question

[Guest guest]

LOL.... had to think about that for a minute!

Re: Question

> Thanks, . You're a gem.

>

> Ellana

>

> PS: Is it June yet?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellana - mine only last a day or so as I'm so depleted and I have

them once a week - 1 mg of methylcobalamin

Kerry

Re: Question

LOL.....

I think it's good for about a month.... typically they schedule the

injections on a monthly basis.

Re: Question

> Goodness. If 1cc does that, make mine a double next time. I got my

> bathroom and kitchen cleaned at 2 am in the morning. Hubby woke up and

> thought he was in the wrong house! LOLOLOL

>

> How long is the injection good for?

>

> Ellana

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Kerry. Take good care of yourself.

Ellana

[Guest guest]

I think you need more Armour, or other hormones. like progesterone and

DHEA.

Gracia

> Goodness. If 1cc does that, make mine a double next time. I got my

bathroom and kitchen cleaned at 2 am in the morning. Hubby woke up and

thought he was in the wrong house! LOLOLOL

>

> How long is the injection good for?

>

> Ellana

>

>

[Guest guest]

, I am taking DHEA. 1 -50mg per day.

Ellana

[Guest guest]

Awesome, congratulation.

--- Ellana <eclarke@...> wrote:

> My doctor prescribed 60mg of Armour. I took my first

> pill yesterday, along with DHEA, B-6 and Folic Acid.

> 30 minutes after swallowing, I got a charge, an

> uplifting, and it lasted until 5am this morning

> before I could finally get to sleep. I was up at

> 8:15 feeling like I had had a full night's sleep.

>

> Was it the Armour that got me 'charged'?

>

> Ellana

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Rita, I also had those tests earlier this year and ironically I had the same

results, a little gastritis, take some of those purple pills for a month and the

doc said all will be well. Phewwwww.......The learning thing through those tests

was that nothing came back serious, the cleansing fluid had me feeling

great....but all in all, was of little value in my struggles with what I believe

is candida. I am now awaiting my GS candida/stool test, along with elisa/act

test. (tests for 375 foods and allergens for immunologic response).

Have you taken the candida test in the files? That may tell you something or

perhaps you may need to consider a naturopath to do other testing that most

regular docs dont do. Hope this helps.

God Bless,

Joe

[ ] question

Hi All,

My problem is bloating. I had my stomach and colon

checked. It came back normal,I only have little

gastritis.

Is this IBS or maybe candida?

How do I check if this is candida?

Thx,Rita

__________________________________

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

My ex had fusion also. He didn't develop any blisters

or anything like you described post-op. However, he

laid on his back for most of the day for several

weeks. right around the 3rd week he develped a

hardness and thickness. It turned out he had some

fluid build up under the skin, in part from laying in

more or less the same position for so long. For HIM it

was NOT an infection. I've had fluid build-up with 2

out of my 3 jaw surgeries. I never found out why, with

me or him. You should hav it checked. They might be

able to withdraw some or all of the fluid and it

should be checked for infection. With me I had to go

in twice to have the fluid withdrawn. With me and my

ex, once the fluid was withdrawn, immediate pain

relief. Do NOT ignore this, just to be on the safe

side, especially since he had blisters in that area.

Hope this helps.

Lynda

--- SuzeeQQQ@... wrote:

> Hey all!

>

> My name is Sue and my husband Dan had back surgery

> on 5/26 to fuse his L4 L5

> Sacrum. His surgery was 12 1/2 hours and because of

> being on his stomach on

> the operating table for so long...he had 2 huge

> blisters on his stomach

> running down the length of his ribs. The blisters

> went away and gradually the

> redness began to go away. Here is the question. In

> addition to the external

> blisters, he also has kind of a thickness/hardness

> under the skin. The

> surgeon said they are callous's from the pressure of

> the table on his ribs and they

> will eventually go away. Interestingly...at the

> moment, the hard/tender

> things in his rib area are causing him more pain

> then his back. Anyone had this

> kind of thing? Any ideas of how to help speed the

> healing of such things?

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Sue

>

__________________________________

Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour:

http://tour.mail./mailtour.html

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue. I didn't have any problems with blisters.

> Hey all!

>

> My name is Sue and my husband Dan had back surgery on 5/26 to fuse

his L4 L5

> Sacrum. His surgery was 12 1/2 hours and because of being on his

stomach on

> the operating table for so long...he had 2 huge blisters on his

stomach

> running down the length of his ribs. The blisters went away and

gradually the

> redness began to go away. Here is the question. In addition to

the external

> blisters, he also has kind of a thickness/hardness under the

skin. The

> surgeon said they are callous's from the pressure of the table on

his ribs and they

> will eventually go away. Interestingly...at the moment, the

hard/tender

> things in his rib area are causing him more pain then his back.

Anyone had this

> kind of thing? Any ideas of how to help speed the healing of

such things?

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue I would definetly ask your regular dr about this, it really

sounds strange I've never heard of this before. I am sure it had to

do with the length of the surgery but still something sounds wrong

to me.But if it is causing him that much pain I'd sure ask someone

else about it. Hope you find some answers soon. Sharon Group Owner

> Hey all!

>

> My name is Sue and my husband Dan had back surgery on 5/26 to fuse

his L4 L5

> Sacrum. His surgery was 12 1/2 hours and because of being on his

stomach on

> the operating table for so long...he had 2 huge blisters on his

stomach

> running down the length of his ribs. The blisters went away and

gradually the

> redness began to go away. Here is the question. In addition to

the external

> blisters, he also has kind of a thickness/hardness under the

skin. The

> surgeon said they are callous's from the pressure of the table on

his ribs and they

> will eventually go away. Interestingly...at the moment, the

hard/tender

> things in his rib area are causing him more pain then his back.

Anyone had this

> kind of thing? Any ideas of how to help speed the healing of

such things?

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

> Is almond butter on a brown rice cake good for us?

> Rita

Unfortunately, Rita, no rice cakes - at least that's my understanding.

Also almonds have a lot of carbs too.

But it sounds lovely... :-)

[Guest guest]

>

> Does anyone know the outcome of a pregnancy on a fusion?

>

> Teri

Hi Teri,

I don't know the outcome, but when my 1st surgeon was talking fusion

whenever I would ask if I could become pregnant w/ a fusion I was

never told no. And when I asked my last surgeon (who is doing my ADR)

he said yes that I would be able to. I believe there is just going to

be a wait involved. As far as letting the body have a chance to heal

whether it be fusion or ADR.

Have you asked your surgeon about it?

HTH Take care,

Katrina

[Guest guest]

I have heard that there is no harm in having a baby with a fusion. I had mine while I was injured and that was no party let me tell you!!!! My Doc asked me if I was going to have more and I told him no asked him why and he said that he was just curious. I asked if I could and he said absolutely. So it cant be worse than going through a pregnancy with a shattered disc. Ask you doc and see what he or she says you can ask your gynocologist too they will tell you. hope this helps

Sincerely Janine In Cali craftymom <craftymom@...> wrote:

I had a fusion 3-17-04... l5-s1. The disc above it failed. I have been waiting to see the surgeon to see about the adr. Well I guess that's on the back burner.Does anyone know the outcome of a pregnancy on a fusion?Teri__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

sounds like c-5-6 pain and if herniation is otherwise

not too much, then radiofrequency ablation works....in

fact I have the same and going to get repeat rf on

July 29...I had it once before in early 2003 and it

worked great, but needs it every 2-3 years...they need

to figger out how to make it permanent..

--- <watermelanie@...> wrote:

> i've asked this before, but i think i need to hear

> the answer again.

>

> this question goes out to all you c-spine herniation

> folks...

>

> i've got a bad disc in my c-spine and god-forsaken

> pain in my shoulder blades. does

> anyone else have this? and if so, have any of you

> have a discectomy for it and had your

> shoulder blade pain go away? my herniation is small

> enough to probably be able to get

> away with a discectomy for a few years.

