Thursday, February 16, 2012

earl roberts

Written by

Earl Roberts

Earl Roberts

Sat, November 07, 2009

bi-latteral AKA and bad left elbow which just had a very painful surgery and a bum right shoulder.  All of my body parts are wearing out, basically.  I spent fours in the Air Force, obtained the American dream but then one-by-one lost evrything I worked so hard for.  However, I see our young sodiers coming back from war with so many tragic injuries I feel no pitty what so ever for me.

Anonymous
learnFMnow
11/ 9/09 11:11am

Earl, so rough to deal with all that.  I feel compassion for ya.  I know you have suffered much. 

I am Debra.  I am a RN in Texas.  I have fibromyalgia.  It ain't the cake walk the Lyrica commercials make it look like.  LOL.

 

Anyway, nice to meet you.  Where bouts you from? 

 

Debra

a.k.a. learnFMnow

 

11/10/09 1:18am

Debra, 

                How do you work as a nurse?  Nurses see pain all the time.  When you are in constant pain and then you have to see it all the time, that is a bitter pill to swallow.  Today, while sitting in a doctor's office waiting for my appointment; I saw a woman enter the office.  The pain in her face and the way she carried herself made me feel like I was looking in a mirror.  However, when her husband entered and sat down beside her it brought it all home.  I saw the same despair and hopelessness in his eyes that I saw in my wife's eyes years ago.  We divorced after the fourth year of my endless pain.  The divorce was a good thing, it insulated the kids and my wife from what had dominated the family for too long.  It was good talking to you Debra.  I would like to know how long you have had Fibromyalgia and what therapies help you?  Earl

11/10/09 1:21am

Sorry Debra, I forgot to mention where I am from; I hang my hat in Vacaville, CA; have so for the last nineteen years.  Earl

Anonymous
learnFMnow
11/10/09 12:06pm

Earl, I have been a nurse for about 17 years now.  I love it.  I think some days it just makes a difference.  But working is only possible through a barage of pills I take.  If not for a doctor who will prescribe medicine, I would be completely disabled.

 

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 7 years ago when my hands began to burn in torturous pain for a month.  I missed work for a month.  I was hurting everywhere and could not even get in and out of the bathtub by myself at that time.  I was afraid I had a fatal disease.  I found out about fibromyalgia when my doctor diagnosed me.  From that time forward life has never been the same again.   I have to plan all my off time to rest.  I can never plan an outing, cannot attend my daughter or sons school functions or anything.  If I am not working then I am stuck at home in pain and other miseries.  I have good days but I never really know when they will be there.

 

I know you have alot of challenges with your illness.  Please tell me what caused you to have to have your AKA's?  Just curious.  I try not to consider myself to be too pitiful because in many ways I am lucky. 

 

I am sorry I did not answer this sooner. Some of my messages are going to the spam box.

 

Thanks,

Debra

Anonymous
learnFMnow
11/10/09 12:11pm

Had to put this in two messages.  My computer is acting up.  Anyway, working with people in pain only makes me more compassionate towards them since I got ill.  I seem to have more empathy for them because I know what pain is first hand.  I try to be sure they are medicated when they need it.  I have never been one to judge folks for taking narcotic meds even before the fibro.   Some medical people do.  I never did. But now I certainly would rather medicate than not even if someone else does not believe the patient is in pain. I would rather ere on the side of humanity.

 

Debra

11/17/09 4:38am

Hello Debra,

                 It was good to hear from you.  I am happy that you have doctors that are willing to help you deal with your pain (meds).  I have to keep this email short, as I just found out several hours ago my brother Phil was found deceased in his apartment by the Davis Police Department and I need to go to Sacramento to be with my sister Jeannie.  She was very close to Phil and needs my emtional support.  When things have settled down I will send you another email explaining what happened to my legs.  On an end note, your patients are very lucky to have you for a nurse, I can tell because of how you talk about them and their pain.  Talk to you soon,  Earl

Anonymous
learnFMnow
11/20/09 11:59am

I am so sorry to hear of the death of your brother.  How horrible.  Was it unexpected? 

 

Just write when you can.  I have not been on here much lately.  Been working and dealing with the fibro pain and exhaustion.  Sorry it took a while to get to your message. 

 

Take care,

Debra

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