Kidney Disease Support

Question:

Glad yours went well, Songbird. I didn’t like the risk of dying thing, but if I feel confident in the doc, I’d have no problem going for the biopsy. It sounds sensible to me. My liver’s been hurting for 30 years. Surely it’s not well, and I’d like to find out what’s up. It’s good to hear a "nice" biopsy story. Keith On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 15:39:56 GMT, Songbird <songbir…@netscape.net> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, Mike, >I had some fears going in for the biopsy.  My clinic does trials and >research and sticks to certain protocols, including a liver biopsy >before treatment.  I was told I must do it.  It measures the amount of >fibrosis, if any, that is present.  I asked my hepatologist what the >risks are.  Being a blunt kind of guy, he said something like "You could >die, worst case scenario."  The risk is the same for this procedure as >any other.  About 1-2%? risk of dying.  My clinic has surgical teams >that do this procedure.  I was not given meds before the procedure.  If >they asked me to hold my breath I don’t remember.  After the procedure I >could ask for pain meds, and did.  I had to lie there for a few hours to >make sure nothing was bleeding/no complications.  I’m glad I’m at this >teaching/research clinic!  They know what they are doing.  ps the pain >was mild. >Songbird >Michael Don Henry wrote: >> My Doc didn’t do one either. He told me it really didn’t matter in the whole >> scheme of things (my words) and that I could whether to do it or not. I >> chose not, mainly because we are so broke … not to mention the horrer >> stories,. >> — >> Peace, Mike

Response:

Well, there’s that too. Keith On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 08:14:26 -0600, "Michael Don Henry" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<mdhenryREMOVEC…@ev1.net> wrote: >I figure my liver looks like swiss cheese any way. I don’t want to see it.

Response:

Good luck to you too, Eileen. Thanks for writing. Keith On 19 Nov 2003 18:50:16 GMT, pizzane…@aol.com (Pizzaneene) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting >>treatment? >Keith, >Get one if you can. It is still the Gold Standard for disease progression. > My first biopsy didn’t go as well as I was told it would, but this is the only >way to measure actual damage done to the liver. >It was my choice to forgo treatment the first time, and now the option is not >available because of my kidney disease. >I am overdue for my 5 year follow up but I am gonna know my liver disease >progression when I get it. And this time, I am going to be pre medicated and >with a competent Radiologist whom I trust. >Good Luck Keith, let us know what or how you do. >eileen

Response:

Good decision!!!!! — Regards,        Shawn . "Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message

news:85qnrv4pqcnmeav13l3u9ghfemqc81ralr@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> CHEZ > It helped. Everyone’s remarks did. From echoes I got in email from > people in the newsgroup, I decided I do need a new doctor. My > brother’s an internal medicine/gastro-enterology guy but he won’t > treat family. He’s recommended a really young doctor he knows who’s > had some good results. I put my IFN on hold, canceled my doctor > forever, and I’ve got an appontment with the new guy Monday. > Thanks to all, > Keith > On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:08:39 GMT, "CHEZ" <s…@nospam.com> wrote: > >Well if you have a doc that knows what he is doing,

complications should be > >avoided. Liver Biopsy will confirm HCV and also range of liver damage. For > >myself, I would want to know how bad of shape my liver was in. Truthfully > >they really can’t tell by blood work alone. > >I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in > >Indianapolis. They perform a lot of them there and they know what they are > >doing. I would have one if I were you, but do some

research on what hospital – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >is best for treating HCV infection and liver problems in general. > >Hope this helps Keith. > >"Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message > >news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… > >> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > >> treatment? > >> Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > >> had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > >> bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > >> ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > >> to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > >> wonder that’s his opinion. > >> Wwhat do you guys think? > >> Keith

Response:

Good luck with your new BCLD!!!! — Russ Tanner Palmer, Alaska email: russattannersacredotcom http://www.tannersacre.com "Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message

news:85qnrv4pqcnmeav13l3u9ghfemqc81ralr@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> CHEZ > It helped. Everyone’s remarks did. From echoes I got in email from > people in the newsgroup, I decided I do need a new doctor. My > brother’s an internal medicine/gastro-enterology guy but he won’t > treat family. He’s recommended a really young doctor he knows who’s > had some good results. I put my IFN on hold, canceled my doctor > forever, and I’ve got an appontment with the new guy Monday. > Thanks to all, > Keith > On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:08:39 GMT, "CHEZ" <s…@nospam.com> wrote: > >Well if you have a doc that knows what he is doing, complications should be > >avoided. Liver Biopsy will confirm HCV and also range of liver damage. For > >myself, I would want to know how bad of shape my liver was in. Truthfully > >they really can’t tell by blood work alone. > >I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in > >Indianapolis. They perform a lot of them there and they know what they are > >doing. I would have one if I were you, but do some research on what hospital > >is best for treating HCV infection and liver problems in general. > >Hope this helps Keith. > >"Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message > >news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… > >> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > >> treatment? > >> Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > >> had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > >> bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > >> ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > >> to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > >> wonder that’s his opinion. > >> Wwhat do you guys think? > >> Keith

Response:

In article <HPKub.22897$kL2.5…@fe3.columbus.rr.com> "CHEZ" <s…@nospam.com> writes: >I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in >Indianapolis.

I’ve had one liver biopsy at Kaiser Permanente in Fremont, CA.  It was a directed biopsy, using ultrasound.  No complications.  Went to work after lying on gurney for two hours following biopsy.  Of course, I don’t do anything physical at work, else I would have stayed home. I was given Versed, I think, and there was good music playing in the room where they performed the bx, and my doctor was wearing overalls and a flannel shirt!  (She was cute, too.) -Pete Zakel  (p…@seeheader.nospam) "I like the future, I’m in it."

Response:

That is where I had mine Pete, with no complications as well. Chez "Pete nospam Zakel" <px…@cadence.com> wrote in message news:3fce7583$1@news.cadence.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article <HPKub.22897$kL2.5…@fe3.columbus.rr.com> "CHEZ" <s…@nospam.com> writes: > >I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in > >Indianapolis. > I’ve had one liver biopsy at Kaiser Permanente in Fremont, CA.  It was a > directed biopsy, using ultrasound.  No complications.  Went to work after > lying on gurney for two hours following biopsy.  Of course, I don’t do > anything physical at work, else I would have stayed home. > I was given Versed, I think, and there was good music playing in the room > where they performed the bx, and my doctor was wearing overalls and a flannel > shirt!  (She was cute, too.) > -Pete Zakel >  (p…@seeheader.nospam) > "I like the future, I’m in it."

Response:

CHEZ It helped. Everyone’s remarks did. From echoes I got in email from people in the newsgroup, I decided I do need a new doctor. My brother’s an internal medicine/gastro-enterology guy but he won’t treat family. He’s recommended a really young doctor he knows who’s had some good results. I put my IFN on hold, canceled my doctor forever, and I’ve got an appontment with the new guy Monday. Thanks to all, Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 14:08:39 GMT, "CHEZ" <s…@nospam.com> wrote: >Well if you have a doc that knows what he is doing, complications should be >avoided. Liver Biopsy will confirm HCV and also range of liver damage. For >myself, I would want to know how bad of shape my liver was in. Truthfully >they really can’t tell by blood work alone. >I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in >Indianapolis. They perform a lot of them there and they know what they are >doing. I would have one if I were you, but do some research on what hospital >is best for treating HCV infection and liver problems in general. >Hope this helps Keith. >"Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message >news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… >> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting >> treatment? >> Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who >> had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall >> bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and >> ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird >> to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no >> wonder that’s his opinion. >> Wwhat do you guys think? >> Keith

Response:

>Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting >treatment?

Keith, Get one if you can. It is still the Gold Standard for disease progression.  My first biopsy didn’t go as well as I was told it would, but this is the only way to measure actual damage done to the liver. It was my choice to forgo treatment the first time, and now the option is not available because of my kidney disease. I am overdue for my 5 year follow up but I am gonna know my liver disease progression when I get it. And this time, I am going to be pre medicated and with a competent Radiologist whom I trust. Good Luck Keith, let us know what or how you do. eileen

Response:

Hi, Mike, I had some fears going in for the biopsy.  My clinic does trials and research and sticks to certain protocols, including a liver biopsy before treatment.  I was told I must do it.  It measures the amount of fibrosis, if any, that is present.  I asked my hepatologist what the risks are.  Being a blunt kind of guy, he said something like "You could die, worst case scenario."  The risk is the same for this procedure as any other.  About 1-2%? risk of dying.  My clinic has surgical teams that do this procedure.  I was not given meds before the procedure.  If they asked me to hold my breath I don’t remember.  After the procedure I could ask for pain meds, and did.  I had to lie there for a few hours to make sure nothing was bleeding/no complications.  I’m glad I’m at this teaching/research clinic!  They know what they are doing.  ps the pain was mild. Songbird – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Michael Don Henry wrote: > My Doc didn’t do one either. He told me it really didn’t matter in the whole > scheme of things (my words) and that I could whether to do it or not. I > chose not, mainly because we are so broke … not to mention the horrer > stories,. > — > Peace, Mike

Response:

My Doc didn’t do one either. He told me it really didn’t matter in the whole scheme of things (my words) and that I could whether to do it or not. I chose not, mainly because we are so broke … not to mention the horrer stories,. — Peace, Mike Keith <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message

news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > treatment? > Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > wonder that’s his opinion. > Wwhat do you guys think? > Keith

Response:

I figure my liver looks like swiss cheese any way. I don’t want to see it. — Peace, Mike Dwight <Dwi…@Me.net> wrote in message

news:Mszub.30882$pG5.8322@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Keith, my last bx was ten years ago.  I had three of them in about 2 > years time.  The worst part of the first two, after the first few > minutes, was having to stay in the hospital overnight to check for > bleeding.  It doesn’t sound like they are doing this anymore from what > I’ve heard here.  My last one was done laporoscopically (please excuse > my spelling on that one).  I would rather have gone through one of the > traditional bx’s, but I did get a full color picture of my liver.  If I > had seen it in a meat counter I would have called the health departement. > Dwight > Keith wrote: > > Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > > treatment? > > Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > > had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > > bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > > ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > > to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > > wonder that’s his opinion. > > Wwhat do you guys think? > > Keith

Response:

Well if you have a doc that knows what he is doing, complications should be avoided. Liver Biopsy will confirm HCV and also range of liver damage. For myself, I would want to know how bad of shape my liver was in. Truthfully they really can’t tell by blood work alone. I had 2 Biopsies with no complications at I.U. Medical Center in Indianapolis. They perform a lot of them there and they know what they are doing. I would have one if I were you, but do some research on what hospital is best for treating HCV infection and liver problems in general. Hope this helps Keith. "Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message

news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > treatment? > Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > wonder that’s his opinion. > Wwhat do you guys think? > Keith

Response:

My hats off to all of you guys in the soup.  Damn!  It makes my little whatever you call it, a walk in the park.  Y’all are the best. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Shawn wrote: > Mine was a nightmare! I’m going to have to have a second one > just to keep my insurance going. This time I’m going to > demand some pretty strong drugs in case they miss again!!!!

