Update from Pam Y

Question:

I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday. So, I bring you Pam’s update, … I are here, Darlin’. Been working on a letter to allayuz for 2 months. Sooner or later I *will* get it out and bring you and the rest up to speed. Jen’s ok (?). She was putting a book away when a 10" solid glass bowl with a big 3-wick candle in it fell off the top of the case (about 10′ up) and clunked her on the head. CT scan showed she’s ok from that, but found an old cyst at the base of her brain/skull (?). We’re waiting for more details. As for her seizures, I’m convinced they’re panic or anxiety attacks. She finally agreed to take some meds (since MS was dx’d so young, she fights taking meds citing having only one liver as the reason … but she was also recently dx’d with osteopenia <early osteoperosis> …… I’m getting side tracked! <grrrrrr> Anyway, neuro said Xanax (I concur). GP said Paxil (I’m not so sure). She went with Paxil. She’s NOT depressed! Damned docs are too quick with the SSRI fix-it-alls! Jen knows my opinions on this so now she’s not talking. Dumb me! But who knows. Maybe it’ll work. I think you can tell by this that my thinking/writing processes jump all over the place these days. Drives me nuts … perhaps that’s more of a short putt than a drive. :> My next eye surgery is Thurs. These are for steroid induced narrow-angle glaucoma that’s gone acute closed-angle. Joy! I was also dx’d with cataracts in June – the day before my 56th birthday. Don’t yet know where they stand cuz the glaucoma prohibits testing. I’ll know more after these surgeries have healed. The cataracts were caused by the radiation therapy I had on the eyes back in Jan. 01 (still feels strange writing dates like that). Not "really" sorry I had it done cuz the swollen eye muscles that were (still are, but to a lesser degree) pushing my eyeballs forward were causing blood flow to the optic nerve to be cut off. Blind vs. visually impaired. No contest. Been tryin’ to do research on all this thyroid eye stuff. There’s not a lot out there. Seems like I fall into about 2% of the Graves’ population regarding the eye disease. My smoking makes it worse. But with all this shit goin’ on who the hell can quit smoking! <bg> I knew I was gonna do this! Might as well go all the way. Additional info on Jen: MS kicking up a little – tingling in arm and leg. Back on Avonex since Tommy was about 2 months old (April). Tommy’s now 6 mos.: weight 25 lbs. 4 oz., height 28 1/4". He’s humongous! AJ is still a sweetie, but doesn’t talk much. Currently in speech therapy. Not concerned – he’s sharp as a tack. Jen is a bit worried tho’ – afraid she’s doin’ something wrong (been there, haven’t we? <g>). She’s also going stir-crazy from being cooped up all summer. <some personal stuff deleted – L.> Moving right along, I learned last night that my baby brother was just dx’d with emphysema. Ok, so he’s 50. But he’s still my baby brother. And he moved to FL last year. He and his new wife left on their boat on 9/12 – do you believe? They couldn’t get beyond NY harbor until the 14th. I think I lost it a month or so before they left. Ain’t been the same since. Parents are dead. Kids are grown. Only sibling is no longer 10/15 minutes away. Major depression. Lotsa silence. I’m figuring all of the above, Graves’ and 9/11 are the major depressants, but I couldn’t have been more mistooken <g>. In this mix of losses, diseases and planetary catastrophes, I have a "friend" of 13 years. Remember, I did infant daycare in my home for 20 years? Well, said friend is the mother of one of *my* babies. She was abused, sexually, physically and emotionally, until she was 17. I took her under my wing. 5 yrs. ago things turned deadly when she attempted suicide. For the last 5 years, I’ve been talking to her daily, often for hours at a time. She attempted suicide again in Mar. of 01. At that time she actually told me, on the phone, what she was doing as she was doing it. But she outfoxed the docs, the cops and the EMTs. She’s been in all kinds of medical/psychiatric/rehab facilities since, and fooled them all. It’s a long, boring story (more boring than what I’ve already laid on ya), but 2 weeks ago I cut her loose. Oddly enough, despite her calls (which I no longer answer) and my guilt (everyone in her