HARPER

[Guest guest]

Hi Harper: I agree with Patty but I have to tell you I met Patty in

Miami and she is sexy and gorgeous now.

Talk to you later, Genny

[Guest guest]

Harper, you don't feel like the dry patches are aih related? I wasn't sure which dr to call. He has called him hep but has not heard back from him

Rosemary

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/5/01 7:43:25 AM Pacific Standard Time, mamacdoo@... writes:

Harper, you don't feel like the dry patches are aih related? I wasn't sure which dr to call. He has called him hep but has not heard back from him

I don't have any idea if they are related. I have dry, scaley patched I didn't have before AIH, but I'm a year older than I was before AIH -- so I don't know for sure whether AIH or age is the cause! However, if your liver-guy doesn't answer, you might as well try the dermatologist. My liver specialist said he had never heard of Prednisone use being related to skin problems. I know, from reading, that there are several skin disorders that can result from Prednisone.

Harper

[Guest guest]

thanks Harper

Rosemary

[Guest guest]

> Harper, you don't feel like the dry patches are aih related? I

wasn't sure

> which dr to call. He has called him hep but has not heard back from

him

>

> Rosemary

Rosemary,

I also have dry, itchy spots all over my body. I was told years ago

that this was a type of exyzema. But, it has gotten worse in the

last few years, I believe it it all related to the AIH, but I would

certainly have it checked with a dermatologist.

Hugs,

Joanna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/11/01 6:36:26 AM Pacific Standard Time, joangardaclaffey@... writes:

Hi,

No, it wasn't me. I think it was someone who lives in

his area. I have asked several times if anyone has

any info on Jerry but haven't had any answers other

than one from you. I hope he is just too busy or just

tired of his webtv. He had become a good friend and I

do miss keeping him in line and scolding him when need

be.

Maybe someone has a telephone #

Joan Claffey

NJ

Several times I've sent messages directly to his e-mail address. At first they came back, "Box Full." Now they come back "Address unavailable." I like to think he's just out kicking up his heels, smoking cigars, flirting, and gambling, but I'm afraid not.

Harper

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/11/01 7:37:38 AM Pacific Standard Time, joangardaclaffey@... writes:

Now what do we do??

Joan Claffey

NJ

About?

Harper

[Guest guest]

Hi Harper: Sounds like she needs to be street walking to me. LOL

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/27/01 5:50:59 PM Pacific Standard Time, Babycolt98102690@... writes:

Hi Harper: Sounds like she needs to be street walking to me. LOL

I didn't bother reading more than the first sentence. Best wishes to you two.

Harper

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/1/02 9:27:04 PM Pacific Standard Time, sunshinedotson@... writes:

yes it helps me out a lot....and the way the letters are spread out....helps even more...

i like my new style better...

ok i won't worry about the mood swings,

but boy it was awful earlier, and lasted all day.....my poor kids.....

ttyl,

bert.

Yes, I still feel bad about having been short-tempered with my husband in my 80 mg Prednisone days. He says I wasn't at all snappish, but I know better. It is difficult for those we love to deal with us in our bad moods. All we can do is try as hard as we can.

Harper

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/1/02 9:43:11 PM Pacific Standard Time, flatcat9@... writes:

Yes, I still feel bad about having been short-tempered with my husband in my 80 mg Prednisone days. He says I wasn't at all snappish, but I know better. It is difficult for those we love to deal with us in our bad moods. All we can do is try as hard as we can.

Harper

i can't imagine being on 80mg. ugh....

you poor thing...well hubby too..

i am sure he was just being the loving husband and understood......wish mine would,

but thats another long and boring story....lol

yes i need to work on this more.....i am trying, really...

take care,

bert.

[Guest guest]

Bert the yellow background matches your e-mail address. Sunshine. Good Luck today Ann [ ] harper In a message dated 1/1/02 9:21:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, flatcat9@... writes: Yes, I, at least, could see the yellow background. However, I was suggesting the yellow background to make reading easier for you, because a friend with visual problems told me it helped him! Does the yellow background help any, or is it about the same? Most of us have first-hand experience with Prednisone-linked mood swings -- don't worry about it. Harper

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/22/02 6:53:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, pcmcobb@... writes:

I do hope that you have contacted your M.D. about the skin problems. As suggested by a couple of others, it could be rosacea. My eyelids will swell and become blistered, red and even weep until crusted (gross) when I am having a flare of one of my auto-immune diseases. It took me a while to put the two together. I also have eczema from time to time. The dermatologist mentioned that it usually ran in families. No one else in my family has had that . When I researched and found that eczema is an auto-immune problem, then I understood the family connection comment. Eczema can manifest itself in various forms. One of these is very unsightly and similar to what you are describing. Since you already have auto-immune problems, perhaps this is another type. Regardless of my thoughts, please see a doctor, if you haven't done so. Also, your comment about caffeine and migraines is true. As so many others have stated, the caffeine helps them. It has helped my migraines to drink a cup of coffee or a coke. There are new schools of thought that caffeine may temporarily help, but in the long run will make you more susceptible to migraines. My neurologist has cautioned me to be careful about consuming too much caffeine. It is like being caught between a rock and a hard spot. If I can get relief by having a caffeinated beverage, that seems simple compared to having someone drive me to the doctor so I can have an injection of demerol and phenergan. Unfortunately, I do not respond to Imitrex or Amerge. Also, since my gastro doc recommends that I consume a certain amount of caffeine, I will continue to do so. So, it is dificult for me to understand how one more cup of coffee or a coke to stop my migraine will make any great difference in the long run. I think I am beginning to ramble. I hope I am making sense. This has been one of those evenings. My husband and son have asked me how much I have been drinking after responding to some of their questions with answers that make no sense. of course, they are just giving me a hard time, as I most certainly do not have a drinking problem. Sorry for the long post. Take care. Carol

I very much appreciate your message. My symptoms improved dramatically yesterday. The day before, in desperation, I'd used an old bottle of erythromycin at night and an old bottle of very high strength, prescription hydrocortisone during the day. One or the other helped a great deal, unless it was coincidence. However, I still feel something is wrong, although not dramatically so. I just feel stupid calling about itchy eyelids and blotchey face, especially now that they don't look bad. (I also itch behind my ears, although I'm not using any new shampoo.) I think I'm due for a six-month check-in with my GP about now. Due to your urging, I'll call tomorrow and see if it is time for my regular appointment.

When I read about the serious problems many of you have, itchy eyelids and pimples don't seem worth bothering with. Although pimples in the nose are a little scarey.

Fortunately, my migraines came with first menses (at eight) and left with menopause (early 50's.) However, my daughter has migraines badly, as did my father, and I grab every bit of information about migraines to pass on to her. Some things you said about caffeine making you more susceptible to migraines in the long run will definitely be considered by her -- she drinks a Diet Coke every morning as a migraine preventive measure. Perhaps it's not as helpful as she hopes.

Again, thanks, and best wishes. And I will call my doctor.

Harper

[Guest guest]

I do hope that you have contacted your M.D. about the skin problems.

As suggested by a couple of others, it could be rosacea. My eyelids

will swell and become blistered, red and even weep until crusted (gross)

when I am having a flare of one of my auto-immune diseases. It took

me a while to put the two together. I also have eczema from time

to time. The dermatologist mentioned that it usually ran in families.

No one else in my family has had that . When I researched and found

that eczema is an auto-immune problem, then I understood the family connection

comment. Eczema can manifest itself in various forms. One of

these is very unsightly and similar to what you are describing. Since

you already have auto-immune problems, perhaps this is another type.

Regardless of my thoughts, please see a doctor, if you haven't done so.

Also, your comment about caffeine and migraines is true. As

so many others have stated, the caffeine helps them. It has helped

my migraines to drink a cup of coffee or a coke. There are new schools

of thought that caffeine may temporarily help, but in the long run will

make you more susceptible to migraines. My neurologist has cautioned

me to be careful about consuming too much caffeine. It is like being

caught between a rock and a hard spot. If I can get relief by having

a caffeinated beverage, that seems simple compared to having someone drive

me to the doctor so I can have an injection of demerol and phenergan.

Unfortunately, I do not respond to Imitrex or Amerge. Also, since

my gastro doc recommends that I consume a certain amount of caffeine, I

will continue to do so. So, it is dificult for me to understand how

one more cup of coffee or a coke to stop my migraine will make any

great difference in the long run. I think I am beginning to ramble.

I hope I am making sense. This has been one of those evenings.

My husband and son have asked me how much I have been drinking after responding

to some of their questions with answers that make no sense. of course,

they are just giving me a hard time, as I most certainly do not have a

drinking problem. Sorry for the long post. Take care.

