Weekly Schedule (4/20) and Forum Business

It's time to tell each other about our plans and appointments for support, prayers and crossed fingers.

Also I wanted to mention that MedHelp has apparently reorganized the Health Pages so that they are displayed by the date of the time they were last modified.  This gives people an easy chance to see the newest pages.  I think it is a good idea, but will suggest to them that they give us a drop-down menu to choose this or the old way.  This weekend my goal is to load 10 new pages.  I am also going to work on getting the pages all loaded in the Info and Resources Index:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple%20Sclerosis/MS-Information-and-Resources-Index/show/22?cid=36

I recommend that all of you bookmark this page or add it to your Favorites so that, when you are looking for a particular topic, you can look at this outline and fine things more quickly.  The final goal is to have ALL of our pages in this Index/outline and when you click on Health Pages the Index page is the one you will be taken to.  I am working with MedHelp on it.

I have already loaded new HPs on

Spinal Cord Lesions
The different kinds of lesions in MS
Urinary System Neurology
Incontinence Physical Therapy

and

I finally made a formal Health Page on "The Importance of Preparing a Timeline" with some examples.  I would like to add links to Timelines that some of you have already made that your neurologists have been pleased about.  I will include those links in the HP so that newcomers can see several examples.  So please contact me.

Quix

[HVAC]

Staring copaxone sometime this week

Thursday my husband goes for the first time to a neurology appointment. The doctor will explain things to us and the treatment and we meet with a social worker at his office.

Alex

[sllowe]

Thank you Doc Q for these new pages - they are truly wonderful.

Hollar if you need me to mess with layout, visuals, etc.  And, I'll poke around for timeline links.  

All - if you don't have your timeline readily available.  In the past, we would type the word "timeline" right in the title, so it won't be difficult for us to find them through the search engine.

  Nothing out of the ordinary scheduled for this week for me.

-shell

[essdipity]

Tuesday-- Delightful appt. for colonoscopy and endoscopy. I'll be glad when that's over with!

Alex, great idea for your husband to go with you. Best of luck as you start Copaxone.

ess

[Lulu54]

Gee Ess, I thought I was having fun this week but your schedule sounds better! LOL

Monday - PCP  3 month followup because she's a great doctor and wants to know what's going on with me and how she can help
Then I see the vestibular rehabilitation therapist for my followup with her - have to tell her last week's maneuveur didn't work to stop my dizziness

Wednesday I see the GI doc- the one that told me my chest pain is from anxiety.  I cancelled my previous visit but I'll go to this one. I really do like this doctor even though he honked me off with the anxiety dx... we'll talk that one over on Weds.

Weds. night an MS dinner sponsored by shared solutions - if anyone in the Dayton area is going, let me know!

Friday is my bi-weekly acupuncture treatment.  

BTW - this is day 5 of my high wire act without a safety net. I am off all my heart/angina drugs and waiting to see if it makes a difference. I follow-up with the cardio on May 1 to give a report,  So far it hasn't made much of a difference, but I have kept my nitro especially close just in case this all backfires.

Lulu

[hbananas]

Thank you for all the hard work on the health pages.

Monday 2nd appt with the PT helping me with urge incontinence.  So far, right on the money with everything you said.

[PastorDan]

My week and my life have been turned completely inside out, of course, by the events of the past 40 hours or so.  By God's grace, we will carry on.

Monday morning I will meet with the undertakers, then visit the previous pastor of our present church and his wife, who are in a nursing home not far from there.  After that, I'm going to see if I can shake loose any lab results, appointment cancellations, or anything else as a piece of the puzzle.  Boss said not to worry about the office this week, so I will make as much use as I can of the time.  I'll think about the rest of the week as it approaches, but time will be spent planning Saturday's memorial service, with help from several quarters.

I might, frankly, have appointments scheduled about which I've forgotten.  I don't think so, but it feels like my memory is trying to get my attention for some reason, or evading me altogether.

Lulu, we'll pray that your high wire act is a great success.  Blessings to all.

[Quixotic1]

And Blessings to you, Dan.  Take care.

Quix

[Sarahsmom46]

I have a Central Motor Conduction Test (MEP) tomorrow, Tuesday to see if there are any silent lesions in my spine.  We'll see what comes out of it.

