Chronic Pain Forum

[LadyGecko]

After an ectopic pregnancy, losing twins shortly after birth, and 4 miscarriages, I had a hysterectomy at age 29 due to cervical cancer. I never had any biological children. Most people think that Danny (27) and Julie (33) are my own kids, but they are actually my husband's children. Glenn was a single Dad when I met him, and I raised his children. I couldn't love them any more than if I gave birth to them!

I was the one that stayed up nights when they were sick and gave them medicine, helped them with their homework, hugged them when they cried, listened to their problems and successes, went to their ball games, barrel races, and team penning competitions. I was the one that went to their school parent-teacher conferences, scout meetings, and taught them about the facts of life. I am the grandmother of 2 now!

This is what it is to be a mother. I didn't give birth to them, hear their first words, or see their first steps... but I was there to love them and teach them right from wrong. No one can tell me they aren't my own children...

What a lovely tribute to the definition of motherhood
Amen Marcia!!

 

[PacHerp]

That was a fabulous post Marcia, Thanks for the encouragment.

 

[SteveB]

I can sympathize.... somewhat... I've had conflicting test results over the years that have resulted in a diagnosis of having Celiac Disease and then not having it... all the while the doctors claiming there is no such thing as a false positive/negative test result. I spent many years on a diet that completely eliminated gluten, red meat, pork, and many fruits/vegetables as well. I have never had one consistent diagnosis or course of treatment and live every day in the fear that by the time I actually get diagnosed properly, the only treatment will be surgery. I am in constant pain that is frequently debilitating. Triggers range from certain foods to stress to physical exercise to high levels of certain vitamins. I'm just one big ball of well being... lol

 

[LadyGecko]

I can sympathize.... somewhat... I've had conflicting test results over the years that have resulted in a diagnosis of having Celiac Disease and then not having it... all the while the doctors claiming there is no such thing as a false positive/negative test result. I spent many years on a diet that completely eliminated gluten, red meat, pork, and many fruits/vegetables as well. I have never had one consistent diagnosis or course of treatment and live every day in the fear that by the time I actually get diagnosed properly, the only treatment will be surgery. I am in constant pain that is frequently debilitating. Triggers range from certain foods to stress to physical exercise to high levels of certain vitamins. I'm just one big ball of well being... lol

OMG
To have to endure the pain and be so restricted with only eating certain foods-yikes-that sucks

I feel for you
I sure doesn't help that they can't seem to properly diagnose you

Hang in there Steve and I pray that things get better for you and that they can figure out exactly what the problem is and take care of it

I have to admit that I had to look up Celiac Disease and sounds very scary and it does not seem that they know very much about it

Are you able to control the pain and other problems associated with this disease with adhering to that strict diet?
I know that there must be times when like all of us-you say to hell with it and go off your diet
It's just human nature

Take Care

Sandy

 

[SteveB]

I've had attacks on that severely restricted diet. Add to it the fact that the doctors keep retesting me and saying yes/no to the diagnosis... I went off the diet (after about 5 years on it) and found under certain conditions I could maintain a decent quality of life, until an attack... and then it's crippling and hard to recover from... which is actually where I'm at right now, or I probably wouldn't have even vented about it.

 

[LadyGecko]

Steve
I sure hope that you feel better soon and venting is good for you

:main_yes:

 

[SteveB]

Thanks Sandy, and thanks for starting this thread!

 

[BettaDragon]

Thanks a lot for starting this thread. I will deffinatly have to sign up on there. A few years ago I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. It's a collagen defect that affects mainly my joints and my skin a little bit. The doctors are still unsure of exactly what type I have but they know I don't have the types that affect the heart which is good. The pain in the joints get pretty intense at times. My doctors that specifically treated the disease blatantly refused to give me anything stronger than ibuprofen for years. Needless to say, my body got used to it quickly and it didn't work. My doctors actually prescribed warm baths in the morning as treatment. :main_laugh: My visits with my numerous doctors are normally just me being a lesson to med students because I show the typical hyper flexibility of EDS. They never really treat me and there's not much I can do about it because most doctors have never even heard of the disease. I've missed a ton of school this year due to bad days and will probably have to do credit completion over the summer. A few months ago my family doctor prescribed me toradol to see if it would work. I haven't missed a day of school due to pain since then. Unfortunately my pain is only increase as I get older which majorly sucks. The depression I had before the toradol was horrible and I just cried and laid in bed on the days I couldn't go to school because my mom would be aggravated with me for missing another day. The one thing I've found is a lot of people don't believe I have a disease. I've actually have had a few people tell me I'm faking it and a lot of people have talked down to me like I had to prove to them I have a problem. I actually had a substitute teacher in my school call me a "lier" and a "scammer" to my face when I told him I had to eat in class before taking my meds. The only way I get people to believe I have something wrong with me is that I have the luxury of having a very visible sign (my hyper flexibility) to show that yes, there is something wrong with me and that they need to just deal with it. Thanks again for putting up this site. Chronic pain sufferers really need people who understand them.

 

[LadyGecko]

I am so happy that this has helped steer people to a place where they can find understanding and hopefully some help

We are all in this together......and yes it does suck that most people with chronic pain are thought of as hypochondriacs and slackers when we would dearly love to be able to live a normal life -one where every moment didn't hurt so damn bad

Liz-I am happy to read that you have found relief.........that really sucks being so young with so much pain
I wish you the best...

Hang in there

:main_thumbsup:

 

[Leopardbreeder]

This thread has really opened my eyes. Although I do not suffer from any type of diseases (hope I never do) (Except stupid syndrome lol), I have many personal problems(some people know what they are). I was talking to a member of this forum, forget who, and when you think about it, almost EVERYONE on THIS forum has some type of "issue" or "problem" deep down inside. I think out pets/reptiles are an escape from everyday problems of out lives. Although its not always the best way to deal with things, it helps. Animals are PROVEN stress relievers(haha, well reptiles might cause more stress for some people). Thank you for starting the thread.

 

[LadyGecko]

Matt-
you are very welcome and I also hope that you never have to deal with unending extreme physical pain

I believe that in the world that we live in today-high stress levels are unavoidable and stress causes, contributes and aggravates just about every type of physical and emotional problem known to man

I believe that everyone wrestles with their own demons-be it physical or emotional and that things are way more out in the open and people are less afraid to talk about their problems than in the past

Many problems-both physical and emotional carried a stigma back then and were carefully guarded secrets least hey be perceived as a weakness-God forbid that our persona was less than perfect

Anyway-Again-I am very glad that this thread has contributed to awareness and pointed people in a direction to find answers and help with the many different really difficult conditions that people are living with

It's going on 5 am and with the barometer dancing around-I haven't had a decent nights sleep in 4 days
I sure hope that it settles down soon
Even my dogs with their problems are feeling poorly this week

I can't wait for the first 70 plus degree day so that I can bring the laptop out on the back porch and we can all bask in the sun like reptiles

Come to think of it-the Dragons will love to get out in the sunlight too

:main_yes:

Sandy

 

[T&KBrouse]

I don't know that our reptiles give us an escape as much as they do a purpose (if that makes any sense).
Personally, my animals are the one constant thing in my life that I feel I have the priveledge to care for. They have no expectations and (whether or not they "bond" with their humans) they love me unconditionally. No matter how bad I hurt, I always can find the strength to hold someone or change a water dish.
My doctors have told me I need to get rid of my snakes, as one bite could set me into a relapse. I just can't do that. These little guys are all I have that make me want to get out of bed in the morning. I'd have an easier time getting rid of my human children. (My reptiles are a heck of alot less demanding!) I think I could bounce back from an accidental bite much easier than I could the broken heart and loneliness of not having them here.
I don't know. Maybe you're right. Maybe it is an escape.
Okay, we'll call it a 50/50 situation. Deal?

 

[Sandra]

when you think about it, almost EVERYONE on THIS forum has some type of "issue" or "problem" deep down inside.

I'd say that everyone, everywhere, has some kind of issue deep inside. It's just more obvious in this forum I think because people feel confortable talking about them here.

I agree that animals are a great therapy. Luckily, I haven't any kind of chronic pain. But I can tell because whenever I'm angry, or sad, I pick up one of my geckos and after handling it I feel much more at ease. I remember one day I had the worst headache in my life, I thought I couldn't take it anymore. I don't know where the idea came from, but my boyfriend handed me one of my geckos. I felt fairly better. The pain was the same, but I just wasn't paying as much attention to it... and it isn't easy at all to divert the attention from intense pain.

I just can't imagine how would it be to feel something like that for the rest of my life. People with chronic pain really deserve respect.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Animals are PROVEN stress relievers (haha, well reptiles might cause more stress for some people).

I don't know that our reptiles give us an escape as much as they do a purpose (if that makes any sense).

There is a difference in stress and distress. Stress isn't always a bad thing... it can motivate us. But when my pain is so severe I can't function, I am in distress. Caring for my animals really does keep me motivated and helps me not to focus on my pain so much.

It's a known fact that animal therapy really works for many types of issues. Animals have helped convalescent elderly people to have a sense of purpose. Animals have helped in many cases of severe autism in children. I know that I would fall into the depths of despair if I didn't have my animals!

 

[LadyGecko]

I believe that distraction from pain (whether it be emotional or physical or both) is a key to living with pain

As I said in past posts-it amazed me as to how many reptile keepers have CP

But it does make sense especially when you keep nocturnals
It opens up a whole new night time world to you when otherwise you might be concentrating on the pain

If I am not actually up and doing things in the tanks/tubs-I am often here at 3 am after I have to get up out of bed and take a pain pill
It is a wonderful hobby and a welcome diversion from pain

I also agree 100% on them giving us a purpose and a reason to get out of bed each day

Things that go bump in the night are not always scary-lol

Marcia-good point on the distinction between stress and distress
Unfortunately-these days for me- they seem intertwined

Living without my animals would be a sterile lonely existence
They are and have been for many years my reason for getting out of bed each day

 

[BettaDragon]

My gecko, Yukina has learned to sense when I'm in pain or stressed out. I don't know how she knows how but she just senses it when I walk in the room and will scratch at the glass until I pick her up. If I don't pick her up she will sometimes start vocalizing. Once she's held she starts making these soft barely audible clicking sounds and will continue to do so until I'm calmed down. A lot of times if I'm wearing a jacket, she sit under the jacket on my shoulder with just her head poking out. It's funny how she does everything she can to calm me down and it really works. Some animals just really sense when they're owners need to be calmed down and will do everything they can to make them calm down. I never thought a gecko would do that but Yukina is quite an exceptional little girl, personality wise. She amazes me every day with how smart she is.

 

[LadyGecko]

Most animals seem to pick up on their keepers "vibes"

Try working with a" not so tame animal" when you are not calm and centered yourself and you will have problems

Do the same when you are relaxed and you will have much better results

My dogs really pick up on when I am anxious/stressed etc. and they certainly have a calming effect on me

I always try and work with the reptiles when I am relatively sane-lol

 

[geckoluv2187]

Hey everyone, I just saw this post, and I have to say that it really touched me. I am 21 and I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a year ago. I just had to leave my job as a veterinary technician in critical care because I am in too much pain to work. I am really happy to see that not only do we have such a supportive community here, but that there are also quite a few people who share my interests and know what I'm going through. Thanks guys.