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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / January 2004Who are you, "J"?
Just wondering what your stake in this cancer ng is. I see so many of your posts and responses. You've got to be spending megahours on your computer. For all your wisdom I'm thankful. But without revealing personal data, can you share a bit about yourself? I'd especially be interested if you are a cancer survivor. Thanks. BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out to be a retired medical professional. > Just wondering what your stake in this cancer ng is. I see so many of > your posts and responses. You've got to be spending megahours on your > computer. For all your wisdom I'm thankful. But without revealing > personal data, can you share a bit about yourself? I'd especially be > interested if you are a cancer survivor. Thanks. BTW, I wouldn't be > surprised if you turned out to be a retired medical professional. No Joe (not medical anything at all) Both my parents had cancer and my uncle and my grandfather. Possibly my father's sister (she died young, but my father was so pained that he would never speak about why and I forget what my mother explained about that). That's all I care to say about that. I'm here because I care. J Thank you for Caring, J.....  Signature"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery > > > Just wondering what your stake in this cancer ng is. I see so many of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'm here because I care. > J > . For all your wisdom I'm thankful. Thank you Joe. Know what I miss here? the guys (men) chatting together. We used to have 6 or 7 who would carry on exchanges and I miss that much. Is it the football season or what do you think is the reason there's so few men posting here? Just wondering. J Hey ... I'm an Eagles fan, living right outside Philly, and I'm here! Probably has something to do with male ego. >> . For all your wisdom I'm thankful. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Just wondering. >J > Hey ... I'm an Eagles fan, living right outside Philly, and I'm here! > Probably has something to do with male ego. Well, I'm not a sports fan and I see hockey's on too. I'm not sure what you mean about ego, but I see Socks over on sci.med.diseases.cancer so maybe he (and others) need a break from cancer discussions and are looking for more stimulating and different newsgroup exchanges? So I guess it's up to them. I'll be here Joe for you. J J <RandomIZed@example.org> on 05 Jan 2004 suggested: >> . For all your wisdom I'm thankful. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > We used to have 6 or 7 who would carry on exchanges and I miss that > much. I can't speak for other men, but I tend to read and listen more than post or speak, unless I have something that I consider useful and worthwhile to contribute. --Douglas > I can't speak for other men, but I tend to read and listen more than post or > speak, unless I have something that I consider useful and worthwhile to > contribute. The tall, dark and silent type or just an eavesdropper? <g> J J <GuaFinex@example.org> on 06 Jan 2004 suggested: >> I can't speak for other men, but I tend to read and listen more than >> post or speak, unless I have something that I consider useful and >> worthwhile to contribute. > > The tall, dark and silent type or just an eavesdropper? <g> > J The former. I'm too hard of hearing to eavesdrop. *laf* --Douglas I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? How big of a salary from the medical industry do you get to post here? http://medicaltruth.com/ doc roadmaster103@access4less.net said... > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? No, not all. Some of us are quite happy to accept that J is just J. It doesn't matter to me whether J is male or female; 22 or 92; black, white or yellow; paid by a 'relevant' concern or not. It's enough for me that when I heard that my mother had had surgery for cancer J was there to tell me what the questions were so I could look for some answers. ITYF it's enough for most other people here as well. I admit I was curious: to a certain extent I still am; however if J chooses to be known as the enigmatic J that's OK by me, in much the same way that your real name probably isn't Doc. > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? How > big of a salary from the medical industry do you get to post here? > > http://medicaltruth.com/ > > doc She gets $0,000,000 per year > > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? > How [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > She gets $0,000,000 per year I gave her a raise.....now she gets $00,000,000! > > > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? > > How [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > > I gave her a raise.....now she gets $00,000,000! Cheekey...you got my hopes up there'd be a 1 in there..<g> J > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? How > big of a salary from the medical industry do you get to post here? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > J doesn't get paid, she is an incredibly caring person with a heart of "gold". Hugs and support are priceless. Alayne > I think every body at alt.support.cancer would like to know who you are? How > big of a salary from the medical industry do you get to post here? > > http://medicaltruth.com/> > doc I don't think it matters who or what people say they are on a newsgroup. I purport to be a Hospice Nurse from Western Australia, Steph purports to be a Radiation Oncologist from British Columbia and others have professed to be many things on this NG. J professes nothing but to be someone who cares and wants to help. What browsers have to do is decide who sounds like they know what they are talking about and follow that. If advice or comment is important to a person then they should check it with their relevant professional whose qualifications are in a frame in their office and can be checked with appropriate authorities. If I told you to invest $1,000,000 in Radcliffe Medical Industries of WA I don't think you would send me a cheque in the next post, neither should anyone invest their lives in anything anyone says on this NG without double checking with a trained professional known to them. If it's just comfort and support people are after then listen to the contributors who make best sense to you. I believe most people are honest on this ng. I cetainly don't agree with everything people say and feel but that's life. There are, however, quite a few posters who have few scruples and where possible these should be 'outed'. MIKE P.S. All cheques for investment in the above should be