I'm at my wit's end again having exhausted every option available to me right now. The doctors I am currently seeing have run out of ideas and have admitted as such many times now. I was wondering if any of you in the Birmingham, AL or Atlanta, GA areas can recommend a doctor or clinic? I've heard a little about the Kirklin Clinic at UAB and the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Center in Atlanta, both with very mixed and contrasting reviews. I applied to the Mayo Clinic and was turned away. Anyone have any further thoughts?
Also, does anyone have experience going off fentanyl pain patches? If so, how long did it take you to ween off of them and what did you then take instead, or do? My pain is severe, but nothing seems to even touch it. The fentanyl dosage had to continually be increased and the severity of symptoms got out of hand as a result. I hurt so much now with no reprieve that I often, sadly, joke with my husband that he should have me put me into a coma until there's a cure because I cannot stand to be conscious and endure it. I know my emotional health is horrible as a result. Major depression is a big issue for me in of itself, but coupled with the pain, is unbearable.
I don’t know anyone in Atlanta but I have heard great things about the Kirklin Center in Birmingham. It is great that they have all the doctors basically in one place there so if you need to see different ones they are all close. I do know it takes about three to four months to get into some of the specialties there and you need a doctors referral.
I also want to say that if you need a good GI doc in Atlanta, go to Booker Dalton at Piedmont Hospital. I have his info somewhere if you want it. After months, close to a year actually, of complaining to more than 10 doctors that I was having difficulty swallowing and that it felt like I had a lump in my throat, I was fortunate enough to get in to see dr. Dalton. He scheduled some tests straight off and found a tumor. He is the first one who said that the difficulty swallowing was not a part of the fibromyalgia.
Good luck- I hope you find a good doc. If you do, please let me know as I am in alabama also.
Just an update: I stumbled across, through the help of my mom, Progressive Medical Center in Atlanta, GA. I think this is the place I went and was first diagnosed. I had been getting electropseudical therapy there for unexplained, significant all-over pain, and after rigorous examination and testing, trial and error, and the tender point exam, was told I have fibromyalgia for the very first time. I remember going through at least 12 sessions of the electropseudical therapy and the water therapy table and then was told if it hadn't helped yet, it likely would not be of benefit to me. That was in '02 or '03 (so many doctors over the years, I lose memory of details and dates).
I promise I am not affiliated with them, though I may sound like it. I just visited their website, and wow...have they grown over the years. It seems they have scores of new physicians and innovative treatments I've never heard of before, and I've done a lot: electropseudical therapy, TENS, water therapy, chiropractic (at least 3 different approaches), disc decompression, acupuncture, physical therapy, allergy shots, treatment for candida, food allergy adjustments, and all kinds of holistic probiotics and magnets and supplements. Is anyone familiar with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared saunas, prolozone therapy, lymphatic massage, of certain IV therapies?