life has left her … now so have I), I find my depression lifting. Even with all of the familial stuff going on, I seem to be getting back closer to being "me". I’ve been blaming a lot of stuff on the Graves’, the medication, the stuff that’s been happening in the family, but quite frankly I believe she was just weighing me down … bringing me down with her. I’m sorry, dear friend, that I, in turn, have dumped on you. But I think it gives you a better picture of where I’ve been and where I’m at right now. My cognitive thinking is still impaired. I don’t/can’t think/write the way I used to. My vision … well, I’ve still got it and that’s all that matters. Graves’ has wrecked havoc, but a one-sided friendship wrecked more. She got me (I allowed myself to be) revolving around her and her (now) self-imposed problems (unbelievable drug abuse). It’s gonna take a while, but I know I’m still in here somewhere. Well now it’s Thurs. and the surgery is over. Sure glad this was the second and not the first. Seems I have nice, healthy *thick* dark brown eyes. Hard to slice thru. First surgery (forgive if I’ve already said this – can’t re-read right now) took 3 laser hits. This one took 8. Nasty. Hubby’s happy cuz I can’t talk much – speech vibrates thru the sinus cavities surrounding eye and hurt like a bitch. Got the doc a good one tho’. He has me strapped into the machine. He’s on the other side, lining up his sights, saying "This is gonna be nothin’.". I looked at him with my available eye and said "Oh sure. That’s easy for you to say. You’re over there getting ready to play Asteroids on my eyeball." Surgery was delayed a few minutes till he stopped giggling. I think I’ve covered most of the bases here (and many I’m sure you could have lived without). Last, but assuredly NOT least is my hubby. I worra about him. He’s got a heart condition, already had one massive heart attack, and suffers with gout (no, he don’t drink at all – that’s MY department <g>) and regular arthritis. And since I’ve been outta commission, he hasta do it ALL … work, clean, shop, cart my fat ass back and forth from the docs … and he worries like hell about me. If I hurt, he hurts. Bless his heart and soul, his philosophy is that I carried him for the majority of our marriage and now it’s his turn. I married a saint. A horny saint, but a saint. <bg> We’re gonna kill each other by worrying about each other. Of course, over the last 34 years, there’ve been times when I woulda liked to have choked him …. but I’m glad I kept him around. ’Sides I don’t have the energy now to train a new one. Have I blathered enough? I think so. I hope you can make heads and tails of this. I can’t. :> Feel free to share with the class … just in case I don’t get around to finishing the epistle I started. I’ve said it so often it’s beginning to feel trite. But it’s the troof, the whole troof and nuttin’ but da troof ….. You and Kelli (Gaylan, Carmel, Tick, Cyd, Tee, Joan & Jim, Bill McCartney, Slyvia, JD, Michael, Frank (Cowboy), Donn, Chris Fincham, Paul, LaVonne, Judy (eagleway), Ole Uncle Steve, Steve Nelson, Carla-la-la, Kate, Chanoch, Kit …. the list is endless) are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I even have Masses said for specific folks during the course of the year. But you, dear friend, have a special place in my heart. We are the "Moms" and that gives us a special bond. Our chatter may come and go at odd intervals, but I feel that we are ALWAYS connected. I don’t want you to answer this. You’ve got enough goin’ on and it was just good to finally tell someone. What I would like you to do, when you have time, is to tell me how you, Kelli, Shane and Roger are doin’. And please feel free to unload anytime. Since I dumped my psychotic friend I’ve got lots more room! I love you much, Lynne, and I thank God that you are my friend. P. — / / / ^~~^ / / ( ” ) / { } / " " YE OLDE BAT Visit my family at: Family http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=13553519&pw= Chicks http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=30048787&pw= My Kids http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=30049381&pw= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ — Lynne Davis Coordinator of Administrative Services Casey Computer Center; Baylor University Lynne_Da…@baylor.edu

