just wondering

[Guest guest]

Shayne,

Stopping the MTX is a good idea, because the MTX slows down the healing

process and makes us more susceptible to infections (believe me from personal

experience). Your doc is right on!

[Guest guest]

..my PA isn't " mild " either. Much of the information the public see on

PA and even on other serious forms of arthritis sabotages those if us who

cannot just " rub a little cream " on the offending joint and then go run the

10K. TV shows people taking a name brand OTC arthritis drug and then

waltzing off to a life of comfort and joy. That is NOT what arthritis is

like for so many of us, but we are forced to be compared on a daily basis to

these TV troopers who pop an Advil and then go mountain biking. I have to

read the fine print on magazine ads that paint such a rosy picture that I

cannot tell if it is for Celebrex or Viagara.

Now I know the economics of commerce demands putting the best foot forward,

and nothing I say will change their glamorous approach, but that's where I

lay a lot of the blame for the way the public and even our families perceive

this disease. One of the worst offenders I have seen comes from

Immunex...the makers of Enbrel. Their brochures are plastered with images of

women (and one man so far I believe) who are swimming in luxurious pools,

playing tennis in their backyards, and biking amid luxurious fall foliage.

These people not only give glowing accounts of their success with Enbrel, but

they portray themselves with such overall portraits of health, fitness and

confidence that hardly anyone seeing them would think twice about trading

places with them.

For some this representation is accurate, but for countless others this sells

us short. PA, RA, and the other often intertwined immune system diseases are

not as they are often portrayed to the public. They can be immensely

destructive and sometimes even fatal...in general we are a far cry from the

frivolous and full of vitality image the media likes to portray.

By the way, with the Enbrel shot...close your eyes and poke the needle in

fast...you will hardly feel it. The trick is to not think about..just do it.

Good Luck...

Annette

[Guest guest]

Athie;

You are probably speaking of Geri. At the moment she is in Atlanta, but

I think she still writes to the group.

Knock, knock, Geri?

Sue AIH

Colorado

S Pickrel wrote:

> Hello,

>

> It's been about 6 or 7 months since i have been on the list maybe

> longer. I was wondering, there was a women who used to be on here all

> the time and had a lot of good information. she was from Las Vegas and

> for the life of me I can't remember her name. I was just wondering how

> she was doing. If anyone remembers her let me know.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Athie

>

>

> eGroups Sponsor

>

> <1/9656/3/_/435357/_/974677703/>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Athie;

If Geri doesn't pick up her mail - is there anything any one of us can

answer for you?

Sue AIH

Colorado

S Pickrel wrote:

> Thanks Sue!!! That's the name i have been trying to think of. It was bugging

> me.

> Athie

> Re: [ ] just wondering

>

>

>

>> Athie;

>>

>> You are probably speaking of Geri. At the moment she is in Atlanta, but

>> I think she still writes to the group.

>>

>> Knock, knock, Geri?

>>

>> Sue AIH

>> Colorado

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> S Pickrel wrote:

>>

>>

>>> Hello,

>>>

>>> It's been about 6 or 7 months since i have been on the list maybe

>>> longer. I was wondering, there was a women who used to be on here all

>>> the time and had a lot of good information. she was from Las Vegas and

>>> for the life of me I can't remember her name. I was just wondering how

>>> she was doing. If anyone remembers her let me know.

>>>

>>> Thanks,

>>>

>>> Athie

>>>

>>>

>>> eGroups Sponsor

>>>

>>> <1/9656/3/_/435357/_/974677703/>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sue!!! That's the name i have been trying to think of. It was bugging

me.

Athie

Re: [ ] just wondering

> Athie;

>

> You are probably speaking of Geri. At the moment she is in Atlanta, but

> I think she still writes to the group.

>

> Knock, knock, Geri?

>

> Sue AIH

> Colorado

>

>

>

>

> S Pickrel wrote:

>

> > Hello,

> >

> > It's been about 6 or 7 months since i have been on the list maybe

> > longer. I was wondering, there was a women who used to be on here all

> > the time and had a lot of good information. she was from Las Vegas and

> > for the life of me I can't remember her name. I was just wondering how

> > she was doing. If anyone remembers her let me know.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Athie

> >

> >

> > eGroups Sponsor

> >

> > <1/9656/3/_/435357/_/974677703/>

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sue,

Thank you, but I really was " just wondering " and for the life of me I

couldn't think of her name. It would have driven me nuts trying to think of

it.

Athie

Re: [ ] just wondering

> >

> >

> >

> >> Athie;

> >>

> >> You are probably speaking of Geri. At the moment she is in Atlanta,

but

> >> I think she still writes to the group.

