New to Group

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

Sorry that you had reason to find this group but since you did, I am glad you

were able to. You have tapped into a source of unmeasurable support and

caring. The strength you can draw from this group is immeasurable. I had my

EP last July/00 and I lost my right tube. I just found out that I am 5 weeks

pg. I know the fears about TTC again after such a traumatic experience. It

can and does happen and you can find plenty of success stories here. Welcome!!

Dana

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

Sorry that you had reason to find this group but since you did, I am glad you

were able to. You have tapped into a source of unmeasurable support and

caring. The strength you can draw from this group is immeasurable. I had my

EP last July/00 and I lost my right tube. I just found out that I am 5 weeks

pg. I know the fears about TTC again after such a traumatic experience. It

can and does happen and you can find plenty of success stories here. Welcome!!

Dana

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

Sorry that you had reason to find this group but since you did, I am glad you

were able to. You have tapped into a source of unmeasurable support and

caring. The strength you can draw from this group is immeasurable. I had my

EP last July/00 and I lost my right tube. I just found out that I am 5 weeks

pg. I know the fears about TTC again after such a traumatic experience. It

can and does happen and you can find plenty of success stories here. Welcome!!

Dana

[Guest guest]

Hi, and welcome to the group! I think you find this group of women to be a

great source of support!! I know they are for me. It can be so scary just

to plain be a woman after an ep much less ttc after one...unfortunately we

all know how that feels, but at least we are all here together to share

those fears as well as our hopes.

I know some people take baby aspirin when ttc and some people have a very

valid reason for doing so, but I've also read that it can actually be

harmful if you don't really need it. I'd be careful with it...maybe just

place a call to your dr, and his/her opinion?

Good luck!

-AmyR

[Guest guest]

Hi, and welcome to the group! I think you find this group of women to be a

great source of support!! I know they are for me. It can be so scary just

to plain be a woman after an ep much less ttc after one...unfortunately we

all know how that feels, but at least we are all here together to share

those fears as well as our hopes.

I know some people take baby aspirin when ttc and some people have a very

valid reason for doing so, but I've also read that it can actually be

harmful if you don't really need it. I'd be careful with it...maybe just

place a call to your dr, and his/her opinion?

Good luck!

-AmyR

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome. I am sorry for your loss and I

really think you will find some comfort and support

here. I know I have. I now know it is a long hard road

but these great girls have made it easier. I had ep

in Dec. 00 and lost my rt tube. I just had hsg done

last week and I would like to try right away but can

totally relate to being scared!

I am happy to hear you have a beautiful little girl

and I hope you are able to add to your family really

soon. There are some great success stories here. One

thing I have learned from being a memeber here is,

things can change for the better pretty fast. I do

have hope now. Like one of the other girls here said

she was afraid when she starting ttc but the

overwhelming desire to have a baby was stronger.

You can ask anything here and you can even whine when

you are feeling down and not having such a good

day...everyone here is great. I will be praying for

you and your family! +++++++++++thoughts!!

--- heatherkleeshk@... wrote:

> Hello all! I was reading through some of your

> messages and I feel

> like I found the right group. I am currently ttc

> (just starting in a

> couple of weeks) after an ectopic pregnancy a year

> and a half ago. I

> had an HSG about six months ago and was told

> everything looked good,

> but I am still scared and not sure if I could handle

> another ectopic

> pregnancy (abbreviated ep or ec?). We have a little

> girl (conceived

> before the ectopic), she is such a blessing. I am

> currently charting

> using Toni Weschler's book, I'm using a ClearPlan

> Fertility Monitor,

> and taking baby asprin (a friend recommended it, it

> probably does no

> good at all but it makes me feel like I'm being

> proactive). So I

> feel like I'm doing everything I can do, now it's

> out of my hands.

> Thank you for allowing me into your group.

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome. I am sorry for your loss and I

really think you will find some comfort and support

here. I know I have. I now know it is a long hard road

but these great girls have made it easier. I had ep

in Dec. 00 and lost my rt tube. I just had hsg done

last week and I would like to try right away but can

totally relate to being scared!