made out to me personally and I will post my address in the Cayman Islands as soon as they are all cashed! > J <GuaFinex@example.org> on 06 Jan 2004 suggested: > > >> I can't speak for other men, but I tend to read and listen more than > >> post or speak, unless I have something that I consider useful and > >> worthwhile to contribute. I forgot to mention an odd thing about me. For the first oh 24 years of my life, I rarely spoke a word. Long story, but back then, the grandparents said "children are only to speak when spoken to" and they never talked to us..dammit !...couldn't get a word in edgewise (as they say)... then talking was squashed in school, then at the dinner table we were told to be quiet and eat because there were chores to do, before getting to our school homework...so for a long time there, I listened and kept my mouth shut. We learn a lot about people that way, yes? And some factoids too.. Somethng magical happened around 24, I got mad and thought, I've got something to say too...and ever since nobody can get me to shut up. <laf> > > The tall, dark and silent type or just an eavesdropper? <g> > > J > The former. I'm too hard of hearing to eavesdrop. *laf* then that makes you tall, dark and handsome too. (I mixed up "the silent type" and "tall, dark and handsome") on my previous post. *hugs* Douglas, you are one of my favs here ( all are, but my Dad's name was same as yours) so when I see your name pop up on my screen, I get all warm fuzzy feelings <smile> (I find something special about each poster here, just so nobody feels left out). J J <GuaFinex@example.org> on 07 Jan 2004 suggested: >> J <GuaFinex@example.org> on 06 Jan 2004 suggested: > > I forgot to mention an odd thing about me. For the first oh 24 years > of my life, I rarely spoke a word. I'm still very much like that, until someone asks a question to which I feel I can offer a reasonable answer. > Long story, but back then, the grandparents said "children are only > to speak when spoken to" and they never talked to us..dammit [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > homework...so for a long time there, I listened and kept my mouth > shut. We learn a lot about people that way, yes? Yes. This all sounds very familiar, too. Though I was also a latchkey kid, so that meant I didn't really have friends to talk to either. I ended up reading an awful lot, which isn't a bad thing at all. > And some factoids too.. Somethng magical happened around 24, I got mad > and thought, I've got something to say too...and ever since nobody can > get me to shut up. <laf> Well, I'm glad that happened, as you contribute a lot here, and if you didn't speak, a lot of useful information would sit unaccesible, and unused. >> > The tall, dark and silent type or just an eavesdropper? <g> >> > J >> The former. I'm too hard of hearing to eavesdrop. *laf* > > then that makes you tall, dark and handsome too. (I mixed up "the > silent type" and "tall, dark and handsome") on my previous post. I'll stick with tall, dark, and silent. Would love to go to the beach, so I can get darker. I am not aware of any reliable method to get taller, yet. As a weird side note, before I started my first chemo I measured 192 centimeters in height, yet when I finished my treatments 9 months later, I measured 185 centimeters. My docs had no explanation for this and said they had never seen such a thing before. So, I'd like to get those 7 centimeters back. If you or anyone has any good method for this, let me know. I hear the rack works, but it has other nasty side effects. *grin* > *hugs* Douglas, you are one of my favs here ( all are, but my Dad's > name was same as yours) so when I see your name pop up on my screen, > I get all warm fuzzy feelings <smile> Thanks! I didn't think I posted enough to really be known, much less become a fav. Woo Hoo!! *hugs* I just hope they aren't the warm fuzzy feelings we sometimes get when we're getting the flu or some other feverish illness. *laf* I think you're pretty cool, too! And I'm still in awe on how you're able to pull up all that info so quickly. That's a skill I wouldn't mind having. --Douglas > I'm still very much like that, until someone asks a question to which I feel > I can offer a reasonable answer. > > Yes. This all sounds very familiar, too. Though I was also a latchkey kid, > so that meant I didn't really have friends to talk to either. Well, my situation was a generally repressive environment. I survived ! > I ended up reading an awful lot, which isn't a bad thing at all. A good thing, but I take it too far, some days I used to read the newspapers out of "reading poverty" even all the wanted ads or for sale ads. But I got a life. the internet <g> Crossword puzzles also growing up, and I fell in love with dictionaries, thesausus and encyclopedias. I can spend days researching words in various dictionaries that I have here and cross-referencing and for what? Sometimes I forget why I started looking to begin with... > Well, I'm glad that happened, as you contribute a lot here, and if you > didn't speak, a lot of useful information would sit unaccesible, and unused. > > I'll stick with tall, dark, and silent. Would love to go to the beach, so I > can get darker. I am not aware of any reliable method to get taller, yet. <side note snipped for the moment> > Thanks! I didn't think I posted enough to really be known, much less become > a fav. Woo Hoo!! *hugs* I just hope they aren't the warm fuzzy feelings > we sometimes get when we're getting the flu or some other feverish illness. > *laf* I think you're pretty cool, too! And I'm still in awe on how you're > able to pull up all that info so quickly. > That's a skill I wouldn't mind having. Can teach old and new dogs new tricks - did on another newsgroup. Unless you changed your posting e-mail more than once, you've got 7 pages in Google. How did that happen? <smile> for someone who doesn't think they post much. http://tinyurl.com/27ehw http://tinyurl.com/2tan8 and what are you waiting for to go to the beach and get broiled and braised?<serious question, I want an answer> I hear they've got dynamite "coral calcium" that cures everything from constipation to the ...flu <laf> And no, I don't feel fluish when I see your name pop up on the screen. I think you're pretty darned cool myself. **HUGS** J J <philomath@execulink.com> on 11 Jan 2004 suggested: >> Thanks! I didn't think I posted enough to really be known, much >> less become a fav. Woo Hoo!! *hugs* I just hope they aren't the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > much. http://tinyurl.com/27ehw > http://tinyurl.com/2tan8 Wow! It must be the neuropathy affected memory! *LAF* Though I have noticed that I am posting more THIS year. > and what are you waiting for to go to the beach and get broiled and > braised?