Re: Bad couple of months..sorry for my absence

November 15, 2008

Bella

OMG!!! you have been through the ringer. You have a very strong will to

get through all of that and still sound like you are handleing things. My

hats off to you. Glad to see you back posting.

Heidi M

On Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM, bella_1180 <bella1180@...> wrote:

> Hi everyone.

>

> I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in late August I was posting a

> little bit and not being so much a lurker. Well, I would have continued if I

> didn't get so sick. So those of you I never repsonded, especially Doreen,

> I'm very sorry.

>

> Here's a brief overview of what happened...

>

> I was getting ready for my second treatment of rituxan and because I have

> such bad veins, the onocologist that gives me the treatment insists on

> having a picc line put in every six months for the course of the treatment.

> After the problems I had the last go with the picc line (2 trips to the ER

> because of a clot in the picc line) I was not very happy. My mother goes

> with me to all these appointments just in case I miss something. So we both

> pleaded with the dr to have a port put in. But he wouldn't budge. So I had

> the picc line put in and had the first treatment. (You get 1 treatment and

> then the second round 2 weeks later for the study I'm in for the rituxan).

>

> 1 week after my treatment I went back to the oncologist office to have my

> dressings changed. The nurse said the site looked redder then normal and had

> a smell. But we thought the redness was from it being a new site and I had

> taken a fall that morning in the bathtub causing the whole current dressing

> to get drenched. Which I immediately had a panic attack because they always

> told me never to get it wet. So I was concerned, but the nurse said it

> should be fine. And I always have good faith in my healthcare providers.

>

> Well, the next evening I was visting some friends for a dinner party, I

> began to really not feel well at all. My arm was very sore and there was

> heat coming off the site. I was very concerned and called my mom to get

> advice. I knew I had to go to the er.

>

> Well, it was a very good thing I did. The picc line got a staff infection

> and actually got septic (I think that's right..where the infection gets in

> your blood). I was admitted to the hospital and was told that if I would

> have waited much longer to come in, I would have died. I was in the hospital

> for 8 long days, but I wasn't complaining, just happy to be alive!

>

> The infection took a while to clear up and I had celulitis in my arm and

> flambitis..sorry if I'm not spelling those correctly. I have been wiped out

> for 2 1/2 months and now just getting back to my normal self. During all

> this I also quit smoking. I am so happy to read so many of you have also

> quit and are going to. It really has made a world of difference! My advice,

> lolipops..everytime I want a smoke, I just pop in a lolipop.

>

> So, I had to also see an infectious disease dr to monitor my progress. He

> was the greatest dr I have ever seen. He personally saw my oncologist and

> told him no way was I ever to have a picc line and he ordered a port to be

> implanted. I had that done 2 weeks ago and finally got the additional dose

> of rituxan last friday. That medicine makes a world of difference for me.

> The only side effect I have is dizziness, but I take a slew of other meds

> that have the same side effect.

>

> Next on the list is a possible elbow replacement. The day before I had my

> port placement surgery, I saw my rhuemy and he ordered xrays for my neck,

> shoulders and elbows. He measured the amount I can extend my arms, and its

> only 64 degrees. My elbows bother me constantly. So, turns out I have

> cervical arthritis and 2 slight bulging discs in my neck and my elbows have

> mass cartilige loss with bone spurs. I see the ortho surgeon Dec 1st for an

> eval. Has anyone had this done. I'm excited, yet very nervous.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but a lot has gone on in the past few months.

> Thanks for listening!

>

November 15, 2008

>

> Bella

> OMG!!! you have been through the ringer. You have a very strong will to

> get through all of that and still sound like you are handleing things. My

> hats off to you. Glad to see you back posting.

Heidi M

-----------------------------------

Heidi...

Thanks so much! Yes, its been quite an ordeal. Its shown me how much I should

value my very supportive family and friends. Thanks goodness also for short

term dis from my work also! I don't know what I would have done without that!

Its been a rough road, but I've also been seeing a psychiatrist and a threapist.

Turns out I have panic disorder and I'm on the low end of bi polar. Something

I've lived with misreably for years and years. I'm feeling so much better

though now with the proper meds. My dr thinks it may have been induced from the

prednison, but I may have always been this way. Hard to tell. Anyhow, thanks

again for your support!

Oh and I forgot to sign my real name last post. I'm in FL....

November 15, 2008

Bella and group;

Bella let me say how sorry I am. You have been through so much. I

can't understand why that doctor didnt give you a port. I have an

idea what that is.

My daughter got a staff infection in the hospital when she got a

cessarian birth. They called it Myrsa. She had to see infection

specialist also.

