Alan went for a consult re: DRX-9000 machine

[MelodyL]

Hi All: I'm posting this on both boards.
Hopefully some knowledgeable person out there will be able to answer my question.

Today Alan and I went to a free consultation to a chiropractor that uses the DRX 9000 , the spinal decompression machine table……

Thank God the consult was free
He brought all his previous mri reports. His last was done last year.

After looking at the MRI report she turned to Alan and said “you have severe spinal problems. I really don’t know right now!! You may or may not be a candidate for DRX 9000. We have 11 slots. How important is it to you!!! Alan just sat there and said “well, I want to get rid of my neuropathy”. He had filled out a questionnaire and one of the questions was “how has this affected your life”. And Alan had written “I wanted to commit suicide, the pain was so great”. He then explained that he wrote this 4 years ago before he went to Dr. Theirl and had adjustments.

She said “When you write down I want to commit suicide, that is a powerful statement. How bad do you want to get rid of your neuropathy? Alan honestly did not know how to answer her. He thought he did answer her.

So I interrupted and said “how much are we talking here, how many treatments?” She said “about three months, and it will run between 3 and five thousand, but honestly most of my patients pay $100 a month because their insurance only covers 10% of the treatment.
I said “if the treatment works, why don’t insurance companies pay for the whole thing?” she said “well, this has been around for 6 years, and most insurance companies need a thing to be around for over 11 years. I just stared at her. I then asked her “what’s the worst thing about Alan’s back and she said “well for starters, he has stenosis, he has a lot of disc problems, not just one or two.”

Then she said “you have three options”. 1. You have surgery (you can probably find some surgeon to operate), 2. You do nothing and take pain pills the rest of your life, and 3. You do non surgical decompression (DRX-9000).”

Then she said “the next part of this consultation is the exam and the emg non-invasive scanner.”

So Alan went in for the scan. . The doctor did a Rolling Thermal Scan of his spine. He sat at a computer and she ran this hand-held scanner thing up and down his back. She called it a non-invasive emg.


Then she sits us down and says “tonight I will review all the reports and I will determine if you are a candidate for the DRX-9000. “You are young to have such a bad bad back”. I asked her “when people do the DRX, do they have to stop going to the gym and exercising and she said “absolutely”.

Alan goes to the gym every other day, lifts weights and feels better for doing it. Also, his chiropractor/neurologist Dr. Theirl knows Alan goes and says “go for it”.

Dr. Theirl and Alan’s primary care doctor, Dr. Fred (who he adores), said “alan is not a candidate for surgery”. Dr. Fred also goes to the gym and meets Alan there sometimes.

So I just wanted you guys to see the report and read what this DRX doctor said to Alan and tell me what you think. Do you think his back is as terrible as she told him. I mean the guy goes to the gym 3 times a week, has muscles and the only time his neuropathy drives him crazy is when he lays down at night and after I massage him like crazy, he goes to sleep.
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Here’s what it says on the report:

TECHNIQUE: Neurtal/Sitting: Sagittal T1 Sagittal T2, Axial T1

Interpretation: Desiccation of all the lumbar intervertebral discs is present. Minimal narrowing of the L1/2 disc is present. Ventral marginal osteophytes and diffuse disc bulging are noted at the L1/2 and L2/3 levels. Both bulging discs impinge upon the thecal sac. Moderate narrowing of the L3/4 and L4/5 discs is present. Ventral and dorsal marginal osteophytes and diffuse disc bulging are noted at the L3/4 and L4/5 levels. Both bulging discs cause small ventral impressions upon the thecal sac and extend into the inferior aspects of the adjacent neural foramina bilaterally. Minimal narrowing of the L5/S1 is present. A diffuse disc bulge is noted at the L5/S1 which impinges upon the thecal sac and extendes into the inferior aspects of the L5/S1 neural foramina.

A moderate fat island hemangioma is noted within the L4 vertebral body. Minimal bilateral facet hypertrophy is identified at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels.

The lumbar lordotic curve is well maintained. There is no evidence of loss of height involving the lumbar vertebral bodies. The bone marrow demonstrates normal signal intensity.

The paravertebral soft tissues demonstrate normal signal characteristics and morphologi appearance.

There is no evidence of spinal stenosis. The cous medullaris and cauda equine demonstrate normal signal intensity. The conus is within normal limits in size. There is no evidence of an intra-dural lesion.