Response:

Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting treatment? Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no wonder that’s his opinion. Wwhat do you guys think? Keith

Response:

Keith, my last bx was ten years ago.  I had three of them in about 2 years time.  The worst part of the first two, after the first few minutes, was having to stay in the hospital overnight to check for bleeding.  It doesn’t sound like they are doing this anymore from what I’ve heard here.  My last one was done laporoscopically (please excuse my spelling on that one).  I would rather have gone through one of the traditional bx’s, but I did get a full color picture of my liver.  If I had seen it in a meat counter I would have called the health departement. Dwight – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Keith wrote: > Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > treatment? > Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > wonder that’s his opinion. > Wwhat do you guys think? > Keith

Response:

Mine was a nightmare! I’m going to have to have a second one just to keep my insurance going. This time I’m going to demand some pretty strong drugs in case they miss again!!!! — Regards,        Shawn . "Keith" <rea…@mostly.com> wrote in message

news:k0flrvsrn57s80qo85v2qlua8oskblnt3d@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey all.  Is it weird that my doc’s not doing a biopsy before starting > treatment? > Some of you mentioned the horrors of their biopsies. And my friend who > had 1a had an awful biopsy. They missed and put a hole in his gall > bladder, and sent him home with it leaking. He got really sick and > ended up in the hospital for a while. When I asked him if it’s weird > to skip the biopsy, he said, "better you never have one." It’s no > wonder that’s his opinion. > Wwhat do you guys think? > Keith

Response:

Question:

ANSWER to Jan: Its lies. — Joel M. Eichen, . Philadelphia PA STANDARD DISCLAIMER applies: <You fill it in

Response:

Hey,,,,,,,,,,, is the Australasian Society of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (ASOMAT) back on the net?  Their web page disappeared a while ago.  It was run by Dr. Roman Lohyn.  He and I discussed each of their documents in great detail in SMD.  You can probably scroll backwards through Google and find these.  This particular document was detailed by us in great detail. — Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S. Troy, Michigan, USA {remove first 3 dots for email} This posting is intended for informational or conversational purposes only. Always seek the opinion of a licensed dental professional before acting on the advice or opinion expressed here.  Only a dentist who has examined you in person can diagnose your problems and make decisions which will affect your health. Please ignore j..d…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On the web sites of many anti-amalgamists you can see this quote from Robert Gammal: The Australasian Society of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (ASOMAT) played an instrumental role in the decision of the Australian Nation Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) to withdraw their endorsement of the safety of Dental Mercury Amalgam, by submitting a six page report on the salient facts about mercury, dental amalgams and health effects. ASOMAT submitted their report on September 16, 1997 and the NH&MRC withdrew their support on August 18, 1997. On the NH&MRC site at http://www.health.gov.au/nhmrc/media/99releas/dentalam.htm it says: The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) today considered a report from a Health Advisory Committee (HAC) Working Party which examined current research on the issue of dental amalgam and mercury in dentistry. The Working Party found no evidence to demonstrate a clear cut risk to public health. "There is a lack of convincing evidence of a link between dental amalgam restorations and specific diseases and symptoms," Professor John Spencer, the Chair of the Working Party said. "Nor is there any evidence of improvements in health upon removal of dental amalgam fillings. Further, no studies have been conducted comparing the health outcomes of people with and without dental amalgam fillings," he said. Given that amalgam fillings do leach small amounts of mercury, the minimum level required to cause adverse effects was also considered. "The commonly identified studies on occupational exposure to mercury, in industrial and dental surgery settings, are not of sufficient quality to establish the lowest level of mercury absorption associated with an adverse health effect. Therefore the difference between this level and the level commonly leached from dental fillings could not be estimated." The Working Party found that dental amalgam continues to be a useful restorative material in some locations within the mouth. "Dental amalgam has advantages over other material in certain circumstances because of its physical properties and handling characteristics," Professor Spencer said. "But it would be prudent to avoid placement and replacement of dental amalgam fillings in certain population sub-groups such as pregnant women, children and people with kidney disease. "Such avoidance is based on public health principles of risk avoidance, not on any credible evidence of harm. It is sensible to reduce the use of dental amalgam fillings where a safe and practical alternative exists," said Professor Spencer. NHMRC will develop two brochures, one for dentists and one for consumers to enable clients and dentists to make informed decisions regarding appropriate treatment options. Now, lets, summarise these two statements. Robert Gammal says that the NH&MRC made a "decision … to withdraw their endorsement of the safety of Dental Mercury Amalgam". The NH&MRC says : "There is a lack of convincing evidence of a link between dental amalgam restorations and specific diseases and symptoms" and "Nor is there any evidence of improvements in health upon removal of dental amalgam fillings. Further, no studies have been conducted comparing the health outcomes of people with and without dental amalgam fillings" Therefore the statement that the NH&MRC have withdrawn endorsement is either a mistake, in which case it could be corrected, or it is a lie. Here is how Mr Gammal corrected his mistake: Dear Sir not only is your site an insult to intelligence but it is blatantly inaccurate I specifically refer to http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles/comment/asomat.htm. As i am the Robert Gammal you speak of I can factually say that you are wrong. I therefore inform you that unless this page is removed from your site immediately legal action will be taken. I also expect a full apology to be published in it’s place. I assure you that this is a serious and legal communication and that the promise of legal action will be carried out. Robert Gammal (Note to Jan – I know that you are going to snip everything except the NH&MRC saying that they find no problems with amalgam and call that a lie. That is not what is at issue. What is happening here is analogous to Robert Gammal saying that I have a green car when I really have a silver car. If I say that I have a silver car (which I do) then his choices are to say that he was mistaken or to continue to tell people about my green car, knowing that I do not have a green car. That would be lying. I know you will call this a stupid skeptic trick, but I am just getting in first.) — The Millenium Project    http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles The Green Light          http://www.ratbags.com/greenlight I’m a Bright. Are you?

Response:

Seems the quackery is supported by the Doctors as well dumbo.

Hang all quacks! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – WHEN CORRECT PROTOCOL IS FOLLOWED! Jan Drew is advertizing quackery. Here again, as you can see. Jan Drew is part of the naturopath mafia and lures people into buying quackery and sharlatanism. The so-called "correct protocols" mostly are paranoid rip-off schemes, which tear the patients into psychiatry. Many of the "healers" are nothing but plain nuts. But they have their advertizing agencies, just like the one with the name Jan Drew. This is how they catch their victims. More about Jan Drew and his methods of operation you can find in the FAQ about Jan Drew, which is published in this news-group. Did you know that some of the "healers" claim that their homeopathy prevents or even heals Ebola or other deadly infection diseases. These "healers" are highly criminal. And some of them live in your county… Did you know that some diseases with a death rate of 1:1000 are imported from Germany ? Yes, the German naturopath mafia healers are responsible for this. Did you know that some of the German naturopath mafia healers are holding "lectures" in the USA and that they are selling their junk to your kindred ? Go and complain with the FDA. Call your senators and force them to use the anti-terrorist laws to prevent deadly diseases being spread in the USA by German Bioterrorists. Do not forget : Children do not have a "reset"-button. Children die… Aribert Deckers —                 Schwerer Pfusch Arzneimittelpr

Question:

"Patrick Nethercot (2)" wrote : We are in the UK and wonder if there are any other posters here from the UK who can offer advice on food brands etc. available in supermarkets here.

I can’t answer your question about your kidney cyst, I think it’s something you’d have to ask your doctor about – at least we don’t have the problems with paying for doctors over here, reading this group is a real education about the reality of not having a National Health Service – but I did post an answer to a similar question just the other day.  So people who read that can skip this one. I live in London and shop at Tesco, and I manage very well generally – my staples are meat and salad, fish and salad and cheese and salad. Things I tend to choose include the pre-cut organic salads (I’m very lazy and they’re tasty and crunchy), the rest of Tesco’s range of suitable organic vegetables, Cardini’s Original Caesar Dressing (find it somewhere near where they’re hiding the salad cream), and some of their pre-prepped things from the fish counter.  Do read the labels, they are very informative – it’s sometimes shocking what you find they put into food. Do, from the start, learn what 200g, 100g and 50g of things looks like – I was amazed when I weighed 100g of salad the first time.  It seems like bushels of the stuff.  And that information is really useful for when you eat out and have to judge the size of your portion by eye. Meat is usually at least adequate, if you like beef go for rump steak (sirloin if you can afford it, but I can’t) and choose carefully – if it looks too lean it’ll be dry and tasteless when it’s cooked.  If you like pork, try ‘value’ pork chops, which come in a pack of three, four or five and are very cheap.  I found after a couple of weeks doing low carb that one chop is more than adequate so I break the pack up and freeze the chops in separate bags, defrosting them as I want them. I suggest the cheaper cuts of meat, because they have more fat on and are tastier; the ordinary and ‘finest’ ones are a bit rubbery when cooked.  I still grill (for US readers broil) all my chops and steaks, mostly because I do buy the fatty ones for the taste.  If I want more calories to bring me up to my calorie level I tend to add more dressing or a bit of cheese. British bacon seems to be pretty much a washout. It doesn’t have added sugar, but all of it seems crammed with nitrates and nitrites.  I have never yet found nitrite free bacon anywhere. Do remember when recording your carbs that in the UK (I don’t know about the rest of Europe) you *can’t* normally take the fibre off the carb count on the food, because as far as I can work out (and unless someone knows better) unless they specifically say otherwise they’re already separate. It’s ‘fibre’ and ‘carbohydrate’ not ‘carbohydrate… of which fibre…’ Having said that, they do nearly always specify the sugar content, so it will show ‘carbohydrate… of which sugar…’. And depending which carb/calorie counter you use, if you end up using one, you have to make sure you’re adhering to the same principle as the person who wrote the database when you add your custom foods.  So when I put a ‘my food’ into Calorie King (which I have on the Palm) I have to add the fibre back in to get the total carbs, and then take it off again when I enter it into my food diary. It’s a bit of a fiddle. But yes, doing Atkins is perfectly fine in the UK.  In some ways it’s better; getting low carb products such as special bread and the like is such a massive pain (I think the only option is mail order and I really can’t be bothered) that the temptation to rely on them and not retrain your tastes is largely avoided. — Lexin www.redrosepress.co.uk www.livejournal.com/~lexin (300/280/182)

Response:

Hi Patrick, I live in Durham too, for me the diet is compunded as I am a vegetarian, but the local Tesco and Asda etc have the usual staples.  Look out for Asda marscapone cheese, its lower carb than most others and makes a good desert. In Sainsbury – go for the own label soya milk (unsweetened), and they also carry almond and merinuge biscuits at 2 carbs each.  Tesco and sainsbury both sometimes carry start fruit, and all carry avocadoes and the fishmonger in Durham market is excellent for cheap quality fish and the chinese restaurant/shop near the coach and eight carries very cheap tofu. . Of note:  The healthfood shop next to the library in newcastle (called Almonds and Raisens I think) stocks some good low carb products, particularly the lite crackers (at 1.5 carbs for 3 – yum yum).  Carob Chocolate at 20 carbs per big bar (acquired taste but nice), and soya cereal for breakfast (6 carbs per shot), and the usual soya flour.  They will soon be getting Gluten Flour in too, and the little shop in the galleries stocks some Keto products.  So quite a bit of choice.  No bread as yet though anywhere to be found, you have to get it off the web. A must – a good supply of cauliflower, and iceland at the arnison centre is probably cheapest, same for spinach.  The diet takes some getting used to, but it really does work for many people and appeards to have few side effects.  You need to ask your doc about staring it if your concerned about anything though. — Regards John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I have been lurking and am amazed, deluged even, by the number of postings. My wife wants to try Atkins, and it would; be easier if I went along too, although  I am only a few pounds overweight. Within healthy and normal limits. We are in the UK and wonder if there are any other posters here from the UK who can offer advice on food brands etc. available in supermarkets here. Also, I have a cyst on my right kidney.  I am told this normal for a person my age (57), and the kidney appears to function well and I receive no treatment for it.  I only found about it when having an ultrasound scan as part of treatment for a small bladder tumour, now removed.  So I don’t have kidney disease in the accepted sense, but I was wondering whether Atkins would be OK for me. — Patrick (Durham UK) ICQ 178818890 http://www.pcrrn.co.uk

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Question:

Mine don’t itch at all. The skin feels a bit ‘thickened’ but nothing else. The splotches are the size of my palm, not like an insect bite at all. I have found ut that cellulitis is possible without a break in the skin, so I will be having my doctor take a look in the next day.

Mine is beyond that.  There is a palm sized splotch on my right leg.  The left one has several smaller spots.  The skin is no longer thickened due to using steroid creams and Elidel. Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do. If so, you need to see another one. The form I have is not treatable by surgery, alas. Nor is mine, but it doesn’t sound as though you are getting any treatment for it at all. 120 mg Lasix *is* treatment!

Actually, that only helps with the swelling.  It does little to take the pressure off the vein. Were you told to elevate your leg?  Wear compression stockings?  If you don’t do these things it will get worse. Yes, I follow the recommendations, but my proteinuria is at 10 grams/per day (I have FSGS, a non-diabetic kidney disease) which causes edema, despite the elevation, compression stocking and 120 mg/day Lasix.

Ah.  Sorry to hear that.  The treatment seems to work for me, but it’s a pain to follow it! — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have DM2; last HbA1c (April 2003) was 5.8. I have venous stasis in my left leg and that coupled with my advanced non-diabetic kidney disease (FSGS confirmed by biopsy) causes massive pitting edema in that leg (I take 120 mg Lasix daily for the edema, which I also have in my face). I’ve also had two cellulitis ulcers in that leg in the past three years. I don’t know what venous stasis is.  I have stastis dermatitis (red spots due to leaked blood) due to venous insufficiency. It’s a type of deep venous insufficiency. It could well be leaked blood – I do have such a spot in the calf, but it looks more like a bruise than these new ones. Thanks for suggsting that – I obviously hadn’t thought of it. In advanced cases it will look like a bruise.  Indeed, a bruise is blood under the skin.  My spots started out being very itchy and feeling like mosquito bites.  I would eventually stratch them open and things got worse from there.

Mine don’t itch at all. The skin feels a bit ‘thickened’ but nothing else. The splotches are the size of my palm, not like an insect bite at all. I have found ut that cellulitis is possible without a break in the skin, so I will be having my doctor take a look in the next day. Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do. If so, you need to see another one. The form I have is not treatable by surgery, alas. Nor is mine, but it doesn’t sound as though you are getting any treatment for it at all.

120 mg Lasix *is* treatment! Were you told to elevate your leg?  Wear compression stockings?  If you don’t do these things it will get worse.

Yes, I follow the recommendations, but my proteinuria is at 10 grams/per day (I have FSGS, a non-diabetic kidney disease) which causes edema, despite the elevation, compression stocking and 120 mg/day Lasix.

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Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do.  If so, you need to see another one. If you haven’t already been checked for an infection, which cellulitis usually is, do so. My mother just went through a bout of that, and it took more than two weeks to heal.

Two weeks! Wow! Last time I had a cellulitis with a leg ulcer, it took six months to heal, including two months of daily visits to the wound clinic. Now, though, I don’t have any openings in the skin at all, and that’s why I’m unsure if it’s cellulitis or as Julie suggested, pigmentation from my chronic circulation problem in that leg.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have DM2; last HbA1c (April 2003) was 5.8. I have venous stasis in my left leg and that coupled with my advanced non-diabetic kidney disease (FSGS confirmed by biopsy) causes massive pitting edema in that leg (I take 120 mg Lasix daily for the edema, which I also have in my face). I’ve also had two cellulitis ulcers in that leg in the past three years. I don’t know what venous stasis is.  I have stastis dermatitis (red spots due to leaked blood) due to venous insufficiency. It’s a type of deep venous insufficiency. It could well be leaked blood – I do have such a spot in the calf, but it looks more like a bruise than these new ones. Thanks for suggsting that – I obviously hadn’t thought of it.

In advanced cases it will look like a bruise.  Indeed, a bruise is blood under the skin.  My spots started out being very itchy and feeling like mosquito bites.  I would eventually stratch them open and things got worse from there. Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do. If so, you need to see another one. The form I have is not treatable by surgery, alas.

Nor is mine, but it doesn’t sound as though you are getting any treatment for it at all.  Were you told to elevate your leg?  Wear compression stockings?  If you don’t do these things it will get worse. — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/

Response:

I have DM2; last HbA1c (April 2003) was 5.8. I have venous stasis in my left leg and that coupled with my advanced non-diabetic kidney disease (FSGS confirmed by biopsy) causes massive pitting edema in that leg (I take 120 mg Lasix daily for the edema, which I also have in my face). I’ve also had two cellulitis ulcers in that leg in the past three years. I don’t know what venous stasis is.  I have stastis dermatitis (red spots due to leaked blood) due to venous insufficiency.

It’s a type of deep venous insufficiency. It could well be leaked blood – I do have such a spot in the calf, but it looks more like a bruise than these new ones. Thanks for suggsting that – I obviously hadn’t thought of it. Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do.  If so, you need to see another one.

The form I have is not treatable by surgery, alas.

Response:

Dennis … Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do.  If so, you need to see another one. If you haven’t already been checked for an infection, which cellulitis usually is, do so. My mother just went through a bout of that, and it took more than two weeks to heal. Dennis (Type 2)

I agree with your recommendation.  :-)  BTW, cellulitis infections can be a LOT more troublesome than that … requiring (for example) six weeks of IV antibiotics, followed by four to six weeks of high doses of broad-spectrum oral antibiotics.  And even that may not be sufficient if the docs have difficulty pinpointing the microbe, or (shudder) it’s a microbe that’s resistant to all some/all antibiotics. In any case, my point is essentially the same point you made; cellulitis infections can be very serious indeed … with the potential for limb amputation or even death.  At the first sign of symptoms, cellulitis should either be "ruled out" by competent doctor(s), or, if not ruled out, aggressively treated. Ted Rodrick

Response:

Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do.  If so, you need to see another one.

If you haven’t already been checked for an infection, which cellulitis usually is, do so. My mother just went through a bout of that, and it took more than two weeks to heal. Dennis (Type 2) — "We can’t help it. We’re men" The Red Green Show.

Response:

I have DM2; last HbA1c (April 2003) was 5.8. I have venous stasis in my left leg and that coupled with my advanced non-diabetic kidney disease (FSGS confirmed by biopsy) causes massive pitting edema in that leg (I take 120 mg Lasix daily for the edema, which I also have in my face). I’ve also had two cellulitis ulcers in that leg in the past three years.

I don’t know what venous stasis is.  I have stastis dermatitis (red spots due to leaked blood) due to venous insufficiency.  At one point, I had cellulitis.  But now with proper treatment, this no longer happens.  I was told to spend as much time as possible with my feet elevated above my heart. When I am up and about, I must wear compression stockings.  These things help more with the swelling than the pills ever did. Recently, my proteinuria has doubled to over 10 grams/day and accordingly, the edema in the bad leg has worsened. I also developed a red discoloration on my foot, near the ankle and on the shin, near the scars from the two previous ulcers. The redness is apparent and obvious even upon waking, when my leg is almost normal sized (the edema causes it to be about 3.5" to 4" larger by the end of the day).

The redness is probably the same as what I have.  Blood leaking from the vein.  And until you address that particular problem, it will only get worse. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In addition to the very poor circulation in my leg, I also have very low blood pressure (90/60), so my legs and feet always feel cool to cold to the touch. Sometimes, though, the red patches on the left leg feel warm but not hot. I don’t have neuropathy in my feet, and there are no injuries or any sort of open sore on the leg with the red patches. Is it possible to have cellulitis without an injury or other opening in the skin? Could the redness be from my skin being more stretched out by edema than usual? Is this something worth bothering my doctor about? (I will be seeing my nephrologist soon due to the worsening of my kidney disease.) The times when I have had cellulitis, it was a sequelae to the skin cracking from the edema, but so far, knock wood, that hasn’t happened. The skin doesn’t hurt, but my ankle feels slightly sprained, though I have not twisted it or anything (I think it’s from being so swollen).

Have you seen a vascular surgeon?  If not, that’s what you need to do.  If so, you need to see another one. — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/

Response:

I have DM2; last HbA1c (April 2003) was 5.8. I have venous stasis in my left leg and that coupled with my advanced non-diabetic kidney disease (FSGS confirmed by biopsy) causes massive pitting edema in that leg (I take 120 mg Lasix daily for the edema, which I also have in my face). I’ve also had two cellulitis ulcers in that leg in the past three years. Recently, my proteinuria has doubled to over 10 grams/day and accordingly, the edema in the bad leg has worsened. I also developed a   red discoloration on my foot, near the ankle and on the shin, near the scars from the two previous ulcers. The redness is apparent and obvious even upon waking, when my leg is almost normal sized (the edema causes it to be about 3.5" to 4" larger by the end of the day). In addition to the very poor circulation in my leg, I also have very low blood pressure (90/60), so my legs and feet always feel cool to cold to the touch. Sometimes, though, the red patches on the left leg feel warm but not hot. I don’t have neuropathy in my feet, and there are no injuries or any sort of open sore on the leg with the red patches. Is it possible to have cellulitis without an injury or other opening in the skin? Could the redness be from my skin being more stretched out by edema than usual? Is this something worth bothering my doctor about? (I will be seeing my nephrologist soon due to the worsening of my kidney disease.) The times when I have had cellulitis, it was a sequelae to the skin cracking from the edema, but so far, knock wood, that hasn’t happened. The skin doesn’t hurt, but my ankle feels slightly sprained, though I have not twisted it or anything (I think it’s from being so swollen).