I am happy to hear you have a beautiful little girl

and I hope you are able to add to your family really

soon. There are some great success stories here. One

thing I have learned from being a memeber here is,

things can change for the better pretty fast. I do

have hope now. Like one of the other girls here said

she was afraid when she starting ttc but the

overwhelming desire to have a baby was stronger.

You can ask anything here and you can even whine when

you are feeling down and not having such a good

day...everyone here is great. I will be praying for

you and your family! +++++++++++thoughts!!

--- heatherkleeshk@... wrote:

> Hello all! I was reading through some of your

> messages and I feel

> like I found the right group. I am currently ttc

> (just starting in a

> couple of weeks) after an ectopic pregnancy a year

> and a half ago. I

> had an HSG about six months ago and was told

> everything looked good,

> but I am still scared and not sure if I could handle

> another ectopic

> pregnancy (abbreviated ep or ec?). We have a little

> girl (conceived

> before the ectopic), she is such a blessing. I am

> currently charting

> using Toni Weschler's book, I'm using a ClearPlan

> Fertility Monitor,

> and taking baby asprin (a friend recommended it, it

> probably does no

> good at all but it makes me feel like I'm being

> proactive). So I

> feel like I'm doing everything I can do, now it's

> out of my hands.

> Thank you for allowing me into your group.

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome. I am sorry for your loss and I

really think you will find some comfort and support

here. I know I have. I now know it is a long hard road

but these great girls have made it easier. I had ep

in Dec. 00 and lost my rt tube. I just had hsg done

last week and I would like to try right away but can

totally relate to being scared!

I am happy to hear you have a beautiful little girl

and I hope you are able to add to your family really

soon. There are some great success stories here. One

thing I have learned from being a memeber here is,

things can change for the better pretty fast. I do

have hope now. Like one of the other girls here said

she was afraid when she starting ttc but the

overwhelming desire to have a baby was stronger.

You can ask anything here and you can even whine when

you are feeling down and not having such a good

day...everyone here is great. I will be praying for

you and your family! +++++++++++thoughts!!

--- heatherkleeshk@... wrote:

> Hello all! I was reading through some of your

> messages and I feel

> like I found the right group. I am currently ttc

> (just starting in a

> couple of weeks) after an ectopic pregnancy a year

> and a half ago. I

> had an HSG about six months ago and was told

> everything looked good,

> but I am still scared and not sure if I could handle

> another ectopic

> pregnancy (abbreviated ep or ec?). We have a little

> girl (conceived

> before the ectopic), she is such a blessing. I am

> currently charting

> using Toni Weschler's book, I'm using a ClearPlan

> Fertility Monitor,

> and taking baby asprin (a friend recommended it, it

> probably does no

> good at all but it makes me feel like I'm being

> proactive). So I

> feel like I'm doing everything I can do, now it's

> out of my hands.

> Thank you for allowing me into your group.

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony;

Welcome to the group!

My current TSH

> is 0.523 The range I was told to be in was 0.350-5.500, but is

this

> the range for thyroid cancer survivors? As I understand it, the

> synthroid is to repress the growth of thyroid cells in us as well

as

> to replace the hormone. I've been told online, by a fellow thyca

> survivor, that my TSH should be lower-0.1 or something like that.

I

> only go to an internist at Urgent Care as I have no insurance

(tried

> three times already and been turned down everytime). Should I be

in

> the care of an endo?

the range of .35-5.5 TSH is for non Thyca people. For us, we need to

be suppressed, as you've already heard, to a TSH < .10

An endo would be the right sort of doc to be doing your ongoing care

and followup, especially one well versed in Thyroid cancer (not all

are). Or if an endo isn't possible with your non insurance

situation, an interist who at least knows their way around thyca. It

would probably be worth the out of pocket to see an endo and get your

levels on track.

barb

tt 8/99 RAI 4/00 Clean Scans 12/00,5/02

>

> Any advice is much appreciated?

>

> Tony

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony;

Welcome to the group!

