boy, you've had your plate full, (((((((adelle))))))).  it's good to hear
that your own arthritis issues are pretty quiet now.  but the ibs being more
active is a bummer, though.

your mother, thea, has my prayers for strength and endurance, protection and
faith, time and healing . . . as do all of her loved ones.

if there is a particular doctor in that local group that you would really
prefer to have treating you, i think i'd try asking "ego bloated guy" for a
referral to that specific other doctor.  if he asked why, simply tell e.b.o.
that you just are uncomfortable with the patient-doctor chemistry between
you both.  if you've already done that, then i'd ask to speak to the senior
partner in the group.  the "rule" is that the doctor-patient relationship
has to be a comfortable one for the patient and that includes such things as
having faith in the competence of your doctor.  every doctor is taught this
in med school and is exposed to it during residency.  so, all doctors know
that every/any doctor does not work well with every/any patient.  there's no
such thing as "poaching" when it comes to this, especially, when you are the
one doing the requesting for another doctor.

becca is blossoming, it seems.<smile>  ian is simply being 9.  my alex did
the exact same thing at that same age.  so, i think you are probably right
about expectations, but don't completely rule out the possibility of peer
modeling outside the classroom, on the bus, in the playground, at lunchtime
. . .etc.  he may be just trying out something he learned from his peers.

love to all of you,
kate

Hi, Everyone!

Just coming out of lurk mode. I read daily, but haven't had it together
enough to post except when there's something 'new' to say. Have been praying
for those who need it.

Here's the run down - My RA is pretty quiet right now, even though I often
forget to take my Plaquenil. Haven't made my appt with the RD since he
changed locations. But pain load is 85% lower after being treated for the
Vit D thing. Yay!!!

IBS thing has been far more active, though. Haven't found a GI person yet.
The local group had attitude issues over who could treat me. Guess the
partnership has rules about not switching docs within the practice so
another doc can't 'poach' a patient. But that means I'd be stuck with the
ego bloated guy assigned to me when I was an inpatient with pancreatitis. He
prescribed medication I was allergic to, contrary to the allergy warning on
the chart. No way will I go back to him; so I am looking in neighboring
areas.

Synagogue has me really hopping. We put together a very full adult ed
program - lots of classes and activities. Lots of meetings. Blah, Blah!

Kids are doing really well. Ian is starved all the time and has started
making leaps in abilities. After trying on and off for years, he finally
learned to ride a two wheeler (just turned 9) and was able to roller skate
without someone holding him up. School has gotten harder for him because
they are expecting more on the personal responsibility side, as well as more
writing. He hasn't made leaps in those areas (yet). He's begun to show a bit
of attitude and a lot of whininess about school. But his teacher says he's
only doing it at home, not there, so I think he's just struggling with the
expectations of the grade and will come through it OK.

Becca (just turned 15) has thrown herself into Theatre Guild - helping build
sets and run fundraisers. Her grades continue to be very good. She has also
begun to create distance between herself and her friends who create
emotional drama for drama's sake. (Yay!!)She also showed great poise this
past Sunday leading services at synagogue. There was a large crowd, almost
half kids. It's the end of the service and the hum of talking has escalated
to a din. But she commanded the podium gracefully and did the last 15
minutes of the service with a smile on her face and a rather loud voice. Did
better than the cantor we were auditioning the day before who threw a hissy
during a prayer when just two little kids were talking to one another. The
woman stopped, insisted on complete silence, and then repeated that section.
Needless to say, the audition told us everything we need to know and it is
unlikely she will lead a service for us again.

Doug's job is going well. As he says, the luster has worn off and now its
just work.

And my mom? - Good news and bad news: Good news, radiation is working on the
targeted tumors and the chemo is reducing the spots on her liver. (just
found out after yesterday's scan)

Bad news: The chemo is playing havoc with my mom's blood counts and general
condition. She has an infection they can't pinpoint and has needed multiple
transfusions of both whole blood and platelets. My sisters and are are just
praying she can survive the treatment. We know she is stage IV and is being
treated for 'salvage' (hate that term) and not cure. We are simply trying to
let her live as long as she would like, to finish what she wants to and to
try to do so with as little discomfort as possible.

There have also been pain issues and chemo issues. She is off everything for
RA except prednisone because of the chemo. At first they thought intense
pain and sciatica was from a tumor near the spine. Cancer center
overmedicated her twice with pain meds (the chemo multiplies how much of the
pain med is absorbed). Each time required hospitalization until drug wore
off enough that she could stand up and also be oriented to time place and
identity.  The last one turned out to be a small blessing. My sister was
refusing to take my mom home because of being overmedicated. Finally, ER
nurse called the senior doc on call to 'deal with her.' Senior doc turned
out to be a neurologist who a.) told the nurse to admit my mom and then
ordered a ct scan; discovered it wasn't the cancer causing the pain - it's a
herniated disc! He did an epidural steroid treatment that day and will do
another next week. Still needs to use a walker indoors and wheelchair out
doors because her joints are so achy and she is weak from the radiation and
low blood counts.

So if you guys could add Thea ( 'TAY uh' or Dorothy, she uses both) to
prayer lists, we'd appreciate it. Not quite sure just what to pray for -
maybe just strength, time and fewer complications.

Love you all!

Adelle,
Praying for you today...You do have alot on your plate.
Your Mother...Praying that God will spare her the suffering and let her
finish what she needs and live and leave with as much dignity and least pain
as possible.
And that he gives you and your family the strength to bring you through.
Your Children sound like they are doing well...Sounds like you are doing a
very good job there...
Lots of hugs and prayers
Cindy

Thank you Adelle and may God bless you and yours.
Harv

Adelle, it's so good to see this update from you. I probably need to do the
same, but not on your thread.:P

Becca sounds like she's really coming into her own, and deciding who it is
she wants to be. She sounds like a lovely young person. I'm sorry Ian seems
to be struggling a bit, we certainly have that in common. Rachel can be the
sweetest thing, then turn on you with 'that face'. *shudders*

I'm glad Doug's job is still going along. Sadly, that luster doesn't take
long to tarnish, does it? Best of all is the state of your Arthur. So good
to know the Vit D issue helped resolve some of the pain!:)

My heart and prayers go out to you all in dealing with your Mom's cancer
treatment. I'll continue to pray for good, quality time for her, and for all
of you.

Hugs,
Kelly C.

Adelle,

Prayers coming that way for all.

Glad to see your update. Glad the RA is pretty quiet for now. Hope it stays
that way.

Ibs stuff is a pain to live with. I am sure you have been doing bran. Stuff
like metamucil helps after several weeks too.

I sure hope that you can find a good GI person to help you out. It really
ticks me off when drs don't see your allergies and then give you the meds
anyways. They are not the ones that have the serious reactions.

Sounds like  you sure are busy.

Glad the kids re doing so well. Shows what a great job you have done with
them.

Glad Doug's job is doing well.

I will be praying for your mom in all areas.

It really ticks me off when someone has a chronic or terminal illness and
they don't look further to see there is another issue that is going on like
the herniated disc with your mom. There was no reason for her to have to
suffer more with that. I could go on and on about this one, but will not do
it now. I feel for all that she has had to go thru.

Thanks for putting in her name. She is now on my prayer list as are your
family members who will be affected by this also.

Take care and drop in when you can to update us again.

Prayers on the way already, Adelle.
Gwen

{{{Adelle}}}

  Good vibes and wishes for your Mom. Congrats on the kidlets and their
activities  and glad to hear the RA has let up for ya right now.

Hugs from Rosie