in commercials advertising medications for Fibromyalgia.
I am going to get a lot of flack for this, so I am going to state right away, medication does work for some, and if it works for you I am so happy that you found something that makes your life easier.
The two main commercials I have been watching are for Lyrica, and Cymbalta, two I have tried and have been unsuccessful. These commercials remind me of an infomercial. You have the person leading the perfect life, doing things that without the medication would be absolutely impossible. Then in a low tone, with the speed of an auctioneer, you hear the side effects and who should not use it, while the person is walking with the sun shining, or chasing after children, or working and living a normal life.
If only it was this easy!
You might as well have Mr. T do the commercials.
Pop this pill and your life will return to normal, just ignore the nausea, the dizziness, the vertigo, the weight gain, heart racing, shakes, insomnia or excess tiredness, and you will be as good as new.
Its scary when they are using the same tactics for meds as they do for selling cars, beer, food or any other material item.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Disability Part Two
I wrote about Disability the other day, and today I am going to continue on that subject.
Disability is very helpful for those who are just diagnosed, or unable to get their Fibro under control. It is a pain in the ass to get, but once you are approved it gives you the freedom to take care of your own health. You are able to figure out what works best for your body.
However, should we think of it as a permanent solution? Are we then able to say, okay I have Fibro and I will never be able to work again. Once we are on disability do we become complacent.
When you are working you have that need for the money, the drive to get better, the need to have the doctors try to help quicker, the want to be able to live our daily life as we know it. Do we still have that when we have the security of disability?
There is no timeline, for some you can start to feel better, more active and productive, in months, two years, or as one friend I have ten years. Are you striving to get back to work? To live a life like the one you used to know, as close as possible at least?
Having Fibromyalgia does not mean that we are not able to work, we are no longer able to shop, to run errands, we just have to retrain our body, and figure out a new way to do it. Are you sitting on the couch, watching tv, not being active through out the day?
We should be using disability as a chance to get healthy and get back out to work. What are you doing while you are on disability?
Disability is very helpful for those who are just diagnosed, or unable to get their Fibro under control. It is a pain in the ass to get, but once you are approved it gives you the freedom to take care of your own health. You are able to figure out what works best for your body.
However, should we think of it as a permanent solution? Are we then able to say, okay I have Fibro and I will never be able to work again. Once we are on disability do we become complacent.
When you are working you have that need for the money, the drive to get better, the need to have the doctors try to help quicker, the want to be able to live our daily life as we know it. Do we still have that when we have the security of disability?
There is no timeline, for some you can start to feel better, more active and productive, in months, two years, or as one friend I have ten years. Are you striving to get back to work? To live a life like the one you used to know, as close as possible at least?
Having Fibromyalgia does not mean that we are not able to work, we are no longer able to shop, to run errands, we just have to retrain our body, and figure out a new way to do it. Are you sitting on the couch, watching tv, not being active through out the day?
We should be using disability as a chance to get healthy and get back out to work. What are you doing while you are on disability?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Step Into Their Shoes - Disability
Many people living with Fibromyalgia are no longer able to live the life they want, or used to live before their diagnosis. This includes working, which is a necessity of life, unless you have a trust fund, married rich, or won the lottery.
Working with Fibro is near impossible if your symptoms are not under control, and even if your symptoms are under control it is still very difficult. We then turn to Disability. Applying for disability is a job in itself, that you wish you had an Assistant to do for you. You file the paperwork, go through interviews, have many doctors do examinations mental and physical. Then the majority of the time you are denied, and have to reapply.
I understand that some of these people are absolute idiots with no compassion or sensitivity. I will not say all as I am sure there are a few good ones, I am being hopeful on this. We go through the questions, the stares, the insinuations that it is mental, as well as the suggestions that we want on disability for the free ride. Sometimes it works, it does turn people off, and stop the process of the individual applying for disability. Is it deferring the right people?
Have you ever sat down and thought about it from their point of view? I know this is difficult, especially when they are going through the process. These individuals deal with hundreds, if not thousands of people a year, with a percentage of people who are faking the symptoms and trying to get a free ride. I have met a few of these people, as I am sure some of you have. Then we have a disease, that has not been recognized in every state, province, county, city, or country, as more than a symptom. There are few tests that diagnose it, actually really only the 18/19 point test (some doctors are doing 19 points now). These are employees who have been trained to look at the medical information given to them, including xrays, ultrasound, and test results. Which we are unable to give them.
We are the red flag. Before they have talked to us, they have reviewed all the information, as soon as they see Fibromyalgia it is a red flag, and it is not fair to us. However, how many people file using Fibro as their reason without actually having it. We are the individuals that have really no medical proof, yet we are going to the government saying "We are sick, we need help, we cannot work".
They are going to be extra cautious to approve a person with Fibromyalgia.
Although the Disability staff does have reasoning to be more cautious, it does not give them the ability or right to treat you with disrespect. They will, one person will definitely make a comment, or say something absolutely ridiculous.
"If you want money marry rich" (that was my favourite)
"You don't look sick"
"It is just mental"
"You are feeling overwhelmed that is all"
and the straight to the point comment;
"You are trying to scam the system" (I have had this numerous times)
No one, at any time as a right to speak to you with this kind of ignorance, disrespect, or lack of compassion.
Please remember though, when you get these comments, try to remember how many people they have who try to commit fraud, or that these employees have been trained to red flag us, or that in some cases they just are not to bright and can't get pass if they don't see it, it is not true (if there is no medical proof, it is not true). As many times they make the comment, as many times as they deny you, remember these things, because you will want to say something, you will get frustrated, and you will get extremely angry, but hold your tongue, and remember this is how they have been trained, and if you comment they will deny you on that alone.
Working with Fibro is near impossible if your symptoms are not under control, and even if your symptoms are under control it is still very difficult. We then turn to Disability. Applying for disability is a job in itself, that you wish you had an Assistant to do for you. You file the paperwork, go through interviews, have many doctors do examinations mental and physical. Then the majority of the time you are denied, and have to reapply.
I understand that some of these people are absolute idiots with no compassion or sensitivity. I will not say all as I am sure there are a few good ones, I am being hopeful on this. We go through the questions, the stares, the insinuations that it is mental, as well as the suggestions that we want on disability for the free ride. Sometimes it works, it does turn people off, and stop the process of the individual applying for disability. Is it deferring the right people?
Have you ever sat down and thought about it from their point of view? I know this is difficult, especially when they are going through the process. These individuals deal with hundreds, if not thousands of people a year, with a percentage of people who are faking the symptoms and trying to get a free ride. I have met a few of these people, as I am sure some of you have. Then we have a disease, that has not been recognized in every state, province, county, city, or country, as more than a symptom. There are few tests that diagnose it, actually really only the 18/19 point test (some doctors are doing 19 points now). These are employees who have been trained to look at the medical information given to them, including xrays, ultrasound, and test results. Which we are unable to give them.
We are the red flag. Before they have talked to us, they have reviewed all the information, as soon as they see Fibromyalgia it is a red flag, and it is not fair to us. However, how many people file using Fibro as their reason without actually having it. We are the individuals that have really no medical proof, yet we are going to the government saying "We are sick, we need help, we cannot work".
They are going to be extra cautious to approve a person with Fibromyalgia.
Although the Disability staff does have reasoning to be more cautious, it does not give them the ability or right to treat you with disrespect. They will, one person will definitely make a comment, or say something absolutely ridiculous.
"If you want money marry rich" (that was my favourite)
"You don't look sick"
"It is just mental"
"You are feeling overwhelmed that is all"
and the straight to the point comment;
"You are trying to scam the system" (I have had this numerous times)
No one, at any time as a right to speak to you with this kind of ignorance, disrespect, or lack of compassion.