>

> my biggest fear is that i will go though with

> surgery of some kind and then still be left

> with this back pain. that would be a nightmare. i

> can't bear this shoulder blade pain too

> much longer. i'm getting epidural injections but

> they aren't the answer.

>

> it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery

> until i've suffered more years and

> developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery

> while i'm still kinda well, so i'm strong

> enough to recover properly, huh?

>

> thanks in advance for any replies.

>

> -melanie

>

>

>

This message may be coming from a foreign address. If it isn't coming from

, better not click on reply. My address is johnblaisdell@...

Blaisdell

Box 310

Kearny, Az. 85237

5203637491

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

OMG! You sound just like me! It's been 3 years of " trying the

conservative " and I will finally have surgery in January. I keep

saying I want to be healthy enough to recover well.

I have C5/6, C6/7 herniations. Not sure which causes the pain in my

shoulder, but it really stinks. My herniations are also " not that

big " either, and I was told for at least two years that I really

shouldn't have all this pain. I thought I'd never have surgery, but

now I can't wait!

I'll let you know how things go.

-- In spinal problems , " "

<watermelanie@c...> wrote:

> i've asked this before, but i think i need to hear the answer again.

>

> this question goes out to all you c-spine herniation folks...

>

> i've got a bad disc in my c-spine and god-forsaken pain in my

shoulder blades. does

> anyone else have this? and if so, have any of you have a discectomy

for it and had your

> shoulder blade pain go away? my herniation is small enough to

probably be able to get

> away with a discectomy for a few years.

>

> my biggest fear is that i will go though with surgery of some kind

and then still be left

> with this back pain. that would be a nightmare. i can't bear this

shoulder blade pain too

> much longer. i'm getting epidural injections but they aren't the

answer.

>

> it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until i've suffered

more years and

> developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while i'm still

kinda well, so i'm strong

> enough to recover properly, huh?

>

> thanks in advance for any replies.

>

> -melanie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I've just read through your post and all the responses. I'd like to

suggest two things. First is LIDODERM patches. They give many folks

measureable relief- me too! You can cut them into pieces that will

conform to the twists and bends around your neck and shoulder. They

are worth a try.

Second, I'd like to recommend you go to:

http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/020408fa_FACT

It is a rather lengthy thing to read, but very informative. I've done

a LOT of 'searching' about various surgeries on the spine. Many of

them are helpful. It seems a lot depends on getting the 'right'

doctor- someone who specializes in the surgery you need. Also, I

found that if you see a surgeon, he will advise surgery, a neurologist

will advise therapy/meds.... Another thing to consider is the effects

over time. I found that many fusion surgeries become a never-ending

series of surgeries to fuse above/below the last one as the spine

degenerates around the fusion.

Like many folks in this group, I had the ESI many times. (This was a

pain clinic run by an anesthesiologist- different docs/different

approaches!) It wasn't doing me much good. I also found out that

cortisone, while releiving swelling, also eats away cartilage! Now,

how's that for a catch 22?

I guess you can say there is no real 'fix'. And, yes, I know there is

a limit to how much pain any of us can stand and a limit to how long

we can put up with it.

I know this sounds like 'doom and gloom', but I just can't sit idly by

and watch folks opt for surgery. Of course, the bottom line is finding

a doc you can trust, talk with, and follow his advice. Unfortunately,

you need to do some 'homework' to get to that point, THANK HEAVENS we

have a group to share that homework with!

Whatever you decide, know you are in my prayers and I truly wish you a

less pain-filled future!

GBY

>

> it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until i've suffered

more years and

> developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while i'm still

kinda well, so i'm strong

> enough to recover properly, huh?

>

> thanks in advance for any replies.

