Health & Well Being

Been meaning to post this for a little while. I was reading Therapy Doc's blog over at "Everyone Needs Therapy" like I usually do. There was a post on ADHD and the need for a family assessment before prescribing medication. Now I am not going to comment on ADHD or the treatment options. The only part I want to comment on is the closing line which was, "Of course, medication is so much easier, right?"

It has really made me think about the health care system, the medical model, and what we are willing to accept. Let's face it therapy is work. It is not an easy process. It involves taking a chance... and opening yourself up.... being real. Deep down I am sure that most people would say that if they could just take a medication and skip the hard work of therapy they would. We're prone to go with what's easier. Let's face it this is part of the reason that some people self-medicate.

We seem to have embraced the fact that medication is the be-all and end all. In some circumstances it is warranted but I can't help but wonder if there is an over reliance on medication and a negligence on anything that doesn't fall under the medical model. If it can't be prescribed then it may get overlooked.

I can say, for sure, that the insurance company whole-heartedly embraces the medical model and this may be at the detriment of the patient. Take my Fibromyalgia for instance. I am on Trazodone to help me sleep but this does nothing for the pain. My doctor even admitted that medications wil largely be hit or miss. I go to the chiropractor and this helps tremendously. There's two problems. For one, I have to pay up front and be reimbursed. Compare that to medications where they just swipe my card and deduct the 80% automatically. Secondly, they only cover $200/year. That's only 3 months worth of visits. Then I'm on my own. I don't want to rely on medication when there is a holistic approach that helps. So in the end I feel like I am getting screwed by the health care system. After all I have something that works but affording it is a little more challenging. At least with my old job it was $500 which would cover me for 7 months.

Chiropractic care is just one example.... Therapy is another good example. My company will pay up to $200 to see a psychologist and then you're on your own. You would think by now that people could really get the help they need. But no.... I just wonder if things will ever change. I wonder if we will ever have a situation where people can get the help they need and not just be locked into the medical model where pharmaceuticals rule.

Facts About Fibromyalgia

I keep seeing the ads for Lyrica and for the web site MyFibroRelief. Now the second web site is really just a way to introduce you to the disorder and to try and get you to ask your doctor for Lyrica. Generally I prefer I web site that is not quite as biased and not presented by a pharmaceutical company but it was still informative and I wanted to pass on some of the information.

Fibromyalgia Facts

1. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic widespread types of pain in the U.S. The condition affects millions of people.
2. Fibromyalgia pain is widespread and persistent. There is often muscle tenderness. Plus soreness or burning pain. Which often causes a lack of sleep. Sometimes, patients also have stiffness in their muscles or flu-like aching.
3. Fibromyalgia is thought to result from neurological changes in how a patient perceives pain.
4. To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, patients must have widespread pain lasting at least three months. Plus pain in at least 11 of 18 parts of the body known as "tender points" (according to the American College of Rheumatology).
5. Women are much more likely to report having fibromyalgia than men. 80% to 90% of those diagnosed are women. Although both men and women can experience fibromyalgia.
6. The outlook for people with fibromyalgia has never been better. Exercise, diet and rest can help manage this condition. So can counseling and medication.
7. Several types of health care providers are available to help manage fibromyalgia. These include rheumatologists, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, neurologists, psychiatrists, physiatrists and pain specialists.
8. Fibromyalgia may place large financial costs on patients and society. It may cause lost work days. And lost income and disability payments.
9. As with other chronic pain conditions, fibromyalgia is not a psychological condition, it can impact mood and cause distress. In that way it is similar to other chronic pain conditions. However, the majority of sufferers do not have mood-related disorders.

The main reason that I wanted to post this information is for point #9. While growing up I was repeatedly told that the pain was simply growing pains and would disappear.... even after I stopped growing. When I was in London I was referred to a rheumatologist and after 18 years finally got the diagnosis. Then I moved to Peterborough and it was like a trip back in time. I was told that I would never get treated for it here. When I was on an LOA from work I was told Fibromyalgia doesn't exist and was all in my head. I was told that it was a symptom o a psychiatric disorder and as a result was put on the wrong medication... They were treating depression... Too bad I wasn't suffering from depression. So to see the point made that it is NOT a psychological condition makes me feel validated. And I want to emphasize that to others who may know someone with Fibromyalgia or may be suffering themselves.

Never Enough Time

I have decided that there are just not enough hours in the day. My blog quite often is what gets neglected in the process. I'm starting to wish there was a way to telepathically create a post. It would make my life much easier and I'd be more productive that way too. Or even using talk-to-type software.

At the moment I am enjoying my days off... At least I am not sick. The plague is gone. After walking about 27k this week I am taking it easy and not wandering very far. Plus the sky is currently grey and we're under a severe thunderstorm warning. Doesn't exactly make me want to venture outside. I'd much rather just spend the time with Azrael who is currently showing off his belly.