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Jennifer Em's avatar

I think it might have been generational, too. When I was a child, I got a LOT of stomach aches. I even briefly slipped into anorexia, because when I had these stomach aches, besides the pain, I would throw up a lot--not by choice --so I stopped eating (it was scary!)

Whenever I would ask to stay home, due to the stomach aches, my grandmother would tell me I was lying to get out of school or that I was lazy. This was ELEMENTARY school! I didn't know anything about "skipping school" at that age, and I didn't do that!

I don't think I ever got a diagnosis for the condition, and it cleared up by the time I went to junior high, on its own. (Could have been a precursor to whatever fucked up condition caused my fibromyalgia, maybe.)

Anyway, I agree with you. You know that I have been having severe sleeping problems. Well, the latest "remedy" my PCP has offered me is not a sleep study to see what's going on, not a new medication to try, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) Now, I know that a lot of people have had good results from CBT, but I have not. A therapist had me try it back in college for depression, and it was a waste of time. It feels like a cop-out to me, in my current situation. I just need to be able to get at least seven hours of sleep a night. I've been falling very short of that for at least a week now, and I'm in physical pain because of it.

It's like they think that any time you ask for a new medication, it's because you want drugs. No. I just want sleep. WE just want pain relief.

I'm so disgusted with our medical system and with how doctors are so afraid to offer us anything. I'm going to see my PCP on Tuesday, so I will be pushing back on the CBT.

I'm sorry that you also got that treatment at home when you were a child! And bless your daddy for coming to your aid!

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Robyn Ryle's avatar

In my family when's someone sick, we ask, "Are you feeling better?' and the only correct answer is yes. I so related to this and love the detail of Playhouse 90. Family is hard. And being open about the pain you're in should not be considered drama.

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