Taking Care of Ourselves

[Guest guest]

Kris,

You wrote, " #1 So I..purchased the ultra one touch blood glucose meter...#2

disappointed with my physician, but that is small potatoes since I have to rely

on him to prescribe me pain meds every month...I had a really bad attack last

monday..#3 he says if my enzymes are elevated .... "

When I read your post I could feel the huge frustrations that you have to

deal with. I could also sense the exuberant pride of empowerment with taking

responsibility for your own health, regardless of the one that you would expect

to

be. I don't get the 'no big deal' attitude that some healthcare providers

have. To wait and see is yesterday's reactive approach to health versus the more

appropriate proactive, preventative approach of today.

I also understood exactly what you were talking about when dealing with the

doctor who orders your monthly medications. It's like walking on eggshells.

There is a particular imbalance of power that I do not think is right, but I am

not sure if it means so much that I would disrupt the relationship with the

person who is willing to treat my pain. Sometimes I feel that the doctor who

writes my monthly medications has already decided that chronic means that it

isn't

acute, and that means that it no longer needs any diagnostic interventions,

even for new problems. Someone taking this level of pain management certainly

isn't a candidate for any aggressive interventions and has no consideration of

returning to any prior lifestyle. So, why bother? Would the results really

alter the plan of care? In my opinion, when dealing with the issue of becoming

diabetic and requiring insulin, well yeah. To monitor the change in advanced

pancreatitis? No, it probably would not alter the course of treatment. I am

fortunate that my GI does do an annual CT scan. There is less and less to see,

but

at least it provides an annual confirmation that I have chronic pancreatitis

for disability.

I had to transfer to a new Internal Medicine PCP doctor, as my doctor went

into hospital work. She had a full understanding of chronic pancreatitis. She

never did enzyme levels, etc. This new Internal Medicine Specialist, and I make

the point of saying that he has substantial training after medical school, to

make the point of how crazy making it is to me that he insists on doing

regular enzyme levels to check the ongoing status of my pancreatitis. I really

believe that he doesn't know the difference. And, he made it clear that the

answers

to any questions I have are on a need to know basis. And, apparently I don't

need to know. Having other resources, I don't rock the boat, because he is the

one who is writing my monthly medications. And, until I establish a

relationship with the pain management clinic I see this month, I just close my

eyes and

consider any interaction with him a lesson of 'Let Go, & Let God.

Pancreatitis is exhausting enough, dealing with people who are misinformed is

simply insult to injury.

Your posts are always so refreshing because they reflect the good attitude

you always have!

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International