MM

[Guest guest]

Hiya, Becks, Well, I don't know if God sent me, but I'm glad I could help

you a bit.

Love you, MM P.S. I don't mean I doubt the existence of God, but I AM a

notorious

busybody and bossy witch, according to my own family, so that is probably what

motivated me more than any Divine intervention. LOL

[Guest guest]

Maggie, It's been raining and cold here for the last two or three days, but

today the

sun came back. It's colder with clear skies, but at least my youngest can go

and play

at a friend's house so I get a couple hours free to do email, and just relax

without

someone yelling " Mama " every two minutes. LOL Some days, I have to remind

myself

that I volunteered for this when I adopted my kids. LOL I love 'em, but

there are days

when I need to be alone. So, how are you holding up? Did your neighbor find

a place

to stay after the fire? You take it as easy as you can, 'k? Love, MM

[Guest guest]

You know, I am supposed to rest on the weekends, but it seems like

there is SOMETHING every weekend to undo all my resting LOL.

We are very glad our neighbor is OK. I don't think we would be

alright today if he had died there in the fire. My sister got

pictures and if I ever get a scanner I might share them.

How are you and your boys doing? I know a lot of our members to the

east are frigid right now. I have been flipping channels and it's

all over the TV the extreme conditions they're having.

Take care!

Maggie

[Guest guest]

Hi, Normi, Thanks. I did go on the web and look it up, but everything is

advertising

for the manufacturer, not PDR info. The Ambrotose is supposed to be listed,

but my

doc's PDR doesn't have it, and the new pages are not in his office, yet.

Thanks, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi MM. That is the pits about your experience with that procedure. And rightfully so was an apology due you.

However, I did have to LOL at the other part though. Gee, wonder what your fate would have been if you had not known the answer? LOL..... I shudder to think about all that. LOL....

Love ya, Normi

Re: normi/liver biopsy to W MMNormi, My first D and C, the anesthesiologist's name was Dr. Payne. She was a realPAIN, too. I came out of that one with a sore neck, sore throat, and bruises all overmy shoulders because she put me on a table that was a foot too short for me. Thehospital sent a letter of apology because the surgeon complained the next day whenhe saw what had happened to me because of it. I don't know if I told you when you were here, but when I went in for my second D andC pre-op bloodwork, the Doc and his nurses were arguing about what a Flat FootFloogie was. You know, from that old WWII song? Anyway, they were still arguingwhen I left, so the Doc told me jokingly, "Find out what it is, or you ain't comin' outalive tomorrow." I called a Disc Jockey friend at a local radio station, who referred me to a guy whoworked in my own office! Too funny. Anyway, he told me Flat Foot Floogie meant aZoot suiter with Pizazz, or with a flashy girlfriend. So, the next day as I'm walkinginto the OR, sure enough the Doc asked me for the definition. I told him what myfriend had said, and they told me it was a good thing. This meant I would survivethe surgery. LOL As I went under they were all singing softly, Flat Foot Floogie witha Floy, Floy. I was still laughing when I woke up. Love, MM"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

Hi MM. That is the pits about your experience with that procedure. And rightfully so was an apology due you.

However, I did have to LOL at the other part though. Gee, wonder what your fate would have been if you had not known the answer? LOL..... I shudder to think about all that. LOL....

Love ya, Normi

Re: normi/liver biopsy to W MMNormi, My first D and C, the anesthesiologist's name was Dr. Payne. She was a realPAIN, too. I came out of that one with a sore neck, sore throat, and bruises all overmy shoulders because she put me on a table that was a foot too short for me. Thehospital sent a letter of apology because the surgeon complained the next day whenhe saw what had happened to me because of it. I don't know if I told you when you were here, but when I went in for my second D andC pre-op bloodwork, the Doc and his nurses were arguing about what a Flat FootFloogie was. You know, from that old WWII song? Anyway, they were still arguingwhen I left, so the Doc told me jokingly, "Find out what it is, or you ain't comin' outalive tomorrow." I called a Disc Jockey friend at a local radio station, who referred me to a guy whoworked in my own office! Too funny. Anyway, he told me Flat Foot Floogie meant aZoot suiter with Pizazz, or with a flashy girlfriend. So, the next day as I'm walkinginto the OR, sure enough the Doc asked me for the definition. I told him what myfriend had said, and they told me it was a good thing. This meant I would survivethe surgery. LOL As I went under they were all singing softly, Flat Foot Floogie witha Floy, Floy. I was still laughing when I woke up. Love, MM"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

MM. I am still always going to wonder about your thyroid.