Response:

In article <b6tdnuk29a5jle435gdb6413ijtg3p9…@4ax.com>, <d…@cheetah.net> wrote: > On Fri, 30 Aug 2002 09:48:26 -0500, "Lynne" <Lynne_Da…@baylor.edu> wrote: > >I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share > >it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before > >her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday. > >So, I bring you Pam’s update, … > Thank ypou fpor keeping the updates coming. > Donn

Thank you for caring, Donn. Wish to heck I could write you directly, but I can’t. My server changes my outgoing address making it appear that it’s been messed with. Your server rejects it. Much as I wish I could, I can’t change that. (dirty rackafracks!) And yes, I still (I’m hangin’ my head soooo low in shame) have your photos. They’ve been in a mailing envelope 4-evah! I’m sorry. But I promise you that I will return them. And Chris Fincham’s. And I think I still have OUS’s. I’ve been baaaaaad. Fortunately for others, it won’t be a problem anymore since I no longer have a scanner … at least for now. :> Glad to see you’re still out here. Wish I could be, but I dunno yet. Right now there are over 11,000 messages that I need to wade thru to just get even. My best love to you and Betty, P. This message has been brought to you by: / / / ^~~^ / / ( ” ) / { } / " " YE OLDE BAT PamY – Spokesmom for Jennie who has MS http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=13553518&pw= http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=13553567&pw= http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=30049942&pw= Photo Index: http://home.btconnect.com/multsclerosis/ASMS_Photos.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Lynne" <Lynne_Da…@baylor.edu> wrote in message <news:ako39e$1jagkm$1@ID-74986.news.dfncis.de>… > I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share > it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before > her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday. > So, I bring you Pam’s update, … > I are here, Darlin’. Been working on a letter to allayuz for 2 months. > Sooner or later I *will* get it out and bring you and the rest up to speed. > Jen’s ok (?). She was putting a book away when a 10" solid glass bowl with > a big 3-wick candle in it fell off the top of the case (about 10′ up) and > clunked her on the head. CT scan showed she’s ok from that, but found an > old cyst at the base of her brain/skull (?). We’re waiting for more > details. > As for her seizures, I’m convinced they’re panic or anxiety attacks. She > finally agreed to take some meds (since MS was dx’d so young, she fights > taking meds citing having only one liver as the reason … but she was also > recently dx’d with osteopenia <early osteoperosis> …… I’m getting side > tracked! <grrrrrr> > Anyway, neuro said Xanax (I concur). GP said Paxil (I’m not so sure). She > went with Paxil. She’s NOT depressed! Damned docs are too quick with the > SSRI fix-it-alls! Jen knows my opinions on this so now she’s not talking. > Dumb me! But who knows. Maybe it’ll work. > I think you can tell by this that my thinking/writing processes jump all > over the place these days. Drives me nuts … perhaps that’s more of a > short putt than a drive. :> > My next eye surgery is Thurs. These are for steroid induced narrow-angle > glaucoma that’s gone acute closed-angle. Joy! I was also dx’d with > cataracts in June – the day before my 56th birthday. Don’t yet know where > they stand cuz the glaucoma prohibits testing. I’ll know more after these > surgeries have healed. The cataracts were caused by the radiation therapy I > had on the eyes back in Jan. 01 (still feels strange writing dates like > that). Not "really" sorry I had it done cuz the swollen eye muscles that > were (still are, but to a lesser degree) pushing my eyeballs forward were > causing blood flow to the optic nerve to be cut off. Blind vs. visually > impaired. No contest. > Been tryin’ to do research on all this thyroid eye stuff. There’s not a lot > out there. Seems like I fall into about 2% of the Graves’ population > regarding the eye disease. My smoking makes it worse. But with all this > shit goin’ on who the hell can quit smoking! <bg> > I knew I was gonna do this! Might as well go all the way. > Additional info on Jen: MS kicking up a little – tingling in arm and leg. > Back on Avonex since Tommy was about 2 months old (April). Tommy’s now 6 > mos.: weight 25 lbs. 4 oz., height 28 1/4". He’s humongous! AJ is still a > sweetie, but doesn’t talk much. Currently in speech therapy. Not > concerned – he’s sharp as a tack. Jen is a bit worried tho’ – afraid she’s > doin’ something wrong (been there, haven’t we? <g>). She’s also going > stir-crazy from being cooped up all summer. > <some personal stuff deleted – L.