Please remember though, when you get these comments, try to remember how many people they have who try to commit fraud, or that these employees have been trained to red flag us, or that in some cases they just are not to bright and can't get pass if they don't see it, it is not true (if there is no medical proof, it is not true). As many times they make the comment, as many times as they deny you, remember these things, because you will want to say something, you will get frustrated, and you will get extremely angry, but hold your tongue, and remember this is how they have been trained, and if you comment they will deny you on that alone.
Have A Sense Of Humour
Today I went for a brain scan. Not my first, it is my fourth or fifth. I suppose they are making sure the wheel is still moving, or at least the hamster is still breathing.
It is a very simple process, you go in they inject you with the radioactive material (you don't get any special powers from it, I wish I could at least fly), wait 45 minutes, and then they lay you down, pop your head into a machine while it circles and takes pictures for about 15mins. Very simple.
My theory is whether you are in a horrible mood, if you are going into the doctors or know you are going to get a needle, or have a medical procedure you do not piss anyone off. Go in with a good attitude and remember your manners and it seems to work. However, today it seems that I ran into everyone that was lacking a sense of humour.
I had my mother with me, and nothing worked. The jokes went right over these nurses heads, a good attitude, smiles, everything seemed to skip over them. I had a total of three nurses, or lab technicians, and none of them could joke around. I even made a joke when it took three attempts and two nurses to get a needle into my vein. But for some reason nothing. Normally I would say maybe it is because I am not funny, but no, not today, I was having fun, my mom was having fun, and the people in the waiting room were having fun along with us, just not the medical staff.
There were cancer patients, heart patients, chronic pain patients, and the last thing we need is a moody or unhappy person sticking us with a needle, or performing tests on us. A smile, a laugh, a nice word, goes a long way.
For all the medical staff out there, I understand you have bad days, but put yourself in your patients place. A smile, doesn't take much, heck it will even lessen the wrinkles, a kind word, a little dialogue goes a long way. It will put the person at ease, and make your day go alot smoother, and trust me a kind word goes a long way when you are digging a needle into the arm of a person.
A sense of humour, is it possible? Is it too much to ask for?
It is a very simple process, you go in they inject you with the radioactive material (you don't get any special powers from it, I wish I could at least fly), wait 45 minutes, and then they lay you down, pop your head into a machine while it circles and takes pictures for about 15mins. Very simple.
My theory is whether you are in a horrible mood, if you are going into the doctors or know you are going to get a needle, or have a medical procedure you do not piss anyone off. Go in with a good attitude and remember your manners and it seems to work. However, today it seems that I ran into everyone that was lacking a sense of humour.
I had my mother with me, and nothing worked. The jokes went right over these nurses heads, a good attitude, smiles, everything seemed to skip over them. I had a total of three nurses, or lab technicians, and none of them could joke around. I even made a joke when it took three attempts and two nurses to get a needle into my vein. But for some reason nothing. Normally I would say maybe it is because I am not funny, but no, not today, I was having fun, my mom was having fun, and the people in the waiting room were having fun along with us, just not the medical staff.
There were cancer patients, heart patients, chronic pain patients, and the last thing we need is a moody or unhappy person sticking us with a needle, or performing tests on us. A smile, a laugh, a nice word, goes a long way.
For all the medical staff out there, I understand you have bad days, but put yourself in your patients place. A smile, doesn't take much, heck it will even lessen the wrinkles, a kind word, a little dialogue goes a long way. It will put the person at ease, and make your day go alot smoother, and trust me a kind word goes a long way when you are digging a needle into the arm of a person.
A sense of humour, is it possible? Is it too much to ask for?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I Hope It Is Not Just Me
I am hoping that it is not just me.
I am an absolute clutz, hurting myself without knowing how. If I am moving, there is a 100% chance that I can hurt myself. I am the one who walks into walls, and people just ignore it now.
I have hurt my wrist, but I have gotten so used to pain that I just ignore it most of the time, any kind of pain I ignore.
So the question is, are we really hurt, or is it the Fibro overreacting to a simple bruise?
