Help!

[Guest guest]

Rubbing the insides of banana skins on your skin is supposed to keep mosquitos

away, FWIW

[Guest guest]

That's interesting as here in Oz, I have been brought up to know that

mosquitos go for the sugar in your blood. The more sugar you eat, the more

likely they are to attack you.

Re: Help!

In a message dated 7/21/2003 9:48:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

info@... writes:

> I'd

> try brewers yeast tablets.

>

Hi ,

Is that because of the B vitamins in brewers' yeast or is there another

reason. I have heard that taking B vitamins will help keep mosquitoes away.

I

don't know if that is true or not.

Regards,

Sharon (Ontario) Canada

[Guest guest]

This was in Heidi's column the next day:

Re Mosquitos: the letter you posted is word for word quoted in the

Urban Legends website at

http://www.snopes.com/spoons/oldwives/skeeters.htm

By coincidence, I had read it yesterday and recognized it today. For

what it's worth... S.

:+> Oh, well! Several people wrote in with comments -- Which letter

was it? :-)

Don

> Here is what I found on Heidi's column.

[Guest guest]

Re: Help!

> This was in Heidi's column the next day:

>

> Re Mosquitos: the letter you posted is word for word quoted in the

> Urban Legends website at

> http://www.snopes.com/spoons/oldwives/skeeters.htm

> By coincidence, I had read it yesterday and recognized it today. For

> what it's worth... S.

>

> :+> Oh, well! Several people wrote in with comments -- Which letter

> was it? :-)

>

> Don

>

>

>

> > Here is what I found on Heidi's column.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I didn't mean to send it. I thought I had canceled it. Thanks for the

article Don. The part after that letter is informative.

Re: Help!

>

>

> > This was in Heidi's column the next day:

> >

> > Re Mosquitos: the letter you posted is word for word quoted in the

> > Urban Legends website at

> > http://www.snopes.com/spoons/oldwives/skeeters.htm

> > By coincidence, I had read it yesterday and recognized it today. For

> > what it's worth... S.

> >

> > :+> Oh, well! Several people wrote in with comments -- Which letter

> > was it? :-)

> >

> > Don

> >

> >

> >

> > > Here is what I found on Heidi's column.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/21/2003 10:19:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

ironwood55@... writes:

<< http://www.snopes.com/spoons/oldwives/skeeters.htm >>

Avon Skin-so-soft works on the biting Gnats in Georgia and South Carolina but

I had never heard of it working on mosquitos. Once you start sweating or if

you missed a spot, like behind your ears, they'll find it and feast.

We usually have a larger problem with the Gnats but this has been a wet year

so it's mosquito heaven here now. We've already had some dead birds from West

Nile Virus in the neighborhood.

I can't spray myself with " Off " every time I go outside so I don't worry

about it. I just try to kill the ones that get into the house before I go to

bed.

Max

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I had trouble with heart palps the first two times I tried to take Armour, but I got some hydrocortisone and took them together and had no problem after that.

Cheryl

help!

