Changed Doctors
Monday, July 06, 2009
Well I finally did it. I went back to my old GP. This last year has several sucked for me. Hence the lack of posts. When I moved to this new I figured "what the heck let find someone closer. That will make my life easier and stop me having to rely on others." Well, needless to say that didn't work out. He was a young guy so I thought he might have some new ideas. Boy was I mistaken. First thing he did was up every medication to the point I was very, very worried I was going to wind up dead. In all fairness, he did try but was way over his head. A warning sign went off ( and I should have listened to it ) when he didn't want my past history. In my opinion, for complex case this should be a must. No sense redo everything but that is what happened to me. So now I'm back and hope to writing more.
Paul
Reason often makes mistakes,
but conscience never does
- Josh Billings
0 comments
Paul
Reason often makes mistakes,
but conscience never does
- Josh Billings
0 comments
Happy Canada Day
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Capsaicin for Pain Control
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
An article at Science Daily about how Capsaicin can be used to combat pain. According to the article Capsaicin cremes are "commonly sold over the counter as effective treatment for a variety of pain syndromes, from minor muscle or joint aches to those that are very difficult to treat, such as arthritis and neuropathic pain." I had heard some individuals have had some success with it to lessen pain. Besides it won't hurt to try.
The directions for creme I picked up says to uses 3-4 times a day with a burning sensation "being observed with less". I can definitely say it does burn! Likely this was amplified by my sensitive skin. Others have not had much issue with the creme in that regard. As for helping with my cluster pain it did lessen pain intensity somewhat but for me the burning sensation was too much for my skin to handle. It did work wonders for my joint & muscle pain but around the ocular region it was too hot for too long for me to endure. Has anyone else tried the creme or capsule ? Did the capsules work better? Worse? Did it trigger a cluster? Put it off?
Lets hear your thoughts in the comment area.
The article is entitled "Hot Chili Peppers Help Unravel The Mechanism Of Pain"
Paul
Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
-Pete Seeger
5 comments
The directions for creme I picked up says to uses 3-4 times a day with a burning sensation "being observed with less". I can definitely say it does burn! Likely this was amplified by my sensitive skin. Others have not had much issue with the creme in that regard. As for helping with my cluster pain it did lessen pain intensity somewhat but for me the burning sensation was too much for my skin to handle. It did work wonders for my joint & muscle pain but around the ocular region it was too hot for too long for me to endure. Has anyone else tried the creme or capsule ? Did the capsules work better? Worse? Did it trigger a cluster? Put it off?
Lets hear your thoughts in the comment area.
The article is entitled "Hot Chili Peppers Help Unravel The Mechanism Of Pain"
Paul
Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't.
-Pete Seeger
5 comments
A Letter to People Without Chronic Pain
Sunday, February 01, 2009
I can across this open letter on a site that I should have bookmarked. If any one knows where it came from let me know and I'll post the appropriate link to the site.
Letter To People Without Chronic Pain
Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and it’s effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed.
In the spirit of informing those of you who wish to understand…
…These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me…
Please understand that being sick does not mean that I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit, sometimes I don’t seem like much fun to be with, but I’m still me—stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of the time – I’d still like to hear you talk about yours.
Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy”. When you’ve got the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time. In fact I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you’re talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy, that’s all. It doesn’t mean I’m not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I’m getting better, or any of those things. Please don’t say,
“Oh, you’re sounding better!” or “But your looking so healthy!” I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look normal. If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn’t mean that I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases
You’re either or you can move. With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest most frustrating components of chronic pain.
Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, “sitting”, “walking”, “thinking”, “concentrating”, “being sociable”, and so on… it applies to everything. That is what chronic pain does to you.
Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It’s quite possible )for many it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don’t attack me when I’m ill by saying, “But you did it before!’ or “Oh come on, I know you can do this!” If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If it happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to remember how very lucky you are--to be physically able to do all the things you can do.
Please understand that “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. You don’t know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I need to exercise, or do some things to get my mind off it may frustrate me to tears, and is not correct and if I was capable of doing some things any or all the time, don’t you think I would? I am working with my doctor and am doing what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is, “You just need to push yourself more, try harder…” Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short period of time can cause more damage and physical pain that you can imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can’t always read it on my face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn’t you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.
Please understand that if I say I have to sit down, lie down/stay in take these pills now, that probably means that I have to do it right now- it can’t be put off or forgotten just because I’m somewhere, or I’m even in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.
If you want to suggest a cure for me, please don’t. It’s not because I don’t appreciate the thought, and it’s not because I don’t want to get well.
Lord knows that isn’t true. In all likelihood, if you’ve heard of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I may have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions. It also includes failure, which in and of it self can make me feel even lower. If there were something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we would know about it. There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked we would KNOW.
It’s defiantly not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to cure, then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.
If I seem touchy, it’s probably because I am. It’s not how I try to be. A matter of fact, I try very hard to be normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot. Chronic pain is hard for you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and accept me as I am. I know that you can not literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try and be understanding.
In many ways I depend on you – people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I’m too sick to go out… Sometimes I need you to help with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link to the normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.
I know I asked a lot of you, and I do that you for listening. It really does mean a lot to me.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Paul
6 comments
Letter To People Without Chronic Pain
Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and it’s effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed.
In the spirit of informing those of you who wish to understand…
…These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me…
Please understand that being sick does not mean that I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit, sometimes I don’t seem like much fun to be with, but I’m still me—stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of the time – I’d still like to hear you talk about yours.
Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy”. When you’ve got the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time. In fact I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you’re talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy, that’s all. It doesn’t mean I’m not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I’m getting better, or any of those things. Please don’t say,
“Oh, you’re sounding better!” or “But your looking so healthy!” I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look normal. If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn’t mean that I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases
You’re either or you can move. With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest most frustrating components of chronic pain.
Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, “sitting”, “walking”, “thinking”, “concentrating”, “being sociable”, and so on… it applies to everything. That is what chronic pain does to you.
Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It’s quite possible )for many it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don’t attack me when I’m ill by saying, “But you did it before!’ or “Oh come on, I know you can do this!” If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If it happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to remember how very lucky you are--to be physically able to do all the things you can do.
Please understand that “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. You don’t know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I need to exercise, or do some things to get my mind off it may frustrate me to tears, and is not correct and if I was capable of doing some things any or all the time, don’t you think I would? I am working with my doctor and am doing what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is, “You just need to push yourself more, try harder…” Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short period of time can cause more damage and physical pain that you can imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can’t always read it on my face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn’t you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.
Please understand that if I say I have to sit down, lie down/stay in take these pills now, that probably means that I have to do it right now- it can’t be put off or forgotten just because I’m somewhere, or I’m even in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.
If you want to suggest a cure for me, please don’t. It’s not because I don’t appreciate the thought, and it’s not because I don’t want to get well.
Lord knows that isn’t true. In all likelihood, if you’ve heard of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I may have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions. It also includes failure, which in and of it self can make me feel even lower. If there were something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we would know about it. There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked we would KNOW.
It’s defiantly not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to cure, then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.
If I seem touchy, it’s probably because I am. It’s not how I try to be. A matter of fact, I try very hard to be normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot. Chronic pain is hard for you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and accept me as I am. I know that you can not literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try and be understanding.
In many ways I depend on you – people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I’m too sick to go out… Sometimes I need you to help with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link to the normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.
I know I asked a lot of you, and I do that you for listening. It really does mean a lot to me.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Paul
6 comments
Medical terminology can cause confusion at the best of times. If there is a word you do not understand all you have to do is double-click on it and the definition will appear! Don't forget to drop me a line with your comments, questions‚ recommended resources‚ concerns‚ & especially your experiences with clusters. Whether as a supporter‚ care-giver or sufferer. I would love to hear from you!
*Please do not use this information for self diagnoses. Writing about my experiences with chronic cluster headaches & epilepsy is a good outlet for me. Consult your Dr. with any kind of headache or chronic pain you may have. The 3rd party links on my site I have found to be a good resource to me over the past few years & dearly hope they will benefit you as well.*
