tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post922168034655471928..comments2024-03-20T03:37:35.596-04:00Comments on not just about cancer: i can tell when it hurtslauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-74363314100907264992013-09-22T13:29:42.585-04:002013-09-22T13:29:42.585-04:00I think the silence around what it's like to l...I think the silence around what it's like to live with pain and the real impact of pain — not just on the individual who has it, but on their loved ones, on their employers and on society — is contributing to this insane situation. Studies show that when prescribed and taken correctly, the risk of addiction to narcotics is one quarter of one percent! If you include people with a history of addiction, the risk rises to a measly 3%. Yet everyone "knows" how dangerous narcotics are. People are afraid of taking them and therefore endure pain they don't have to (which delays healing and impacts quality of life). Doctors are afraid to prescribe them because they can lose their license. It's insane. We live in a culture where it is actually okay to torture a majority of people because a tiny minority might get addicted. What happened to "do no harm"?<br /><br />Sorry. I saw a soapbox and got on it. I'll shut up now. So glad your GP is sensibleLene Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223128667829847717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-64265652987174932042013-09-21T09:35:28.625-04:002013-09-21T09:35:28.625-04:00Karen, I am so, so sorry this happened to you. Thi...Karen, I am so, so sorry this happened to you. This comment is so powerful, so articulate. You explain the problem so much better than I could and with such credibility and yet you were left in agony for hours. I am speechless. Love and light back to you. Thank you for sharing so generously.lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-28326379183415119152013-09-21T00:31:23.276-04:002013-09-21T00:31:23.276-04:00dear laurie,
after being a hospice nurse for 30 y...dear laurie,<br /><br />after being a hospice nurse for 30 years, I can attest to the lack of education re: pain mngmt - particularly with doctors. It got so that our hospice medical directors were really good at it, but they always deferred to the hospice nurses if we offered a more effective solution. there are continuing ed classes at frequent intervals for hospice and other types of nurses. I have never heard of a single doctor ever taking those same courses! <br /><br />as to my own experience as a post-surgical patient when I recently had a hysterectomy, I was promised impeccable pain mgmnt - they even said I would have a dilaudid drip that I could control myself. to my horror, I was given NOTHING post surgery and was in terrible pain because my urinary catheter and the balloon that anchored it was too damn big! it felt like I had a foot ball in my bladder, and I stayed awake crying from 10pm until 6 am. I spent my entire career assuring, going to the ends of the earth, taking every class I could to be updated and informed so I could assure that my patient's pain was managed properly. it deeply offends and deeply hurts me that in my time of need I was not cared for with the same compassion. I will never trust another doctor, anesthesiologist, nor a hospital floor nurse to take care of my pain - I will get it in writing! <br /><br />doctors often slack on what they know would work best because they are afraid of government oversight; there are patterns of "trends" that arise from the hue and cry about pain medications that inevitably get sold on the street - most of this comes from politicians who want to get elected, raise a ruckus, then media does stories that tend to highlight the "evils" of perfectly legitimate medications used inappropriately. doctors need to form committees to discuss this travesty, but can't or won't take the time. I want to scream at them - first take the time to become educated on the appropriate use of opiates, then step up to the plate and ADVOCATE for your patients - instead of running scarred and perpetuating this utterly nonsensical cycle. <br /><br />I am so sorry whenever I hear/read about these horrific stories because needless pain hampers healing, and needless suffering is no way to care for a patient. I am so sorry for all you have had to go through to try to get the pain mngmt. you need and deserve.<br /><br />love and ligh,<br /><br />Karen, TC tccomments2013https://www.blogger.com/profile/00446394638074551345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-92206629704014904682013-09-20T20:43:28.835-04:002013-09-20T20:43:28.835-04:00Sue, I really appreciated you comments on FB. I lo...Sue, I really appreciated you comments on FB. I look forward to when you feel ready to say more.lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-39520440372204992272013-09-20T17:59:36.400-04:002013-09-20T17:59:36.400-04:00I have a WHOLE lot to say about this, but I need t...I have a WHOLE lot to say about this, but I need time to gather my thoughts into cohesive words, you have no idea how much your post hit me after an absolutely horrible experience last week when I was scheduled to have my pain pump "re-installed" will share in a bit... soooooooooo glad you posted this, I hear you!<br />Sue Breennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-9432511483107737692013-09-20T13:41:06.622-04:002013-09-20T13:41:06.622-04:00I'm loathe to say it but that's actually a...I'm loathe to say it but that's actually an interesting idea. lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20882588.post-57041136215999462582013-09-20T13:06:59.741-04:002013-09-20T13:06:59.741-04:00it might be the last thing you feel like doing rig...it might be the last thing you feel like doing right now, but i feel like your recent posts are shaping up to be a second book. the medical establishment could learn a whole lot from your analysis, sister. xoxoAndreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11780966983005320399noreply@blogger.com