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in a long while, but try to keep up with the info in here as much as possible. I'm 35, recently diagnosed with hypothryoid in June.Well, I got a call from my thyroid specialist's office today. They are truly puzzled with me I suspect. Now, I know you all know, a so-called "normal" TSH level in ones' blood runs about .04 to 4.0 right? Okay, well, when I first went to the dr. at the end of June, my TSH level was only a 5.83, but I was feeling poorly and so I went on 50mcg to bring it down a little right into a more normal range.A little while later, I even went up to 75mcg and was okay for a while then after about 10 weeks started boucing off the walls and my blood work showed this, as my TSH was now all the way down to .06, which is borderline HYPERthyroid. They all seemed rather surprised by this, especially since I still was having days of exhaustion and such.Okay, this was not long ago, and so they took me off it for a day or two, then started me back on only 50mcg again just less than 2 weeks ago.After only a couple days, I again felt too hyped up and they told me to go off it and get my blood checked. I did and only a day or two after stopping my pills and I just got the results today and my TSH level from that test was 16! She was like, "Doc Howland isn't even here today, but we were all pretty surprised" I can imagine how high it was yesterday when I couldn't even yoga and cried all day and felt like leaping off the nearest cliffside! lol So now, I'm 3x higher than I was when I went to him in the first place and to go from a .06 to a 16 in the space of a couple days is just unreal!! No wonder I feel like shite! I told her I was beginning to think I was going crazy. Anyhow, she told me to go back on my pills starting with only 12.5mcg and we'll see. I'm starting to think the heart palpitations and such are maybe not so much to blame on the thyroid meds, though some nights definitely were I think. I think that perimenopause factors into this too. My hormones are so freaked up and I swear they have been since I was young. I've been suffering with what I've wild hormone fluctuations for so long and no one ever listens. They say the LATER you start your period, the SOONER you start menopause. (I know how weird but that's what they say)So I've always thought I'd hit it early. And not only do I have a family history of everyone doing this by 40, which is early anyhow, but I didn't even start my period till i was 16! There's a clue right there folks. That is NOT normal in this day and age(even my sis started at 11 and lucky girl; she never has any trouble with health/hormone trouble at all). And I swear I ain't been right since....especially since I had my 11 year old....and in the last year or two, it's been asolutely insane and only NOW is any of this showing in my bloodwork...Oh I need helP!!!! Has anyone had such a rollercoaster ride as this? Any tips??thanks in advance,rhonda

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/03 6:33:21 PM Central Daylight Time, avalchro@... writes:

I had trouble with heart palps the first two times I tried to take Armour, but I got some hydrocortisone and took them together and had no problem after that.

I had heart palps too, ended up in the ER with then twice. First time I didnt know what they were and my arm felt weird (heart disease in the family, I was really paranoid!) 2nd time I called my dr's office, and they wanted me in the ER to get an EKG done just to be sure. That time, they sent me home on a heart monitor I wore for 2 days. They diagnosed me with sinus tachycardia and put me on beta blockers. I've been on them for 3 months now. I've had them a couple of times since, but just really minor, nothing like I was ( the 2nd time I basically had them for an entire day) but I do still get chest pains every now and then. Dr's office said I may always have it to an extent. I'm wondering if maybe my thyroid meds need to be adjusted as I seem to be having the pains more lately....nothing severe, but enough I get paranoid, ya know? but Dr's office assures me my heart is mechanically fine (they've done EKG, ECG and x-rays twice on me now)

oh, and I was diagnose as hypo in May, so it's all new to me!!

pam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/03 10:32:02 AM Central Daylight Time, beefuddled912@... writes:

Did they check your iron & b12 levels...I had these same symptoms...with iron & b12 deficiency...both of these are required to get your blood to oxygenate properly...

I usually get chest & arm pain when my iron levels dip & am also due for my b12 shot...Bee

hmm I have no idea!! I know both times in the ER, they took 4 vials of blood! I know in the past when I've been pregnant, my iron levels were low (I've only ever had it checked when I as pg). Not low enough to do anything other than increase the amount of stuff I eat that is high in iron. I'll have to ask them. I'm due to have both my meds refilled, and am hoping they want to check my levels before refilling them this time. If they dont, maybe I'll make them!! :-) (cant say I've ever wanted blood drawn before! lol)

but thanks for the info! Definitely something to check out! in the mean time, I'll increase my iron intake, see if it makes a difference. I really should take a vitamin supplement of some sort, but I dont. Does anyone have a plain, simple good multivitamin they take? I hate taking pills, so I really dont want to take a little of this, a little of that, etc and prefer just a one pill sort of thing. It's bad enough I have to take my levoxyl on an empty stomach and my toprol (beta blocker) with a meal! but man, if it could be just a matter of more iron , that'd be awesome! I really dont want to have to take the beta blocker forever!! I get depressed sometimes thinking I'll be taking meds for the rest of my life!! (I'm 37)

pam

[Guest guest]

hi pam! nice to meet you. Well, those heart flutters are sure scary!! I hate that the worst!

Rhonda

Re: help!

