Patients Need Patience
Lord, give me patience and I want it right now! That is an old joke but it expresses the attitude many of us with fibromyalgia (FM) have as we seek relief from our myriad of symptoms. We have suffered for weeks, months – often years – and we are desperate for relief. We have taken dozens of different medicines and tried a variety of alternative therapies...all with little to no positive results. We want help and we want it now!
It is hard to be patient when you’ve hurt so much for so long. But did you know that your impatience might actually be depriving you of much-needed symptom relief? I often hear the complaint, “I’ve tried everything and nothing works.” While it is doubtful that anyone has really tried “everything,” a more important question is: Are you giving what you try a fair shot?
Our high-tech world has conditioned us to expect results in minutes. With the Internet, 24-hour news and weather stations, cell phones, fax machines, microwaves and fast food restaurants, we have quick access to almost anything we could need or want. We are even bombarded with commercials promising fast relief from headaches, heartburn and a variety of other physical ailments. So, it is not surprising that we would expect any new medication or therapy we try to work quickly. In reality, many treatments can take days, weeks or even months to reach their optimum level of effectiveness. And too often, we are not told what to expect when the treatment is prescribed.
There are two major pitfalls you need to be aware of before determining a treatment’s effectiveness:
Pitfall #1: Unrealistic expectations
When you take a new medication, do you quit taking it if you do not see improvement within a few day? Some medications work quickly and then lose effectiveness after a few hours. Others need to build up in your body gradually and do not reach full effectiveness for several weeks; however, they maintain that level for a much longer period of time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how your prescribed medication is supposed to work and when you should expect to see improvement.
If you experience side effects from a new medication, do you quit taking it? If side effects are mild, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist before dropping the medication. Sometimes side effects are temporary and will fade as your body adapts to the new medication. However, if side effects are severe, call your doctor immediately.
Do you go to one or two therapy sessions (physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, etc.) then quit because you still have pain? Most therapy programs are not designed to give instant relief. They are intended to work gradually, strengthening various systems or parts of your body to function more effectively. Talk with the therapist or health practitioner before you begin treatments to find out what kind of results you might expect and how long it should take for you to begin seeing a difference.
Pitfall #2: Focusing on what is still wrong, not on what is improving
It is human nature to notice what hurts, rather than what does not hurt. An illness like fibromyalgia has so many different symptoms and overlapping conditions, it is not unusual that an improved symptom might go unnoticed. The following is an actual conversation between an acupuncture intern and an FM patient.
Intern: How are you doing today?
Patient: Not too well. I don’t think this acupuncture is doing much. I’m still in pain and having trouble walking.
Intern: You were having a lot of bloating and stomach problems. How is that?
Patient: I haven’t had any problems with my stomach for a while.
Intern: How about the irritable bowel problems?
Patient: That hasn’t been bothering me either.
Intern: How’s your energy level? I remember you saying you were tired all the time.
Patient: Well, now that you mention it, I have had a lot more energy lately.
Even though this gentleman had significant improvement in three different symptoms, he did not even realize it because he was only focusing on the pain he was still experiencing. Most of us are guilty of the same thing. It is only natural to pay more attention to whatever is causing the most discomfort at any given time.