Carol

flatcat9@... wrote:

For

the past week, my face has been hot, unevenly red, blotchey, and I've had

many pimples on my face and in my nose. I don't usually have any

pimples at all and my skin is usually smooth. I'm taking only 5 mg

of Prednisone (and 100 mg Imuran), so it's not the acne one often gets

with the early, high dosage. My eyelids are just swollen enough to

possibly account for my feeling out of sorts, dull-witted.

I can easily deal with the

appearance, but I'm a little uneasy about why this is happening, and I

wonder whether it has any medical significance. I feel silly about

calling a doctor and saying "Help! My face is breaking out!"

On the other hand, I didn't call about thrush until I had a real problem,

thinking I just had an allergy. For that matter, I thought I just

had an allergy (that itch), until I was so ill with AIH that I had a real

problem.

I dunno. Has anyone

else ever had this sort of skin problem?

Harper (AIH dx 5/00)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/31/02 7:00:31 PM Pacific Standard Time, pcmcobb@... writes:

Harper, I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Maybe it is the moon.

Believe it or not, the stage of the moon always made a difference in the number

of flare-ups with dental patients. I didn't believe it when I first started in

practice. After a few years, I realized there really was something to it. I

have no idea what stage the moon is in now. It seems that many of us are

experiencing a myriad of problems at this time. I hope you feel better soon.

Carol

Thanks, Carol. I'm not having any serious problems. I mentioned it only in context with something else. It is strange, though, how I can convince myself that there's nothing strange about walking with my legs far apart like a very old man would do (I'm a 57-year-old female), wishing vaguely I had a cane to lean on, being uneasy about dialing a phone because it seems like so much work. I think, why would I call a doctor, nothing's really wrong, what would I say, I'm just lazy. If I heard anyone else act like that, I'd be all over them.

Harper

[Guest guest]

Harper, I am sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Maybe it is the moon.

Believe it or not, the stage of the moon always made a difference in the number

of flare-ups with dental patients. I didn't believe it when I first started in

practice. After a few years, I realized there really was something to it. I

have no idea what stage the moon is in now. It seems that many of us are

experiencing a myriad of problems at this time. I hope you feel better soon.

Carol

seathestars wrote:

> Hi all

>

> Havent really been posting much lately..too tired and getting

> difficult putting sensible sentences together...more blood work

> tomorrow, hope it shows better than I feel.

>

> Have been reading the posts just to try to keep up with how everyone

> is doing...not always easy as we are one bunch of prolific posters!

> Keeping you all in my thoughts...

>

> Hope to talk more soon.

>

> nne

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Harper,

Take care of yourself. Call the doctor. Hope you feel better soon.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/5/02 12:21:47 PM Pacific Standard Time, pcmcobb@... writes:

Yes, I did enjoy my profession very much. What I miss most is seeing my patients. However, when I notified my patients that I was leaving, some desired to keep in touch with me. A few have. And that is rewarding in itself. I have even run into former patients when I am grocery shopping or at the mall. One family of former patients (husband, wife & daughter) have become very close friends with my family. In fact, they had a late in life pregnancy and had twins. We are Godparents for the twins. The stress I do not miss. My husband says it is nice that we both are not "crazy" at night, as was often the case when we both worked. I do go to continuing education courses, renew my CPR certificate and keep my license active. I doubt I will ever use it again, but you never know. I do not know how I ever did all that I did years ago, I have a difficult time staying on any type of schedule and am always behind now that I am home. How about you? Do you miss your work? Would you go back if you were able? Take care. Carol

I always admire your clear responses, and if I hadn't experienced this siutation myself, I would find it hard to believe that you would have any difficulty in continuing your practice.

Do I miss my work? Would I return if I could? No, I feel I wasted a big chunk of my life on it (and I never earned much.) I'm almost glad that illness forced me to leave. I would never have left on my own, as I would have viewed that as being a "quitter." I would very much like to find something useful to do now, or soon.

Harper

[Guest guest]

Yes, I did enjoy my profession very much. What I miss most is seeing

my patients. However, when I notified my patients that I was leaving,

some desired to keep in touch with me. A few have. And that

is rewarding in itself. I have even run into former patients when

I am grocery shopping or at the mall. One family of former patients

(husband, wife & daughter) have become very close friends with my family.

