new member

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jo, Wow you are tackleing two big steps at once. Just take it

one day at a time and you will succeed. Wishing you all the best. You

came to the right place for help. Everyone here is a big help with any

questions that you may have.

Laverne

[Guest guest]

Ok, , don't make us smack you, even if you are new! ;-) Welcome to

the list.

Youre first three weeks were quite impressive. You need to know that those

results are not typical. Most people have a smaller loss. However, your

recent week with no loss registered is QUITE typical, so don't sweat it. It

is completely normal, particularly with a large initial loss, to pause for a

brief period before loss resumes at a (usually) slower pace.

Ketosis is ketosis, whether you are registering light pink or dark purple .

.. . you are burning fat. This is also something that varies from person to

person. Don't sweat that either.

So, now that we've got you all relaxed, just sit back and enjoy the list and

the great food you're going to be enjoying as you lose weight and become

healthier.

Terry

[Guest guest]

, I lost quite a bit the first 2 or 3 weeks. It's been slow

since then. The weight will come off though. I seem to drop

it in spurts. Go for 2 or 3 weeks without a loss, while bouncing

up and down a couple of pounds. Then one day my weight just suddenly

drops again.

Good luck,

Dwen

Orr wrote:

Hi guys! I'm a new member. I lost 21.4 pounds

in my first 3 weeks. None this

week. I know I'm a brat, but I'm disappointed. So the Ketostix,

have only

gotten as far as a trace. Is this a problem? Today, I really have

to say it

was negative. I must be doing something wrong. Is a trace as good

as 4+ ? Or

is it different? Thanks for your experience

Orr

[Guest guest]

Fructose is just another kind of sugar. Try Splenda or stevia. Those are my

favorites ;-)

(wsm311@...)

Peace and Carrots Farm

Vermont

http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/

http://www.heathershikinghiatus.homestead.com/

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for that. Where can I get these from. I have tried but failed.

Sue.

Lincolnshire.

England

[Guest guest]

<PRE>Hello list. Thanks to everyone who responded to me and those who are going

to. I am actually smiling today for the first time in a long time. Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue the Poet,

The big problem with PLS is it's rarity. Because there are so few PLSers

around, it really is hard to develop a clinic or study on PLS alone. Most

neurologists that are up on PLS are also ALS experts. You'd have to go to

an ALS clinic and try to find a neuro there that had an interest in PLS.

Going to an ALS clinic will allow you to take advantage of the various

multidisciplinary clinics that provide, in a single location, physical and

occupational therapy, speech and swallowing evaluation and therapy,

nutritional assessment and counseling, and respiratory assessment.

I found my neuro, Dr. Armon (California) by searching online, from this

source:

http://www.wfnals.org/clinics/index.html

When I looked at New York, I found the following facilities that list PLS:

ALS Regional Center

St. 's Hospital 315 S. Manning Blvd.

Cusack 6-2

Albany NY 12208

Telephone:

Fax:

E-mail: alsregionalcenter@

stpetershealthcare.org

Medical Director:

Dr.

Other diseases/conditions treated:

Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Progressive

Bulbar Palsy

Contact person: Spinelli, RN BS, ALS Coordinator

Phone:

Fax:

E-mail: alsregionalcenter@

stpetershealthcare.org

Record last reviewed:

18 Jun 2002

Beth Israel ALS Center

Beth Israel Medical Center

10 Union Square East, Suite 2Q

New York, New York 10003

Telephone:

Fax:

E-mail: versenyi@...

Medical Director:

Scelsa, MD

Specialty:

Neurology/Neuromuscular Disease/Electromyography

Other medical specialties:

Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Nutrition,

Assistive Technology, Social Work, Pulmonary Medicine

Other diseases/conditions treated:

Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Progressive Spinal Muscular Atrophy,

Progressive Bulbar Palsy

Other Information:

Certified ALSA Center

Research emphasis:

Research regarding clinical management and therapeutic drug trials

in ALS.

