in my old age. I have spent some time on Multiple Sclerosis message boards and I find the support of *everyone* for *everything* to be retarded. I am all for support when deserved but blinding supporting anyone for anything seems like the opposite of support. It seems very insincere. The whole cheery crap makes me annoyed.
And another thing about the whole MS message boards…. what is with make every medical concern an emergency? The are very quick to go to the ER which is really not a good place for a lot of problems. ER’s are great for emergencies that can’t wait until tomorrow or traumas where your life is at risk. It is not the best place to help manage a chronic condition.
I am thinking that the management of (or their ability to manage) their disease is lacking. The question I have is it a personal/emotional/mental problem or a medical professional problem. I wonder if there is a flow chart for when it is acceptable to go to the ER. Interesting research project for me…
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8 responses so far ↓
1 punkRockfairy // Dec 23, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I’ve got comments for the last couple of posts:
I’m bitter too… I work in the ER and everyday I see people come in with ridiculously simple issues that could be handled with 1. common sense, 2. at their regular MD’s or an outpatient clinic. It’s really a waste of money, insurance premiums, resources, and space in the ER for real emergencies. From our perspective it’s really frustrating. Especially, when patients are sent by their MD’s just so they can cover their asses.
Hyperchondriacs and sticky-sweet-sympathizers seem to plague the message boards and maybe it’s bitchy to say so, but I can’t stand that.
The Copaxone was making me lumpier than a bowl of oatmeal and the injections hurt like hell no matter what I tried. I hope your new strategies are working for you. The Copaxone didn’t give me weird side effects and I felt pretty good while I was on it. I hope it works well for you.
[Reply]
ninareply on December 25th, 2008 7:05 pm
In this case, a post-menopausal woman was having brown spotting. Not a lot but more than she has had in the last 10 years.
They told her to go the ER for this. It’s just about the worst place she could go. She might have been better off seeing a foot doctor. Luckily, she was smart and knew that. She is going to follow up with a GYN or PCP. Geez…. I couldn’t believe it.
The injections do suck and I am lumpy all over. Of course, I was kind of lumpy before MS too.
Giving the shots manually seem to really be helping pain wise… so we will give it a shot.
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2 Nadja Tizer // Dec 24, 2008 at 10:03 am
I never even think about hitting the message boards. I like blogland. I am sure there is still some of the issues you mention here but I also feel like most of the folks who visit and comment on my blog really do care about what is going on with me.
Anyway, I can realte to bitter but I am trying to change my head space. My mom sent me an article about happiness being infectious like a disease. I’m gonna try to catch me a little.
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ninareply on December 25th, 2008 7:07 pm
I agree completely. Blogland is much better. I think it requires a certain level of intelligence that you don’t find on message boards.
I consider myself to be a funny bitter. Normally when I go off on my bitter rants, something is laughing. That is my goal most of the time. Giggles from someone.
Hope you are doing well. Take care.
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3 Seattle Programmer // Dec 24, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I am the better half of a person who has been recently found at risk of MS. I empathize with you really. Unfortunately, life is not a deterministic algorithm which can dictate when to go to ER and when not to. We always receive stimulus from external environment, and in the end would win if we live maintaining a mentally stable state.
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ninareply on December 25th, 2008 7:08 pm
Hello! Welcome.
My better half and I are also in Seattle and in the high tech field – networking specifically. I imagine she was found to have CIS?
I hope you have found an excellent doctor but if not, let me know. I have a favorite!
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4 Karla // Dec 24, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Take a look at:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom.html
They aren’t perfect but they are clear that most things are not an ER visit.
[Reply]
ninareply on December 25th, 2008 7:09 pm
That does help a lot. I book marked it and intend to use it for these nutcases.
[Reply]
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