<serious question, I want an answer> Umm, mostly for people (especially doctors) to stop scheduling things that prevent me from going away! I originally planned to go to Mexico on December 10th and be on the beach by the 13th. However, my Gastro scheduled me for an appointment on the 19th, and my dad decided that since I was feeling better and I could take care of him for a while he would get his knee surgery on the 12th. So much for December. So then I planned to go to Mexico on or around the 8th of Janueary when prices dropped. But, my docs called me just before new years wanting me to get a chest X-ray last week, and see the RadioOnc this coming week. Then, the court somehor figured out I am feeling a little better, and they scheduled me for jury duty NEXT week. With my luck, I'll get stuck on that stupid Scott Peterson case, and be stuck here for another 5 months. However, there is a plan in place to bolt for the border as soon as I see a ray of daylight in my schedule. > I hear they've got dynamite "coral calcium" that cures everything > from constipation to the ...flu <laf> My mom actually takes this stuff. I tried to explain to her that coral calcium is probably one of the most insoluble forms you can get, and that a single Tums probably gave you more soluble Calcium. But hey, I only studied chemistry for 6 years, so what do I know? *laf* > And no, I don't feel fluish when I see your name pop up on the > screen. I think you're pretty darned cool myself. Thanks! *HUGS* --Douglas > J:> and what are you waiting for to go to the beach and get broiled and > > braised?<serious question, I want an answer> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > another 5 months. However, there is a plan in place to bolt for the > border as soon as I see a ray of daylight in my schedule. I see...I looked that up and there's been a change of venue for the case. Not sure if you were aware of that or not ? J J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> on 11 Jan 2004 suggested: >> I'll get stuck on that stupid Scott Peterson case, and be >> stuck here for another 5 months. However, there is a plan in place [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I see...I looked that up and there's been a change of venue for the > case. Not sure if you were aware of that or not ? Yup, that's EXACTLY the problem. It will likely end up in my county, now. --Douglas > J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> on 11 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > --Douglas Well, you could possibly be screened out on the Jury selection OR if it's possible, have a letter written by doctors to exempt you? You've got some things to sort out. radonc (if there's going to be some radiation therapy ??), anemia, the shrinking issue, there may be tests involved with that. You might actually be doing them a favour if you've got anemia and brainfog by opting out of that case. I can just see it now, either your having to leave the trial (or show up late) due to treatments/tests OR an appeal headline "Scott Peterson asking for an appeal on the basis of Douglas XXXX chemo brain" !!! And do ask about treating the anemia, it can make a difference in your fatigue and energy levels. http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/fatigue/patient/ Geez ! do I have to come down there and start making lists ? <smile> Get a list going Douglas, so you get some of these taken care of. JMO of course, *HUGS* J J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> on 12 Jan 2004 suggested: > Well, you could possibly be screened out on the Jury selection OR if > it's possible, have a letter written by doctors to exempt you? The doctor is working on a letter, especially since they are going to do a procedure on me tomorrow. > You've got some things to sort out. radonc (if there's going to be > some radiation therapy ??), Nope. I think I'm maxed on radiation. > anemia, Yesterday's blood test says I'm in the NORMAL normal range, now, not even the Chemo normal. That is cool. > the shrinking issue, there may be tests involved with that. He didn't think anything more was needed to be done on that. > You might actually be doing them a favour if you've got anemia and > brainfog by opting out of that case. Yes. I certainly do not, and would not consider myself competent to be a juror. But hey, sometimes that's just what attorney's want. > I can just see it now, either your having to leave the trial (or show > up late) due to treatments/tests OR an appeal headline "Scott > Peterson asking for an appeal on the basis of Douglas XXXX chemo > brain" !!! That's exactly why some attoney's want that. They can get it declared a mistrial, and start over. But in the meantime their client is still free. > And do ask about treating the anemia, it can make a difference in > your fatigue and energy levels. The anemia seems to be "cured". The docs believe that the fatigue is caused by Pleural Effusion (Fluid in the lungs), and that that is what is also causing pain when I breathe deep. They are scheduling me to do a thoracentesis tomorrow and try to remove it with a needle. > Geez ! do I have to come down there and start making lists ? <smile> Lists of what? > Get a list going Douglas, so you get some of these taken care of. List of what? I don't get it. --Douglas > The doctor is working on a letter, especially since they are going to do a > procedure on me tomorrow. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > causing pain when I breathe deep, They are scheduling me > to do a thoracentesis tomorrow and try to remove it with a needle. As to the trial, although interesting, I was also concerned about you, being stuck indoors, sitting long periods, sequestered for weeks or months, so that's being taken care of also. Good ! Well, I'm late with this but if you're reading Douglas, hope all goes well for you today with the thoracentesis and that should help you feel a lot better. Never mind the lists, I see you've taken care of everything. all my best, J J <philomath@execulink.com> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: > As to the trial, although interesting, I was also concerned about > you, being stuck indoors, sitting long periods, sequestered for weeks > or months, so that's being taken care of also. Good ! Yeah. I didn't want that either, just yet. But I don't think the court would accept that as an excuse. *grin* > Well, I'm late with this but if you're reading Douglas, hope all goes > well for you today with the thoracentesis and that should help you > feel a lot better. Thanks! All seems to have gone well. They removed 750 ml of fluid. They hit a