STFU (Shut the F*** UP)

GmaFoley

Left the grandsons and granddaughter delivered safely. Going to have lunch with her, then 3 hour drive home.



Have a nice day Hoolies.

Wren44

I think I have white-coat hypertension in addition to my regular hypertension. I had an onc appt on Monday and my BP was 162/72. It's been that high at every onc appt. So I dug out my BP monitor, which was unused, and it was 136/61 at home. I'm going to take 3 x day for a week and see what the range is. I'm already on 2 blood pressure meds, so it was scary to have it that high. I don't have to go back until January.

Gma, where does your son live? Portland? Have a safe drive.

DS and DIL discovered you can rent campground space at Hawaiian parks for quite reasonable rates. One place we had a cabin and in another we were camped on the beach. They had showers and we got take out in town for dinner. It's not as luxurious as a hotel, but $10 a night beats $200.

GmaFoley

Yes Wren, portland we are eating at our favorite pizza place Bellagios.

gardengumby

Wren - my last onc appt (last week) my BP was SOOOO high.  I told her that it would be, though, because 1. I'd been drinking iced tea all day and 2.  I had just totally lost my temper at my boss.  I was a hairs breadth from walking into his office and quitting - but managed to hang on until I got out of there for the day. 

I'm going to have to buy a home BP monitor so that I can find out what my "reality" is as opposed to my "at the doctor's office" is. 

sas-schatzi

Wren "White Coat Sydrome" or "White Coat Hypertension". History: the term was used as far back as the 60's (that's as far back as I go LOL). In around 1998, there was an official evidence based study published. It proved that patients blood pressures did indeed spike when exposed to docs and medical situations. It then became an official term. Talk with your doc after you have gone through your documentation. Spiking BP's can be a cause to change antihypertensive management.

Please, consider after establishing whether this is a situation for you, to try behavior modification interventions first with your docs input. Some suggestions. 1. Visual imagery.  2. Physical modifications used in meditation i.e. concentrating on relaxation and breathing control. The quickest easiest method over the years, that I have used with untrained people in situations where Bp was elevated, was Lamaze. The slow deep relaxing breaths used in early labor and focus points. Some didn't realize I was doing Lamaze with them. I did ask if the person knew the techniques of Lamaze. If they did, it did make things easier. 3. Always go to appointments early, with the intent to relax before being seen. Use whatever behavior modification techniques that you have practiced, while waiting to be seen. 4. Decondition yourself by going to docs office and just sit there, then ask for your BP to be taken. Then leave. Repeat as necessary over time, until normal values are attained consistently.

The spiking of the Bp is related to the "fright or flight" mechanism controlled by the  Sympathetic Nervous System. Long, involved, and fascinating if you care to read about it.

The different behavior modifications can all be googled and practiced.  Good Luck!

I'll link to and old thing I wrote on Bp and recording Sassy

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=102&id=778836&page=170

Wrote this on Fuzzy's Romp Room, scroll down the page to find it.

sas-schatzi

The comments re: what happens in the operating room/department. Please, what you thought you observed and understood, IS NOT WHAT EXISTS. Operating room folks maintain the highest standards of understanding sterility, clean, clean contaminated, dirty contaminated, and hazardous dirty contaminated(i.e.gas gangrene). If an infection is proved to have been contracted in the operating room it is b/c a breach of protocol somewhere in the chain. But just as with anything else, the group practicing must be conscious at all times to identify and correct a breach.

I had the privelege of working in the operating room for 4 years. The hardest thing over the rest of my career was to work with and get others to understand, the higher standards that could be achieved by following the principles of the standard practice of the operating room. I maintain that if all nursing personell would work in an OR for aperiod of time, we would NOT have the problems, we have today with infections. The OR develops a different consciousness.

gardengumby

sas - I am not a nurse, but after having been in hospitals altogether too much for a couple of years, I truly wish they would follow your suggestion.  I had nurse's pick my oxygen thing off the floor and attempt to put it in my nose, drop the IV on the floor and then go to stick it in my arm, change my pee bag and then go to empty my drains (without washing hands or changing gloves) and it goes on and on.  By the time I was in the hospital the last time and they put me into a room next to someone who was "isolated" with MRSA, my husband was a nervous wreck.  He wouldn't go home, spent the night in the hospital with me and checked me out as SOON as possible in the morning.  I do believe that part of the problem is the horrendous hours the hospital staff is expected to keep, though.  No one can be at their best, or even their medium when they are on shift for twelve hours.  It's inhumane.

IllinoisLady

Really agree with that GG.

Jackie/aka Lilly

Wren44

Sas, thank you so much for the link. I remembered you writing about it but wouldn't have a clue where to find it. Just before surgery, my BP was 178 over something. I asked if I could calm myself down and lowered it to 150 in about 5 mins. I have studied meditation and it worked then. Don't know Lamaze; I'm one of the early natural girls (1960). I used the book by Grantly Dick-Read written for women in England during WWII. It starts...lean back against a fencepost or a tree.

juliaanna

GG, I can identify. I had my daughter who is a nurse at my bedside. It helped that 2 of my nurses had worked for me as aides and while in nursing school. I also believe 12 hour shifts are too long. They are dangerous for patients and the nurses

Anonymous

I'm not sure where today went...maybe into the Twilight Zone with Rod Serling. I got up feeling good and deciding what mischief I could get into. Now I see that I have done NOTHING to mess with anyone and my post from this morning looks like a 2nd grader typed it. Not that I have anything against 2nd graders, mind you. But a complete waste of opportunity.



I wish I had something to add to the anesthesia conversation, but I got nothing. Nothing relevant, but a non-relevant story. I remember after my second port insertion (because the first one did not work) the surgeon told me that while he was working on me someone asked why he was replacing it. He explained and said "so we have to make sure this is perfect so she doesn't have to do this again". Then evidently I said "There is no AGAIN". He said it got everyone's attention. He told them "see what I mean?"



He's really a good sport I guess. At my first appt with him, when he walked into the room, I opened my mouth to say hello and what came out was "OMG, you're 12!". He said "I get that a lot." He's a cutie. I'm on my 3rd port! I'll do anything for a cute guy.



I better stop now. Chemo plus 2 and I'm pretty sure my judgement is more impaired than usual.



Hello to you newest hooligans. Hope you like it here.

luvmygoats

OH Phyllisogram - You are precious. "OMG you're 12" sounds just like something that I would say. Nice ice breaker. I have those twilight zone days and then days like today. Haircut, bought goat grain, car oil change, post office, grocery. Whee, I'm pooped. I put ginger on my grocery list for next week to make your tea. My grocery is under renovation and produce is down to minimum stuff. No organic baby carrots, boo hoo. I did buy some Tazo green tea and some Torani raspberry syrup. Having that now with more in refrig for later.

Wren - "lean against a fencepost". LOL. Did they expect you to go back to hoeing the crops afterward???

12 hour shitfs. The palliative care unit I worked on had (note the had, didn't last) 10 hour 7 day on/7 day off shifts. All I did that 1st day off was wash scrubs. And I freq. got calls to come in on days off. I came home (45 minute drive), vegged a bit, ate, slept, showered, went back to work. The unit eventually transitioned into a medical floor with 12 hour shifts.

Sassy - I mostly remember white Plumeria. Can smell it now. I think it grows wild in Hawaii. Lovely images just with a "plumeria" google search and looks like good Wikipedia article. I have to go to Ft. Worth next week. Maybe I'm due a present???

GG - Femara treating me OK. Usual aches/pains but I manage to do what I need to do. Helped DH tear apart a 900# round bale of hay for the goats Sunday. See no changes in my future so long at it does its job. Have mammo for lefty on Monday. Will get Dexa scan next year to track osteopenia.

GmaFoley

I'm home... opened my email to find out one of my dear friends at church died... I was so strong, didn't cry when I left the grandkids... didn't cry when I was driving home ... this threw me over the edge...  Crying as I type... 

The Sleep Doctor/Neurologist office called and wants me to come in tomorrow instead of Monday - they had a cancelation.  Maybe I will talk to her about the nerve pain while I'm there... 

sas-schatzi

To all that have stories of happenings that they knew were wrong. The O2 cath from the floor, the non washing of hands between procedures ALL THE WRONG STUFF. I HATE IT, JUST HATE IT. It's that lack of recognition of the sequence sterile, clean, clean contaminated, dirty contaminated, and hazordous contaminated. It's in the lack of teaching and consciousness. As a young one first week in the OR.  I hear " There's a fly" being yelled down the hall. Doors slamming everywhere. It was the beginning of the day and outside doors were still open as patients were being wheeled into their rooms. I thought are these folks nuts. I asked my orientation nurse what was up? She turned and pointed at the sterile field. She explained if a fly landed on a sterile field the whole table had to be broken down. At that moment, my consciousness began to change. AN AHhhhh moment.

The reason you didn't see handwashing in the OR. There are archtectural standards for an OR. An outside nonsterile corridor, for cart and people traffic. Rooms are centered around a central "sterile corridor". In the sterile corridor which is really "clean not sterile" The word is used to create a consciousness. In that corridor are the scrub sinks. Sinks are designed with foot and knee controls. Masks are worn at all times in that corridor. What can be taken into and out of that corridor is defined by policy. OR rooms are not allowed to have sinks because then there would have to be a drain---source of outside bacteria. No floor drains except in cystoscopy. Cysto rooms serparate from the central core b/c of this. If OR"s were separate from the central core, there was a scrub room that followed the same concepts as the central core. Once a surgery is started policy mandates entry to a room is by the central area to avoid air flow from the outside corridors. Newer hospitals have Laminar air flow-special and expensive. Many older hospitals retrofitted. Thousands of details. Last thought how many jobs do you have to strip, Have a blanket held outside the room which you stepped into, go down a hall,  and shower after a case. Only had to do it three times. How you stripped was defined by policy. Bra and underwear were allowed to be kept on. But there were those of us that preferred under the circumstances to remove them before the case. What a hoot from the standpoint you knew and trusted your co-workers well.-Gas gangrene cases---rare, rare cases. But we were sooooooooooooo careful. Loved that crew. Many a time I thought how much easier life would have been if I had never left. Most never do, they become Lifers.

sas-schatzi

Foley, so sorry about your friend, your stress has been so great for so long. Let the tears flow. Scream into a pillow, then breate, then scream againinto the pillow.. Let it all out.

See what the doc thinks of that new DC microcurrent pain stimulator? Ask doc to Consider: a fibromyalgia med.( I think you are on one), Fentanyl low dose patch with the ability to increase if pain goal not attained, Oxy or hydrocodone for breakthrough at specified pain scale level. Therapeutic massage for the entire body along with physical therapy for LE/pain side--rationale the rest of your body is understress besides your right upper quadrant and extremity. Counseling covered by insurance for multiple dx's that the counselor will define. Antianxiety meds as they see will mix well with the drugs you are on. Hugssssssssss

ChickaD

Oh Miss Gma...so sorry to hear about your friend .... my prayers and hugs are with you my friend  xoxo  peace

sas-schatzi

Wren, both were leaders in natural childbirth. Lamaze was french and Reed was english. Oddly, not much about either in wiki. They both changed the world. Both were initially ostrasized for their work. Lamaze used several types of breathing for the three stages of child birth. He developed them from watching horses give birth(if memory correct LOL). The first phase was a slow deep breathing sucking in air then, blowing out slowly with pursed lips during a contraction. The 2nd, was a more rapid breathing during transition. The third was blowing altering with the rapid breathing as needed during the third phase to control rapid expulsion of the baby. As a student, I had to teach this to a young girl with no education. I asked her if she could explain it back to me. She said "Whats so hard. First you breathe like a dirty old man. Then you pant like a dog. Then you blow like a fish". It was perfect.

Anonymous

I'm home now!

juliaanna

Hurrah, Veggy.  Glad you are back home-nothing like your own bed.

Gma, So sorry for your loss.  Good luck at your appointment tomorrow.

For me, if you have a spare positive thought, I would appreciate it.  I have the last (hopefully) surgery in the reconstructive proces tomorrow morning.  By evening, I should be nips up.

Comforting thoughts for those with pain or SE from treatment.  Best wishes to everyone.

luvmygoats

Yeah for Veggy. How ya feeling? Hope you got some answers. Good to sleep in your own bed tonight.

Juliaanna of the new nips - In your pocket tomorrow.

Gma - so sorry about your church friend. I'm with sassy - let loose and have a good cry. Sometimes feelings wash over me and that's all I can do. Hope sleep doc/neuro. has some good solutions.

Anonymous

GMA - Sorry. Hugs.

GmaFoley

She had lung cancer and had been fighting for about a year.. chemo seemed to be helping but she looked so weak and frail... She stood by me with lots of encouraging words when I was going through treatment... I just loved her so much.. Never once did I hear her complain, not once did she not care for others even when she was going through this... I'm not sure of the details of what happened yet.. but I know she is with the Angels.

Here is a picture of the grandkids - They actually sat still long enough for me to get a picture..

camillegal

GMA beatiful picture, it looks professional I'm so glad u got home safe, then hearing that awful news of a dear friend, I am so sorry.

Veggy u'r home so glad--How are u feeling?

Julia--new nips tomorrow nite it will be a new u, too.

Lezza13

y'all as we say here in TX (but not me, of course) lost me hours ago. Love you ladies, thanks for making me laught.Wishing you all the best and sending hugs and prayers to those to need it, I bid this board adieu and I will STFU starting now.....Lezza

luvmygoats

Lezza - you mean for the night only??? You're not leaving????!!!

camillegal

Lezza u'r leaving us?? like for good. ? What is it with us? We're so much fun and seriousness too, but mostly fun.

sas-schatzi

Cami-hay or is it hey, Durante said it best "I think I want to stay, I think I want to go". Then Chevy said it next best- paraphrase "Those that stay will stay , those that go will go, we will still be here". I'll add those that want to return will return. Some get us, some don't. Ca' Sa' Ra' Sa' Ra' or is it cascara.

Yay Veggy missed you---Group HUG Pics needed:)

JUlianna, Do you get a flap tuck along with the nips???? Have an uneventful surgery and recovery:) The nips are really the icing

Sent a Pm to April, she's been gone about three weeks. Flowers in the recovery room. Phillyreadssomuchshehasn'tgottimeforus, stacey, ckickee, Mary and blondie are chemoing and targeting. So, what trouble is Chevy into? That ducky too? Dwilli's a courting! Shellsamissing. Littlegoatsisunbalinh hay. Foleyspicswithgkssocute. Wrensastitching

Shellshine

Sorry - I was busy. Thanks for checking Sassaronni.

Philly - you are so smart and funny - even when you are whacked out from treatments - I love you're unique sense of humor and perspective.

Juliaanna, good that you're getting the next phase of reconstruction. I have a question for you - I'm interested in having an aerola made, so I don't have flat looking hamburger buns, but I don't want my "headlights on" all the time. Please let me know if you can go braless after nipple reconstruction. I've been thinking about it lately. I know there's no rush in making a decision, but would appreciate your perspective after you are healed.

Cam - sent you a PM.

You're right Sas - where is April? The only bad thing about this thread is the worry when one of us is MIA.

Veggy I'm so glad you are discharged. All of you are right: hospitals  are noisy, stressful, and infected with all kinds of unhealthy stuff. I spent one night after BMX and was out < 24 hours - couldn't handle the constant interuptions, noise, despite the fact that I had a private room and exceptional nurses.

Sas - I'm a gardener, too.

Blondiee - thinking of you, hope you are doing okay.

camillegal

Good Morning all---Sas it's true some people just aren't comfortable here and that's fine. but when one is missing for a few days we get a little antsy--cuz we do care.

It's starting to get light so back to bed soon hahaha.

I hope everyone is having a good orbetter day today, if they weren't yesterday--

GmaFoley

Good Morning Cami - was up at 3:30 for work today.. Thunder and Lightning storm this morning - Pray for no forest fires... we are really really dry here..  

PS - not my picture, I cheated but that is what it looks like here..