At Wed, 5 Dec 2001, Jo Eslick wrote:
> >Hi Lisa! > >My experience with a pain clinic has been very positive. In fact that is where I was yesterday in Sydney meeting with a doctor from the endo/gyno clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women. > >I had visited there a few times before, but decided to have the surgery closer to home for the sake of my daughters and my husband so I opted out of their care. Well after what has been happening to me since the surgery to remove my ovaries in April, I decided it was time to go back to see if I could get back into the program for pain management counseling and incontinence physiotherapy. I explained some of the details in an earlier message to the board today. > >Jason, the doctor who is now my "case manager" answered all my questions in detail, seemed to be pleased that I had researched and understood a lot about endo & what can happen. He told me that he didn't think I would want surgery again yet, and I told him no, I was looking to become a patient in pain management & physio and he immediately made those appointments for me. > >He also said that if the oxycodone was working and I was able to function almost as a normal person, then I was entitled to stay on it, with oxycodone for breakthrough pain. He was writing a letter to my GP to let her know that he believes I should stay on that combination until my appointment with the pain specialist on the 17th of December. Which I am grateful for, because it means that means I will be human for Christmas! > >Lisa, just be honest, be confident of your description of your pain, don't exaggerate it and answer the questions honestly, and let them know if they ask you something you don't understand, so they can rephrase it to make it easier for you. Tell them all the positive things you have been doing to help control your pain. In my experience doctors are more willing to help you if you have been active in finding ways to deal with it yourself. Don't be shy about asking questions, because in my philosophy a question not asked is a stupid question and an opportunity lost to understand what is being presented to you. > >There is no point in worrying about something that is in the future, just focus on the day you are living and use the time in that day to as much as you can to make it positive and try experimenting with different relaxation exercises include things like reading a good book, an indulgent bath with bubbles and scented candles, sitting outside & soaking up some sunshine....whatever it is that you have a passion for, it really makes a difference, and once you have found an activity that helps, keep it handy so that you can use it again during your next bad pain day or night. > >I hope this helps you Lisa, worrying is not a good way to keep your pain in control. I remember watching a movie many years ago about a woman with cancer she was using both western medicine and ancient chinese remedies. He was always saying to her "no hurry worry, Angela, no hurry worry..... that really captured my interest and I added that saying to my weapons against pain. This movie also focused on how he got her to visualisation, seeing the cancer as a huge solid mass in the corner of an otherwise empty room. Slowly with this chinese therapists help, she was able to resist temptation of letting worry back into her life, and slowly with her wielding a large pick he was able to help her slowly reduce the blob, and western medical tests showed that her cancerous tumor was actually getting smaller, until it was gone. So maybe "no hurry worry" are words we should all keep close at hand to use as a way to chip away at the huge mass we have, called adhesions. > >I hope this helps you Lisa, stay positive about the appointment and hopefully you will get the relief you need soon. > > > >Love & gentle warm hugs > >Jo (Australia) >
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How I ency you Jo.
I wish I had a P.S. who could support me that way...