nerve at some point that made me feel pain from my hip to my shoulder. And then later, I almost passed out. It was a new and interesting feeling, my vision darkened, my hearing became muffled like people were talking through a pillow, and my head felt really light, but not dizzy. He said that was a low to medium amount of fluid, but 750 ml seems like quite a bit, to me. > Never mind the lists, I see you've taken care of everything. Okie-dokie! Thanks! *HUGS* --Douglas > J on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Yeah. I didn't want that either, just yet. But I don't think the > court would accept that as an excuse. *grin* well, tell them J said sitting for long periods contributes to fluid collection <g> so you'd have to be rushed to thoracentesis in the middle of the trial. But seriously, well, some trials tend to be shorter, but since that one is so high-profile it could drag on and on, and I think it's better for all parties if you can be exempted. > Thanks! All seems to have gone well. They removed 750 ml of fluid. > They hit a nerve at some point that made me feel pain from my hip to my [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > not dizzy. He said that was a low to medium amount of fluid, but 750 ml > seems like quite a bit, to me. Can they keep doing that as necessary? It (the fluid) puts a strain on the heart, is my understanding. Are you aware by your breathing that it's starting to happen? Or do they do scans to watch for that? Just curious in case you do get a "getaway".. I think something like Lasix can help with pleural effusions (my cat's on it) but it needs monitoring for potassium and kidney problems), but just in case you're going away, perhaps something to plan for. Sorry about the nerve pain. I had that several times, when I had "dry pleurisy", twice down the right side and the other time down the left side. Man ! is that painful. I could not straighten up, nor breathe in. Each time I tried to breathe that sharp nerve pain went right down into the leg and shoulder, but I think I researched it and the nerve bundles pass somewhere down the centre of our bodies ? (I'd have to check that). good to see you posting so soon Douglas, now hopefully you'll sleep and breathe better and have less fatigue :-) J J <BandWidth@example.org> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: >> Thanks! All seems to have gone well. They removed 750 ml of fluid. >> They hit a nerve at some point that made me feel pain from my hip to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Can they keep doing that as necessary? Yes. It wasn't a difficult or even time-consuming thing. I asked if it might recur, and got the standard answer, "It depends on the individual, but if it does, we'll see you again." > It (the fluid) puts a strain on the heart, is my understanding. I remember reading that somewhere, too. > Are you aware by your breathing that it's starting to happen? In this case, it was my breathing and stamina, and mentioning it to the doctor that prompted him to give me an X-ray where we saw the fluid. Of course, as of this moment, I haven't seen an improvement in my breathing, but the doc said it could take up to a day for the lungs to re-expand and stop hurting. So, I'll give it a day. > Or do they do scans to watch for that? Nope. No scans. Haven't even had one since September. > Just curious in case you do get a "getaway".. I know some good doctors close to where I'm planning to escape to, so if things start to go weird, I'll go to them for help. I want to visit them anyway, since they are the folks I started this whole adventure with. > I think something like Lasix can help with pleural effusions (my > cat's on it) but it needs monitoring for potassium and kidney > problems), but just in case you're going away, perhaps something to > plan for. Considering I first felt the difficulty breathing around Thanksgiving, and it didn't progress to dangerous levels even nearly two months later, I don't think chemical control is needed. Of course, situations change, and I will monitor it closely. I'll also get copies of relevant records, so that any docs I see when traveling will have a good picture. > Sorry about the nerve pain. I had that several times, when I had "dry > pleurisy", twice down the right side and the other time down the left > side. Man ! is that painful. Yes! It has gotten worse since my last posting. But it is concentrated on my left shoulder. It hurts the most when I hiccup or burp, but is probably about a 6, when doing nothing. Any idea on how long this might last? Topical painkiller (viscous lidocaine) has done nothing to relieve the pain. And I'm reluctant to take any of my prescribed pain killers, because then I won't be able to drive for 24 hours. > I could not straighten up, nor breathe in. Each time I tried to > breathe that sharp nerve pain went right down into the leg and > shoulder, but I think I researched it and the nerve bundles pass > somewhere down the centre of our bodies ? (I'd have to check that). Yeah, that's pretty much what I am feeling...a constant sharp pain, on each inhallation the pain increases, and returns to the previous level on exhalation. Where they poked me was almost as far left as they could go on my rib cage, without leaving my back. So, I'm confused about there being nerves in that area affecting the shoulder, but then, my body's pretty weird anyway! *laf* > good to see you posting so soon Douglas, now hopefully you'll sleep > and breathe better and have less fatigue :-) I did take a nice nap after my last posting, hoping my body just needed some time to rest and repair itself, but when I woke up it hurt even more. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. --Douglas > J <BandWidth@example.org> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: > > >> Thanks! All seems to have gone well. They removed 750 ml of fluid. > >> They hit a nerve at some point that made me feel pain from my hip to > >> my shoulder. And then later, I almost passed out. Vasovagal Syncope (Faint, swoon). http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030901/tips/12.html Complications of thoracentesis > It was a new and > >> interesting feeling, my vision darkened, my hearing became muffled [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Yes! It has gotten worse since my last posting. But it is concentrated on > my left shoulder. It hurts the most when I hiccup or burp, vagus nerve, I think. Don't hiccup or burp then, it can turn into a vicious cycle "when you hiccup, your diaphragm and nearby muscles convulse, causing you to briefly gulp air. Within 35 milliseconds the glottis (the opening at the top of the air passage) slams shut, producing the