I am so glad you have your port. I hope that makes things easier for

you. Here all along it hurt cause you had a form of arthritis. I

hope your regular doctor had a good reason not to help you with

that. Moms are wonderful. Give your mom a big hug for me.

gentle hugs

Clora

> Hi everyone.

>

> I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in late August I was

posting a little bit and not being so much a lurker. Well, I would

have continued if I didn't get so sick. So those of you I never

repsonded, especially Doreen, I'm very sorry.

>

> Here's a brief overview of what happened...

>

> I was getting ready for my second treatment of rituxan and because

I have such bad veins, the onocologist that gives me the treatment

insists on having a picc line put in every six months for the course

of the treatment. After the problems I had the last go with the picc

line (2 trips to the ER because of a clot in the picc line) I was not

very happy. My mother goes with me to all these appointments just in

case I miss something. So we both pleaded with the dr to have a port

put in. But he wouldn't budge. So I had the picc line put in and

had the first treatment. (You get 1 treatment and then the second

round 2 weeks later for the study I'm in for the rituxan).

>

> 1 week after my treatment I went back to the oncologist office to

have my dressings changed. The nurse said the site looked redder

then normal and had a smell. But we thought the redness was from it

being a new site and I had taken a fall that morning in the bathtub

causing the whole current dressing to get drenched. Which I

immediately had a panic attack because they always told me never to

get it wet. So I was concerned, but the nurse said it should be

fine. And I always have good faith in my healthcare providers.

>

> Well, the next evening I was visting some friends for a dinner

party, I began to really not feel well at all. My arm was very sore

and there was heat coming off the site. I was very concerned and

called my mom to get advice. I knew I had to go to the er.

>

> Well, it was a very good thing I did. The picc line got a staff

infection and actually got septic (I think that's right..where the

infection gets in your blood). I was admitted to the hospital and

was told that if I would have waited much longer to come in, I would

have died. I was in the hospital for 8 long days, but I wasn't

complaining, just happy to be alive!

>

> The infection took a while to clear up and I had celulitis in my

arm and flambitis..sorry if I'm not spelling those correctly. I have

been wiped out for 2 1/2 months and now just getting back to my

normal self. During all this I also quit smoking. I am so happy to

read so many of you have also quit and are going to. It really has

made a world of difference! My advice, lolipops..everytime I want a

smoke, I just pop in a lolipop.

>

> So, I had to also see an infectious disease dr to monitor my

progress. He was the greatest dr I have ever seen. He personally

saw my oncologist and told him no way was I ever to have a picc line

and he ordered a port to be implanted. I had that done 2 weeks ago

and finally got the additional dose of rituxan last friday. That

medicine makes a world of difference for me. The only side effect I

have is dizziness, but I take a slew of other meds that have the same

side effect.

>

> Next on the list is a possible elbow replacement. The day before I

had my port placement surgery, I saw my rhuemy and he ordered xrays

for my neck, shoulders and elbows. He measured the amount I can

extend my arms, and its only 64 degrees. My elbows bother me

constantly. So, turns out I have cervical arthritis and 2 slight

bulging discs in my neck and my elbows have mass cartilige loss with

bone spurs. I see the ortho surgeon Dec 1st for an eval. Has anyone

had this done. I'm excited, yet very nervous.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but a lot has gone on in the past few

months. Thanks for listening!

>

November 15, 2008

Bella,

I certainly am glad you are back! What a horrible experience. God

bless you.

On a good note, you got the port.

Shriley

--- In , " bella_1180 " <bella1180@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone.

>

> I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in late August I was

posting a little bit and not being so much a lurker. Well, I would

have continued if I didn't get so sick. So those of you I never

repsonded, especially Doreen, I'm very sorry.

>

> Here's a brief overview of what happened...

>

> I was getting ready for my second treatment of rituxan and because

I have such bad veins, the onocologist that gives me the treatment

insists on having a picc line put in every six months for the course

of the treatment. After the problems I had the last go with the

picc line (2 trips to the ER because of a clot in the picc line) I

was not very happy. My mother goes with me to all these

appointments just in case I miss something. So we both pleaded with

the dr to have a port put in. But he wouldn't budge. So I had the

picc line put in and had the first treatment. (You get 1 treatment

and then the second round 2 weeks later for the study I'm in for the

rituxan).

>

> 1 week after my treatment I went back to the oncologist office to

have my dressings changed. The nurse said the site looked redder

then normal and had a smell. But we thought the redness was from it

being a new site and I had taken a fall that morning in the bathtub

causing the whole current dressing to get drenched. Which I

immediately had a panic attack because they always told me never to

get it wet. So I was concerned, but the nurse said it should be

fine. And I always have good faith in my healthcare providers.