In a message dated 10/13/03 6:33:21 PM Central Daylight Time, avalchro@... writes:

I had trouble with heart palps the first two times I tried to take Armour, but I got some hydrocortisone and took them together and had no problem after that.I had heart palps too, ended up in the ER with then twice. First time I didnt know what they were and my arm felt weird (heart disease in the family, I was really paranoid!) 2nd time I called my dr's office, and they wanted me in the ER to get an EKG done just to be sure. That time, they sent me home on a heart monitor I wore for 2 days. They diagnosed me with sinus tachycardia and put me on beta blockers. I've been on them for 3 months now. I've had them a couple of times since, but just really minor, nothing like I was ( the 2nd time I basically had them for an entire day) but I do still get chest pains every now and then. Dr's office said I may always have it to an extent. I'm wondering if maybe my thyroid meds need to be adjusted as I seem to be having the pains more lately....nothing severe, but enough I get paranoid, ya know? but Dr's office assures me my heart is mechanically fine (they've done EKG, ECG and x-rays twice on me now)oh, and I was diagnose as hypo in May, so it's all new to me!!pam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/14/03 9:44:24 AM Central Daylight Time, rollerqueen@... writes:

hi pam! nice to meet you. Well, those heart flutters are sure scary!! I hate that the worst!

they're awful! I'm not sure how many sleepless nights I stayed up because of them!! I think since I've been on the meds, I've only had one bad night (always seems to be worse at night!) and that was a week after I started the meds, and the dr upped the dose. Since then, no big attacks of them, just the occasional pain.

I swear I'm just falling apart after my son was born!! lol (he's 18 months..I had my gallbladder removed when I was 36 weeks pg with him, then when he was roughly a year old, I was diagnosed with the hypo, then few months later, the sinus tachycardia!!) before all this, I was relatively healthy!!!!

pam

[Guest guest]

pam, I can so sympathize! I am in a year of health issues myself~ besides the rollercoaster ride of the thyroid thing, I think I've got perimenopausal symptoms, plus I am undergoing hemmorhoid treatments too and a mammogram in the near future as well! Talk about fun, huh!?! lol

And it IS always worse at night. I actually liked having the energy during the day but at night I would get scared cause I knew I'd be pacing and hearing my heart beat out of my chest! scary! I hope you feel better soon...email me anytime pam. @ rollerqueen@...

take care,

rhonda

Re: help!

In a message dated 10/14/03 9:44:24 AM Central Daylight Time, rollerqueen@... writes:

hi pam! nice to meet you. Well, those heart flutters are sure scary!! I hate that the worst! they're awful! I'm not sure how many sleepless nights I stayed up because of them!! I think since I've been on the meds, I've only had one bad night (always seems to be worse at night!) and that was a week after I started the meds, and the dr upped the dose. Since then, no big attacks of them, just the occasional pain.I swear I'm just falling apart after my son was born!! lol (he's 18 months..I had my gallbladder removed when I was 36 weeks pg with him, then when he was roughly a year old, I was diagnosed with the hypo, then few months later, the sinus tachycardia!!) before all this, I was relatively healthy!!!!pam

[Guest guest]

Pam, I got your email..tried twice to email youbut it kept giving me

a failure notice!

Rhonda

> In a message dated 10/14/03 9:44:24 AM Central Daylight Time,

> rollerqueen@t... writes:

>

> > hi pam! nice to meet you. Well, those heart flutters are sure

scary!! I

> > hate that the worst!

>

> they're awful! I'm not sure how many sleepless nights I stayed up

because of

> them!! I think since I've been on the meds, I've only had one bad

night

> (always seems to be worse at night!) and that was a week after I

started the meds,

> and the dr upped the dose. Since then, no big attacks of them, just

the

> occasional pain.

> I swear I'm just falling apart after my son was born!! lol (he's 18

months..I

> had my gallbladder removed when I was 36 weeks pg with him, then

when he was

> roughly a year old, I was diagnosed with the hypo, then few months

later, the

> sinus tachycardia!!) before all this, I was relatively healthy!!!!

