Medical History/was: Re: I have questions

[Guest guest]

> In a few weeks, I hope to have gathered enough funds to go to a local

> clinic here and get some answers. Yesterday I got some information

> from

> Pfizer about Fibromyalgia and the tender points. My question is this.

> What if I have more tender points than they show?

>

I wouldn't worry about it. There's supposedly a certain kind of pain

in the tender points. They should be able to tell.

> Also, I have written out an outlined health history of sorts, for when

> I go to the doctor. Is this a good thing to do? It describes injuries

> suffered as a child, breaks and falls, and other things like that. I

> describe the problems suffered while in expectancy with my four

> children, the family history of polymialgia with both my grandmothers,

> the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, TMJ and even arthritis

> (they

> said osteo when I was only nineteen). I described the pain I suffer

> daily, where it originates, if I can tell, how it affects me and

> what I

> do about it, holistically or OTC drug wise. I name off my

> allergies, my

> drug interaction problems and so forth as well. Is this a good way to

> go to the doctor?

Oh, dear, yes! Excellent work!

If you can use a word processing program, type it up. Make one page

your medications and medication allergies, formatted like this (use

your own meds, not mine! ;D):

Current Medications:

Claritin (OTC) one per day

Theo-24 400 2x day

Albuterol inhaler As needed. Currently 2 puffs 2x day

Albuterol nebulizer As needed - usually only when ill. Not

currently using.

Supplements:

Magnesium capsules 480 mg/day

Magnesium injections Once or twice per week as needed.

Calcium w/ vitamin D 1500 mg/day

Allergies:

Penicillin - hives

sulfa drugs - hives

Then on subsequent pages, I have a section for " Recent Events " , for

example, my disastrous attempt to change to a generic anti-

inflammatory. I have a section for " current problems " . If I'm going

to the doctor for a specific reason, I start the first page after the

meds with " Why I am Here " , and a description of what's going on.

That might be a good place to put your detailed description of the pain.

Then list your history, including any hospitalizations, surgeries,

illnesses. I do most recent first, going back to earliest. Like this:

Condition Date

diagnosed, occurred,

or

treated

Hernia fixed, removal of L breast lipoma

(hospitalization) 5/16/07

Poison Ivy 5/11/2007

Total knee replacement L knee - 1/29/2007

Developed UTI during hospital stay. Treated with Levaquin;

also staph infection at epidural site.

*****

In addition, I keep a diagram of my Duodenal Switch weight loss

surgery, and a copy of the surgeon's letter, in my wallet.

Especially if you have multiple medical conditions or take a number

of medications, you should have this document updated at all times.

There's no way I'm going to accurately remember all the meds I take,

sitting there in the doc's office or an emergency room. It is

crucial to have this information with you if you go to the emergency

room or to the hospital. Docs are under such pressure there; they've

got to evaluate you in a few minutes. It helps them tremendously to

have a list of your current meds and your history.

There are computer storage devices that can fit on a keychain, and

Medic Alert has the ability to store this information. I take an

updated paper copy every time I go to the doctor or hospital.

Good work on this! Great idea, and well worth any effort that you

put into it! Besides providing information for the doctor, you

present yourself as proactive, involved in your own care, and serious

about working with the medical team to come up with solutions.

Z