PLEASE HELP ME HELP YOU: a few quick questions.
From: Ginny Halpern (gingin99@home.com)
Thu Jun 28 14:34:21 2001
Hey Guys!:
I've been working 5 hours a day getting packages of info on ARD and the
related suffering together to mail to local surgeons, pain specialists
and nursing staff coordinators in the hope that I can spread the message
that ARD sufferers are NOT lunatics, drug addicts, hypochondriacs or
Munchausen sydromers (people who pretend to have illnesses by
deliberately swallowing caustic substances, crushed glass, poisons etc.
to create illnesses and then arrive at the ER near death, all for the
atention) and that ARD sufferers need and deserve adequate and
aggressive pain medication WITHOUT judgemental accusations or downright
rude treatment by ER or office practice staff.
On the A.S.A.P. pain site (dedicated to getting stronger pain meds to
long term pain patients by educating the government and insurance
companies on the use of opioids and narcotic dervatives) there is a
"pain form"that takes very little time to fill out and return. It is
then forwarded to your state legislator(s) and as the list grows each
day, these law makers must pay attention to our needs and demands.
I urge you to take a few minutes if you haven't already and log on and
fill out a form. It isn't a legally binding document that holds you
accountable to anything except being truthful about your pain and the
treatment or lack there of you've received. And it is so important that
we all have the option to be medically treated for pain if surgery is no
longer an option and pain is destroying your life or the lives of your
loved ones.
Check out Skip Baker's site @ skipb@widomaker.com. If you cannot locate
the pain form, ask him for it.
There is also some extremely well written, enlightening information
regarding "Pain patients using narcotics versus addicts" your "rights"
as a pain patient and alot of fascinating data. There is even a concise
page of info that you are urged to take to your physician to make him
aware of his responsibilities as a doctor to diminish or alleviate your
suffering.
Meanwhile, to assist me in making my info package to the doctors the
most informative it can be, I am asking that each of you sends me
several pieces of information on yourself.
1. Have you recently been refused or denied adequate pain medication?
(by "adequate" I mean, are you on a prescription that is not relieving
pain but the doctor has told you it "takes time" or that he cannot
prescribe anything more potent)
2. What "excuse" did your doctor give you for not prescribing
narcotics/opioids? (fear of addiction, physical or psychological side
effects, etc)
3. What medication are you currently taking for pain? (name, milligrams
per dose and how many times a day). Is it effective?
5. Is your ARD related pain preventing you from beiing a productive
person? (able to work, take care of family, etc)
PLEASE SIMPLIFY EACH ANSWER. DO NOT GO INTO DETAIL UNLESS SOMETHING
EXTRORDINARY HAPPENED
Thanks, gang. I love you all big time and am here for you to talk to or
laugh/cry with as always. I'm in need of your help to try and get us
the recognition we need/deserve.
Love and hugs
ginny
Please e-mail back through the message board so that you can all share
your answers.
To personally contact me, I am at gingin99@home.com
Ginny
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