> Subj: doctors
> Date: 97-10-10 00:49:12 EDT
> From: JHarper33
> To: Marsden51
>
> Sharon,
>
> I'm so sorry for your experience with your doctor. I guess there are good
> and bad in every specialty. My own GP has been great. I'm his only TM
patient,
> but he's very good to listen and advise and send me to whatever specialist
> he thinks might be helpful. Some of the specialtists have not been as
> thorough and helpful. I'm convinced the patient, or a close friend or
> relative of the patient, often has to "take charge" as far as research and
> sometimes insisting on a certain test or treatment. You might try writing
> your concerns and feelings to your dr. I did that once because it was hard
to
> deal with all the symptoms and questions I had all at once -- I think, in
his
> humanness, he could only take in and deal with so many things at one time.
So
> I wrote out everything (even though I was afraid of being labeled neurotic
or
> a hypochondriac -- by that time, I didn't care. I just wanted answers!) and
> asked him to call me when he had a chance. He called -- on a Saturday,
even!
> Even though there wasn't much he could "do," it was very helpful just that
he
> would talk things over with me. I would say if your dr. doesn't respond to
> your questions and concerns, it might be time to get a new dr., if
insurance
> considerations allow. Let him know, kindly, that even though you've had
good
> dr.-patient relationship in the past, you're both hurt by his reaction plus
> fearful that his not taking you seriously may impede your diagnosis and
> treatment. You might even check the archives and some of the links there
and
> print out some information that validates that your symptoms are in line
with
> TM.
>
> I know what you mean by wanting to pursue tests and a diagnosis and
yet
> being afraid, too. Sometimes the relief of getting a diagnosis is followed
by
> an "Oh, no, not that!" type of feeling.
>
> I think part of the key, after it all sinks in, is to concentrate on
> what you can do, what abilities you do have. It sounds trite to say, "It
> could be worse," but, it could. I have to admit I still have to actively
get
> my thoughts along these lines often -- it's all too easy to focus on what
> doesn't feel right or work right. Of course, sometimes your symptoms push
> their way to the forefront of all your attention and all you can do is pray
> and hang on and just make it through the next hour, and then the next, and
> then the next. But good days and good moments do come along.
>
> You asked how some of us cope. Well, for me, I am a Christian and
> believe that God has a purpose in everything He allows. Yes, I've struggled
> with why He hasn't healed, knowing He is able to. Lamentations 3: 31-33
say, "
> For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
> But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the
> multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the
> children of men." He doesn't do anything whimsically or purposelessly.
> Missionary Amy Carmichael once wrote, "God does not waste His servant's
time.
> God does not waste His servant's pain." Romans 8:28* says, " And we know
that
> all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the
> called according to his purpose." One passage that has helped me a lot is
> Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am
> thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
> thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Someone once said, "What the
> Lord orders, He pays for," and what He allows to to go through, He does
> provide the strength and grace for if we trust Him and rely on Him. One of
my
> biggest fears is of another attack, especially a worse attack. Isaiah 12:2
> has been helpful: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be
> afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become
my
> salvation." as well as Ps 56:3: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in
thee."
> This is not something I've wrestled with once and gotten victory over once
> and for all. It's something I have to wrestle with often and actively put
my
> faith in God. Even if something worse happens, He will be with me and help
me
> just as He was when it happened the first time and all the days inbetween.
>
> People use the word "Christian" rather loosely these days to mean any
> religion that has something to do with Christ, but originally it meant
> someone who was an active follower of Jesus Christ, a Person, not an
adherent
> to a certain religion. John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they
> might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
> Isaiah 53: 5-6 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and
> with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
> turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity
> of us all." That's the essence of it -- knowing Him, in the forgiveness of
> sins, trusting that His sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for our
sins,
> and He rose again and conquered death, and wanting Him to be Savior and
Lord
> of us individually. Romans 10:9-10 and 13: " That if thou shalt confess
with
> thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
> raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
> believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
> salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved."
>
>
> I hope this all makes sense -- it is waaay past my bedtime. :)
> Please feel free to write any time. The tmic list has been a real
help,
> both in information and encouragement and the support of knowing there are
> others out there who know by experience what we're going through.
>
> Barbara
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: doctors
Date: 97-10-10 00:49:12 EDT
From: JHarper33
To: Marsden51
Sharon,
I'm so sorry for your experience with your doctor. I guess there are good and
bad in every specialty. My own GP has been great. I'm his only TM patient,
but he's very good to listen and advise and send me to whatever specialist he
thinks might be helpful. Some of the specialtists have not been as thorough
and helpful. I'm convinced the patient, or a close friend or relative of the
patient, often has to "take charge" as far as research and sometimes
insisting on a certain test or treatment. You might try writing your concerns
and feelings to your dr. I did that once because it was hard to deal with all
the symptoms and questions I had all at once -- I think, in his humanness, he
could only take in and deal with so many things at one time. So I wrote out
everything (even though I was afraid of being labeled neurotic or a
hypochondriac -- by that time, I didn't care. I just wanted answers!) and
asked him to call me when he had a chance. He called -- on a Saturday, even!
Even though there wasn't much he could "do," it was very helpful just that he
would talk things over with me. I would say if your dr. doesn't respond to
your questions and concerns, it might be time to get a new dr., if insurance
considerations allow. Let him know, kindly, that even though you've had good
dr.-patient relationship in the past, you're both hurt by his reaction plus
fearful that his not taking you seriously may impede your diagnosis and
treatment. You might even check the archives and some of the links there and
print out some information that validates that your symptoms are in line with
TM.
I know what you mean by wanting to pursue tests and a diagnosis and yet
being afraid, too. Sometimes the relief of getting a diagnosis is followed by
an "Oh, no, not that!" type of feeling.
I think part of the key, after it all sinks in, is to concentrate on
what you can do, what abilities you do have. It sounds trite to say, "It
could be worse," but, it could. I have to admit I still have to actively get
my thoughts along these lines often -- it's all too easy to focus on what
doesn't feel right or work right. Of course, sometimes your symptoms push
their way to the forefront of all your attention and all you can do is pray
and hang on and just make it through the next hour, and then the next, and
then the next. But good days and good moments do come along.
You asked how some of us cope. Well, for me, I am a Christian and
believe that God has a purpose in everything He allows. Yes, I've struggled
with why He hasn't healed, knowing He is able to. Lamentations 3: 31-33 say,
"For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the
multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the
children of men." He doesn't do anything whimsically or purposelessly.
Missionary Amy Carmichael once wrote, "God does not waste His servant's time.
God does not waste His servant's pain." Romans 8:28* says, " And we know that
all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose." One passage that has helped me a lot is
Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am
thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Someone once said, "What the
Lord orders, He pays for," and what He allows to to go through, He does
provide the strength and grace for if we trust Him and rely on Him. One of my
biggest fears is of another attack, especially a worse attack. Isaiah 12:2
has been helpful: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be
afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my
salvation." as well as Ps 56:3: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in
thee." This is not something I've wrestled with once and gotten victory over
once and for all. It's something I have to wrestle with often and actively
put my faith in God. Even if something worse happens, He will be with me and
help me just as He was when it happened the first time and all the days
inbetween.
People use the word "Christian" rather loosely these days to mean any
religion that has something to do with Christ, but originally it meant
someone who was an active follower of Jesus Christ, a Person, not an adherent
to a certain religion. John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Isaiah 53: 5-6 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and
with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all." That's the essence of it -- knowing Him, in the forgiveness of
sins, trusting that His sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for our sins,
and He rose again and conquered death, and wanting Him to be Savior and Lord
of us individually. Romans 10:9-10 and 13: " That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved."
I hope this all makes sense -- it is waaay past my bedtime. :)
Please feel free to write any time. The tmic list has been a real help,
both in information and encouragement and the support of knowing there are
others out there who know by experience what we're going through.
Barbara