Julie

[saveone]

Monday - 1st appt w/ sleep doctor (is there a name for their specialty?) and PT

Tuesday - lab work

Wednesday - counselor and PT

Thursday - f/u w/ urologist and gastroenterologist

Friday - PT and pick up films of MRI for next wks new neuro appt

My thoughts are with you Pastor Dan

terry

[Fluffysmom]

Wednesday - around 7 hours of flying home, getting there pretty late

Thursday - 11:15 appt. with PCP for physical and PAP
                 Pick up prescriptions
                 Pick up Fluffy and take him home and give him lots of attention.
                 Find out if I'll have jet lag, lol!

[SickMomma_PDX]

Monday (today) -- 2 p.m. appt with neurologist to talk about brain MRI and other neuro symptoms.

Tuesday: opthalmalogist appt -- my ON seems to be coming back. :(

Wednesday: acupuncture (the highlight of my week :)

Thurs & Fri: IV infusions of Venofer (#3 and 4, get 5th next Mon)

I'll be thinking of all of you this week and hoping appts, etc., go well!

--SM

[jed9999]

Wednesday I will finally have an appintment with a pulmonry doctor after having had bronchitis for almost five months! For more than three of these months I have been taking oral steroids (20-60mgs) in an effort to get rid of the bronchitis--with no success, but no fever. The steroids have played havoc with my diet/pill controlled diabetes as well as my walking. I thought it was the MS, but it might be weakness from high blood sugar caused by there steroids. My steroid taper ends this week so I guess I shall soon be learning what is what.

[jed9999]

I didn't mean to be so insular---just need directed, I guess.

My heart and thoughts are with all mentioned here and with this community. What a great effort you have made, Quix--thank you. The Resource outline and pages look awesome!

May everyones' appointments go well!

Pastor Dan, may God's Grace provide.

[Khiba]

God bless you Pastor Dan!

Monday; Massage and spinal decompression (starts the week off right!)
Tuesday: Physical therapy (helpful torture?)
Wednesday: Physical Therapy
Thursday: Muscle Stim and Chiropractic adjustment for lower back and QL muscle work
Friday: Long walk day

[deborah0904]

Monday: Physical Therapy
              Ladies Bible Study
Wednesday: Church
Thursday: Physical Therapy

My heart is sad for PastorDan.  I cannot begin to imagine the pain he is in.

Can I take this time to say how much I appreciate everyone on this Forum?  Everyone is always so helpful.  When I read the news of PastorDan's wife, I was so sad and heavy hearted for him.  I was so shocked that I felt that way for someone I had never physically met.  It was then, that I realized you all have become a part of my family.  I never expected to feel that way, it just happened.  Not by chance, either.  I pray for my MS Forum Family on a daily basis and I have come to love you.  I'm so grateful to you all and I pray God's blessings on you all.  

PastorDan, I'm so sorry for your loss and am praying for you!  Indeed, this week has been turned upside down for you.  We are here for you.

[rendean]

Well, this post is more about what has already occurred than the future, for the most part.

First and foremost, to Pastor Dan, my thoughts and blessings have been sent your way all week.

Sunday- spent 14 hours at the airport trying to catch a flight to Chicago to have my son evaluated at Shriner's Hospital.

Monday at noon , finally caught a flight.

Tuesday-finally consult for son after 4 month wait to differentiate between ankylosing spondylitis and idiopathic chrondrolysis of hips. Saw peds rheumy, ortho resident , superb ortho,and PT. No definitive answers.Each speciliaty thinks it's a disease from their speciality. Good news- care plan decided and funded by Shriners.

Wednesday -returned home-exhausted. Returned phone call to order first shipment of Copaxone.

Thursday -Call Shared Solutions back to schedule visit and begin treatment

Friday-PT

Saturday-schedule nervous breakdown :)

[doublevision1]

Yesterday: showed up for appt for bone density test, unfortunately the technician was a no show!  So will need to resched.  Never had one before but am concerned about 3 rounds of IV steroids in 14 month period; plus a lifetime avoiding most foods containing calcium.  Other risk factor: now in the >40 age group.  yikes.

Today: saw a podiatrist, fitted for orthotics, and sought his advice on what to do about two of my toenails turning black since initiating my daily 10km running regime.  Told to leave it alone, it will resolve on its own, but to hold off running for a week or so.  So yes, Dr. Q, you were right (again!), you said not to overdo it, and apparently I did.  Feel great otherwise though, and down 8lbs.

Rest of the week: taking a couple vacation days, fly to Edmonton, visiting with girlfriends and on Sat, a night at the opera, La Traviata, my friend performing role of Violetta!