Sue,

scroll down and go to the right and click on our other videos. and you'll see Alan singing to his brother in law for his birthday. It's the video named "happy birthday 'Carl".

Alan is a hoot isn't he??

mel

Hey Mel and Alan! Loved the videos! Laughter is a great pain medication......so thanks for making us smile! Happy 2008!!!!

Thanks, Daniella, for the topic. I am praying that everyone has improvment this year. I do have a little resolution. I am giving improved diet and exercise a fair try for 2008. Pray that I can sustain this!

My dear Shiney Sue.... I had a better experience with fentanyl than Alan -- we are all different, aren't we? I started on 25 micrograms over 6 years ago. I had very good pain relief with it: it did not remove my pain, but simmered it down to the point that I quit thinking about suicide and I regained some function. It did tend to wear off during the 3rd day, so I started changing the patch every other day. I had no trouble with my pharmacy over this. I am still on it, still on the same dose. I have had no accomodation to it or need to increase the dose, no addiction, and still get the same good results. So, it might be worth a try for you. I know some have problems with it. I do get constipated, but I handle that with MIralax. A small price to pay with the relief I get. I just wanted you to know that it does work miracles for some. I would hope with all my heart that it would work as well for you. You don't know if you don't try! You can always discontinue..... Good luck whatever you decide.

You know even at 29 I am happy now with the small things. I take such pleasure in being just in less pain or issues with that. A happy day is one where I can do small things and not be uncomfortable or crying. I do want to try though to not be so anxious around my health since so much is unknown. I go from a to z.
I wish someone would try the patch on me. I have asked but it seems that they would rather do there big stuff like stimulators or on the other side do small stuff like neurontin. I am beyond frustrated with doctors I told the one on Mon how I feel unheard and rushed. Also I am always pushed off to the next doc. I spend more time being refered. I am like poison to docs.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
 

Sorry I missed this thread but I think I posted in one of the forums. duh!!

Daniella,
Ihope the new doctors have some answers for you.

Melody...thanks for the laugh.

Billye

If you really want to have a laugh, just imagine me on the phone with various insurance companies and IVIG companies trying to figure out what Alan will be getting for 2008. I've been doing this for 3 hours so far.

I wish Alan would get more involved. But he says 'you do a great job, I don't know what to say to these people".

Sigh!!!!

mel

I do make resolutions every year. I like having goals. The trick is to not berate yourself for breaking a resolution or give up too easily; no one says your resolution has to be accomplished on January 1st. :)

Most of mine are fairly straightforward, like doing daily mild exercise, trying new recipes, paying down debt, etc. I make them easy to keep and make allowances for being less than perfect. :D For example, it would be difficult for me to commit to reading a certain number of books a year, but I can definitely commit to setting aside enough time per day to read a single chapter.

I put my resolutions in my blog. I find that if the general public knows what I've promised myself, I'm more likely to try harder. And I look up the resolutions from previous years to see what I've accomplished, what I might want to do differently and what resolutions I simply need to try again.

And I try not to take them TOO seriously. I am the queen of 'do-overs'. :D

fanfaire
:cool:

I do have New Years Resolutions. They are too many so i won't mention them. But i have a little personal tradition. Every year when New Year is coming i write my resolutions on a sheet of paper. I also check last years resolutions and see how well i did on them. Generally i get to do half of them. Excercise has always been on my list and i have never been able to sustain an excersice habit. I am going to tr harder for 2008. Happy and Healthy New Year! Thanks for all your information, caring words and help!! Feliz Año Nuevo!!