characteristic "hic." http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_118.html (or your diaphram was affected by the fluids or drainage and will take some time to recover? > but is probably about a 6, when doing nothing. Any idea on how long this > might last? Topical painkiller (viscous lidocaine) has done nothing to > relieve the pain. And I'm reluctant to take any of my > prescribed pain killers, because then I won't be able to drive for 24 hours. Well, after I posted, I got to thinking that neurontin might help. If we're talking about the same pain, if I recall, it lasted about a week, but my right side that got "hit" twice, has never fully recovered (nerve pain in the shoulder). In fact, at a later date, it started travelling down the arm. So now it depends on how I move my arm or how I sleep on that side as to how painful it is any given day/movement. But I got "hit" 3 times within a few months, so hopefully yours will recover soon and go away. > Yeah, that's pretty much what I am feeling...a constant sharp pain, on each > inhallation the pain increases, and returns to the previous level on > exhalation. Where they poked me was almost as far left as they could go on > my rib cage, without leaving my back. So, I'm confused about there being > nerves in that area affecting the shoulder, > but then, my body's pretty weird anyway! *laf* well, we have nerves all over our body and they branch out, there's big and little ones. http://www.bhs.berkeley.k12.ca.us/departments/Science/anatomy/cat/nerves/ the big ones go right down the centre of our body but branch out towards the shoulden then down the arm. I know you're a cool cat so I thought you'd like that one. Besides, Henry Grey drives me nuts (slow to download) http://www.bartleby.com/107/index.html#chap10 http://www.bartleby.com/107/211.html thoracic, see the big ones showing in the underarm? then the little ones that branch out sideways from/to the central bigger ones? > I did take a nice nap after my last posting, hoping my body just > needed some time to rest and repair itself, but when I woke up it hurt > even more. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Try not to sleep on that side (nerve pain) and/or if the pain gets worse, see the first url at the top, in case you've got two different pains and see/call your doctor. Later, *hugs Douglas, hugs* J J <BandWidth@example.org> on 16 Jan 2004 suggested: >> J <BandWidth@example.org> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Vasovagal Syncope (Faint, swoon). Yup! That's what they called it, "vasovagal response". >> Yes! It has gotten worse since my last posting. But it is >> concentrated on my left shoulder. It hurts the most when I hiccup >> or burp, > > vagus nerve, I think. Don't hiccup or burp then, Easier said than done, especially with my condition. > (or your diaphram was affected by the fluids or drainage and will > take some time to recover? I don't think they were low enough to hit the diaphragm. >> And I'm reluctant to take any of my >> prescribed pain killers, because then I won't be able to drive for >> 24 hours. > > Well, after I posted, I got to thinking that neurontin might help. My doc today mentioned that neurontin would be the only effective way of controlling pain if the nerve had actually been damaged. But he wanted to let me go through the weekend and see if it resolved itself, first. They took an x-ray today, because when I described the pain, they thought the lung might have collapsed, but I knew it had not, and the X-ray confirmed it had not. Breathing has gotten easier and better, just more painful, but in the shoulder. > If we're talking about the same pain, if I recall, it lasted about a > week, Okay. I can live with this pain for a week. > now it depends on how I move my > arm or how I sleep on that side as to how painful it is any given > day/movement. I discovered, while trying to sleep last night, that it objects vehemently to my laying on my left side. I just now discovered that a shower as hot as I could stand it, eliminated the pain in the shoulder, and it only hurt when I took a deep breath. So, I'm experimenting with a heating pad, to see if that helps. I'll let you know later. --Douglas > J <BandWidth@example.org> on 16 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Easier said than done, especially with my condition. It's a joke. <smile> Patient: Doc when I do XXX, it hurts.. doctor: Well, don't do that then! > >> And I'm reluctant to take any of my > >> prescribed pain killers, because then I won't be able to drive for [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > breath. So, I'm experimenting with a heating pad, to see if that helps. > I'll let you know later. So I'm glad your lung has not collapsed. Sorry about the miscommunication about "scans". Thanks for fixing my subject line change spelling. My copy /paste truncated. or is that frontcated ? <g> That's how I deal with my shoulder pains. (heat and careful how I move it or lie on it) The worst is the right and it gets tiresome always having to lay on the left side. If I try to lie on my right side, sometimes it's okay, sometimes I wake up and the hand or arm is caught in a blanket or under a pillow and I can't move it for the pain. I have to reach over with my left and remove the blanket or pillow, then pull my arm back "into position" for the pain to stop. One theory is that certain muscle movements press on the nerve and aggravate it. I sure hope yours goes away and soon. J J <DefaultID@anon.anon> on 17 Jan 2004 suggested: >> I just now discovered that a shower as hot as I could stand it, >> eliminated the pain in the shoulder, and it only hurt when I took a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > That's how I deal with my shoulder pains. (heat and careful how I > move it or lie on it) Well, the heating pad was completely ineffective. However, on a whim, I tried Ben-Gay, and it immediately reduced the pain, though it only lasted about 45 minutes. That's still 45 minutes of relief. I put some more on just before I went to sleep, and when I woke up this morning, I was able to lie on my left said without too much pain. So, I'm going to be a Ben-Gay smelling freak until the pain goes away. I also have something called Numotizine, which I will try as soon as I can find it, and I will report on how that works. It had been very effective in many situations for me in the past. > The worst is the right and it gets tiresome always having to lay on > the left side. Yeah, that has been my problem, too! I normally sleep on my left side, and not being able to makes me very restless. > One theory is that certain muscle movements press on the nerve and > aggravate it. This theory sounds