>

> pam

[Guest guest]

Debra,

If you tell us what specific problems you are having maybe someone can say if they have had a similar situation.

.debra_sotelo <debra_sotelo@...> wrote:

My name is Debra. I am 48. I have ctoma diagnosed last May. I have been going in every three months for a ct scan and a MRI both with contrast. My ctoma is in my brain. I have had ear infections all my life. I am really tired of all these tests and just want this taken caare of. I was told that the surgery is serious and will cause total hearing loss in that ear. It will also take months to recouperate since they have to drill into my cocholear nerve. My problem seems that this is a type of brain cyst. I see my doctor next month for more tests. I am really frusterated with everything. I feel my doctor is very insensitive and asks me what problems I am having when I tell him he tells me it is not the cyst. I am trying to get a second opinion just so I can get on

with my life. Any one with similar problems. I feel so alone and scared. DEB

[Guest guest]

Hi Debra,

It can be so frustrating trying to get the right diagnosis for ctoma. Are you seeing an Otologist or Neuro-otologist ? This type of doctor specializes in the ears. I have had ctoma in both ears and have had a Canal Wall Down in both ears and have lost all the hearing bones in each ear. I have not experienced ctoma in my brain. I'm sure someone in the group will be able to share with you their experiences. Be sure and get that second opinion and find a doctor who will talk to you and explain things to you. If you would like any recommendations for a doctor, you could post where you live and someone might know of a doctor in your area.

Best wishes to you,

Ilona debra_sotelo <debra_sotelo@...> wrote:

My name is Debra. I am 48. I have ctoma diagnosed last May. I have been going in every three months for a ct scan and a MRI both with contrast. My ctoma is in my brain. I have had ear infections all my life. I am really tired of all these tests and just want this taken caare of. I was told that the surgery is serious and will cause total hearing loss in that ear. It will also take months to recouperate since they have to drill into my cocholear nerve. My problem seems that this is a type of brain cyst. I see my doctor next month for more tests. I am really frusterated with everything. I feel my doctor is very insensitive and asks me what problems I am having when I tell him he tells me it is not the cyst. I am trying to get a second opinion just so I can get on

with my life. Any one with similar problems. I feel so alone and scared. DEB

[Guest guest]

G,day Deb

My name is also Deb, I live in Australia. My son Nick has c-toma, he's too

was attached to the brain. However, with speedy surgery he had it removed

at worst he lost the hearing in his left ear and as they had to cut some

nerve he is now an epileptic and must have everything done according to

routine or he gets upset. A small price to pay considering that it was

considered fatal. Best of luck to you and I hope all goes well.

Deb

help!

> My name is Debra. I am 48. I have ctoma diagnosed last May. I

> have been going in every three months for a ct scan and a MRI both

> with contrast. My ctoma is in my brain. I have had ear infections

> all my life. I am really tired of all these tests and just want this

> taken caare of. I was told that the surgery is serious and will

> cause total hearing loss in that ear. It will also take months to

> recouperate since they have to drill into my cocholear nerve. My

> problem seems that this is a type of brain cyst. I see my doctor

> next month for more tests. I am really frusterated with everything.

> I feel my doctor is very insensitive and asks me what problems I am

> having when I tell him he tells me it is not the cyst. I am trying

> to get a second opinion just so I can get on with my life. Any one

> with similar problems. I feel so alone and scared.

>

> DEB

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

DEBRA DARE

Sorry to hear abour you sons condition. I did not realize that so many children suffer from ctoma. I'm so glad he is doing better. It is so scary being an adult with this I can't imagine any of my children having this. My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with all of you. I thought I was the only one. Wallowing in my own self pity. Thank you so much for sharing this personal matter with me. Nick's prayer:

Thank you Lord for Nicks life. Thank you for sending good doctors into this familys life. We know Lord that you are our everything. We come humbly before you Lord to ask that Nick be able to have a joyous childhood, that he have good health ,that you bess this family in its comings and goings. We pray also for peace and prosperity that all healings berestored. I ask that the Holy Spirit come upon this family and all that comes into contac with them that they will have the many mericiful blessing of our Lord. I pray these things in the name of ou Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Deb and Nick I hope you are not offened by my prayer. It is my blessings to you all.