>

> Well, the next evening I was visting some friends for a dinner

party, I began to really not feel well at all. My arm was very sore

and there was heat coming off the site. I was very concerned and

called my mom to get advice. I knew I had to go to the er.

>

> Well, it was a very good thing I did. The picc line got a staff

infection and actually got septic (I think that's right..where the

infection gets in your blood). I was admitted to the hospital and

was told that if I would have waited much longer to come in, I would

have died. I was in the hospital for 8 long days, but I wasn't

complaining, just happy to be alive!

>

> The infection took a while to clear up and I had celulitis in my

arm and flambitis..sorry if I'm not spelling those correctly. I

have been wiped out for 2 1/2 months and now just getting back to my

normal self. During all this I also quit smoking. I am so happy to

read so many of you have also quit and are going to. It really has

made a world of difference! My advice, lolipops..everytime I want a

smoke, I just pop in a lolipop.

>

> So, I had to also see an infectious disease dr to monitor my

progress. He was the greatest dr I have ever seen. He personally

saw my oncologist and told him no way was I ever to have a picc line

and he ordered a port to be implanted. I had that done 2 weeks ago

and finally got the additional dose of rituxan last friday. That

medicine makes a world of difference for me. The only side effect I

have is dizziness, but I take a slew of other meds that have the

same side effect.

>

> Next on the list is a possible elbow replacement. The day before

I had my port placement surgery, I saw my rhuemy and he ordered

xrays for my neck, shoulders and elbows. He measured the amount I

can extend my arms, and its only 64 degrees. My elbows bother me

constantly. So, turns out I have cervical arthritis and 2 slight

bulging discs in my neck and my elbows have mass cartilige loss with

bone spurs. I see the ortho surgeon Dec 1st for an eval. Has

anyone had this done. I'm excited, yet very nervous.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but a lot has gone on in the past few

months. Thanks for listening!

>

November 15, 2008

Hi Bella:

What an awful time you have had. You are lucky to be alive!!! I was so

sorry to read about your ordeal.

I am glad you are back to our support group, and able to post now. I

hope you continue feeling better and better.

Wishing you better days ahead.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Hi everyone.

>

> I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in late August I was posting

a little bit and not being so much a lurker. Well, I would have

continued if I didn't get so sick. So those of you I never repsonded,

especially Doreen, I'm very sorry.

>

> Here's a brief overview of what happened...

>

> I was getting ready for my second treatment of rituxan and because I

have such bad veins, the onocologist that gives me the treatment insists

on having a picc line put in every six months for the course of the

treatment. After the problems I had the last go with the picc line (2

trips to the ER because of a clot in the picc line) I was not very

happy. My mother goes with me to all these appointments just in case I

miss something. So we both pleaded with the dr to have a port put in.

But he wouldn't budge. So I had the picc line put in and had the first

treatment. (You get 1 treatment and then the second round 2 weeks later

for the study I'm in for the rituxan).

>

> 1 week after my treatment I went back to the oncologist office to have

my dressings changed. The nurse said the site looked redder then normal

and had a smell. But we thought the redness was from it being a new site

and I had taken a fall that morning in the bathtub causing the whole

current dressing to get drenched. Which I immediately had a panic attack

because they always told me never to get it wet. So I was concerned, but

the nurse said it should be fine. And I always have good faith in my

healthcare providers.

>

> Well, the next evening I was visting some friends for a dinner party,

I began to really not feel well at all. My arm was very sore and there

was heat coming off the site. I was very concerned and called my mom to

get advice. I knew I had to go to the er.

>

> Well, it was a very good thing I did. The picc line got a staff

infection and actually got septic (I think that's right..where the

infection gets in your blood). I was admitted to the hospital and was

told that if I would have waited much longer to come in, I would have

died. I was in the hospital for 8 long days, but I wasn't complaining,

just happy to be alive!

>

> The infection took a while to clear up and I had celulitis in my arm

and flambitis..sorry if I'm not spelling those correctly. I have been

wiped out for 2 1/2 months and now just getting back to my normal self.

During all this I also quit smoking. I am so happy to read so many of

you have also quit and are going to. It really has made a world of

difference! My advice, lolipops..everytime I want a smoke, I just pop in

a lolipop.

>

> So, I had to also see an infectious disease dr to monitor my progress.

He was the greatest dr I have ever seen. He personally saw my oncologist

and told him no way was I ever to have a picc line and he ordered a port

to be implanted. I had that done 2 weeks ago and finally got the

additional dose of rituxan last friday. That medicine makes a world of

difference for me. The only side effect I have is dizziness, but I take

a slew of other meds that have the same side effect.