In fact, they had a late in life pregnancy and had twins. We are

Godparents for the twins. The stress I do not miss. My husband

says it is nice that we both are not "crazy" at night, as was often the

case when we both worked. I do go to continuing education courses, renew

my CPR certificate and keep my license active. I doubt I will ever

use it again, but you never know. I do not know how I ever did all

that I did years ago, I have a difficult time staying on any type of schedule

and am always behind now that I am home. How about you? Do

you miss your work? Would you go back if you were able? Take

care. Carol

flatcat9@... wrote:

In

a message dated 2/4/02 10:03:20 PM Pacific Standard Time, pcmcobb@...

writes:

..

I do know that when I decided to retire (due to my health & the stress),

that my son was 16, and the first week I was home full time, he told me

that it was so nice to have me at home after school. Oh well.

Take care. Carol

My husband tells

me the same thing, often. (We worked together, so we saw quite a

lot of each other, but that was different.) However, he says he can't

get used to passing my desk and seeing someone else sitting there.

Carol, did you enjoy your work before you quit? Do you miss it?

Harper

[Guest guest]

Harper! How funny! Sounds like a party to me!!!!

debby

Re: [ ] Patty & Debby - handholding

In a message dated 3/19/02 12:26:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, writes:

Now you are being bad, sound like me, out of the hospital and on the computer, we really must get a life to deal with our anxiety... Now... How does one throw up their toe nails... I think we need Bert's humor on this one Where is Bert??? Thanks for the offer, It is nice to have an offer of support, right now I'm OK. Plus.. holding hands might transfer your nasty crud to me. I'll pass LOL. Support is great...It's part of why we stay in this group. YOU hang in there... Patty (Miami)You hold VIRTUAL hands! Don't you remember that big VIRTUAL party we all had last summer? I think we decided it was in Pago-Pago, with lots of ice cream and spareribs and margaritas, catered of course, and all we females wore little size six shorts. I think we had Antony Banderas dance for us. The whole group showed up. And then someone else cleaned up after the party. Harper

[Guest guest]

I CAN't REMEMBER IF I ANSWERED YOU BUT THANKS FOR WRITING . TODAY NOT GOOD MY MIND IN A FOG . TOMMORROW I GO TO THE DR FOR MORE TESTS AND AM A LITTLE NERVOUS. I FEEL AS BAD AS I DID WHEN FIRST DIAGNOSED. I AM ON 40MG PRED AND 50 MG IMURQN. MY ENERGY LEVEL IS NIL AND THE ACHING IS GETTING WORSE. I REALLY COULD USE A WEEKEND BY THE RIVER RIGHT NOW.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, HOPE YOU ARE FEELING WELL.

BRENDA

[Guest guest]

Carol, consider yourself fortunate. I have a friend who routinely buys her own presents from her husband, wraps them and leaves them out for him to give to her... How romantic. LOL. Of course I can't complain, tonight my husband cooked me a lobster dinner because I've had such a rough week. He is really sweet.

Patty

Patty

-----Original Message-----From: Philip Cobb [mailto:pcmcobb@...]Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 10:56 PM Subject: Re: [ ] HarperTrue, true. And I have purchased many of the aforementioned items for myself. The truth of the matter is that I hate to shop. If I can't order it out of a catalog (which I probably could) then I usually resort to calling and making an appointment with a personal shopper. But, you are right. I could surely go purchase those items for myself. However, my husband is always asking for ideas for a gift for me, so I was disappointed when he used that excuse for not getting me what I asked for. So, he gets one more chance before I go spend the money myself! He really ought to know better. Several years ago, he waited until the last minute and had not bought me a gift for Mother's Day. He had to leave for a trip that included his being gone over Mother's Day. He apologized for not having a gift and told me to just go and get what I wanted. Without going into details, he said he would not make that mistake again! Truth be known, he gets great pleasure out of spoiling me. I hate to deny him that! Carol flatcat9@... wrote: In a message dated 4/12/02 4:53:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time, writes: I had wanted a Palm Pilot for Christmas. Didn't get one. Maybe I'll push for one for Mother's Day! Along with a new computer! Supposedly that is why I did not get one for Christmas. My laptop is nearly 3 years old and my husband said it would not be compatible with any of the Pilots. So I guess I'll just solve both problems! Glad to know that Randy is doing so well now. Take care. Carol Hmmm. Now, best as I can remember, you are a grown woman who has had a successful career. Nowadays women can buy their own diamonds -- or perfume -- or chocolates -- or flowers -- or even, should they be some perversely inclined, their own fur coats -- if they want them and can afford them, rather than waiting to be given them. Can you buy your own computer and PalmPilot? Harper

