Just Checking In

February 22, 2002

Pam, I liked your message. It is true that it is much easier to be on the receiving end. I read the Zap mail daily, but rarely talk. I do not have a problem, but do look after my widowed mom and love this group for the good info, the encouragment and laughs!

My mom's congestive heart failure has been under control with her meds and new lifestyle (she too had a fun time!). Her ejection rate went from 10 to 35%. But the best news I have to say is that after a year of struggling, she is coming to grips with her anxiety. When she went down and got her ICD and they put her body back on track and sent her home ----- I have always thought, ya know, these doctors fix her body, but they don't bother with her mind! The anxiety afterwards,as you all know is a nightmare...

Her biggest "breakthrough" recently has been the addition of 2 little identical kittens that she adopted. Talk about pet therapy, wow has it worked for her. She loves these little kitties and looks forward to coming home to them, they play with her, sleep with her. It has taken her mind off of herself, (which in turn helps ME).

When Mamma's happy, everybody's happy!

Keep writin'

Sheri, NY

February 22, 2002

Has anyone had any trouble getting through security either at the airports.federal or state buildings? I was recently denied entrance to the local courthouse because I would not let them use their electromagnetic screening devices on me. I asked to be "patted down" but was refused and asked to leave.

MGCSebring@...

February 22, 2002

hi sheri,

i think i know exactly what your mom is feeling these days...god bless

you for being there for you....when my kids heard about my defib implant

they were gone....i guess they thought i might in some way need some help

from them....

in a lot of ways, i did need them for the moral support i thought i would

get....then i found the zappers and they pulled me out of the big black

hole i had dug for myself....

keep coming back.....it cant do anything but improve yours and your moms

outlook on life.

bob in pa

08:22 AM 2/22/02 -0500, you wrote:

Pam, I liked your message. It is true that it is much easier to be

on the receiving end. I read the Zap mail daily, but rarely talk. I

do not have a problem, but do look after my widowed mom and love this

group for the good info, the encouragment and laughs!

My mom's congestive heart failure

has been under control with her meds and new lifestyle (she too had a fun

time!). Her ejection rate went from 10 to 35%. But the best news I

have to say is that after a year of struggling, she is coming to grips

with her anxiety. When she went down and got her ICD and they put

her body back on track and sent her home ----- I have always thought, ya

know, these doctors fix her body, but they don't bother with her

mind! The anxiety afterwards,as you all know is a nightmare...

Her biggest " breakthrough "

recently has been the addition of 2 little identical kittens that she

adopted. Talk about pet therapy, wow has it worked for her. She loves

these little kitties and looks forward to coming home to them, they play

with her, sleep with her. It has taken her mind off of herself,

(which in turn helps ME).

When Mamma's happy, everybody's happy!

Keep writin'

Sheri, NY

Sponsor

Please visit the Zapper homepage at

http://www.ZapLife.org

February 22, 2002

that is unacceptable! In situations like that, you should ask to see a supervisor. If not, call the district attorney's office, and tell them the problem. if that doesn't work (and there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't, make a list of all the names of those people who refused you, bring your AICD card/documentation and call the media. They love to run stories like that. Guarantee that the officials will correct the problem in their policies/procedures/rules immediately. Of course don't expect any consideration from law enforcement or judiciary in the future. (Another alternative is to call the office of one of the local judges, tell them your problem and let them handle it. And they will.

Bill

Re: Just checking in

Has anyone had any trouble getting through security either at the airports.federal or state buildings? I was recently denied entrance to the local courthouse because I would not let them use their electromagnetic screening devices on me. I asked to be "patted down" but was refused and asked to leave. MGCSebring@... Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org

February 22, 2002

I have had no problem w/ the airport security.. i have flown to california (from kentucky) and back twice since i got my ICD and i have had no problems except this last time over xmas they "HAD" to use the wand thing on my legs i was totally flippin out..but i was ok she didnt get it too close.. but airports are cool as long as u have a card saying you have an ICD

Love Always

February 22, 2002

hey turk,,,

where have you been hiding....ive looked for you on pal talk a number of

times.....

bob in pa

At 10:13 PM 2/22/02 -0500, you wrote:

Hello Pam

and Everybody;

Yes Pam she just got your card and she is

thanking you amongst other people especially the ones that she doesn't

even know from U.K. (COLIN Thanks) they keep sending her cards. Just so

you guys and gals know she was going in for a valve job(she didn't have

one of them all of her life) also an ablation amongst removing scar

tissue today and she was going to get a new ICD don't know how it went.

Say a few prayers for her will you? Good Luck Good Health and Good

Heart. TURK

Just checking in

Hi everyone --

Turk, you're so right -- seems like the group

has been pretty quiet for awhile now -- I just

thought folks were using the chat room....

It's not right to always be on the receiving end

& not give back some of the strength, hope &

encouragement offered here -- & that's pretty

much what I have been doing, taking and not

giving. I feel ashamed of myself for not being involved -- no good

reason, such as being in the hospital.... It's just that I haven't been

through nearly as much as so many of you

have & feel like I really don't have anything

to offer... Also, I've been under the weather

for so long, & a lot of unpleasant stuff going on as well, that all of

my energy seems to be

focused on simply getting through the day.

It's much easier to hold everything inside

than trying to figure out what to say & how

to say it. It's hard for me to organize my

thoughts, remember words & concentrate, so I usually let the

ariculate ones do all the

talking.

Anyway, I'm gonna try to be more involved

in the future. You all have been my lifeline,

helping me to deal with the changes in my

life since the heart trouble & the ICD coming

to live with me. (That's a good thing!) It's

comforting to know there are so many people

who are willing to share their experiences &

hope with each other. Seeing the way folks

band together when someone is going through

a tough time makes me realize we're not really

alone.

Speaking of tought times -- that reminds me -- I hope Stacie got my

card, too. Since it's coming all the way from Alaska, it might have

arrived after she moved from her room...

Thank you all for being there for each other.

~Pam

Please visit the Zapper homepage at

http://www.ZapLife.org

February 23, 2002

Pam, Sometimes in our quite times is when we gain the most strength.

Sometimes we just need to rest and sit back and be still, My shrink says

thisis the time when we learn topick up the tools that we are trying to larn

to use and put them in our tool belt for the next life battle. He always

talks about life like we are soliders. After my hours is up he always says

Well Sharon let me tell you my life has been shitty too what do yo think I

need to do.? Maybe that is why I never have to pay him.

I havae learned a great deal from many people on t his board and tey have

become very special.

Just in case any of you want to know I love being a Grandma. Jessie Ann is

just fine and the lite of my life. Of course there has never been a prettier

baby or a better aby or a more brilliant baby. She even cries on key.

Love to all

Sharon

February 23, 2002

Bless you! I am not sure what is harder been the victim I mean patient or

haveing the patience to deal with the patient.

Sharon

February 23, 2002

> Has anyone had any trouble getting through security either at the

> airports.federal or state buildings? I was recently denied entrance

> to the local courthouse because I would not let them use their

> electromagnetic screening devices on me. I asked to be " patted down "

> but was refused and asked to leave.

This is wrong. I would definitely contact a local advocacy group for

the 'handicapped',

and see what legal remedies are available to you. We are all citizens

and have the right to

access to our legal system, including going into a courthouse. Perhaps a

simple letter from

the group's atty. to the director of security at the courthouse would

suffice to educate that

person, and his/her staff, to your needs. You might also like to write a

letter to the editor of

your local newspaper on this situation. Good luck, let us know what

happens, okay?

Sue

--

" She was not quite what you would call refined.

She was not quite what you would call unrefined.

She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot. "

-- Mark Twain

Rich and Sue Owens

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/7457/index3.html

February 23, 2002

Hello Pam and Everybody;

Yes Pam she just got your card and she is thanking you amongst other people especially the ones that she doesn't even know from U.K. (COLIN Thanks) they keep sending her cards. Just so you guys and gals know she was going in for a valve job(she didn't have one of them all of her life) also an ablation amongst removing scar tissue today and she was going to get a new ICD don't know how it went. Say a few prayers for her will you? Good Luck Good Health and Good Heart. TURK

Just checking in

Hi everyone -- Turk, you're so right -- seems like the grouphas been pretty quiet for awhile now -- I justthought folks were using the chat room.... It's not right to always be on the receiving end & not give back some of the strength, hope & encouragement offered here -- & that's prettymuch what I have been doing, taking and notgiving. I feel ashamed of myself for not being involved -- no goodreason, such as being in the hospital.... It's just that I haven't beenthrough nearly as much as so many of youhave & feel like I really don't have anythingto offer... Also, I've been under the weatherfor so long, & a lot of unpleasant stuff going on as well, that all ofmy energy seems to befocused on simply getting through the day.It's much easier to hold everything insidethan trying to figure out what to say & howto say it. It's hard for me to organize mythoughts, remember words & concentrate, so I usually let theariculate ones do all thetalking. Anyway, I'm gonna try to be more involvedin the future. You all have been my lifeline,helping me to deal with the changes in mylife since the heart trouble & the ICD comingto live with me. (That's a good thing!) It'scomforting to know there are so many peoplewho are willing to share their experiences & hope with each other. Seeing the way folksband together when someone is going througha tough time makes me realize we're not reallyalone. Speaking of tought times -- that reminds me -- I hope Stacie got mycard, too. Since it's coming all the way from Alaska, it might havearrived after she moved from her room... Thank you all for being there for each other.~Pam Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org

February 23, 2002

Hey Bob;

Sorry, there was somekind of a problem with my paltalk and didn't dawn on me to uninstall and reinstall it until a few days ago. I'm there everyday now. Hope to talk to you there TURK

Just checking in

Hi everyone --

Turk, you're so right -- seems like the group has been pretty quiet for awhile now -- I just thought folks were using the chat room....

It's not right to always be on the receiving end & not give back some of the strength, hope & encouragement offered here -- & that's pretty much what I have been doing, taking and not giving. I feel ashamed of myself for not being involved -- no good reason, such as being in the hospital.... It's just that I haven't been through nearly as much as so many of you have & feel like I really don't have anything to offer... Also, I've been under the weather for so long, & a lot of unpleasant stuff going on as well, that all of my energy seems to be focused on simply getting through the day. It's much easier to hold everything inside than trying to figure out what to say & how to say it. It's hard for me to organize my thoughts, remember words & concentrate, so I usually let the ariculate ones do all the talking.

Anyway, I'm gonna try to be more involved in the future. You all have been my lifeline, helping me to deal with the changes in my life since the heart trouble & the ICD coming to live with me. (That's a good thing!) It's comforting to know there are so many people who are willing to share their experiences & hope with each other. Seeing the way folks band together when someone is going through a tough time makes me realize we're not really alone.

Speaking of tought times -- that reminds me -- I hope Stacie got my card, too. Since it's coming all the way from Alaska, it might have arrived after she moved from her room...

Thank you all for being there for each other.

~Pam

Please visit the Zapper homepage at http://www.ZapLife.org

July 16, 2002

Dear

So sorry to hear that Duncan had a bad reaction to an insect bite. My

daughter used to have bad allergic reactions to all bug bites and often got

cellulitis (deep bacterial infection of the skin) as a result. You probably

already know that if the swelling seems to continually get larger and gets

hard and/or if you start to see red streaks on his leg you need to see his

pediatrician. Our pediatrician recommended hot (as hot as can be tolerated)

compresses to reduce the histamine levels at the local site in addition to

the usual oral antihistimine. Perhaps you can ask your pediatrician if he/she

feels that might be suitable for Duncan.

Martha (mom to Chrissy IgA def etc.)

July 16, 2002

Thanks!

Also, my daughter is very sensitive to insect bites. It is not uncommon

for her to have the type of reaction you are describing to just a mosquito

bite. Interestingly enough, she has been bitten a couple of different

times by brown recluse spiders, and healed very quickly with no real

complications.

Hope he does well.

Wenoka

At 04:20 PM 07/16/2002 -0500, you wrote:

>Hi all! I've been extremely busy these past few weeks & have let too much

mail wind up in my in box. I've read as much as possible & had to delete

wayyy too much.

>

>I noticed we have new members--welcome! I think you'll find this a great

source of information and support. These guys have always been there for me

when I needed it.

>

>--hope you're doing fine. I'm still praying for you & the little one,

hoping you can hang in there longer.

>

>I've been " listening " with interest to today's exchange about private

schools vs. public schools. It looks like no matter what we'll have to go

public here--just can't afford private. Plus, if there are special

accommodations for Autumn, public has to make them & private doesn't. Good

luck, Wenoka!

>

>Poor Kody having to have more surgery! I can't believe it's been such a

short time. I'm glad you found something in the culture to " hang your hat

on " ; maybe that'll help give the drs a good idea of where to go next.

>

>Anyone know anything about severe insect reactions? Duncan got bit by

something awful--thought it was a mosquito, but now I'm thinking spider or

ant. Anyway. . .it swelled up about the size of a half dollar on his leg &

looks red & swollen. Yesterday it was draining clear liquid--same day of

the bite. As far as I know he's not scratching at it. Looks terribly

painful, though. Is there a way to make it heal faster? We've been putting

anti-itch on it & giving him benadryl twice a day-not helping much, though.

>

>Gotta run!

>

> Ray, mother to Tabitha (age 6), Autumn, age 4 (IgG def., asthma,

chronic sinusitis, and allergies), and Duncan (14 months)

>

July 16, 2002

Thanks!

Also, my daughter is very sensitive to insect bites. It is not uncommon

for her to have the type of reaction you are describing to just a mosquito

bite. Interestingly enough, she has been bitten a couple of different

times by brown recluse spiders, and healed very quickly with no real

complications.

Hope he does well.

Wenoka

At 04:20 PM 07/16/2002 -0500, you wrote:

>Hi all! I've been extremely busy these past few weeks & have let too much

mail wind up in my in box. I've read as much as possible & had to delete

wayyy too much.

>

>I noticed we have new members--welcome! I think you'll find this a great

source of information and support. These guys have always been there for me

when I needed it.