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Question:

Karen posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : January 02, 192001 at 13:31:46 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1894.html CAPD was not an option for my husband according to his doctors.  I would think you are at a greater risk of infection with CAPD vs. Hemo.  I don’t know that for a fact because we have never done the CAPD.  

Response:

Marty posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : January 03, 192001 at 13:12:20 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1905.html Karen, You are right the risk of infection is greater and it is believed because of the sugar used in the dialysate solution.  I do Slow Nocturnal Home Hemo Dialysis with my father and we love it.  You don’t have to have supervison patients can do it themselves.  When I took my dad to see a nephrologist who had never seen an SNHHD patient before; he looked at dads labs and said this is to good to be true but it is.  My dads life is pretty normal.  Eat and drink as he wants.  He has energy.  BP’s are normal.  The difference in this and in center was significant.  We like it real well because it is done at night while we sleep and when the dialysis time the machine alarms and wakes us up.  Then I unhook dad and his days and mine are normal.

Response:

i attempted to get my husband dialysis at home and there was no monetary assistance available- eventually had to go to nursing home-where he was mistreated i had to tell the nursing staff that i believed he had pvd- it was too late for him=any soreness to the toes bring to the attention of your physician and force the issue to be tested and treated for this-i wish i had known of this support system before-it would have helped–mikmel –

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In article <z15eTXApiMS6E…@soft255.demon.co.uk>, J. P. Gilliver (John) <G6…@soft255.demon.co.uk> writes [] >My mother’s kidneys finally failed more or less completely two to three >years ago (PKD, not helped by undiagnosed parathyroid problems). She >does CAPD – this involves changing fluid about four times a day (total >time about half an hour, with practice); no machinery is involved.

[] Re-reading that, I realised it could be misunderstood – I meant about half an hour _per change_, not daily total. (I used the word total because the change involves several stages, the longest being draining out the old and draining in the new. [The others being scrubbing up, disposing, etcetera.]) (I may miss newsgroup followups, though I try not to; I _do_ read email though.) [* Send to G6JPG@soft255 - not nospam - if I'm posting or replying to a post. *] — J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P–Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for thoughts on PCs. ** Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. -Franklin P. Jones

Response:

John,     NO unit that I know of will ever let a hemo patient do home dialysis without someone there to monitor the situation and jump in when needed. It’s too easy to crash on hemo and pass out that is why the need for someone there.  Also the assistants for people on home hemo are 99% of the time an unpaid family member.  Private insurance and Medicare do not pay for an assistant.     As for the comment about all the expensive equipment it is all pretty much standard for here.  There is nothing out of the ordinary here as far as equipment goes for home hemo.  The preferred method for the best health is CAPD or CCPD but, not all people are able to do CAPD or CCPD and hemo is the only other choice. Celeste — =========================================================================== = ========== Carry A Life In Your Pocket, Become An Organ Donor Today!!!!!!! Get Your Organ Donor Card Here ~~~~~~~~~ http://www.TransplantResourcePage.com In the time it takes an average American to commute to and from work — 90 minutes —  someone dies waiting for an organ transplant =========================================================================== = ========== "J. P. Gilliver (John)" <G6…@soft255.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:z15eTXApiMS6EwE+@soft255.demon.co.uk… | This sounds like the (as perceived from over here – probably completely | wrongly, but still!) typical American answer: lots of expensive | equipment, electrical supplies, full time helper, and so on. | | In article <200012200153.RAA31…@he.net>, Charles A. Horne | <cho…@mail.bootheel.net> writes | >Charles A. Horne posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum | >http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html | > | >Dated  : December 19, 192000 at 17:53:33 | >Subject: Re: Home dialysis | >http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1841.html | > | >     I don’t know if this will help, bur here goes. | >I’am a advanced practice nurse, who had a renal transplaint 5 years ago. In | >October of this year the transplaint failed, and I had to go on hemodialysis.  I | >agreed to this with the understanding that I could be able to do the treatments | >at home. | | My mother’s kidneys finally failed more or less completely two to three | years ago (PKD, not helped by undiagnosed parathyroid problems). She | does CAPD – this involves changing fluid about four times a day (total | time about half an hour, with practice); no machinery is involved. | | >     I ran into some problems with the unit dragging their feet, because they do | >not make as much money with home dialysis.  However after much screaming and | >hollaring, I thyink it will be a reality. | | In the UK, with a different funding model, they rather like CAPD. (It | isn’t possible for everyone – though we were quite surprised that even | with a fairly scarred peritoneum, from hysterectomy etc., they found Mum | was able to do it.) | | >     The first thing your father will need is a partner to help him at home. | >This person must be present during the entire treatment.  The unit where he is | | Mum does it all herself, and lives alone. (She is about 73.) | | >assignned will do the training, which takes about 6-8 weeks. Without this | | She did have to be trained of course, but I don’t think it took _that_ | long. The main important thing is scrupulous cleanliness. (She has had | one lot of peritonitis – one is enough, she’s very careful now!) | | >partner to act as the dialysis tech the program is doomed from the start. | >     The layout of the house will need to be such that there is room for one | >month’s supplies.  Also he should have a room with a vinyl floorcovering (no | | Certainly, there needs to be space for a good supply of CAPD bags (and | the other odds and ends); fortunately, she has a large flat (US: | apartment), and the boxes of bags are stored in one of the bedrooms. | (For the interest of other UK folk: this resulted in the bedroom being | much less useful as a spare bedroom, and we got our council tax reduced | – no problem, someone from the council came round, took one look at the | roomful of boxes, and okayed the reduction.) | | >carpet), hot and cold running water, a drain, a 30amp dedicated electric for the | >machine and reverse osmosis water purfying system, a blood pressure monitor, a | >kg scale, and a reclining chair.  Most of the equipment can be furnished by your | >current unit. | | Mum needed a comfy chair to do the bag changes in, a radio to listen to | (I’m hoping when she’s more confident with it – the computer I mean, not | the CAPD, she’s confident with that already – she can play with the | internet), a table or chair to put the tray on she scrubs and puts | clamps on and so on, and a couple of hooks to hang the bags on while the | fluid is draining in and out. As you can imagine, this wasn’t difficult | to set up – we’ve set up a corner of two of the bedrooms. The only | innovation (I was quite pleased when I thought of it, but it really | wasn’t that clever) was a way of pre-warming the bags: I’ve used a small | heat pad (sold by Argos, or were – probably still are; for people with | bad backs or similar joint problems), plugged into a cheap timeswitch | (Argos again, or almost anywhere – even supermarkets). When she’s | finished the exchange, she drags the used bag – she refers to it as | "Pooh" (reference to a children’s story), or walking the dog – to the | bathroom to dispose of the contents. | | She can even go away for a day or two, provided wherever she goes has | somewhere she can do the changes: no need for any special facilities, | other than washing and a quiet chair. (In fact the only limit on | duration of stay away is how many day’s worth of supplies can be got in | the boot [trunk] of the car – and also, as long as PLENTY of notice is | given, supplies can be obtained from the local health service in the | target area if there is a particular need for a long stay away, or a | desire for a long holiday!) | | >     The biomed tech from your current unit will check all electric and plumbing | >to be sure it is safe.  He/She  will also do monthly checks on the equipment, | >and be your backup for equipment failures/problems.  This means he/she must bo | >available 24/7. As the main reason for home dialysis is not being locked into | >the unit’s schedule. | | The main advantage of CAPD is not being locked to a unit (home or | hospital) at all; the main DISadvantage is the tedium of having to | interrupt your day about four times. | | >     You must also be able to contact the unit or the nurse on call for any | >medical/emergency problems, therefore they too must be available 24/7. | >     As you can see this endever takes a lot of comment both on the part of the | >family and the unit staff. | | As far as people on call are concerned, there’s no need at all; because | we are a little concerned, my brother and I _eventually_ got mum to get | one of these emergency telephone buttons in case she falls over and | can’t get up, but that I think we would have tried to do anyway even | without kidney disease being involved. (She’s _very_ independent!) | | >     As a beginning have your father talk with his nephrologist.  He/She can be | >very helpful in getting things started. | | Agreed. Some people are not suitable for CAPD (though I get the | impression hemo is much more popular with companies making money out of | medicine, as there’s more to be made that way). Some people don’t take | to hemo either – Mum had a failed transplant in (IIRR) about May this | year, and was on hemo some of the time after that, and she says it | really knocked her out – though that could of course have been that she | was just _very_ weak anyway after two serious operations (one to put it | in, one to take it out) in a few days. | | >     I hope this helps, any questions please e-mail. | | Likewise (though I don’t actually know _too_ much about it). | | >              Charles | > | (I may miss newsgroup followups, though I try not to; I _do_ read email though.) | [* Send to G6JPG@soft255 - not nospam - if I'm posting or replying to a post. *] | — | J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P–Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf | ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for thoughts on PCs. ** | | | I think it[the lottery]’s a tax on the poor to fund things for rich people to | do, and if you win, it screws you up. (Peter Davison, in Radio Times, 12-18 | February 2000.)

Response:

This sounds like the (as perceived from over here – probably completely wrongly, but still!) typical American answer: lots of expensive equipment, electrical supplies, full time helper, and so on. In article <200012200153.RAA31…@he.net>, Charles A. Horne <cho…@mail.bootheel.net> writes >Charles A. Horne posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum >http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html >Dated  : December 19, 192000 at 17:53:33 >Subject: Re: Home dialysis >http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1841.html >     I don’t know if this will help, bur here goes. >I’am a advanced practice nurse, who had a renal transplaint 5 years ago.  In >October of this year the transplaint failed, and I had to go on hemodialysis.  I >agreed to this with the understanding that I could be able to do the treatments >at home.

My mother’s kidneys finally failed more or less completely two to three years ago (PKD, not helped by undiagnosed parathyroid problems). She does CAPD – this involves changing fluid about four times a day (total time about half an hour, with practice); no machinery is involved. >     I ran into some problems with the unit dragging their feet, because they do >not make as much money with home dialysis.  However after much screaming and >hollaring, I thyink it will be a reality.

In the UK, with a different funding model, they rather like CAPD. (It isn’t possible for everyone – though we were quite surprised that even with a fairly scarred peritoneum, from hysterectomy etc., they found Mum was able to do it.) >     The first thing your father will need is a partner to help him at home.   >This person must be present during the entire treatment.  The unit where he is

Mum does it all herself, and lives alone. (She is about 73.) >assignned will do the training, which takes about 6-8 weeks. Without this

She did have to be trained of course, but I don’t think it took _that_ long. The main important thing is scrupulous cleanliness. (She has had one lot of peritonitis – one is enough, she’s very careful now!) >partner to act as the dialysis tech the program is doomed from the start. >     The layout of the house will need to be such that there is room for one >month’s supplies.  Also he should have a room with a vinyl floorcovering (no

Certainly, there needs to be space for a good supply of CAPD bags (and the other odds and ends); fortunately, she has a large flat (US: apartment), and the boxes of bags are stored in one of the bedrooms. (For the interest of other UK folk: this resulted in the bedroom being much less useful as a spare bedroom, and we got our council tax reduced – no problem, someone from the council came round, took one look at the roomful of boxes, and okayed the reduction.) >carpet), hot and cold running water, a drain, a 30amp dedicated electric for the >machine and reverse osmosis water purfying system, a blood pressure monitor, a >kg scale, and a reclining chair.  Most of the equipment can be furnished by your >current unit.

