Chronic Illness

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A community/support group for chronically ill people. While anyone is welcome, our number one priority is keeping this a safe space for chronically ill people.

Rules

Be excellent to each other
Absolutely no ableism.
No quackery. Does an up-to date major review in a big journal or a major government guideline come to the conclusion you’re claiming is fact? No? Then don’t claim it’s fact. This applies to potential treatments and disease mechanisms.
No denying or minimising challenges faced by chronically ill people. This is a support group, not a place for people to spout their opinions on disability.

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Tips for chronic pain (pawb.social)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have recently discovered that I am hypermobile but social anxiety and the pain prevent me from going to a doctor (also I don't trust them and they scare me) Do you have any tips on living with chronic pain? Anything from over-the-counter drugs and physical aids to tips for everyday tasks I know I'll have to talk to a doctor someday but in the meantime I'd like to be able to survive lol

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

See a doctor.

Seriously. They can help. Not all of them, and they can be a real barrier to getting the help you need. And it takes time to work through them.

I had one asshole actually tell me "well I guess you're gonna have to learn to live with it". I'm lucky to not be in jail, I came very close to knocking that doctor's head off.

Now I have a moderately sympathetic doc, I've learned how he views things, and the way I have to present information so he can justify the treatments and meds he prescribes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I second this. OP, you say you're mistrustful of doctors. That impulse isn't necessarily a bad thing! Doctors are people, and sometimes people ain't shit. If you meet one that sucks & just tells you some variation of "deal with it", you are well within your rights to tell them to pound sand & find a different doctor. It can be discouraging when the first / first few you see suck ass, but the right doctor can make a huge difference.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Doctors are people

Exactly. Some suck. Some are assholes. Some are having a bad day.

As a consultant, I've been all of these to my clients at one time or another (well, I hope I don't just suck). I've misunderstood them. I've made mistakes. Doctors are no exception.

Then there's personality - you gotta figure out how to communicate with each person, not really any different than at work.