DEBRADEBRA DARE <ddare@...> wrote:

G,day DebMy name is also Deb, I live in Australia. My son Nick has c-toma, he's toowas attached to the brain. However, with speedy surgery he had it removedat worst he lost the hearing in his left ear and as they had to cut somenerve he is now an epileptic and must have everything done according toroutine or he gets upset. A small price to pay considering that it wasconsidered fatal. Best of luck to you and I hope all goes well.Deb help!> My name is Debra. I am 48. I have ctoma diagnosed last May. I> have been going in every three months for a ct scan and a MRI

both> with contrast. My ctoma is in my brain. I have had ear infections> all my life. I am really tired of all these tests and just want this> taken caare of. I was told that the surgery is serious and will> cause total hearing loss in that ear. It will also take months to> recouperate since they have to drill into my cocholear nerve. My> problem seems that this is a type of brain cyst. I see my doctor> next month for more tests. I am really frusterated with everything.> I feel my doctor is very insensitive and asks me what problems I am> having when I tell him he tells me it is not the cyst. I am trying> to get a second opinion just so I can get on with my life. Any one> with similar problems. I feel so alone and

scared.>> DEB>>>>>

[Guest guest]

G,day Deb

Thank you for the prayer. I have a wonderful support group around me here. One time I got back from Brisbane and my freezer was full of cooked meals, another time everybody got in and built us a garden. One time for Nicks birthday the kids at school gave him a gameboy and the parents raised money for our trip (I did not know about that) and the mother that organised it all has an autistic little boy. Just goes to show that their are always people willing to lend a hand or an ear even if they are worse off than yourself.

Prayers do not offend me mate, we are practicing Catholics and my kids go to the Catholic school. I think we all need faith in todays world. Actually now to be honest I have not been going to church the last two months (I have been enjoying the sleep in on a Sunday, Just like Homer Simpson) anyway Father came by to make sure all was ok. I said to him if God can rest on a Sunday so can a Mother. I guess thats why I have him for secret santa this year. Payback.

Take care mate

Deb

help!> My name is Debra. I am 48. I have ctoma diagnosed last May. I> have been going in every three months for a ct scan and a MRI both> with contrast. My ctoma is in my brain. I have had ear infections> all my life. I am really tired of all these tests and just want this> taken caare of. I was told that the surgery is serious and will> cause total hearing loss in that ear. It will also take months to> recouperate since they have to drill into my cocholear nerve. My> problem seems that this is a type of brain cyst. I see my doctor> next month for more tests. I am really frusterated with everything.> I feel my doctor is very insensitive and asks me what problems I am> having when I tell him he tells me it is not the cyst. I am trying> to get a second opinion just so I can get on with my life. Any one> with similar problems. I feel so alone and scared.>> DEB>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Debra, Thanks for the prayer! I have beens aying a similar one for my

daughter,10 who is recovering from her surgery of 6 days ago. Salli, mo

mto Kara, 10 with c-toma

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[Guest guest]

Hi

I rarely have a month go by without suffering an infection, and probably

every 3rd of those perforates my eardrum. I live on antibiotics and

painkillers at times, yet at other times it seems a remarkable length of

time that I am meds-free.

I had a cholesteatoma removed from my right ear in November 1999 and

since then have had no further cholesteatoma-related surgery; however, I

did have a BAHA implant done in November last year (and because of a

perforation shortly thereafter, got really sick); this surgery was

because I am severely hearing impaired on my right side (because of the

cholesteatoma) and because my right ear is constantly secreting, I can't

wear a 'normal', BTE hearing aid in that ear.

I did panic the first few infections/perforations after the initial

surgery and rushed back to the GP each time I got an infection, fearing

it was another tumour, but I was told it wasn't and have had none of the

related symptoms. Sadly - and yet luckily - I just have plain and

simply constant secretory otitis media - infection of the middle ear.

