What's Happenin'

[dawnmn]

Leo, I wish that you would feel better. Seems like a long time that you haven't been feeling well. I can imgine what it must feel for you.

The contractor is done with the bathroom ceiling and what a mess. All the dust after he sanded the ceiling is all over. I just don't want to deal with it. Now DH has to paint the ceiling and walls.

Jo, tell mr to quit being a pouting man or we will come over there and straighten him out. lol

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. We are suppose to get a winter storm. I just hope it misses us. I'm really enjoy this winter without the snow and cold. I thought I would always miss the snow but that's not happening this year.

[Beader]

Update on new eye specialist. Waiting room filled to the rafters with really old people and not enough chairs [I know -- we'll be That Old someday, but not quite yet]. It took 2 hours to drive thru the rain to get there and 3 hours to get out of the office. First helper attempted to squeeze my long history of eye surgeries, who did 'em, and what year they happened into a very small spot on the records page. Big mistake as then doc repeated all the same questions and still couldn't read what she tried to fit in.

I'll give him this -- he was good and he was very thorough. He had a small lightweight plastic ruler which he measured every possible dimension/direction with and dictated to second helper. No idea what they all meant. He dilated my pupils and checked some more. Meanwhile, I was trapped in a tiny exam room forever and could hear what was going on with all the other patients on that hall, some of whom were ready to riot. I had no magazine so I peeked into every nook and cranny, and then started doing ballet exercises because my brain went blank and my legs were antsy from the drive. Today I'm paying.

His synopsis: he wouldn't have used absorbable sutures since some are still stuck there and looking lumpy. I should do "exercises" four times a day by placing my thumb on my upper lid and kind of pulling it down in the middle to stretch the skin. New cream for suture line. Lubricant drops every half hour, goopy gel overnight. I'd brought computer pix of eyes post-op, but he also wanted to see them pre-op, including back to high school and thru the years. I do have more droop on one lower lid, but it can take "up to six months" for this procedure to fully heal. Hey, not what the other guy told me initially! Bottom line: he can do more surgery to fix things, but we should wait to see the natural outcome. Come back in two weeks. Drive two rainy hours home thru Friday weekend traffic.

The upside -- he's in my old stomping ground so I can shop till I drop before I tackle the drive home.

[joy]

a BIG OLE THANKS to Mike

for helping Jo get her computer fixed!! I hate being without mine I know. It is a beautiful day here and I am waiting to go to a baby shower for a young couple. It is their first baby and I am so tickled for them.

I hope everyone is okay. Good to see Leo posting some.

[clouds z]

its kind of cold here

have some sore throat or something

[Jo6]

((((Cloudz)))), I'm so sorry about the sore throat. Hope its feeling better soon.

LOL @ Dawn! Yeah, hadn't thought of threatening Mr Jo with this ESF group! I'll tell him sometimes when one of us gets crazy. He'll straighten up Real Fast!!

Sher girl, you must be so young, but then again you probably didn't have a granny Maggie. she was short, like 4'a few ".s, jet black hair and when my Papa would get on her about something she would just start shaking, as in laughing, but not making a sound! Papa couldn't say anything back cause she wouldn't fuss with him. Just would start that shaking! then she would say Pa has gone to his
pout house", and that would mean to the "out house" or if cold, the " pump house." She had all kinds of funny sayings and I guess they just rubbed off on me. I loved that Maggie!!
Hope you get your eyes down up real good soon.

Daily Joy, honey I ain't doing nothing these days so I guess you'll have to just make something funny up for me. I'm boring! Yes, it was real sweet of Mike to help me get back on computer. He's a good kid, just like Charlie Brown!

Mr. Jo is still fussing and cussing about his puter. He isn't using my email still, but other things aren't working. He just ain't nice to be around when his computer does not do what he wants it to. Glad to see you more on here too!

Sher, Mr. Jo's "pout house is actually an electronic shop in the back half of the 2 car garage he built 5 + years ago to put my new car in. I guess you know I don't have a new car yet! When he gets tired of me nagging he goes down to his shop and pouts! That's why I call it his pout house!
*devil
Every body else I hope you are doing good. Take care and I'll get caught up some day, maybe.

I loves yous all, Jo

[joy]

goodness Jo even my brother went and got a newer vehicle (not a new one) but they have a nice late model truck so now sister-in-law has a smaller vehicle to run around in. Brother had an old jeep but with a bad knee it had to go! He thought it would be okay to drive on the place but bad knees hurt.

