THornaTude is .........

No applogies necessary!!! This sucks, but thanks for the update. You have said that it's a pain to type, so know that when you put an update out here, we TRULY appreciate the effort to keep your ugly family in the loop. Much Love.

Last night I was telling some co-workers at happy hour about Thornatude. I defined it as positive attitude in the face of thorny situations. YOU ROCK!

:( Thorny, if you don't get well, we ain't never gonna get to wrestle! :(

:eek::eek: holy carp....i know i missed the post where you two will have a Macho Man Randy Savage-off...but that is just scary, and yea....you better get better...my boy looks like he knows a thing or two about a figure four.

i hate the fact that you still have not found anything out...and you are in pain.

and yeah, i'm with Taco, don't feel bad for keeping us posted...EVER.

THORNATUDE SHALL NEVER DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, and I have the venue and corporate sponsorship all lined up.
We can't have the main event just pulling out like that.
A jello wrestling bout between Joe and FM just wouldn't be quite as exciting!!

thorna tude

thorna tude

thorna tude

cmon thorna tude!

didnt I hear some thing today?

something will prevail?

yup!

julie and I send our love!

and CSS vibes!

what kind of insurance do you have? we seriously need to get you out of your area and get some real doctors involved. Around here we have Stanford and UCSF, and when the docs at the local places get stumped we get sent there for the real deal. What can I (we) do to help Thorn?? You're in too bad a shape to wait around and hot get all the tests and help you need. Tell me where I can start.... there has to be something we can do to get you to some serious specialists and some real help....

First off, thanks for all the encouragement. It helps me so much to know that you guys are pulling for me in all of this. I was on Vicodin and Ativan for about six weeks and they pulled it and I think that has a lot to do with my attitude right now. I'm in a lot of pain at times and I have severe panic with the breathing problems this whatever dis-ease is causing. I have several pleural effusions synovial filled sacs on my outer lungs and pleural lining of the chest wall, which is common with both Rheumatiod and Lupus. I get these spells of not being able to breath and my entire diaphragm begins to want to shut down. It's like I am going to hiccup, but it doesn't finish. It gets stuck and then I cannot breathe. It lasts a few moments and petrifies me everytime because it's scary not to be able to breathe.

they seem to be thinking that the ativan and pain med could actually accerbate the situation and it was better to try going without for a short time as a trial until the blood work gets done to tell them whether or not this is drug induced new symptoms.

Meantime excedrin don't cut it! and panic just gets worse. I can't sleep now. This is the first night my hands aren't killing me in a long time, but the rest of me feels like crap.

To answer your questions SLade, I don't have any insurance, that is the whole trouble. When Sigoth became a boiler maker it was unavailable at first, now that it is available I am unfortunately uninsurable because of my past medical history and current treatments are pre-existing. My only hope is a quick diagnosis so that I can get on disability and get a medical card from the state that allows me to enter any hospital and it will be paid for. Social Security benefits will further my ability to pay for medications. Until a diagnosis is arrived at, I'm pretty much screwed unless this hospital realizes that medicaid will pay them if they allow me re-entry and further testing towards a proper diagnosis.

As far as doctors, I have two of the very finest on my side, it's just my stupid body is playing tricks on all of us. just when we all think it's one thing, I get five new symptoms that throws that notion to the wind. If I cannot be re-hospitalized and tested further, it's useless. It's the board of directors at the hospital causing the delay and chaos.

My family is looking into getting me into BEN TAUB hospital in Houston. They will take uninsured with a payment plan. However, we have heard they are not any better in reality than what we have here. We have three big hospitals here. Memorial is the one that I am hoping to get back into becuase they are the most updated and fly in specialists, etc.......

I think what we do now, is just hope an pray that by Monday re-entry into the hospital becomes a reality and things will start hopping!

I do wish I was in California right now though. I know I'd get what I needed there! But, if after Monday I can't get results here, I'm going to make a lot of phone calls to HOUSTON to the diagnostic clinic. Best in the country!

