tiredofdoctors

I like the analogy of "HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT" only in reverse! That about says it all!!!

Still saying though, to be able to ask for TP in a pub . . . he's got ummmmm......still politically correct, "the goods."

Reminds me of the song "Stranded" that we used to sing when we were kids . . . . !!!!!!!!!!

Her Vegas descriptions are going to go down as legendary around here! LOL!

Karen

Hmmmm..... and you guys may not have the whole story . . . . . just remember: "What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas." 'Nuff said.

Funny thing about this is, now that I am over the initial shock of Friday, my brother-in-law has been HOUNDING me to write a book about my life, because it has been so freaking WEIRD!

He tells me that his stomach hurts every time he goes back to Maryland from laughing at the stories I tell about the things that have happened to me. And the sad and/or sickening thing? I DON'T EMBELLISH THE STORIES. If nothing else, I DOWNPLAY them. And this all started EARLY in childhood . . . . . .

Maybe I can turn this whole thing into a money-making deal. If I have to be publicly humiliated by being turned into the police for an (alleged) misdemeanor over GARBAGE CANS, the LEAST that should happen is that I could get some compensation by a hefty book deal over the trials and tribulations of my peculiar life!!!!!

Triticus Toxicum -- I was specifically told to go to this thread to read what you had posted -- that you are bust-a-gut funny! Well, I wasn't misled!

Steve . . . . . well, what can I say. You certainly have "the goods" to have someone ask your girlfriend for tissues. You have my utmost respect. Not going to say any more.

Man, I love you guys!!!!!

So I'm feeling like the Jolly Green Giant!!!!! Ho Ho Ho . . . .

My little sister had that! We had this fountain here . . . it was in the middle of the river, and it made a Fleur de Lis shape. . . We used to call that hairstyle the Louisville Falls Fountain 'do! It was AWFUL. I have some really "blackmail ready" pics of my sister with that hairstyle. ICK!

You guys are crackin' me up -- but I TOTALLY missed Alfred. What a shame . . . I would have enjoyed a little medical "banter" with him. He sounds like one of those people that put fake blood and a piece of liver in a plastic bag, then place it in their hand so that you can't see it. They put their hands on whatever area they "feel" you're having trouble, pop the plastic bag, pull out the piece of liver covered in fake blood, and "voila" -- you're CURED!!!!!!!

But wait . . . according to all the teen magazines on the racks at the checkout, feathered hair is back IN. Farrah Fawcett, you're in style again (especially since she basically never changed it)!!!!!

Ya think??????? Each one talks to me at least 2 times while we're talking . . . not to mention each thing that they have to tell you . . . . ESPECIALLY if "Daddy" has been mean and made them get ready for bed, etc.!!! I don't see how you do it! I had two . . . 3 1/2 years apart (had miscarriages after that), but I thought it was so difficult! You are the official taxi, "meanie", hugger, snuggler to a whole herd!!! They are really really cute, though!!!!!

Yeah, but you got REALLY cute kids out of it!!!!!

I'm 6'1" on my short leg, 6'2" on my long leg!!!! Depends upon in which situation that I stand on the long one! At the doctors -- ALWAYS the long one! Makes my Body Mass Index MAYBE one under depending!

You guys are bust-a-gut funny!!! Carla -- get outta here? Five kids -- all with one man (don't answer that -- just kidding!!!! ) and an adopted child from Russia . . . and you look like THAT???? Can you send me some water from your area or something??? Holy Crap -- you look GREAT!!

I was talking with Armetta earlier . . . our easement is 20 feet up into our yard. We have the original surveyor's blueprints, and are also going to ask the city if we can remove the sidewalk on our property since we're the ONLY house in two blocks that has a sidewalk!!! Then, we'll just knock her stupid garbage cans over!!

The ironic part of this is that she simply CAN'T fathom why on earth the doctor would think that I should be on disability . . . people in wheelchairs work all the time. She actually told this to Dave. This from the same woman that is close to 60 years old and has been on disability for 30 years because of spinal stenosis. I have spinal stenosis . . . and up until I couldn't WALK I was climbing on and off treatment tables, lifting weights with teenagers, having leapfrog contests with toddlers -- you name it!! Of course, she's out in her yard EVERY DAY that it is nice, doing all her landscaping . . . I'm VERY tempted to videotape her as she's bending over lifting all her bags of mulch, lifting her 180 pound dog into the car, all of the things that are "supposed to sever her spinal cord" if she does them, and send it off to the Social Security Administration . . . . let them get ahold of her!

While she either didn't open the door for Animal Control or they found the place O.K. (I find it hard to believe that would happen), I had not thought about the ASPCA. ESPECIALLY if I tell them that we're getting fleas because of her animals. Also, there does have to be some zoning law about how many dogs you can have here. . . We already have to pay an additional amount of money each year and have 1 million dollars worth of extra insurance if you own a pit bull. Wonder how she got past that??? Hmmmm.......

My dad thought it was hysterically funny that she called the police. I failed to see the humor in it, myself. He couldn't stop guffaw-ing long enough to actually hold a conversation. I finally told him that I would leave him to his laughter . .. . he laughed and said he'd take care of it this week for us.

Hey Karen -- you don't have an extradition treaty with the US, do you???? Just "checking"

And of course, guys, I will post when it is time for another full moon . . . not so far off, as I recall . . . . .

THIS is the kind of thing I am talking about . . . . about 20 minutes ago, we had a knock at the door. I laughed, told Dave "Well, it's gotta be Linda." OH NO . . . . it was the POLICE. She called the Police because we had put our garbage bags on HER garbage area! Dave showed the officer the surveying pin located under the dirt. The officer said, "Well, until she can show me otherwise, I'm considering that this is your property." So, Dave moved the cans. The officer went over to the house, told the woman what he and Dave had discussed. WHILE THE OFFICER WAS THERE, the neighbor went outside and moved the cans BACK onto our yard!!! The officer just shook his head, told Dave that this is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and we could contact the city if we wanted to. SHE CALLED THE POLICE ON US!!!!! It was because when Brooke had taken out the trash, she thought that, since the cans were on our sidewalk, they were ours. She put the bags beside them, thinking Dave would put them in the cans when he got home. Dave just put the bags into our cans. I have never had the police called on me in my LIFE. Not even as a teenager!!!!! Here I am, 44 years old, and the police come knocking at my door because of our next door neighbor's GARBAGE CANS. Can I PUHLEEEEEEEZE get a break???????????????????

Thank you guys VERY much. . . . I really appreciate it. Sometimes, a different perspective really helps. I think that I am just so tired from the low blood pressure, from having to put forth so much exertion for the least little task, that it has just made me weary. I'm actually getting AFRAID to go to the doctor's anymore . . . every time I go, it seems that I get ANOTHER diagnosis. And they're generally not all that good! What happened to "You have sinusisitis."??????? That was a diagnosis I could deal with. Broken bones? Not a problem . . . . But this garbage has GOT to stop!!!

I actually winced when I asked if I was hyperinsulinemic. I knew the answer. My doctor said, "You have gained 36 pounds while in a wheelchair and you barely take in enough calories per day for a child. Of COURSE you're hyperinsulinemic. It's not good." She didn't give me the numbers on the bloodwork -- I feel relatively secure that she just didn't want to scare me. She's pretty kind that way. If I push, she says, "Sweetie, don't ask . . . you REALLY don't want to know this one." (She's my age, too, which kind of cracks me up -- It's a southern thing . . . )

My neighbor? We found out WHY she wrote what she did on her trash cans! My son's girlfriend, Brooke, has been coming over during the day to help me around the house. She smokes, but respects that we dont, so she goes outside. Instead of putting her cigarette butts on the ground, she has been putting them in the neighbor's trash can. So, the whole "I've notified the police" thing is over about 10 cigarette butts! Somehow I find that more funny than words can mention! Dave is still furious, talked last night with my Dad who knows the City Planner . . . she has NO IDEA the trouble she has stirred for herself. And yes, she does have emotional problems. When I fell planting the calla lilies, she was upset with the guy she hired to mow her lawn because he stopped to help me inside. . . . she walked away while he was helping.

I'm still kind of reeling over some of the news that I got on Friday. I think a few more days will definitely make things better. "Distance lends perspective to the view."

Thank you again for your help.

Love & Hugs,

Lynne

Karen, every time we look at her rickety privacy fence, which is 90% falling down, we talk about your neighbor from hell! I have a new jar of Neon Orange . . . in fact, I bought it so that Dave would paint her trash cans with her address . . . . Now I wish he had gone ahead and done it.

And . . . . to add to my rant, I tested positive this week at the allergist for Milk and Casein allergies. Not badly, but the doctor said that because I'm neurologically impaired, the "factor P (?)" in the nerve endings which causes the mast cells to react and secrete histamine MAY not be working properly . . . and the Milk, Casein, Beef, Oranges and Crab which came up positive MAY actually be a lot worse than they showed . . . so NOW WHAT? I don't know if I should do Enterolab or not . . . of course, if I'm Milk and Casein sensitive, then I want to avoid THAT as well. Beef . . . . I have 1/2 a cow coming in November. I'm eating the stuff. Crab? I go crabbing with my in-laws in Maryland, then steam the suckers in Old Bay (gluten-free), and bang the stuffing out of them. Eating those, too. Seems like I could get Goat's milk (less casein) and drink that if I had to . . . . just don't know what to do, and tired of thinking about it.

I am just having one of those days . . . weeks . . . months -- whatever you want to say. I am having the absolute worst luck. I couldn't BUY a break.

First, we're thinking we should just build an ark here. We've had 7+ inches of rain in two days. To make matters worse, our crazy next door neighbor didn't like having water drainage going through her front yard, so she built up the drainage portion of the easement, then blocked the drainage pipes on each side of her yard. Guess whose front yard is flooded?

Actually that should be second. First, she didn't think it was enough to have SEVEN dogs (which she has to keep in separate rooms because they all fight), she goes out and gets two new "babies" -- a pit bull puppy and a rottweiler puppy. She has a run on the side of her house that is about 5 feet by 12 feet for all the dogs. When the "excrement" gets piled too high, she simply puts new mulch over it. By August, we are praying that there is NO BREEZE. I saw one of the "regulars" come outside, and it was HORRIBLE. This dog is a schnauzer, it was completely grown out, matted beyond recognition and smelled worse than any dog I've smelled. I called Animal Control. Finally, she has evidently decided to grow a "flea farm". Our dogs have NEVER had fleas. Now, we've put down granules all around the perimeter of our yard, used the dogs' monthly Frontline, have vacuumed, vacuumed, vacuumed and washed the sheets and blankets more times than either of us would even want to think about. We're getting the spray tomorrow, and if THAT doesn't work (we found another live flea on Lucky), we're going to have to do the "open all the cabinets, cover the food, cover the cooking / eating surfaces, etc. and bomb the house". To top it all off? She keeps her garbage on the sidewalk in front of our house (we're the only house in two blocks that has a sidewalk. We still haven't figured that one out). You would think that the sidewalk ENDING would be some kind of a hint to her that THAT is the end of the property line. She keeps the cans ALMOST in our driveway. Dave got mad the other day, and threw one of the loose bags onto her lawn. Now she has duct tape on her cans have writing on them "Do NOT put your garbage in these cans. They are for Her Address ONLY. The police have been informed, and you will be prosecuted and fined." So, being as immature as we are, we keep putting her stupid "labeled" garbage cans on her property. She also took the property line stake out that the surveyor put in a couple of months ago. Uggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.

I flunked one of my eye tests that I had this week . . . don't even know what that means, or what they're going to do. What a pain in the butt. It also made me heave. I had to stop in the middle of the test, ask him if I could have a trash can, because I was getting nauseus. How embarrassing. The electrode that they put in the middle of my forehead had a hard spot on it, so when they made me put my face into this thing, it bruised my forehead and I look like I have a Bendhi.

I went to the endocrinologist Friday, and told her many of the things that have been happening that I have chosen NOT to disclose here because I feel like I whine enough, and she is referring me to a rehabilitation doctor. I may have to start wearing a catheter -- geeze -- and other even more disgusting stuff than that. I have hyperinsulinemia -- the precursor to Type II diabetes -- so now I have to go back to the dietician so that I can incorporate a Diabetic diet into a Celiac diet. Also, they couldn't get my blood pressure at the office -- at all. I've had times before that they can't get the diastolic (bottom) number because it was so low, but on Friday, they couldn't get top or bottom. They tried three times each on both arms. I told the doctor how tired I was. Her reply, "Well, Sweetie -- no wonder! You don't even have a blood pressure that we can measure here." I told her about the autonomic dysfunction, and that's when she said that "She is NOT Okay with my quality of life." I've been her patient for years, and I guess she's at the "anger" stage!!! They couldn't get a pulse in my wrists or feet, but they could get a pulse in my neck, so at least my heart is beating. We guess.

