Dear Friends,

I am looking forward to learning, sharing, and having friendship with others who have suffered and continue to suffer as I have.

Although I am serving as pastor of my home church now, I served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Mission of Mercy in Colorado Springs, CO and prior as Director of the Southeast Asia Research Center (SEARCH) in Bangkok, Thailand for previous six years.

All that to say I am something of an intranet, forums, social media, online fundraising, extensive internet research, Twitter. Facebook etc. and have not had (until today!) the impetus to join these forums which I have observed quite often.

After 14 years of pain, brain surgery 2 years-four months ago, followed by a stroke, leading to intense Central Pain Syndrome, five years with a great neurologist, recently starting (finally) with a wonderful clinical psychologist, all these things.....

I AM NOT SURE I CAN GO ON. SAME PLACE I WAS LAST AUGUST.

I changed pharmacies this week because when I turned in a prescription for Cialis last week, the pharmacist at Safeway snickered, told a little Ciailis joke, embaressed his clerk ("I thought you were talking about me", she said), and didn;t even realize that his patient heard the whole thing and was ready to never come back.........not only to Safeway, what's the point of going on with this pain and disfunction (I guess I'm disabled?!?).

So, I need some folks who gets it, and have a heart for going on. I'm putting my feelings in a little novella. If that's published it will help a lot. Have a publisher, working on contract........encouragement right.

Good night! I'll be asking questions and helping wherever I can.

S. Scott Fontenot

Hi Scott and welcome to NeuroTalk. Here is the link for our Chronic Pain forum...http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html

but if you look around..there are several other forums that should be of interest to you. I'm glad you've joinned us.

You've found a wonderful place for good solid support.
Allfe has pointed you to a good place to start.
Just sift thru the forum topics here and you'll find many folks who will certainly embrace your frustration. Chronic Pain is what we are all too familiar with and i agree with you......sometimes we feel 'alone' in our battle , as the rest of the world just don't 'get it'.

Glad you're here Scott.
Hope to get to know more about you, and i pray that you have good Dr's looking out for your best interests
PLEASE don't lose hope!! There WILL be a way to get your life back.
Just BELIEVE.
Truly Caring,
Rae

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. There are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi Scott,
You have a fountain of hope in you and you can call upon Him. I understand chronic pain and it sounds like you have been through a lot. I used to be in ministry but I am not now.

We have to overcome the thoughtless comments that others say about our health and what we are going through. Unless other people go through what we do, they have no clue. Even medical people who are so close to the issues can become thoughtless. As you go through this, you can help others to understand what people go through instead of judging others who are different and you can minister better to those around you. Allow others to minister to you.

Please be honest with your psych about how you are feeling. I see a psych that specializes in people with chronic medical conditions and she has been a great help.