Az-Di,

I've been thinking about you all day but just didn't have a chance to write until now. I'm so sorry that on top of you pain you are dealing with difficulties getting to and from your doctors offices. I'm sure your family doesn't really feel as if you are a burden.. no one likes to go to doctors offices/hospitals so I'm sure it has more to do with that then anything else.

I'm in a similar situation with doctors visits as I am 2-3 hours away from anyone of my team of doctors. Like you I am having a difficult time driving and medications often make it unsafe. I often have to explain to my doctors that it is difficult to ask anyone to take basically an entire day off work for these visits. It isn't that they don't want to go but, after literally hundreds of appointments over the past 2 years that is a ton of lost income for my husband and friends all added up! One thing that helped take the burden off of any one person was to reach out to our local church and also to medical ride share offered to persons with disabilities. The ride share doesn't work as well since I live remotely but, in a pinch it is much easier to ask someone to drive the 45min to where they do pick up than to ask for them to take 6-8 hours out of their day. Our local church has been a Godsend in that many ladies are willing to help in anyway they can.. maybe that is an option worth looking into? You might also check with the local chamber of commerce to see if they are aware of any assistance programs.

Regarding your doctor demanding you keep the slot.. personally I find that a little odd. All treatment options/timing ultimately are up to you. If you need to re-schedule this appointment then that should be your call. Unless there is proven evidence that doing so will make the procedure less effective (which I doubt) then waiting an additional week or two shouldn't matter. Seriously, I would question this lack of consideration for your ability to attend this appointment.

Please don't hold on to the feelings you are having about being a burden.. I'm sure we have all felt this way on/off during the course of this beast. Just keep doing what you can when you can, that is all that is all you can do. If family or friends don't understand why you aren't always able to do things like you have prior to this.. then maybe they should go with you to a pain psychologist or to your CRPS PM doctor so that they can hear it from them. This helped my husband understand better than I could ever explain. Sometimes hearing it from a professional makes it more clear to them.

I do hope tomorrow brings a smile to your face and the emotions that are eating at you today are long forgotten!

Kindly,
Tessa

Very good point, for my future appts. I am looking into that, it may get expensive but it may be worth it to save all the stress!

My husband gets angry too sometimes, with logistics caused by the RSD. I try to remember that the RSD has made his life more difficult too and he gets angry at the RSD. He probably gets mad at the RSD more than I do. I like Lit Love's idea of hiring a driver. I know that too might be a pain, but it would relieve some of the pressure between family members.

I hope it gets better, soft hugs, Syl

You can find someone to do this kind of work for $10-15 per hour. It probably is less expensive than having your hubby or son miss work. If you use an official driver it'll be more expensive. (You might want to check out if your community offers a door to door shuttle service for the disabled as well.)

I've had family help, friends help, and employed help. It can be well worth the investment to my relationships to pay for help at times. Being dependent can really effect your relationships negatively.

Also check out the bulletin board at the hospital. They might have some posting on there about people willing to help. Also at the Dr's offices. Call up to the senior centers too. I know it sounds funny, but they might have a program that drives to and from and usually not that expensive. Some places cost I think but don't quote me around $5 to 10 for a trip, week month and so on. Check through your church first though. While your getting treatment they can go get lunch or do a little shopping for things they can't get in your town. I live rural not city, couldn't stand it. So when I get back to my home I will be looking this stuff up myself. Will make it a lot easier getting back and forth to the VA in El Paso, Tx. Don't feel like you need to hold this all in either. I have gotten the same thing from my husband because he has had to take a few days off to get me to and from the drs and surgery. He gets irritated but they survive. I know you want to hide how you feel but let it out. I have my in laws back in Alamogordo and I have a few friends that can drive me but its still hard. Plus with 2 littles its going to be harder. Keep smiling.

They have a handy ride bus here where I live. They pick you up at your door, and then bring you back to your door. It even accommodates power chairs and scooters. Maybe they have something like that where you live?

It only costs $1 per ride from a city I just moved from. A neighboring city even supplies taxis, again for the $1, because they don't have enough shuttles to meet demand. They will usually require a day's scheduling notice.

They will have other picks ups and drops though, so if you're sensitive to vibration, it might not be workable.

And these are generally for seniors and the disabled.