Mum needed a comfy chair to do the bag changes in, a radio to listen to (I’m hoping when she’s more confident with it – the computer I mean, not the CAPD, she’s confident with that already – she can play with the internet), a table or chair to put the tray on she scrubs and puts clamps on and so on, and a couple of hooks to hang the bags on while the fluid is draining in and out. As you can imagine, this wasn’t difficult to set up – we’ve set up a corner of two of the bedrooms. The only innovation (I was quite pleased when I thought of it, but it really wasn’t that clever) was a way of pre-warming the bags: I’ve used a small heat pad (sold by Argos, or were – probably still are; for people with bad backs or similar joint problems), plugged into a cheap timeswitch (Argos again, or almost anywhere – even supermarkets). When she’s finished the exchange, she drags the used bag – she refers to it as "Pooh" (reference to a children’s story), or walking the dog – to the bathroom to dispose of the contents. She can even go away for a day or two, provided wherever she goes has somewhere she can do the changes: no need for any special facilities, other than washing and a quiet chair. (In fact the only limit on duration of stay away is how many day’s worth of supplies can be got in the boot [trunk] of the car – and also, as long as PLENTY of notice is given, supplies can be obtained from the local health service in the target area if there is a particular need for a long stay away, or a desire for a long holiday!) >     The biomed tech from your current unit will check all electric and plumbing >to be sure it is safe.  He/She  will also do monthly checks on the equipment, >and be your backup for equipment failures/problems.  This means he/she must bo >available 24/7. As the main reason for home dialysis is not being locked into >the unit’s schedule.

The main advantage of CAPD is not being locked to a unit (home or hospital) at all; the main DISadvantage is the tedium of having to interrupt your day about four times. >     You must also be able to contact the unit or the nurse on call for any >medical/emergency problems, therefore they too must be available 24/7. >     As you can see this endever takes a lot of comment both on the part of the >family and the unit staff.

As far as people on call are concerned, there’s no need at all; because we are a little concerned, my brother and I _eventually_ got mum to get one of these emergency telephone buttons in case she falls over and can’t get up, but that I think we would have tried to do anyway even without kidney disease being involved. (She’s _very_ independent!) >     As a beginning have your father talk with his nephrologist.  He/She can be >very helpful in getting things started.

Agreed. Some people are not suitable for CAPD (though I get the impression hemo is much more popular with companies making money out of medicine, as there’s more to be made that way). Some people don’t take to hemo either – Mum had a failed transplant in (IIRR) about May this year, and was on hemo some of the time after that, and she says it really knocked her out – though that could of course have been that she was just _very_ weak anyway after two serious operations (one to put it in, one to take it out) in a few days. >     I hope this helps, any questions please e-mail.

Likewise (though I don’t actually know _too_ much about it). >              Charles

(I may miss newsgroup followups, though I try not to; I _do_ read email though.) [* Send to G6JPG@soft255 - not nospam - if I'm posting or replying to a post. *] — J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P–Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for thoughts on PCs. ** I think it[the lottery]’s a tax on the poor to fund things for rich people to do, and if you win, it screws you up. (Peter Davison, in Radio Times, 12-18 February 2000.)

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Karen posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : December 20, 192000 at 06:12:41 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1842.html My husband started nocturnal dialysis in Nov of ‘99.  In fact, he was one of the first in the US to dialyze at night while he sleeps.  He has a fistula and he, himself, accesses it every other night.  We started training for this in September so it took us about 8-10 weeks of training before we were able to do at home.  He is connected to his nurse (75miles away) via the internet so she watches his vitals, etc. during each treatment.  As of today, we have not paid a dime out of our pocket for this treatment.  For a couple of reasons:  1) Good insurance 2) Husband is sort of a "guinea pig" as far as what do they charge???  At first I thought this would "homebound" myself; having to be there every other night to get him on the machine but back in April, he wanted to do it all by himself so I could be away from home more than 1 day at a time.  Now, he is completely responsible for his treatments whether I am there or not.  Preferrably, I want someone there just in case but he has!  done it all by himself.  Now that we are sitting in the middle of Indiana with snow and ice surrounding us, I’m glad he is able to dialyze at home and not travel 150 miles 3 times a week.  If you want any more info, let me know.  Take Care – Karen  

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Charles A. Horne posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : December 19, 192000 at 17:53:33 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1841.html      I don’t know if this will help, bur here goes. I’am a advanced practice nurse, who had a renal transplaint 5 years ago.  In October of this year the transplaint failed, and I had to go on hemodialysis.  I agreed to this with the understanding that I could be able to do the treatments at home.      I ran into some problems with the unit dragging their feet, because they do not make as much money with home dialysis.  However after much screaming and hollaring, I thyink it will be a reality.      The first thing your father will need is a partner to help him at home.  This person must be present during the entire treatment.  The unit where he is assignned will do the training, which takes about 6-8 weeks. Without this partner to act as the dialysis tech the program is doomed from the start.      The layout of the house will need to be such that there is room for one month’s supplies.  Also he should have a room with a vinyl floorcovering (no carpet), hot and cold running water, a drain, a 30amp dedicated electric for the machine and reverse osmosis water purfying system, a blood pressure monitor, a kg scale, and a reclining chair.  Most of the equipment can be furnished by your current unit.      The biomed tech from your current unit will check all electric and plumbing to be sure it is safe.  He/She  will also do monthly checks on the equipment, and be your backup for equipment failures/problems.  This means he/she must bo available 24/7. As the main reason for home dialysis is not being locked into the unit’s schedule.      You must also be able to contact the unit or the nurse on call for any medical/emergency problems, therefore they too must be available 24/7.      As you can see this endever takes a lot of comment both on the part of the family and the unit staff.      As a beginning have your father talk with his nephrologist.  He/She can be very helpful in getting things started.      I hope this helps, any questions please e-mail.               Charles

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Paige Saylor posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : December 19, 192000 at 13:02:06 Subject: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1839.html  My father has just started dialysis and wants to find out about doing it at home. Does anyone have any information on this or know a good place to find out?  He is fortunate enough to afford this but I can’t find anything about it. Thanks for all your help and all the wonderful messages you leave for each other.  

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Martha posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : December 21, 192000 at 07:54:36 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1845.html My father is 76 and I entered with him into a SNNHD program.  The program is 285 miles from our home.  We had to move for the 6 weeks of training but are now home and doing dialysis.  We also are monitored via the computer.  SNNHD does not require a partner as the center watching your run via the computer becomes your partner.  My father has improved 100% on SNNHD.  Our family life is much, much more normal.  He can eat and drink as the rest of us.  We go to bed go to sleep and in the morning I unhook him from the machine and its life as normal.  The sleeping part really helped us.  I was getting very fatigued having to get up at 4 in the morning 3 times a weeks to drive him to dialysis and wait then drive him home.  He felt so crappy after dailysis I never dared let him drive himself.  I concur we have had no extra cost because we do SNNHD.  This treatment is so much better for the patient and there lifestyle is so much improved I would recommend anyone considering home dialy! sis inquire about SNNHD.  Traveling the 285 miles and moving for 6 weeks was a very small price for us to pay when I can see the difference it has made in my father.

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Gary H. posted the following article in the Hemodialysis Forum http://brumley.com/renal/hemoboard.html Dated  : December 21, 192000 at 22:08:22 Subject: Re: Home dialysis http://brumley.com/renal/hemomessages/1847.html I’ve been reading through all these messages and I see that most people use hemodialysis which generally requires expensive equipment and supervision by a second person. I’m not sure if anyone has explored the option of Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). CAPD is a daily procedure which can be administered solely by the patient after a training period. You should explore this alternative if it is available in your area. Please get some facts on CAPD even if your insurance provider balks at the idea. I’ve been a CAPD patient for a couple of months now and it works quite well for me.

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In article <200012220608.WAA02…@he.net>, Gary H. <ghors…@usa.net> writes [] >I’ve been reading through all these messages and I see that most people use >hemodialysis which generally requires expensive equipment and supervision by a >second person. I’m not sure if anyone has explored the option of Peritoneal [see my other post] >is available in your area. Please get some facts on CAPD even if your insurance >provider balks at the idea. I’ve been a CAPD patient for a couple of months now >and it works quite well for me.

I can’t see any way in which CAPD can be anything like as _expensive_ as hemo – it’s more or less only materials (well, some marginal supervision, but both methods have that). In view of that, I would have thought that if an insurance company (I’m assuming you mean the source of the funds for the treatment) _does_ have some objection, it should be looked into carefully: I can’t see them opting for a more expensive treatment without good reason (unless they can be swayed by advisers with vested interests, in which case I wonder how good an insurance company they are). (I may miss newsgroup followups, though I try not to; I _do_ read email though.) [* Send to G6JPG@soft255 - not nospam - if I'm posting or replying to a post. *] — J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL(+++)IS-P–Ch+(p)Ar+T[?]H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for thoughts on PCs. ** Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. -Franklin P. Jones

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Does anyone practice home hemodialysis? I am interested in your experiences. Thanks, Larry

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yes I do, what would you like to know? "disgruntled" <superdude77…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:ba97d4a1.0305192049.458dc4f9@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does anyone practice home hemodialysis? I am interested in your experiences. > Thanks, > Larry

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Question:

In article <3EB10F86.E613F…@execulink.com>,  J <AvalonSun…@example.com> wrote: > Hey white chick )) > Hope they find a solution for you.

A gag, maybe, to stop me complaining!