My current TSH

> is 0.523 The range I was told to be in was 0.350-5.500, but is

this

> the range for thyroid cancer survivors? As I understand it, the

> synthroid is to repress the growth of thyroid cells in us as well

as

> to replace the hormone. I've been told online, by a fellow thyca

> survivor, that my TSH should be lower-0.1 or something like that.

I

> only go to an internist at Urgent Care as I have no insurance

(tried

> three times already and been turned down everytime). Should I be

in

> the care of an endo?

the range of .35-5.5 TSH is for non Thyca people. For us, we need to

be suppressed, as you've already heard, to a TSH < .10

An endo would be the right sort of doc to be doing your ongoing care

and followup, especially one well versed in Thyroid cancer (not all

are). Or if an endo isn't possible with your non insurance

situation, an interist who at least knows their way around thyca. It

would probably be worth the out of pocket to see an endo and get your

levels on track.

barb

tt 8/99 RAI 4/00 Clean Scans 12/00,5/02

>

> Any advice is much appreciated?

>

> Tony

[Guest guest]

Hi Tony;

Welcome to the group!

My current TSH

> is 0.523 The range I was told to be in was 0.350-5.500, but is

this

> the range for thyroid cancer survivors? As I understand it, the

> synthroid is to repress the growth of thyroid cells in us as well

as

> to replace the hormone. I've been told online, by a fellow thyca

> survivor, that my TSH should be lower-0.1 or something like that.

I

> only go to an internist at Urgent Care as I have no insurance

(tried

> three times already and been turned down everytime). Should I be

in

> the care of an endo?

the range of .35-5.5 TSH is for non Thyca people. For us, we need to

be suppressed, as you've already heard, to a TSH < .10

An endo would be the right sort of doc to be doing your ongoing care

and followup, especially one well versed in Thyroid cancer (not all

are). Or if an endo isn't possible with your non insurance

situation, an interist who at least knows their way around thyca. It

would probably be worth the out of pocket to see an endo and get your

levels on track.

barb

tt 8/99 RAI 4/00 Clean Scans 12/00,5/02

>

> Any advice is much appreciated?

>

> Tony

[Guest guest]

Elise,

Thanks for sharing your story. I was looking for your profile to see who you were but couldn't find it. Did you send it through? If not, please send it to me so that we can add you to the list of members.

Your answers to your questions:

Yes, phone consultations are normal.

No, I can't recall anyone mentioning Dr Walmer or anyone from Duke University.

Good luck on Wednesday and let us know how you get on with Dr Walmer.

Poly

[Guest guest]

Elise,

Thanks for sharing your story. I was looking for your profile to see who you were but couldn't find it. Did you send it through? If not, please send it to me so that we can add you to the list of members.

Your answers to your questions:

Yes, phone consultations are normal.

No, I can't recall anyone mentioning Dr Walmer or anyone from Duke University.

Good luck on Wednesday and let us know how you get on with Dr Walmer.

Poly

[Guest guest]

Elise,

Thanks for sharing your story. I was looking for your profile to see who you were but couldn't find it. Did you send it through? If not, please send it to me so that we can add you to the list of members.

Your answers to your questions:

Yes, phone consultations are normal.

No, I can't recall anyone mentioning Dr Walmer or anyone from Duke University.

Good luck on Wednesday and let us know how you get on with Dr Walmer.

Poly

[Guest guest]

Hello Eddy,

How you will feel is a personal thing. I was one of the lucky ones. I was

extremely hypo, but did not have any problems. My only problem was that for

a few weeks I didn't sleep well. I only got 3 or maybe 4 hours of sleep a

night, but during the day I felt fine. I hope your journey is an easy one

also!!

Cherri

> new to group

>

> Hello,

> I am a 50 year old male who had thyca surgery on jan 27th of this

> year for papullary with a foliccular varient. I had the whole thyroid

> taken out and now I am waiting for the rai in about 5 or 6 weeks. I

> want someone to tell me how bad I will feel in the comming weeks

> since I will not have any replacement drugs until after my body scan

> and rai. My Doctor told me I would feel like sleeping most of the

> time but since I went back to work last week I need to know can

> someone work through this period. I work nights and feel tired most

> of the time to begin with.

