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Christi Diggs
on May 23 2013 - 06:00 AM
A drop of spin, a cup of deception and tsp. politics=Apathy
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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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On Monday morning I walked into the doctor's office and leaned against the receptionist's desk for support. "I have an appointment today," I told her weakly. Doctor's offices make me nervous. "Valorie Engholm: E-N-G-H-O-L-M."
The kind receptionist clicked and clacked on her computer. She asked for my payment, and as I gave it to her, a nurse came out from a nearby room. The receptionist handed my debit card back to me and I signed the receipt as the nurse called out "Valorie?"
"That's me," I said. She led me to the back took all my vital signs to make sure I was really alive and not a zombie or a vampire, led me back into the exam room, and sat me on the papered table.
"And what can we do for you?" I was sure I went over this with them on the phone. Nonetheless, I recounted the last five years of constant pain and fatigue. I explained everything I've been tested for, which is just about everything that exists. I let her in on the fact that I've been to medical doctors, more medical doctors, a naturopathic doctor, a chiropractor, and no one can seem to help me or tell me what's wrong. "And that's why I'm here," I said with a half-laugh. Keep your sprits up, Val, my inner guardian tells me.
I sat for a few more minutes alone in the room, reading my book, when the doctor knocks on the door. "Hello, my name is Marla," she says to me, somewhat cheerfully. Marla. That's my mother's name, I remind myself. I think to tell her out loud, but I didn't want her to hear the disdain in my voice. So far, this has not been a positive experience for me. Never mind the fact that doctors give me terrible anxiety, or the fact that I'm exhausted and my entire body hurts. She has to have my mother's name?
"So," she says carefully. "What's going on?" I can see that she's looking at the notes the nurse had taken down, but I guess I have to retell my story to her anyway. She's the doc. I repeated almost every word, and then felt tears in my eyes. I held them back as I explained how many years it's been since I've felt normal, how I don't have the energy to play with my kids, how I used to be a musician but had to quit because it's too exhausting, and how I just want my life back.
Now, this sounds like a sad story, but it's really not. My naturopathic doctor had diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia about a year ago or less. He also diagnosed me with an adrenal insufficiency. The treatment he had given me had been helping, but only nominally which is why I found myself back in a medical doctor's office.
But the reason this is not a sad story is because the doctor looked me in the eyes asked me how she could help. She gave me some ideas of her own, and I gave her my ideas and she actually listened! She held my hand and told me Fibromyalgia was completely real, if that's what this even is. She set me up for some tests and asked me if there was anything she could give me to get me to make me feel better in the meantime. She never once rolled her eyes or became standoffish when I mentioned my ND.
In case you don't know this, medical workers don't always appreciate naturopathic medicine. This doctor, however, seemed free of any type of judgement or prejudice.
Never have I had a medical professional treat me with such respect, like I'm a person instead of a patient. Five years and this was the first time.
That is why this is not a sad story. This is a happy story, and a story of hope and relief.
I'll go back in on Thursday to give them some of my blood. She'll address any adrenal insufficiency I may have and she'll give me a second opinion on the Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Also, Marla (or as I'll be referring to her to from here on out, Doctor Wonderful), is slowly relieving my anxiety surrounding doctor's visits. I'll keep you all appraised of the situation! Today, I'm tired and I hurt a lot. A whole lot. But it won't get me down. I see good things on the horizon!
I am so glad you found Dr. Wonderful. I am kind of frustrated now with my doctor, but I have had two that rocked and I left ONLY because I moved too far away from them. One of them passed away last week at the young age of 47, I was surpised to read. I hope you find answers and some relief from your pain. My mother has fybromyalgia, I know it is painful.Sorry about the ND, but I am glad to hear you have found someone that is interested in treating it aggressively.it is great to find a dr. that is a good listener and compassionate! yay for you! I hope they can find some solutions for you. My husband deals with chronic pain and fatigue so I have an inkling of what you might be going through...great blog (or should I say "bad blog"? ;-))Val, I'm so glad you've found such a compassionate doctor who is willing to listen and take the time to help you. I hope she can help address your pain and fatigue. Isn't it great when you find a doctor you really like?Oh Val, I desperately hope you find relief. I so much want you to enjoy your babies and your music again!!So glad the new doc has been able to give you hope. I went yesterday to my new one. He has turned my world up0 side down and usual, but with hope. Keep us updated.Val, I am glad that you found someone so compassionate! Are you willing to share her name? I too was diagnosed with Fibro. I was sick for 5 years and went through many doctors, and tests, and was told there was nothing wrong, it was in my head, and finally fibro. By accident, two years ago, I found out something totally different! I don't have fibro at all, but Lyme's disease! If you have not been tested for Lyme's, I suggest that you should! At diagnosis, I knew exactly when it had happened back in 2004 with a trip to the lake. It was an odd bite, that I saw a doctor for, who told me at the time it was a spider bite. WRONG! Unfortunately, I had it for so long before I was diagnosed, that Lyme's arthritis has already taken it's toll. Unfortunately, Lyme's disease IS something that IS very common here in the Midwest! I hope this doctor is able to find some relief for you!
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