WHEN YOUR DOCTORS GIVE UP ON YOU!

I just read a fascinating article about chronic pain especially as it effects women. In this month's issue of O Magazine, I read the following in an interview piece with the author of "The Pain Chronicles," Melanie Thernstrom, herself a chornic pain sufferer: "Studies have shown that pain in women is viewed much more skeptically than in men. . . women generally have a lower pain tolerance [than men]." In other words, while women experience pain more intensely, we are taken less seriously by medical professionals. This is consistent with an experience I had with my primary care physician. I brought Jeff along with me to an appointment out of fear that my doctor wouldn't take me seirously. While I was describing my pain, he looked at my husband and said, "Is she always like this?" I wanted to hit him and HARD!

The article went on to say that there are 70 millions Americans suffering with chronic pain and it is one of the most under treated diseases. I feel like I could go on forever in pain taking my Tramadol and Tylenol without any of my doctors really caring or looking into things further to find out if we are missing something. I have often wondered if there is a missing piece to this puzzle that has become my life in pain. In fact, I have an appointment with my doctor in a couple of weeks and I am going to push him to look into some other areas for answers. I have to fight to get the answers I need and I need a proper diagnosis that makes sense to me. I deserve that!

We treat our medical professionals like they are better than us when they are simply providing a service and we should expect good service. It is no different than going into a store to buy furniture, more serious, but not different. Like we expect to have our furniture delivered within a certain period of time, we should expect our doctor to do his or her best to find out why we are in pain and to not give up on us. I never thought I would be in my current situation - in pain without the support of my chosen medical professionals. It makes me really mad when I'm not equally sad about it. But, the fight continues because as I always say to nauseum - I WON'T GIVE UP! They might have given up on me, but I haven't!

[Reference: "Pain & Prejudice." Jennifer Kahn's Interview with Melanie Thernstrom. September 2010 issue of O Magazine]