> > Moving right along, I learned last night that my baby brother was just dx’d > with emphysema. Ok, so he’s 50. But he’s still my baby brother. And he > moved to FL last year. He and his new wife left on their boat on 9/12 – do > you believe? They couldn’t get beyond NY harbor until the 14th. I think I > lost it a month or so before they left. Ain’t been the same since. Parents > are dead. Kids are grown. Only sibling is no longer 10/15 minutes away. > Major depression. Lotsa silence. > I’m figuring all of the above, Graves’ and 9/11 are the major depressants, > but I couldn’t have been more mistooken <g>. > In this mix of losses, diseases and planetary catastrophes, I have a > "friend" of 13 years. Remember, I did infant daycare in my home for 20 > years? Well, said friend is the mother of one of *my* babies. She was > abused, sexually, physically and emotionally, until she was 17. I took her > under my wing. 5 yrs. ago things turned deadly when she attempted suicide. > For the last 5 years, I’ve been talking to her daily, often for hours at a > time. She attempted suicide again in Mar. of 01. At that time she actually > told me, on the phone, what she was doing as she was doing it. But she > outfoxed the docs, the cops and the EMTs. She’s been in all kinds of > medical/psychiatric/rehab facilities since, and fooled them all. It’s a > long, boring story (more boring than what I’ve already laid on ya), but 2 > weeks ago I cut her loose. Oddly enough, despite her calls (which I no > longer answer) and my guilt (everyone in her life has left her … now so > have I), I find my depression lifting. Even with all of the familial stuff > going on, I seem to be getting back closer to being "me". > I’ve been blaming a lot of stuff on the Graves’, the medication, the stuff > that’s been happening in the family, but quite frankly I believe she was > just weighing me down … bringing me down with her. > I’m sorry, dear friend, that I, in turn, have dumped on you. But I think it > gives you a better picture of where I’ve been and where I’m at right now. > My cognitive thinking is still impaired. I don’t/can’t think/write the way > I used to. My vision … well, I’ve still got it and that’s all that > matters. > Graves’ has wrecked havoc, but a one-sided friendship wrecked more. She got > me (I allowed myself to be) revolving around her and her (now) self-imposed > problems (unbelievable drug abuse). It’s gonna take a while, but I know I’m > still in here somewhere. > Well now it’s Thurs. and the surgery is over. Sure glad this was the second > and not the first. Seems I have nice, healthy *thick* dark brown eyes. > Hard to slice thru. First surgery (forgive if I’ve already said this – > can’t re-read right now) took 3 laser hits. This one took 8. Nasty. > Hubby’s happy cuz I can’t talk much – speech vibrates thru the sinus > cavities surrounding eye and hurt like a bitch. > Got the doc a good one tho’. He has me strapped into the machine. He’s on > the other side, lining up his sights, saying "This is gonna be nothin’.". I > looked at him with my available eye and said "Oh sure. That’s easy for you > to say. You’re over there getting ready to play Asteroids on my eyeball." > Surgery was delayed a few minutes till he stopped giggling. > I think I’ve covered most of the bases here (and many I’m sure you could > have lived without). > Last, but assuredly NOT least is my hubby. I worra about him. He’s got a > heart condition, already had one massive heart attack, and suffers with gout > (no, he don’t drink at all – that’s MY department <g>) and regular > arthritis. And since I’ve been outta commission, he hasta do it ALL … > work, clean, shop, cart my fat ass back and forth from the docs … and he > worries like hell about me. If I hurt, he hurts. > Bless his heart and soul, his philosophy is that I carried him for the > majority of our marriage and now it’s his turn. I married a saint. A horny > saint, but a saint. <bg> We’re gonna kill each other by worrying about each > other. > Of course, over the last 34 years, there’ve been times when I woulda liked > to have choked him …. but I’m glad I kept him around. ’Sides I don’t have > the energy now to train a new one. > Have I blathered enough? I think so. > I hope you can make heads and tails of this. I can’t. :> > Feel free to share with the class … just in case I don’t get around to > finishing the epistle I started. > I’ve said it so often it’s beginning to feel trite. But it’s the troof, the > whole troof and nuttin’ but da troof ….. You and Kelli (Gaylan, Carmel, > Tick, Cyd, Tee, Joan & Jim, Bill McCartney, Slyvia, JD, Michael, Frank > (Cowboy), Donn, Chris Fincham, Paul, LaVonne, Judy (eagleway), Ole Uncle > Steve, Steve Nelson, Carla-la-la, Kate, Chanoch, Kit …. the list is > endless) are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I even have Masses said for > specific folks during the course of the year. > But you, dear friend, have a special place in my heart. We are the "Moms" > and that gives us a special bond. Our chatter may come and go at odd > intervals, but I feel that we are ALWAYS connected. > I don’t want you to answer this. You’ve got enough goin’ on and it was just > good to finally tell someone. > What I would like you to do, when you have time, is to tell me how you, > Kelli, Shane and Roger are doin’. And please feel free to unload anytime. > Since I dumped my psychotic friend I’ve got lots more room! > I love you much, Lynne, and I thank God that you are my friend. > P. > — > / / > / ^~~^ / > / ( ” ) > / { } > / " " > YE OLDE BAT > Visit my family at: > Family http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=13553519&pw= > Chicks http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=30048787&pw= > My Kids http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1758064&a=30049381&pw= > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for this Lynne!

