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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
 Posted - 06/05/2006 : 08:28:01
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I was curious if, when diagnosed by a TMS doctor (Sarno) in my case, all other diagnoses received in the past (and my blood test results over the years: positive [gluten intolerance], negative and equivocal [lyme])--even those not mentioned to Sarno--are not the cause of the pain. I'm doing well with my TMS work, but this still bugs me, that I didn't mention every diagnosis to Sarno when I saw him. I know need to get over this in order to fully get well.
Is it normal by virtue of the TMS work to often feel depressed about all the issues being dredged up? My initial reaction is to want to run to the psychiatrist for a medication or dosage change, but I would really appreciate confirmation.
I know I might have made mention of these issues in the past, but I just need some more reinforcement. But don't let this fool you, I'm really making some progress!
Seth
Seth
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Edited by - lobstershack on 06/05/2006 09:01:48 |
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granitelake
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 09:55:45
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Hi Seth,
I herniated some discs in my back in 1995 and after years of pain and countless treatments I found Dr Sarno's book in 1999. After seeing a doctor trained in TMS in my home state I finally got better. Even after I initally got better I kept having recurrent back pain. After a couple years I got really good at not letting back pain bother me so my mind pretty much gave up using back pain as a distraction. Shortly after my knee started bothering me. I remembered that I had had serious and debilitating knee pain a couple years before the back pain that was never diagnosed as anything specific (it just went away after I gave up all physical activity.) I suspected the knee pain was TMS again but I couldn't convince myself. I called my TMS doctor and told him about it and he also suspected TMS. Once I heard his feeling that it might also be TMS and was able to stop worrying about and it went away. Ultimately, if I were you I would not worry about past pains. They might have been early attempts of TMS by your mind or they might have been actual illnesses/injuries. If they come back (like my knee pain) then I would try to convince myself or if unable I would see my doctor again.
Erin |
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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 10:59:00
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I wasn't talking about past pains, but past diagnoses.
Seth |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 11:14:45
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" I know need to get over this in order to fully get well."
Hi Seth,
Your above quote exhibits a TMS personality trait, perfectionism, that perpetuates your TMS sypmtoms: pain and depression.
What is fully well?
Who do you know on the planet that has NO physical pain or TMS emotional equivalents? The only ones I know live in Stepford--and maybe Tom Cruise.
I'm fairly sure, that I've read that Sarno considers Lyme disease to be a TMS equivalent, along with all the other chi-chi, new-age maladies, such as fibro, chronic fatigue, etc.
I live in "Lyme Country". There is a lovely mountain, near me, that is supposedely infested with it. I go hiking there all the time. It's very lightly traveled, I suspect, because of all the hoop-la about Lyme disease. The one person, I knew, who had "it", was also dealing with a very high strung, stess creating, wife.
As far as, "gluten" diet stuff, more of the same poppy-cock. It's a way of saying, "I am special", I need a special diet...leave me alone, don't bother me" or, "Let's talk about my diet, but not about anything too personal". It's just another TMS equivalent along with all the other stomach stuff like irritable bowel.
Seth, if you do a search here you will find posts by people who have ridden themselves of "special diets", after years of thinking they had alergies. You just have to re-condition yourself to foods you have been avoiding a small mouth-full at a time and keep the Rolaids handy. Trust me, if you were in a concentraion camp and starving, you would eat every crumb you could find.
If you're still not convinced, call Sarno and ask him. I've read many people on this board contact him about such matters and he has always seemed to be more than happy to continue educating his patients about their TMS issues.
Regards,
tt
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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 13:34:48
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Tenis Tom,
Thanks!
I'm actually eating anything and everything--and lots of it!
I just can't seem to shake the fact that my Lyme test was equivocal and my gluten marker very high. My brain keeps bringing these two facts up all the time!
I am making progress though, which is great!
It's interesting that you labeled "I need to get over this..." as perfectionism. This thought never crossed my mind. Could you please elaborate a bit.
Seth |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 19:01:49
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Hi Seth,
Glad to hear that things are better. I was actually refering to the concept of being FULLY well.
From your post: "...in order to FULLY get well."
From my reply:
"What is fully well?
Who do you know on the planet that has NO physical pain or TMS emotional equivalents? The only ones I know live in Stepford--and maybe Tom Cruise."
The concept that there is a perfect state of being where humans are without physical or emotional pain is a fantasy that exists only for gods and goddesses, Hollywood stars and in Malibu and Southern Marin. |
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Wavy Soul
USA
779 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 04:54:32
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Now wait a minute... I think I live in Southern Marin!
heh heh
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 10:49:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Wavy Soul
Now wait a minute... I think I live in Southern Marin!
heh heh
Love is the answer, whatever the question
Hi Wavy Soul,
No, you should not think you live in Southern Marin, you must FEEL it.