I know you told me you were doing well when you were on it in your youth, but then they took you off of it.

Normally a person is on thyroid replacement for life, there are exceptions, but that seems to be the norm.

They tell you your TSH is normal. How about your T3 levels? Antibody levels?

Also, I had some high TSH levels, then they would be normal, I had a pattern of this for years.

I became so symptomatic it was ridiculous. It is like the lupus, everything is there but just that one damned test.

I lost hair like mad, was extremely tired, almost bed ridden at one point, emotional stuff, dry skin, hair, breaking nails that were paper thin,severe constipation to impaction,sudden rapid weight gain, and we are not talking 5 pounds either, you name the symptom, I had it.

Only cause my GYN listened and sent me to a specialist of many years, then were the right tests run. And whaddya know? I had thyroiditis and nodules.

My thyroid antibodies were through the roof. After the surgery in 8/99, The antibodies skyrocketed yet.

They are way low now. My TSH is in normal level now.

But this does not solve all the problems still. I am trying to replace what was lost from surgery, yet my thyroid needs suppression as well. It is a double edged sword and very hard to manage in my case anyhow.

Some docs treat only by labs, others treat by symptoms, esp with thyroiditis.

It does help to take NSAIDS prior to bedtime as well.

Thyroiditis attacks occur at night, usually waking you out of a dead sleep and causing insomnia.

Also you can get infections, etc....... there as well. I have a teeny piece of left atrophied thyroid left that is sputtering here and there. I wish it would just die off totally now. I am heading that way though.

Have you ever talked to your MD about the antibody testing for your thyroid? Some docs do not want to supress, but from everything I have read, and Honey I have read until I have almost gone blind, that the theory is to suppress early on to prevent total thyroid failure down the road or progression of destruction of the gland.I have been reading about this stuff for the last 10 yrs easy.

I found out a whole hell of a lot at UCSF. I mean this MD was as smart as they come, a little off, but he is from SF. lol....... but been a specialist in the field over 30 yrs. He hit everything right on the head and explained things to me that made me know I was not nuts. He was very thorough in his exam physically, and great at explaining everything to me and not rushing it either. I felt a huge weight lifted after I talked t him. He said my doc was an ass basically, and that to treat thyroidits is very difficult and frustrating. He even emailed me and called me, etc.....

His name is Dr. Woebler. He is listed as one of the rec MD's on the thyroid site as well for CA docs for thyroid.

I wish you could get a referral there to see him. Just slip it in the the UCSF dermatology stuff. LOL...

See if your doc will check for nodules, goiter, enlargement, atrophying gland , etc.. Ask , demand, etc... the TPOab ( thryoid peroxidase antibodies ) test, the thyroglobulin test as well. I also had the radition uptake test.

This is what saved me.

You just never know.

Love ya, Normi

Re: BLOOD TESTS RESULTS/ NEW DIAGNOSIS- DAMN!!

, I remember when I got my first dx of diabetes. I was shocked. I've alwaysbeen fat, but always active, so it came as a big surprise. Especially so, since I amthe only diabetic in six generations on either side (don't know before that), and itwas all because of the autoimmune disorders which slowed me to a crawl. BeforeRA, Lupus, and all that, I walked two miles every morning, swam for a half hour, andall before going to work. Worked a full day, plus overtime, raised my kids and had asecond career as an artist, besides. Now, I'm lucky to get a couple of loads of washdone before I poop out. So, my blood sugars are going up slowly but surely becauseI can't be as active as I used to be. However, I have managed with oral meds anddiet to keep them at a more reasonable level and avoid insulin. Lily corp. puts out avery good booklet on how to manage the exchanges for your diet, and shows you thatyou will not be feeling deprived. Keep us posted on your progress. Love, MM"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

MM. I am still always going to wonder about your thyroid.