Response:

On Fri, 30 Aug 2002 09:48:26 -0500, "Lynne" <Lynne_Da…@baylor.edu> wrote: >I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share >it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before >her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday. >So, I bring you Pam’s update, …

Thank ypou fpor keeping the updates coming. Donn

Response:

Hi Lynne! > I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share > it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before > her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday. > So, I bring you Pam’s update, …

Thanks for the Pam update! I have been wanting to write her, but I haven’t because I know she has such vision problems that being on the computer is very difficult for her. Pam, sweetie, we miss you and hope everything goes well for you! Sylvia

Response:

Thanks, Lynne, for bringing us Pam’s update. Jayne

Response:

Lynne wrote:

"How is Donn the decoy ram, BTW?" Donn can be a bit pushy at times – but at heart he’s still a real sweetie… I’ll keep checking the group on Google to see how y’all are doin’ but doubt that I’ll come back. As I told another dear lady who shall remain nameless (Sylvia ASMS is like a great baseball team – but I’m partial to basketball. I had another exacerbation this summer – my third, or maybe fourth? since dx – and the Montel approach worked just fine for me. My cane’s back in storage, spasticity is almost gone, energy’s back & I’m bouncing about the farm as usual. Sad news. Chairman (my pudgy old Newfie-cross dog) left us just after his fifteenth birthday. His heart was giving out & he wasn’t having fun any more, so I called the vet to the house and had him put down while he snoozed on his bed in the living room. But old Odie (German Shepherd-cross who was dx’ed with terminal cancer…six years ago is still hangin’ in! Every few months he has a bad day & I decide that it’s time – but the next day he (eg) trots a half-mile to the pond, chases frogs for a couple hours, then comes back home & scoffs down a huge amount of food, waggin’ to beat the band! I swear the old guy’s planning to stick around long enough to have *me* put down… It’s been a relatively quiet summer. I raised fifteen bottle lambs, a dozen new chickens and about 20 ducks. Last year we bred one of the donkeys (Diamond Lil) for a neighbour who wanted a donk raised with sheep, and two days ago Lil dropped a beautiful 50lb, dark brown baby-girl-donk. Unfortunately, Lil rejected her baby in no uncertain terms – when I tried to help the little one nurse, Lil tried to kick her. :-) Luckily, my hand was in the way of Lil’s big hoof and the baby was unhurt. Also luckily, the foks for whom we bred Lil immediately fell in love with the little donk and delightedly took her home to their farm. There are four people in the family (mom, dad + two older kids), so they’re not having any trouble with the every-three-hour bottle-feedings. Best of all, they’re good friends & their farm is almost next door to ours, so I’ll be able to watch the little donk grow up. That’s about it, so I’ll take my leave again with best wishes to everyone. Chris F :-)

Response:

You noticed, I assume, that you were specifically mentioned? She has good days and bad, and her eyes are still a problem, but she does answer e-mails when she can. I’m sure she would be delighted to hear from you!!! – Lynne "Chris Fincham" <cmccub…@sympatico.ca> wrote in message

news:dd7bfcc3.0208301435.1910ff8@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Lynne wrote: > "I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could > share > it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun > before > her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday." > Thanks *so* much, Lynne! Tho’ I’m not participating any more, I’ve > been checking ASMS regularly for news of Pam Y. Delighted to hear > she’s still hangin’ in. I hesitate to write to her as reading must be > difficult, so please give the dear lady my love. > Chris F :-)

Response:

Yes, Chris, I meant to say that in my last post but forgot. We miss you!! How is Donn the decoy ram, BTW? – Lynne "Joan Carter" <jecar…@gmx.net> wrote in message

news:iruvmu4rp5ostnc4ipd1b0b7ghofujfupb@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On 30 Aug 2002 15:35:16 -0700, cmccub…@sympatico.ca (Chris Fincham) > wrote: > }Thanks *so* much, Lynne! Tho’ I’m not participating any more, I’ve > }been checking ASMS regularly for news of Pam Y. Delighted to hear > }she’s still hangin’ in. I hesitate to write to her as reading must be > }difficult, so please give the dear lady my love. > Hey, Chris, come on back. We miss you! > — > Joan > Beware of trolls advocating false cures.

Response:

Lynne wrote:

"I got the following e-mail from Pam Y last night and she said I could share it with the class, so I am posting it here. Note that it was begun before her eye surgery and completed after the surgery yesterday." Thanks *so* much, Lynne! Tho’ I’m not participating any more, I’ve been checking ASMS regularly for news of Pam Y. Delighted to hear she’s still hangin’ in. I hesitate to write to her as reading must be difficult, so please give the dear lady my love. Chris F :-)

Response:

On 30 Aug 2002 15:35:16 -0700, cmccub…@sympatico.ca (Chris Fincham) wrote: }Thanks *so* much, Lynne! Tho’ I’m not participating any more, I’ve }been checking ASMS regularly for news of Pam Y. Delighted to hear }she’s still hangin’ in. I hesitate to write to her as reading must be }difficult, so please give the dear lady my love.

Hey, Chris, come on back. We miss you! — Joan Beware of trolls advocating false cures.

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