The Good Doctor List
In my quest for a diagnosis I saw over 20 physicians and was poked, proded, injected, rejected, examined, and lit up like a Christmas Tree. With each normal test I grew more frustrated and my pain spiraled out of control, as stress triggers flare-ups.
According to "Healing Fibromyalgia" by David Edelberg MD,
"Most patients suffer needlessly for five years and are seen by four physicians before someone says, 'This looks like Fibro' ...They are endlessly told, 'we can't find anything wrong with you' and dismissed as chronic complainers.."
For more than half that do seek help, the diagnosis takes a year or more. Sometimes up to 5 years or a lifetime. While many voice their feelings that the delay in their diagnosis was due to their physician's lack of knowledge about Fibromyalgia, others believe it is partly due to their own lack of knowledge.
There I was, a living statistic. I had an unquenched thirst for answers and I knew that most of my family and friends saw my need for a diagnosis as a Mission Impossible.
Growing medical bills, test after normal and invasive test... their little Lauren exhausted and worn...
but I would.not.stop.looking.for.an.answer.
I was at a different specialist every week, sometimes twice a week, being bounced around the healthcare system because nobody knew what to do with me. And then my life changed forever: my mother called me and told me that her friend worked for a Physiatrist and he would see me if I would like. I practically lived on the examining table so what did I have to lose besides a co-pay?
I woke in the middle with an Epiphany.
If every (ill-informed) doctor prior didn't believe me that "I hurt everywhere" and at the same time I had very particular places that when touched it hurt with an exorbitant amount of pain..I called them My Hot Spots..then I would try my very best to paint a clear picture of what I am going through...as to not waste anybody's time; I marked every single place that hurt on my body with a Sharpee. I looked like a Barbie Doll that a 3-year-old got a hold of with a marker.
I had Black Sharpee Dots from my Wing-Bones to my Collar-Bone to my Inner-Knees to my Hips to Rib Cage
I had a Red Sharpee Dot on the right side of my temple to allocate Migraines, one above my eyes for Insomnia & Sleep Terrors
It WORKED.
I had my appointment and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. In fact it isn't uncommon for women to piece together their diagnosis in the final stages before being formally, and correctly, diagnosed by a physician.
So my Journey began - and my life since has been dedicated to living positive and healthfully, the Information Share, and remembering, always, to
Be My Own Advocate.
The following is a list of healthcare professionals that are caring, knowledgeable, if not specialists in the field Fibromyalgia.
ACUPUNCTURE:
San Francisco, Ca
Larry Forsberg
337 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco
415.370.3839
http://www.forsbergacupuncture.com
Berkeley, Ca:
Larry Forsberg (2nd Location)
1385 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA
415.370.3839
http://www.forsbergacupuncture.com
San Jose, Ca
Dr. Hsu
Espirit Healing Center
1058 Lincoln Ave, San Jose CA
408.275.6622
http://www.esprithealing.com/
San Mateo , CA
Andrea Galatierra
Cr
PHYSICIANS:
Burlingame, Ca:
Spencer Lowe, Rheumatologist
Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)
1501 Trousdale Drive, 3rd Floor
(650) 652-8500
Redwood City, Ca:
Dr. Joel Saal, Physiatrist.
Dr. Elaine Lambert, Rheumatologist
500 Arguello Street Redwood City, CA 94063
650-851-4900
According to "Healing Fibromyalgia" by David Edelberg MD,
"Most patients suffer needlessly for five years and are seen by four physicians before someone says, 'This looks like Fibro' ...They are endlessly told, 'we can't find anything wrong with you' and dismissed as chronic complainers.."
For more than half that do seek help, the diagnosis takes a year or more. Sometimes up to 5 years or a lifetime. While many voice their feelings that the delay in their diagnosis was due to their physician's lack of knowledge about Fibromyalgia, others believe it is partly due to their own lack of knowledge.
There I was, a living statistic. I had an unquenched thirst for answers and I knew that most of my family and friends saw my need for a diagnosis as a Mission Impossible.
Growing medical bills, test after normal and invasive test... their little Lauren exhausted and worn...
but I would.not.stop.looking.for.an.answer.
I was at a different specialist every week, sometimes twice a week, being bounced around the healthcare system because nobody knew what to do with me. And then my life changed forever: my mother called me and told me that her friend worked for a Physiatrist and he would see me if I would like. I practically lived on the examining table so what did I have to lose besides a co-pay?
I woke in the middle with an Epiphany.
If every (ill-informed) doctor prior didn't believe me that "I hurt everywhere" and at the same time I had very particular places that when touched it hurt with an exorbitant amount of pain..I called them My Hot Spots..then I would try my very best to paint a clear picture of what I am going through...as to not waste anybody's time; I marked every single place that hurt on my body with a Sharpee. I looked like a Barbie Doll that a 3-year-old got a hold of with a marker.
I had Black Sharpee Dots from my Wing-Bones to my Collar-Bone to my Inner-Knees to my Hips to Rib Cage
I had a Red Sharpee Dot on the right side of my temple to allocate Migraines, one above my eyes for Insomnia & Sleep Terrors
It WORKED.
I had my appointment and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. In fact it isn't uncommon for women to piece together their diagnosis in the final stages before being formally, and correctly, diagnosed by a physician.
So my Journey began - and my life since has been dedicated to living positive and healthfully, the Information Share, and remembering, always, to
Be My Own Advocate.
The following is a list of healthcare professionals that are caring, knowledgeable, if not specialists in the field Fibromyalgia.
ACUPUNCTURE:
San Francisco, Ca
Larry Forsberg
337 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco
415.370.3839
http://www.forsbergacupuncture.com
Berkeley, Ca:
Larry Forsberg (2nd Location)
1385 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA
415.370.3839
http://www.forsbergacupuncture.com
San Jose, Ca
Dr. Hsu
Espirit Healing Center
1058 Lincoln Ave, San Jose CA
408.275.6622
http://www.esprithealing.com/
San Mateo , CA
Andrea Galatierra
Cr
PHYSICIANS:
Burlingame, Ca:
Spencer Lowe, Rheumatologist
Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)
1501 Trousdale Drive, 3rd Floor
(650) 652-8500
Redwood City, Ca:
Dr. Joel Saal, Physiatrist.
Dr. Elaine Lambert, Rheumatologist
500 Arguello Street Redwood City, CA 94063
650-851-4900
San Jose, Ca: Dr. Joel Saal, Physiatrist (2nd Location).550 South Winchester Blvd, Suite 110
San Jose, CA 95128
408.247.4900
Salinas, Ca:Susie Suh, Rheumatologist 900 Cass Street Suite 200
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-2122
Chicago, Illinois: Dr. David Edelberg, MDWhole Health Chicago[email protected]
WARM POOL THERAPY:San Mateo, Ca:
Mills Peninsula Warm PoolMills Peninsula offers aquatic exercise and rehabilitation exercise in the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis & Rehabilitation Ctr. pool. the 24 x 82 foot wheelchair accessible pool is kept very warm for optimal benefit. A physician's note and a fee is required. See link below.http://www.mills-peninsula.org/aquatics/Redwood City, Ca:Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Class
Sequoia YMCA
1445 Hudson Street
Redwood City, CA 94601
(650) 368-4168Online: Aquatic Resources Network ARN is an web-based resource that offers information on research, links to find facilities in you area and even books & dvds on the topic. See web address below. http://www.aquaticnet.com/index.htm
SUPPORT GROUPS:
San Jose, CA 95128
408.247.4900
Salinas, Ca:Susie Suh, Rheumatologist 900 Cass Street Suite 200
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-2122
Chicago, Illinois: Dr. David Edelberg, MDWhole Health Chicago[email protected]
WARM POOL THERAPY:San Mateo, Ca:
Mills Peninsula Warm PoolMills Peninsula offers aquatic exercise and rehabilitation exercise in the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis & Rehabilitation Ctr. pool. the 24 x 82 foot wheelchair accessible pool is kept very warm for optimal benefit. A physician's note and a fee is required. See link below.http://www.mills-peninsula.org/aquatics/Redwood City, Ca:Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Class
Sequoia YMCA
1445 Hudson Street
Redwood City, CA 94601
(650) 368-4168Online: Aquatic Resources Network ARN is an web-based resource that offers information on research, links to find facilities in you area and even books & dvds on the topic. See web address below. http://www.aquaticnet.com/index.htm
SUPPORT GROUPS:
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FIBROMYALGIANDME.COM
The goal of my brand is to provide 1 place for Trusted, Updated Information in the Ever-Evolving arena of Fibromyalgia. Online Support Group
Virtual Pain Clinic (Jet MD)The Jet MD is Virtual Pain Clinic. This interactive website discusses and shows how Acupuncture is performed with a Youtube video and sleep tips for people with Fibromyalgia. http://www.thejetmd.comhttp://www.thejetmd.com/blog.php?categories=Fibromyalgia
FM AwareFMAware is the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Website (www.fmaware.org) and offers a page on Support Groups. If you click below it will take you to this page, find your state and click on it to begin browsing all of the Support Groups in your area. http://fmaware.org/PageServer3818.html?pagename=community_supportGroupDirectory#California
Virtual Pain Clinic (Jet MD)The Jet MD is Virtual Pain Clinic. This interactive website discusses and shows how Acupuncture is performed with a Youtube video and sleep tips for people with Fibromyalgia. http://www.thejetmd.comhttp://www.thejetmd.com/blog.php?categories=Fibromyalgia
FM AwareFMAware is the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Website (www.fmaware.org) and offers a page on Support Groups. If you click below it will take you to this page, find your state and click on it to begin browsing all of the Support Groups in your area. http://fmaware.org/PageServer3818.html?pagename=community_supportGroupDirectory#California