I have a lot to say about Whitcomb and his technique – blog post coming. I haven’t written it yet because I have been in a flare since the workshop. My first instinct was to not be tested, and I wish I had followed it.

I should have my post up Monday or Tuesday. My review will be fair, despite my personal reaction to the technique.

Yesterday I spoke with the practitioner who invited me to the workshop, and he has decided not to implement Whitcomb’s technique. I have to say I think he is making a wise choice. I will elaborate in my post.

Curtis

I have RA in my cervical spine. It does refer pain to arms and hands. This theory is fascinating.

Each one of us is our own scientist specializing in what’s best for us. I have a Ph.D. in Immunology and damned that it really hasn’t helped a bit in dealing with FM. What helps most is just listening to my body and using whatever therapy is most applicable at any given time.

The most disappointing thing to me is how much research is being done on pain and how little successful new medicine development comes from it.

I am glad you ordered the book. I hope you will be able to attend our follow up meetings in September. The plan is to discuss it as a group, formulate all sorts of questions, and then invite Dr. Sarkozi back to discuss them. It should be very interesting!

Thank you for the offer…but the book is (or should be) already on it’s way. I was hoping it would arrive before I left, but I imagine I’ll be tearing through it when I get back.

I have a background that encourages healthy skepticism…but that doesn’t mean I always use it. When I’m hurting, I want it fixed. But I guess my point is that to me, skepticism isn’t the opposite of an open mind.

Maybe skepticism is a poor choice of word, also. Okay, how about a scientific attitude? http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_scientific_attitude_and_what_attitudes_and_characteristics_define_a_good_scientist

Dr. Sarkozi’s presentation was based on many years of patient treatment, research, and advocacy for Fibromyalgia patients. It was impossible to take all the information he has spent years accumulating, and everything he has written in his book, and fit it into a one hour presentation. Impossible!

Unfortunately there were many things he had to summarize, briefly detail, and refer us to his book for more information. Yes he was looking to sale copies of his book, but that speaks nothing to his commitment to and passionate advocacy for FM patients. He wrote the book FOR US, to HELP US because he believed it to be the best format to reach the largest audience. Should he not promote it? Should he not encourage each of us to buy a copy?

It is okay to be skeptical, but skepticism is best served if you first have as many facts as you can – not just one person’s opinion (and a opinion that she admitted herself was skewed). It was not a perfect presentation. My head is spinning with all the information he shared. It was a lot to absorb. At points I felt his presentation was tailored to his peers, not his patients, and I told him so. I am worried I may have the same experience with his book.

But here are the facts I am most taking away from the evening. He knows we are all suffering. He knows we do not get adequate care from our doctors. He believes that our pain is real and that it has a source, and he is trying to start a movement that will change/help all of that. Dr. Sarkozi believes strongly that the movement will succeed best if he takes it directly to the patients, not to his peers.

So, here is someone who cares, and wants to take action to change a medical system that disregards FM patients. Here is someone who believes we can all have a better quality of life. Here is someone willing to donate his time and travel anywhere in the country to share his work with support groups and patients. Why wouldn’t you want to own his book? Or at the very least be interested enough to borrow my copy when I am done reading it. It is yours if you want it. Just let me know.

Dr. Holman’s research has been published in the Pain Journal and received accolades. However, both my primary care doctor (whose office was on the same floor of the hospital as Dr. Holman) and my rheumy seriously questioned his conclusions. Every doctor has their opinion!

Keeping an open mind is very important. But skepticism (in the form of suspended judgement) is a valuable tool to use with that open mind. The fact that Dr. Sarkozi’s presentation was a sales pitch without discussion of the findings is a concern. I’m glad he’s willing to come back.

There is an answer, a solution (or many), to fibromyalgia. Thank you for helping us try to find the information, Dani. I really appreciate your herculean efforts!