Well, it's another beautiful morning in paradise, accept for my damn Verizon Aircard going dormant and causing me to screw-up posts, and the rush hour traffic at East Blithedale and Camino Alto, (might as well be at Montgomery and Pine)--and the ladies, fresh out of yoga, flipping you off, as they carelessly merge their RangeRovers onto 101, speeding to get to the sale at Macy's in The Village, while talking on their cell phones, arranging lunch at the Cheesefactory--quite an asana, flipping the bird, talking on the cell and driving all at the same time--that's Ashtanga power yoga for sure.
Wavy Soul, don't you think it's odd that, in this VORTEX of new-age culture, that you have to go all the way to Hayward or Santa Cruz to find a TMS doctor--and to Beverly Hills to see a TMS psychologist 
I've been discussing TMS theory with the cognescenti in the hot-tub at Harbor Point for years with only strange stares of silence in return--actually they think I'm wacked and I'm starting to enjoy the role. The ones who are the most dismissive of the Good Doctor's theory are the psycho-therapists, which are a dime a dozen around here, only out numbered by the lawyers and the "artistEs".
Oh well, time to go down to the pool for some aqua-jogging and some passive/aggressive banter in the hot-tub afterwards.
Cheers,
tt
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Edited by - tennis tom on 06/07/2006 11:46:08 |
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n/a
560 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 08:04:45
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Seth
The very fact that you are making progress indicates that the past diagnosis, before your met Dr. Sarno, were incorrect. Yes, there are ups and downs with recovery and we place time limits on ourselves to recover, especially when we read about other recovering quickly. This is an indication of perfectionism.
Here is what Dr. Sopher says in his book "TO BE OR NOT TO BE … PAIN-FREE":
"For reasons that are not entirely clear to both Dr. Sarno and
myself, there is great variability in the time required for symptom
resolution. This gets back to the notion of doubt. If someone states
they truly believe that TMS is the problem, that they have been doing
the mental homework and yet are distressed that their symptoms
persist, they may question whether they have TMS. This has the
elements of a catch-22. If you begin to doubt there is a psychological
cause, that there could be a physical cause, then the work is undone
and the brain’s strategy of creating a physical distraction will triumph.
This is part of what I refer to as The Calendar Phenomenon. By this
time, everyone may know of someone whose symptoms vanished
immediately after reading the book or shortly after seeing a physician
trained in TMS treatment. So, an expectation is created in their mind
that their symptoms should recede soon after incorporating this
philosophy. They look at the calendar and become upset as days and
weeks go by. This is where I tell people to look back at their
personalities. The calendar phenomenon is another manifestation of perfectionist tendencies – it is self-imposed pressure to succeed and
succeed quickly. If they can recognize this aspect of their personality and add it to their “list” of sources of stress, relief will be on the way.
Fear, doubt, the calendar phenomenon and the failure to think
accurately are examples of some of the internal obstacles to healing.
Several external obstacles bear mention.
#1 You have read this book and become convinced that this
approach makes sense. When you mention it to your physician,
he/she either dismisses it out of hand or nods indulgently, and advises a traditional regimen including medication, physical therapy, etc.
#2 You have read this book and become convinced that this
approach makes sense. When you mention it to your friends, family
and/or co-workers, they look at you as if you have lost your mind.
They, too, may nod indulgently and then recommend a physician,
practitioner, medication, herb, etc.
#3 You have read this book and become convinced that this
approach makes sense. When you pick up a magazine and read an
article discussing symptoms like yours, there is no mention of TMS as
a possible cause. Or maybe, just maybe, there is a brief mention of Dr. Sarno’s work with TMS, but other quoted sources dismiss it out
of hand. As you trust the members of the media to do their homework
and provide accurate, complete information, you begin to wonder
whether TMS is for real."
Peter |
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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 12:17:39
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It all sounds so silly, I'm making progress yet my brain still wants me to fixate and obsess over these test results.
I guess what I'm struggling with most is intellectualizing these past test results, i.e., HOW could they render said results if that's not what's wrong with me.
Perhaps it's best to take Sarno's (was it Sarno?) advice about forgetting everything you know heretofore about pain and apply it to the other test results, diagnoses, etc. Basically forget they ever happened or ever existed?
Does this approach make sense? I just need to know how to get the aforementioned test results (in my first post) out of my mind.
Perhaps this is all just fear...
I would truly appreciate any input
Seth |
Edited by - lobstershack on 06/12/2006 08:35:21 |
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Making progress; quick question