Current clinical trials:

Prospective, multi-center trial studying early vs traditional use of

BiPAP

Pathogenesis of ALS studying novel, neuronal surface protein

End of Life Care for People with ALS

Indinavir - Clinical Study in People with ALS

Contact person: Versenyi, CSW, Center Coordinator

Phone:

Fax:

E-mail: versenyi@...

Record last reviewed:

18 Jun 2002

In addition, you can learn a lot about PLS by reading Dr. Armon's chapter on

PLS:

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic324.htm

as well as the " Physician's Guide to PLS " that mentioned.

Also, you might want to look at the ALS-PLS website:

www.als-pls.org

and the PLS website:

http://www.geocities.com/freyerse/index.html

as well as Synapse:

http://synapsepls.home.attbi.com/index.html

and SPF:

http://www.sp-foundation.org

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. We've all been there

and would like to help you through this frightening time. Trust me, it does

get better! Well, the PLS doesn't get better, but the fear of what is

happening eases with time.

Thomson

Solana Beach, Ca

Visit www.als-pls.org

and www.geocities.com/mdmfoo/pls.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue the Poet:

Welcome to the group:

I have had PLS for 30 years, only diagnosed in 1986. Once diagnosed,

there really isn't to much to learn. We are all different, some mild

cases, other's progress rapidly in different ways. This is a life

changing disease, not life threatening (thank God). Stress seems to

make the progression (in some case worse). So keep doing what you can

do, don't worry about what you can't do, and just live life the best you

can. Don't spend all your energy searching for answer's that aren't

there (maybe someday).

The best way to deal with PLS is to meet some of us (if you dare, we are

getting a reputation as a crazy wild bunch) LOL and learn how we cope

with having this disease. In fact some of us are gong to meet in Albany

(I am hoping in May), interested???

Rita from NH

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

Welcome to the " club " where we'd rather not be. Nonetheless, you'll find

that this group is a wonderful source of information and support. With such

a rare disease, experience is a good teacher and the very willing members of

PLS Friends have been outstanding in sharing their experience. I will e-mail

you, privately, to discuss physicians in our area and offer help in your

eating problems. I'll also send you a copy of " my story " , so you can

compare notes with your PLS.

Dolores in CT d.carron@...

New Member

> I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AM WORKING WITH A TEAM IN NY.

>

> I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THERE ARE HOSPITALS OR PROGRAMS

> RELATING TO PLS.

>

> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. I WILL TRAVEL ANYWHERE. I WAS

> DIAGNOSED VERY RECENTLY AND KNOW VERY LITTLE.

>

> THUS FAR, MY SPEECH HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I AM HAVING A VERY TOUGH TIME

> BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT, I AM A TEACHER.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi to Sue the Poet:

Glad you found this site, welcome. I'm in Ottawa, Ontario, so just a bit

north of you. I too have speech problems although this was not my first

symptom. I'm female, 44, first symptoms about five years ago, took them 2+

years to diagnose as PLS after many tests and almost as many doctors. If

you want to

e-mail me direct I'm at jenlach@... anytime. Take care.

Jen L.

-- New Member

I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AM WORKING WITH A TEAM IN NY.

I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THERE ARE HOSPITALS OR PROGRAMS

RELATING TO PLS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. I WILL TRAVEL ANYWHERE. I WAS

DIAGNOSED VERY RECENTLY AND KNOW VERY LITTLE.

THUS FAR, MY SPEECH HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I AM HAVING A VERY TOUGH TIME

BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT, I AM A TEACHER.

[Guest guest]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE INFO. I WILL MAKE SOME CALLS. I AM JUST

BEGINNING MY WORK BECAUSE I WAS JUST DIAGNOSED. THIS IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW

THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CARE. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: New Member

> Hi Sue the Poet,

> The big problem with PLS is it's rarity. Because there are so few PLSers

> around, it really is hard to develop a clinic or study on PLS alone. Most

> neurologists that are up on PLS are also ALS experts. You'd have to go to

> an ALS clinic and try to find a neuro there that had an interest in PLS.

