"Hi! Michael N. here. 

Well, it's Thanksgiving morning, 2001. I was thinking about all my blessings and Dr. Gatell is certainly on that list.

 

When I first came to see Dr. Gatell I was a terrible mess. My days and nights were the same...awful, dreadful, and so painful. 

 

I was pretty much bed ridden and house bound for the past couple of years. I walked most times with the aid of a cane, my gait was slow, painful, and stiff!  I had just been told that I needed my 8th back surgery! The spinal problems have been present for 17 years now - 17 VERY long years. 

 

I was faced with a choice...more surgery or a "pain clinic". My experience has been that when doctors can't cut you, they can't "justify" helping you long term either. I think the whole system is screwy.  I had averaged a surgery every 11/2 years for 17 years. 

 

At one point I had 3 major surgeries in 16 months. I had been to 4 "pain clinics" and had been "stuck" by  spinal needles and high medical bills to no avail. I thought: " Another 6 months of nerve blocks... and high bills, I can't do that again!" 

 

My depression and pain were joining forces to beat me down completely once and for all. I was in need of a miracle. 

 

I prayed for God to lead me in a direction that would help me. One night I came across a web-site for the American Society for Action on Pain. Through that organization, I was put in touch with Dr. John Gatell.

 

 When I first visited Dr. G. I had been on some pain medication - the same dose for 3 years. All it had ever done was take the edge off for about a total of 5 hours a day.... the other 19 were so bad!  

This situation presents a HUGE problem for patients like me. You go to your doctor and say: "These medications don't help much, or may I take more of the medicine, I am in severe pain?" The immediate reaction is  "You are a "drug seeker", an "addict".  

I was called a "drug addict" in front of my 13 year old daughter once by one of the "best"  neurosurgeon in Georgia . This incident occurred 1 week post operative of a spinal fusion of 2 levels!  What a compassionate, and wise man he was!

 

I remember (sort of) my first visit to see Dr. G. I was in such a "fog" and  was so scared at the prospect of more surgery or life without any help or relief from pain. 

Dr. Gatell started talking, and asking question no other doctor had ever asked. He was putting together symptoms from other parts of my body...see I have had other surgeries...14 in all. No one had ever remotely suggested that it all might be linked. 

I'd seen so many "specialists" I was convinced I was doomed to a life of bed, depression and PAIN! 

Dr. Gatell was the first doctor to ever try and treat the "whole" me. His diagnosis was much different than all the neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons I had been seeing. 

He told me I had Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, TMJ, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Hypoglycemia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. 

He explained that all of this was inter-related and we had to treat all of me to get better. I was stunned... I was in a "Fibrofog" so thick I needed a light house to understand anything. 

He said we were going to control my pain first. What a relief. I remember an audible sigh escaped from me. 

Had I found a compassionate human being who was an actual doctor at last? Then he threw me a curve ball. He said not only are we gonna help your pain, but you are going to get better! 

I was needless to say ....SKEPTICAL!  I had been so ill, for so long I was convinced, as I said earlier, I was doomed to my bedroom, my house and nothing much of a life. I said, "What do you mean better?" Dr. G said, "We are going to get you your life back as best we can." 

 

I went home that day and told my wife that I thought God had delivered me to someone who really cared about me. I told her that this doctor had actually told me to pray, and to ask for God's help!  A doctor had never mentioned God to me before. 

I told her I was going to be better. We were going to make some changes in my entire lifestyle....the Fibro regiment and diet, stretching, posture, lifts in my shoes, some very helpful books recommended by Dr. Gatell, and for the first time in my life, adequate pain treatment that would help me all day. She was SKEPTICAL!.

 

OK now the good part. While I am not completely there and I know it's gonna be a long road back...but I'm on that road! 

With the help of Dr. Gatell's "whole person" approach, sticking closely to the Fibro plan, and my faith in God I have recently done something that seemed impossible a few months ago. My true passion in life, besides my Faith and my family, is the guitar. 

I have played since age 14 and have always dreamed of owning a guitar sales and repair business. I started that business a few months ago. I work from my home and it's going better than I could have ever dreamed. I am in no way getting rich....yet, I am not pain free....but I am productive again. I feel like a human again. I actually have "good" days now!  I feel hopeful for the first time in years.

 

I wanted to write and say thanks Dr. Gatell. Thank you for helping me see a light at the end of the tunnel for the first time in a long time. 

I believe I will  continue  getting  better with the help of God, my family, and the most compassionate doctor I have ever met. 

Thank you so much. God Bless you and your work. During this Holiday Season, I will be smiling more than I have in many long years. I am so grateful to have been lead to you. See you soon Doc!

 

                                                      Your brother in Faith, Michael N.

 

 

Dr. Gatell I know it's long... so feel free to "edit" it anyway you choose for the site. God Bless!  Happy Thanksgiving!"

Here is a recent update from Michael Mon 9/8/2003 5:00 PM - 2 years later:

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Dear Dr. Gatell,

 

I was luckily enough to recently celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary. Each time an occasion of joy arises in my life now, I can't help but think of you.

 

When I literally limped into your office a while back, I was a broken man, emotionally, and physically. I had no hope of very having a good day again in my life. Boy, how things have changed with your help. I am able now to have good days and actually take an active part in my life again. Like taking my wife out to dinner for our anniversary, before seeing you that was impossible.

 

 People who haven't seen me for a while are amazed that I am the same depressed cripple they knew just a short time ago. I owe all of my success to the work you and I have been doing together. When I tell them I am a writer for a major magazine now, have a guitar sales and repair service going as well, they can't believe the change in me!

 

If there is one thing I'd like people to know about you and your practice, besides the fact that you are a God send, is that it is a cooperative endeavor to be your patient. You do your part as an experienced and amazing doctor, but the patient has to do their part as well. It is a joint effort on the road to getting better.

 

This is to all the folks out there looking for a compassionate Doctor that will help you with your chronic pain. I would not hesitate to call Dr. Gatell and make an appointment as soon as you can. His total body method of healing along with your hard work, will have you feeling better much faster than you can ever imagine.

I will also give you a word of warning as well, if you just want to come and sit and be a passive patient and not follow the program Dr. Gatell sets out for you down to the letter, don't bother calling. You'll just be taking  time away from the many people who are really serious about getting better.

 

Having said that, Dr. Gatell is a man of compassion, caring, and is a very spiritual man. I thank God every day for Him leading me to a doctor that really cares about me as a total human being.

 

Dr. Gatell, thank you so much for helping me to be a part of life again! I wish God's continued blessing on you and the important work you are doing.

 

God Bless Dr. G. !

 

Michael N."