> >>

> >> Knock, knock, Geri?

> >>

> >> Sue AIH

> >> Colorado

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> S Pickrel wrote:

> >>

> >>

> >>> Hello,

> >>>

> >>> It's been about 6 or 7 months since i have been on the list maybe

> >>> longer. I was wondering, there was a women who used to be on here all

> >>> the time and had a lot of good information. she was from Las Vegas and

> >>> for the life of me I can't remember her name. I was just wondering how

> >>> she was doing. If anyone remembers her let me know.

> >>>

> >>> Thanks,

> >>>

> >>> Athie

> >>>

> >>>

> >>> eGroups Sponsor

> >>>

> >>> <1/9656/3/_/435357/_/974677703/>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

[Guest guest]

: My husband was very spaced out (well okay, cuckoo) a couple of months

ago, and they tested his ammonia levels to determine if he was experiencing

encephalopathy (did I spell it correctly?). His ammonia levels were normal

and they chalked it up to reaction to new anti-depressants they were

experimenting with. I got the feeling had it been his ammonia levels, that

would have signaled that his liver was in more serious condition than

previously thought (i.e., transplant time). Good luck with your tests and

keep us posted, okay? Tree

[Guest guest]

Tree....

You did a great job on encephalopathy. Ammonia levels bounce up and

down a lot. The blood must be drawn in a certain way and then put on

ice and then the testing should be done quickly. There are many things

that can affect the ammonia level, especially when the liver does not

work properly.

For anyone who wants more info, I believe that Hepatitis Central has

some good articles.

Hope your husband is doing better now.

Merril

PS: Jeanie, are you there??

[Guest guest]

thanks Tree, it was very scary and I still don't feel right. Oh well. My

endoscopy was normal and I find out the MRI results on Monday. Be well.

[Guest guest]

> does anybody have sciatica and what did your doctor and you do about

it that helped? I am newly dx with that and have bad pain. My doc

recommended chiropractor, exercise and/or ergonomic assessment of work

space. I want something for PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It gets worse every

day; today climbing stairs or lifting a leg was painful. Sitting,

getting up from sitting, driving (it's my right leg) - seems

everything I do sends a shot of pain to my hip. Just curious about

others' treatments/experience. Looking for words of wisdom!

>

> Thanks,

> KayK in Austin

You might want to try an osteopath instead of a chiropractor. I has

some jaw & back problems from a car accident and the osteopath was a

great help to me

Hope you get some relief soon

Lynda

[Guest guest]

Hello Kay,

Randy had sciatica pain in his leg also. Drove him crazy with the pain.

Warm soaks in the bathtub helped as well as massages on the back of his leg and back area. But the doctors did not give him anything for pain .

But this pain went away after the transplant. Walking also helped him although in the beginning it did bother him after the walks but got better the more he walked.

Take care!

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay

I have had sciatica. I was sent for physical rehab. It needs a doctors

referral. I use hydrocodone for pain. The exercises my phys therapist had

me do stopped the pain. Try using a rolled up towel in the small of your

back.

Shireen

>From: <majuli@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: [ ] Just wondering

>Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 17:39:04 -0500

>

>does anybody have sciatica and what did your doctor and you do about it

>that helped? I am newly dx with that and have bad pain. My doc

>recommended chiropractor, exercise and/or ergonomic assessment of work

>space. I want something for PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It gets worse every day;

>today climbing stairs or lifting a leg was painful. Sitting, getting up

>from sitting, driving (it's my right leg) - seems everything I do sends a

>shot of pain to my hip. Just curious about others' treatments/experience.

>Looking for words of wisdom!

>

>Thanks,

>KayK in Austin

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

I spoke with a Schering rep at my support group Tue.

night and he said the hold up on the ribavirin was

that is was packaged at their Puerto Rico plant, which

didn't meet FDA standards during a recent inspection.

He said that he has been told that it should be

shipped on Oct. 1. I'd go ahead and get on the

Peg-Intron and get someones left over ribavirin, if I

was in your shoes.

Don't listen to the negative talk from this nurse, or

the doctor either! Think positive, and keep in your

mind all you stand to gain if you can get rid of this

virus! With your genotype you have an excellent

chance, even with cirrhosis, and there is so much

promising info coming out on how much the liver can do

to heal itself. Side effects may be bad, true. They

may also be not even noticable. Everyone is different.

