Pain

Sunday March 2, 2008

Pain is a wonderful thing. It lets you know you are still alive. I have been suffering some pain for some time, taking Ultram for pain, and another precription medication for muscle spasms. These were given to be by my GP Dr. Chris P. He knows me better than anyone taking over Dr. Holt's practice some years ago.

He has seen me through lots of injuries and delimias keeping good records on my health. He runs test periodically to make sure any existing problems are being cared for and checks me to make sure there are not any changes.

This last week or ten days have been pretty tough with tests after test during my annual physical turned up some possible changes he cannot account for. I gave him my records of other specialist I see that look at specific problems and up to this time, nothing was noted in xrays and blood tests as recents as 2-1/2 months showed no problems?

Now they or he finds I may have been 'under-diagnosed' with pain problems being accedited to existing ones. Now we find my PSA is elevated slightly and checking back now with another doctors blood test, my sodium levels was low and my red blood count was slightly lower than normal but no flags noted or calls from the doctor or labs telling me to check on these? Why?

Doctors are good guys and have your best interest and health at heart but they are falable like all of us are and things slip through the crackes. I have learned now to take control of your health and be aggressive in pushing them to look further and let me know of any changes, be them ever so slight.

Now I find myself with a possible major health problem and the wait is terrible. They run test after test and now the weekend is filled with anxiety and fear of the unknown. I know now I may face some surgery and what they may find is scary. I share this with you, my faithful reader, hoping someone may gain by my problem and take control of their health issues.

Get the results of test in writing or film or something like I do having the results on a '2 gig thumb drive' I now keep in my pocket and insist on keeping these with me after each test. You now have control and current results of tests that guide the doctors in how they may take care of you.

Keep me in your prayers and I will find in the blanks as I know more as the days go by. I love you all and hope this is some help to you if mine fails. Let me know of your experiences in diagnosis and post them on my page. Good luck to all....

Jeff the Knutt in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, USA