Have you ever wondered? When do we need to go to the doctor right away, or when should we wait and see if it is actually serious or not?
Confusing, we are oversensitive to pain, but we learn to deal and our pain threshold increases constantly to compensate, but does that mean we ignore something like a sprain, or a fracture?
In the past I have ignored a fractured ankle, thinking it is the Fibro. I walked on it, carried my children, ran, did all the wonderful things you are not supposed to do, and found out years later it was actually fractured. All because I have a high pain threshold and have learned to ignore the pain.
Pain tells us when there is something wrong with our body. All we know is pain, so how do we know it is the Fibro or there is something wrong with our body?
I am an absolute clutz, hurting myself without knowing how. If I am moving, there is a 100% chance that I can hurt myself. I am the one who walks into walls, and people just ignore it now.
I have hurt my wrist, but I have gotten so used to pain that I just ignore it most of the time, any kind of pain I ignore.
So the question is, are we really hurt, or is it the Fibro overreacting to a simple bruise?
Have you ever wondered? When do we need to go to the doctor right away, or when should we wait and see if it is actually serious or not?
Confusing, we are oversensitive to pain, but we learn to deal and our pain threshold increases constantly to compensate, but does that mean we ignore something like a sprain, or a fracture?
In the past I have ignored a fractured ankle, thinking it is the Fibro. I walked on it, carried my children, ran, did all the wonderful things you are not supposed to do, and found out years later it was actually fractured. All because I have a high pain threshold and have learned to ignore the pain.
Pain tells us when there is something wrong with our body. All we know is pain, so how do we know it is the Fibro or there is something wrong with our body?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Drugs
I have been doing amazing with controlling my Fibro. Today it is raining, and besides the fact that I am tired (2 kids will do that alone), I was able to get up and get moving.
Lately I have been having a few stomach issues that are not related to Fibro. The pain has stopped me from eating, and when I do try to eat something small I am fatigued right away. That is not important, anyways i have had an ultrasound done and they are waiting for the results. I have spoken to my doctor and it can be anything from scar tissue issues from my previous surgeries, or previous drug intake (from the prescription drugs dealing with Fibro), to just a fluke.
I have mentioned drugs and my problems with them previously. My recent issues have made me think again about what the drugs can do to your body, and this has made me want to remind everyone to make sure that everyone is educated in their choices with prescription drugs and Fibro. I have heard doctors tell me about possible side effects when you are taking the drug, but what is the side effect for taking the drug on a long term basis. Has a doctor ever told you what could happen to your kidneys, liver, or your system period if you are on the drug for a long period of time?
I understand that you are sometimes in so much pain, discomfort that you will try anything. If it works great, but what happens 40 years from now.
The majority of the prescriptions for Fibro patients have not been on the market long enough to see the long term effects. Some of the drugs are only conditionally approved.
We really need to start taking responsibility, and holding our doctors responsible for telling us the effects now and the effects that could happen in the future.
You are in pain now, what are you going to feel when your body can no longer clean the drugs out of your system (especially narcotics), or start to negatively affecting your body?
Please just question, and question the doctors answers.
Lately I have been having a few stomach issues that are not related to Fibro. The pain has stopped me from eating, and when I do try to eat something small I am fatigued right away. That is not important, anyways i have had an ultrasound done and they are waiting for the results. I have spoken to my doctor and it can be anything from scar tissue issues from my previous surgeries, or previous drug intake (from the prescription drugs dealing with Fibro), to just a fluke.
I have mentioned drugs and my problems with them previously. My recent issues have made me think again about what the drugs can do to your body, and this has made me want to remind everyone to make sure that everyone is educated in their choices with prescription drugs and Fibro. I have heard doctors tell me about possible side effects when you are taking the drug, but what is the side effect for taking the drug on a long term basis. Has a doctor ever told you what could happen to your kidneys, liver, or your system period if you are on the drug for a long period of time?
I understand that you are sometimes in so much pain, discomfort that you will try anything. If it works great, but what happens 40 years from now.
