Okay, so I thought I knew all I needed to for my appointment for my Psych Eval for Disability, but I was totally thrown for a loop by something the doctor (and I use that term loosely) said to me. As I think I told you, he barely took his nose out of his notes and notepad the entire interview. Well, one thing he
said to me fairly early on after I gave him my list of meds, with his nose buried in his notes, mind you, was, "You have fibromyalgia?" I first denied it, because *I* myself had never alleged that I had fibro, and he repeated it a few more times. Then it dawned on me and I said, "That must be the Dx that my PM doctor put in my disability report," ~~ but not before I had denied it several times. Before all that, he had asked me if I had arthritis, and I said yes, and when asked where, I said, my neck, shoulders, back, hips, and knees; oh, and I have carpal tunnel in both wrists.

I guess it makes some sense. I mean, let's face it, I have been going to PM since 2002, have problems with many areas, and I have actually wondered to myself whether or not I did have fibro. My guess is that perhaps the PM doc hasn't come outright and given me this Dx is that some people, once they are given a label like that, they suddenly feel worse? I guess nothing has really changed, just that I acted like an idiot when I started out by denying that I had fibro.

My main concern is just that this guy may think, since I was able to answer some of his questions, my psych conditions have no effect on my life. He asked if I had nightmares and flashbacks about the fire and I answered in the affirmative to both. Really, what more does he need???

Dear Jacquie,
Do you think the guy dx'd you on the spot? Or was he reading from the PM doc's notes. The PM doc should have told you.

I don't know what happens in those evaluations. I think that they sometimes need to hear specifically how your problem effects your daily life.

I hope that your weekend is going well.

M

Jacquie
I had the diagx of Fybro too. Along with other diagx for disability. The SSD gave me due to the knees. I have had surgeries, osteoarthritis, and bone on bone pain, stability and fall down go boom. But my hips, back, neck, shoulders and CT was so much worse pain. The knees were restrictive, but stated I "kneeded" them for protection in police work.
But, still treated for the Fybro. I was given a few meds, the best thing really is the Advil 3 a day.

My back I have my pain meds as needed, spasms, the valium.

Dear Jacquie,

i am hearing that you have problems that could be fibro and maybe your PM doc gave you a fibro dx, but you aren't sure. so, i guess my first thought is, can you contact your PM doc and ask? do certainly have a right to know. here where i live they don't always "fanfare" dx's to the patients (they assume, and unfortunately with some accuracy for part of the populatin, that it will be "all greek" to the patients, and that they don't want to know anyway.) but here there is disability paperwork involved and you can bring that up too...

secondly if it is a "new" dx i hope they can give you some meds that will make you more comfortable.

i don't think the fact that you were "lucid" during the interview means you will be denied. and having pain and nightmares does imply impact on everyday life, whether you state it or not.

the doctor holding the interview may be used to talking to people with a lower capacity for communication, and that may be why he came off "slow" to you. he may not be that slow himself. just procedurally cautious. (a thought.)

good luck with the approval process and also, finding out about this "new" dx.

~ waves ~

Mari - he read it from his notes, so it either came directly from the PM doc, which is my theory, or it's something that was put in the physical report by the Claims Adjudicator (my former job) or in the final physical eval from the doctor at disability. Either way, it took me by surprise!
[I started writing this last evening, but was called away, so now it's Monday morning, and I can finish this now!]

My week-end was okay. A bit taxing for me; it's tough being a caretaker for an adult, even if you are married to them! Not only does he have his Psych limitations (he is still stiff and does not yet show much emotion) but the burns to his hands make it hard to do things like put on his shoes, socks, and clothing in general, so I'm doing a lot more bending, etc, than I'm used to, and that's affecting me physically. He's at his program today, so I get a little respite, which I need.

More later, must run!

Thanks to all of you...waves, good points, and ones I had thought of myself! Di, just what we all need, extra Dx, am I right??

Well, we all must learn to make the best with what we have to work with, and we should be experts at all of it by now!

keep plugging away one day at a time.....
you are doing great and the best that you can be doing....remember this.
bizi

I personally would give the pm doctor's office a call and ask if they put that on the paperwork. I would also explain its not good for something like this to blindside you. I have fibro, and I also have some arthritis in the area's you mentioned. So it would make sense too me.

Can I ask which medicines you are already on. I've never heard you say.

Donna

Hi Donna - I will try to get to call my Pain Mgmt doctor sometime in the next week or so. I have so many, many calls to make for insurance, doctors, etc, etc. We had a long day, and my fibro was bothering me from the moment I got up. We had to go to the lab for bloodwork, stop at three stores and, lastly, we drove to our old neighborhood, because we still own the property where our house was, and we are having a contractor re-build it, so we went to visit our neighbor and see how the house was coming along. This same contractor is going to put an addition on our existing house. It's a Colonial, but we want a master suite on the main level, so we are having it put on the side of the house. It will be just like the one upstairs - a large master bedroom, a master bath with a large tub and also a shower, and double sinks and vanities, and, lastly, a sitting room with a kitchenette. I've never, ever built a home and had to pick out the colors, counters, sinks, etc, etc, and it's a bit daunting, but we will get it done!! It's daunting but exciting!

Oh, sorry, got OT as usual ...The meds I take are these: Zoloft, Wellbutrin, blood pressure medication, Nexium, Clariinex, and the pain meds I take are Percocet, 10/325.g - 2 or 3 x a day, and my muscle relaxor is 2mg prn of generic Zanaflex. I don't take anything like Gabapentin, Cymbalta, Lyrica, or any other med for my supposed fibro. You can bet that if I don't get a chance to call my pain doc, I will certainly discuss it when I go there next!

have fun picking out colors etc....I had a herd time picking our door knobs for the kitchen cabinets....keep going one day at a time.
you are doing great!
((((HUGS))))
bizi