> The cancer was found after my wife noticed a lump on my neck two

> days before Christmas so I had no symptoms. I had prostate cancer and

> surgery last april without any symptoms and now I'm dealing with

> cancer all over again. My age from 49 to 50 ( turned 50 1-31) has

> been a bad year.

> I would welcome any response to this post. I'm tired of just reading

> information over and over. Any help from anyone will be most welcome.

>

> Eddy

>

>

> This e-mail support group is one of many free services of ThyCa: Thyroid

> Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc. <web site: www.thyca.org>. If you do

> not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by

> sending a blank e-mail to:

> thyca-unsubscribe

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne,

I am also new to the group and had a TT on Feb. 6th too! I am meeting with a

Nuc Med dr this afternoon to discuss my RAI.

Welcome!

Janetta

TT 2/6/03

Pap in 2 nodules

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

Hi,

My name is Anne. I am a left-handed RN, if that means anything to the

previous poster! (Also prematurely grey hair). Anyway, I hope to lurk

here for a while and learn about papillary cancer. I was diagnosed by

US Jan 10, TT Feb 6th, and am going hypo for my first Rai the first

part of March, I hope. I am scheduled for 175 mCi due to extensive

lymph node involvement. They initially said 150 mCi, but changed it.

I am fairly worried about how far and wide it spread. I had no

thyroid symptoms before surgery, just a nodule that I have been

bringing to physicians' attention for 6 years. Finally found a doctor

to do US w/ biopsy. Anyway, if this sounds like you, I would like to

hear your story.

[Guest guest]

Hi Eddy

Happy Birthday! we share the same birthday only I turned 49.

As for how you will feel, its different for everyone. I worked almost full

time last year when I had my RAI scan. I could have worked full time but I

arranged to leave work if I felt too tired so a few days I left 2 hours

early. Symptoms seem to be worse for others and it depends on what kind of

work you do. Sounds like you have been through a lot and may want to plan

some time off or work part time if you can.

Lynn in OR

> "

>Reply-To: Thyca

>To: Thyca

>Subject: new to group

>Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 08:59:42 -0000

>

_________________________________________________________________

Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

[Guest guest]

Hi Eddy

Happy Birthday! we share the same birthday only I turned 49.

As for how you will feel, its different for everyone. I worked almost full

time last year when I had my RAI scan. I could have worked full time but I

arranged to leave work if I felt too tired so a few days I left 2 hours

early. Symptoms seem to be worse for others and it depends on what kind of

work you do. Sounds like you have been through a lot and may want to plan

some time off or work part time if you can.

Lynn in OR

> "

>Reply-To: Thyca

>To: Thyca

>Subject: new to group

>Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 08:59:42 -0000

>

_________________________________________________________________

Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

[Guest guest]

Hi Eddy

Happy Birthday! we share the same birthday only I turned 49.

As for how you will feel, its different for everyone. I worked almost full

time last year when I had my RAI scan. I could have worked full time but I

arranged to leave work if I felt too tired so a few days I left 2 hours

early. Symptoms seem to be worse for others and it depends on what kind of

work you do. Sounds like you have been through a lot and may want to plan

some time off or work part time if you can.

Lynn in OR

> "

>Reply-To: Thyca

>To: Thyca

>Subject: new to group

>Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 08:59:42 -0000

>

_________________________________________________________________

Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the club ! Try not to be too discouraged about 5 pounds in

3 weeks. That is 1.6 pounds a week, which is great! Healthy long-term weight

loss is supposed to be an average of 1-2 pounds per week so you are right on

track! What type of plan are you following to lose weight? What is your

height and current weight?

I am Jette, 30 years old in North Carolina. I started my weight loss journey

10 weeks ago at 285 pounds. I have lost 23 pounds so far by drinking lots of

water, counting calories (I try to stay between 1700 and 2100) and trying to

exercise at least 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes. Oh, and did I

mention? Drinking TONS of water, LOL!

Good luck on your journey, and I hope you enjoy our little group. Everyone

is friendly and compassionate, and we are all in the same boat, and can

understand the ups and downs, joys and frustrations of losing weight.

Jette

New to group

> My name is Angie and I have been seriously trying to lose weight for about

3 weeks. I have lost only 5 pounds and am already starting to get a little

discouraged. That is why I thought it would be a good idea to join this

group. I look forward to reading the emails and being a part of this group.

Thank you

>

>

>

> Nutter

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the club ! Try not to be too discouraged about 5 pounds in

3 weeks. That is 1.6 pounds a week, which is great! Healthy long-term weight

loss is supposed to be an average of 1-2 pounds per week so you are right on

track! What type of plan are you following to lose weight? What is your

height and current weight?

I am Jette, 30 years old in North Carolina. I started my weight loss journey

10 weeks ago at 285 pounds. I have lost 23 pounds so far by drinking lots of

water, counting calories (I try to stay between 1700 and 2100) and trying to

exercise at least 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes. Oh, and did I

mention? Drinking TONS of water, LOL!

Good luck on your journey, and I hope you enjoy our little group. Everyone

is friendly and compassionate, and we are all in the same boat, and can

understand the ups and downs, joys and frustrations of losing weight.

Jette

New to group

> My name is Angie and I have been seriously trying to lose weight for about

3 weeks. I have lost only 5 pounds and am already starting to get a little

discouraged. That is why I thought it would be a good idea to join this

group. I look forward to reading the emails and being a part of this group.

Thank you

>

>

>

> Nutter

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the club ! Try not to be too discouraged about 5 pounds in

3 weeks. That is 1.6 pounds a week, which is great! Healthy long-term weight

loss is supposed to be an average of 1-2 pounds per week so you are right on

track! What type of plan are you following to lose weight? What is your

height and current weight?

I am Jette, 30 years old in North Carolina. I started my weight loss journey

10 weeks ago at 285 pounds. I have lost 23 pounds so far by drinking lots of

water, counting calories (I try to stay between 1700 and 2100) and trying to

exercise at least 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes. Oh, and did I

mention? Drinking TONS of water, LOL!

Good luck on your journey, and I hope you enjoy our little group. Everyone

is friendly and compassionate, and we are all in the same boat, and can

understand the ups and downs, joys and frustrations of losing weight.

Jette

New to group

> My name is Angie and I have been seriously trying to lose weight for about

3 weeks. I have lost only 5 pounds and am already starting to get a little

discouraged. That is why I thought it would be a good idea to join this

group. I look forward to reading the emails and being a part of this group.

Thank you

>

>

>

> Nutter

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

You have come to a great place! It is a very active supportive group.

Congrads on the 5 lbs already. The thing is don't be so numbers

oriented. You want to be learning new habits and a new lifestyle so you

don't just lose weight but it will stay off. I suggest going back and

reading lots of old posts. There is great info there. You didn't say,

how much do you want to lose? The less you have to lose the slower it

will go. Think about it, a pound is roughly 3500 cals so to lose a

pound you have to cut calories but you don't want to go below 1200 a

day. If you go too low your body will go into starvation mode and it

will be harder to lose weight. Or you want to increase activity to burn

more calories then you are taking in to burn off a pound. A good pace

is 1/2 to 2 lbs a week so actually you have done really well. Focus on

the things you can do, not a number on the scale but on getting more

active, eating healthier, ect. You can do it! When things become habit,

it will just be the way you do things. Not just to lose weight but to

be healthier. I hope to hear more from you.

Gena

> My name is Angie and I have been seriously trying to lose weight for

> about 3 weeks.  I have lost only 5 pounds and am already starting to

> get a little discouraged.  That is why I thought it would be a good

> idea to join this group.  I look forward to reading the emails and

> being a part of this group.  Thank you

>

>

>

> Nutter  

>

> angmarnut@...

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

You have come to a great place! It is a very active supportive group.

Congrads on the 5 lbs already. The thing is don't be so numbers

oriented. You want to be learning new habits and a new lifestyle so you

don't just lose weight but it will stay off. I suggest going back and

reading lots of old posts. There is great info there. You didn't say,

how much do you want to lose? The less you have to lose the slower it

will go. Think about it, a pound is roughly 3500 cals so to lose a

pound you have to cut calories but you don't want to go below 1200 a

day. If you go too low your body will go into starvation mode and it

will be harder to lose weight. Or you want to increase activity to burn

more calories then you are taking in to burn off a pound. A good pace

is 1/2 to 2 lbs a week so actually you have done really well. Focus on

the things you can do, not a number on the scale but on getting more

active, eating healthier, ect. You can do it! When things become habit,

it will just be the way you do things. Not just to lose weight but to

be healthier. I hope to hear more from you.

Gena

> My name is Angie and I have been seriously trying to lose weight for

> about 3 weeks.  I have lost only 5 pounds and am already starting to

> get a little discouraged.  That is why I thought it would be a good

> idea to join this group.  I look forward to reading the emails and

> being a part of this group.  Thank you

>

>

>

> Nutter  

>

> angmarnut@...

[Guest guest]

Pam,

If I could do it all over again, I'd have to say that I wish the diet was the

first thing we would have tried. It's too bad it wasn't offered. Of course, at

that point, I was naive and thinking the answer was just to give our daughter

the medication and that would make her seizures stop. You can't know that until

you try. Those of us who've been through the nightmare experiences could never

have seen it coming. My advice to you would be not to discontinue the

medication....... if you're concerned about it not helping (or not well enough

anyway) after only 12 days, you need to call and bug the neuro's office until

you get a call back from him. Some adjustments can be made. I'm not a fan of

Depakote but 12 days doesn't seem long enough to know for sure. Diet-wise, I

think there are some changes you could make to his diet now that would

help...... and would not interfere with seizure medications, but just could

possibly help. I would cut out ALL sugar and refined flour, all artificial

colorings, flavorings, preservatives and ALL hydrogenated oils..... this would

include " partially hydrogenated " ANYthing. That is trans-fat..... and just

absolutely ROTTEN for the the human diet. It should be considered poison. Try to

move his diet over to fresh, whole foods......meats, eggs, veggies, fruits. More

natural good fats such as butter (organic if possible), olive oil, and foods

that contain good fats..... nuts, avacados, etc. Don't use nut butters that

contain hydrogenated oil..... buy the natural kind with the oil on top that you

have to stir in. Avoid ALL Nutrasweet (aspartame).... that is often a seizure

trigger....... and MSG (monosodium glutamate). You have to read up on MSG (do a

net search) to find out how to sleuth it out on labels..... manufacturers have

sneaky ways they're allowed to slip it into foods. MSG is a neurotoxin and

you'll find it is in just about all packaged, pre-made foods..... canned, frozen

(except for plain frozen veggies) or boxed. This probably sounds like a lot of

changes to make...... but you certainly wouldn't have to get your doctor's OK to

change his diet in these healthy ways. Another diet approach to look into is the

Specific Carbohydrate Diet (or SCD). It's a little more restrictive.... though

not as much as the Keto diet.... but is very healthy and is currently giving my

daughter better seizure control than we had in our final months on Keto. It's

also a diet that you could do on your own, without medical supervision, and you

could keep the meds in place for now, perhaps weaning them away later with your

doctor's okay. For more info on SCD, go to www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info .

I know this must be a tough time for you right now..... it's so hard to know

what to do and why it's all happening. My almost 7 yr old daughter has had

seizures since early infancy, so I'm used to this being a part of our lives now,

but I remember how scary it was at first..... and how frustrating all the drug

trials were. No drug ever worked for us. You want the best for your child. Just

hone your instincts and stay true to them. I think the only " damage " that

absence seizures really cause is that they interrupt the learning process so

much. If he's having a lot of them, it will make learning nearly impossible. I

don't think there is any concern of actual permanent brain damage from that type

of seizure. Seizures do seem to breed more seizures, though, too..... so you

definitely want to get them under control.

Patti, mom to Katera, former Keto Kid for over 2 yrs, now on SCD 4 months and

doing very well.

----- Original Message -----

Hello,

I am new to this group. I am also new to seizure disorders. I am

getting a crash course tho. My 7yo son, , began having seizures

(probably absence or atypical abs) about 4 weeks ago.