shelleternal

Anyone own their own otoscope/opthaloscope sets? Should I invest in the expesive set like a Welch Allyn for 400.00 or more or go with a less expensive brand like Riester? Do pocket sets work as good as the regular size? :) :balloons: Any recommendations? Thanks

-------------------------------------------------------------------I just wanted to say thank you for summing it up this way. Your post says a lot...I've been reading the threads and trying to absorb how so many people who have never experienced FM in their own bodies can make such strong statements about all the people who are legitimately in pain even if there are some that abuse the system. I can understand how people with personality disorders or psychological overtones, or drug addiction, or even newly diagnosed people just learning to cope will come into the ER, and possibly manipulate, because I've experienced this as a previous ER nurse. It can be trying and frustrating. Don't let it take away the compassion that may have caused you to want to be a nurse in the first place, I think that is called burn-out?? I work full-time as an ICU RN and go to graduate school, have a family with a child, and have FM. Having been extremely athletic, positive, and healthy physically and emotionally, do you think I wanted to get this disease? It's taken almost a decade just to get a life, a prison almost, of going to bed early, eating right, exercising, and doing all the things I have to in order to avoid increasing my pain. But the pain continues, and that sometimes causes depression, and I have never considered going to the ER or seeking drugs, because I believe you have to learn to cope and move on. However, not everyone is the same. Unless you live blind, or without an arm, or on the street, or with abusive parents that beat you or molest you every day, or with a husband who has alzheimers, etc., you can't really make a judgement about people in those situations that is accurate. I appreciate the wise and non-judgemental people who see this. Some FM sufferers have never told a single person at work or other places because they don't want to be judged, yet they live in complete pain constantly and manage the disease fairly well, never even missing a day of work. How nice it would be to be able to have a test that could convince others the problem is real, but would we then even receive compassion or encouragement on the hard days or would we get that you hurt too, so our pain must be in our heads or not that bad. I would love to be free of this. I would love to be able to play tennis again and run without fear of an exacerbation of pain. But I will tell you, you'll not hear from me in the ER or anywhere else and I'll not sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself, but I'll live life to the best of my ability and do what I can and be grateful I can see and hear and walk and enjoy my family. Just because some choose to seek attention doesn't mean others do. And it is difficult for me to hear some of the things said in the thread because of what I live with each day. It's ok that some don't understand, but it caught me off guard that nurses especially would say some of the things said. As far as an accurate diagnosis, yes, there are fakes and corrupted doctors and drug seekers. But to put everyone in the same category and say it's all crap is unkind to those with FM who have struggled to be normal and live a normal life. I hope none of those who say it's not a real syndrome ever get FM or any chronic pain propblem or disabilty because it truly has the capacity to steal your life away from you if you allow it to do so. Some people will let it, and they become miserable and make everyone else miserable around them and try and get out of their pain by any means. Others cope the best way they can. Please don't put both in the same category. But if you choose to, because this is america, free speech, and right to your opinions and all, just don't forget that true kindness can make the world of difference. :)