>

>--hope you're doing fine. I'm still praying for you & the little one,

hoping you can hang in there longer.

>

>I've been " listening " with interest to today's exchange about private

schools vs. public schools. It looks like no matter what we'll have to go

public here--just can't afford private. Plus, if there are special

accommodations for Autumn, public has to make them & private doesn't. Good

luck, Wenoka!

>

>Poor Kody having to have more surgery! I can't believe it's been such a

short time. I'm glad you found something in the culture to " hang your hat

on " ; maybe that'll help give the drs a good idea of where to go next.

>

>Anyone know anything about severe insect reactions? Duncan got bit by

something awful--thought it was a mosquito, but now I'm thinking spider or

ant. Anyway. . .it swelled up about the size of a half dollar on his leg &

looks red & swollen. Yesterday it was draining clear liquid--same day of

the bite. As far as I know he's not scratching at it. Looks terribly

painful, though. Is there a way to make it heal faster? We've been putting

anti-itch on it & giving him benadryl twice a day-not helping much, though.

>

>Gotta run!

>

> Ray, mother to Tabitha (age 6), Autumn, age 4 (IgG def., asthma,

chronic sinusitis, and allergies), and Duncan (14 months)

>

July 17, 2002

Martha,

He's had cellulitis in his eyes before. What would I look like if it were on

another part of the body? As I said earlier, he has blisters all across the

top of the place where the bite was. It's still hard, but not quite as red.

It doesn't appear to be getting any larger, and it even could have gotten

smaller in the last 24 hours.

Should have done like Dale suggested & marked the outline with an ink pen or

something so I'd know if it were improving.

I don't want to do the cellulitis thing again--it was awful the first time.

Ray, mother to Tabitha (age 6), Autumn, age 4 (IgG def., asthma,

chronic sinusitis, and allergies), and Duncan (14 months)

July 17, 2002

Dear ,

Dale's idea is excellent. In fact this is exactly what we do to

moniter whether there is improvement or worsening of the condition. In

's case a mesquito bite on her hand would cause the hand and

adjacent arm to swell almost up to her elbow-- (and be progressively getting

bigger) The whole area would be hard and hot and red expecially closest to

the bite. There might be red streaks running along her upper arm. The

swollen area is painful.

also gets Black fly bites which swell and ooze yellow crusty

exudate but for some reason don't cause a bacterial infection. (These are

also somewhat painful but not as painful as cellulitis) They would blister

(the head of the bite would pop) and the wound would ooze for a few days.

The red area could get up to 2 to 3 inches in diameter at their worst. Even

though these bites look terrible they do go away on their own for us and in

fact start to get better between the second and third day. (That's if you

don't scratch)

Everyone seems to respond differently to bug bites, but if you have any

doubts that the bite is infected I would go in and get it checked out.

I hope he is already starting to get better by the time you receive

this.

Martha (mom to IgA deficiency)

November 8, 2002

Oh my Carole,

what a quandry it must be for you. If you listen to whatever your

gut tells you and go with it perhaps that will be best.

Oh the thrill of unpacking. That is probably why your fighting

something. It seemed even in remission, when I moved, that was when

my system became weak or had to be strong and then fell apart. Good

luck with that. If you may be making a move maybe some things are

better left unpacked? It's good to hear from you again, keep

fighting off that stuff that want's to make you sick. With a smile

and a hug, Pattymelt

but I sure haven't been feeling 100% lately. Seems like

> I'm fighting a cold, but it's been so long since pre-stills, I

don't know

> what " fighting a cold " actually feels like anymore. Grrrrrrrr~! How

> frustrating.

> Well, we moved all of our stuff out of storage into a one-

bedroom apt,

January 27, 2003

Way to go Jen, way to be tough! Next time, offer her a big turkey

leg the size of her head. Or, kill 'em with kindness... " No thanks!

That does not look at ALL good to me. Do you want to look at this

swimsuit catalog with me? "

> week four already. I love it. Body fat crept down when I measured.

I

> have had a rough week though. If you all remember my cat died last

> week, and we had to put our 16 year old dog down on Sat. But I

> managed to stay strong. I actually went 6 hours without eating

> yesterday. which was my free day. I was so whoozy. I wasn't really

> hungry though. I picked at some food for the superbowl, nothing

> actually tooo bad. I need to get up earlier in the a.m. also. Some

> girl just offered me candy right now, and she knows I can't. I hate

> people like her. I just picked out my bathing suit for this summer.

I

> am excited about that.

>

> Jen

January 27, 2003

Next time she asks you if you want some candy why not tell her, " No thanks that

doesn't look good ON me. " Might get her thinking more about herself and keep her

from taunting you.

C

January 28, 2003

Stay strong, Jen!

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. Keep up the good work, though!

Maggie