Mrs. Linda D.

Mrs. Linda D., RN - Georgia - Fibromyalgia-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(FM-CFS):

Email letter on 10/2/99:

" I have been in constant pain since I had two auto accidents 3 months apart in 1997. Thankfully, neither one were my fault. I have suffered from headaches, neck & shoulder pain, pains in elbows, wrists, fingers, back, hips, knees, and ankles. I am supersensitive to sounds, lights, and noises. I suffer from insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, bladder leakage, dry eyes, nose, and mouth. I have periods of dizziness, clumsiness, and am very forgetful. Since all of these symptoms arose, I have been a loner. Through an Internet site, Fibrohugs, I have found new and dear friends. Beth, told me about Dr. Gatell. I had met him several times, taking another Fibro sister to see him. I was very impressed with his presentation of himself. He is a very compassionate doctor, who takes the time to listen to his patients. I am now seeing him, and have improved drastically. My muscles don't hurt as much or as often as they once did. I am dealing with Chronic Fatigue right now, and the doctor is helping by slowly changing some of my previous medicines to some that will be more beneficial. He even is taking care of a problem that I hadn't associated with Fibro, Raynaud's Syndrome. I knew that my feet were cold, as well as my hands, but he has now put me on medication for that, and the circulation is better. I am a retired RN, and I do check out physicians carefully. I am very pleased the way he treats his patients. I wish that more doctors could afford to be like him. I am looking forward to being more active with my family. I am 44, married x 21 yrs., mother of two teenagers (daughter 18 & son 15). I am a part-time pet sitter."

Updated Email on Fri 7/20/2001 11:45 AM:

"I have been seeing Dr. Gatell for nearly 2 years and my health has improved by at least 75%. I have been using Guaifenesin under his care and my muscle spasms have decreased markedly, along with the level of pain.

I am feeling much better now. My pain level was around 8 on a scale of 0 being none and 10 being the maximum. I have been able to have my pain medication reduced by 1/2 in strength and have been able to reduce the amount of times that I need to take it. I asked the doctor to reduce this medication. I do require a muscle relaxant twice a day. I also continue to experience chronic fatigue, but I still am trying to learn to do as Dr. Gatell tells me, 'to only do 70% of what I think that I can do'.

I am a RN, who is on disability, but now I am able to work part time as a nursing supervisor at a nursing home. I am also a professional pet sitter.

My problems began almost 4 years ago, after being in 3 auto accidents in the 1990's. I suffered from headaches, chronic fatigue, debilitating muscle spasms and pain. I now am working, and I am still learning to pace myself. I, at times, can be my worst enemy, as many fibromyalgia persons are.

I also have myofascial pain syndrome, among just a few of my problems. Every day is a chance for a new beginning, and Dr. Gatell is one of the reasons for this improvement in my health status.

I also have a friend that sees Dr. Gatell, XXXXX, and we are a source of support and encouragement to each other. We also use the internet to communicate with other fibro persons.

God bless,

Linda D., RN"

From: Linda D.
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 2:47 AM
To: John A Gatell
Subject: Re: Update

"Feb. 28, 2002

I want to thank Dr. Gatell for his help in making my life more promising. I feel 90% better than when I first saw him (9/99). I am now taking one half of the medications that I had been taking for nearly four years. My muscle spasms have decreased markedly, and I am not foggin' like I once did. I am feeling stronger mentally and physically. I am working on pacing myself, as I still suffer from chronic fatigue. My co-workers know that I am limited in performing some duties, but they like to see come to work. I never would have thought that I would have been able to return to nursing, but with the Grace of God and Dr. Gatell's care, I am back at work.

Sincerely,

Linda D., RN"

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Linda's latest Email update on Wed, May 1, 2002, describing how we were able to wean her off methadone for her chronic fibromyalgia pain as she was reverse with Guaifenesin:

"I have been under Dr. Gatell's services for 3 1/2 years. I was started on Methadone 3 times a day for about 2 years, while I was having my Guaifenesin dosage increased throughout the years. I have been able to tolerate 5 tablets of Guaifenesin for over a year or so, and I have stopped using Methadone for about a year. I feel much better and am relieved that my body has adjusted to the Guaifenesin and the total withdrawal of Methadone. Dr. Gatell gradually reduced the Methadone until I was off of it completely.

I have also decreased my prescriptions from 13 down to 7. That is a great relief to me and my pocket book. He said that I was in too big of a hurry to stop a lot of meds, so I was gradually weaned off of some of my other medications.

I hope that your patients will be able to do the same. It is a relief to be taking less meds and improving steadily. I still cycle, but the bad days are not like they once were. I am thankful that my bad days are much less than in the previous years.

It has been such a blessing to go through so many improvements over the past few years. Prior to seeing Dr. Gatell, I didn't think that there was any hope of ever feeling as good as I do.

Love, hugs and prayers,

Linda D. (RN)"