I know you told me you were doing well when you were on it in your youth, but then they took you off of it.

Normally a person is on thyroid replacement for life, there are exceptions, but that seems to be the norm.

They tell you your TSH is normal. How about your T3 levels? Antibody levels?

Also, I had some high TSH levels, then they would be normal, I had a pattern of this for years.

I became so symptomatic it was ridiculous. It is like the lupus, everything is there but just that one damned test.

I lost hair like mad, was extremely tired, almost bed ridden at one point, emotional stuff, dry skin, hair, breaking nails that were paper thin,severe constipation to impaction,sudden rapid weight gain, and we are not talking 5 pounds either, you name the symptom, I had it.

Only cause my GYN listened and sent me to a specialist of many years, then were the right tests run. And whaddya know? I had thyroiditis and nodules.

My thyroid antibodies were through the roof. After the surgery in 8/99, The antibodies skyrocketed yet.

They are way low now. My TSH is in normal level now.

But this does not solve all the problems still. I am trying to replace what was lost from surgery, yet my thyroid needs suppression as well. It is a double edged sword and very hard to manage in my case anyhow.

Some docs treat only by labs, others treat by symptoms, esp with thyroiditis.

It does help to take NSAIDS prior to bedtime as well.

Thyroiditis attacks occur at night, usually waking you out of a dead sleep and causing insomnia.

Also you can get infections, etc....... there as well. I have a teeny piece of left atrophied thyroid left that is sputtering here and there. I wish it would just die off totally now. I am heading that way though.

Have you ever talked to your MD about the antibody testing for your thyroid? Some docs do not want to supress, but from everything I have read, and Honey I have read until I have almost gone blind, that the theory is to suppress early on to prevent total thyroid failure down the road or progression of destruction of the gland.I have been reading about this stuff for the last 10 yrs easy.

I found out a whole hell of a lot at UCSF. I mean this MD was as smart as they come, a little off, but he is from SF. lol....... but been a specialist in the field over 30 yrs. He hit everything right on the head and explained things to me that made me know I was not nuts. He was very thorough in his exam physically, and great at explaining everything to me and not rushing it either. I felt a huge weight lifted after I talked t him. He said my doc was an ass basically, and that to treat thyroidits is very difficult and frustrating. He even emailed me and called me, etc.....

His name is Dr. Woebler. He is listed as one of the rec MD's on the thyroid site as well for CA docs for thyroid.

I wish you could get a referral there to see him. Just slip it in the the UCSF dermatology stuff. LOL...

See if your doc will check for nodules, goiter, enlargement, atrophying gland , etc.. Ask , demand, etc... the TPOab ( thryoid peroxidase antibodies ) test, the thyroglobulin test as well. I also had the radition uptake test.

This is what saved me.

You just never know.

Love ya, Normi

Re: BLOOD TESTS RESULTS/ NEW DIAGNOSIS- DAMN!!

, I remember when I got my first dx of diabetes. I was shocked. I've alwaysbeen fat, but always active, so it came as a big surprise. Especially so, since I amthe only diabetic in six generations on either side (don't know before that), and itwas all because of the autoimmune disorders which slowed me to a crawl. BeforeRA, Lupus, and all that, I walked two miles every morning, swam for a half hour, andall before going to work. Worked a full day, plus overtime, raised my kids and had asecond career as an artist, besides. Now, I'm lucky to get a couple of loads of washdone before I poop out. So, my blood sugars are going up slowly but surely becauseI can't be as active as I used to be. However, I have managed with oral meds anddiet to keep them at a more reasonable level and avoid insulin. Lily corp. puts out avery good booklet on how to manage the exchanges for your diet, and shows you thatyou will not be feeling deprived. Keep us posted on your progress. Love, MM"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies