Articles filed under 'PERSONAL STORIES'
If you’ve ever experienced chronic pain (lasting more than six months), you were probably depressed. Pain and depression can form a vicious cycle, with one fueling the other. When your quality of life takes a big nosedive, you generally get depressed. If a significant disability is also involved, your chances of depression are even greater.
Most physicians who treat patients with chronic pain also treat the depression that usually accompanies it. Your internist may wish to give you a prescription or refer you to a psychiatrist. Sometimes you may be referred to a licensed “behavioral medicine” specialist. So-called “cognitive therapy” classes may be especially useful in helping you find new ways of thinking and thus reduce your pain levels.
Talk therapy usually takes a back seat to prescription antidepressants these days. In fact, sometimes talking about your pain can actually make it worse because you focus on it more. Antidepressant medications are often a primary treatment for depression, especially when chronic pain syndromes or nerve-related disorders are involved.
The earlier your depression is treated, the better the outcome can be. Early diagnosis and appropriate medications can reduce distress and even prevent suicide, in many cases. Those receiving treatment for depression that takes place while experiencing chronic pain often have an improvement in their overall medical condition.
Antidepressants work by altering certain chemical levels in the brain. It may take a while to find a particular antidepressant with minimal side-effects that works well for you. Every person experiences pain and reacts to medications differently. Among the antidepressants which are commonly prescribed today are the following:
• Celexa
• Prozac
• Zoloft
• Elavil
• Norpramin
• Effexor
• Serzone
• Wellbutrin
• Cymbalta
• Paxil
• Remeron
If you are depressed about a serious, life-changing event or due to severe, unremitting pain and disability, you should consult a physician about treating your depression.
Source: WebMD
March 11th, 2007
Neither of my two children in public schools in the 1970s gave stellar performances. I knew that both were bright. Yet, their elementary school report cards failed to reflect their intelligence. My husband and I helped them with homework, gave them outside tutoring, and even moved them to a different elementary school where test scores were better. In the summers I gave my daughter and son “homework” of my own, with math and language drills and assigned book reports. My eight years as a public school teacher before my younger child was born motivated me to supplement their studies.
My son at age 8 could easily have been labeled a child with attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD) — a term not widely used in the late 1970s. His third grade teacher often sent me notes about his daydreaming or doodling in class. He was never placed on medication such as stimulants or antidepressants to influence his behavior. Away from school, absorbed in his own interests, he was clearly able to focus on what he liked to do. It took several years of mediocre grades before he was able to see the value of academic achievement.
My daughter came into her own in high school, when we enrolled her in a parochial school. The smaller school with a female-only student body and many extracurricular activities helped her learn to excel and to develop leadership skills.
After high school graduation, both youngsters were accepted at top colleges in California and have excelled in their post-graduate careers. My daughter is now in a doctoral program while working full-time as a high school vice principal. My son is a successful entrepreneur and computer programmer. Our family was fortunate. In some cases, a child’s early problems can extend into adulthood and without proper treatment, adversely affect the individual’s work and personal life.
My point is to not be too hasty in putting your child on drugs, unless there is truly a problem that cannot be dealt with through other resources. If your child is quite inattentive, hyperactive and/or disruptive, some behavior modification classes or techniques might be helpful initially. A good child/adolescent psychiatrist can help you discover the root of the problem, and medications can be prescribed when needed. Work closely with teachers, school counselors or administrators and your child’s physician to ensure that appropriate medication or other treatment is used.
My account is based on my perspective as a parent, teacher, and health care professional. Here are some wonderful resources from an authority in the field to help guide you:
I heard recently from Mohab Hanna, M.D., who visited my blog. Dr. Hanna is Board-certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. His medical training was completed at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. You can go to his blog (impressive!) at http://www.add-adhdtreatment.blogspot.com/. I found his initial entry to be especially helpful. Here are some highlights from Dr. Hanna’s entry of February 2, 2007:
AD/HD Medications: What is a Parent to Do?”
“A thorough evaluation is the first and most essential step in the process. It is impossible to treat any condition without knowing what you are treating. It is not prudent to ‘try a medicine to see if it works.’ That is an inappropriate way to proceed and can actually be harmful. Many children who appear to have some ADHD symptoms actually have a different condition, such as anxiety or depression. Furthermore there are some kids who have anxiety in addition to the ADHD. In either scenario, it is essential to determine the diagnosis prior to initiating any kind of medication trial…
“…Every medication has potential side effects. It is important to understand the different potential negative effects. In order to proceed with a medication trial, the potential benefit should outweigh the potential negative effects. Once the diagnosis of ADHD has been established and it has been determined that the potential benefit outweighs the potential negatives, the parents need to understand the risks of not treating the ADHD. Many studies have been conducted to examine the consequences of untreated ADHD. It is clear that there are numerous potential consequences such as academic failure, peer rejection, depression, accidents, substance abuse, etc…These consequences are significant and are typically not transient; they tend to continue to manifest into adolescence and adulthood.”
Dr. Hanna has also written a book titled Making the Connection: A Parent’s Guide to Medication in AD/HD
.
“My goal with the book and the blog is to empower patients to be proactive in the decisions that are made,” says Dr. Hanna. “I also hope to provide them with balanced (non-marketed), unbiased information.” Dr. Hanna lives in Maryland and may be reached by telephone at 410-583-2623, ext. 3, or fax at 410-583-2949.
Source: Dr. Mohab Hanna;
February 18th, 2007
Some people, especially seniors, are taking a variety of medications. With the tightening of airport security regulations, you may have concerns about packing to avoid delays or hassles.
Carrying a list of all your medications and dosages can be useful, especially if you are traveling oversees. However, in an emergency situation, labels on original prescription bottles can help medical personnel determine what medications you are taking.
