Re: New here....

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is , mom to 8,Brenden 4, and Isabella 1

Hi !! Welcome!

Sara

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I would encourage you to check out Alan 's web site:

http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/chf/index.htm

He shows examples of how to write a religious exemption letter; his

examples are ones that worked for NC (which also does not have a

philosophical exemption). They would probably work as well for VA,

since I believe the laws are similiar. Your religious exemption

does not need to be tied to a particular denomination, just based on

your personal beliefs.

I was originally going to suggest that you get in touch with Walene

(author of " Immunization: The Reality Behind the Myth " ). When

I first read a borrowed copy of her book many years ago, it had a

number for a group in VA; when I called it, it turned out to be her

home number! I got to talk to her and her husband for quite a

while. Unfortunately, I own a newer copy of the book that doesn't

have that info in it. Maybe you can do a web search and see if you

can find her email. I'm sure she is an expert on the legalities of

vaccination in VA after what her family went through.

Have you tried getting in touch with any local support groups in

VA? You can link to the VIA page (look for " state information " )

through NVIC's page(www.909shot.com); VIA usually has support group

info for each state. The good thing is that NVIC is based in VA.

I'm sure they could help direct you if you need it.

Laurie

> Hi, my name is , mom to 8,Brenden 4, and Isabella 1.

My

> oldest is fully vaxed, my middle hasn't had any since he was about

2

> and my youngest has not had any. My concern is, we currently live

in

> Michigan where we have philosophical exemption but may be

relocating

> to Virginia where as far as I understand it only have religious

> exemption. How do I go about this? Anyone from Virginia that could

> help me out?

>

> Thanks

>

>

[Guest guest]

Missi,

You need to find out what your Thyroid hormones levels are. They are the T4

and T3. It is better to get the " Free " T4 and T3 checked. They are the

" free " hormones in your system that your body can use. Once its bound to

protein, it is unusable by the body.

Quickie thyroid 101....The brain keeps track of hormone levels. If the

thyroid isn't producing enough hormone the brain tells the pituitary to

" stimulate " the thyroid to produce more. The pituitary releases Thyroid

Stimulating

Hormone (TSH) to do this. TSH tells the thyroid to produce more hormone.

When the brain decides there is too much it tells the pit. gland to quit

stimulating as much. In turn the pit. will back off the release of TSH. And

in

turn the thyroid hormone levels will come down.

Do some research on hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, Graves Disease,

Hashimoto's Disease. These are just some of the things that can cause

hyperthyroidism.

Also, check out ithyroid.com. It has a lot of info on thyroid health.

Hope that helps some. Welcome to the board!

Kim

In a message dated 5/2/2006 12:50:12 AM Central Daylight Time,

melissa@... writes:

Hi! I am a 39 yr old mom of 5, mom-in-law of two and grandmother of 2

beautiful Grandaughters. My 8 year old daughter has type 1 diabetes and

I was diagnosed Friday with hyperthyroidism. My tsh is .004. I did

find out that in January it was .009 and my doctor didn't tell me. I

see the doctor tomorrow to find out what I need to know. Any questions

I should ask?

Missi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Links

[Guest guest]

I have been on ithyroid.com and the doctor did say she was going to do

more testing to make sure what is what.. and to either diagnose or rule

out Graves, etc.

Thank you for the info.

Missi

________________________________

From: hyperthyroidism

[mailto:hyperthyroidism ] On Behalf Of kkmwn@...

Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 6:44 AM

hyperthyroidism

Subject: Re: new here....

Missi,

You need to find out what your Thyroid hormones levels are. They are

the T4

and T3. It is better to get the " Free " T4 and T3 checked. They are

the

" free " hormones in your system that your body can use. Once its bound

to

protein, it is unusable by the body.

Quickie thyroid 101....The brain keeps track of hormone levels. If the

thyroid isn't producing enough hormone the brain tells the pituitary to

" stimulate " the thyroid to produce more. The pituitary releases Thyroid

Stimulating

Hormone (TSH) to do this. TSH tells the thyroid to produce more

hormone.

When the brain decides there is too much it tells the pit. gland to

quit

stimulating as much. In turn the pit. will back off the release of

TSH. And in

turn the thyroid hormone levels will come down.

Do some research on hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, Graves Disease,

Hashimoto's Disease. These are just some of the things that can cause

hyperthyroidism.

Also, check out ithyroid.com. It has a lot of info on thyroid health.

Hope that helps some. Welcome to the board!

Kim

In a message dated 5/2/2006 12:50:12 AM Central Daylight Time,

melissa@... writes:

Hi! I am a 39 yr old mom of 5, mom-in-law of two and grandmother of 2

beautiful Grandaughters. My 8 year old daughter has type 1 diabetes

and

I was diagnosed Friday with hyperthyroidism. My tsh is .004. I did

find out that in January it was .009 and my doctor didn't tell me. I

see the doctor tomorrow to find out what I need to know. Any questions

I should ask?

Missi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Links

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group

did you have any symptoms that prompted you to go to the Dr's or did that

just show in blood tests your Dr. decided to do? just a curious question.

Carol

-- new here....

Hi! I am a 39 yr old mom of 5, mom-in-law of two and grandmother of 2

beautiful Grandaughters. My 8 year old daughter has type 1 diabetes and

I was diagnosed Friday with hyperthyroidism. My tsh is .004. I did

find out that in January it was .009 and my doctor didn't tell me. I

see the doctor tomorrow to find out what I need to know. Any questions

I should ask?

Missi

[Guest guest]

Hi Missi

Perhaps you might ask your doctor to do an initial bone density scan. A

hyperactive thyroid can strip the calcium from your bones. Start and keep a

log of how you feel and what your test results show (your actual number and the

normal range)... Ask your doctor what he/she thinks is a good normal range for

TSH (for the future).

Other than that, just do lots of reading and learning so that you can make any

decisions with full knowledge.

new here....

Hi! I am a 39 yr old mom of 5, mom-in-law of two and grandmother of 2

beautiful Grandaughters. My 8 year old daughter has type 1 diabetes and

I was diagnosed Friday with hyperthyroidism. My tsh is .004. I did

find out that in January it was .009 and my doctor didn't tell me. I

see the doctor tomorrow to find out what I need to know. Any questions

I should ask?

Missi

[Guest guest]

Hi Stefanie,

First off, welcome to the group. There are a few things you should

keep in mind when dealing with a Cholesteatoma. If your doctor

suspects a ctoma by visual inspection, a CT scan is usually used to

confirm the diagnosis. On rare occasions, ctomas do not show up on

CT's. If your son does in fact have a ctoma, it will not shrink

and/or go away on its own, surgery is the only option. When dealing

with a ctoma, its best to leave your General Practitioner out of the

diagnosis and treatment options and go straight to an

ENT/Otolaryngologist specialist, especially one who specializes in

ctomas. The sooner the ctoma is removed will increase your son's long

term prognosis.

Good Luck

Rich

>

> Hello, I am new here as the subject suggests. My son Brady is now 2

> 1/2 and was just told yesterday that he has a cholesteatome in his

> left ear. A little background on Brady...he was born with a double

> aortic arch which he had surgery on at 7 days old, because of this

> defect he has tracheamalacia, lung damage, and asthma. He was also

> born with one kidney and dandy walk malformation (a brain birth

> defect). He gets severe colitis from taking any and all

> antibiotics. He had a cold for about the last month (usual for him)

> but this time we were told he had two major ear infections which he

> had no fever or pain from. Started on the antibiotics, but due to

> the colitis and dehydration we stopped them. Three weeks later we go

> to check on the ears (and everything else) and the ped. discovers

> this cholesteatoma. I mentioned that the special school district

> tested his hearing and thought there was loss in his left ear...I

> just thought it was because he was sick at the time. We are now

> waiting 3 weeks to see if the thing will disappear a bit on its own

> and if not we are headed to the ENT...thank goodness we are an

> established patient in this clinic otherwise we might have to wait an

> extended period to get seen. Brady doesn't do well with intubations

> and anesthsia so I am hoping that this all goes away....has that ever

> really happened?

> I am in so many support groups online for his many defects and they

> have been such a blessing....I am so glad I found this one!

> Thanks

> Stefanie

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Stefanie,

My prayers go out for your son Brady, you and your family.

You seem to have a lot of inner strength to have dealt with so much over such a short period of time.

I've only had to deal with my husbands cholesteatoma on a few occassions. His began as a result of tear in his eardrum from excessive and high pitched noise while working on aircraft in the AF. The tear never healed properly and therefore he ended up with a middle ear infection. He had a tympanoplasty done in 87 and in 97 the chlosteatoma surgery.

Since Brady is young hopefully he will heal quickly.....You are lucky to have such an observant ENT. In my husbands case we are running around in circles. He's been tested reapetedly to see if his latest pain/numbness is related to a stroke, but so far everythings come back normal. We just printed out data on chlosteatomas from the web to show his doctor. The worst part is finding a qualified surgeon who accepts our insurance plan. I'm retired AF.

You do whatever you have to, to help Brady. I'm sure he's a real joy..... Do you have other children????? I have 3 teens - an 18 yr old, 16 yr old, & a 15 yr old .....All boys........

Write again anytime you need to....we're all here to help.........

New here....

Hello, I am new here as the subject suggests. My son Brady is now 2 1/2 and was just told yesterday that he has a cholesteatome in his left ear. A little background on Brady...he was born with a double aortic arch which he had surgery on at 7 days old, because of this defect he has tracheamalacia, lung damage, and asthma. He was also born with one kidney and dandy walk malformation (a brain birth defect). He gets severe colitis from taking any and all antibiotics. He had a cold for about the last month (usual for him) but this time we were told he had two major ear infections which he had no fever or pain from. Started on the antibiotics, but due to the colitis and dehydration we stopped them. Three weeks later we go to check on the ears (and everything else) and the ped. discovers this cholesteatoma. I mentioned that the special school district tested his hearing and thought there was loss in his left ear...I just

thought it was because he was sick at the time. We are now waiting 3 weeks to see if the thing will disappear a bit on its own and if not we are headed to the ENT...thank goodness we are an established patient in this clinic otherwise we might have to wait an extended period to get seen. Brady doesn't do well with intubations and anesthsia so I am hoping that this all goes away....has that ever really happened? I am in so many support groups online for his many defects and they have been such a blessing.... I am so glad I found this one!ThanksStefanie

Don't be flakey. Get for Mobile and always stay connected to friends.

[Guest guest]

I appreciate the response... Thankfully the doc I'm seeing today is

the one that diagnosed me not the one who did or suggested the

surgury. There are no surgeons here (or within 500 miles) that have

any experience with this condition so after the barium swallow (which

was interesting in and of itself (the doc doing it had NEVER seen

anything like it and actually had students that were studying

radiology come watch)and 2 mynometry (hope I spelled it right)

studies my local GI doc made some calls. Supposedly there is a

pioneer and expert in Seattle on this subject and his top student is

in SF. The doc in SF evidently has done many Achalasia surguries and

I looked up the different options and I chose to go the heller

myotomy route since it was supposed to have the best outcome over the

balloon or botox.

The nissen wrap was done without my knowlege and I was only told

later after we tried to find out why my stomach quit working, turns

out cutting the vegas nerve is a risk. I was told the nissen was done

to prevent reflux but what's weird is I only had reflux IMO because

food was not going down. So after 6 months of not being able to eat

much of anything because it was trapped in my tummy I had a

pyloraplasty which actually did a world of good except now I go

hypoglycemic to the point of almost passing out when I eat certain

things and have to keep something high in sugar around all the time.

I guess we'll see what the GI has to say now. So if I understand you,

now that the nissen's been done I have a big chance that my achalasia

will return? Darn....

>

> Hi there,

>

> Glad to read you're going to see your doc so soon, but... your doc

worries me, to be honest.

>

> It is very very uncommon for achalasians nowadays (and nowadays

start way over 2 years ago) to get a myotomy accompanied with a

Nissen fundoplication. So how many myotomies were done by this doc

before is my next question and what does your doc find a lot of

cases? Some might find 4 achalasians many, but it's not!

>

> Please don't let anyone mess around with you! Ask ask ask and go

for experience.

>

> Let me give you some info on the Nissen: it's a complete wrap and

in achalasians it is known to give back all problems within 10 years

after surgery in 75% of all cases. That is the reason why achalasians

are NEVER to get a Nissen done, we should get a Heller or a Dor.

>

> Please talk about this issue with your doc.

>

> Good luck for tomorrow!

