[ozzy14]

Hi Guys,

I havnt been online since around May this year. My mum got sick with cancer and iv been whizzing up and down the Australian East Coast caring for my dad while she's been in hospital, the driving really took it's toll on my TOS. All looks o.k with mum now, such a relief.

My employer called me yesterday to say I am being sent to a Dr for Medical Retirement. Is there anyone from Australia that has been thru this??? Id really like to talk to someone about this.

Otherwise my TOS is my TOS! Not much happening there. Still in pain everyday, especially headaches. Taking pain meds every day, sometimes all day!

I have been reading up on what you guys have been up to and its nice to see some new names up there. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with whats going on with everyone now. But I would really like an AUSSIE friend to discuss with as some of the US jargon I just dont understand. (Sorry you guys, hugs!).

Its great to be back and it's going to take me some time to catch up.

Ozzy

[dorrie]

Hello Ozzy14! Glad to meet you!

[ozzy14]

Originally Posted by dorrie

Hello Ozzy14! Glad to meet you!

Hey Dorrie, Glad to meet u 2! What time is it there? Usually everyones asleep when im on line???

[dorrie]

Hi Ozzy14 Here it is 4:25 AM! I am usually sleeping right now but my hubby left on a business trip at 3:00 this AM. What time is it there?

[ozzy14]

Originally Posted by dorrie

Hi Ozzy14 Here it is 4:25 AM! I am usually sleeping right now but my hubby left on a business trip at 3:00 this AM. What time is it there?

It's 6.30pm and it's cold....Its winter. I have just fed the hubby and kids and jumped back on my computer. I have missed a lot of what has been happening with my online friends. Ill tell you I have 3 kids, 18, 15 & 13. Im 37and married. Diagnosed with TOS in 2005, i had been seeing Dr's for 6 years and they constantly told me I have "muscular problems" Ha! I knew something else was happening. I had a doppler test (like ultrasound) which showed I have compression on artery, veins and nerves. So far refused surgery, Im toooo scared. No Dr here can tell me ill be cured, just 60% chance I will feel "somewhat" better! I dont know anyone else is aussie with TOS. I have some trouble communicating with USA etc because of the different terms and lingo. I am trying to find some1 in aus that has been thru medical retirement. I am a government employee that is being sent for Dr's examination for medical retirement. And finally I have been looking after my dad while my mum is in hospital receiving treatment for cancer, all looks o.k now.

[dorrie]

Hi again Ozzy! While you are in winter, we are in summer and here in Canada but espacially the usa it has been HOT! We are close to 100 some days they are up to 105! I do not have TOS, however someone here will be able to help you. The time difference is a bit of a bummer! I m glad to here that your Mom is doing better. My grandmother is a worry for us lately. She went to her Dr. yesterday, something she hates to do, and they discovered a large lump on her breast. She knew it was there but I think she thought it might go away. Today they had her in the hospital fora mammogram and immediately after for an ultrasound. We will not know if it is cancerous for a week. I do not know what my Grandma will do about it. Shewill be 89 in November. She beat colon cancer about 15 years age and said that if she got cancer again she would not have it treated. I am really hoping that it is not cancerous! Take Care, Ozzy Dorrie

[LinJane]

Hi, I wanted to say hello. It is now around 8:00 pm in New Jersey. Welcome back and I hope all goes well with your family. It is tough to care for others and be in pain at the same time. I am 43, married with 4 kids. 17, 15, 12 and 4, and yes all with the same hubby! I was diagnosed in 2000 and had a rib resection and scalanectomy the same year. Worked great until recently having some troubles. I used to be on the TOS site all the time until my pain went away in 2002. Unfortunately, it has reared it's nasty head and I'm back. My surgeon told me recently to take it easy and go back to the way I was as far as being careful and watching everything I did. I got very complacent with my actions, and, screwed up my shoulder. Trying REALLY hard to get back in the swing of things. Good Luck! Linda

[ozzy14]

Originally Posted by LinJane

Hi, I wanted to say hello. It is now around 8:00 pm in New Jersey. Welcome back and I hope all goes well with your family. It is tough to care for others and be in pain at the same time. I am 43, married with 4 kids. 17, 15, 12 and 4, and yes all with the same hubby! I was diagnosed in 2000 and had a rib resection and scalanectomy the same year. Worked great until recently having some troubles. I used to be on the TOS site all the time until my pain went away in 2002. Unfortunately, it has reared it's nasty head and I'm back. My surgeon told me recently to take it easy and go back to the way I was as far as being careful and watching everything I did. I got very complacent with my actions, and, screwed up my shoulder. Trying REALLY hard to get back in the swing of things. Good Luck! Linda

Hi Linda, Glad to meet you. Your story is exactly why I wont have surgery! No surgeon can guarantee me that i will improve or it wont return, so I soldier on every day. Yes I know what you mean with the kids, my hubby wants another (I had all mine before I was 24) but now im 37 there will be at least 13 years between them and I think people will either think he's not the father of all or they will think the baby belongs to my 18 year old (she wouldnt be happy about that!). I dont think i could go back...not with the pain im in and caring for a newborn. Nice to meet you and well talk again. Ozzy

[Sea Pines 50]

there is a fellow aussie by the poster name of towelhorse who has been very active on the forum. you can find his posts by using the 'advanced search' function - just click on it; it's located right underneath the search bar which is located in the upper righthand portion of your screen... (enter his poster name and his thread[s] will pop up for ya that way).

hey, i'm not particularly pro-surgery so don't get me wrong here - but linda had SIX YEARS of no pain after her rib resection, ozzy. she's just having what we are all hoping is a minor relapse right now. so hopefully, by being careful to baby the affected muscle group she can get back to that pain-free state and go on to lead an active (but careful!) post-TOS surgery life...

there is no guarantee with any surgery. and you are right, especially not with a surgery like this one. i think you will get a lot out of towelhorse's posts in terms of what the right kind of rehab can offer you in the way of relief... and also - very, very important - what to AVOID from medical practitioners who may mean well but if they don't know what they're doing can really do you further damage.

TOS is such a sticky wicket. and the politics involved are pretty disgusting, if you ask me, ozzy. if you feel like you are being 'railroaded' into medical retirement by your employer my hope for you is that you will move to inform and protect yourself. because that just does not sound right to me at all.

of course, i don't know any of the particulars of your case. nor am i familiar with australia's laws governing workers compensation, disability leave, etc. if after reading through towelhorse's account of his experiences you feel you want to post more i would certainly be interested in hearing your story. and i always tell people if there is ANY way they can do so, to get a consult with a good, knowledgeable attorney with a track record of handling (and winning) TOS cases if they find themselves in a situation where their rights are being trampled to bitz.

you are a young woman and you have a marriage and growing kids to protect, not to mention yourself and your sanity. damn the man and damn the TOS monster!!!

so say i, anyhow.

good to see you, mate.

alison

[LinJane]

I agree with Alison that surgery is not always the answer. But, I have had 6 years of PAIN FREE! Not just slight but complete. I had a baby in this time and lived a "normal" life. I made the mistake of driving from NJ to FL which is about 20 hours, in two days with very little assistance. The stress it put on my upper right trap is what is causing the flare. I am trying ice and heat and being very aware of my actions and hoping it goes away. Before I was on so much medication from pain I couldn't drive or live a normal life. I was continually drugged. Now I do have to take pain medication but not often. I wouldn't trade this life for the old one no matter how horrible surgery and recovery is. Each of us has a different degree of TOS so some need surgery and some, thank God don't. I am just praying I get through this!

Thanks, Have a great day, I'm off to work! Blah! Linda