> Going to an ALS clinic will allow you to take advantage of the various

> multidisciplinary clinics that provide, in a single location, physical and

> occupational therapy, speech and swallowing evaluation and therapy,

> nutritional assessment and counseling, and respiratory assessment.

> I found my neuro, Dr. Armon (California) by searching online, from this

> source:

> http://www.wfnals.org/clinics/index.html

> When I looked at New York, I found the following facilities that list PLS:

>

> ALS Regional Center

> St. 's Hospital 315 S. Manning Blvd.

> Cusack 6-2

> Albany NY 12208

> Telephone:

> Fax:

> E-mail: alsregionalcenter@

> stpetershealthcare.org

>

> Medical Director:

> Dr.

> Other diseases/conditions treated:

> Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and

Progressive

> Bulbar Palsy

> Contact person: Spinelli, RN BS, ALS Coordinator

> Phone:

> Fax:

> E-mail: alsregionalcenter@

> stpetershealthcare.org

>

> Record last reviewed:

> 18 Jun 2002

>

> Beth Israel ALS Center

> Beth Israel Medical Center

> 10 Union Square East, Suite 2Q

> New York, New York 10003

> Telephone:

> Fax:

> E-mail: versenyi@...

>

> Medical Director:

> Scelsa, MD

> Specialty:

> Neurology/Neuromuscular Disease/Electromyography

> Other medical specialties:

> Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Nutrition,

> Assistive Technology, Social Work, Pulmonary Medicine

> Other diseases/conditions treated:

> Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Progressive Spinal Muscular Atrophy,

> Progressive Bulbar Palsy

> Other Information:

> Certified ALSA Center

> Research emphasis:

> Research regarding clinical management and therapeutic drug trials

> in ALS.

> Current clinical trials:

> Prospective, multi-center trial studying early vs traditional use

of

> BiPAP

> Pathogenesis of ALS studying novel, neuronal surface protein

> End of Life Care for People with ALS

> Indinavir - Clinical Study in People with ALS

>

> Contact person: Versenyi, CSW, Center Coordinator

> Phone:

> Fax:

> E-mail: versenyi@...

>

> Record last reviewed:

> 18 Jun 2002

> In addition, you can learn a lot about PLS by reading Dr. Armon's chapter

on

> PLS:

> http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic324.htm

>

> as well as the " Physician's Guide to PLS " that mentioned.

> Also, you might want to look at the ALS-PLS website:

> www.als-pls.org

> and the PLS website:

> http://www.geocities.com/freyerse/index.html

> as well as Synapse:

> http://synapsepls.home.attbi.com/index.html

> and SPF:

> http://www.sp-foundation.org

>

> Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. We've all been

there

> and would like to help you through this frightening time. Trust me, it

does

> get better! Well, the PLS doesn't get better, but the fear of what is

> happening eases with time.

>

> Thomson

> Solana Beach, Ca

> Visit www.als-pls.org

> and www.geocities.com/mdmfoo/pls.html

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RESPONSE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF I NEED THE

MICHIGAN SITE. THANKS FOR BEING THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: New Member

> We here in Michigan have a Dr. Fink is one of the top reseachers of HSP

and

> PLS. If you would like any further information please let me know. He is

out

> of the University of Michigan Hospital. Hope this helps. Shirley

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

THANKS FOR ANSWERING ME. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO DIAGNOSE YOU. I AM VERY

INTERESTED IN ALBANY. LET ME KNOW WHEN & WHERE THANKS FOR BEING

THERE!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: New Member

> Hi Sue the Poet:

>

> Welcome to the group:

>

> I have had PLS for 30 years, only diagnosed in 1986. Once diagnosed,

> there really isn't to much to learn. We are all different, some mild

> cases, other's progress rapidly in different ways. This is a life

> changing disease, not life threatening (thank God). Stress seems to

> make the progression (in some case worse). So keep doing what you can

> do, don't worry about what you can't do, and just live life the best you

> can. Don't spend all your energy searching for answer's that aren't

> there (maybe someday).

>

> The best way to deal with PLS is to meet some of us (if you dare, we are

> getting a reputation as a crazy wild bunch) LOL and learn how we cope

> with having this disease. In fact some of us are gong to meet in Albany

> (I am hoping in May), interested???

>

> Rita from NH

>

> Luv & Hugs!

>

>

>

>

> *************************************

> Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

> of them.

>

>

> Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi New Member...I also have recently dx...November in fact. I live in upstate

NY am 57 and have trouble with my legs. I was sent by my local neuro to see Dr.

Dale Lange, who is supposed to be an expert. He is at Mt. Sinai Hospital in the

city. At Mt. Sinai they have an MR Spectroscopy which is supposed to be helpful

with the diagnosis...it's just like a MRI. If you'd like more info, or chat

more you can contact me at mrsbill@....

Glad you joined the group

Cookie

[Guest guest]

Sue the Poet (is Sue your real name?)

In my particular case, the early symptoms, such as tripping and falling,

periodically dropping things, struggling to get up, and to me it was

just being klutz, never thinking anything was wrong with me

neurologically, until I started to feel tingling in my arms and legs,

and I could not coordinate my brain with my motor skills, such as

typing, and dancing. The brain wanted to, but the body parts would not

respond. So I went to y family doctor in 1983, he sent to Boston I spent

10 days having every test in the book. They found nothing. As my

symptoms started to get worse 2 1/2 yeas later my doctor sent me to Dr.

Gross at Lahey Clinic Burlington Mass, diagnosed me with PLS, He told

me there was no treatment no cure, that to keep walking and find a

neurologist familiar with PLS, which I did. In Dr. Gross's opinion, he

felt like this was brought on by extreme stress, and let me tell you all

the stress that I had in my life prior to the DX, something had to give.

So here I am 30 years later, making the best of it (my choice) have a

wonderful husband of 43 years who takes very good care of me. Life is

good! I have be fortunate enough to meet at least 30 PLSer's and that

to me has been the best medicine I could ever receive.

Hope's this answer's your question, I do have a tendency to babble.

Rita

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

[Guest guest]

Luv & Hugs!

*************************************

Some people succeed in spite of their handicap. Others succeed because

of them.

Lord Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder And Your Hand Over My Mouth

[Guest guest]

OH SUE,

I CAN IMAGINE. I DON'T HAVE PLS BUT DID LOOSE MY VOICE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

TOOK 3 MOs OFF WORK TO HEAL MY VOCAL CORDS. I COULDN'T TALK ABOVE A WHISPER.

MY PROBLEM I WORKED AS AN ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR IN A NURSING HOME. I NORMALLY

DON'T KNOW HOW TO TALK SOFTLY AFTER ALL THE YEARS THERE.

I WAS HAVING A CHEMICAL REACTION TO SOMETHING WHILE THEY WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

OVER THERE. COULDN'T PROVE IT SO COULDN'T GET WORKERS COMP. BUT I HAD A LOT OF

SICK AND VACATION TIME. EVEN HAD TO HAVE A SURGERY TO GET A BIOPSY OF THE VOCAL

CORDS. I STILL HAVE A VERY STRANGE VOICE. I HATE IT.

I USED A RADIO AND A KIDS MIKE TO AMPLIFY MY VOICE. THEY WOULDN'T GET A

KERRIOKIE (SP?) SET UP FOR ME AND I COULDN'T AFFORD ONE. OR I HAD SOMEONE

REPEAT EVERYTHING I SAID.

AT LEAST I GOT MINE BACK STRANGE AS IT IS.

HOPE YOU CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.

BONNIE

[Guest guest]

My daughter and son-in-law are teachers and I know they have to talk

a lot. I'm so sorry you have this problem. PLS is a nasty thing to

have, but you will find many friend in this group. Sorry I can't

help you find a hospital, but you have a great program here.

My best,

Donna

> I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AM WORKING WITH A TEAM IN NY.

>

> I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THERE ARE HOSPITALS OR PROGRAMS

> RELATING TO PLS.

>

> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. I WILL TRAVEL ANYWHERE. I WAS

> DIAGNOSED VERY RECENTLY AND KNOW VERY LITTLE.

>

> THUS FAR, MY SPEECH HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I AM HAVING A VERY TOUGH

TIME

> BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT, I AM A TEACHER.

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark and welcome..

As some have already shared with you,we are all a little different. I was

recently dx in November of last year. I have no speech problems. I am 57 and

have had fasciculations (little jumpies) in my calves for over 2 years. All my

reflexes are hyper and I only recently have experienced heaviness in my thighs

and curling of my toes. As you read and read you will see how wonderful this

group is. You will get more info from them than 's doctor. Just keep

asking the questions and we will do our best to answer.

Warning...you will be in for some big laughs with the group as we continue to

tease each other...it's good for the soul.

Give our love...and keep writing.

(where do you live?)

Cookie

[Guest guest]

Welcome Mark & to the group that none of us wanted to belong to. But,

having found ourselves with PLS, we're here, and so grateful to a wonderful

group.

We will attempt to answer your questions, and with several differing opinions,

you'll find.

I am 55, female, diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago, and only my legs are affected. My

speech and swallowing are just fine. My arms & hands are only very slightly

affected in that I am hyperreflexive, and drop stuff easily. My symptoms

started in my late 40's.

Where are you from?

Welcome, take care of yourselves, and keep the faith!

Laurel

New Member

Hello everyone, my name is Mark Sawyer and my wife, , last week was dx

with PLS after almost 30 years of growing numbness, paralysis and spasms. For

many years the neurogists had dx her with " probable MS " but they never did

find a confirming MRI show any evidence of MS leisons. Did any of you folks

with PLS ever start having symptoms when you were in your early 20's? Did any

of you folks ever get an initial dx of MS? And my final question (for

tonight) is: do any of you folks dx with PLS do NOT have any trouble speaking

or swallowing as my wife does not have trouble in this area of her body? I've

just join two days ago, the Yahoo PLS group and tonight I was greeted with

over 50 email's from you all. I suppose this email will flood my computer out

real good. Nice to be part of the group. mws

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Mark. There is a young lady in Frederick, MD who has had PLS since

she was about 11 yrs. old. The only symptoms she seemed to have were in her

left leg and foot. Ronnie knows this lady and can probably give you more

accurate info.

[Guest guest]

---Mark Welcome I thought I was long in a diagnosis 15 years. 30

years now thats a record. I have had it going on 20 years and have it

only in my legs. Everyone is different and starts in many different

places. In the last 4 years I have gone from no cane to a cane around

the house to a walker when I go out alone. I have a wheelchair if I

go places that are a long walk like the airports. I was diagnosed

with Ms at first by an idiot Dr. when I had no positive results that

said I had it. He was just guessing! This is suppose to be a slow

moving disease, but for some it isn't. Carolyn

> Hello everyone, my name is Mark Sawyer and my wife, , last

week was dx

> with PLS after almost 30 years of growing numbness, paralysis and

spasms. For

> many years the neurogists had dx her with " probable MS " but they

never did

> find a confirming MRI show any evidence of MS leisons. Did any of

you folks

> with PLS ever start having symptoms when you were in your early

20's? Did any

> of you folks ever get an initial dx of MS? And my final question

(for

> tonight) is: do any of you folks dx with PLS do NOT have any

trouble speaking

> or swallowing as my wife does not have trouble in this area of her

body? I've

> just join two days ago, the Yahoo PLS group and tonight I was

greeted with

> over 50 email's from you all. I suppose this email will flood my

computer out

> real good. Nice to be part of the group. mws

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

-hi barb,

i also had surgery to remove a cyst from my labia. in my case it was

a bit more complicated as it was in fact a hydrocele still attached

to my round ligament which was itself attached to my uterus and

ovaries! the cyst (hydrocele) was also considerably larger. i was

massively swollen after surgery and still have some scar tissue, but

the major thing is that i also still have my dysaesthetic vulvodynia

pain and burning.

while in no way wishing to diminish your feelings/problem, i can say

that if you are pain free or at least relatively pain free, that is

the most important thing.

also, what the others have said about giving it time is true. the

body can heal amazingly well and once your pubic hair has grown back

you most likely won't be able to tell anything ever happened.

once you have healed and can have sex it is unlikely your husband

will be able to feel any difference either. hang in there and have

faith that your body will heal.

kay

-- In VulvarDisorders , " bag365 " <bag365@y...> wrote:

> Hi everyone, my name is Barb. I'm not sure if this is the group

> where I belong or not. Let me tell you my story and you can let me

> know...

>

> I'm 38 yrs old and happily married. I've had recurring cysts in my

> labia minora for many years (at least 6 or 7 years now). They are

> like the deep pimples that appear on your face that you know are

> there but you can't see them as much. For the first few years I

was

> just going to my regular family physician because they weren't

> occurring all that frequently (maybe a couple times per year) and

> they'd pretty much go away on their own after a few hot baths. In

> the last few years they've been getting more frequent and more

> painful, and in the last year it seems like I've had one at least

> every other month. Still, most of the time after a hot bath or two

I

> could start draining it by squeezing it myself. My family dr.

> referred me to an ob/gyn who I've been seeing for a couple years

> now. I have visited him a number of times so he could see the

cysts,

> and he took cultures about 6 months ago to determine if it was

> anything unusual. All the STD tests came back negative and the

> culture supposedly just showed " normal " bacteria. Antibiotics

seemed

> to help some too, so he gave me a refillable prescription so I

could

> start taking them the minute I felt one coming on. He also

mentioned

> surgery to " remove the area " last year and I said no way, I wasn't

> ready for that.

>

> All this was working OK for me until right after Christmas. One

> started on my right labia minora on Friday, 12/26. The baths and

> antibiotics didn't seem to be helping, and it was so swollen and

> painful I couldn't even walk with my legs together. So my gyn dr.

got

> me in on the morning of Tuesday 12/30. He said the only way to get

> rid of the cyst would be to drain it. He said the needles to numb

> the area would hurt as much or more than the cyst itself, so he

> wanted to put my in for day surgery so they could give me a general

> anethestic. I agreed to that because I don't like needles and the

> thought of having them inserted " down there " while I was awake

didn't

> make me happy.

>

> So they got me an appt. the same day for day surgery in the

> hospital. I was under the impression that he was just going to

drain

> the cyst. When I spoke with him right before surgery, I asked him

if

> everything was going to look the same and feel the same (for me and

> for my husband). He said he had to excise the cyst and would have

to

> remove " a little " of the surrounding tissue but that my husband

> wouldn't even notice the difference and that it would look & feel

the

> same for me.

>

> After the surgery the dr. talked to me & hubby and said everything

> went well. He removed a cyst about the size of his thumbnail

> (according to him) from my right labia minora and a smaller one

from

> my left labia minora.

>

> They wound up keeping me in the hospital over night because I

reacted

> to the general anethetic (vomiting/nausea, etc.). After a couple

> days I noticed a strange tugging/pulling sensation in my vagina, so

I

> decided to use a mirror and see what was going on.

>

> I was/am totally shocked. My right labia minora is gone and my

left

> is seriously reduced. I think I look disfigured and mutilated. My

> husband is wonderful and very supportive. He's telling me it

doesn't

> matter to him but he understands how I must feel. He went with me

to

> talk to the gyn dr. last Monday about what he'd done to me. The

> doctor doesn't see any big deal about it - he says that every

woman's

> vagina is different and when it all heals up nobody would even be

> able to tell what happened. What I tried to explain to the dr. is

> that he didn't explain exactly what he was going to do, or I

wouldn't

> have let him do it! He said he didn't know what he was going to

> encounter until he got started on the surgery. I told him he

didn't

> even tell me that!

>

> This is becoming a very long message so I'm going to stop at this

> point. I'm going to talk to a psychologist on Wednesday to see if

she

> can help me deal with this.

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else has ever gone through anything like

this

> before?

>

> Thanks,

> Barb