Re: How is it?

[Guest guest]

It is simple. free/Total is your percentage. When both are low, the

percentage does not change. let say your free was 10 and total was 100. so

percentage is 10%. Now you total drop to 50 and free to 5. You percentage

is still 10% !!

I thought the free T should be close to 0.4%, 4 tenth of a percent. Are we

talkign about free T or loosely bond T.

~Steve

On 9/22/06, ogarchamplin <gripperm@...> wrote:

>

> How is it that my Total T is low and my Total Free T is low but my

> Free T% is in range?

>

> Total T-127

> Total Free-30.1

> %2.37

>

> 37 Year Old male been Hypo since 27

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I dont know my lab sheet says

Testosterone, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS

Testosterone, Total 127L ng/dl Range 250-1100

Testosterone,Free

Percent 2.37 % Range 1.00-3.10

Free Testosterone 30.1L pg/ml Range 35.0-155.0

> >

> > How is it that my Total T is low and my Total Free T is low but my

> > Free T% is in range?

> >

> > Total T-127

> > Total Free-30.1

> > %2.37

> >

> > 37 Year Old male been Hypo since 27

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You are so low the other test are not any good and should not mean anything % of

T.

What are you going to do for this.

Phil

ogarchamplin <gripperm@...> wrote:

I dont know my lab sheet says

Testosterone, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS

Testosterone, Total 127L ng/dl Range 250-1100

Testosterone,Free

Percent 2.37 % Range 1.00-3.10

Free Testosterone 30.1L pg/ml Range 35.0-155.0

> >

> > How is it that my Total T is low and my Total Free T is low but my

> > Free T% is in range?

> >

> > Total T-127

> > Total Free-30.1

> > %2.37

> >

> > 37 Year Old male been Hypo since 27

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I thought I responded to this but I could not find it so if this is a

> double post I am sorry. When I was 27 my Total T was down to 27 and

> my PCP was giving me a shot 1x a month. I would feel great for that

> week but then like crap for the rest of the month.

Hi,

90% of the folks here could have told you 1 shot a month wouldn't work :-}

do shots once a week with arimidex to control e2.

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

Wow! I am so sorry you had such pain last night. I printed your letter for my hubby...so he can know it isn't just me. (I'm also pre-revision.) I am right with you on the seemingly random nature of the bouts. Mystifying. I'm with you on trying the journal, but it seems that the most innocent of twists or turns can get you on the wrong nerve.

I hope you feel better,

Diane VDW

Michigan

Hi,How is it that our backs, pre-revision can be fine one moment and in excruciating pain the next? I just came back from a 1200 mile drive to visit my sister in Florida. I was so concerned with being in the car for sooooo long... however, luckily, my pain was pretty minimal just the usual stiffness from sitting on a hard surface for so long. I was amazed I did so well and thought that maybe things were at a stand for a while. Nope...last night read a magazine while sitting on a Pilates ball, (I can't sit on a couch!), got up and boom, knife stabbing pain in my lower back into my hip. I did some stretches which only hurt worse, couldn't get into bed. Left me in hysterics, panting from the pain, my poor husband didn't know what to do, there was nothing he could do. I had a half of a percocet from when I had my son, he gave me this which helped some and he used the mechanical massager which also helped loosen up the pain. But, I just don't understand how these bouts happen out of nowhere, even when I do the "right" things. Does anyone have any ideas on this. Thanks. Believe me if I had this kind of pain more than once a month, I know I would be ready for the surgery! Also, I have been reading on here about keeping a pain journal. I've done this off and on lately. Find that during that time of the month is when my pain is the least, again, any correlation? Thanks for all your help and insight on this forum.Debbie

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[Guest guest]

Debbie, I'm sorry you've been experiencing such bad pain. I was

surprised when I realized that the worst pain bouts I was having

post-revision were back muscle spasms. I don't think I had this

particular pain before the surgery, but I did work out regularly. It

makes sense that the recuperation period after revision left my muscles

weakened and more prone to spasming from unaccustomed use.