Claudine

--- cher_002@... wrote:

> Since all this has happened wonder if it is going to

> hold up the

> ribavarian being released from the manufacturer. I

> heard there ws a

> distributing problem somewhere. Can't rem where I

> read that, maybe

> even here, just don't rem. And, I also wonder after

> the mfg releases

> it how soon will be able to get it and will there be

> enough available

> to all who is wanting it like rightn now. I wonder

> about these things

> because I hv limited time on my insurance---it's

> just not going to

> last a to long. I think I hv a year on it and i hv

> already used up 3

> months of it, and if 6 months is the recommended

> treatment for my

> genotype, I hv only 3 months to " play around " with

> this stuff in the

> waiting game and still don't know if they wd pay for

> it or not. The

> nursews suppose to let me know this last week at my

> appt, but of

> course she didn't so now she ws suppose to call me

> this week and I hv

> called and left 2 mesages on the machine (the office

> does not ans

> phone calls -just an answering machine where u hv to

> leave your name

> and number and of course they will get back to you @

> their earliest

> convience--And this is a dr's office. I don't know

> how to get away

> from him and afraid if i do things will take even

> longer because the

> new dr will then want to do his own testing and

> things even though i

> hv copies of everything i hv every had done, but u

> know how everyone

> hs to hv a piece of the ins pie. And to get to

> another dr if they

> will take hep patients is like a 3 month waiting

> list. If I ask for a

> referral to UVA which is where I want to go I don't

> know if he will

> continue working with me to get me any treatment if

> the ribavarian

> doesn't come out in time. Seems like everytime with

> everything I am

> in a situation that I am damned if i do and damned

> if i don't. The

> dr's office did say they heard OCT on the

> ribavarian. Hepatities

> neightborhood told me october. Oh and the nurse

> reminded me that I

> might be all hip to take these treatments then will

> prob be back

> within a week begging to be taken off of it. No

> encouragement

> whatsoever. I told her I just might surprise her. I

> thought that very

> unprofesssional remark. I hv read about the side

> effects and told her

> so and she says half of them want the treatment and

> then in a week

> beg to be taken off! Of course, when/if I get them I

> am expecting the

> worst and hoping for the best and maybe fall

> somewhere in between

> with my expectations. That I cd maybe tolerate. Well

> sorry again for

> so long.

> cher

>

>

__________________________________________________

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?

Donate cash, emergency relief information

http://dailynews./fc/US/Emergency_Information/

[Guest guest]

This group is so large with 800 or so people that we all try and stick to

posting info. about vaccines or answers and questions too.

As you will see though, we do have a quick chit chat now and then.....:-)

Suzanne

dd Ruby 2.7yrs

South Wales

[Guest guest]

At 12:44 PM 01/23/2002 -0000, you wrote:

>

>This group is so large with 800 or so people that we all try and stick to

posting info. about vaccines or answers and questions too.

>As you will see though, we do have a quick chit chat now and then.....:-)

>

>Suzanne

>dd Ruby 2.7yrs

>South Wales

I think she meant the 'chat' feature that some boards have - chat in real

time.

Sheri

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oohhhhhhhh DUH!!

LOL! Sorry..........

Suzanne

dd Ruby 2.7yrs

South Wales

[Guest guest]

Oohhhhhhhh DUH!!

LOL! Sorry..........

Suzanne

dd Ruby 2.7yrs

South Wales

[Guest guest]

Call them and ask for free info pkt and cancer video tape.

Ask for names,ph #'s of recovered patients you can call

[ ] just wondering

I'm just curious if anyone in the group is familiar with Dr.

Donsbach's cancer treatments? I stumbled across his website

(www.letstalkhealth.com) by accident in my Internet travels. I see

he uses intravenous oxygen therapy, autogenous vaccines, something

called Galavit, anti-angiogensis, COX 2 Inhibition, Far Infrared,

photoluminescence - just to name a few! He has a cancer hospital in

Baja California that claims to be the largest holistic hospital in

North America. I apologize if this is old news to most of the

members. -

[Guest guest]

Randall, do you have any personal opinions/experience concerning Dr.

Donsbach or his treatments? -

> Call them and ask for free info pkt and cancer video tape.

> Ask for names,ph #'s of recovered patients you can call

[Guest guest]

No, other than knowing they offer a video/info pkt and say they have people to

talk to

[ ] Re: just wondering

Randall, do you have any personal opinions/experience concerning Dr.

Donsbach or his treatments? -

> Call them and ask for free info pkt and cancer video tape.

> Ask for names,ph #'s of recovered patients you can call

[Guest guest]

I have some knowledge about his clinic and treatments. I personally wouldn't

go to his clinic.

Leonard

[ ] Re: just wondering

Randall, do you have any personal opinions/experience concerning Dr. Donsbach

or his treatments? -

[Guest guest]

Be EXTREMELY cautious. San Diego Clinic in Tijuana has a much better reputation.

A small operation. I've met and talked with the doctors.

Loren

[ ] Re: just wondering

Randall, do you have any personal opinions/experience concerning Dr.

Donsbach or his treatments? -

> Call them and ask for free info pkt and cancer video tape.

> Ask for names,ph #'s of recovered patients you can call

[Guest guest]

Not wanting to be the first to say anything at the risk of seeming to be

" Donsbach bashing " to some, I third Leonard and Loren's comments. I know someone

who went there several years ago, so the info is dated, but it did seem rather

dangerous from her comments about her own experience and that of others. I

believe she ended up in emergency. If you want to talk to that person, email me

privately, and I will try to dig up the phone number for you. Again, it is dated

info so maybe things have improved, but I personally would not gamble. Years

ago, when he was busily touting hydrogen peroxide, I bought a little booklet

written by him, and thought I followed the do it yourself directions. I

experienced great intestinal discomfort. I called him, and he stated something

that was not explicit in the book, that should have been presented. I kind of

get the feeling it is that sort of carelessness that may have caused my friend's

emergency situation. Kind of reminds me of Barefoot. A great promoter but

probably has a tendency to exaggerate.

On the other hand, if you contact the Cancer Control Society, they can probably

provide you with at least one survivor's testimonial, as they seem to be able to

do for a number of well known Tijuana clinics. Donsbach seems to be one of their

favorite tour stops, but I would gather this is based on their longterm personal

friendship with the guy, probably dating back to the 70's and (if my history is

correct) what was probably the beginning of the Tijuana alternative clinic

industry in the laetrile and other alternative medicine wars. Kind of

irrelevant, but when I visited Hospital Santa Moncia a couple years ago, he had

a humongous picture of himself with the older Bush above the staircase.

I like the idea of going to some established place with a quieter reputation,

because that may (not necessarily but possibly) translate into something less

commercialized and marketed. A reputable clinic does not usually have to do too

much publicity, as they probably get a lot of word of mouth advertising. Also,

IMO some of the more effective clinics (but by no means all!) eschew publicity

because they prefer not to get into all the business/commercialization/marketing

aspects, and prefer to concentrate on bona fide curing of patients...for what

it's worth...

[ ] Re: just wondering

Randall, do you have any personal opinions/experience concerning Dr.

Donsbach or his treatments? -

> Call them and ask for free info pkt and cancer video tape.

> Ask for names,ph #'s of recovered patients you can call

[Guest guest]

I am curious what your fav. Tape is? I have a really old

one- Sweatin to the Oldies 2~ I would like something a bit shorter- I wish

I could get the one with the Latin music only~

Yes, I'm new:) One of these days I'm going to do an intro. too! Maybe

tomorrow!

Thanks,

Missy

www.countrybunnybathandbody.com/rephome.php?repsys=1994

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.377 / Virus Database: 211 - Release Date: 7/15/2002

[Guest guest]

> I am curious what your fav. Tape is?

Mine is his Silver Foxes video from 1986 or so. It's nice and slow, perfect

for big women like us. It's not by GoodTimes, his present company, but

Warner Brothers, so it's no longer being produced, but you can find it on

Amazon and other on-line sources that sell exercise videos.

I have a really old

> one- Sweatin to the Oldies 2~ I would like something a bit shorter-

The original BlastOff and the Broadway BlastOff are both 20 minutes long

each. The newer BlastOff videos are about 40 minutes long each, plus a 10

minute weight session at the end.

Why not just do a few minutes worth of Sweatin' 2, then fast forward to the

cool-down song at the end to create the custom-length workout?

I wish

> I could get the one with the Latin music only~

Wow! I was about to say you can buy the newest BlastOff tapes (there were 6

out of the 12 released as of May 2002) individually from his web site, but

when I went to check the exact URL I see they changed it again and are no

longer selling the first 3 separate, nor are the next 3 there any more! He

doesn't even have the Broadway package by itself anymore, either, only as

part of the Lose Weight and Celebrate package. I guess you'll have to look

on eBay or Half.com for separate BlastOff tapes now. I don't see *any* of

the BlastOff packages on QVC's site, either.

College video has the BlastOff package for $39.99

http://www.collagevideo.com/cart/Show.asp?Cart=IQ17QHE & Item=9201

Same price as from 's site, but probably quicker shipping.