>

> Next on the list is a possible elbow replacement. The day before I had

my port placement surgery, I saw my rhuemy and he ordered xrays for my

neck, shoulders and elbows. He measured the amount I can extend my arms,

and its only 64 degrees. My elbows bother me constantly. So, turns out I

have cervical arthritis and 2 slight bulging discs in my neck and my

elbows have mass cartilige loss with bone spurs. I see the ortho surgeon

Dec 1st for an eval. Has anyone had this done. I'm excited, yet very

nervous.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but a lot has gone on in the past few months.

Thanks for listening!

>

November 15, 2008

Wow, Bella. You have certainly been through the wringer! I am so glad

to hear you finally got the port you wanted, but sorry to hear of all

the bad stuff you had to go through in the meantime. Congratulations

on your new Smoke Freedom! I could (almost) jump for joy everytime I

hear of another who has tossed the cigarettes for good. Your health is

so much more important than those cancer sticks. Thanks for the

update. Welcome back. Keep us posted on how you're feeling. My prayers

are with you on your elbow and neck.........Doreen

Hi everyone.

I don't know if anyone recalls, but back in late August I was posting

a little bit and not being so much a lurker. Well, I would have

continued if I didn't get so sick. So those of you I never repsonded,

especially Doreen, I'm very sorry.

Here's a brief overview of what happened...

I was getting ready for my second treatment of rituxan and because I

have such bad veins, the onocologist that gives me the treatment

insists on having a picc line put in every six months for the course

of the treatment. After the problems I had the last go with the picc

line (2 trips to the ER because of a clot in the picc line) I was not

very happy. My mother goes with me to all these appointments just in

case I miss something. So we both pleaded with the dr to have a port

put in. But he wouldn't budge. So I had the picc line put in and had

the first treatment. (You get 1 treatment and then the second round 2

weeks later for the study I'm in for the rituxan).

1 week after my treatment I went back to the oncologist office to have

my dressings changed. The nurse said the site looked redder then

normal and had a smell. But we thought the redness was from it being

a new site and I had taken a fall that morning in the bathtub causing

the whole current dressing to get drenched. Which I immediately had a

panic attack because they always told me never to get it wet. So I

was concerned, but the nurse said it should be fine. And I always

have good faith in my healthcare providers.

Well, the next evening I was visting some friends for a dinner party,

I began to really not feel well at all. My arm was very sore and

there was heat coming off the site. I was very concerned and called

my mom to get advice. I knew I had to go to the er.

Well, it was a very good thing I did. The picc line got a staff

infection and actually got septic (I think that's right..where the

infection gets in your blood). I was admitted to the hospital and was

told that if I would have waited much longer to come in, I would have

died. I was in the hospital for 8 long days, but I wasn't

complaining, just happy to be alive!

The infection took a while to clear up and I had celulitis in my arm

and flambitis..sorry if I'm not spelling those correctly. I have been

wiped out for 2 1/2 months and now just getting back to my normal

self. During all this I also quit smoking. I am so happy to read so

many of you have also quit and are going to. It really has made a

world of difference! My advice, lolipops..everytime I want a smoke, I

just pop in a lolipop.

So, I had to also see an infectious disease dr to monitor my progress.

He was the greatest dr I have ever seen. He personally saw my

oncologist and told him no way was I ever to have a picc line and he

ordered a port to be implanted. I had that done 2 weeks ago and

finally got the additional dose of rituxan last friday. That medicine

makes a world of difference for me. The only side effect I have is

dizziness, but I take a slew of other meds that have the same side effect.

Next on the list is a possible elbow replacement. The day before I

had my port placement surgery, I saw my rhuemy and he ordered xrays

for my neck, shoulders and elbows. He measured the amount I can

extend my arms, and its only 64 degrees. My elbows bother me

constantly. So, turns out I have cervical arthritis and 2 slight

bulging discs in my neck and my elbows have mass cartilige loss with

bone spurs. I see the ortho surgeon Dec 1st for an eval. Has anyone

had this done. I'm excited, yet very nervous.

Sorry for the long post, but a lot has gone on in the past few months.

Thanks for listening!

November 15, 2008

Hi /Bella - another Florida buddy Where are you? I'm in

Central Florida - Orange City................Doreen

Oh and I forgot to sign my real name last post. I'm in FL....

November 16, 2008

I'm so sorry to hear this. You've really had an awful time.

Not an MD

On Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 2:31 PM, bella_1180 <bella1180@...> wrote: