Re: new person, new diagnosis Seriously about nice and grumpies

[Guest guest]

I think we all make our efforts to be nice, some against pretty

strong reasons not to feel that way.

But, it does remind me of an interview question I use to ask

employment candidates. I would ask for one thing that made them

really angry? Of course, some would say I never get angry. I then

really questioned them because I wouldn't want to hire the person

that nothing made angry. There are times anger and venting and all

the other emotions we consider " bad " are appropriate. I get very

angry every day I read about the kids killed in Iraq. I get angry

here when I see someone not getting the support they need or not

getting what they need from their doctors. I got angry when I had

pneumonia but never saw my pulmonologist or even talked to him. Now

we try to channel our angry appropriately. Emotions are never wrong.

They just are what they are. How we use them is our challenge. But I

hear people tell others " you shouldn't feel like that. " You feel like

you do, no should or shouldn't.

> >

> > Hi folks,

> > I'm new here, so be nice. How I got here is an amazing story in

> > itself.

> > About 6 weeks ago I found myself in ER with an attack of kidney

> > stones. Not so unusual, given that I've had kidney stones before

and

> > I've had kindeys all my life. When I followed up with my regular

> > osteopath a week later she mentioned that the CT of my abdomen

> showed

> > some swollen lymph glands. She sent me to an oncologist. Part of

> > his work up for lymphoma was to do a CT with contrast of my chest

> and

> > abdomen, as well as a PET scan. Just yesterday I found out that

the

> > scans were negative for lymphoma, but that the CT of the chest

> showed

> > " moderate to severe pulmonary fibrosis " . The oncologist called my

> > DO, and this Friday I have an appointment with a good

pulmonologist.

> > I'm 49. I smoked from the time I was 16 until 1987. I quit for

> > many years, and started again in March of 2006, and quit in July

of

> > 2007. There was a lot of stress in my life during 2006...perhaps

> > smoking again was something I should not have done.

> > Symptoms? Dry cough and some annoying breathlessness when I do

> > heavy lifting or running up a few flights of stairs. I'm 6-1, 270

> > pounds, have a few controlled medical broblems and otherwise feel

> > simply wonderful.

> > I've been a critical care RN for over 25 years and am also an

> > ordained Episcopal deacon. I'm a newlywed; Dawn and I have been

> > married for 3 months. She's a social worker and student working on

> > her PhD in Neuropsychological Traumatology. (Talk about your

obscure

> > field of study!) Between us we have four adult children. We live

> > with four cats and two Shelties.

> > I'm also in recovery. Been clean and sober for 2-1/2 years. I'm

> > a survivor and an optimist with an outrageous and irreverent

sense

> of

> > humor; I have been through crap I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy

> (if

> > I had any) and through it all have learned that I am made of

things

> I

> > never dreamed of.

> > I look forward to learning here. Be good to each other.

> > jon+

> >

>