Oh yes it was a Nissan Pathfinder. Hopefully good gas mileage for them.

[Beader]

Wonderful Doc

I'm very upset to find out that my original CFS doc has died. When I applied for Social Secuity, the woman mentioned disability, but that I'd have to go back and get doctors' reports from around the time I stopped working -- 1989. There were two docs, one a homeopath wacko, and the other a doc from the CFS support group. The second guy was one of the humblest most gentle doctors I've ever met, a very good listener and open to patients' input. He was a big bear of a man, but so so kind and softspoken. He went far out of his way to attend all the meetings, one Sunday out of the month, and then be available to answer questions from all of us and talk with new patients.

I started seeing him at his first office, then followed him further to his second and third place, but finally the trip was too much for me as he was moving south and I had moved north. I lost track when he moved into the city of Wilmington, DEL. But now Wilmington isn't that far, and I really need a CFS doc, so I googled him. In among the various addresses was a death notice, which I honestly didn't believe was for him. Today I did more googling and finally called the last known address, where a kind man told me the two docs had moved out years ago and he'd heard that one of them had died. I couldn't find an obit, so finally I called his alma mater, and they confirmed my worst fears.

I kind of remember hearing that he had some kind of cardiac problems, but he never mentioned them himself. He found a financial backer so he didn't have to manage the office himself and expanded his practice to include chelation therapy, so the waiting room was filled with overstuffed recliners and IV poles. Then he went on to include clinical trials for Ampligen, a potential CFS treatment from a Phildelphia-based pharmaceutical company. He passed before it won FDA approval, which it still hasn't gotten yet.

Today is so sad as I've lost a very dear old friend. I guess your big heart finally gave out.
Here's to you, Doctor Joe.

[dawnmn]

Sher, sorry about your doctor.

Today I went to a women's group that I found on meetup.com. Had a blast. The ladies are around 9 to 10 years older than I am. It sounds like we are going to be doing fun things together. So far I'm glad that I did it. I wasn't going to go but I forced myself. This is a new group so no one knew each other which made it easier.

We are going to meet every week. I will be missing 2 weeks when I go to New orleans.

[LaBella]

Hi everyone how is it going? we are fine at home. Working hard and worry about my daughter's health, plus the house issue.

I took B to the neurologist again yeaterday and she order and MRI with and without contrast of the brain, but also ordered an MRA of the brain and neck. Plu an EEG, doe any of you leadies know what is an EEG? and what is the difference between an MRI and an MRA? a definition that I can understand. I Google it but am still confused.

[joy]

I hate tornadoes. I feel bad for those who were in line for last nights destruction. I remember being very young and going with parents to look for other relatives after a tornado hit their area. Hard memory to erase.

I know our area is also in the New Madrid Fault Line but as I have not experienced a big one yet, I have not fretted as much about an earthquake. I have felt several rumblings tho so have an inkling it could do more than knock your socks off. But it is 66 degrees now and we have beautiful sunshine for which I am thankful.

[joy]

Hi LabBella, we were posting at same time it seems. I hope everything goes well with B. I have had them done but could not type long enough or well enough to explain. I am sure someone will help.

[dawnmn]

Bella,

MRI is a picture of the incranial (?) of the brain or else where.

MRA is a picture of the arteries in the brain or else where.

I hope this helps. If not maybe someone else can explain better.

[Jo6]

Bella, I don't have any answers, but I hope for the best with daughter. You have a lovely family and I wish all of you the best.
my love, Jo

[Mal L]

Concerning EEG - It is an electroencepahalogram, where they wire up leads to the exterior of the skull, and measure brain waves (electromagnetic activity). One thing I know it is used for is to detect abnormalities that could cause seizures. I don't think it is as powerful as the other two scans you asked about.

[LaBella]

Thank you for your replies. They are all for the brain and neck, since her pain is spreading and nobody knows what is going on. A new symptom came las tweek, she was writing and her right hand went out, I mean she could not feel anything it last it about 5 minutes and now she has no strenght on it. The back pain has gotten worse and the headaches are coming more often.
The psychaitrist does not think that her problem is psychological like the doctor believed at the begining. So we are hoping that they see something on the brain that is causing her to be in so much pain. She si only 13 years old, she should not be having all of this problems. She just got a note to excuse her for PE/GYM indefinetely until they can control the pain.

We are just out of our minds, yes she has low Vitamin D and can cause some pain but hers is beyond comprehension.

Keep your prayesr up please.