Perceptions

Now that you have the medical terminology and definitions behind my conditions, it may be easier to understand some of what I go through.   I know that people only understand and perceive what they want too at times, which has made some relationships very difficult for me, even with medical personnel.  I think we all perceive pain and suffering differently.  I have been living with chronic pain now for over 8 years (when this all began).  My tolerance for pain may be a lot higher than someone who is acutely injured.  I live with pain on a day to day basis.  I have used pharmaceuticals very cautiously and non-pharmocological interventions in my desperate journey to defeat this horrible illness. 

When I decided to write this blog, I had to think about my intent/purpose.  Well, I have a couple... the biggest one is to educate people on my rare conditions which are becoming more prevalent. As a Social Worker, and Master level Therapist, I am also qualified to discuss substance abuse issues and have many years experience working with pain management and Palliative Care, so I will touch on that subject as well at times in my blog.  My other purpose is to heal.  Not only myself, but others who may be suffering or have suffered a similar experience through non-finite loss.  Ironically, in graduate school, my Master's Thesis was composed on the non-finite losses chronically ill patients experience.  How could this happen to me? 

I had to make the decision to write this in confidence and change the names of individuals at times throughout the blog.