>

> -melanie

[Guest guest]

i've tried the lidoderm, i'm on neurontin and morphine, i've got a neurologist

and a pain

doctor, i'm getting the ESI's and i'm in P.T., and so far... i'm not too

impressed. i still can't

live like this. i'm in no hurry to get the fusion surgery, BUT i would consider

a discectomy.

but even before i try that, i'm going to ask my doctor about radiofrequency

lesioning for

the facet joints like john mentioned.

it probably wouldn't be so bad if i could take it easy. but i work and go to

school and my

world keeps getting smaller and smaller. it's getting harder and harder to

function.

i'll read the article you posted.

thanks.

melanie

>

> >

> > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until i've suffered

> more years and

> > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while i'm still

> kinda well, so i'm strong

> > enough to recover properly, huh?

> >

> > thanks in advance for any replies.

> >

> > -melanie

[Guest guest]

Just so you know, , if you have major

structural abnormalities of the spine, then rf is not

likely to help, and may even be contraindicated, so

don't take what I say to the bank..just weigh and

consider...

--- <watermelanie@...> wrote:

> i've tried the lidoderm, i'm on neurontin and

> morphine, i've got a neurologist and a pain

> doctor, i'm getting the ESI's and i'm in P.T., and

> so far... i'm not too impressed. i still can't

> live like this. i'm in no hurry to get the fusion

> surgery, BUT i would consider a discectomy.

> but even before i try that, i'm going to ask my

> doctor about radiofrequency lesioning for

> the facet joints like john mentioned.

>

> it probably wouldn't be so bad if i could take it

> easy. but i work and go to school and my

> world keeps getting smaller and smaller. it's

> getting harder and harder to function.

>

> i'll read the article you posted.

>

> thanks.

>

> melanie

>

>

>

> >

> > >

> > > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery

> until i've suffered

> > more years and

> > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery

> while i'm still

> > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > >

> > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > >

> > > -melanie

>

>

>

This message may be coming from a foreign address. If it isn't coming from

, better not click on reply. My address is johnblaisdell@...

Blaisdell

Box 310

Kearny, Az. 85237

5203637491

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

nope, no major structural abnormalities. just " minor " herniations between c-3

and c-7.

-melanie

> > >

> > > >

> > > > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery

> > until i've suffered

> > > more years and

> > > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery

> > while i'm still

> > > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > > >

> > > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > > >

> > > > -melanie

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> This message may be coming from a foreign address. If it isn't coming from

, better not click on reply. My address is johnblaisdell@y...

> Blaisdell

> Box 310

> Kearny, Az. 85237

> 5203637491

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

yes, i do also have fibro.

the funny thing is, i think i *do* have good doctors. they are just really

conservative. the clinic my doc works at is the pain and spine center, so i

kinda thought he was a spine doctor, but i think he's just a pain doc. and

those are good questions you posted. i have PPO insurance, but i'm moving

next year and then i will be at least 6 months without coverage for my pre-

existing conditions and that scares the crap out of me.

i'm going to ask my doctor a lot of the questions that you asked. i don't want

to

suffer until i'm so wrecked they want to take action. i'm not happy. and i am

in

so much pain. i had a few good days after my last shot but i have been

getting bad again.

i don't really feel like my fibro is causing any of this. i don't have any

tender

points and nothing else hurts except my neck, arms and shoulder blades.

thanks for all the info. my doctor is going to get a good talking to. i tried

everything he suggested and i'm still miserable. so enough of it. it's time

for

something else. i didn't really want cortisone shots but i was willing to try

anything.

i'll let everyone know how my next appt goes.

melanie

> > >

> > > >

> > > > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until i've

> suffered

> > > more years and

> > > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while i'm

> still

> > > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > > >

> > > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > > >

> > > > -melanie

[Guest guest]

the only insurance they offer is COBRA, which i think is like $500.00 per month

and is only

good in california. but i'll be moving across country when i leave this job.

so i don't even

think i could do that! based on your suggestion though, i just put a call into

our insurance

broker to see if i have any options. she didn't think i would be covered out of

state, but

she is checking.

this is good information to have, though, to bring to my doctor and tell him how

worried i

am and why.

-melanie

> > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until i've

> > > suffered

> > > > > more years and

> > > > > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while i'm

> > > still

> > > > > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > > > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > -melanie

[Guest guest]

COBRA is good all over the U.S. There is a time limit

on it though ..