Response:

Hi!  Well, I’m sorry to hear about the discomfort and suffering, but imagine it’s probably a relief to have a dx and be on track. I’ve been on methotrexate for the last two and a half years (was supposed to be only nine months) but it’s been working so much better than anything else, it’s hard to get off of it. I lost a bit of hair when I started the treatment, but I think it has more to do with the lupus flaring up than anything else – since the dosage is relatively low compared to the doses cancer patients get when they lose their hair.  I’m pretty confident that my hair loss was associated with the flare up, which still goes up and down.  But, i can’t be certain…and I do have a friend that lost a bit more hair and attributed it to the methotrexate.  I found it a good opportunity to try out having some short hairdos…finally these last few months I’ve been able to grow my hair out. I have really found a lot of relief from the metho…if you want to talk more about it, feel free to email me. all the best, julia "REP" <r…@inanna.com> wrote in message

news:rep-F97156.22100328042003@news.fu-berlin.de… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> As I mentioned earlier, I think I may finally have an answer to my > fever, elevated ESR, small bowel inflammation, etc (ankylosing > spondylitis). If this dx is confirmed, I’ll probably be put on some > chemotherapy agent like methotrexate, cyclosporine, Remicade, Embrel or > one of the others. I’ve read about them, but what are the side effects > like in real life? Sme of them are said to cause hair loss – true? How > much?  Anything I should know? > If I have AS, I’m having a ‘flair’ now, and would gladly take > *anything*. It’s a little exciting to think that soon I could be free of > the fevers, pain, GI unpleasantness and fatigue! > If this is the right dx, it akes me reflect on just how contrary I am. > Like sleep apnea, AS is more common in men, and my kidney disease, FSGS, > is found primarily in African-American men. Last I checked, I’m still a > white chick…

Response:

As I mentioned earlier, I think I may finally have an answer to my fever, elevated ESR, small bowel inflammation, etc (ankylosing spondylitis). If this dx is confirmed, I’ll probably be put on some chemotherapy agent like methotrexate, cyclosporine, Remicade, Embrel or one of the others. I’ve read about them, but what are the side effects like in real life? Sme of them are said to cause hair loss – true? How much?  Anything I should know? If I have AS, I’m having a ‘flair’ now, and would gladly take *anything*. It’s a little exciting to think that soon I could be free of the fevers, pain, GI unpleasantness and fatigue! If this is the right dx, it akes me reflect on just how contrary I am. Like sleep apnea, AS is more common in men, and my kidney disease, FSGS, is found primarily in African-American men. Last I checked, I’m still a white chick…

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Hi Rep, Congratulations on finally finding the cause of all your suffering. What a relief, just to know.  Cyclosporine can cause elevations in lipid profile, diabetes, tremors, night sweats, hypertension, and gum overgrowth.  However, it causes hair to grow more thick, one good thing.  All of the above happened to me except for the diabetes.  Stay away from that one if you can.  Methotrexate has cause stomach different for my dad, but that’s his only complaint.  He gets relief from Prilosec. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -REP <r…@inanna.com> wrote in message <news:rep-F97156.22100328042003@news.fu-berlin.de>… > As I mentioned earlier, I think I may finally have an answer to my > fever, elevated ESR, small bowel inflammation, etc (ankylosing > spondylitis). If this dx is confirmed, I’ll probably be put on some > chemotherapy agent like methotrexate, cyclosporine, Remicade, Embrel or > one of the others. I’ve read about them, but what are the side effects > like in real life? Sme of them are said to cause hair loss – true? How > much?  Anything I should know? > If I have AS, I’m having a ‘flair’ now, and would gladly take > *anything*. It’s a little exciting to think that soon I could be free of > the fevers, pain, GI unpleasantness and fatigue! > If this is the right dx, it akes me reflect on just how contrary I am. > Like sleep apnea, AS is more common in men, and my kidney disease, FSGS, > is found primarily in African-American men. Last I checked, I’m still a > white chick…

Response:

Hey white chick )) Hope they find a solution for you. Hugs J – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -REP wrote: > As I mentioned earlier, I think I may finally have an answer to my > fever, elevated ESR, small bowel inflammation, etc (ankylosing > spondylitis). If this dx is confirmed, I’ll probably be put on some > chemotherapy agent like methotrexate, cyclosporine, Remicade, Embrel or > one of the others. I’ve read about them, but what are the side effects > like in real life? Sme of them are said to cause hair loss – true? How > much?  Anything I should know? > If I have AS, I’m having a ‘flair’ now, and would gladly take > *anything*. It’s a little exciting to think that soon I could be free of > the fevers, pain, GI unpleasantness and fatigue! > If this is the right dx, it akes me reflect on just how contrary I am. > Like sleep apnea, AS is more common in men, and my kidney disease, FSGS, > is found primarily in African-American men. Last I checked, I’m still a > white chick…

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Question:

"Mary T. Rawle" <stin…@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:Zn2ha.192$rN3.20802@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > move. [snip] > Mair (not Maur!) > That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. > — > stin…@earthlink.net > http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

Hi Mair. Sorry to hear yesterday was so rough.  I hope you are feeling better today. Marie

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Mary, hope you are feeling better soon. I am still snorky, think it will be gone by the end of this week. I have 3+ blood in my urine. So far it is benign. I have a cystoscopy, and ultrasound of my kidneys every year, with a retrograde. Just to keep on top of things. I see the urologist every 6 months.  If I need to see him more often then PRN. Blood in your urine can be related to autoimmune disorders as can protein. I am sure Janers , will direct you to a site for that specific problem. Or Bruce, or John, (Wes) or Andy. Well time to rest now. Hugs sweetie. Wende "Mary T. Rawle" <stin…@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:Zn2ha.192$rN3.20802@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > move. > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs. Zoom! > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > They did wonders.  They put an IV in me and got me "juiced up."  I was > dehydrated. Chest X-ray blood tests, cultures of all body fluids and > coughed-up thingys.  But my potassium was good and I was not vomiting, so > they did not admit me. Nebulizer treatment did wonders, and now I’m on > codeine for cough and Zithromax for the infection.  Cultures and > sensitivities take a while, so I am waiting for those. > BTW, what does blood in the urine indicate?  Does it have anyting to do with > lupus kidney disease? > Mair (not Maur!) > That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. > — > stin…@earthlink.net > http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

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"Mary T. Rawle" wrote: > But it would be a sign of infection?  Red cells in the urine? I have never > had any lupus kidney disease, and I don’t remember the symptoms.  They > always ask me if I have been out of the country–like i  may have some weird > parasite.  Hmmm?

Perhaps they’re asking because they’re worried about SARDS? Isn’t that 3 of you now who have red cells (blood in the urine)?  Do ya’all live around the same area? Are they sure the red cells are coming from the urinary tract system? Clean-catch vs just dropping urine in a container. Seems odd (if I’ve got that right) that 3 of you have bllod in the urine. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs J

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I don’t know what SARDs is (oh god another illness?) My pee test was a "very clean catch".  I have had several tests with blood in the urine recently, and I am concerned. Please I don’twast kindey sisese! Mnar "J" <TravelBl…@example.com> wrote in message

news:3E84F09D.D80F85F2@execulink.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Mary T. Rawle" wrote: > > But it would be a sign of infection?  Red cells in the urine? I have never > > had any lupus kidney disease, and I don’t remember the symptoms.  They > > always ask me if I have been out of the country–like i  may have some weird > > parasite.  Hmmm? > Perhaps they’re asking because they’re worried about SARDS? > Isn’t that 3 of you now who have red cells (blood in the urine)?  Do ya’all live > around the same area? > Are they sure the red cells are coming from the urinary tract system? > Clean-catch vs just dropping urine in a container. > Seems odd (if I’ve got that right) that 3 of you have bllod in the urine. > Hope you feel better soon. > Hugs > J

Response:

Mary T. Rawle wrote: > I don’t know what SARDs is (oh god another illness?) > My pee test was a "very clean catch".  I have had several tests with blood > in the urine recently, and I am concerned. > Please I don’twast kindey sisese! > Mnar

<snip> Hi Mary, I have microscopic blood in my urine, and had it for years now.  They kept testing for infection via urinalysis, ’cause I also had to pee all the time, and I never had an infection.  So finally they sent me to a urologist, and he did a cysoscopy, where they stick a tube into the bladder to see if there are tiny ulcers causing the irritated feel/blood in urine, or if there’s tumors, cysts, etc.  The doc also did a sonogram in his office.  He found tiny ulcers, NO tumors, and he said I have a narrow urethra, which basically just made it more painful when the tube went in.  He said the blood was most likely from the tiny ulcers, and he called my condition Intersticial Cystitis (IC for short). I took bladder relaxers to help the urgency.  There are a bunch of ones out there, but he gave me Urispas, and boy did I love that stuff!  But then he took it away and had me retrain my bladder using diet and timing methods.  SO the blood was nothing to worry about. This was all before knowing about the connective tissue disease though, so don’t know if anything would have changed his diagnosis.  Maybe you should make a urologist your next stop when you’re feeling better? ((((Mary)))) -Sharon — Visit my webpage: http://www.qc.edu/~sperlof1/ ~Peace~ We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but it is a means by which we arrive at that goal… We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.                               -Martin Luther King Jr.

Response:

But it would be a sign of infection?  Red cells in the urine? I have never had any lupus kidney disease, and I don’t remember the symptoms.  They always ask me if I have been out of the country–like i  may have some weird parasite.  Hmmm? M "Sherry" <hurst…@NoSpam.invalid> wrote in message

news:653ha.32$lT3.2220155@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mary, > Glad that you got treatment so quickly and that you are "juiced up"! > I have been told by an er room dr. that one can have blood in the urine > after taking a long walk.  At the time though I had a bladder infection that > a med school student should have been able to dx per my regular doc. > Get ye to bed and get some rest! > Hugs, > Sherry > "Mary T. Rawle" <stin…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:Zn2ha.192$rN3.20802@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… > > I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I > saw > > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago > when > > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > > move. > > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs. > Zoom! > > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > > They did wonders.  They put an IV in me and got me "juiced up."  I was > > dehydrated. Chest X-ray blood tests, cultures of all body fluids and > > coughed-up thingys.  But my potassium was good and I was not vomiting, so > > they did not admit me. Nebulizer treatment did wonders, and now I’m on > > codeine for cough and Zithromax for the infection.  Cultures and > > sensitivities take a while, so I am waiting for those. > > BTW, what does blood in the urine indicate?  Does it have anyting to do > with > > lupus kidney disease? > > Mair (not Maur!) > > That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. > > — > > stin…@earthlink.net > > http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

Response:

Mary T. Rawle wrote: > I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > move. > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs.  Zoom! > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > They did wonders. <snip>

Glad to hear you’re back safe and sound!  Didn’t know about the high fevers and getting immediate help.  Does that also go for those on only 15mg of Pred?  Feel better soon Mary! -Sharon — Visit my webpage: http://www.qc.edu/~sperlof1/ ~Peace~ We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but it is a means by which we arrive at that goal… We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.                               -Martin Luther King Jr.

Response:

Yes it goes for 15 mg pred… I am only on five… I am home, and I have some medicine, but i am stillreally sick temp 102, and they let me go home! Now I am shivvering like I’m at the north pole… three sweater, long undies, turtleneck and my parka!  I guess they try their best not to take us in if we are federally funded. Mair "Sharon" <noway…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:b62d2j$12lmo$1@ID-163463.news.dfncis.de… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mary T. Rawle wrote: > > I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > > move. > > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs. Zoom! > > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > > They did wonders. <snip> > Glad to hear you’re back safe and sound!  Didn’t know about the high > fevers and getting immediate help.  Does that also go for those on only > 15mg of Pred?  Feel better soon Mary! > -Sharon > — > Visit my webpage: > http://www.qc.edu/~sperlof1/ > ~Peace~ > We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, > but it is a means by which we arrive at that goal… > We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. >                               -Martin Luther King Jr.

