Oh Kitty....
 

I sure do hear you. I too am in that situation as you are. This issue of expensive gifts to your family should not happen. It isn't about gifts, or the expence of am item. They are making you feel worse than you already do, because you cannot afford the gifts. I can't eithor, but in my case the good souls I have in my life, just want me to be there, and don't care at all about the gift. The gift is getting together with each other. Your culture sounds like it is putting alot of pressure on you to do something you can't do. I am sorry you are going through this. I am poverty stricken too. My government took every dime I had from two generations, before I received any kind of help. I was forced to poverty after working 30 years. I am dealing with it, as I have friends who really do understand my family and finacial problems.
As for our teeth, we suffer. I feel lousy when I feel the big empty space in my mouth because I could not afford the dental care I needed. My first cervial fusion took priority, as did the second and 6 other surgeries. I know things are tuff for you too Kitty. Keep in touch with me. I am here to listen to you too. Maybe you should just tell those people who expect a big gift to back off, that their hearts are not in the right place. RSD is horrible to live with and they should show you compassion. ginnie

Hi Kitty
 

Thank God we can choose our friends. Family we are kind of stuck with. It is a sad commentary that your family wants expensive gifts in order for them to be satisfied. The whole world seems so material oriented these days. Is your whole country the "culture" bent on expensive gifts, or is it just your family?
Jesus wouldn't expect you to give an expensive gift when you could not afford it. In fact he would insist on no gift. Don't except the gifts from your family, if they are going to make you feel bad about what you can offer. Your health is more important than what they want from you. Medical costs everywhere are through the roof. I want you to know I care, I am sorry your family seeks earthly material goods at the cost of your feelings. Not everyone is that way. My family isn't like that. At least the part of the family who is still with me. I have some close friends, none of us exchange expensive things. We are all hurting financially, so it is not expected. We enjoy each other, and have a simple meal, no pressure, just joy. I really hope that your family will learn to be compassionate toward you, and under stand the true meaning of christmas, and all the other holidays. It is never about gifts. Take care Kitty, be good to yourself. I hope you have peace in your life over the holidays. I will be thinking of you. ginnie

Hi, ginnie:

Thank you so much for understanding my feelings. This morning, when I read both your messages, I felt so touched it brought tears to my eyes. There is nothing worse than being rejected by one's family because one is disabled, sick, and poor. I agree so much with you when you say it is not the gift or its cost that matter, but the presence and love this person can offer. Obviously, in my family, my presence is not desired, nor is my love wanted. I hear almost every day comments like: "When are you going to live us alone? Are we going to have to stand your presence for the rest of our lives? When are you leaving?..."

Quote: "They are making you feel worse than you already do, because you cannot afford the gifts."

This is why I hate celebrations like Birthdays, Father or Mother's Days, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve Day... I feel left out, rejected, hated, and criticized so much. My family thinks I am greedy, when I am just poor. They just forgot (and they want to forget) I have a health condition very expensive to control, called generalized internal chronic RSD. They prefer to say RSD is in my mind.

One thing that shocked me is when my mother offered to buy a U.S. $ 50,000 luxury SUV to my brother who is already rich (he earns at least between U.S. $ 4,000 and $ 5,000 every month) while, at the same time, refusing to give me the same U.S. $ 50,000 I must have to go to Germany to see Dr. Rohr for the inpatient RSD Ketamine Coma Procedure I really need to expect getting better someday (I earn a little less than U.S. $ 1,000 every month). My mother tells me something like: "What if this treatment is ineffective? What a waste of money!" but she does not tell my brother: "What if you wreck the luxury SUV? What a waste of money!" It is so easy to see who is loved most between me and my brother. No need to be a rocket scientist to see this.

Quote: "Your culture sounds like it is putting a lot of pressure on you to do something you can't do."

Not everybody in every family in the country in which I am gives more importance to the financial value of gifts. There are some families who care more about the money and mine is one of them.

I do not receive any kind of help from the French government or from the French Polynesian government. I remember reading an article in one French Polynesian newspaper mentioning that the French Polynesian goverment considers older people, disabled people, and poor people like a burden, even though most of these people do not receive any help.

Yes, our teeth suffer. I have to put off having my teeth treated, I have to put off having new eyeglasses done, I have to put off consulting a new endocrinologist for my thyroid problems, I have to put off buying a new functional knee brace for my RSD knee (result: more pain, but not more painkillers, because these happen to be narcotics and no doctors in French Polynesia like to increase narcotics dosage, even if it is necessary and even though there are Americans who are taking a much higher narcotics dosage than mine for the same health condition I have), I have to put off seeing a specialist to check if I have or not brain and/or breast cancer or tumor... all of this because I am poor. Someday, I will have to choose between rent, food, medical treatment, etc.

I am sorry for your tooth problem. To add to this, I know about priorities, choosing which body part will get medical care first, according to how much (little) money we have.

You are the kind of person everybody would want as a friend or family member, because you showed the true nature of your heart, full of love, compassion, caring, understanding...

Quote: "Maybe you should just tell those people who expect a big gift to back off, that their hearts are not in the right place. RSD is horrible to live with and they should show you compassion."

When I tell people who expect an expensive gift to back off, they bite my head off, telling me I have no gratitude in my heart and that I have a rock in place of my heart.

At "home", my only friend is (you are going to think I am nuts) my childhood pillow. Every time I am sad, I go to my bedroom and cry my eyes off on my childhood pillow until it gets so, so wet. I also feel I can confide (silently) to my childhood pillow when I need to get something out of my chest. I am not crazy; I just feel so, so lonely. My mother knows how much I love my childhood pillow. One day, she told me she would throw it away. Now, whenever I go out, I take my chilhood pillow with me so she cannot destroy it. Even though it might sound crazy to some, I love my childhood pillow and I know he loves me.

Re: childhod pillow
 

Your childhood pillow is stuffed with angels, quietly soothing your soul.
I would want to keep the angels close to me too. That comfort is important and I am glad you have that. I wish you had more, but apparantly your family just can't accept your RSD. I so hope you get to get out of the country to see a new physician. I respect you so much for still having a job and earing income. That is extra hard to do in pain. I have not heard of the treatment you are seeking. I know that I tried to find the best doctors I could too for m own medical issues. I hope that avenue opens up for you, that you can try this treatment. Many people on neuro talk, hope that new breakthroughs will happen for their medical situations.
In this country I have medicare/medicaid. I do thank God for it. I at least have the access to my doctors. It does not include dental, so my teeth take a back seat for repair. It took me 9 years to go back to the dentist, and boy I did have some problems....It does come down to what you can afford for the care we get. I really hope that the money will be spent on your RSD and not something to drive around in. Our lives are more important than a material possession. I will pray that your family will give you the same money so that you can get more help. I am sorry that your doctors do not provide enough pain medications. This counrty is in trouble with abuse of drugs by people not needing them. Therefor sometimes a physician will hold back what is needed. For the most part however,a good pain specialist is available and my doctor is compassionate to me. He has a wonderful personality, and I am blessed to have him in my life. I hope you can find this kind of doctor. I even sent my doctors Christmas Cards, to let them know I appreciate them being in my life. I am here kitty anytime you want to talk. I come back here to this neuro talk because of all the good souls I have met. There is friendship and great compassion. I will be thinking of you. ginie

Re: question
 

Hi Kitty, I was thinking of the money you need to get that treatment. Would you please tell me what the RSD Katimine Coma Procedure is.? You are on my mind today. ginnie