Now, I just take it as it comes; if I get an infection, I get one - if I

don't, I don't. If I do, I take antibiotics; however, I am constantly

having check-ups at the hospital - I go to see my specialist (surgeon -

the doctor who did both, the mastoidectomy and the BAHA implant), at

least every three months because of the constant infections. I have my

ear cleaned out at least every three months just to ensure the cavity is

clean and dry and to remove any residual infection and debris from the

last perforation.

I don't know whether to say the infections are 'managed' in any way -

more, they are 'tolerated' as there is little that can be done to stop

them occurring.

By the way, I mentioned earlier that I got really sick in November last

year - that was an infection that just wouldn't go away; what they did

after four weeks was give me a double dose of Klaricid (Clarithromycin)

and a treble dose of Metronidazole (sp?)(or was it the other way

around?) I can't remember now, I was in such pain at the time, so much

so that I could barely move :-( Anyway, within three days, I was able

to leave my house, go out and have a breath of fresh air, for the first

time in almost six weeks. They just had to hit the infection as it had

hit me - HARD - and it worked. I'm fine now - haven't been unwell since

(touch wood!).

I hope this helps. :-/

Kazz

xx

help!

My ENT wants me to see a specialist in the city. I've had two ctoma

surgeries, one in 1984, and one in 1995. In September, I developed an

infection that hasn't cleared for more than a few days. I had CT

scan, which my doctor said looked good but showed the possibility of

something going on. The reason it might not be significant is the

technicians didn't have my past reports to compare their findings to,

and it's likely that the erosions, etc., noted on the CT scan report

have been there since my surgery and aren't anything new.

My question is this: Is there anyone here who suffers from chronic

infections, even after surgery, with no recommendation for further

surgery? How are infections managed in such cases?

I need some hope. I don't want another surgery. (Of course not. Who

does?)

Thanks,

K.

[Guest guest]

On Aug 20, 2004, at 10:04 AM, jgoldilocks@... wrote:

one thing that might help everyone is myofascial release therapy a la

. I am getting some of this work done starting next week. I

was introduced to it by a fellow MT student a few years ago and just

found someone who is trained in it locally.

See http://www.myofascialrelease.com for background info.

inflammation makes fascia tighten and get bound up.. a direct cause of

pain. structural bodywork is a good thing.

mike

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It all depends on the muscle relaxants. I did experience the same problems

with most until i was given Norflex 100mg at night. It was an immunologist

expert who said that all of us with these diseases should have Norflex.

On the natural side, hot baths, calcium and some stetching exercises a few

times a day is important.

[Guest guest]

Mike, my husband has been using this tech on me for twenty years. You are

correct, when muscles tighten, swell and pull on ligaments, it does cause pain.

The massage does hurt in the beginning, but after a few minutes it eases and it

will give several hours pain relief. I used to have him do this for about 15

minutes only when I was in the " oral " phase of pain. (Meaning I was ready to

scream.) To show you how much the Humira is helping, I haven't had to have a

massage in over a year!! This after at least 3 massages a week for twenty years.

I still have pain, but it is limited to the bones that have already fused.

Massage does not help that kind of pain...in fact, would cause more. Massage is

great for ligaments and the fascia and muscles. Go to it. best regards, Granny

(connie)

[Guest guest]

I have found that each of the muscle relaxants work a little differently. I

had tried Soma, Skelazin, and some others...can't remember there names, but

Flexeril helped me the most and gave the least side effects. It does make you

sleepy, but if you take it a few days, that sleepiness wears off. I don't know

anything about Norflex...it doesn't have the same properties as Flexeril, I

thought it might be the same drug. I looked it up and seems it is good for after

PT and muscles spasms. Anyone else use this drug? I still get sciatica pain

running down both legs, but the muscles spasms in upper spine and shoulders is

gone, gone. best regards, Connie (granny)

[Guest guest]

I haven't been filled yet, but from what I have read here, I'm thinking

you're too tight. Several people have reported that sometimes it takes a few

days

for a fill to " kick in " . I'm guessing this might have happened to you and now

you are a little too tight. Talk to your doc about possibly getting a wee

bit taken out.

Best wishes!

makenzie