IMPRESSION: L1/2 DISC BULGE, WHICH IMPINGES UPON THE THECAL SAC.
L2/3 DISC BULGE WHICH IMPINGES UPON THE THECAL SAC.
L3/4 AND L4/5 DISC BULGES CAUSING SMALL VENTRAL IMPRESSIONS
UPON THE THECAL SAC AND PARTIALLY COMPROMISING THE ADJACENT NEURAL FORMAINA BILATERALLY.
L5/S1 DISC BULGE WHICH IMPINGES UPON THE THECAL SAC AND PARTIALLY COMPROMISES THE L5/S1 NEURAL FORAMINA BILATERALLY.
DEGENERATIVE DISEASE.


I really didn’t want this to be a long drawn out posting but if anybody heard anything good about the DRX, I’d love to hear about it. I know we discussed this once on the old boards, but now that he had the free consult (Oh, I forgot to say, I asked the people in the waiting room about it and they were raving about it).

So any input would be most welcome.

We don’t have a lot of money (we don’t have any money to be truthful) but if he gets a part time job we could come up with $100 a month but we are talking about $100 a month for many years here.

We just want to make sure.

Thanks to anybody who can offer any information.

We would really like to know if she interpreted his mri report truthfully.

Thanks,
melody

[Richard Williamson]

Allen,
Your back report is as bad as mine. My Chiropractor said:" Your back looks like you swallowed a hand grenade and it went off in your lower back. I was diagnoised with ALS/PN Oct.1993, Spinal stenosis since Nov.2002. Nov.2005 I talked about surgery, Neuro surgeon and Chiropactor said only as last resort. Chiropactor gave me a copy of stretches he told me to do every day. Started this , helped a little, Want to a chiropractor with a spinal decompresion table.(no money up front and if medicare or insurance didn't pay, coat would be $30.00 per treatment. by the 5th treatment I felt my back getting better. I had 22 treatments and my back feels 80% better. I planted 1400 spring flowering plants out at a golf course this summer, watered and weeded them ( 10 flower beds) I do my stretching every morning for at least 20-30 minutes and have a treatment every six weeks. I can not believe it can be this good.Any question e-mail me or call 920-788-4916 Vitamins, Ginseng and other supplements help turn my ALS and PN around. Better healyh now tahn in 1995 Richard

[joy]

FROM THIS POST ON: IT IS OFF TOPIC



Hi Melody. You haven't been giving us any updates on Alan and what is going on. What's happening, anything with both your health or in the neighborhood? Things are too quite from you, lol. What's going on?

[MelodyL]

I've been posting on Brain Talks 2. The new one.
Everybody is over there.

Alan went to a neurosurgeon last Friday. We brought all films, all reports, etc.

The man said his PN is definitely, definitely not related to his back.

So Alan is going to the Peripheral Neuropathy Department at NY Methodist Hospital. Hopefully, they'll run more definitive tests and we just might someday find out why he has PN.

But since he goes to the gym 3 times a week, and since he lost over 65 lbs or so since January, well, he's a new man. And if I massage his calves and thighs, he goes into heaven. No more pain.

Alan and I both think it might be Peripheral vascular disease (even though he had some kind of test many years ago and that was ruled out, well... .)
He has an ulcer on the botton of his foot that will not heal no matter what he does. he goes once a week to the podiatrist. He just came home and (after being good for a while, the ulcer got bad again), said to me "my ulcer got worse, I have to do the epsom salt and bandage thing again).

And he's never been diabetic.

So we shall see.

Here's a latest picture of my Alan.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o295/eliz7212/alansmuscle2.jpg

and here's one of the both of us standing with a little old lady who is 100 hundred years old. Honestly!!!!


So I promise to update you all after we go to the Peripheral neuropathy department at methodist on November 20.

Hope you all are doing okay....

Take care,
melody
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o295/eliz7212/00005.jpg

[joy]

Hi Melody. Wow you look great and it is nice to put a face with names, lol. That is one special looking little lady all right. Unbelievable almost that she is 100! Thanks for the update, eehum, guess not everyone is over on the other board, although I do read several. Keep us updated here also if you get the chance ok? It's good to hear how things are going with you and Alan. Why, I've set on the stoop and visited with you and your neighbors a lot. Betcha didn't even notice me, did you? lol. It is the only way I get out sometimes so I takes my visits where I can get them if that is what I need to keep from getting down without real people in my home. Not that I mind people it is you just get left by the wayside sometimes when you are laid up letting a foot heal. After two years of that crap and no visitors, I decided I did not need the ole people in my life so much anyway. It's a shame, you're welcome if you go along and shop til you drop but otherwise, they've no time for ya. Well that's my pity party for now Melody. Keep us updated if you have the time. I really enjoyed the pictures. Now If Alan is Rocky, what is your nickname? Gotta be someting for a cutie like you!

