The long and winding road to recovery

It’s important that you know that the journey to recovery can sometimes be long and arduous. I am thinking of one of my patients, with her unique story of functional pain and the long struggle to overcome it.

For 52 year old Maisie, her path took her to several ‘hormone doctors’, as she was convinced her symptoms were purely due to a particularly nasty perimenopausal experience. So, for several months she tried numerous pills and patches and gels, all to no avail. Day and night, she suffered a burning pain in her body and sleep deserted her. She could no longer function as the sole supporter of her husband, who had managed to avoid work up until now. It is disappointing that the ‘hormone doctors’ all simply complied with Maisie’s request for different hormones rather to letting her know what her experience may be due to.

To her credit, she was able to come back to start her deep search for her 4 Ps. (See my post on July 9th, 2024)

Over recent consultations, we have started to reflect on her childhood and the way she learnt to cope with a very unstable family setting. You would have noticed how common early childhood traumas can lead to symptoms which can arise decades later. Maisie has a lot of insight and can recognise her pattern of dealing with people who let her down: an obligate people-pleaser, she perpetually tries to compensate for those around her.

But she has met the limits of her capacity and is going through a painful and disabling breakdown. Or perhaps it is what I hope is currently happening: a breakthrough to a better understanding and a healthier way to engage which will restore her health.

I wish her well on her journey.