>

> Isabella

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim (just found out through your CarePlace post that your name must be Jim),

On CarePlace you ask whether you can pass this condition on to your kids. There is no answer to the question what causes achalasia, but it's certain that it's very very rare to pass it on to your kids. So I wouldn't worry on that one.

If I were you, I would look here on the board to find a very very experienced doc to go see. I am from Europe and thus am not very experienced with doc's in the US. I know if you go see Dr. Rice (Cleveland) or Dr. Luketich (Pittsburg) you're in good hands, but there are others out there too (just look around the board).

Experience is so important here!

Between the lines I read that you are somewhat upset with your surgeon to have damaged your vagus nerve, which is understandable. But, damaging the vagus nerve is always a risk when a myotomy is being done.

Indeed you understood me right, when I wrote about the Nissen. When you have a Nissen wrap chances indeed are pretty high your achalasia trouble returns (75%). The reason why the wrap has been done is OK. You might not have suffered from reflux before your myotomy, but because of the myotomy chances are considered to be high that you will be suffering from reflux after that surgery. Achalasians are known to not notice the reflux and thus a wrap (fundoplication) is recommended. Just not the Nissen one... the Nissen one is a whole wrap, completely round. The Dor or Toupet wrap (I confused Toupet with the word Heller -which stands for the myotomy- in my first post to you) are the right options in achalasians.

You really really need to go see an experienced doc, who knows about achalasia, myotomies, reflux, fundoplications etc. Your problems might be due to the Nissen, due to scar tissueing, due to several reasons... You need a doc who has seen it before and who knows about the combination of problems you have (achalasia, Nissen, damaged vagus nerve).

My first myotomy (with Nissen, yep) was done 12 years ago. My second open was done last January (they removed my Nissen and replaced it with a Dor) and failed. Nobody knows exactly why my problems returned after the first myotomy: pregnancies and deliveries? scar tissueing (which was thus bad that spleen and liver had grown together)? Nissen? To shortly performed myotomy? We just don't know and never will now. Neither will we ever know why the second myotomy failed (which they performed over the longest length that was possible).

After the failed 2nd myotomy I had a few Botox treatments and they worked. This is proof that indeed it is a matter of the muscles still being active in me. In my case there now is no other option than an -ectomy, which will be done in 2008. By the way: during my -ectomy the vagus nerve will also be removed (no problem, as mine is damaged too).

Please don't go for any surgeon or doctor without huge experience!!! I cannot emphasise enough how important that is!

Feel free to ask your doctor very critical questions: how many (numbers!!!) achalasians treatet so far? succes rate? complications? etc. etc. If your doctor is reluctant to give you an answer, or if it's clear to you that he hasn't got enough experience: run!

Hopefully this message will get to you in time, so you can use this info in your conversation with the doc.

Will you let us know how things went?

Good luck!

Isabella

Re: New here....

I appreciate the response... Thankfully the doc I'm seeing today is the one that diagnosed me not the one who did or suggested the surgury. There are no surgeons here (or within 500 miles) that have any experience with this condition so after the barium swallow (which was interesting in and of itself (the doc doing it had NEVER seen anything like it and actually had students that were studying radiology come watch)and 2 mynometry (hope I spelled it right) studies my local GI doc made some calls. Supposedly there is a pioneer and expert in Seattle on this subject and his top student is in SF. The doc in SF evidently has done many Achalasia surguries and I looked up the different options and I chose to go the heller myotomy route since it was supposed to have the best outcome over the balloon or botox. The nissen wrap was done without my knowlege and I was only told later after we tried to find out

why my stomach quit working, turns out cutting the vegas nerve is a risk. I was told the nissen was done to prevent reflux but what's weird is I only had reflux IMO because food was not going down. So after 6 months of not being able to eat much of anything because it was trapped in my tummy I had a pyloraplasty which actually did a world of good except now I go hypoglycemic to the point of almost passing out when I eat certain things and have to keep something high in sugar around all the time.I guess we'll see what the GI has to say now. So if I understand you, now that the nissen's been done I have a big chance that my achalasia will return? Darn....>> Hi there,> > Glad

to read you're going to see your doc so soon, but... your doc worries me, to be honest.> > It is very very uncommon for achalasians nowadays (and nowadays start way over 2 years ago) to get a myotomy accompanied with a Nissen fundoplication. So how many myotomies were done by this doc before is my next question and what does your doc find a lot of cases? Some might find 4 achalasians many, but it's not!> > Please don't let anyone mess around with you! Ask ask ask and go for experience.> > Let me give you some info on the Nissen: it's a complete wrap and in achalasians it is known to give back all problems within 10 years after surgery in 75% of all cases. That is the reason why achalasians are NEVER to get a Nissen done, we should get a Heller or a Dor.> > Please talk about this issue with your doc.> > Good luck for tomorrow!> >

Isabella> >

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Yes, my name is Jim... Thank you for letting me know I won't pass it

on!!!!!

It's kind of a funny story with my surgeon, well funny then but not

now.. When I went there for the preop I thought I knew pretty much

everything about the surgury due to research and the doc found out I

was a computer network guy so he and his assistant spent almost the

full appointment talking about how they (I) could fix their

computers! Oh, they also billed me for the full appointment....

I did ask how many of these he did and if I remember right he said he

did several a week and had been doing it for years. From all the

research I did on him (trust me I didn't just pick him from a phone

book) he and the location was the best option at the time.

Unfortunately for me I didn't have a site such as this to refer to

then but now that has obviously changed.

I trust the GI guy I'm seeing today since he admits he doesn't do the

cutting and doesn't know much about the fixes but he did diagnose me

when others said he/I was nuts and I'm going back to him to get

tested to see if we really do have another problem or if it's

something else like maybe the pyloraplasty needs to be done again.

When that was done the surgeon was very conservative so I may just

have a backup of sorts that could be fixed by opening the lower

muscle more, I just don't know at this point.

I'll let y'all know what happens, I'm pretty sure he won't test today

since he knows how I react to it but ya never know...

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Jim (just found out through your CarePlace post that your name

must be Jim),

>

> On CarePlace you ask whether you can pass this condition on to your

kids. There is no answer to the question what causes achalasia, but

it's certain that it's very very rare to pass it on to your kids. So

I wouldn't worry on that one.

>

> If I were you, I would look here on the board to find a very very

experienced doc to go see. I am from Europe and thus am not very

experienced with doc's in the US. I know if you go see Dr. Rice

(Cleveland) or Dr. Luketich (Pittsburg) you're in good hands, but

there are others out there too (just look around the board).

>

> Experience is so important here!

>

> Between the lines I read that you are somewhat upset with your

surgeon to have damaged your vagus nerve, which is understandable.

But, damaging the vagus nerve is always a risk when a myotomy is

being done.

>

> Indeed you understood me right, when I wrote about the Nissen. When

you have a Nissen wrap chances indeed are pretty high your achalasia

trouble returns (75%). The reason why the wrap has been done is OK.

You might not have suffered from reflux before your myotomy, but

because of the myotomy chances are considered to be high that you

will be suffering from reflux after that surgery. Achalasians are

known to not notice the reflux and thus a wrap (fundoplication) is

recommended. Just not the Nissen one... the Nissen one is a whole

wrap, completely round. The Dor or Toupet wrap (I confused Toupet

with the word Heller -which stands for the myotomy- in my first post

to you) are the right options in achalasians.

>

> You really really need to go see an experienced doc, who knows

about achalasia, myotomies, reflux, fundoplications etc. Your

problems might be due to the Nissen, due to scar tissueing, due to

several reasons... You need a doc who has seen it before and who

knows about the combination of problems you have (achalasia, Nissen,

damaged vagus nerve).

>

> My first myotomy (with Nissen, yep) was done 12 years ago. My

second open was done last January (they removed my Nissen and

replaced it with a Dor) and failed. Nobody knows exactly why my

problems returned after the first myotomy: pregnancies and

deliveries? scar tissueing (which was thus bad that spleen and liver

had grown together)? Nissen? To shortly performed myotomy? We just

don't know and never will now. Neither will we ever know why the

second myotomy failed (which they performed over the longest length

that was possible).

>

> After the failed 2nd myotomy I had a few Botox treatments and they

worked. This is proof that indeed it is a matter of the muscles still

being active in me. In my case there now is no other option than an -

ectomy, which will be done in 2008. By the way: during my -ectomy the

vagus nerve will also be removed (no problem, as mine is damaged too).

>

> Please don't go for any surgeon or doctor without huge

experience!!! I cannot emphasise enough how important that is!

>

> Feel free to ask your doctor very critical questions: how many

(numbers!!!) achalasians treatet so far? succes rate? complications?

etc. etc. If your doctor is reluctant to give you an answer, or if

it's clear to you that he hasn't got enough experience: run!

>

> Hopefully this message will get to you in time, so you can use this

info in your conversation with the doc.

>

> Will you let us know how things went?

>

> Good luck!

>

> Isabella

>

>

Well, went and saw the doc yesterday and boy was that a wild ride.

One good thing that came out is he read my op notes and found out

that a dore not a nissen was done which is different from what I was

told after the surgury. Anyway, he is very concerned that A. I'm

having food stop mid chest B. Bowl function changed to almost stop C.

Heart races and I get sweats and shaking and almost pass out when I

eat certain foods but no particular food is the culprit.

He has decided to go at this like he went at my " A " diagnosis, he's

thinking outside the box as it were. He said he's going to test for

some things that " most " docs don't just to see if it's something not

usually seen. The downside is he's putiing an insturment in every

orifice of my body except my ears.... He started with a full blood

workup, then sent me for an adrenal gland stim test. Today is the one

I absolutely love...(read sarcasam) an upper GI. I gag on the liquid

when it even gets close to my face! Then it's off to my heart doc

because the heart racing concerns him (since I have a stent) and he

wants to be SURE nothing is wrong with my ticker. On new years eve I

get to be loopy before midnight, I get to have an endoscopy probably

starting with a monotomy test, OH BOY!!! Happy new year to me right?

Then the next week he starts on the back end working up.....Yuk! I

asked if he could just use an extra long tube from the top and go all

the way through which at least made him chuckle.

He's checking my thyroid,adrenal glands,heart,stomach,bowl and if my

blown discs have anything to do with this. Gotta give the guy credit

for at least being thorough with this...

BTW, the adrenal shot, which was in the arm hurt like heck! I'm used

to shots, got over the pain and fear long ago but this one almost put

me on the floor. Oh well, gotta get past this today and start cooking

for family friends coming to dinner tomorrow....

[Guest guest]

tjj8245 wrote:

> On new years eve I get to be loopy before midnight,

>

Hi Jim. Sorry you have to go through all that, but I am glad they are

giving you a good check up. If you are thinking of getting loopier later

that night ask if it is OK. Sometimes you are not allowed alcohol for

some time.

notan

[Guest guest]

Really, you are from the sticks in Montana... I am too, originally, but left MT in 1981. Just how sticky are your sticks? The paved highway ended about 20 miles from where I grew up? Can you beat that? (I just droppped off my 13 year old, and everything is a contest with him.) The closest airports are 4 hours away, and that is a choice of 3, Billings, Rapid City and Bismarck. We need to compare some more? I'm in California now, curious where you went in Montana, that the doctors said they've see more of this lately. There is a woman I've talked to in the NW corner, but haven't heard from her for a few years. My family is still there, but my parents have passed on, so I don't go home very often. My parents had some illnesses and through them I gained some insight about doctors. Mostly that they are very human, and make mistakes and medicine is truly a practice and a matter of opinion. Expertise in certain illnesses is so very important, and although doctors have the best intentions, they miss things if they aren't really experts.

Let us know more about you...

Sandy in So Cal

>> And not really thrilled that hiccups have started to happen with some > frequency again.> Had a myotomy and nissen about 2 years ago after putting up with > choking and aspirating food for 4 years or so. Everyone thought it was > from a neck injury and some docs just shrugged. Unfortunately when the > doc did the myotomy he cut both vegas nerves that control the stomach > so I'm no longer hungry,full or am able to throw up if I get sick like > food poisoning which I've had once and just wanted to keel over and die.> Everything had been going fine (though I lost 85 lbs but started at 300 > lbs so it's ok too) until about 2 weeks ago when things just started to > stop mid chest and then hiccups. I even had a bout with reflux for the > first time in 2 years. Needless to say I pretty much freeked > thinking "oh crud, here we go again" and have put off going back to my > GI guy but finally broke down and am going to see him in the AM. I had > to have an NG tube since my tummy wouldn't empty and had multiple tube > up the nose,down the throat tests (forgot the name) to test for > function. I HATE THOSE TESTS so much and I think if they even mention > an NG tube again I don't know that I'd let them even if it meant I had > to pop. > Anyway, never knew there were this many people with this, in fact my > doc said he's seen more people in the last couple of years than he ever > thought he would (we are in the sticks in Montana)and he thinks it's > most likely way under diagnosed. While I'm not pleased with what's > happened to me I've got to say seeing the young ones on this board > kills me... It's bad enough being 48 and dealing with all this entails > but I can't imagine being 4,5,11 or a teen with this.> Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow what's going to be done to me this > time....>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Really, you are from the sticks in Montana... I am too, originally,

but

> left MT in 1981. Just how sticky are your sticks? The paved

highway

> ended about 20 miles from where I grew up? Can you beat that? (I

just

> droppped off my 13 year old, and everything is a contest with

him.) The

> closest airports are 4 hours away, and that is a choice of 3,

Billings,

> Rapid City and Bismarck. We need to compare some more? I'm in

> California now, curious where you went in Montana, that the doctors

said

> they've see more of this lately. There is a woman I've talked to

in the

> NW corner, but haven't heard from her for a few years. My family is

> still there, but my parents have passed on, so I don't go home very

> often. My parents had some illnesses and through them I gained

some

> insight about doctors. Mostly that they are very human, and make

> mistakes and medicine is truly a practice and a matter of opinion.

> Expertise in certain illnesses is so very important, and although

> doctors have the best intentions, they miss things if they aren't

really

> experts.

>

> Let us know more about you...

>

> Sandy in So Cal

>

>We are outside Columbia Falls which for those who have an idea of

this state is about 12 miles from Glacier Park, in fact I can look

out the end of our street and see a glacier. This is a town of about

3000 people now. The docs are all in Kalispell (our big town)...

I finished the upper GI this morning and they found some reflux which

I had just started feeling latlely and possibly some constriction at

the bottome of my stomach. Maybe the pyloraplasty needs to be done

again? The problem is they tested with liquids which at this point

I'm fine with it's the solids I'm starting to have issues with so I

guess I'll have to let the doc know we need to test with solids again.

[Guest guest]

Well you are exactly diagonal from me. There is a woman I've spoken to in your same corner, she was a school bus driver but had to go on disability. I will have to look through my messages and see if I can find her. Meeting another one of us is fascinating, reassuring and worth any of the extra hours it takes to meet up. Hopefully I can find her again, she only posted here a few times, but seems like she was in one of those small towns. My cousins live in Kalispell and have a landscape biz, specializing in moving huge trees and reselling them and landscaping to all the rich outsiders that immigrate to Kalispell from other states.

I know you like your doctor, but I think it would be a 95% consensus among us here that you should probably go to U of Washington or somewhere larger before you have any more procedures. (It might even be 100% consensus, but there are always a few hold outs.) I sound like a know-it-all, I know. And we all know it is expensive to travel and the insurance hassles are unbearable, but I'd really doubt there is an experienced surgeon or gi there that can really give you good treatment based on experience, they may be good with advice, but their actual experience level just can't be high with achalasia. They may see GERD a lot and may do fundo's for GERD often, but achalasia, I'd really doubt it. I do know they do take time and take special interest in cases and could be great for followup but as far as actually doing anything permanent, I'd move on. Most surgeons/gi's want the tests done at their own facilities and I'm guessing that Seattle or anywhere else you go they likely have newer, state of the art equipment. Almost all of us end up at major teaching hospitals. Newer equipment often shows more accuracy and the skill of the technician is imperative. I know you likely know all this.... but in this group we have seen people stay in their own smallish area and seems like they often regret it. I do know Montana often does have much better equipment and doctors than you might expect, there aren't many HMO's there, and doctors like to practice and live there, but the volume for rare disease expertise is just not there.

I'll see if I can find the other Montanan and contact her, wonder what she did anyway, they were having insurance problems when I last spoke to her.

I'm slightly jealous of having a real winter season and glaciers in view, but I'll take our recent cold snap down to 60 and cloudy skies as close enough to a winter storm. The harsh SE Montana winters have never left my memories. For those of you outside Montana, where Jim lives is goregous and what you imagine Montana looking like... where I lived is what you'd think of on a tv show about people lost in the blizzard and dying 10 feet away from their front door because the wind was so strong and they got disoriented and walked in circles until they passed out and froze.

I'll email you privately with the woman's contact info, I think her name was Carol, I'd like to find out what she has done.

Sandy in Southern California

PS... I'd like to sell my financial interest in the ol' homestead in Montana after these stories, if anyone is interested. Probably not, I'm guessing. I'd trade for Jim's side in a heartbeat.

> >> > > > Really, you are from the sticks in Montana... I am too, originally, > but> > left MT in 1981. Just how sticky are your sticks? The paved > highway> > ended about 20 miles from where I grew up? Can you beat that? (I > just> > droppped off my 13 year old, and everything is a contest with > him.) The> > closest airports are 4 hours away, and that is a choice of 3, > Billings,> > Rapid City and Bismarck. We need to compare some more? I'm in> > California now, curious where you went in Montana, that the doctors > said> > they've see more of this lately. There is a woman I've talked to > in the> > NW corner, but haven't heard from her for a few years. My family is> > still there, but my parents have passed on, so I don't go home very> > often. My parents had some illnesses and through them I gained > some> > insight about doctors. Mostly that they are very human, and make> > mistakes and medicine is truly a practice and a matter of opinion. > > Expertise in certain illnesses is so very important, and although> > doctors have the best intentions, they miss things if they aren't > really> > experts.> > > > Let us know more about you...> > > > Sandy in So Cal> > > >We are outside Columbia Falls which for those who have an idea of > this state is about 12 miles from Glacier Park, in fact I can look > out the end of our street and see a glacier. This is a town of about > 3000 people now. The docs are all in Kalispell (our big town)...> I finished the upper GI this morning and they found some reflux which > I had just started feeling latlely and possibly some constriction at > the bottome of my stomach. Maybe the pyloraplasty needs to be done > again? The problem is they tested with liquids which at this point > I'm fine with it's the solids I'm starting to have issues with so I > guess I'll have to let the doc know we need to test with solids again.>

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group. my daughter lost most of her hair, but most kids

don't (my ortho said about 10% lose hair). it shouldn't stunt his

development at all. my daughter learned to sit, crawl & walk in her

band all on time or early (walking by 10 mo). all kids are different,

but the band is really much easier than you think it will be.

good luck with everything and let us know how he does.

-christine

sydney 2 yrs starband grad

>

> HI.... I'm a new mom and after being concerned about the flatness of

> our son's head, the pediatrician sent us for a CT scan. When he got

> the results he said we should see a neurosurgeon at s Hopkins for

> cranial synostosis. The neurosurgeon denied that diagnosis and said it

> was definitely plagiocephaly. He sent us to the Star center where our

> son was scanned. We go back in 2 weeks for him to be fitted and start

> wearing it for 3 months. He is 4 months old.

>

> For those of you who have been through this....is it really difficult?

> Will his hair growth be stunted? Please give it to me straight some

> basic ups and downs you have experienced. While I am extremely

> grateful he didn't need surgery, this little helmet could make for a

> very long 3 months and I worry about his normal development.

>

[Guest guest]

We have had wonderful results and experience with our son in a helmet.

I was very afraid of how he would react because he's such a happy child

but it hasn't effected him at all! I know that each child is different

but it really has not been difficult. I was worried the first time

someone said..let me see your baby but everyone does day how cute he is

and I think alot of people just think we have him dresses up like a

football player just to be cute. Good luck!

>

> HI.... I'm a new mom and after being concerned about the flatness of

> our son's head, the pediatrician sent us for a CT scan. When he got

> the results he said we should see a neurosurgeon at s Hopkins for

> cranial synostosis. The neurosurgeon denied that diagnosis and said

it

> was definitely plagiocephaly. He sent us to the Star center where our

> son was scanned. We go back in 2 weeks for him to be fitted and start

> wearing it for 3 months. He is 4 months old.

>

> For those of you who have been through this....is it really

difficult?

> Will his hair growth be stunted? Please give it to me straight some

> basic ups and downs you have experienced. While I am extremely

> grateful he didn't need surgery, this little helmet could make for a

> very long 3 months and I worry about his normal development.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the heads up Sheri. I appreciate your input. My wife and

I have talked with our daughter about just that regarding nursing. We

are careful not to steer her away from what she feels is " her calling "

but we are also concerned about future frustrations. Right now all

she can see is " surgical nurse " and heroic procedures thanks to shows

such as Gray's Anatomy etc. Believe me I've done my best to temper

her vision with a bit of reality but she really has her heart set on

it. She is also looking down the road to maybe becoming a nursing

instructor or a nurse practioner. We've always encourage her to be

part of the solution and not part of the problem as she looks at

career choices.

If you don't mind I would like to forward your response to her. If you

have children you probably realize that mom and dad don't know

anything anyway! Don't know if she'll contact you but I appreciate

the offer. :-)

Russ

> >Hi everyone! Thanks to the moderator for accepting my membership to

> >the group and all members for allowing me to ask questions and pick

> >your brains in the future. It is always nice to have the company of

> >like minded people.

> >

> >A little about myself. I am a doctor of chiropractic by profession.

> >My wife and I have three children. The oldest two have had a

> >moritorium on their immunizations since they were approximately 1 &

> >two years of age. Our daughter had what we consider a moderate immune

> >reaction to her second set of boosters (of course her physician said

> >it couldn't be possible). The youngest has received none of his

> >immunizations. By my training I hold the firm belief that the body is

> >able to maintain health and resist disease if properly cared for with

> >lifestyle choices and that the introduction of toxic, synthetic

> >cocktails known as vaccines can actually interfer with the body's

> >ablility to care for itself. I do what I can in my practice to inform

> >my patients of the facts behind and risks of vaccines, up to the point

> >of telling them that it is a highly personal decision each person has

> >to make for themselves. I am also quite open about our decisiion

> >regarding immunizations for our children. My wife and I have worked

> >hard to educate our children in the same. Our oldest (daughter) has

> >seemed to grasp the concept quite well and remains skeptical of the

> >immunization scare tactics.

> >

> >Our daughter is graduating this year and is looking at a career in

> >nursing. I hope to continue to gather information that my daughter

> >can use to remain un-immunized should she choose. I'm sure this will

> >be a significant obstacle for her to get past in her career choice for

> >both college and hospital employment.

> >

> >Look forward to getting to know all of you.

> >

> >Russ

>

>

> Welcome ,

> It is so wonderful that we have chiropractors that understand.

>

> I will just tell you and her, as a nurse myself, I don't recommend

> anyone go into nursing anymore - it is very sad.

> She will only be able to refuse hep b vax as there is an OSHA

> exemption for that that most don't even know about

> http://www.wellwithin1.com/hepatitisb.htm is my page with info on that

> She may be able to get out of the rest for college (depends on the

> state you are in). BUT hospitals and medical places of employment

> can demand other vaccines and they do and if you refuse, you aren't

> hired or fired.............like MMR, soon to be DTaP (for the

> pertussis portion) and TB tests (just the ones right now)

> She will have to give people vaccinations and drugs she may not

agree with

>

> If she would like to email me I would be happy to talk with her.

> Nursing isn't what it used to be (if it ever was). I graduated in

> 1971 before I was aware of all of this.

> Nurses aren't able to heal much anymore - they are between

> administration and doctors and patients and not able to practice in a

> healing way. It is about giving drugs and supporting the allopathic

system.

>

> I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I'm sure you are aware.

>

> I have other webpages

> http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

> and do offer classes online

>

> Please introduce yourself to the group

> Thanks

> Sheri

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome

And I just want to say something I read in one of my books about the

words “immunization” and “vaccines”.. they’re not interchangeable and if

we don’t refer to vaccines as immunizations it helps to not keep

enforcing the idea that vaccines do provide immunity…. See? I can’t

remember what book I read that in but I thought it was a very good point

and I avoid using the term “immunization”.. b/c they aren’t and they

don’t.

I bet you’ll like the group. Lots of good people here

Nita, Mom to: 14, Jon 13, 10, 8, 6, Christian

(7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac, 2/308

Learn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long

enough to make them all yourself.

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG.

Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date:

3/19/2008 9:54 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG.

Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date:

3/19/2008 9:54 AM

[Guest guest]

Oops - no, there it is ................I " ll also paste what I emailed

you directly at the end..........

At 04:46 PM 3/20/2008, you wrote:

>Hi everyone! Thanks to the moderator for accepting my membership to

>the group and all members for allowing me to ask questions and pick

>your brains in the future. It is always nice to have the company of

>like minded people.

>

>A little about myself. I am a doctor of chiropractic by profession.

>My wife and I have three children. The oldest two have had a

>moritorium on their immunizations since they were approximately 1 &

>two years of age. Our daughter had what we consider a moderate immune

>reaction to her second set of boosters (of course her physician said

>it couldn't be possible). The youngest has received none of his

>immunizations. By my training I hold the firm belief that the body is

>able to maintain health and resist disease if properly cared for with

>lifestyle choices and that the introduction of toxic, synthetic

>cocktails known as vaccines can actually interfer with the body's

>ablility to care for itself. I do what I can in my practice to inform

>my patients of the facts behind and risks of vaccines, up to the point

>of telling them that it is a highly personal decision each person has

>to make for themselves. I am also quite open about our decisiion

>regarding immunizations for our children. My wife and I have worked

>hard to educate our children in the same. Our oldest (daughter) has

>seemed to grasp the concept quite well and remains skeptical of the

>immunization scare tactics.

>

>Our daughter is graduating this year and is looking at a career in

>nursing. I hope to continue to gather information that my daughter

>can use to remain un-immunized should she choose. I'm sure this will

>be a significant obstacle for her to get past in her career choice for

>both college and hospital employment.

>

>Look forward to getting to know all of you.

>

>Russ

Welcome ,

It is so wonderful that we have chiropractors that understand.

I will just tell you and her, as a nurse myself, I don't recommend

anyone go into nursing anymore - it is very sad.

She will only be able to refuse hep b vax as there is an OSHA

exemption for that that most don't even know about

http://www.wellwithin1.com/hepatitisb.htm is my page with info on that

She may be able to get out of the rest for college (depends on the

state you are in). BUT hospitals and medical places of employment

can demand other vaccines and they do and if you refuse, you aren't

hired or fired.............like MMR, soon to be DTaP (for the

pertussis portion) and TB tests (just the ones right now)

She will have to give people vaccinations and drugs she may not agree with

If she would like to email me I would be happy to talk with her.

Nursing isn't what it used to be (if it ever was). I graduated in

1971 before I was aware of all of this.

Nurses aren't able to heal much anymore - they are between

administration and doctors and patients and not able to practice in a

healing way. It is about giving drugs and supporting the allopathic system.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I'm sure you are aware.

I have other webpages

http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

and do offer classes online

Please introduce yourself to the group

Thanks

Sheri

[Guest guest]

At 05:45 PM 3/20/2008, you wrote:

>Thanks for the heads up Sheri. I appreciate your input. My wife and

>I have talked with our daughter about just that regarding nursing. We

>are careful not to steer her away from what she feels is " her calling "

>but we are also concerned about future frustrations. Right now all

>she can see is " surgical nurse " and heroic procedures thanks to shows

>such as Gray's Anatomy etc.

Oh goodness.................well those jobs are few and fare between

as the mostly use technicians now, in my experience.

> Believe me I've done my best to temper

>her vision with a bit of reality but she really has her heart set on

>it. She is also looking down the road to maybe becoming a nursing

>instructor or a nurse practioner. We've always encourage her to be

>part of the solution and not part of the problem as she looks at

>career choices.

I'm sure it is challenging..................

What state are you in?

>If you don't mind I would like to forward your response to her. If you

>have children you probably realize that mom and dad don't know

>anything anyway! Don't know if she'll contact you but I appreciate

>the offer. :-)

>

>Russ

Certainly forward it! And she can email me if she has further questions.

Or I can talk with her on the phone if she is open.

Sheri

listowner

>

> > >Hi everyone! Thanks to the moderator for accepting my membership to

> > >the group and all members for allowing me to ask questions and pick

> > >your brains in the future. It is always nice to have the company of

> > >like minded people.

> > >

> > >A little about myself. I am a doctor of chiropractic by profession.

> > >My wife and I have three children. The oldest two have had a

> > >moritorium on their immunizations since they were approximately 1 &

> > >two years of age. Our daughter had what we consider a moderate immune

> > >reaction to her second set of boosters (of course her physician said

> > >it couldn't be possible). The youngest has received none of his

> > >immunizations. By my training I hold the firm belief that the body is

> > >able to maintain health and resist disease if properly cared for with

> > >lifestyle choices and that the introduction of toxic, synthetic

> > >cocktails known as vaccines can actually interfer with the body's

> > >ablility to care for itself. I do what I can in my practice to inform

> > >my patients of the facts behind and risks of vaccines, up to the point

> > >of telling them that it is a highly personal decision each person has

> > >to make for themselves. I am also quite open about our decisiion

> > >regarding immunizations for our children. My wife and I have worked

> > >hard to educate our children in the same. Our oldest (daughter) has

> > >seemed to grasp the concept quite well and remains skeptical of the

> > >immunization scare tactics.

> > >

> > >Our daughter is graduating this year and is looking at a career in

> > >nursing. I hope to continue to gather information that my daughter

> > >can use to remain un-immunized should she choose. I'm sure this will

> > >be a significant obstacle for her to get past in her career choice for

> > >both college and hospital employment.

> > >

> > >Look forward to getting to know all of you.

> > >

> > >Russ

> >

> >

> > Welcome ,

> > It is so wonderful that we have chiropractors that understand.

> >

> > I will just tell you and her, as a nurse myself, I don't recommend

> > anyone go into nursing anymore - it is very sad.

> > She will only be able to refuse hep b vax as there is an OSHA

> > exemption for that that most don't even know about

> > http://www.wellwithin1.com/hepatitisb.htm is my page with info on that

> > She may be able to get out of the rest for college (depends on the

> > state you are in). BUT hospitals and medical places of employment

> > can demand other vaccines and they do and if you refuse, you aren't

> > hired or fired.............like MMR, soon to be DTaP (for the

> > pertussis portion) and TB tests (just the ones right now)

> > She will have to give people vaccinations and drugs she may not

>agree with

> >

> > If she would like to email me I would be happy to talk with her.

> > Nursing isn't what it used to be (if it ever was). I graduated in

> > 1971 before I was aware of all of this.

> > Nurses aren't able to heal much anymore - they are between

> > administration and doctors and patients and not able to practice in a

> > healing way. It is about giving drugs and supporting the allopathic

>system.

> >

> > I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I'm sure you are aware.

> >

> > I have other webpages

> > http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

> > and do offer classes online

> >

> > Please introduce yourself to the group

> > Thanks

> > Sheri

> >

>

>

>

>------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, that is definitely something that should be avoided

Vaccines do not give immunity therefore they can't be called immunization

Sheri

At 05:57 PM 3/20/2008, you wrote:

>Welcome

>

>

>

>And I just want to say something I read in one of my books about the

>words “immunization” and “vaccines”.. they’re not interchangeable and if

>we don’t refer to vaccines as immunizations it helps to not keep

>enforcing the idea that vaccines do provide immunity…. See? I can’t

>remember what book I read that in but I thought it was a very good point

>and I avoid using the term “immunization”.. b/c they aren’t and they

>don’t.

>

>

>

>I bet you’ll like the group. Lots of good people here

>

>

>

>Nita, Mom to: 14, Jon 13, 10, 8, 6, Christian

>(7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 2 and Isaac, 2/308

>Learn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long

>enough to make them all yourself.

>

>

>

>No virus found in this incoming message.

>Checked by AVG.

>Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date:

>3/19/2008 9:54 AM

>

>

>

>No virus found in this outgoing message.

>Checked by AVG.

>Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date:

>3/19/2008 9:54 AM

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>What state are you in?

I'm in Nebraska

> > > >Hi everyone! Thanks to the moderator for accepting my

membership to

> > > >the group and all members for allowing me to ask questions and pick

> > > >your brains in the future. It is always nice to have the

company of

> > > >like minded people.

> > > >

> > > >A little about myself. I am a doctor of chiropractic by

profession.

> > > >My wife and I have three children. The oldest two have had a

> > > >moritorium on their immunizations since they were approximately 1 &

> > > >two years of age. Our daughter had what we consider a moderate

immune

> > > >reaction to her second set of boosters (of course her physician

said

> > > >it couldn't be possible). The youngest has received none of his

> > > >immunizations. By my training I hold the firm belief that the

body is

> > > >able to maintain health and resist disease if properly cared

for with

> > > >lifestyle choices and that the introduction of toxic, synthetic

> > > >cocktails known as vaccines can actually interfer with the body's

> > > >ablility to care for itself. I do what I can in my practice to

inform

> > > >my patients of the facts behind and risks of vaccines, up to

the point

> > > >of telling them that it is a highly personal decision each

person has

> > > >to make for themselves. I am also quite open about our decisiion

> > > >regarding immunizations for our children. My wife and I have

worked

> > > >hard to educate our children in the same. Our oldest

(daughter) has

> > > >seemed to grasp the concept quite well and remains skeptical of the

> > > >immunization scare tactics.

> > > >

> > > >Our daughter is graduating this year and is looking at a career in

> > > >nursing. I hope to continue to gather information that my daughter

> > > >can use to remain un-immunized should she choose. I'm sure

this will

> > > >be a significant obstacle for her to get past in her career

choice for

> > > >both college and hospital employment.

> > > >

> > > >Look forward to getting to know all of you.

> > > >

> > > >Russ

> > >

> > >

> > > Welcome ,

> > > It is so wonderful that we have chiropractors that understand.

> > >

> > > I will just tell you and her, as a nurse myself, I don't recommend

> > > anyone go into nursing anymore - it is very sad.

> > > She will only be able to refuse hep b vax as there is an OSHA

> > > exemption for that that most don't even know about

> > > http://www.wellwithin1.com/hepatitisb.htm is my page with info

on that

> > > She may be able to get out of the rest for college (depends on the

> > > state you are in). BUT hospitals and medical places of employment

> > > can demand other vaccines and they do and if you refuse, you aren't

> > > hired or fired.............like MMR, soon to be DTaP (for the

> > > pertussis portion) and TB tests (just the ones right now)

> > > She will have to give people vaccinations and drugs she may not

> >agree with

> > >

> > > If she would like to email me I would be happy to talk with her.

> > > Nursing isn't what it used to be (if it ever was). I graduated in

> > > 1971 before I was aware of all of this.

> > > Nurses aren't able to heal much anymore - they are between

> > > administration and doctors and patients and not able to practice

in a

> > > healing way. It is about giving drugs and supporting the allopathic

> >system.

> > >

> > > I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I'm sure you are

aware.

> > >

> > > I have other webpages

> > > http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

> > > and do offer classes online

> > >

> > > Please introduce yourself to the group

> > > Thanks

> > > Sheri

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

The nice thing about nursing is that you don't have to be in hospitals or

clinics where they

mandate vaccinations. I've never heard of anyone challenging those mandates

except for

the flu vaccine which was successfully shot down with the help of the union at

one of the

local Seattle hospitals. Remember it only takes one to set a precedent and

create change.

RN's are still in the OR as neither tech's, MA's (medical assistants), nor CNA's

(certified

nursing assistants) can perform or think like an RN. It's definitely not as

glamourous as on

TV, it's cold and you're on your feet for long shifts but I'm not an OR nurse so

she should

really talk to one to get the details and the reality of what it's like.

Nursing has changed in that the floors are getting what used to be ICU patients

and where

in the ICU there are two patients per nurse, on the floor you may have six

patients (CA is a

nice state to work in as it has a mandatory nurse to patient ratio-East Coast,

South are

bad places) or more. They're (patients) not usually all at the same level

though, some are

much easier than others, of course. And not every floor is the same but there is

a nursing

shortage. Some shifts all you do is run between your patients and not getting a

break for

12 hrs (plenty of shifts where I didn't even pee) BUT you do have those patients

for whom

you make a difference in their lives. Where you connect and help them when they

are at a

low and helpless point in their lives and you really make a difference. That's

what nursing

is about, helping those in need. Now, notoriously, nurses don't take care of

themselves

while they are helping others but I believe there is more awareness now among

nurses and

hospitals that w/o good and happy nurses there is definitely a lack of good

quality care.

There is room for improvement and with the shortage employers have had to start

competing but that doesn't have anything to do with being non-vaxed either.

My advice to her would be, go in with your eyes and mind open, and don't believe

everything you read or hear. There's a lot of bullshit in nursing just like

everything else.

Do your research and have your facts straight. Stand up for yourself and don't

get

bulldozed. Good luck, doris