Thanks Slade.;.............You bring very valid points to this. It made me really take notice that things need to flow faster!!!!!!:)

I used to work for Blue Cross and I know there are a few states like Rhode Island where they can not turn you down for a past medical condition during the open enrollment period. As far as the Rx's go depending on how good your state's medicaid coverage is you might need to look into calling the companies directly for help. Vicodin is fairly cheap but some stuff can get pretty pricey like some of the injectables which really seem to work but cost an arm and a leg. PPARX.org is a company that will help you get free rx's but you can contact companies like Glaxo-Smith-Klein, and Merck directly and they may qualify you for free Rx's to. Most pharmaseutical companies have some version of a give-a-way program. If they do qualify you for Social Security and they OK you for Medicare because of your condition. You'll have a one shot to get into some really great programs without a medical backgroud check. Any transfers or upgrades will be subject to backgroud checks from then on. You would have the option to downgrade or go into a Medicare HMO plan during open enrollment but that really should be a last resort.

But hopefully none of this stuff will be needed and they will call you on Monday with great new like you have scurvy and all you need to do is drink more O.J.

P.S. And both of you are crazy. New England is the only place to get be sick. They even have their own Journal to tell everyone about the great things they've done lately.

they seem to be thinking that the ativan and pain med could actually accerbate the situation and it was better to try going without for a short time as a trial until the blood work gets done to tell them whether or not this is drug induced new symptoms.

Meantime excedrin don't cut it! and panic just gets worse. I can't sleep now. This is the first night my hands aren't killing me in a long time, but the rest of me feels like crap.

To answer your questions SLade, I don't have any insurance, that is the whole trouble. When Sigoth became a boiler maker it was unavailable at first, now that it is available I am unfortunately uninsurable because of my past medical history and current treatments are pre-existing. My only hope is a quick diagnosis so that I can get on disability and get a medical card from the state that allows me to enter any hospital and it will be paid for. Social Security benefits will further my ability to pay for medications. Until a diagnosis is arrived at, I'm pretty much screwed unless this hospital realizes that medicaid will pay them if they allow me re-entry and further testing towards a proper diagnosis.

As far as doctors, I have two of the very finest on my side, it's just my stupid body is playing tricks on all of us. just when we all think it's one thing, I get five new symptoms that throws that notion to the wind. If I cannot be re-hospitalized and tested further, it's useless. It's the board of directors at the hospital causing the delay and chaos.

My family is looking into getting me into BEN TAUB hospital in Houston. They will take uninsured with a payment plan. However, we have heard they are not any better in reality than what we have here. We have three big hospitals here. Memorial is the one that I am hoping to get back into becuase they are the most updated and fly in specialists, etc.......

I think what we do now, is just hope an pray that by Monday re-entry into the hospital becomes a reality and things will start hopping!

I do wish I was in California right now though. I know I'd get what I needed there! But, if after Monday I can't get results here, I'm going to make a lot of phone calls to HOUSTON to the diagnostic clinic. Best in the country!

Thanks Slade.;.............You bring very valid points to this. It made me really take notice that things need to flow faster!!!!!!:)

hang in tthere girl, my hands feel like crap and cant typ ehalf the time. this morning its hard tobreath, sides hurt like FM gave me a bear hug or soemting. already took my keppra and valium...still feel like crap....todays also shot day...I do the rebif 3 days a weeeks....never thoguht giving myslef a shot would be easy but its apiece of cake now...the reststill six though....if it weren't for the pain i would be ok....got a ton of loritabs but donn't want to rely on that...unless truely I need one....I keep you on my mind constantly.....do get better cause I'll pay to see the wrestle betweeen you and FM
....lol

PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

if you need any help, I don't have much but am willing to pitch in what and when i can.... let me know...

thnaks for you and the Thornatude.....

But hopefully none of this stuff will be needed and they will call you on Monday with great new like you have scurvy and all you need to do is drink more O.J.

P.S. And both of you are crazy. New England is the only place to get be sick. They even have their own Journal to tell everyone about the great things they've done lately.

hehe Scurvy would rock at this point! seriously, I think I can get my effexor for free. I am applying for it this coming week with Wyeth. Louisiana has very different laws on just about anything. We have old French law still on the books that is totally crazy, but that is cajun country! Our insurance that I am eliglble for is state owned and operated and they are a total pain to deal with. I am still checking into other programs and policies, however, most want a doctors definitive diagnosis that seems slow in coming. Hopefully tomorrow will be the day I can be either re-admitted or get the blood work needed. Thanks for all the info!:)

PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

if you need any help, I don't have much but am willing to pitch in what and when i can.... let me know...

thnaks for you and the Thornatude.....

Man, I wish they gave valium to me. much more effective than ativan. So sorry to hear that you are suffering like me. Sounds like you and I should be neighbors and maybe we could get some power scooters and go beeboppin around the hood..LOL Seriously, Sam, I hope that both of us get our remissions on soon. Did they tell you remission is a possibility? Supposedly for either of the ones I have, they both go into spontaneous remissions and that would be so nice not to have this horrid daily routine of nothingness everyday.................I could play my bass

My Thornatude is making it's come back cause it's almost Monday and I can find out thngs that have had me so perplexed for the past three days.

I appreciate your genuine and kind offer of help dear. You are truly a cherished friend, but we are okay for now. We have what we need. God has always provided for us when we needed it the most and I am grateful sigoth still has a job when so many are losing theirs..............

You too, are always in my thoughts and prayers everyday. I try to send out all the good vibes I can your way...........Also your Sigoth and mine are always close to my heart because without them both I don't think we could do such a good job of keeping positive.

Did your doc explain the benefits of pain management to you SWS? THose Lortabs taken as directed won't hurt you, in fact if you manage your pain with them, you won't have to start from scratch when pain hits and it's too hard to rid yourself of it because you aren't taking them as directed. Trust me, you won't get addicted if you do it right. If they are too strong see if there is something milder he'd give you. I have been on Vicodin but it's only the 5 mg. and that's hard to control this kind of pain with, so I was taking one and a half to make it a Vicodin ES. Helped a lot. I used to be in pain management with the fibromyalgia and took a class on managing chronic pain. Even if it's tylenol, taken at intervals in consistency will manage breakthrough pain..........

Take care of yourself and we'll be at our best soon enough.........God bless you SWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

you know we got your back Thorn. Keep fighting and keep on keepin on and as Journey would say DONT STOP BELIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVINNNNNN HOLD ON TO THE FEEEELLEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!!!!

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

CSS vibes and squishy warm luv,

DDD

Good luck with Wyeth. And I hope the doc's find out for sure what's going on. And of course feel better quickly.

To give you a little laugh I thought I'd throw this in. Lousiana isn't the only state with wierd laws. http://www.dumblaws.com

Dan, you hit it on the head bubba......That Journey song is on my mind a lot! Thanks for CSS and Luv............You Rock!

Hey Big, Illinois strange too huh? We have some of the most whacked out laws that are so old, they don't even pertain to modern life anymore. We actually have a city ordinance that says you cannot park your horses on the main street, they must be secured to the side streets. DUH..........LOL

I've heard from my doctors nurse that Wyeth is a pain to deal with......I'll give it a shot though!!!!!!!!!

I question life sometimes...........Bad timing, serious situations I can't handle at the moment. I just found out that my mom has a severe bowel obstruction and needs emergency surgery and here I am with no vehicle, not allowed to drive if it was at home, no way to help this wonderful mother that has hauled me to appointments, taken care of me through all this I've gone through. My dad is diabetic and he has a sore on his foot that isn't healing, etc...........Sometimes I wonder who we all killed or what we've done to get such bad karma.....

Just please say a little prayer for my mom..........I'm truly worried about her having surgery in this town!

Just please say a little prayer for my mom..........I'm truly worried about her having surgery in this town!

Prayers said and a host of angels for you and yours.

Not sure what to say, Thorn.
But what I'm thinking is solid vibes for both of you (never was too religious, but I am spiritual)
Hoping you pull through quickly so's I can see you duck FM in a tub of vodka jello. (That's after you've finished off Joe and I got some good shots of you hanging him off the rafters by his leopardskin thong)
Get well soon!

THanks everyone..............First off, my dad told me the night mom had to have emergency surgery that the surgeon was the one that almost killed me when I had my gall bladder surgery. Talk about scared! But, she is still in ICU, doing fine, healing right, and all is good in that area......I just got to talk to her for the first time........:)

Thanks for holding me up friends.........It's been a long and scary ride so far

BUt as a wonderful friend just told me.........FAITH matters!!!!!!! ;)

Prayers to you and your folks.

I'm diabetic and have a sore on my left foot that has taken 2 weeks to even start healing.
It sucks. Have to wear these stupid leather & plastic braces inside my work boots and they rub the tops of my feet raw. Almost wish they'd amputate this left foot as the ankle is all blown out and can't be repaired. Its like, get rid of this useless thing and the pain that goes with it.

Sorry to rant. Praying all becomes well with you soon.

LowDown:cool:

LDD do you take the insulin shots, or the pills? Dad takes the pills and is pretty good about his diet. This is the first diabetic sore he's had in the 12 years he was diagnosed. I am hypoglycemic and anemic with this whatever disease I have. I was borderline diabetic before I got sick. Do you go to a woundcare center? They ROCK......They can heal that up; in no time! I think I finally talked my dad into going because there is one right there in the hospital my mom is recuperating in..

Well guys, the last two blood tests, the most important ones are done as of today. I am a bit weak and dizzy still, so it's go nap time for me.........It's going to be a week before we get the results............

Thanks for all the prayers everyone.....

Thornatude, ya sistah!

I'm still under control with the pills and diet.

No wound care center around here that I know of.

LowDown:cool:

Hey LDD, Santa Maria is not a far drive,and they have a few. I looked it up online. San Luis has a few as well. Just in case in the future you get a bad one, please look into these places..........It's just so important to keep your limbs healthy with the big D...........I stay on dad constanly.........LOL..He dreads it but since he's gone to the wound care at the hospital the other day, it's almost already healed finally.............:)

Thanks for the info, Thorn.

You're a sweetheart,:D.

Keep hangin' in there.

Prayers.

LowDown:cool:

It kills me when such bad things happen to such good people. I very much hope that a prolonged remission sets in so that you can enjoy your bass (and life in general) again.

Let us know how things go with the testing and positive CSS vibes your way.

Thanks LDD and thanks so much NWB.............

I do have some good news.........Hope I'm not jinxing myself, but here goes......

I graduated from the walker to a cane. My hands are doing quite a bit better. I have ankle and knee issues still but to a lesser or more tolerable degree. I think the resting and meds have finally improved the situation to an ability for me to be tenacious and press forward a little bit.....

All the prayers and encouragement are the best medicine. Some people don't like to air their troubles, but I think they miss out on a community that gives energy to healing and making one feel so unalone in a bad situation. I am never ashamed to ask for help. I've spent my entire life helping other people daily, and I feel one good turn deserves another. I preached to other's all the time to not be afraid to ask for prayer or hope from friends or even strangers, and I am actually practicing my own preaching>>>LOL

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of those that have givin me hope.......Makes a lot of difference in wanting to have a better quality of life and heal from a bad disease.

To be honest with you, when I was told I had pleural effusion, and kidney damage I felt like I was handed a death sentence. Many people with Lupus die young from kidney failure or congestive heart failure. That is why my undying belief is it won't turn out to be LUPUS.....I feel I know my body very well and I am actually, in my own diagnosis, having a relapse of Fibromyalgia on top of some serious Rheumatoid arthritis. Fingers crossed..I see the doc this Wednesday.........My test results however will be a week from now.........

GOOD NEWS........................

My mom gave me a pair of spring shoes that have been a life saver. I can walk good distances now without too much pain and have been able to do things I haven't done in seven months...........

Still waiting on the blood test results..I'd hoped to hear about it today, but so far nothing.

I'm taking so little pain meds that in time I may not need them........Hands are doing good. I actually played my acoustic guitar today a little.

THORNATUDE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here's the type of shoe I am referring to, and if you have lower back pain, arthritis in your knees or feet, or just tired aching feet, you should get some of these ugly buggers.........they rock!

these are the exaCT ones I have, Mary Janes

They do have tennis shoe types for men....they are amazing.........

We learned about those shoes when our granddaughter was a cancer patient at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston a couple of years ago. Almost every nurse on the oncology floors wore them. Glad they're helping you.

Those socks look familiar though. Aren't those the ones my dear departed aunt was wearing when the horrid little Dorothy brat brought that house from that Kansas place and dropped it on her? :D How'd you get them????:confused:

:p haha...No Bare Handed, that is an internet picture...LOL....I hate socks! Although it wouldn't be the first time I would be associated with being a witch...hahaha

I just found out that down the street from me, they sell these in tennis shoes for ladies..Gonna have to splurge, cause I am a casual kinda chick~!:cool:

I actually washed, dried, folded and hung clothes today.........This just rocks!!!!!!!:)

I had an internet convo with an old friend I went to school with today, and I had to explain to her the difference between aches and pains, and really bad scale of 8 or 9 pain. She really didn't realize the seriousness of a disease like RA especially when it is in every joint in the body, and systemic. I can handle aches and pains.....No problem......But anything above a 6 on the scale of 1 to 10 is a bit much...Right now I am about a 6 and that's COOOOOOOOOL...........