[Guest guest]

Hello

I really like my handspring also. Of course I have calenders also, I have

to put everything down. I have trouble remembering how to spell even 3 or 4

letter words, cause my mind just goes blank. The only thing is I have to

remember to enter it in my handspring, I also have a steno pad that I carry

around with me with the date written on the top, I don't dare tear out a

page for fear I have forgotten something.

glo

>From: Philip Cobb <pcmcobb@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] Harper

>Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 00:05:07 -0400

>

>I would like one because my memory is getting worse by the minute. I

>would also like to be able to program a variety of reminders. Half of

>the time I do not even think about getting the mail until someone asks

>if anything important came in the mail that day. I know that I have

>come across as lacking intelligence with people who are unaware of my

>medical problems or of my past, simply because I am unable to recall

>information or process it as quickly as I once did. So, I can relate to

>your daughter not remembering what she was thinking. My husband says he

>can always tell when I get a totally blank look on my face that it is

>because my mind is truly blank at the moment.

>Carol

>

>flatcat9@... wrote:

>

> > In a message dated 4/12/02 10:22:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> > writes:

> >

> >

> >> Carol, I use a handsprig visor, it's not a complicared unit like

> >> some are.

> >> Works for me. I use it mostly for lists, calendar, and

> >> addresses/phone.

> >> Patty

> >

> >

> >

> > Carol, my daughter has poor short-term memory due to severe chronic

> > fatigue syndrome. She thinks well, but she can't remember what she

> > thinks! She carries a PalmPilot with her everywhere, even when going

> > from one room of her apartment to another. An important thought may

> > vanish quickly, and having the Pilot gives her a sense of security.

> > Also, she programs it to remind her when to take pills.

> > Harper

> >

[Guest guest]

Harper,

Congratulations on your continuing improvement and your 2 year

anniversary. May life bring you many more years of happiness and

joy.

Carol

flatcat9@... wrote:

,

I'm very glad you missed your train.

Rhonda, at least by now you've

seen that AIH is usually treatable, controllable. It could be a lot

worse! You ask if 40 mg is a "normal dose"; I don't think there is

exactly a normal dose, although Palmer cites an initial dose of "anywhere

from 10 to 30 mg." I started at 80 mg, with 100 mg of Imuran added

after a couple of weeks. However, I think that was an unusually high

dosage. Some few people have such mild cases that they don't need

any treatment. I think it varies according to the patient and also

the doctor's philosophy.

For Raynaud's, you notice

that one thing to avoid is "prolonged vibration." This means things

like lawn mowers and palm sanders.

Someone was talking about

the various needles for blood tests. I don't know what a butterfly

is. My HMO has fine "pediatric" needles that I get now that my veins

aren't so great. They cost more than regular needles. A couple

of years ago a phlebotomist in my city was found to have been re-using

the disposable fine needles in order to save money! Thousands of her patients

had to be tested for blood-borne diseases, as she'd been doing it for years.

Just to save money. Sigh.

I've been looking for my

package insert for Imuran to see what it might say about not using antacids.

I didn't find anything on-line. I've been chugging down antacids

all along. I want to know what aspect of the antacids makes them

undesirable with Imuran, and whether you can take antacids some hours away

from the Imuran. Is it the calcium in the antacids that causes a

problem?

This weekend is my two-year

anniversary of being diagnosed with AIH. As I've mentioned before,

my GP told me that she thought I had maybe three months to live.

I've never been happier or enjoyed myself so much as I do now. It's

almost worth the illness to have rediscovered the joy in living, the kind

of delight in each day that I felt as a very small child.

Harper

[Guest guest]

Dear Harper,

Thanks for caring. The pain pump surgery seems to be healing well.

For some reason, my left knee is very swollen and filled with fluid, and my

neck is giving me fits.

I'm just have to heal faster. It's very hard to come up with a salt free

diet for my husband.

Janice

From: flatcat9@...

Reply-

Subject: Re: [ ] Digest Number 2413

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 23:52:37 EDT

Janice in Arkansas, how are YOU doing? You said you'd had surgery. Are you

feeling better?

Harper

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com