Hi there!

I guess I have to credit my stubborness in getting a diagnosis this
quickly. My doc is very much on board with my recovery from Alcohol,
and I have always been completely honest with him. When a medication
he gives me does not work, I bring it back to the office. I don't
keep medicines in the house for emotional pain, it is too dangerous
for me.
I told him straight out that I was not going to be brushed off, that
it was NOT in my head, that I was sober 13 years and I was not going
to be treated like a drug seeker. I am his client, I get copies of
all my medical notes on a regular basis, and I refuse to be labled.
That being said, that same stubborness is what kept me from getting
sober til I was 28, so it can be a detrimental thing as well! :)
Doctors are human beings, they make mistakes, but it takes a GOOD doc
to ADMIT it. When I went to the nuerosurgeon, she wanted to list me
as having "bursitis secondary to difficult labor" and I told her
flat out that that was BS. I knew it had to do with epidural, and if
she couldn't treat me or order the tests to confirm, I would find
someone who would. On the MRI order, there was no note for contrast,
(which I found was a very good diagnostic tool for ARAC from reading
it online) I insisted on contrast, and well...that's how they found
it. This is my body, my life, and I have to be responsible for it.
I have good days and bad days with the pain...but you know what? I
am alive to feel it, even if I don't like it. I get to experience
joy AND pain, happiness AND saddness, and after living my life
running away from every darn feeling I had and turning to the bottle
to do it, I'll take whatever life dishes out, and deal with it, even
if it's only for today. Thank you for all your support, you are all
in my prayers!