I have found since my cervical injury, that took place at work, slowly I lost all my friends along the way. I worked as a Medical Assistant, for a Large HMO, and they ended up fighting me and won. So my cervical injury was found to have happened "anywhere but at work." Suprising what big time attorneys an HMO can afford. I was a dedicated worker for years. All the departments. I was trained to work everywhere and I did.
I had so many friends then. People I trained. People I helped, people I covered for, people I went to lunch with. My friends.
After I could no longer work due to a herniated disc, two levels, requiring surgery, friends became fewer. Doctors' I worked with "forgot" they had seen me for my injury...friends stop calling.....no more "invites" to lunch, soon even Christmas cards stop. Finally it was Rose who? Life became sad, lonley, and full of pain. My only support was my husband, but he too seen I was becoming a sad and diffrent person..
Today I am still in pain, but I can "handle" it with my MS Contin, and other medications. I suffer not only with multi levels of disc problems that never got "fixed." I have fibromyligia, chronic fatigue, diabeties with horrible nerve pain. I will stop there....Has anyone else lost so much at no fault of their own? Today I am diffrent, and live a diffrent life. Only one friend from my past is in my future. My husband still loves me for who I am. As do my four out of five children. My sister does not talk to me. My parents are not alive. Pain suffers are not "whimps." We suffer from more than pain. We suffer loss. Not only of our friends and love ones, but of who we were. I am glad I know the Lord, without Him, I would be lost.
Hello Rose
It's a plesure to meet you and Yes! I know exactly what your talking about.
I'm pretty alone in my life, I thank the lord for my loving husband & my son & his fiance that are all still here for me and love me despite of my chronic illness & disability.
In many ways I blame myself for my loss of contact with others, I was so sick a great deal of the time and they would still call on occaision, but no one really cared that I was sick now and not the person I used to be. I was very close to many of my nieces & nephews and used to do alot of things with them, but as soon as I was unable to baby sit, cook, clean and help them with their own families, I some how became obsolete to them in their lives, so I guess facing the fact that I only meant something to them when I could do for them was a bit heart breaking, but such is life.
I only get out of the house once per week, so I'm really not all that fun to hang around with. I too would be lost with out my faith and I rely on the lords love, exceptance and graces to hold me up, especially when I go through the long days & nights in bed and have nothing to do.
My husband & son bought me a laptop for xmas lastyear and it's been a life saver and kept me interested in most current news & research, treatments, etc for chronic pain & illness. It's also allowed me to make some new friends that understand pain & illness too. They've helped to fill the void of lonliness.
I hope you enjoy yourself and continue meeting new friends around here. There are alot of people such as me who would love to visit with you and exchange emails & such, so your welcome to private message me anytime and please feel free to jump into any conversations in the forum area too.
Hugs
Betty