Well Again! Sort of…

February 8, 2016

 After an all day snooze fest on Friday, I was glad to be feeling better Saturday. My stomach was a bit sore from not eating for most of the prior week, but at least my headache and stomach pains had subsided drastically. The weekend was wonderful! I had minimal aches and pains, and the kids even had friends over on Sunday.

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It’s great to be back to “normal”.

Today, Monday, was a good day. My youngest daughter and I went shopping at Target after a pit stop at Starbucks. Then we headed to her speech therapy appointment. She didn’t want to go, but I bribed her with Burger King if she did well at her appointment. I don’t usually bribe my kids, but her therapy is important, and I knew she would feel better once she started playing with her therapist.

The rest of the day was uneventful, thankfully, because I started experiencing excruciating stomach pains this afternoon. It hurts to sit, walk, stand, or anything. Back pains and short of breath also accompanied the pain. It feels as though I’ve been sucker punched in my gut, and the person won’t move their fist to relieve that pressure.

I’ve been having these pains, on/off, for months. I finally had enough of it, and called to make an appointment with my primary care physician (PCP) at the Veteran’s Medical Center (I’m a disabled Veteran). This process had me close to tears, and here’s why –

In order to make an appointment with a PCP if it’s not time for an annual exam, a veteran must make a request for an appointment. A triage nurse will then call you within 24 hours to access your pains. The nurse will then determine how severe your pains are, and will forward it to your PCP’s nurse. That nurse will call you within 24 hours to access your pains as well. Once the assessment has been made, it will then be passed along to your PCP where he/she will make a determination if a visit to the clinic is necessary to be seen.

I must say that this process aggravates me! Why should I get approval to be seen or not? I am a disabled veteran, and I need to see my PCP for stomach pains. Why do I need to be evaluated for it? It makes no sense. (If you are reading this, and can give some insight to the process, please email me or leave a comment below.)

After speaking to a representative with patient advocacy, I am writing a letter to the director about this process. It needs to be changed. I should be able to call and make an appointment without getting “approval” or what have you. It’s absurd, in my opinion.

Husband came home not feeling well, so the both of us skipped dinner and went straight to lying on the couch, watching television. A lot of times I believe my husband gets sympathy pains from me. Throughout all four of my pregnancies, especially my first one, he experienced the same pains of pregnancy I was experiencing. It was weird. We have that link though which I cherish. Although, it would be nice to have that link without him getting sick.

It’s off to bed we go. My back pains are becoming too great, and I just need to sleep it off.

Good night.

Disclaimer: Please understand that everyone is different in their journey with fibromyalgia and/or chronic illness. This is my journey, my stories, my vulnerability to share with you in order to help in some way. It is in no way to compare my journey with yours or to minimize your pains, feelings, or experiences. Please do not comment with any negativity.

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