I have fallen more times this week than I can count, and I can't seem to hold onto ANYTHING. I have dropped something (can't even remember what items) on four different occasions on my left foot. It is bruised beyond recognition. And it hurts. I usually can't even FEEL my feet, but when I try to put a shoe on that stupid foot, it actually hurts.

On top of ALL of that, the doctors CANNOT agree on the way in which to treat Ashley for the latent TB. Because her liver enzymes went down, one wants to start the INH AND do the leukocyte transfusion from Steve. The OTHER says that she doesn't CARE that her liver enzymes went down, she is NOT a candidate to start the INH and thinks that the idea of leukocyte transfusion is rediculous. Well, guess which doctor gets to call the shots with regard to the medical insurance??????? So the one is willing to back down on the INH and do the leukocyte, but again, the other thinks its absurd. I'm about ready to go to Lexington and tell that doctor to get her head out of her butt. If the pulmonologist who has treated her for YEARS and researched all that we proposed says YES -- who is she to say no?

Thank you for letting me rant . . . don't feel "safe" enough telling my family -- they all freak out when they find these things out. Haven't even told Dave some of it. It just makes him cry. Couldn't take that right now.

Hey Bev -- I'm sorry you're having such a crappy time. How was your doctor's appointment? (Had to throw that in quickly, sorry.) It's really hard to know why such horrible things happen. I SURE wish I had the answers. All I know is that the Big Guy and I are going to have a REALLY long talk when I get there . . . . He has some 'splainin to do . . . . .

Please know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers, but will be EXTRA in the next few days.

Love & Hugs,

Lynne

I haven't talked with her today . . . I REALLY hope that she will consider having the bloodwork done for Celiac. With me having the antigliadin issues, particularly -- I didn't know that I had the trouble until I was bumping into walls and falling all the time. She has always had a "finicky" stomach. I feel relatively secure that my mom is Celiac . . . has 99.9% of the signs/symptoms, but after having some really bad experiences with MD's, won't go to any other specialists. Of course, I have to soft-pedal it . . . otherwise I'll be accused of being like someone who has just quit smoking, and tells everyone that they have to quit as well. (That's my family's favorite analogy for someone who tries to convince people that they need to do something!) So, I'm trying to "eek" it into my daughter's head that perhaps the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea is Celiac, particularly given MY ancestry and her fathers . . . . VERY European.

We should find out lab values tomorrow . . . or actually TODAY, given the time! Hopefully we'll have some more answers. I would like to go to Lexington to go to a doctor's appointment with her . . . I'd like to discuss with the MD, PA, whatever . . . . the possibility of Celiac. She said that her thyroid levels were "fine" .... she has been hypothyroid as a younger child, and the pediatrician didn't tell us. Her levels may be "fine", but I want to know if she has ANTIBODIES . . . .

Starting a totally new venture, it appears . . . not only dealing now with the TB issue, but also with potential underlying issues -- and possibly facing a LOT of resistance. Wish me luck!!!!

xoxoxox

Lynne

Is it mandatory in Kentucky to have a mullet, just as it is to have a pick-up in the front yard?

RUNNING AND DUCKING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wuv ya,

Karen

You do NOT have a pick-up in the front yard. You have a washing machine that doesn't work on the front porch, a CAR on cinder-blocks in the front yard. The pick-up is usually 23 feet tall, due to the extra-extra-large wheels that are on it. It is also VERY shiny. I mean, look at bass boats. We LOVE glitter!!!!!

You'd better run and duck!

Wuv you, too

Lynne

(Also, think about it . . . wasn't that guy who had the Achy-Breaky-Mistake-y from Kentucky???)

Now we're doing the "will she / won't she" dance with regard to taking the meds. The pulmonologist says the liver enzymes have to be three times normal limit . . . . allergist says 2 times normal limit before declining to administer INH. One more liver function panel . . . . then we'll see. She's about as tired of this as it gets . . . . . I think she just wants there to be a decision made -- one way or the other -- and be done with it.

We'll see tomorrow . . . . . . .

Oh for Pete's sake . . . . it is NOT a mullet. . . . you want to see a Mullett?????? Come to Kentucky. Enough said.

If you want to order your green cleaning items on-line, as well as some pretty cool organic cotton items, visit Gaiam.com!

Thanks, Jestgar. It is pretty scary. I am glad that the doctors are being cautious . .. the last thing she needs to develop is liver failure. I feel sure that they are going to do a hepatitis panel on her when she gets back to U of K. That is where her health insurance is covered. I AM glad that she is going to see her pulmonologist, however. With all the lung difficulties she has had -- she gets pneumonia at the drop of a hat -- I would like him to know everything that is going on.

I saw her tonight -- she is RAIL thin . . . I am absolutely astonished that she is so tiny. She struggled with bulimia 7 years ago, and was fully recovered within a year. I've asked both her and her husband if she is doing that again -- she insists that she is not. Her husband talked about the amount of food that she eats -- and it is normal. I asked her about being tested for Celiac . . . . she said that she could NEVER be tested for that -- she loves spaghetti too much!!! Of course, she was joking, and I feel pretty secure that she's going to have that done when she gets back to U of K.

Will know tomorrow after her visit to the pulmonologist . . . . in the meantime, thank you all again . . .

xoxoxoxox

Lynne

I still think his hair is "quite lovely", also. I do think a hair thread isn't a bad idea for some fun, though! I'm thinking of "low-lighting" mine a little . . . . it is getting to be fall around here, so there's no "we drive a convertible" excuse for my hair being THIS light! (Actually, it's the "I'm so gray I can't stand it" excuse, but, at 44, there's NO WAY I'm going to let the REAL hair show!)

Oddly, I was at the beauty supply place, getting the stuff for my hair. These two little girls were arguing over which color THEY would have . . . one chose Bright Blue, one chose Purple. I told them that my neice wanted me to have Hot Pink, but that old ladies shouldn't have hot pink hair. The one little girl said, "You're not old." I looked at her and smiled. Then she said, "You don't have gray hair." I looked at her mother and said, "That she can see, anyway!" It was bust-a-gut funny!!! My neice still wants me to do hot pink streaks . . . . with my luck, even the "wash-away" ones would stay about oh, six months. Talk about an old woman trying to look young . . . . . ICK.

OOPS -- didn't mean to hijack Steve's thread. Steve: If you're eavesdropping, "Hey, Cutie!!"

Ashley called -- said that she had signed for me to be able to access records. The nurse couldn't find it, but gave me some "non-information"!! She said that, if a patient has "elevated liver enzymes" that they couldn't go on the INH . . . I said, "hers are elevated????" She meekly said, "slightly . . . that's all I can say." She told me that the chart was marked that Ashley needed to COME IN to see the doctor, NOT talk to her on the telephone . . . So I called Ash, told her that she needed to call to make an appointment.

In the meantime, my mother & dad (think "sung" HAVE COME TO SAVE THE DAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!) have offered to pay for her to see her pulmonologist here (she has the medical plan only at U of K). She and Mark are on their way in as we speak . . . I'm kind of hacked off at one of the girls at the UK med center . . . Ashley called to get her records, said she was going to the pulmonologist. The girl said, "You're going to a pulmonologist just because you tested positive for TB?????" I'm thinking, "Well, considering that just a year and 1/2 ago he was debating on whether he was going to put her on a ventilator because of her asthma, I don't think it's such a BAD idea." I'm still debating on whether I'm going to call and complain. Ashley said, "Mom. She's a bitter receptionist who makes five dollars and fifty cents an hour. What do you expect? Medical knowledge?" Good point.

Given that Ashley has had the same medical difficulties growing up that I had, I am going to suggest to her that she ask the doctor at U of K to run the entire Celiac panel. If I talk to her in a manner that is not "everyone has Celiac", but that she may have the gene for it, she may "hear" it . . . it's a stretch, that's all I'm saying!! My SISTER is the one that's probably going to blow it for me, I think. She's the big skeptic in the family. I think she still believes that I have "conversion disorder"!!!!!!!

Ashley's values were as follows: ASP(T?) Normal 18 - 43 Value: 73

ALP Normal 11 - 35 Value: 76

She doesn't take tylenol, is NOT a drinker (she and her husband are tee-totalers -- they didn't even have a champagne toast at their wedding -- sparkling cider), the only thing that I can POSSIBLY attribute it to is the long-term vomiting she had when they were trying the different BCP's.

So, now, I'm even more scared and even more nervous. This parenthood thing. I'm telling ya' -- there are probably 500 books published about the first year of your child's life. NO ONE has published a book about when they're grown and you're worried sick about them . . . . . . . sheesh.

That is the coolest thing I've seen! Fiddle-Faddle, THANK YOU!!!!!!! I could play with this site all day -- I feel like a kid splattering paint!! I thank you, and my husband thanks you (because otherwise I would try it on our walls!)