The usual advice has been to keep your prescription meds in their original containers. This strategy poses a problem because multiple containers take up a lot of space. You may not be allowed to take your medications in your carry-on luggage without a label that matches the name on your ticket.
In the U.S., passengers on flights are still restricted to carrying only three ounces of water or other liquids with them. These regulations can be waived in special circumstances if you have appropriate documentation. If you are carrying liquid or gel-cap medications on your flight, it’s important to have your prescription information handy.
Packing your medications in your checked luggage can be a solution. That is, unless your bag is misplaced or delayed in route to your destination or drugs are lost in the baggage search process.
To simplify your screening process, airlines have requested that passengers traveling with carry-on medication place them in one-quart, clear, plastic zip-lock bags. If you need to take medication during your flight, keep the pills you will need in a small pill box or compartmentalized, plastic pill container.
In order to stay on your drug schedule, notify your flight attendant when your board the plane if you will require water before they make their rounds down the aisle.
Some health plans allow vacation refills in small, labeled bottles, even if it isn’t time for your next refill. Ask the pharmacist to have your prescription split into two smaller bottles.
Hopefully, security restrictions at airports will soon be relaxed. Until that time, perhaps these suggestions might help you.
Sources: Johns Hopkins Medical Letter, November 2006; recent personal experience with travel by plane and getting through Customs
Technorati Tags: Airline, Security, Perscription, Medication,
October 25th, 2006
Today I visited WebMD Health and a message board post titled “Long Days of Fibro Pain: What do you all do?” spoke to my heart. I can completely sympathize with what the writer is enduring in pain, disability, feelings of loneliness, and isolation. “Worthless, hopeless, friendless” are words that describe exactly how I have felt so many times over the past 14 years since my back injury.
Like Mindy, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic pain. I also have osteoarthritis, mild scoliosis, and degenerative disk disease. You name it. I’m osteopenic in my lumbar spine, had a knee replacement for an old ski injury, and I’m a breast cancer survivor of 17 years.
Before my health problems began, I was a vibrant PR professional working in a hospital setting as director of public relations and marketing. I was outgoing, had many friends, traveled frequently, went to concerts, plays, movies, enjoyed eating meals out, and I could keep up with activities of my two children – now in their 30s. Then, at age 52, just three months after my second marriage, I ruptured a disk at L5-S1. Two disks above that level are also deteriorating.
I was told I was not a candidate for surgery – just learn to live with it. I have been through two pain management programs, extensive physical therapy, biofeedback, counseling, and I’m on a lot of different medications. I was turned down for Social Security Disability twice and gave up. They told me I was still “walking around.” My marriage broke up after two years, due to my greatly changed condition. My husband could not cope with a woman he called “an old woman and an invalid.” So, I left him under duress. Talk about feeling worthless!
Fortunately, I still had my rented out home to move back to, where I slowly began my own business as a writing consultant for various health care providers. Within two months of my back injury, I had been laid off from work. I couldn’t have continued to work full-time and commute as I had previously done, anyway.
I knew I must find something I could do part-time, at my own pace. I began working as a healthcare contract writer from home. Gradually, I built up my clients and the hours I was able to work. Now almost retired, I continue to pace myself through each day.
Usually, I try to walk about a mile and a half about mid-morning. I also do a moderate series of stretching and strengthening exercises in the evening. After exercising, my tolerance for sitting at the computer usually improves. I sometimes set a timer to remind me to get up and stretch. In the beginning, I had two computers, one where I could stand to input copy, and one for sitting, to vary my position all day.
Of course, I have to lie down frequently or sit back in my recliner. I use a back support pad whenever I’m on the go, and I keep grabber devices handy to keep from bending and stooping. I often choose a restaurant based on the comfort of their seating. I’m tall, so I modified a good deal of my living and working environment to avoid stooping. I bought a refrigerator with the freezer portion on the bottom, as I don’t use it as much. I also have a shower stall with a built-in seat.
I am now blessed to have a man in my life who understands my disabilities and helps to take care of me. He accepts me for who I am and I never feel put down by him because I can’t do much. I don’t have as many friends, but I do go for lunch with various girlfriends, those who have stuck with me through my trials, about once a month. I write poetry and I’m working on my life story. I joined a women’s group at church where I read from my autobiography every other week. It’s a great bunch of women who understand when I have to stand to stretch mid-way through our meeting.
I have also scanned and retouched many old family portraits and organized them into binders. Photography has always been a passion for me, and I’m grateful that I can continue that hobby. I’m thinking about painting with acrylics again, something I enjoyed in my 30s.
My male friend and I do a lot of listening to classical music and watching movies on DVD. He also reads to me. My trips by plane are generally short, and I stand up and stretch when I need to. If I’m traveling alone, I swallow my pride and get wheelchair assistance, as I can’t lift a suitcase.
Recently, I had another adjustment to make. My last corporate client told me he was retiring following a hospital merger. Although I am now Medicare age, I wasn’t ready to quit working or feeling like I was doing something constructive. Many former nurses and PR professionals in a hospital setting like me still have a desire to interact with people and feel like they might be making a difference in someone else’s life.
Today, the Internet provides wonderful networking opportunities and support systems for persons facing physical challenges. This Blog is still in its early stages, but I am enjoying summarizing new developments and trends in the health care field. I feel like I am keeping my mind active and possibly helping others to find solutions to their health care issues. I continue to do what I can on good days and rest when I’m having a bad flareup.
My best advice to you is NEVER GIVE UP. Find a way to do at least a portion of what you love. The friends that remain are TRUE friends. Find ways to show them how much it means to have them in your life.
April 18th, 2006