Neuro Called - Update
 

He said the MRI showed no change on my Pineal & Pititary Cysts which is good and no lesions. With my sx over the weekend he has ordered a round of steroids that he wants me to start today and a LP on Friday morning.

Ok, I thought I was nervous before I am scared to death right now....

Char...don't be scared. Sounds to me like he is taking good care of you! :hug:

You'll be okay, Char, no use in fretting all week. Many have gone this road and we're all still here to tell about it. You'll do fine! Just listen to your instructions and it will be over before you know it.

Nappy wants to know if you've had a nappy today.

No, I am at work... terrible place to deal with all this junk today.

It can be done.:rolleyes:;)

Please try to stay mellow until you can get the heck out of there and go get horizontal. Getting enough rest can make a huge difference for you. I sure hope this lets up soon, it's hard.:hug:

dont be scared, sounds like the steroids are for helping with new sx and the lp to double check the outcome of your mri's, you'll be ok, just take it easy, get some rest and dont over do it:hug:

I have another 45 minutes before I can leave - then off to the Pharmacy and then to the house....

thanks for the support - I am going to need it all week I am afraid.

This is what we do, Char, when you've had the chance you've been here for others and right now, you need to do a little leaning. We're here for you, just be a little careful when leaning, some of us might tip right out from under you.;)

Sounds like a good plan to get started on the 'roids, fill up your belly and fill in the couch.:hug:

I'm sorry you're going through this, Char. I know how hard it is to have all these sx and still be expected to function as normal on a daily basis. Everyone has given good advice - rest as much as you can - let others carry the load for a while and take care of YOU. :hug:

You got it Char! We can be IVSM buddies together this week! ;)

Can you come up and take my final in PSY on Thursday?

Sounds like he is on the ball!

Are you doing the steroids in pill form? Make sure you have ranitidine or Zantac or something and TAKE it! The steroids can do a number on your stomach!

P.S. If you lean on me and I fall, you'll have a nice soft place to land!!:p

I just had the LP today. It was not bad at all, really. And I am a big weany when it comes to things like that.

This is my suggestion learning from today. Drink LOTS of fluid the day before and start soon after your LP. They say drink lots of caffeine. And lay for at least 1 hour at the docs offices (longer if they'll let you). I have been laying all day and am having a headache when I get up now, BUT, I have not done well with water AT ALL!!!! And the HA all but goes away when I am laying down!!

Hope they find something for you. I don't think I'd like limbo land!

Hi Char, I'm sorry you are feeling "puny" as my mother in law would say. Try not to worry about the PSY exam. Can you reschedule it, ask for a make-up? Don't beat yourself up if you have to do that. Things just happen. It's hard to be going to work and dealing with this crap too. Hang in there and just know we are all thinking about you. :grouphug:

PS: Focus on the good news that there were no new lesions!! :)

I am taking the pill form - I don't have any Zantac but I will get some tomorrow if needed. The pharmacy said to eat with it and it will help the whole stomach thing!

Thanks Beauty... I will keep the water thing in mind - they told me today when they called to drink atleast 12 glasses of water the day before.

Nope Natalie can't put it off - grades need to be in Friday.

Oh Char, I wish someone who's been through this could be with you when you have the LP. So many have done it and lived to tell all about it so you'll be fine. I wont say don't stress because I know you will anyway. Wanna share a shot of Jack? And I don't mean Jack Sparrow! :p

I so agree with you... I know that many have been through it and more than once and lived to tell all about it but I am still worried as heck - I am trying not to think about it and trying to consintrate on everything else (like my two finals on Thursday).

The shot of Jack sounds great - meet ya half way!

Hey, Char, I forgot to mention that, RW is quite right and I eat tooty-fruity Tums like candy when I do the pred. It's also going to give you an appetite and I only eat kiddy cereals when I'm on pred (Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch by the handfuls). If I don't make sure there is something around to slow me down, I'll eat the furniture and any variety of footwear.:eek:

Also, I want to share my personal mnemonic device that helped me through my psych exams. I used family members and friends for each theorist. Think of the person who most closely fits the theory and think about those theories/attributes in that individual. To this day, my oldest brother is still Alfred Adler in my mind.:eek::D

Feel better, kiddo. :)

I'll be thinking of you Char! :hug:

I am right there with you too Char. You know I am the resident expert on LPs (with having 4 and here to tell about them! :eek:) so just relax...and you will be fine! The PSY exam is going to be worse...ha ha ha, like I needed to tell you that.

As for the oral pred...you are better woman than me! I can't handle that stuff...it wreaks havoc on my stomach to the point of no return. I'd rather do the IV and get it over with. I still have stomach problems but not like to oral...so get some slimfast or atkins shakes and drink it with that and you will solve part of the stomach problem and eat little snacks.

Umm...peanut butter Capn Crunch...might have to try that one! I love cereal.

I'm sorry your feeling so crummy and have such a busy week ahead. I'm hoping my now you have your roids, have eaten at taken them. You are resting right now, huh?

Keeping you in my thoughts this week. Take care of #1 (YOU). Feel better and breathe.

:hug: :hug:

Tums and Capt Crunch at the grocery store... and I love this idea - I will certainly do that!!

Thanks Jessie - I miss you - hope all is well!

Slimfast shake is a great idea... thanks! I don't usually eat breakfast and was wondering what I was going to eat but a shake sounds great!

Thank you.... am heading to bed right now!

Thank You - I appreciate all the helpful hints....

AWWW Yabbit~ So sorry you have such a rough week going on. Hope the Roids kick in and you get to feeling better like >> yesterday.

Take care and just know how much we all care about you.

You are our lil Yabbit! :hug::grouphug::hug::grouphug::hug::hug::grouphug: :hug:

Darn! I'm sorry to hear that. Are you sure they can't give you an extension? I'm a professor and when students come to me with a health crisis I have no problems helping them out -- of course it helps that our school will allow someone to take an incomplete in a class if there is a problem such as this. Is that an option? Get a temporary incomplete until you can take a make-up?

If not, just come here for a study break and we will cheer you on!! :trampoline: Who knows, the IVSM may give you that extra burst of energy to study your butt off!! :Head-Spin:

I hope the steroids will kick in fast Char! :hug: Just take it one day at a time this week, or if necessary, one hour at a time. You've had lots of good tips about the LP. My biggest one is to lay down for the 12 hours following. They had me spend the night at the hospital and had a bedpan under me so I couldn't get up! :eek: :Yawn:

I have a feeling you'll do fine on your test, try not to worry!

It WILL be fine Yabbit.

Get some rest, and drink lots of fluids. Lie down afterwards.....

HEY! The others have already given you the bestest of advice so I'll just say http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i.../smilies-5.jpg I'm thinking of you!

Ooooh! I forgot about the shake thing!

I did my orals with iced chocolate milk and ice cream! It was sip, pop, swallow, guzzle, sip, pop, swallow, guzzle! I had to take 30 at a time, so I had a very big shake!:p

Please tell me that you have someone to drive you to and from the appointment for the LP!! If D has to work and the girls aren't able, I am on my way up there first thing Friday morning!!!:hug:

Let me know!!

Char!!! I am so sorry you have to go through this but hopefully this will make you feel better. I can't offer any advice on the orals. I have only done the IVs. Make sure you do have some good munchies around!!

Let us know how you are doing!:grouphug: Take care of yourself!

:hug: Understand being scared. I was before my LP, mainly because I'm a needle phobe.

I managed to keep the headache at bay. They did it under fluroscopy, which was an xray that helped the neuro. Had me lie down for an hour right after before letting me go. Hubby drove and worked from home to make sure I laid down all day.

I kept hydrated with water and coffee for the caffine. LOL, it did make it hard to lie down for any length of time. ;)

My thoughts and prayers are with you. :hug:

I have taken my first set of 4 - wow, they go down hard... still have the taste in my mouth.

RW - D is going to go with me but thank you!

Girlie - how are you doing this morning?

I am still not so good. My numb finger, that has got to be the strangest thing so far!!!! Don't even know if it is related.

I had a rough night last night emotionally so I think today is going to be a doosy. I am still dizzy and numb in the face, ear, hand and leg. My ear feels like it is on fire but it is cold to the touch!

But other than that...I am good :p

I will be thinking of you today! Call if you need to chat. I am here anytime.:hug:

((((((((((((((((Yeahbut))))))))))))))))) ((((((((((((((((Girlygirl)))))))))))))))))

Hoping you both feel better real soon..:)

Thanks Sally! Must be this New England weather changes!

I am thinking the MS hug has started.... wow - almost taking my breath away

I have never experienced it, I don't think. All I have ever felt is sometimes it is hard to breath and get my breathe. How are you feeling otherwise? Being on the steroids? :hug:

Blech.

If you can't catch your breath, don't panic. Try raising your arms during a breath; also try pushing your torso up with your elbows on the arms of your chair; it also helps to push your torso up with your hands on a bench or hard surface. Yawning helps but don't get frustrated or panic if you can't catch it. You'll be okay.:hug:

This will be tricky to explain, so work with me a little here: You can cause a sort of suction thing if you start a deep breath through your mouth, but close your lips and refuse it for a couple seconds. Then open your lips and it will make you draw deeper and satisfy the breath. I hope that makes sense. LOL, once you've practiced, you can even do it with a glottal stop, but we'll get into that next semester. ;)

Char, I'm sorry you're feeling so bad.:( Hope the roids do their job and you feel better soon! Cindy's advice about the hug is right on the mark. Take care and hope you feel a lil better tomorrow. :hug:

Taking a break in class... the day is almost over. I am so tired, my face, arm and leg hurts. Why does numbness cause so much pain? I can't wait to go home, take a warm shower, take my Darvocet and crawl into bed. Just when I think it is the worst I have been it gets a little harder to take. I have almost made it through my classes today. Just need to get myself home (15 mile drive) and then I can relax. I will get through this.... How long does it take before the steriods take charge? I know I have only had my first dose, no patients here.... sorry.

Back to class.... thank you again for letting me lean! :hug: