INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours
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Oh Golf Girl, Love it that your hooked. The bowl is beautiful. Replacements.com didn't put a price on them, so it's difficult to know if the EBAY price is fair or too little. But yes, you got a steal at 10$ Yay. It's a limited edition. Limited edition usually becomes immediately collectible.
I love the sheen of leaded glass . I can see the star falling
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Sorry ,Nettie, no clue
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Hi friends!
I went to see PS he went over scans with me and said that the inflammation is getting larger and it shouldn't be if it is just scar tissue. He wants to do biopsy. I'm going to see a new BS Tuesday morning, she comes well recommended and I want her input before anyone goes cutting on me again. PS told me it could be cancer, says my mammary lymph nodes are swollen, not terribley swollen..but still swelled.
I'm trying to stay positive ((hugs))
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In your pocket chicklet Tuesday. I'll bring the martinin's -
Who has ear problems? I missed it... oversensitivity to certain sounds (little girls and their high-pitched screams, DH unloading the dishwasher) is called hyperacusis. It is a condition usually based in the inner ear, involving the nerves used in hearing. By the way, the INNER ear is located behind the eyeballs.... so it's not something you can reach, or look at.
Cleaning out the ears yourself is o.k. if you're careful. Never use Q-tips (or, like my mom, a hairpin) because you can puncture the eardrum. A wax build-up is better performed at the doctor's office by a nurse. There are drops that can soften wax, but the problem is that you can never tell how effective it is, because you can't see inside your own ear.
Also, sometimes introducing cold or warm water into the ear can produce dizziness or vertigo. In fact, one of the tests for vertigo involves irrigating the ears with different temperatures of water to see if it produces any resulting symptoms.
Hearing tests at Costco baffle me. Even though they have a soundproof booth, the ambient noise in the warehouse is deafening, so I doubt there is total silence inside that booth. But it's a good way to get started. If you show signs of hearing loss, you can either file the audiogram for future reference, or follow up with a licensed Audiologist.
This might be a good time to remind women who will be starting chemo to have a baseline audiogram, as some of the chemo drugs can affect hearing.
A friend of mine suffered a hearing loss after several rounds of chemo for cervical and ovarian cancer, and now wears hearing aids. The insurance company told her that the cost would have been covered if she could PROVE that her hearing loss was due to chemo, but since she'd never had her hearing checked, she had to pay the full cost out of pocket. They weren't cheap.
O.K. END OF LECTURE! Thank you for your time, and turn in your assignments at the door....
oh, wait, this isn't class....
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Update on The Big Smack...
On the 19th of this month, it will be 3 months since I fell and knocked myself out, suffering a concussion, and later, Post-Concussion syndrome. Initially, my doctor said it would take 8 - 12 weeks to resolve.
I've had an MRI that showed no bleeds, clots, or tumors. Yay!
But my recovery is very slow. I still have memory loss every day. I still walk with a cane, because I can't tell where my body is in space. I call family members by the wrong name; I forgot how to make the bed; I forgot how to turn the shower off.
Yet I can still call up details of my former life... like the above post... with no problem.
Yesterday I saw the Neurologist. He asked me a bunch of questions, and it took a while, but I got all the answers right. Duh - I was really concentrating.
But I didn't do so well on the balance tests. He referred me to a Balance Class.
The good news: I don't have dementia!
The bad news: "As we get older"..... our brains lose the capacity to recover from head trauma like I had. He wants me to focus on retraining my brain to try to recover my memory skills. Unfortunately, he said, I may never return to my former level of functioning.
SO - I'm bummed, but hopeful. Frustrated, but hopeful. Looking for the good in all this. One benefit - I'm not as angry as I was, because I can't remember whatever was making me mad. And if I do get stressed, I forget about it because I get to distracted to obsess on anything.... oh look! A squirrel!!!
That's about all the news I have...
If I don't make sense when I post, well, I have an excuse. Head injury!!! I'm thinking that I can use that for a LOT of things...
Love and hugs and prayers to all y'all!
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Yes Blessings.... I didn't know what was going ON with me after my brain concussion.... So I just went with it. But the last 55 years, I can remember everything that I am supposed to.... and THEN some. I don't know why.... I don't remember things about my child-hood, or growing up.... just little things.... Not even a wedding I was in for my best friend in High School....
I KNEW I must have been there, because she showed me her pictures! So I have forgotten a LOT of things, but they are probably not important. I don't remember moving in to my Grandma's house, after my folks left and sold our home.... But I remember standing at the train station, and telling my Brother good-bye when he joined the Navy.
And I don't remember going to Grade school, or Junior high, or even High School. I only remember one teacher in Home Economics... And making a dress in the sewing class.
So it's going to be okay.... Just glad you don't have dementia.... You SOUND good, if that's any help. It's like you can go on, just like you are normal, but won't remember what you did.... But no-one notices anything.... at least they didn't with me.
I remember catching the bus and going to work from my Grandma's house a few times.... I lived there for over 1 1/2 years.
And then I met my DH.... Well, it took us l year and 9 months before we saved enough money to get married. And I remember everything about the last 57 years!
My level of functioning is MUCH better, now that I am older..... Something GOOD must have happened in my life, after my folks left, to help me make my own life.
So I thank God that I have what we do now, and that my girls are good, and I still have my Husband. What's gone, is just over with. Don't even worry about it.... I've had a FEW memories that came back, that stopped me in my tracks.... Made me just start sobbing.... I cried for that little girl that went through that....
So see? Sometimes we don't WANT to remember things.... they hurt us too much. I think that little girls learn how to protect themselves, when bad things happen.... Maybe the brain concussion just helped me do that!
That's funny that you mention "getting mad." I never got mad about anything.... just hurt. There was enough "mad" going on at our house growing up, so I would just go on my merry way.... in my own little world.
So carry on little Blessings.... You ever need any help, I'm always here.....
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Have you guys seen this? It's just hysterical! A baby-bear pole dancing!
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Blessings I agree with Chevy, you sound good. Your sense of humor is intact. YAY It was me about the noise sensitivity. It's actually painful. Having to turn every thing down. AND I can hear better. My old Endocrin doc said I wanted to blame everything on thyroid. The medication that takes 7 weeks to come to blood level. Oh the changes. Should just copy from another thread where I was pontificating. I'll do that it's easier.Lol. I definitely was pontificating. Just bypass if it bores you
Stage, the concentration of my study was on Thyroid function and cancer of the thyroid. But there is much written on the connection between the two. BC and thyroid problems may/do have a familial connection. Since I'm past the prevention side of both, I didn't focus on that much. A few points that stayed with me re: BC & Thyroid. With the element Iodine, the thyroid uses the most iodine. The second highest tissue in the body that uses iodine, is breast tissue. Interesting?
Why breast tissue uses iodine is totally unknown. The use of iodine isotopes (diagnostic and cancer treating RAI-131) have all kinds of cautions when breast are intact i.e scans, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Interesting? An interesting web site is "stopthethyroidmaddness.com" STTM and another web sit by a Dr Rind(use his name for the keyword, I forget the name of his web site).
Since I have to be regulated on a much higher dose of thyroid med now b/c the thyroid is gone. I realize all the things that are now starting to correct themselves at a higher dose than I was previously on. The man made parameters of TSH lab test which is considered the gold standard by orthodox endocrine docs, is not addressing the signs and symptoms(s/s's) being shown by patients. If you study the management of all the symptoms that were treated for a hundred years by porcine thyroid and patients descriptions of improvement where dose was related to symptom improvement, we have a pre mid 70's approach and a post mid 70's approach. The change was the introduction of TSH as a measurement of thyroid function.
If I'm having such significant changes on a higher/different level that I can observe, what was happening within my body that I can't observe?
How much affect did thyroid have on breasts? Was my diet lacking in iodine? Was iodine the reason? How are they genetically linked? Is their a link? LOL, the research raised more questions per usual than it answered
, but it certainly answered allot.S/S change LOL Constipation which preceded all BC(2009) treatment is now marvelously GONE. Fluid balance i.e water retention. Output much more and edema less. But also stopped Norvasc a slow channel calcium blocker for hypertension notorious for causing lower extremity edema. Blood pressure improved and as I just wrote, I'm off one of my BP meds. Truthfully, if I stopped smoking Bp would likely go to normal without a drug. I know shame on me
The weight documented at 177 Dec 2012 that went to 197 over two months, then to 208 during pre-removal and up to 217 in thyroid suppression state for RAI-131 treatment is finally stabilized and I'm loosing YAY! Hair stopped falling out and is regrowing. Insomnia is improved, hugely. If it tells you how bad the insomnia was, I started the Insomniacs thread. Depression, I will say is gone, but will clarify with my counselor to see if he agrees ; )) Stamina, now can exersize, no energy before. Muscle pain way less. On STTM web site, it's an eyeopener re:fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome history as it relates to the introduction of TSH and physician clinical practice change during that time.. Vertigo-improved. Sense of Smell is coming back, gone for a couple of decades, a bit of a shock to find out I do need to consider deodorant and my sh*t does stink LOL. Tinnitus less loud, been buzzing since 1998. I'll settle for less loud. Would prefer gone though. Cold flashes have actually gotten worse versus the expected improved, but dose adjustment isn't complete. I'm hopeful Eczema of hands last year was awful, now healed. Developed Eczema of the vulva /anal area after RAI-131 treatment, controlled with Bag Balm, Started to show significant change at 125mcg of levothyroxine, but now healed as dose was increased to 137mcg and came to blood level. Lifting of nails(Onchyolysis)stopped. Last nail that I thought I was going to loose after RAI-131 has reattached during the last two weeks. Brain fog improved. Hearing, this isn't normally on thyroid problems lists, but it's better the last several weeks. I'll take it I think I hit all the major stuff. There are allot of things that weren't wrong with me, but I will go out on a limb here and say it was b/c of Omega3 (I'm out of the closet LOL) I know this is long, BUT many of these s/s's were present for a very long time, even decades for fatigue, constipation, pain, sinus, smell some others. Certainly not improved with the small 25 mcg dose of thyroid med I was put on in 2007. The stark changes that occurred before the goiter dx. Then all that happened after and until the thyroid med after treatment. Plus, the improvements since increased dose from 125mcg to 137mcg. Now the switch to porcine thyroid. I now believe, TSH measured nothing for me. Remember it is a man made level determined by a scientific study. I would bore you with how often in my nursing lifetime beginning in 1969, that science has change an accepted parameter. The joke with us that were teaching at one point was "What are we teaching this year".
How does thyroid relate to breast and Breast Cancer? The story hasn't been written yet.
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Oh? Pontificating? And I'll bet BBIM means Be Back in the Morning? See, I am a regular whiz!
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Blessings, Lol, I pontificate allot. But this whole ear thing hurts. Many many tests over 50 years. No ear wax problem. BUT There are some interesting questions. 1. Change since thyroid med changes 2. The change I had post Crainotomy-brain surgeryPost crani the use of high dose steroids with the usual weaning. The high dose deals with the any inflammation in the post crani period. Dear Brother came to take care of me. How we knew something was very unusual was the volume on the TV. Usually I had to have it at the max. I had to turn it down to the bottom 1/4(25th%) bars. Otherwise it hurt. We were baffled. DB admitted he brought ear plugs.
After the weaning and for awhile, slowly I had to increase the sound. None of the docs had an answer. Ultimately , returned to the max level.
Obviously indicates, steroids reduced swelling of something. Dear SIl is in the hearing instrument industry. She has access to some of the world elite hearing people. BUT she wouldn't ask. OH WELL.
Now the only change is in thyroid med. Same thing with the volume bar on the TV. I'm at or below the 50% marker. AND that level is irritating. In some cases having to go lower. God love DBF. He hears in the bottom 1/4 bar level. Never complains about what he has had to put up with at max level.
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LOL Chevy BBIM-be back in a minute HA But "be back in the morning" is good. Useful......Remember when I was doing the list on STFU. Blondie wrote BBL. I put it in her name list as an abbreviation. She kindly wrote back. Sas it means "Be back later"
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Must admit it could have been a coincident thing b/c I was on Doxy the last two weeks for an ear infection in the left ear that presented with only eardrum "difference". No other symptoms, ongoing approximately since 5th week post RAI-131, just accepted it as another RAI-131 problem. But the other ear had no symptoms. The only time there was a hearing change was the high dose steroids and the thyroid med. Okay, may be the doxy and the thyroid are working together. Will know in about three weeks. If I return to having to use max level on TV. It was the Doxy. AND an OH well, not everything is attributable to thyroid -
for Sas
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Spookie LOL, add hair and we have Schatzi, plus a beard. On the to do list to see Chevy, is a haircut for Shats -
Spookie goes Tues for her spa day.
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So, I'm loosing it ya'll. I'm looking at the CD's with my scans on it, trying to decipher something from what I see. I'm making myself crazy here and I NEED to stop. Should have askd PS, if this isn't inflammed tissue, could it be anything other than cancer?? -
ah, Tangadang......I wish I was there to be with you, look at those CDs, drink some green tea with a shot of something stronger....I am sorry this shit is still happening to you. Scary & crazy.
Hang in there......this nightmare is aging you before your time... I say that only because I feel like I have aged 10 years in the last 14 months.... Mainly physically, but also emotionally. I hope you know that we all are counting on you to be here when you are as old as the Chevster.....
Big hugs.....
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Sas-
he was airlifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital, in West Virginia and was there the whole time. Trauma, Ortho, ICU all took great care of him. He lives in Waverly, and the accident was in Pike County. Here is the initial news post about it: http://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2014/08/07/one-airlifted-pickup-motorcycle-crash/13756217/ Not sure about the teams that worked on him, but whoever they were, they did an amazing job.
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Tang, call them tomorrow! but tonight, try to put it out of your mind and get some rest. (hugs)
Holein1- I look and feel like i've aged 20 years. *sigh*
Sas- I am so sorry you are having issues with your ears. That must be so frustrating and painful.
Chev- you ARE a wiz!
Blessings- I am glad that you are feeling better, at least a little bit. I am sure the cancer treatment doesn't help your cognition issues. I know it hasn't helped mine!
Smaaaaaarty! How are you? hanging in there with the heat?
a spa day for Spookie? what about Spookiesmom? I think you deserve one too.
Nettie- I have never been to that area, but have you tried the state parks?
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so far behind, but thinking of you all
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awww 2X- i love Snoopy! How are you doing?
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JWoo, I'm fine, went to dentist for first quarter of deep root cleaning. I was suppose to had done this 1-1/2 years ago. Told them I'd get back in after my gallbladder was out last March. Then I had a mammogram and we know where that went. So finally got in. Only a little sore. I go see #2 PS on Tuesday, I'm keeping an open mind. Really! I think she'll say that the foobs are ok the way they are then I'll have to change insurance. If she actually agrees to change them I'm wondering if I want to do it sooner than November when I get back from the cruise. They hurt and I think the right one is slipping out of the pocket and heading south! But I'm really keeping an open mind. Really.
Tang, hope you were able to let it go for a little bit, we can certainly drive ourselves crazy. I don't think anyone can turn it off, we just live with our brains and hope for the best.
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Well good morning fellow cancer fighters. I slept better last night except for potty breaks every 2 hrs. 64oz of water daily sure makes one go a lot. A bit queasy this morning. Hope to feel more settled after I eat something. Tangandchris, I was scaring myself a few weeks ago by reading everything I could find online. I had to stop or go nuts. Hope you're doing better today.
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Morning gals! Zirgthol, or what is it again? I know you begin with a Z. I think I called you Zebra once.... This is taxing my brain..... and it is 37 degrees out, so I may not be up to speed yet.
How are YOU doing? Just read things online, but don't think they necessarily apply to what you are going through. I DID find a lot of information about certain things I wanted to know..... BC.ORG has a lot of information also....
At the top of this page, on the left, in the blue.... go to "SEARCH"..... and type in any word you have questions about... You will get lots of options.... I don't think you will find a date on here, but anything else might be a possibility.... It's like if any of the gals had the same question on an issue, you will see that, and the responses they get.
You are taking Tamoxifen.... that MIGHT have a lot to do with your sleep patterns. I used to take it myself.... and had the darndest dreams you ever heard of! See, you are new here, so I won't say damndest.... yet.
But we will watch out for you.... so just get lots of rest...... take an aspirin, and call me in the morning.
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Hiya Girls!
Stopping in to wish everyone a good weekend! Reading to ketchup. I have taken this slacking thing to a new level while I can!!
Hope you all are well!
Lynne
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Sas, I am so interested in all the thyroid stuff!! I'm almost positive that a lot of the troubles I now have are due to lack of thyroid function, but getting a doctor on board in this area is almost impossible!
And since chemo,I also now have ear ringing, never had it before, haven't mentioned it to MO because didn't think there was much to do about it, but now I'm wondering if it have something to do with thyroid meds needing to be adjusted! If chemo messes up lots of stuff, then why couldn't it be assumed that it could throw that off also?
Also, no matter what I try, I can not lose weight! and I'm slowly creeping up even a year after chemo!
Well it looks like as of now the vaca is a no go! Seems DH and I can't find something we afford that we can agree on, so I guess this year it's just not meant to be! Maybe something will change! At least I can hope, anyway, as of the last two days, DH is back to being an ass anyway, so why do I bother wanting to subject myself to going somewhere alone with him! Sometimes I confuse myself!
Have a great day ladies!
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Oh, almost forgot...had my 6 month mammo this morning and boy oh boy did that HURT!! Last time it didn't hurt at all, so I'm not sure what's up with that! Anyway, I didn't get called back for further tests, so that's usually good, but I won't see the doctor until the 18th for the complete results! -
you guys up north, enerva, Cami, zz, mama ray, you should be able to see the aurora boralis tonight. Unusually sun flare has lit up the skies. Please let us know if it's anything like this.
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Tang Hugs, ATIVAN, chocolate and sleep. Force the sleep by whatever.
Jwoo--Impressive hospital and system. LOL, That's my summary after reading about them for more or less an hour and calling the ER to verify why they weren't a Level I Trauma Center b/c on paper they sure sounded like they met the criteria. They're a Level II, but meet allot of criteria for Level1.......Thanks, the ear thingy shall pass. It'd be nice if the improved hearing stays. I'll take that LOL
Z, hope you're feeling better
$$$444444, I'm reading to mustard
Nettie, study the STTM site. Check out Dr. Rinds site and bookmark. Call around and see if any of the PCP docs do primary thyroid management. I took a shot with my PCP. We never discussed management for the almost 5 years I've had her. May be first try your local pharmacies and ask if any docs are prescribing Porcine thyroid. Particurally, try a compounding pharmacy. A non- compounding pharmacist will know where they are. Based on what I read, some docs have to have their thyroid scripts done at a compounding pharmacy for various reasons. (google for definition, it'd be easier than the definition I'd give you(homework LOL).
Learned on Rinds site, that overtime he used the reverse T3(RT3) less and less b/c he found it inversely related to FREE T3. Inversely means if one thing goes in one direction, the other relate value goes in the opposite direction. So, he no longer uses the test. In other reading though I found, if patients have been strictly on T4 meds (synthroid, levoxyl, levothyroxine, not all listed) it could take months for the RT3 level to go down. I'll let you know if I learn something new on it. Rind, also, has a calculator on how to determine what the labs are saying. It's beautifully simple. It takes brilliance to make something complex seem simple.
Blessings what's the medical word for having the eardrum vibrate like a cymbal. Doesn't happen often, but it's resounding when it happens. Thanks for the hypercusis word. Glad you aren't demented.
super advice about the audiogram pre treatment. Could you put on your to do list for some time in the future to add that to the JUST DIAGNOSED-GET PREPARED thread. I could cut and paste?2nd HUGS
Thinking of you Susan if you are lurking
Hugs
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