The majority of the prescriptions for Fibro patients have not been on the market long enough to see the long term effects. Some of the drugs are only conditionally approved.
We really need to start taking responsibility, and holding our doctors responsible for telling us the effects now and the effects that could happen in the future.
You are in pain now, what are you going to feel when your body can no longer clean the drugs out of your system (especially narcotics), or start to negatively affecting your body?
Please just question, and question the doctors answers.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Dentist
I have been avoiding the dreaded dentist for over five years now, before I was officially diagnosed with Fibro, this week I could avoid it no longer.
The last time I went, they had to pull my back tooth, where a previous person who claimed to be a dentist did a bad root canal. Thank goodness it is the very back tooth, and I wont be having a gaping hole in my mouth, vanity always the foremost concern. However, after 8 needles of trying to numb that area with no success, and pulling half the tooth out, I could no longer take the pain. Now it is time to have the other half taken out and a full cleaning and all that wonderful stuff.
I went to the same dentist that pulled half the tooth out, he was wonderful before, and decided to go to him again. I had spoken to my doctor and his solution was for them to put me out completely as the numbing medicine no longer works with me. This dentist is also a surgeon and is licensed (I did check) to put me out.
I went in, filled out the paperwork. I went thru the paperwork, explained to the Admin Assistant, who was wonderful, that I had Fibro and all that wonderful stuff. They took me to the room, and there I waited. It took all my self control to not bolt out the door, it also helped that someone else drove me so I didn't have the car keys. After about 15 mins the dentist came in, asked how I was, and I replied don't want to be here. He asked what had happened, and why it took so long to come back, and I explained the whole Fibro thing and I was officially diagnosed. To my delight he said "glad you told me, I have other patients with Fibro, and I have to change how I treat you because of it".
Who knew? Well of course someone knew, I was the dolt. I was so worried about the pain factor, and having to go through with it and having to feel it all. What an idiot I was. I let fear overcome me, and didn't even bother to research the process, alternatives, or even call my dentist, I just completely ignored it. I should of known better with Fibro, you need everything healthy, and I was just ignoring a part of me that was getting more and more ill. I was an absolute fool.
Don't let fear ever run your life, research, get informed, there is always a way. Learn from my years of hiding in a box.
The last time I went, they had to pull my back tooth, where a previous person who claimed to be a dentist did a bad root canal. Thank goodness it is the very back tooth, and I wont be having a gaping hole in my mouth, vanity always the foremost concern. However, after 8 needles of trying to numb that area with no success, and pulling half the tooth out, I could no longer take the pain. Now it is time to have the other half taken out and a full cleaning and all that wonderful stuff.
I went to the same dentist that pulled half the tooth out, he was wonderful before, and decided to go to him again. I had spoken to my doctor and his solution was for them to put me out completely as the numbing medicine no longer works with me. This dentist is also a surgeon and is licensed (I did check) to put me out.
I went in, filled out the paperwork. I went thru the paperwork, explained to the Admin Assistant, who was wonderful, that I had Fibro and all that wonderful stuff. They took me to the room, and there I waited. It took all my self control to not bolt out the door, it also helped that someone else drove me so I didn't have the car keys. After about 15 mins the dentist came in, asked how I was, and I replied don't want to be here. He asked what had happened, and why it took so long to come back, and I explained the whole Fibro thing and I was officially diagnosed. To my delight he said "glad you told me, I have other patients with Fibro, and I have to change how I treat you because of it".
Who knew? Well of course someone knew, I was the dolt. I was so worried about the pain factor, and having to go through with it and having to feel it all. What an idiot I was. I let fear overcome me, and didn't even bother to research the process, alternatives, or even call my dentist, I just completely ignored it. I should of known better with Fibro, you need everything healthy, and I was just ignoring a part of me that was getting more and more ill. I was an absolute fool.
Don't let fear ever run your life, research, get informed, there is always a way. Learn from my years of hiding in a box.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)