Resources help please?

General
1

Hello everyone. I hope you all are holding your own, and enjoying your holidays as much as possible.

I know the membership here in this community is large, so I'm hoping someone can point me to a few particular resources. I'm in a rough patch, so my thinking isn't too organized.

first needed

a good anatomy guide with diagrams, especially muscles, connective tissues, and nerves (human body)

secong needed

has anyone used talk to type software? can you recommend a program? having difficulty typing at times (goes and comes, due to seizures, tremors, and muscle spasms). I could still do daily stuff from being online to writing lists, letters, and my work with less challenge. Can always copy and paste if a program isn't compatible with another.

and lastly,

does anyone know of a hospital in the south east US with a top notch neurology and neurosurgery department? I really need a consult from an expert, even if it means travelling. Have more than fibro going on, need to know root issues so they can be dealt with.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give, very much appreciated.

hugs, Perplexed

2

If you are in the southeast, I’d head right to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. I had a great experience at the Mayo in Rochester, Minn. they are all top notch.

3

I live in Ohio, not much help with medical centers where you are asking about, and I have never used any talk to text program, so no help there either, sorry.

However innerbody.com is a great website for human anatomy! I think you will find it very helpful! Good luck with finding the other resources you requested! I am sure people on here will be able to help you out!

4

Hi perplexed, I just saw a commercial on TV for a talk & type program called Dragon , I have never used one or even tried one, but I’m sure you could find it on line, also there were some free downloads for talk and type , but I’m not sure how good they are. I live in the northeast , so I can’t recomend anything there, I know we have members in Floridia so just give your discussion some time.
Sorry I can’t recomend more…
Hugs& blessings
dee B

5

I was sent to the State of Iowa Medical Center, which is a teaching hospital. There were at least 2 student Dr's during each of my visits & student Dr's ask questions that us patients wouldn't have thought to ask & as to why their mentor is requiring a certain test. Also, being a teaching hospital they are up to date with the newest & best ways to take care of you.

So ask your Primary to send you to your State's teaching medical center. M

6

HI LUNA01 WHEN WERE YOU SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITAL AND CLINCS.I LIVE 1 1/2 HOUR DRIVE FROM IOWA CITY.BOTH OF MY SISTERS WHO LIVE IN THE DES MOINES AREA AND 1 IS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD DIDNT WANT ME GOING TO IOWA CITY BECAUSE IT WAS AUGUST.THE MEDICAL STUDENTS HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL IN MAY. THEY DIDNT WANT ME TO SEE THEM BECAUSE ID BE A HUMAN GINEAPIG.I DID SEEXA RHEUMI IN DES MOINES IOWA BUT BECAUSE IF TRAVEL ISSUES IVE CHANGED TO A RHEUMI NP IN PEORIA ILLINOIS 2 HOUR DRIVE

7

I have also found a site on Facebook to be a bit comforting, that is “voices of fibromyalgia”. Best of luck.

8

Sorry, I forgot so send a pic of the reference guides. Here they are, provided they aren’t too big. “Quick Study Home” makes a reference guide that I used in nursing school. It is only slightly larger than a standard piece of paper, and it is also laminated. It is very complete without being overwhelming. They come in a variety of topics but you would probably benefit greatly from the ones about (nervous system, musculatory system, physical anatomy, medical terminology) they should help you better communicate or understand what a doctor is saying. Sometimes they forget to speak at a level that the general population will be able to understand. These guides can be bought at book stores, on college campus at there book stores, sometimes you can even find them at gas stations and truck stops. I no longer have my medical ones or I would send them to you. Here are a couple of photograph of ones on photography. This way you know what to look for if you are interested. These cost $5.99/each. There is a web site on the back. You may be able to order the ones you like and even have them mailed to you for convenience. That address is quickstudy.com. Here is also a phone number, 1-800-230-9522. These are the best guides I have ever found. Good luck. Carla
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9

VALERIE, thanks for suggesting mayo Clinic in Florida. I'm very glad you had a good experience with them in another state.

JENNIFER, thanks for suggesting the website so much! I appreciate you sharing it. Have to learn more anatomy so i can better explain what is happening to my care team. It is especially helpful when dealing with my physical therapist.

Dee B hugs back, and thanks for the program suggestions. I will look into dragon speak. My smart phone has a hard time with my mixed accent, so I am not sure how well it would work for me, but tools are a great thing to have.

LUNA - thanks for the suggestion of using a teaching hospital. I will make some calls. My doctor is always clueless where to send me, I have to be the one to ask for a referral. My neuro issues are interfering greatly with daily life, and with a history with my spinal cord and back, the neuros here are stumped. Not going to give up on myself!

TINA, the library would be an excellent resource that didn't even cross my mind! Thank you for helping an old foggy gal. And Jennifer suggested a website for me to check out.

LOVETTE, thanks for suggesting using my insurance, but they are as clueless as my doctor, will usually email me a list of who is in network. UGH. The problem is I am "complicated", believed to have permanent spinal cord damage to an extent, plus 2 doctors feel someone dropped the ball along the way, and blamed my spine for everything. Neuromuscular disorders like Multiple Sclerosis have been mentioned. Having an autoimmune disease in addition to my fibro, myofascial pain disorder, and a lot more, most docs won't touch me with a ten foot pole. That's why I'm reaching out. hugs to you!

CARLA, thanks for suggesting the facebook group, but i don't have an account there. I'm glad though it is useful to you! Thanks so much for the anatomy helps. You went to alot of trouble to make that post! I'll call. I usually can understand most doctors, You pick up the lingo when you deal with tons of specialists when raising children with out of the ordinary health needs. That's when I learned to expect a doctor to treat me as an equal in making care team decisions by advocating for my children, finally doing it for myself. And our pharmacist, whose girls I'm sure we financed college for, made me an "honorary pharmacist" years ago. He found out I was compounding medications into syrups for one child, without any help. True story! My first rheumy asked if i had been to med school, because I use proper terminology. My mom had wanted to be a doctor, so I picked much up from her.

Thanks for all the help given, I'm grateful. I so need to get a handle on things, and get back to the business of having quality of life instead of muddling through an existence. There are grandbabies to enjoy now, and my husband and I, as an instant big family with lots of needs, never had time to be a couple sans children. We need it! hugs, Perplexed

10

I have used the Dragon Software and it is really a good program to have if you aren't able to type as much. It is fairly easy to set up and use as well. I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for.

11

thanks so much Moes. I think I'm going to ask for this as my Christmas present from the family. They have been running commercials on television with it discounted a little. hugs to you!

12

Lovette, I think fighting is what I've been doing that isn't working. I have to accept my list of diagnosis and different abilities from the norm, embrace them, and love myself as I am in order to be able to move forward.

As a natural born giver, and experienced care taker of others, taking my own advice to them over the years isn't a bad idea. To be very honest, I'm agry at my body and feel betrayed. As my hsband said, take that anger and it's negative effects on me, and use it as a tool to grow into something positive and useful.

I truly though appreciate you being supportive. You have screws loose too? Have to laugh. When they don't know what to do with us, some doctors are quick to say it's all in our heads, to get some counseling, rather than go to work on the puzzle we are. (lightbulb moment : we could always buy a few puzzles, and deliver them as gifts to those doctors, with a note card attached saying "Enjoy. You can use this to practice on. I hope it helps your future patients." Oh dear I'm not sure typing that was so nice, but honesty is a good policy.)

It's alright if our bodies react a bit weird. When we meet up with the right healer, they see us as a challenge, and a welcomed relief from the normal hum drum of their practices. Helps keep them on their toes!

warm hugs

13

Jennifer, that link is exactly what I needed. Thanks! It's very easy to use too, even with fog ongoing. HUGS!