very plausible. Sadly, the muscle movement that aggravates mine is inhaling, especially deeply. And if I have to inhale both deeply and suddenly/quickly, I just double over in pain. > I sure hope yours goes away and soon. Me too! No one should have to feel pain like this. I wish anyone who does complete and total relief! --Douglas > Well, the heating pad was completely ineffective. However, on a > whim, I tried Ben-Gay, and it immediately reduced the pain, though it > only lasted about 45 minutes. That's still 45 minutes of relief. I put > some more on just before I went to sleep, and when I woke up this > morning, I was able to lie on my left said without too much pain. So, > I'm going to be a Ben-Gay smelling freak until the pain goes away. :-) "Ben-Gay smelling freak" > I also have something called Numotizine, never heard of > which I will try as soon as I can > find it, and I will report on how that works. It had been very [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > that aggravates mine is inhaling, especially deeply. And if I have to > inhale both deeply and suddenly/quickly, I just double over in pain. Douglas the above sounds exactly like what was happening to me and since no fluids showed up on the tests, the 2nd time I went to ER, they told me it was probably "dry pleurisy" and told me to take Extra Strength Tylenol. (I think it was every 6 hours) and I believe the worst of the pain cleared within two days. (and I wondered why they didn't tell me that the first time about the Tylenol, since I suffered so much longer with the first "attack". If that didn't work, I would try both a Tylenol every six hours and an anti-inflammatory (the latter would be Mobic, Sulindac, or maybe Celebrex which I have no experience with, or a coated one that doesn't mess up the gastro), every 12 hours. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor and this is not advice, but that's what I would try. neither should affect your driving. J J <DefaultID@anon.anon> on 17 Jan 2004 suggested: >> Well, the heating pad was completely ineffective. However, >> on a [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > never heard of I never found my Numotizine, but I have to report that all that Ben-Gay seems to have truly helped. I was able to have a reasonable day today, experiencing pain only when I had to breathe in deeply, but even that got better as the day progressed. Hopefully, I'll be able to sleep on my left side tonight! >> This theory sounds very plausible. Sadly, the muscle movement >> that aggravates mine is inhaling, especially deeply. And if I have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Tylenol. (I think it was every 6 hours) and I believe the worst of > the pain cleared within two days. Well, this is the end of second day, so maybe the Ben-Gay was just coincidental, and it would have subsided anyway. We may never know. I didn't try tylenol alone, because Vicodin (which is tylenol with hydrocodone) had no effect at all. > If that didn't work, I would try both a Tylenol every six hours and > an anti-inflammatory (the latter would be Mobic, Sulindac, or maybe > Celebrex which I have no experience with, or a coated one that > doesn't mess up the gastro), every 12 hours. I went with just the Ben-Gay, took a late, hot shower at around 16:30, got dressed and went out. The pain was minimal for most of the night, and only increased when I left the nice, warm, restaurant for the cold, frigid air outside. So, by logical deduction, cold is not a good thing for this. *Grin* --Douglas > I never found my Numotizine, but I have to report that all that > Ben-Gay seems to have truly helped. I was able to have a reasonable day [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > cold, frigid air outside. So, by logical deduction, cold is not a good > thing for this. *Grin* breathing in cold air? Maybe you should have a scarf, life when mom used to bundle us up in the cold. I don't know about Ben-Gay, maybe I should check it out myself. glad to hear it's improving, whatever is helping. *hugs* J J <CairnGormh@example.com> on 18 Jan 2004 suggested: >> So, by logical deduction, cold is not a good thing for this. *Grin* > > breathing in cold air? Nope. Just being in the cold. > Maybe you should have a scarf, life when mom > used to bundle us up in the cold. I had a sweatshirt with a hood and a coat with a hood. I figured that was enough. It was not. > I don't know about Ben-Gay, maybe I should check it out myself. I'da never thunk it, but I was desperate, so I tried it on a whim. I hope it gives you as much relief as it did me! *hugs* > glad to hear it's improving, whatever is helping. Indeed! It is much better today. It only hurts when I have to take a deep/sudden breath now. That I can work with. --Douglas > J <CairnGormh@example.com> on 18 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I had a sweatshirt with a hood and a coat with a hood. I figured that > was enough. It was not. layering is good..works for me. > > I don't know about Ben-Gay, maybe I should check it out myself. > > I'da never thunk it, but I was desperate, so I tried it on a whim. > I hope it gives you as much relief as it did me! *hugs* Don't have any, I'll put it on my list. thanks for the hugs, Douglas > > glad to hear it's improving, whatever is helping. > > Indeed! It is much better today. It only hurts when I have to take > a deep/sudden breath now. That I can work with. So maybe it's safe to say that it takes about a week to recover from thoracentesis (similar to pleurisy)? *hugs* J > J <BandWidth@example.org> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Nope. No scans. Haven't even had one since September. I consider x-rays scans <g> (vs bloodwork or other tests). Starting a new subject line. Hugs J J <BandWidth@example.org> on 16 Jan 2004 suggested: >> J <BandWidth@example.org> on 15 Jan 2004 suggested: >> > Or do they do scans to watch for that? >> >> Nope. No scans. Haven't even had one since September. > > I consider x-rays scans <g> (vs bloodwork or other tests). Oh! Sorry. *smiel* Miscommunication of terminology. My concept of scans was MRI, CT, PET, and things like that. --Douglas > I'll stick with tall, dark, and silent. Would love to go to the > beach, so I can get darker. I am not aware of any reliable method to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > for this, let me know. I hear the rack works, but it has other nasty > side effects. *grin* Are you serious Douglas? 2.8 inches? side effect of chemo? What have you been taking? Maybe I can look the chemo(s) up. there are too many of your posts for me to go searching in Google... As it so happens, I have heard of shrinking. http://tinyurl.com/yv7bm Have you had bone scans lately? for osteoporosis? for bone mets? bloodwork that might show mets? J-very worried. Someday in the distant future, archeologists digging thru the ruins of alt.support.cancer will discover that J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> had this to say on 11 Jan 2004: >> I'll stick with tall, dark, and silent. Would love to go to the >> beach, so I can get darker. I am not aware of any reliable method to [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > J-very worried. Zometa does that. Are you taking extra calcium? Signatureofficially recognized SPEWS puppet ISO certification and everything just waiting for the union card I feel so honored J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> on 11 Jan 2004 suggested: >> I'll stick with tall, dark, and silent. Would love to go to >> the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Are you serious Douglas? 2.8 inches? Sadly, I am serious. Though I have to say I always had a variance of up to about an inch, depending on if you measured me in the morning, or at the end of the day. > side effect of chemo? What have you been taking? Maybe I can look > the chemo(s) up. We have no explanations. Cisplatin and 5FU were the poisons that were used on me. Then I also had a good chunk of radiation directed through my spine. > there are too many of your posts for me to go searching in Google... Sorry, I'll try to refrain from posting so much. *laf* > As it so happens, I have heard of shrinking. > http://tinyurl.com/yv7bm Interesting. I sure hope that isn't the cause. > Have you had bone scans lately? Never had one. We talked about it once, but never did it. > for osteoporosis? for bone mets? Nope and Nope. > bloodwork that might show mets? All bloodwork is "normal", except I'm anemic. Everything else seems to be normal, except I have no stamina (could be from the anemia). Heck, the last endoscopy report said "esophagus appears normal", which I never though I'd ever read again in my life. We all take this as a very good sign. > J-very worried. I'm not worried. I feel better, tests seem to indicate I'm better, and I don't mind being a little shorter. I bump into fewer things that way! *laf* I will ask about it on Tuesday, though, since I'll be seeing the doc that mentioned the bone scan a while back. --Douglas > J <Cryophobia@invalid.inv> on 11 Jan 2004 suggested: > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > > Interesting. I sure hope that isn't the cause. did you make a list of all the possibles from that thread? I suppose it's possible for even a young guy to have osteoporosis.. if I extrapolate from that, even some other type of hormone-connected cancer (prostate or breast) collapsing vertebra or discs I forget the others that I was thinking of that they might want to consider. Seems kind of young to me for you to be shrinking, happens to me and a friend, one inch me since last checked 10 years ago. My friend 3 inches but her family has a history of osteoporosis and she has some "hormone" issues, not properly treated. (neither of us cancer). > > Have you had bone scans lately? > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > things that way! *laf* I will ask about it on Tuesday, though, since > I'll be seeing the doc that mentioned the bone scan a while back. Well, bone scan is one. See my separate post about bone mets. Bone density is a different test.for bone thinning A different one I think is required for the neck (cervical) area and maybe a whole body x-ray for disks? and then there's one specifically for the ribcage..so I don't think it's just one test, to try and figure out what's going on. J An eavesdropper here I think you would say. I'm an old guy and I've only been "monitoring" this channel for a few months, mostly because I am a survivor. Over 16 years ago I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and after two months of chemo, thirty nine radiation treatments, had the radical surgery that kept me around until now. No further signs of CA so far. I have heartfelt sorrow over cases that I have followed here, but have also felt pride in my fellow person when viewing the care and help that is shown here. So I lurk and if there is anything or anywhere I can help, I'll be here. Check in most nights when around home. SignaturePcolaPhil Remove SPAMNOT. for email Of course I'm against sin. I'm against anything that I'm too old to enjoy. | > I can't speak for other men, but I tend to read and listen more than post or | > speak, unless I have something that I consider useful and worthwhile to | > contribute. | | The tall, dark and silent type or just an eavesdropper? <g> | J "Jimbo" <noze4news@earthlink.net> wrote in message news > So I lurk and if there is anything > or anywhere I can help, I'll be here. Check in most nights when around home. Jimbo, I read your post and wanted to ask you if you would be interested in being a contact volunteer for your cancer for the Rare Cancer Alliance. Your cancer is listed in the NIH database as a rare cancer: http://ord.aspensys.com/asp/diseases/diseaseinfo.asp?ID=5929 You can look at the RCA website by clicking on the URL in my signature. Look around the site. Please look at the child list with links at: http://www.rare-cancer.org/childlink.html I am working on completing a comparable list for adult rare cancers and I am searching for contact volunteers. -- Take Care, Sharon Lane http://www.rare-cancer.org Sharon, I am surprised to hear that bladder CA is considered to be a rare form of cancer. I thought it was like around the third most prevalent cancer (particularly among males) in the country with emphasis on old guys who smoked for X years. I'm not sure how I might be of assistance as a contact volunteer with the RCA, but if I can, I am here and have lots of time on my hands. Let me know how I might fit and we can chat 'bout it. PcolaPhil Remove SPAMNOT. for email Of course I'm against sin. I'm against anything that I'm too old to enjoy. | Jimbo, I read your post and wanted to ask you if you would be interested in | being a contact volunteer for your cancer for the Rare Cancer Alliance. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] | Take Care, Sharon Lane | http://www.rare-cancer.org > An eavesdropper here I think you would say. I'm an old guy and I've > only been "monitoring" this channel for a few months, mostly because I [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Of course I'm against sin. I'm against anything that I'm too old to > enjoy. That's a funny signature.. what do we call you Pcola or Phil or Jimbo? So you are not tall, dark and handsome and now not the silent type eh? It's about time you came out from lurking ! Where have you been all my life ? <smile> I like survivor's to participate as long as they try to follow the rules. This topposting business can cause a lot of chaos and extra work for some of us/me... on a newsgroup, and as long as the survivors aren't wallowing in "their cancers"..and are around to make themselves useful, instead of being takers... So tell us your interests..maybe you can get a "guy-chat" thing going here. J > So tell us your interests..maybe you can get a "guy-chat" thing going here. Whoops, that "sent" before I was finished or my computer played tricks on me.. I was going to add, maybe you and Steph (and/or others) could discuss the pros and cons of rugby vs football, that could maybe get some "guy action" going here..... if you disagree with each other..fight nice <smile> J > > So tell us your interests..maybe you can get a "guy-chat" thing going here. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > going here..... if you disagree with each other..fight nice <smile> > J Rugby is football, but then so is soccer. That North American Disney spectacle isn't Hey J, gonna be honest here. I setup my news groups a long time ago and forgot how I set it up to top post, now I don't remember how to change it. Getting old isn't for wimps...PcolaPhil is a hint of my location which happens to be Pensacola, Florida, and a contraction of my last name. Many people call me Phil, lots call me by the contraction of Jimbo (Jim), and others have and do call me by numerous monikers of all ilk. I answer to most except You. If anybody can refresh my memory as to how to change from topposting -\:c) I will change so nobody has to work too hard. But you will notice I think, that I do trim all excess posts and hold only those that apply to what I am talking about. If I can do anything constructive here, I will but I'm not here to shoot off my mouth. I'll probably mostly lurk as I am now. I admire you and the regulars on here who are so committed to helping others, and I have been amazed at the number of good Samaritans that come on here to be of assistance. It can leave one with warm fuzzy feelings to know that so many care. I wish this site had been around back in '87. And this isn't something I say glibly as it isn't in my background to do so; not as an old US Army retiree ('73) with 30 years in my rearview mirror and pulling away. I have to believe to say it. My biggest interest most of the time is getting up in the morning. I am one of these guys who get up and look at the grass. If I am looking at it from the top, it is going to be a good day. If I am looking at it from the bottom; cancel Christmas. So far, knock on wood. Seriously though, the wife and I after both spending 20+ years in the army and seeing various parts of the world (Germany (x2), Korea (me), Vietnam (me)) in that time frame, when I finally stopped working in '94, the bride and I decided to see the USofA; all of it or as much as possible. And we have done well so far, but that is another story for another time. We get around and let little get in the way. So for this session, somebody help solve my topposting prob and it will be solved. Adios... PcolaPhil Remove SPAMNOT. for email Of course I'm against sin. I'm against anything that I'm too old to enjoy. | That's a funny signature.. | what do we call you Pcola or Phil or Jimbo? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] | here. | J > My biggest interest most of the time is getting up in the morning. I > am one of these guys who get up and look at the grass. If I am [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So for this session, somebody help solve my topposting prob and it > will be solved. Hi Jimbo, we've already got a joe and a jim (I think) so I'll stick to your screen name. If I was there I could probably figure out how to change you from top-posting, but I'm not. I usually poke around in my settings and try to find it which would be different in mine, because I use Netscape. Yours in Outlook Express might be somewhere in Tools, Options, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I think it's a crime that Microsoft can get away with selling software without providing at least a small manual to go with it, but I hear that would cut into their book-selling profits. And I have a technical manual of one version, and I can't find a danged thing in it..same sometimes for the F1-help files <g> So if you can't figure out where, never mind, since at least you are doing snipping and I'd rather see you here and on top of the grass than hear otherwise. Say hi to the wife for us. :-) I'm sorry the newsgroup wasn't here for you in 1987. It was created in 1992 take a gander at the first post and poster http://tinyurl.com/3daf7 (link to the Google archive) A little history, Donald posted several times to sci.med about his cancer but received no replies. Then he tried alt.support about the subject of creating a specific cancer newsgroup. Then he created this newsgroup. I suspect but not sure, that out of this newsgroup, the other cancer newsgroups were formed. A summary sort of is here http://www.cancersupporters.com/asc/misc.html *click on Donald" (unfortunately the links I pulled from the Google archives aren't clickable so I have to copy and paste them into a new url location to see the postings. I told Jerry about that, so it must be on his list of eventual /maybe improvements for the FAQ.. Maybe if you'd quit lurking and actually do some work around here, you'd get put in the FAQ too <just teasing> I'm glad you come out of lurking. J InvalidPage@example.com said... > If I was there I could probably figure out how to change you from > top-posting, but I'm not. > I usually poke around in my settings and try to find it which would be > different in mine, because I use Netscape. > Yours in Outlook Express might be somewhere in Tools, Options, but I'm not > entirely sure about that. It's a while since I allowed OE to darken my door, but IIRC the default is top posting, with manual effort required to post at the end. IIRC the .sig defaults to the top as well, but I don't really know why they bother since OE fails to recognise the .sig anyway because it strips the trailing space after the two dashes. Wonderful :-( > An eavesdropper here I think you would say. I'm an old guy and I've > only been "monitoring" this channel for a few months, mostly because I > am a survivor. Over 16 years ago I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, > and after two months of chemo, thirty nine radiation treatments, had > the radical surgery that kept me around until now. No further signs > of CA so far. good to hear from a fellow BLC patient, and that you are doing well Jan |
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