ACCEPTED!!
This morning I had a phone interview with the Pain Rehabilitation Team at Mayo.
First of all, how cool is it that they do phone interviews!
Sure saved this girl a lot of spoons. (If you are unaware of the spoon theory, well…you probably don’t have a chronic illness, Congratulations! I will leave a link to the original post below as I will reference it a lot on my platforms.)
I’m sure you can collect from the title of this blogpost that I was accepted into their program.
(Loud cheers and palm numbing claps, please!)
This girl is EXCITED!!
What the heck is “Pain Rehabilitation Clinic (PRC)”?
Pretty obvious, right?
It is a rehab program for patients dealing with chronic pain that works similarly to drug and alcohol rehab programs.
Essentially, they give you the tools and a treatment plan to get back to your “normal”.
I will get the chance to work with a whole team of medical professionals (OT, PT, Dietitians, etc.) for three weeks to try and restore some independence back into my life.
While they do have a similar program at UIHC that I have looked into before, the program at Mayo Clinic is multi-dimensional, which I need because EDS affects multiple organ systems.
The UIHC program mostly focuses on pain control and is only a two week program. While it would be convenient to be home in my bed every night, the program at Mayo is tailored to each individual. I will be working with physicians to manage my ANS and GI system as well.
The program will start on July 27 and end August 18. (There is usually at least a three month wait list, but they had a cancellation. Yay!) I will be there Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. This is an outpatient program, no hospital stay! Keith will be with me the first week of the program and then Momma will fill in. Keith and Mom will also be expected to attend a couple clinic days since they are my primary caregivers.
This chronic illness bullshit affects the whole family, which is one of the hardest parts about illness for me. I hate the fact that it’s probably harder on them than it is me.
I get it, but I hate it.
Remember, "Count your Rainbows, not your Thunderstorms!"
xoxo Kirsten 💕