My physical therapy helped a lot with the spasms. I had a small one in

the pool yesterday (2 1/2 months post-revision) while doing therapy

exercises right after an hour of PT for my shoulder. I figure I was

overdoing a bit, and I easily stretched the pain out. It also probably

helped that I'm on 4 different meds to control ongoing pains all over

my body (which may or may not be related to my scoliosis). But before

I completed PT I would sometimes have really bad spasms, especially if

I had been sitting most of the day. They would sometimes be so bad

they'd about take my breath away, even while still on opioid pain

medication.

It might not be the same as your pain. Maybe yours isn't muscle spasms

or isn't the same type. I just thought I'd throw it out that it might

be, and that, while surgery might help you over all, there is no

guarantee you won't still face this after surgery. If PT helps it

post-revision, I'd hazard a guess that it might help before.

Also, from your story it's unclear whether or not the big pain you had

could have been a delayed reaction to 1200 miles in a car. If so, I

wouldn't characterize it as happening out of nowhere.

Sharon

debbiep819 wrote:

Hi,

How is it that our backs, pre-revision can be fine one moment and in

excruciating pain the next? I just came back from a 1200 mile drive to

visit my sister in Florida. I was so concerned with being in the car

for sooooo long... however, luckily, my pain was pretty minimal just

the usual stiffness from sitting on a hard surface for so long. I was

amazed I did so well and thought that maybe things were at a stand for

a while. Nope...last night read a magazine while sitting on a Pilates

ball, (I can't sit on a couch!), got up and boom, knife stabbing pain

in my lower back into my hip. I did some stretches which only hurt

worse, couldn't get into bed. Left me in hysterics, panting from the

pain, my poor husband didn't know what to do, there was nothing he

could do. I had a half of a percocet from when I had my son, he gave me

this which helped some and he used the mechanical massager which also

helped loosen up the pain. But, I just don't understand how these bouts

happen out of nowhere, even when I do the "right" things. Does anyone

have any ideas on this. Thanks. Believe me if I had this kind of pain

more than once a month, I know I would be ready for the surgery! Also,

I have been reading on here about keeping a pain journal. I've done

this off and on lately. Find that during that time of the month is when

my pain is the least, again, any correlation?

Thanks for all your help and insight on this forum.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

LOL, this week when I was telling my TA that I would be off work monday to go

for my check up with my spine surgeon, he told me about someone he knew that had

back surgery. He seemed to think it was odd that I was going all the way to St

Louis. I pulled out the 8x10 photo of my before and after xrays and he was

totally shocked and speechless.

> >

> > Hi Debbie,

> >

> > I can see my hubby is trying to understand, but then he'll say something

> > like, " But don't we all start having pain at our age that just is with us

> > all the time. I know after I work all day I'm sore all over. " I just

> > looked at him and said, " I know what achy pain is from exercise or

> > working, this is way different. It is persistent soreness, burning,

> > etc., etc. " I just wanted to scream. I was trying to say that I'm not

> > satisfied with what the drs seem to be satisfied with . The bottom of

> > the journal says, " What pain level overall would you find acceptable? "

> > and I'm going...a ZERO. I suppose that is unrealistic, but I had only

> > occasional pain for years, and this all the time stuff is just not

> > acceptable. I hate having to constantly think of whether if I do a

> > certain activity I will pay for it later. I hate not being able to

> > volunteer to help with a service project at church. I hate not being

> > able to invite people over to dinner, because I may not be able to

> > function well enough to make the dinner and then make conversation later.

> > I hate that all I think about is the pain. I am normally a cheerful

> > gal, but I have to consciously check my attitude all the time now.

> >

> > Sorry, I'm just ornery that I have to find a certain pain level

> > acceptable at all. We are not living in the 1900s anymore. There has to

> > be pain relief.

> > I'm pursuing that whether my hubby thinks we all have to just accept that

> > we're getting older and will have pain. He is trying more it seems like,

> > but I know he just doesn't get how bad it hurts sometimes. He gets it a

> > little bit, though, because I overheard him reply to his mom on the phone

> > tonight that I'm in quite a bit of pain yet. (I finally told his mom

> > about it last week, they live far away).

> >

> > Speaking of which...you said your pain bout may have been triggered by

> > the driving...it made me wonder. I'm not sure when the exact time my

> > back really started downhill, it was last fall, but in August we drove

> > from Michigan to Washington State to see the in-laws in 3 days of

> > driving. Then after a few weeks we drove home again at the end of

> > August...funny how my symptoms started not too long after that...I wonder

> > if it was all that sitting in the car?

> >

> > Well, anyway, thanks again for sharing and caring. It helps!

> >

> > Diane VDW

> > Michigan

>

[Guest guest]

Good point Suzanne. And good idea for Diane!

Heres what you do: take a very large sheet of white paper and tape it to a sunny

window, or slider if you have one. Then tape your recent xray over the paper and

voila! you have a light box. Take a digital picture of the xray, trying to

pretty much fill the screen with your xray. Now you can share it with us and do

any photo editing reqired to make a smallish, portable image. Think maybe a 2x3

as a key chain print! If you don't have the capability at home most photo

finishing places (CVS, walmart) have software that can do this if you bring your

file on a disc to the store....or some of the online sources will work just as

well....shutterfly.com comes to mind.

If you are very ambitious, pull down any one of the many photos of a fully

revised/fusion to sacrum with cages etc that you see on our site, reduce it and

finish it to have it on hand to show anyone who starts down the " oh, its typical

to have an achey back as you age " drill. Tell them this is what may lay before

you....I guarantee they will zip there mouths....and probably be much more

sympathetic.

A picture is worth a thousand words.I highly recommend folks returning to work

have a similar image of what they had done on hand, or even in a prominent

place, so that collegues can understand why you walk by things that have fallen

on the floor or need to go lay down for a few minutes early in the healing.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam and Diane,

A picture is worth a thousand words! I often tell people, I'm fused T1 to the sacrum, but honestly most people won't get it. I carry pictures of my x-rays, not to get sympathy, but for basic understanding. Ours is not a run of the mill spine surgery, and a picture will always bring about a level of understanding, that words just can't convey. I have often wondered how we as a country have gotten so jaded towards those who suffer from medical maladies, but when you bring someone into your malady by sharing, first you get a bit of shock from them, and then an understanding that will help you get through your day. I never think sharing is a sympathy getter, but a way to get basic understanding. I think if by sharing your story and pictures that the next time a person encounters someone with a disability, or facing major surgery, maybe just maybe, you will have helped them turn on their compassion gene, and others will have a kind, knowing person to help them get through a day, or face a medical challenge. One person at a time, but one person can really change many, I've seen it in just my own family, compassion and understanding is a marvelous thing.

[ ] Re: how is it?

Good point Suzanne. And good idea for Diane! Heres what you do: take a very large sheet of white paper and tape it to a sunny window, or slider if you have one. Then tape your recent xray over the paper and voila! you have a light box. Take a digital picture of the xray, trying to pretty much fill the screen with your xray. Now you can share it with us and do any photo editing reqired to make a smallish, portable image. Think maybe a 2x3 as a key chain print! If you don't have the capability at home most photo finishing places (CVS, walmart) have software that can do this if you bring your file on a disc to the store....or some of the online sources will work just as well....shutterfly.com comes to mind. If you are very ambitious, pull down any one of the many photos of a fully revised/fusion to sacrum with cages etc that you see on our site, reduce it and finish it to have it on hand to show anyone who starts down the "oh, its typical to have an achey back as you age" drill. Tell them this is what may lay before you....I guarantee they will zip there mouths....and probably be much more sympathetic.A picture is worth a thousand words.I highly recommend folks returning to work have a similar image of what they had done on hand, or even in a prominent place, so that collegues can understand why you walk by things that have fallen on the floor or need to go lay down for a few minutes early in the healing.Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

I took a picture of my recent x rays with my phone camera as they were hanging in LaGrone's office during my last ckup. I whip that phone out and show people my long fusion and I get much better understanding.

From: cammaltby <cammaltby@...>Subject: [ ] Re: how is it? Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 7:29 AM

Good point Suzanne. And good idea for Diane! Heres what you do: take a very large sheet of white paper and tape it to a sunny window, or slider if you have one. Then tape your recent xray over the paper and voila! you have a light box. Take a digital picture of the xray, trying to pretty much fill the screen with your xray. Now you can share it with us and do any photo editing reqired to make a smallish, portable image. Think maybe a 2x3 as a key chain print! If you don't have the capability at home most photo finishing places (CVS, walmart) have software that can do this if you bring your file on a disc to the store....or some of the online sources will work just as well....shutterfly. com comes to mind. If you are very ambitious, pull down any one of the many photos of a fully revised/fusion to sacrum with cages etc that you see on our site, reduce it and finish it to have it on hand to show anyone who starts down the "oh, its

typical to have an achey back as you age" drill. Tell them this is what may lay before you....I guarantee they will zip there mouths....and probably be much more sympathetic.A picture is worth a thousand words.I highly recommend folks returning to work have a similar image of what they had done on hand, or even in a prominent place, so that collegues can understand why you walk by things that have fallen on the floor or need to go lay down for a few minutes early in the healing.Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi again!

I will try to do that (take the picture, although I'm still not quite sure how to get the pictures on the site, did try getting a family photo on there, but couldn't figure it out)...quite a busy week this week, so maybe next week. I have a women's retreat for church this weekend, then play keyboard on Sunday, so I just have to survive that and then I'll have a little more time (hopefully) next week.

I'm not sure my photos will help people understand, since it's really hard for me to even see what the dr. was talking about. I might try doing some off the site with more obvious hardware.

What people don't get is that just doing the dishwasher triggers pain. Yesterday my 6 year old lost his PSP, so we were searching for it...just the crouching and looking under things had me extremely sore for the rest of the evening. When I mentioned to the P.T. my partial fear of the revision surgery since I wouldn't even be able to bend to do the dishwasher, he really thought that was strange, because if your hamstrings were good you shouldn't have to bend...hmm...my hamstrings are much better now, but I'm still not squatting to fill the dishwasher. Not sure anyone who doesn't have our backs can fully understand. (Although my daughter with the sore joint in her back says she thinks she understands me better now).

Well, have a good weekend, you all!

Diane

Michigan

Good point Suzanne. And good idea for Diane! Heres what you do: take a very large sheet of white paper and tape it to a sunny window, or slider if you have one. Then tape your recent xray over the paper and voila! you have a light box. Take a digital picture of the xray, trying to pretty much fill the screen with your xray. Now you can share it with us and do any photo editing reqired to make a smallish, portable image. Think maybe a 2x3 as a key chain print! If you don't have the capability at home most photo finishing places (CVS, walmart) have software that can do this if you bring your file on a disc to the store....or some of the online sources will work just as well....shutterfly.com comes to mind. If you are very ambitious, pull down any one of the many photos of a fully revised/fusion to sacrum with cages etc that you see on our site, reduce it and finish it to have it on hand to show anyone who starts down the "oh, its typical to have an achey back as you age" drill. Tell them this is what may lay before you....I guarantee they will zip there mouths....and probably be much more sympathetic.A picture is worth a thousand words.I highly recommend folks returning to work have a similar image of what they had done on hand, or even in a prominent place, so that collegues can understand why you walk by things that have fallen on the floor or need to go lay down for a few minutes early in the healing.Take Care, Cam

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