[MelodyL]

Some time ago, on the other board, I was posting about how I'd love an extreme makoever by those people on tv. I lost about 75 lbs totally and I have another 50 or so to go. It doesn't show on me BUT, the scale doesn't lie. I don't weigh myself. I let the doctors at Cornell do that and record it. If they ever told me my weight, I think I'd go nuts. there's reason for this so listen. I told them I wanted to look like Gina Lolabrigida. Don't know if you ever heard of her but she was a gorgous italian actress. So some people on the boards call me Gina sometimes. lol

About 7 years ago, I went to the gym every single day, I didn't weigh myself because I started at around 201. So by the time I went to my primary care, I knew, I absolutely knew, I had to weigh around 170. Now 170 on some people, you might thing, "god, a woman shouldn't weigh this". But I'm five feet 7 and built like a brick "shi# house, if you know what I mean. At my thinnest when I was 24 years old, I weighed 156 and wore a size 11 so I know what my body is capable of.
So I went to the gym every single day, did my thing and got into spandex shorts, and tank top.

I took myself to the doctor and when I walked in the room, the doctor goes "oh wow, look at you, you've been doing something right, now haven't you??" So we put me on his brand new digital scale and I'm saying to myself "okay, I'm around 170 175", and the stupid thing reads 223. Now let me tell you something. There is no way on god's green earth that this scale was right so I got nuts and the doctor goes nuts, looks at me and says "holy cow, what have you been eating??" I go, "please look at me, what do you mean what have I been eating, LOOK AT ME!!!

He scratches his head and goes "well the scale is the scale, you must be doing something wrong, because this is a brand new scale." I ask him what he weighs and he goes 195 (he's 6'3 by the way). I put him on the scale and it reads 195. I weighed the nurses, the people in the waiting room. All were accurate. So he looks at me and says "melody, you weigh 223".

So I go crazy, leave the place and go to my gym as soon as possible. Still wearing my spandex shorts and my tank top. I walk over to the biggest, meanest lookest muscleman (who was bench pressing something like 350 lbs) (they usually wind up to be the sweetest people on earth). I said "can you please help me?" and he goes "sure, little lady, what can I do for you?".

After reeling from the shock of someone calling me "little lady", I ask him:"please explain to me why I weigh 223 lbs". After his jaw stops dropping, he goes "no way". I said "way". he weighed me on the gym scale and it said 223 or close to it.

So he walks me over to his musclemen friends who are all looking like Arnold S. and he goes "this lady weighs 223 and we want to know why". They all do the jaw dropping thing and then they all go around me in a circle and they are looking at my body from all angles. They even brough over the trainers from other clients (this was Harbor Fitness Center) and now I have bout 10 men walking around me in a circle, looking at my body, and shaking their heads and one guy looks like he has a lightbulb going off in his head.

He tells me, "Tell us exactly what you have been doing in your routine". So I walked all of them through all the weight machine I had been using for about 3 months. All the 40 lb weights you lift with your legs, with your arms, with your back, etc. etc. Now the guys burst out lauging.

I said "I really don't think weighing 223 is something to laugh about". They said "lady are you kidding, you replaced all your fat with muscle and one pound of muscle weighs 6 times more than one pound of fat".

"You are in great shape" I said "I don't want to be in great shape, I want to weigh 150 and weigh what a woman is supposed to weigh". That's when they explained that I am supposed to do weights of 10 lbs with 40 reps, instead of 40 lbs and 2 reps.

I don't want to build muscle I want to lose weight. I was going about it the wrong way, and while I looked fine, I didn't weigh fine. And try explaining this to my doctor, forget it.

So that day, I stopped doing any kind of weight training. I just ate completely healthy and the weight dropped off, very slowly. And because I am diabetic and I was on oral meds, well it's harder to lose weight when you are on diabetic meds.

So fast forward 7 years or so, and I'm off the oral meds, I am on one shot a day of Lantus, my sugar is pretty stable (once in a while it spikes but that's diabetes for you). I am very careful in my diet and I walk and do cardio, no more lifting weights.

So now when I go to Cornell, they weigh me backward and record it and THEY DO NOT TELL ME. They are not allowed to tell me until I hit 150.

Then I'll go out and have an ice cream cone. Only kidding. But I will have achieved my goal. May take me years to do this, but I'm determined.

Oh, along the way, I've developed Neuropathy on three of my toes. Didn't know I had it. The doctor tested me with some kind of tuning fork thing and she said "oh, you are starting to have neuropathy in those tips of your toes, they are numb". We did the whole talk about diabetic neuropathy and I said "believe me, I am married to a man with neuropathy, I know neuropathy".

So I have no pain in those toes, thank goodness for that.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words and I'm sure I made you laugh with my true story of my body.

Take care,
Melody

[joy]

I believe the nickname is accurate. And YES i know who Gina is, after all, I'm about your age as well, so I think unless you were from a place without any tv's or movies, everyone will know who Gina is. Thanks for replying. I had read about the gym thingy but my memory did not stretch far enough to remember your nickname. After seeing your picture, I will remember :p . Yep, I'm sticking out my tounge. (I can see this picture much better than your avatar one).
bty, we are about the same height, I may be a little taller and I lost 80 pounds myself. I'm in the process of putting back on some pounds, I HATE wrinkles, lol. Quite successful at it so far too & it is fun to eat. thhee. I'm kinda stubborn, my hubby is all silver haired. I have just a little all over, not very noticeable except on the right side and if I wear it down in bangs, that doesn't show much. I'd love to get it streaked since it is an auburn like color. But won't because I don't want to sit that long and it would have to be repeated too often. I'm holding out until I get more gray and make it worthwhile :D . Oh for the days of being able to get it frosted blonde. Made me feel so young and carefree. So I'm saving that option for when this ole pn really gets baaad. I once had hemmorid surgery and knew what I'd be hearning when people saw me for the first time after surgery. I nipped that in the bud, so to speak, by having my hair frosted. It shocked them so much, some forgot to tease me, thank heavens!

[MelodyL]

See, that's how bad my memory is? I forgot I originally published my gym story. Oh well, I still had fun typing it. I remember going all nutso on my doctor. Imagine, he looked at me, said I looked great and all of a sudden he sees a number, and then I don't look great anymore?

Anyway, post of pic of you so I know what you look like.

be well.

Melody

[joy]

I am working on it but as hubby has to do the work, be patient, lol. Hey, I was so lucky to be able to post the little cartoon firefighter. And a wonderful person on another board had to do all the work on that one too. For now, just picture a tall, lilly white, slightly freckled, blue-eyed brown haired person with some wrinkles. Oh forgot to say, I used to be lilly white until tons of anti-seizure meds and a doc forgetting to tell me or include the paper with medications. I am now sorta bronze all year long, err except for the parts that don't get any sun. I now also make sure I can get my hands on information about any meds before I take them. That was not a funny time, sitting in a dermatologist office with my 12 year old son while he was getting a funny spot removed. Looked up at the wall and read the information about around 6 or 7 drugs I was taking and wondering, why am I just NOW finding this out? I don't really trust all doctors anymore, lol.

Melody, don't worry about posting the information more than once. I have been at BT a long time and new people enjoy things about us as well. So please, keep posting. I hate a completely dry humorless place. People learn to avoid the off topic stuff pretty fast if they are not interested. Just like reading a book, if you don't like a particular page, skip it. I read a lotta dull books before I learned to toss the whole book. To much disipline can make ya a dull person, in my opinion anyway. Course my health might prove otherwise but anyhow, whatever keeps me getting up in the morning works well for me.

BTY, I am envious as I don't really know my family's background. Haven't wanted to dig all that hard to find out. I have a friend that her family is from Ukraine. How'd I love to visit and talk about that just as I'd love to hear your stories. It's the only traveling I get to do! Luckily I'm not hard to please and the internet helps tremendously. Have a good weekend with Alan.

[MelodyL]

I just this minute returned from seeing The Return with Sarah Michelle Geller. My friend took me out for my birthday.

I should have realized how bad it was when there were 8 people in the whole theatre.

This film is so boring, we started laughing. Imagine two 59 year old women cackling like hens. We must have sounded so stupid.

Anyway, save your money. Next time we're going to see Deja Vue with Denzel Washington. Now I know HE's NOT BORING!!!!

be well.
mel

[joy]

thanks.. I seldom get to go to movies but I do love to go so thanks for the tip. If I make hubby take me and it's a drag, it's really a downer for both of us. I'm going to pick one and go before the holidays are over and I want to enjoy it. It doesn't have to be a comedy either (some folks know about me and my love of jokes). Just a good movie in general.

[MelodyL]

I used to tell people, "now if only there was a good Gene Hackman movie out!!!

They knew exactly what I meant. Not that it had to have Gene Hackman in it but I just wanted to see a movie where people didn't have knives, hacksaws, chainsaws, zombies, vampires, people with no body parts, people who HAD body parts, but they didn't belong to them.............you know what I mean.

I like quality stuff like Memoirs of a Geisha. Now that was a really beautifully filmed GOOD movie.

mel

[joy]

Yep, I bought that one and loved it. And that reminds me, I loaned it out and need to get it back or it will be gone forever. I like to keep some that I like the first time as I forget enough about it and don't mind watching them again, lol. One of my favorites is "The Last of the Mohicians". It had acting, scenery, music, drama, and all that jazz. With my memory I am just about down to reading books that I have read before. And I am no longer on neurontin either, lol. I tried the Lyrica not too long ago and my feet and legs went to swelling up and by the second day I had the awful red stuff that meant something, can't remember what but it meant trouble, so I stopped that as well. Just because I don't feel the rashes and infections on my legs don't necessarily mean it's not harmful. Learned that lesson the hard way too.

That earlier post of yours made me think about the scales. I had not weighed in a long time so I did yesterday. I thought it would be awful, but scales showed that I had LOST even more than I thought. It was about a 15 pound difference. Now seriously, I weighed 3 times!! Wrong. I weighed again today and I had gained some. Just from yesterday to today, it's not worth the worry. So I'm going to do like you, just forget the scales for a good long while, lol. I will however, take my blood sugar more often. I'm not a diabetic but do have a little glucose problem. I think eventually this is going to be proven to be the cause of a lot of people's pn. Just my opinion. Keep me informed of movies if you have the time. I appreciate the "visits". Can't sit on stoop and chat but this is better than nuthin (which I have had, NO TRAVELING to speak of ) for sure. I want to make it to Washington DC one day and hopefully to NY and even some New England states.. See, I already know about the markets that sell jewelry, etc., just from listening to you! Have you traveled much? Sorry didn't mean to write a book.

PS - I visited the other site today and read what you said others were saying so I have to add this: I love your hairdo in avatar! Think I'm going to let mine get longer too, esp. since it's winter. I need the practice with a curling iron. It is good therapy on my bum rotator cuffs. They get a good workout with an iron especially the griping & having to hold together at same time. My best friend used to always try and brag when I wore makeup. I don't look like you without it, so to speak, lol. I know I look better but it's a lazy thing, again the shoulders and if I put it on I have to take it off.

I have to try and stop with the gaining now because if I don't, I'll have to buy new clothes. That would be awful, right? Melody, those people should just keep their mouth shut. I believe we all would be better off if we tended to our own lives or business if that is what you want to call it rather than say negative stuff! You look great and they are JEALOUS! They can't be a ray of sunshine like you so they are sourpusses, hhe he. Don't know what but DO come up with something to stop them in their tracks. You'd be doing others, yourself and them a favor. Just laying it down to ignorance doesn't cut it for me.

[MelodyL]

I've been called many things but NEVER a ray of sunshine!!! That was really nice, thanks.

Someone on the other boards said that I might say as a comeback. "I beg your pardon". then if they repeat their dumb remarks, I might say "oh, that's what I thought you said". then I will walk away.

I can't wait till this happens.

Will let you know.

Oh, I have a good movie for you to see. Don't know if you can rent it at your nearest video store but this one is great.
It's called Pack of Lies, with Ellen Burstyn and Teri Garr. It's the true story of a couple who lived in England in the 60's I believe. One woman was best friends with the other one and she didn't know that she and her husband were giving away Atomic Secrets to the enemy. What a good popcorn movie this was.

Look it up on the Internet Movie Database, Here's the link to that movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093696/

regards,
melody

[Silver Swan]

Hi Melody:

I too think you are a ray of sunshine. I love that picture of you and it sure looks good as your Avatar.

Shirley H.

[MelodyL]

Lots of rays coming my way today it seems.

Maybe I can bounce some back and make you guys feel better!!!

Hugs and fuzzies as a certain poster loves to say. She has me saying it now.

Hope all of you are well.

mel

P.S. I just realized I didn't have an avatar on this board so I put my photo in the avatar part and I put Alan's in the profile part. so now you can always see my rosy cheeks. I have no idea why they are so rosy, I didn't have any blush on. Isn't that a hoot!!! And I don't drink, either!!!!! Had to be the lighting in the room, or maybe Mrs. D's fixing of the photo. that's it. She gave me rosy cheeks!!!!

[joy]

for the rosy look Melody. I am sorta tan but looked washed out all the time so I need to use the makeup if I don't want to look that way. Hence the friend suggesting it. I do consider her a friend because she waited until I had it on to say that. It took patience on her part to wait, I'm sure, hhe he. Now gotta go look ane see how Alan's look in your profile. He is youngish looking for having lost the weight too I'm sure. That's it, it made me look older cause of the wrinkles. You too look very young. I would not have thought ____ fill in the blanks, I remember because my birthday is in January so I'm older than you, lol. And my hubby's is in March, so I'm older than him. Will have to check out the movie. Thanks sunshine.

[MelodyL]

Well, we are both 59.

jeez.. 59. that means next year I'm going to be 60!!!!!

oh my god.

I'm getting a facelift.

mel

[joy]

no, gee don't go to far, I'm 60 already, sorry bout that. My cheeks used to be an asset as they sunk in, cause of no jaw teeth, so to speak. But with a slimmer face, I didn't need the sunk in look, lol. But I ain't getting a facelift. Have enough trouble with necessary surgery. They would NOT even repair my torn rotator cuff crying out loud. So no way, I'll just have to accept my looks without surgery. Hope I'm not wearing you out with the chatter. I was glad to have someone else to call sunshine as that is another story, lol. Have a good week.

[MelodyL]

I believe I have a torn rotator cuff. Many years now. I have osteoarthritis so I naturally thought "well, I have osteo on my left shoulder".

I couldn't use a curling iron either. but now, when I sleep on it, if i grab the pillow the wrong way, ouch. Also, Alan has to help me on with my bra and my coat. I can't pick up my left arm.

I've had this for years.
I've had pinched nerves too. I won't go for another emg, so forget that. I almost punched the nurse in the head the last time she came at me with that cattle prod thing.

I'm going soon so I'll find out for sure.

But tell me why they won't operate on you for your torn rotator cuff?

melody

[joy]

aah, I hate to tell you but it's because of the peripheral neuropathy. The specialist I had to travel quite a way to see said that I would not heal well because of the pn. And I did physical therapy for months to finally get it to improve. But it is an ever on-going battle to keep both shoulders from freezing up. And I can only sleep on my back because it just plain hurts too much on either side. It hurts my back also but less. Darn, now I feel really old, lol. My mother was in better shape than I even when she was in her 70's and up. My bones are small and I also recently lost a lot of calcium but the shoulder thingy was due to a box falling on me at our local builders supply store. I only turned in one shoulder and the week after the settlement, the other one froze up while I was in hospital with my mother. I had gotten a shot in it when I first went to ortho man and it helped so I thought it was "fixed". Wrong. Mine was caught by a MRI. Good luck and let me know what they tell you. I have some neat stretch bands and some exercises that I do if that would help. But it's not fun. Neither is having to wear flat hair! There is no justice sometimes! I have the dip stuff that makes my hair stand up that a beautician recommended. But that's just what it looks like when I do it, my hair is standing up :eek: ! Attention!!

[MelodyL]

Oh, I didn't know your PN aggravated the rotator cuff thing. I am so sorry. You must be in such pain.

Alan makes me do the spider thing (walking on the wall). After that I want to punch him. IT HURTS TO DO THAT!!!

So be well. I'll let you know what my doctor says.

I'll be seeing him for a flu shot so I'll pick his brain.

everytime something is wrong with me, he'll send me for an emg.

The last time, (after I threatned to punch the nurse in her stupid face if she came at me again with that THING, I left the emg place, I went back to my doctor's office and I yelled at him. "Are you nuts, I'll never go back".

He burst out laughing (he knows me). He just shakes his head.

Like the time I was going their for one of my diabetic monthly checkups.

All my friends were having colonoscopies. I was around 55 when we had this conversation. I asked him "Doctor, how come you never sent me for a colonscopy?" He looked at me incredulously and said "melody, give me a break, would you go for one"? I said "not on your life". He said "thank you very much."

HAH!!!!

melody

[Silver Swan]

Hey Melody:

Am thinking that your doc enjoys your comments as much as we do. Bet your visits brighten his day. Keep 'em coming, girl! You brighten my day.

Shirley H.

[joy]

Now remember Melody, I'm only a couple of months older than you. Do you want to know how many polyps they have found in me and because I did have a thingy-a-ma-gig run up me, and one down? Needless to say, I am familiar with the guy's face that does the procedure. He once lost so much weight I was worried and asked the nurse, if it was indeed Dr. S_____man. No the missing parts are not ugly words, just didn't want to list his name, translate, I don't remember. I once piped up with a totally different doctor to do my mother's procedure. That's how often I have been. Luckily he was a good doctor too. But that's how my memory is! Really, you might want to think about it. Or schedule it, and NOT think about it. It's sorta like a Christmas present nowadays when I get a clean mammogram, colonscopy, etc. etc. But darn, I do get tired of them looking sometimes. But I also know if it hurts bad enough, I'll eventually go. So my reasoning is why not go before anything develops that will get worse if it's there anyway. You might not know but I'm the person that spent about 2 plus years watching my daddy die from cancer and got to visit a special great aunt in hospital with mouth cancer on way to visit daddy. I lost both and quite a few older men that I got to know while staying in the VA ward the last six months of dad's life. I still have bad dreams of someone rolling out the white sheeted screens the hospital used to cover the doors of the dying patients. Horrible memories. Darn, I need to get my flu shot still also. They talked me out of it when I went to doctor early October. I knew I would not want to go back and I was right. Tell me what your doctor says. Oh yes, the spider walk, that's a good thing to always be able to master! Really painful at first so it is best to be able to keep being able to walk those fingers up the wall.

[MelodyL]

So I walk in and the nurse says "oh my god, did you lose weight, or what?".
I burst out laughing. I haven't been back to my primary care doc because I have all my diabetes stuff done at Cornell in NYC so unless I get sick or need antibiotics, I really don't need to see my primary care guy.

So I sit down in the room (I made it a real visit because I wanted to ask him about my shoulder thing). He walks in and says "what am I doing for you today?" And I said "well, I came in for a flu shot, but I want to ask you about a possible rotator cuff, bursitis or arthritis, I'm not sure, kind of question."

He puts me on the examining table and makes me stretch out my left arm with my thumb pointed down. He told me to raise it up and when he pressed down on my arm I couldn't hold it up. He goe "hmm".

The he checks my shoulder and everything. He says "actually the only way you'll know is to go for an MRI and the only way to get one on your insurance is to go to an Orthopedic Surgeon. So I am going to go.

Then my doctor looks at me and says "by the way, what do you weigh?" and I go, "none of your business". He burst out laughing and I said "no really, you know me and scales, remember what happened the last time, when I was working out and going to Ballys Jack Lalane, and I came here in shorts and a tank top and you told me I looked great, then you weighed me and I gained 23 lbs because I put on muscle". "Well, I don't do scales.". "Cornell knows what I weigh, they are happy with me, I look good so that's that".
After he stopped laughing his *** off, he said "melody, I have to know what you weigh, I'm your doctor". I said "Go and call up Cornell".

He looked at me and I said "okay, you can weigh me but I have to go on backwards and you can't tell me, because it will screw me up mentally". He goes, Okay, let's do it. So I go on the scale backwards (exactly like I do at Cornell), he goes "hmm hmm", I go "what the **** is hmm hmm".? And he laughs and goes "I'm not going to tell you".

I said "what the **** does that mean, I know I'm doing good", and he finally said "no, honestly, you did good". So he secretly,holding the amount away from me, wrote it in my file.

He knows what I weigh, Cornell knows what I weigh, ME???? I have no clue, and I don't want to know!!!

Melody

[joy]

Boy are doctors or places different. It was my primary care doctor that sent me for my MRI, thank heavens. Then onto the bone doc then on to the specialist that did his rotator cuff surgery. But still glad it all worked out for me without surgery. I figure even if I'd had surgery, I'd still have problems for the rest of my life anyway really. Plus having that pesky staph thing that is resistant to medicine. One of our hospitals is know to be the cause of staph infections causing many to have to go out of state after catching it here locally. What a thing to be know for.

I agree about the weight and scales thing! If my clothes fit, I'm good to go, lol. Can't wait to see what the next doctor tells you about your shoulder. I'd still do gentle movements or stretches while you wait to see what the doctor does. It's awful to have a shoulder freeze up. Yours might not but gosh it is really a downer when it happens. That pain is just under the scale slightly than my trigeminal neuralgia pain. Doncha know I can moan and groan sometimes! Hubby used to ask what all the racket was when I showered even, lol.

[joy]

I deleted the above as it was a question to Silver Swan and she graciously PM me.

Melody I just saw Hoosiers again on tv this afternoon and since you mentioned Gene Hackman I wanted to say that I think this was the first time I ever took much notice of him was in that movie. I had rented it and rerun this part back until I could remember it - of course I had to look it up again this time too - Memorable Quotes from Hoosiers (1986) Opal Fleener: to GHackman's character - Sun don't shine on the same dog's a** everyday, but, mister you ain't seen a ray of light since you got here. ...
That was so funny to me.

There that is my explanation and then some for the deletion!

[MelodyL]

Joy, did you see Dancing with the Stars tonight.

Oh, it was so good.

Melody

[joy]

No I missed it Melody. Well I was at my grandson's house and it was on but that cute kid got all my attention except for a few glances. We took him his birthday gift since he was a big ole two yesterday. I bet I've told you that no less than five times probably about his birthday. And I don't know what happened on the show. Can you give details? I noticed oh forgot his name, but the older guy was still on but missed the ending and most all of it really. Got to bring grandson home with me too! I was surprised that my son and daughter-in-law had it on that channel but was so tickled to see the kid and take pictures of him and his new toys. I was pleased that son and wife did not go overboard with the gift buying. They bought him just one thing. I think that's smart myself. Now that will bother me until I think of that man's name, lol. Have a good day tommorrow.

[MelodyL]

Emmit Smith won. You should have seen the look on Mario Lopez' face and his partner Karrina. Boy were they pissed and it showed.

Emmit has a lot of class and obviously a big fan following.

Mario is of course the more polished dancer but I'm happy Emmit won.

You missed a fabulous show.

Don't know if you are aware but you can go online and see the whole show. Just click on the different video clips and you'll be amazed.

I do this all the time if I miss something.

The other dancers (the ones who were kicked off), all came back and did a group dance. They were terrific.

Melody

[joy]

Thanks Melody for the tip about going online. Now I will look it up when I miss a show. I thought of the man's name last night at 10:48. It escapes me at the moment now, lol. I don't want you to think I'm a total nut case so I'll pause a second to see if I can remember if I really try. Let's see, I caught a glimpse of him last night and asked, "who is that old guy (sorry)"? then remembered that I'd missed the week before also and his name is___.... I'm going right now and look up all I missed!!! lol. Grandson is asleep so I have the time. I may have to rename ths section Tips from Melody, the sunshine girl. Say, did you know Gina is getting married? You should Google her if you didn't. I'd love to think I would look as lovely as her at her age. Darn, even at my age, lol. Marrying a younger man even. Nothing wrong with that. Men marry younger people all the time!

Jerry Springer-looked it up so this is for MY memory!!

[MelodyL]

Really!!!!

I must look this up. She must be at least 80.

I'll be she looks good. Plastic surgery will do that you know. lol
mel

Just googles her. Here she is at the age of 79 with her guy who is 45. He looks like her son. she's nuts but god bless her.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o295/eliz7212/GINA.jpg

[joy]

Sorry that I did not explain that I veer from topic to others but hey I've know for a long time I'm not perfect. Not going to worry about that too much but will try and refrain unless I warn others.

Hi Melody. Hope you are fine and your computer is also. Things have been pretty hectic here at my house but I got a chance to log onto BT and NeuroTalk last night and catch up with things.

[MelodyL]

My computer WAS NOT FINE LAST WEEK because my husband (god love him) downloaded a trojan from WinPro 2006. Froze up my computer.

I put it into safe mode and deleted it via the add/remove program in control panel.

Now thankfully, it's good to go.

My husband has been warned. No more spaghetti with Splenda for him if he ever downloads anything ever again.

be well.
Melody

[joy]

I did read about that but just noticed this tonight. My daughter went to ER three times last month. Tuesday night was really bad as she had turned blue and stopped bleeding. She does have seizures but this did not sound the same. Well it is a long story. She was in ICU Thanksgiving until late Saturday night. Still in hospital. She has on top of other health problems pancreatitis. We were right about it not being just seizures. Her oxygen was down and breathing shallow, too high potasssium, then drastically low and on and on and I don't think she would have lived through the night. She's looking better but no amount of pleading can convince her to come home with us for a few days until she's stronger. I hear her try and explain to her husband how to make tea for about 10 minutes on the phone today. It took three phone calls and I'd almost bet (if I did that sort of thing) that he never did get it drinkable. AArgh! All I wanted to do is watch that movie you mentioned if I could find it on Thanksgiving.

My peanut butter and Ritz crackers tasted pretty good Thanksgiving. All the food was at her house. It was a good day anyway since I felt she was so close to death on Tuesday! Oh yes, get this - pancreatitis can also be idiopathic or inherited. She is adopted so I'm hoping it is like PN, just treat it and hopefully something will work.
gotta get some sleep. Hubby has a new heart doctor to see in the morning. He is dreading doing another stress test. Says he's tired and don't think he can walk. Maybe it is a good time to do one.

as you say - be well

[MelodyL]

Wow, you certainly have your hands full.
All that stress.

I think you need more than a nice cup of tea!!

love, mel

[nide44]

12 year old Jaimeson works for me :)

[Mr Bojangles]

I've been posting on Brain Talks 2. The new one.
Everybody is over there.


Take care,
melody


Hello Melody. Where is Brain Talks 2 ( the other board )

Mr Bojangles

[joy]

Welcome Mr. Bogangles

I see you found Melody on the other site Mr. B

[MelodyL]

Mr. Bojangles:

here's the link to the other brain talks.

*********************************com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

You gotta read what happened to Alan today with the massage chair.
See the thread titled Mitral Valve prolapse and go to the last posting. I just posted this.

Alan is still in heaven.

melody