Ms. Linda K.

Linda K. from Tennessee - This is a lovely lady who was misunderstood for many years by most of her local doctors, because many either did not have time, or did not understand her "chronic pain syndrome" which had to do with intractable headaches related to her fibromyalgia - a very commonly missed diagnosis.

Because fibromyalgia affects most body systems, patients end up going from specialist to specialist with no one doctor actually looking at the "whole picture" and diagnossed with just hysteria, hypochondria and depression.

The basic skill of understanding the concept of Biopsychosocial model of disease, developed at The University of Rochester (my Alma Mater), has been taught in the second year of medical school of most medical schools - but skipped over by many physicians today due to time constraints, resulting from high medical office business overheads, and lower insurance reimbursements.

Here is another example of the correct practice of medicine in patients with chronic pain:

"Email on Sat, 09 Aug 2003 00:32:22 -0500:

I HAVE SUFFERED MANY YEARS WITH UNEXPLAINED PAIN AND SEVERE FATIGUE.

MOSTLY PAIN IN MY FACE AND NECK AND SEVERE MIGRAINE HEADACHES. BEFORE FINDING OUT ABOUT DR. GATELL ON THE INTERNET, I HAD WENT TO EVERY DOCTOR IMAGINABLE OVER A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS.

I ALWAYS GOT THE SAME RUN AROUND. I WAS OFTEN TOLD IT WAS IN MY HEAD AND THAT I NEEDED TO LEARN HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS.

MANY OCCASIONS I COULD JUST SENSE THE DREAD FROM A DOCTOR I WOULD SEE OFTEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MY PROBLEM AND HOW TO CURE IT. THEY WOULD JUST TELL ME I WAS A DIFFICULT CASE AND THERE WAS REALLY NOT A LOT THEY COULD DO AND THEN TRY TO PUSH ME OFF TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DOCTOR.

THE REJECTION I RECEIVED AND THE HOPE I HAD LOST ON EVER GETTING BETTER HAD REALLY TAKEN A TOLL ON ME.

I BECAME SEVERELY DEPRESSED AND OFTEN FELT HELPLESS.

IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I WAS AFRAID TO EVEN SEE A DOCTOR BECAUSE I ALREADY KNEW THE OUTCOME AND ALL THE REJECTION BECAME PRETTY HARD TO DEAL WITH.

I WAS ONLY 29 YEARS OLD AND BECOMING SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE, GET OUT OF BED, OR HARDLY DO MY JOB, WHICH I HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD AT.

LUCKILY I FOUND DR. GATELL ON THE INTERNET AND WAS WILLING TO GIVE HIM A TRY BECAUSE OF ALL THE GOOD TESTIMONIALS I HAD READ.

I LIVE 4 HOURS AWAY - BUT BELIEVE ME, I DON'T MIND THE DRIVE AT ALL. DR. GATELL HAS ALLOWED ME TO LIVE MY LIFE AGAIN. HE UNDERSTANDS ME, LISTENS TO ME, AND SUPPORTS ME INSTEAD OF ACTING LIKE I HAD 2 HEADS OR SOMETHING. HE'S VERY PERSONABLE AND FUN TO TALK TO SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MY VISITS.

HE GAVE ME THE CORRECT MEDICATION THAT I NEEDED TO FUNCTION AGAIN AND I WAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED AFTER THE FIRST VISIT.

HE ALSO ENCOURAGES ME AND GIVES ME HOPE THAT I WILL BE COMPLETELY BETTER BEFORE LONG.

THANKS DR. G - JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

SEE YOU SOON.

LINDA K- TENNESSEE"