Thank you Lynda Well said:).
> >I have an idea why this person remained anonymous. It is easy to criticize >when one can hide in anonymity. Then there is no fear of having to take >responsibility for what one says. I.e., discuss things with us. Anyone can >point fingers and pass judgement, but it takes an intelligent human being to >participate in a healthy discussion. If this person truly wanted us to "see" >their side of things, they would not hide in anonymity. Methinks they just >want to point fingers and pass judgement. We shall see. > >However, those of us who are accused of being drug addicts, whose pain is in >our heads, who are indeed "perspiring, crying, vomiting, bloated, >and acting like we are acutely ill," freely sign our names. Guess the >perspiration doesn't show much on my emoticons. :) > >If I were a narcotics seeker would I really post my name and address all over >the internet? Much easier to hire a sky-writer who can save the police some >effort by writing over my house, "DRUG SEEKER BELOW." Besides, if I were a >drug seeker, there are far easier ways to obtain drugs than going in to the >ER. For crying out loud, kids are selling things like heroine in the high >schools. > >Last time I went into the ER, I had to wait for three hours before I was >seen. The attending nurse was about as kind as I imagine this anonymous >poster to be. Lying on a cold, hard, metal table with only a sheet to cover >me. Nauseous, shivering, in pain. I have no experience buying illegal drugs >but suspect it takes less time to get in to see a drug dealer, and that one >could wait in a lot more comfort. > >You know, I don't go to the ER any more because when I am in a big flare-up >of pain, I honestly don't feel good enough to go there. Who wants to lay on >a little cold hard metal table for three hours when you are vomiting and >doubled over? Besides, my pain flare-ups trigger my asthma and IBS so I bet >the doctors would have a jolly time trying to figure out which end to treat >first. Good thing I don't "bother" them by taking up "valuable" space, I >suppose. > >How many people here, on this board, have you treated? You say, "many of you >refuse tests." How do you know? Those of us who have had any tests, they >and their results are on file. Is it not possible for you all in the ER to >look it up and see that a bazillion tests have been run? Or do you just like >running new ones. > >In my case, the ER almost always calls my doctor's office and they talk about >what should happen next. My doctor's office always has someone on call. And >if there is some test that has not been run that *needs* to be run, why would >I turn it down? If I am in the ER it is because I want help. Certainly I >would not blindly accept any test or medication, for that matter, without >trying to understand what it was for and how it would affect me. That is any >patient's right, to participate and be pro-active in their care. > >To that end, how dare you insinuate that because we might ask for something >to help with the pain while we are waiting, that we need therapy? Patient's >have rights, in spite of the fact you apparently dislike the notion. > >G-d help you if you ever become sick. Maybe Chrissie is right and you are >burned out. If that is the case, please do us all a favor and change jobs. >No one here chose to be in constant, excruciating pain. But you can choose >your career. Please choose something else. Best of luck to you and may you >never, ever develop adhesions. If you did, you would realize how ridiculous >you sound, for they do indeed hurt. Unless you have had them, you cannot >know what they feel like. > >Lynda M. in AZ > >"We will either find a way, or make one." >-Hannibal