--- <watermelanie@...> wrote:

> the only insurance they offer is COBRA, which i

> think is like $500.00 per month and is only

> good in california. but i'll be moving across

> country when i leave this job. so i don't even

> think i could do that! based on your suggestion

> though, i just put a call into our insurance

> broker to see if i have any options. she didn't

> think i would be covered out of state, but

> she is checking.

>

> this is good information to have, though, to bring

> to my doctor and tell him how worried i

> am and why.

>

> -melanie

>

>

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > it just seems so backward to wait to do

> surgery until i've

> > > > suffered

> > > > > > more years and

> > > > > > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing

> surgery while i'm

> > > > still

> > > > > > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > > > > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > -melanie

>

>

>

____________________________________________________

Start your day with - make it your home page

http://www./r/hs

[Guest guest]

the company i work for has less than 20 employees, so i hope that isn't a

problem. anyhow, i'm still waiting for the broker to call me back to talk about

what i'm gonna do next year.

meanwhile, i put together a bunch of questions for my doctor, including some

photos from an anatomy book and a list of what c-spine nerve branches

innervates what areas. we are going to have a big talk when i seem him.

-melanie

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > it just seems so backward to wait to do surgery until

> i've

> > > > > suffered

> > > > > > > more years and

> > > > > > > > developed nerve damage. how 'bout doing surgery while

> i'm

> > > > > still

> > > > > > > kinda well, so i'm strong

> > > > > > > > enough to recover properly, huh?

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > thanks in advance for any replies.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > -melanie

[Guest guest]

nope, no test. diagnosis is a process of elimination. your doctor would rule

out other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and if

they can't find anything else wrong... they will label you with fibro. there

isn't

any real solid treatment for it either. usually it is treated with anti-

inflammatories, pain meds, antidepressants, sleep aids and sometimes

neurontin.

i've got fibro. the only test they do to diagnose it is a " tender point " test,

and all

they do is push on some parts of your body and if you squeal, that is an

indicator of fibro. there are also a lot of sleep abnormalities associated

with

fibro and in fact, most people with fibro who go in for a sleep study... have

sleep abnormalites like an inability to acheive stage 4 restorative sleep.

hope you don't have it... it's no fun. i don't have the symptoms you are

talking

about, but fibro affects everyone differently. when i have a flare, i can't

sleep

and every inch of my body hurts. i get a low grade fever and i feel like i have

glass in my joints. but i don't usually get swelling.

magnesium can sometimes help with fibro, so you might want start taking

some. it certainly can't hurt.

-melanie

> Over the past 2 weeks, I have started having pain and achiness over my

> entire body. It hurts just to touch my skin. All of my joints are hurting. I

> also have a sore throat and it feels like I am catching the flu, although I

> don't have any fever. Last night I noticed my feet and ankles were swollen,

> and they were still swollen this morning. Also when I got up this morning,

> my right hand was swollen so bad, I could barely get my rings off. Has

> anyone had anything like this before. I just started looking up the symptoms

> this morning, and fibromyalgia has alot of the symptoms I have. Does

anyone

> know if there is a test that will diagnose this disease?

>

> Thanks in advance

>

> Hugs

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

As far as I know, there is no lab test to confirm a diagnosis of

fibro. It is usually diagnosed by testing certain pressure points.

I would say you need to see your doctor ASAP.

in NC

> Over the past 2 weeks, I have started having pain and achiness over

my

> entire body. It hurts just to touch my skin. All of my joints are

hurting. I

> also have a sore throat and it feels like I am catching the flu,

although I

> don't have any fever. Last night I noticed my feet and ankles were

swollen,

> and they were still swollen this morning. Also when I got up this

morning,

> my right hand was swollen so bad, I could barely get my rings off.

Has

> anyone had anything like this before. I just started looking up the

symptoms

> this morning, and fibromyalgia has alot of the symptoms I have.

Does anyone

> know if there is a test that will diagnose this disease?

>

> Thanks in advance

>

> Hugs

>

>