I know this is similar to the thread about people's misconceptions and we talk about this subject a lot in most of our threads, but thought a subject like this, that affects us all, and so often, deserves an added thread. Especially right now, as it seems so many of us are having difficulty being heard by our practitioners, our pharmacies and in some cases, even our own families.
My husband brought this up this evening. I know it bothers him so much when I have to endure added stress, that could be avoided so easily if people in the medical field and even our friends and families, would just take the time to educate themselves. It made me realize that I have been spoiled for so long, by my amazing PM doctor, that I'd almost forgotten how important it is to stand up for myself and not allow anyone to trample all over my basic rights as a human being.
I really feel that instead of waiting for these people to "get a clue", I have a responsibility to myself and to all CPer's to do my best to educate them.
I almost changed my upcoming appointment with Bob the idiot PA, and then I thought, NO. I need, for my own peace of mind, to let him know how his behavior and attitude during my recent health scare, affected me. I really think I deserve an apology. I know I have to choose my words carefully, but I feel I can make my point, without losing it or being rude. I am just tired of being treated like a second class citizen.
I just thought this thread would be very educational to all of us. We always learn so much from each other. I would love to know how everyone else feels about this. Much love and God Bless to all, cmpgirl
I can't stress how much I agree with you. Every person has a right to have their pain managed, period. There should never be any hassle from a DOCTOR most of all, but the pharmacists should keep their well intended mouths shut, and sometimes our own family members need a major education. Sometimes even after explaining things to people they still don't get it.
I've been a major advocate for proper pain management for a while now and am so glad you started this thread. I am lucky and have a great pm doc right now but I do not take him for granted. I fear every month that something will happen and he'll leave the state, or get sick himself, something, then where will I be? It's really hard to be that dependent on one person. When you think about it a pm doc controls your quality of life and they can make it totally miserable or liveable. I know I will never be totally out of pain, but at least I can function somewhat at this level, where before, with no pain meds, I was in the fetal position on the couch all the time.
Anyway, thanks for starting this thread!
Sandy
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I'm on SSDI with 3 kids, a great man, and several dogs and cats. I have a myriad of pain causing medical problems.
What a great post, cmpgirl. This is my first post here on the PM board, I've posted a little on the Anxiety board, but I wanted to say I understand what you are saying. I have had chronic pain problems with my right knee since 1991, and after years of hoping and praying it would "just go away", I finally had surgery-ACL reconstruction, partial menisectomy, and the medial meniscus tear was "very complex" with lots of stage IV wear in there. The stability is good, but the pain is not! My ortho. surgeon said I will always have problems, (chrondomalacia?sp?) and boy, was he right. My PCP rx's norco 3x a day, and it really is not helping that much at all. But, I'm afraid to speak up! The looks I get from some of the assistants at her office make me feel so upset. My surgery was in Dec. 06, and I have had to get back into physical therapy, hoping that will help a bit. And I don't even want to get started on the whole pharmacy thing. I think we have all had "episodes" with that, for sure. Thanks for your post, you educated me!
I agree we have to look out for our selves. Like the rest on this board I've had the quack doctors. I'm in a situation now where if my pm decided to be a jerk or whatever and pulled some of the crap that others are going through, I would be in a world of trouble. This guy is in control of a major aspect of my life, my meds. What would I do if he up and cut me off? The withdrawls would be bad enough but then the pain would still be there. If a quack decided to put something in my record to make it look like I was abusing how would I fight it? I guess that's why I try to live life according to Philippians 4:6-7. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Fred
Great choice of scripture! That expression, "God will never give you more than you can handle," well, some days I joke that I need a judge's ruling. I'm sure we've all been there, in some way or another.
Cmpgirl,
I totally agree with you regarding watching out for ourselves. It's a sad commentary on the medical profession when we run into physicians who don't seem to have our best interests at heart, especially when we're the ones paying their salaries. But don't you think customer service in general reflects this same trend? I mean, I always try to be pleasant to people, whether they are the doctor's staff, pharmacist, Wal-Mart cashier, whatever. When I worked in the corporate world, I often encountered "stinkers," but I would try to "kill 'em with kindness" until I won them over. It usually worked. But I find such rudeness and lack of respect for others so frequently, in all settings, that I just get to feeling that people are downright mean. What ever happened to common courtesy? I guess it must be that the pace of life and stress of keeping up are making people miserable, and they take it out on others.
I have been known to be a "pleaser," so much so that I have often put my own needs so far below those of others that my health has suffered. I have finally learned to speak up for myself a little better (after lots of therapy, not the PT kind!) and it has helped me immensely. But I still shy away from conflict, and that sometimes makes it hard when I have to address a problem with someone.
But like you say, if I don't stand up for myself, I could get trampled! LOL I try to be as informed as possible and courteous, but these days, if I get pushed, I push back!
Thanks for reminding us that we don't have to be our own worst enemy!
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