Response:

Mary, Glad that you got treatment so quickly and that you are "juiced up"! I have been told by an er room dr. that one can have blood in the urine after taking a long walk.  At the time though I had a bladder infection that a med school student should have been able to dx per my regular doc. Get ye to bed and get some rest! Hugs, Sherry "Mary T. Rawle" <stin…@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:Zn2ha.192$rN3.20802@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > move. > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs. Zoom! > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > They did wonders.  They put an IV in me and got me "juiced up."  I was > dehydrated. Chest X-ray blood tests, cultures of all body fluids and > coughed-up thingys.  But my potassium was good and I was not vomiting, so > they did not admit me. Nebulizer treatment did wonders, and now I’m on > codeine for cough and Zithromax for the infection.  Cultures and > sensitivities take a while, so I am waiting for those. > BTW, what does blood in the urine indicate?  Does it have anyting to do with > lupus kidney disease? > Mair (not Maur!) > That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. > — > stin…@earthlink.net > http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

Response:

I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not move. The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs.  Zoom! went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. They did wonders.  They put an IV in me and got me "juiced up."  I was dehydrated. Chest X-ray blood tests, cultures of all body fluids and coughed-up thingys.  But my potassium was good and I was not vomiting, so they did not admit me. Nebulizer treatment did wonders, and now I’m on codeine for cough and Zithromax for the infection.  Cultures and sensitivities take a while, so I am waiting for those. BTW, what does blood in the urine indicate?  Does it have anyting to do with lupus kidney disease? Mair (not Maur!) That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. — stin…@earthlink.net http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

Response:

I’m glad you went– and glad you’re home again. Feel better soon, Gotta run for now… more later, Kristin "Mary T. Rawle" <stin…@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:Zn2ha.192$rN3.20802@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am glad that I grabbed my stuff and went to the hospital as soon as I saw > my temp was 102.5.  I am very careful now, as I almost died 3 years ago when > I had a kidney infection and could not get out of my house.  I let that > illness go so long that I had a fever of 105.5, and I literally could not > move. > The treatment helped a lot.  I have Environmental Illness (IE), which is > sensitivity to chemicals.  I inhaled some horrible chemical mixture on > Wednesday, and apparently a bug latched right onto my weakened lungs. Zoom! > went my temp, and, as you guys know, if you get a high temp while you are > immunocompromised, you are supposed to get help right away. > They did wonders.  They put an IV in me and got me "juiced up."  I was > dehydrated. Chest X-ray blood tests, cultures of all body fluids and > coughed-up thingys.  But my potassium was good and I was not vomiting, so > they did not admit me. Nebulizer treatment did wonders, and now I’m on > codeine for cough and Zithromax for the infection.  Cultures and > sensitivities take a while, so I am waiting for those. > BTW, what does blood in the urine indicate?  Does it have anyting to do with > lupus kidney disease? > Mair (not Maur!) > That’s good.  I can go face down on my own little bed here. > — > stin…@earthlink.net > http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

Response:

Question:

On Mon, 13 Jan 2003 20:46:14 -0800, Henry wrote: >My mother was told she might have a cyst on her remaining kidney and she has >to take a CT test with an IV to verify. >Does anyone have any experience with this?  Can you deal with a cyst without >surgery?

Iana doctor. It’s entirely normal for a mature adult to have one or two kidney cysts, and they don’t usually cause any trouble. I’ve got Polycycstic Kidney Disease, which means (aiui) that my one remaining kidney has hundreds (or even thousands) of cysts – mostly microscopic – and they aren’t causing me any trouble [1]. I had one cyst, that was about the size of an orange, from which the fluid [2] was drawn off: a) because it was big enough to be worthy of treatment, and b) to see if it showed signs of becoming a tumour (it didn’t . [1] As the number of cysts continues to increase, there will come a time when my kidney function will begin to decline. [2] about 30cl of pale yellow, frothy liquid – a small can of lager. — Sleepalot aa #1385          For email, cut the string.

Response:

My mother was told she might have a cyst on her remaining kidney and she has to take a CT test with an IV to verify. Does anyone have any experience with this?  Can you deal with a cyst without surgery?

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Question:

Of course, Sheenah.  Many purrs and prayers for you both. Sam

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

So very sorry to hear that. We are sending lots of best wishes and extra-strong purrs for Gemma to feel as well as possible, — Polonca & Soncek

<snip Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

I’m sorry for poor Gemma and will send her vibes/prayers. Suz Iron Chef Macmoosette Thank Heavens There’s Only One =^..^=   =^..^=   =^..^=   =^..^=  =^..^=  =^..^= Chocolate heals all wounds.                  

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Oh, Sheenah — I’m so very sorry to read this!  I’ve been hardly at the computer for days now and would’ve sent purrs sooner if I’d known — many, many purrs for Gemma and for you that the time you have left together be the best possible.  Many hugs, Christine, Omar, Midnight, Shetra & Oreo

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Sheenah, We have Gemma in our prayers and the Feline masters are purring hard that Gemma is comfortable and pain-free for a good deal longer. {{{{BIG HUGS}}}} Helen M

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you for your helpful observation.  You have given us hope. Furballs have not been considered.  Could you please tell me what symptoms and treatment Philip had before his operation and also whether, prior to the problem for the furball, he was suffering from any other illness or affliction. Sheenah, I sure don’t want to give you any false hopes but I’m glad our experience may be helpful.  Philip was in reasonably good health before the furball episode, though being treated for the early stages of kidney disease.  Not so fragile as Gemma seems to be, poor girl. The symptoms were weight loss, inertia, loss of appetite, dry heaves, apparent tummy-ache.  When the vet found the lump, he hadn’t considered a furball either, assuming it was a tumor.  The downside was that surgery was required to find out if it was benign or malignant and go on from there.  For a 16-year-old, it was kind of "iffy" even in otherwise good health (this was the early 90’s when 16 was considered *really* old by most vets we knew!).  Luckily for Philip, it turned out very well. I hope with all my heart that Gemma can be helped.  She, and you, have had such a rough time.  Many, many purrs and prayers are continuing for her well-being.

That reminds me… Shmogg once had a lump in the tummy too. His symptoms were listlessness, no interest in food and no bowel movements whatsoever. To cut along story short, the vet rehydrated him (he was very dehydrated). After the rehydration, the lump felt a bit softer, so she then gave him a strong laxative. As it turned out, the lump was just a terrible case of tapeworm infestation, which was quickly fixed by some tablets. Here’s purring and praying its as simple as furball or infestation. Yowie

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My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  snip

Purrs and head butts for Gemma dave

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Purrs and prayers for Gemma dave My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. snip Sheenah

– remove spam for e-mail

Response:

Thank you for your helpful observation.  You have given us hope.  Furballs have not been considered.  Could you please tell me what symptoms and treatment Philip had before his operation and also whether, prior to the problem for the furball, he was suffering from any other illness or affliction.  

Sheenah, I sure don’t want to give you any false hopes but I’m glad our experience may be helpful.  Philip was in reasonably good health before the furball episode, though being treated for the early stages of kidney disease.  Not so fragile as Gemma seems to be, poor girl. The symptoms were weight loss, inertia, loss of appetite, dry heaves, apparent tummy-ache.  When the vet found the lump, he hadn’t considered a furball either, assuming it was a tumor.  The downside was that surgery was required to find out if it was benign or malignant and go on from there.  For a 16-year-old, it was kind of "iffy" even in otherwise good health (this was the early 90’s when 16 was considered *really* old by most vets we knew!).  Luckily for Philip, it turned out very well. I hope with all my heart that Gemma can be helped.  She, and you, have had such a rough time.  Many, many purrs and prayers are continuing for her well-being. Take care. Jeanne

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Purrs are on their way! Stacey

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer.  We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

oh my gosh, of course, all our best and most powerful healing and comforting purrs, prayers and candles lit for Gemma. Hope she starts feeling better soon. And hugs all around to her family. Jazz & his mama — Irulan from the stars we came to the stars we return from now until the end of time

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Dear Jeanne, Thank you for your helpful observation.  You have given us hope.  Furballs have not been considered.  Could you please tell me what symptoms and treatment Philip had before his operation and also whether, prior to the problem for the furball, he was suffering from any other illness or affliction.  Gemma has for sometime been suffering from IBD .  This is being treated with steroids, anti-acids and a gastrointestinal stimulant.    She also has to eat only two kinds of food.  If she does not stick to this diet, she is sick. I look forward to hearing from you. Sheenah

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well.    Many, many purrs and prayers for Gemma and all of you.  We’re so very sorry to hear she’s not well.    Some years ago, our cat Philip had a similar problem.  The vet found a lump in her stomach and had her x-rayed.  He thought the mass was a cancerous tumor and wanted to try to remove it and perhaps give her a fighting chance.  Philip was 16 at the time.  I gave the go-ahead, well aware it could be the last time we’d see her.  It turned out to be an egg-sized hairball.  It was removed and she lived another four years. Whatever the case with Gemma, we do hope and pray that she can do well and live a longer comfortable time.  Our very best wishes.   Jeanne

Response:

Poor Gemma, I’m sorry to hear of her woes. Of course, she will be in our purrs & prayers. {{{{{Sheenah}}}}} Yowie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches

snip very sad news Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Of course Sheenah, it’s a hard time for you, and you and Gemma will be in my thoughts. Jeanette

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PURRRRR PURRR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR PURR I am so sorry to hear about Gemma.  Let’s hope for a miracle! (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))) fuga

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Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well.

   Many, many purrs and prayers for Gemma and all of you.  We’re so very sorry to hear she’s not well.    Some years ago, our cat Philip had a similar problem.  The vet found a lump in her stomach and had her x-rayed.  He thought the mass was a cancerous tumor and wanted to try to remove it and perhaps give her a fighting chance.  Philip was 16 at the time.  I gave the go-ahead, well aware it could be the last time we’d see her.  It turned out to be an egg-sized hairball.  It was removed and she lived another four years.     Whatever the case with Gemma, we do hope and pray that she can do well and live a longer comfortable time.  Our very best wishes.   Jeanne

Response:

Mountains of purrs and prayers are comming your way….A candle has also been lit…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer.  We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Many, many purrs, prayers and scritches for precious Gemma and you as well, and a newly lit candle.  There is just nothing else I can say except we send our deepest love and support from us to you and I wish with all my heart I could do something else to help you both. Buffi

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort.

 Of course, Sheenah. Many purrs and scritches both for Gemma and her slaves. I’m so very sorry to hear this news. I hope Gemma can be comfortable for a while yet, so that you have good time to say your farewells. Again, I am so sorry. — Marina, Frank and Nikki

Response:

 Of course, Sheenah. Many purrs and scritches both for Gemma and her slaves. I’m so very sorry to hear this news. I hope Gemma can be comfortable for a while yet, so that you have good time to say your farewells. Again, I am so sorry.

Hmm, I might have jumped the guns here. The above only applies if it is cancerous. I hope it turns out to be something else that is easily remedied, and I’m sorry about making the worst possible assumption. — Marina

Response:

many Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsss for Gemma from Tygra, Possum, Lilly, Oreo, Tootsie and Trixie Kristy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive. He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer.  We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has. As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

– (Insert Random Cat Quote Here)

Response:

Lots of scritches from me, purrs from the cats and dooks from the ferrets ! Nanny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Lots of purrs, prayers and a candle is lit. gentle *hugs* helen s Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply! Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd

Response:

Poor, dear Gemma, lots of purrs and scritches. And purrs to you, Sheenah, you have had a hard time with the kitties lately. We wish you all a peaceful Christmas. Elisabet and Hugo Katt catsruleok skrev i meddelandet … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My dear friends, Please could you send Gemma some purrs and scritches.  She is again not well. She had severe stomach cramps on Saturday night and at midnight had to be rushed to the vets.  She was given sub-cut fluids and an anti-inflammatory injection which, happily, brought her relief within a few hours.  While there, she was weighed.   We were alarmed to discover that she weighed only 3.35 kg; She has therefore has lost .25 kg since 6th December. Today, I took her to her own vet’s surgery intending only to get her reweighed.  I hadn’t got an appointment.  However, because we found that Gemma had lost a further .5 kg since Saturday night, her vet kindly saw her while he was waiting for his next client to arrive.  He gave her a thorough examination during which he discovered a worryingly large lump in her stomach. We discussed at length the pros and cons of putting Gemma through major surgery to discover what the lump was; the real possibility that it is cancerous and that if it is that operating on it will not bring about a cure. As you know Gemma has been unwell for the best part of this year and, in recent weeks, we have had to consider that she may have inoperable cancer. We have therefore had plenty of time to carefully think about what we would do if it seemed likely that this is what she has.   As Gemma is so frail, we have with great sadness, reached the conclusion that it would not be right to put her through major surgery.  As you can imagine, this has been a very hard decision for us to make. We had had Gemma since she was 6 weeks old  (she is now 16 years old) and cannot bear the thought of losing her. Our aim now is to keep Gemma comfortable and help her to keep enjoying life for as long as possible.  At this difficult time in her life, would it be possible for you to send her some soothing purrs and scritches.  I’m sure they would bring her great pleasure and comfort. Thank you. Sheenah

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why won’t you post an example of a lie I made about Cell Tech or their algae? You have repeatedly claimed I lied about the algae, but you never produce EVEN ONE example of these alleged lies. You could prove yourself right just by posting an example of one of these LIES you claim I told. Why won’t you do that, Jan? That’s what I’ve been asking for you to do, show EVEN ONE example of a lie I posted about Cell Tech or its algae. Why won’t you do that, Jan? Could it be because you CAN’T? Because you’re a LIAR? http://www.celltech.com/resources/info_central/response.asp Does Super Blue Green Algae contain Anatoxin-a?(posted 6-19-01) One individual was responsible for a great deal of *** miscommunication*** regarding anatoxin-a, information which is still accessible on many Internet sites. Cell Tech

First, I didn’t write the statement you are quoting, so it doesn’t count as an example of a lie that I told. Second, the statement doesn’t say I lied or told a false statement.  Don’t you think that if he could have said I told a lie or a false statement, he would have said so?  Instead, he uses the word "miscommunication". What’s that mean?  It certainly doesn’t mean "false". ****sued Mark Thorson for ****posting defamatory statements****

Defamatory statements are not necessarily false. If I said "Charles Manson is a murderer", that would be a defamatory statement against Mr. Manson, but it would not be a false statement.  about Cell Tech, its products and its personnel to various Internet or Usenet news groups. Cell Tech’s lawsuit against Mr. Thorson has now been settled. As part of the settlement agreement, Mr. Thorson has posted the Retraction Statement that appears below. Although he did retract the allegations that he had been widely circulating, ***we all know that one cannot, with a single correct statement, undo all the harm done by many mis-statements that continue to circulate****

I didn’t write the statement you are quoting, so it doesn’t count as an example of a lie that I told. The following is a retraction statement that Mark Thorson has posted to various newsgroups:

Nothing in the retraction says I lied or made a false statement. During the last several years, I have from time to time posted to this and other newsgroups a file of information called "An Anatoxin-a Primer." **** I now retract the statements made in the Anatoxin-a Primer.****

However, I never said any of the statements are false. They were defamatory, and I have retracted them. But a statement doesn’t have to be false to be defamatory. The Anatoxin-a Primer implied that Super Blue Green Algae from Klamath Lake, produced by Cell Tech, contains anatoxin-a (a neurotoxin *** I characterized as addictive), and that Cell Tech ***deliberately  avoids  testing for this toxin***

But none of the statements I made were false, and this sentence doesn’t say that any of these statements were false.  If you think otherwise, please quote one of these allegedly false statements, rather than a quoting a statement-about-the-statement. Why won’t you do that, Jan?  Is it because if you did, everybody would see that my statements were not lies — and didn’t even look like lies? because anatoxin-a is responsible for the effects reported by SBGA users. I have since been advised that Cell Tech conducts regular tests that would disclose anatoxin-a, and that this toxin has never been found in Super Blue Green Algae. *** I had no basis for the suggestions I made in the Anatoxin-a Primer, and I hereby retract it in full.**** Jan PS I always back up the lies  with one’s very own words.

What you haven’t done is show an example of one of these allegedly false statements, rather than a statement-about-the-statement. Why won’t you do that, Jan?  Is it because if you did, everybody would see that my statements were not lies — and didn’t even look like lies? And then everybody would know — Jan is a LIAR.

Response:

YEA! DRAFT BILL November 11, 2002 Senate/House Bill SUMMARY Amends Oregon Statutes, Chapter 679 : (1)Requires Informed Consent before placement of mercury amalgam dental restorations (2 )Limits mercury amalgams in vulnerable populations and completely bans use in 2007 (3)Requires disclosure of dangers of removal of mercury amalgams (4) Requires minimum protocols for dentists removing mercury amalgams (5) Prohibits disciplinary action against dentists who give patients information about the risks or benefits of any restorative material if supported by a peer reviewed publication (6) Prohibits disciplinary action against dentists for removing or placing any professionally recognized restorative dental material (7) Prohibits discipline of dentists who fail to conform to requirements of private organizations inconsistent with state law (8) Requires mercury separators with at least 95% efficiency in dental offices placing or removing mercury restorative materials (9) Requires disposal of mercury containing materials as hazardous waste (10) Prohibits placement of mercury containing materials in biohazard bags intended for incineration, and (11) Directs Oregon Board of Dentistry to adopt administrative rules to implement the provisions of this Bill. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to the practice of dentistry; adoption of new provisions in ORS Chapter 679. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1: ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include:     1.. A dentist shall obtain a written Informed Consent from each patient prior to any dental procedure and/or treatment which includes the use of any dental restorative materials containing mercury. The written Informed Consent form shall be substantially in the following form in at least 12 point type: INFORMED CONSENT FOR DENTAL MATERIALS CONTAINING MERCURY Patient’s name: Date of Procedure and/or Treatment: Dentist’s name performing procedure and/or treatment: Brand name, trade name and commonly used name of dental material containing mercury: Lot # of Product: NOTICE: The above-identified dental material contains mercury . The U.S. government has published the following facts about mercury: 1. Mercury vapor is released from dental materials containing mercury which is the number one source of mercury in the human body. World Health Organization, Document No. 118 (1991). 2. The human nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. 3. Metal vapors are more harmful than other forms of mercury because more mercury in this form reaches the brain. 4. Exposure to mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and developing fetus. 5. Effects of mercury on brain function may include irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. 6. Short-term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapors may cause effects including lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes and eye irritation. 7. Fetus’ and very young children are more sensitive to mercury than adults. Mercury in the mother’s body passes into the fetus and can pass to a nursing infant through breast milk. 8. The harmful effects of mercury that may be passed from the mother to the developing fetus include brain damage, mental retardation, and incoordination, blindness, seizures, and an inability to speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems and kidney damage. The description of the effects of mercury set out in facts 2-8 above is excerpted from the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 1999, Toxicological Profile for Mercury. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. The complete profile is found at: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.html Patient acknowledgement: My signature below means that I have read and understood this description of the effects of mercury as set out in this Informed Consent form. I consent to the use of the above-listed dental material containing mercury and release my dentist from any liability for harm to me from the identified dental filling material. I have also been provided with a signed copy of this form to take home with me. Patient’s signature or guardian’s signature: If patient is a minor or incapacitated, name of patient: Treating dentist’s signature: (2) A copy of the signed Informed Consent form shall be provided to the patient. The original signed Informed Consent form shall be placed in the dental chart of the patient for so long as the dentist retains the dental chart for the patient. SECTION 2. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include: No dentist shall place a dental material containing mercury in any dental patient 18 years of age or younger, in any woman 45 years of age or younger or in a woman of any age who is pregnant, in any patient with diagnosed or suspected kidney disease, or in any dental patient who has a metal orthodontic device in the mouth. SECTION 3. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include: No dental restorative material containing mercury shall be placed by a dentist in any dental patient after July 1, 2007. SECTION 4. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include: Any dentist who removes dental restorative materials containing mercury from a patient’s teeth shall disclose the health risks of removal. SECTION 5. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include: Any dentist who removes dental restorative materials from a patient’s teeth which contain mercury shall follow protocols which minimize patient exposure to mercury vapors. SECTION 6. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include:     1.. There shall be no disciplinary action against a dentist:       1.. who gives a dental patient information about the risks and/or benefits of any dental restorative materials or dental procedures so long as there is a peer-reviewed scientific publication and one other dentist to support the information;       2.. who removes or places any professionally recognized restorative dental material with the informed consent of the patient; or       3.. who fails to conform to policies or codes of private dental associations which are inconsistent with state law. (2) Nothing in section (1) above shall be construed to allow a dentist to defraud a patient. SECTION 7. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include:     1.. Every dental office which uses dental restorative materials containing mercury or removes such materials from the teeth of patients, shall install mercury separators on any wastewater drain through which mercury containing materials pass. The mercury separator shall be certified by its manufacturer to remove at least 95% of the mercury passing through the wastewater drain.     2.. All dental materials containing mercury, whether restorative materials removed from patients’ teeth or excess material from new restorations, shall be placed in a vapor-proof container clearly labeled as containing mercury and shall be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of in accordance with federal and state law. Such material shall not be placed in biohazard bags intended for incineration. SECTION 8. ORS Chapter 679 is amended to include: The Oregon Board of Dentistry shall adopt administrative rules to implement the provisions of this Bill. Rules relating to Section 5 of this Bill shall be drafted in consultation with dentists who are members of dental associations whose members do not place mercury amalgam dental restorations. SECTION 9. This bill shall become effective on September 1, 2003.

Response: