Maxine

I have adverse reactions to it, and of course not one doc I have seen so far has heard of this either. My levels have been as low as 3-------but now they are up to 12. this is still extremely low, but The last time I took a liquid dose of it I got dizzy, faint, and my heart starting having palpitations, and then started pounding. When this happened we were at costco, and we had to leave. I was in such a panic, then it stopped-------I wanted to go back to costco. I have tried prescription vitamin D several times, and the reactions before this have been a chronic fatigue----flu like symptoms. I know I need it badly, and I don't know what i'm going to do. I'm in the process of trying to contact my endocrinologist now. I have had bllod work done, and my catecholamines are really low too, but normal can start at -0- from what I'm told. I have no idea what normal limits are put I posted the results on an earlier post. I don't feel good at all lately, and had a horrible night of pain Monday night. I went to the dentist thinking it was my upper left molar, but he did an x-ray and roots look fine, but he did notice some bone wasting in the pocket between the back and mid molar. The mid molar is crowned. It hurt all the way into my neck, jaw, head and shoulder. I told the dentist about my neck instability, and he said the pain can spread to my jaw & teeth from my neck. My neck is really bad, and I'm assuming being so low in vitamin D can't help. However, when I had my bone density test done at the EDS study at NIH it was in the normal range except for a little osteopenia in my hips---(surprise, surprise)-----basically still normal....... Thankfully my bone density is OK considering my connective tissue is making me fall apart. Maxine :0)

I think I cope with my Pain because I don't have a choice. I can't tolerate narcotic pain pills, and the EDS is destroying parts of my body I never thought it would-------------------Even my feet. I sit here typing this wondering which way my spine is leaning this time. It's so hypermobile it's unbelivable. We went to the mall today to get a few things, and it was such a struggle to walk from the entrance of one end near the book store down to one of the Anchor store (Dillards) in the other end. We stopped at a couple of the smaller stores in the mall, and I felt like I was going to collapse. One store had a chair, and I sat there for a while, but my blood continued to pool----even sitting. I was trying so hard to enjoy my little trip to the mall, and everything hurt. I guess the worse is my spine, then my shoulders, my hips, my feet, knees, then I suppose my hands hurt the least, but I'm more used to my hands hurting, as they have bothered me a long time----but the pain feels small in comparison to the rest. My gut has bothered me for years, but it's all related to the EDS stretching out my intestines. Even the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic have agreed on this one, so it looks like all GI docs I have seen say the EDS has caused the excessive divertculi, and the very large 5cm one in duodeum/small intestine. All this with the blood pooling, the compression on upper spine and brain stem causing many other neurological symptoms-----OVERWHELMED is the best word to describe how I feel. Imagine a furniture clamp on your spine twisting tighter and tighter-----so tight that your feel it through to your chest. 5 minutes on a warm day in the sun makes me feel like I need someon to come and scrape me off the sidewalk with a spatula. I'm upset!----------- I want to enjoy my granddaughters! I want to sit outside with my family. I want to go back to school----work, I want to do a lot, and I can't. I want to be able to do long overdo projects in the house....... I want my hands to stop buzzing, my feet to stop buzzing, and the humming sound to go away in the back of my head. on this site. The good folks here have been a blessing, and I will forever feel gratitude towards them. The ones who have abused this site-------------You know who you are............hopefully they'll GET A GRIP! Just Saying...... Maxine :0)

Dana----------------------so true. If they have never heard about it----therefore it must not exist. BULLROAR! The ANS controls how we also respond to the environment around us, and our body simply can not tolerate many of the things people without ANS dysfunction can----i.e.--------->bright lights, warm sunny days, certain chemical smells, loud noise, certain medications, certain medical tests and procedures, and many more. This is neurologically based, and the ANS is part of our neurological wiring. It's time for the medical profession to take responsibility for their profound ignorance on the ANS, and it's functions. This is a very complex disorder, and it deserves more indepth research. Right now it's not enough, and I'm reading the same repeat medical abstracts, journals, and reports that I read in early 2001 when all this began. The same doctors are writing the same research papers----the research isn't really new, nor have they reached any real epiphanies that have shown they're any closer to the underlying causes for primary dysautonomias. If they don't know enough about our dysautonomia/POTS, then tell us, and offer to help they best they can------------READ, LEARN, AND LISTEN TO THEIR PATIENTS! Aren't WE part of the research? Don't physicians LEARN FROM US? Get your rear ends moving medical profession! We're tired of your insecurities affecting our wellbeing. Maxine :0)

Paint the Moon, Do you have a decent doctor who will watch you very carefully? I'm thinking they should admit you to the hospital since you're pregnant. Getting a flu bug like that during pregnancy calls for special attention to you and the baby. I'm praying you'll be doing much better very soon-----like TODAY.... Hang in there! Maxine :0)

Sometimes just visualizing snapping the neck of the slow people in line who have to question everything the cashier does is enough. I'm not a violent person, but I think it helps to visualize even though you know you could never do such a thing. I often do this with doctors who are dismissive, or even abusive to their patients. This goes for NURSE RATCHETT TOO! It's no fun walking around with tachycardia, and to me this is the most disabling symptom of dysautonomia. I've been on beta blockers since 1990 for it, and I feel like a prisoner to them. My tachycardia is controlled for the most part on the BBs, but on the other hand my orthostatic intolerance is still there, and there's no compensation and my body just feels like it's shutting down after about 20 minutes of walking or standing. If I push too far, which I often do, then I start to get palpitations, tremors, BLOAT, and end up taking longer to recover from it. I absolutely HATE tachycardia! I totally understand your anger with it. No one can understand this unless they experience it. Once they do, they can belong to the "GEORGE" club. What do I mean by "George"?------------- Well, way back in the early 80s before I knew what this was I would get runs of tachycardia, and I found someone else that had the same thing. We came up with a name for the spells of tachycardia. We often said, "GEORGE" was here for a visit. My mother would give me her phenobarbitol, and it worked! IT stopped the tachycardia within minutes, and clamed my body down like it never happened. I took it for about 6 months----maybe less. I knew this was only a quick fix and saw a cardiologist. He diagnosed MVP at the time, and it was ruled out later in the 90s. I still think the phenobarbitol was helpful long term, which proves the tachycardia is secondary. The phenobarbitol did something to help quiet down the tirggers. I have a trigger happy heart, and it doesn't take much to send it firing. I thought about kick boxing if my body could take it! My legs seem to be the strongest, and I wish I could kick at someting without shaking up my body too much, as it would not be good for my spine instability. My legs get weak when walking, but it's a diffferent kind of weak. They get rubbery....especially when I get the tachycardia. Go find something you can kick without hurting your foot.....lol. Maxine )

So sorry to hear about your little boy's health problems. My heart goes out to you, and my prayers will be with you and your family----especially your son. I do know hind brain stem compression can cause his symptoms, especially the central slepp apnea. This is something that I deal with as an adult, and I can't imagine it with a child this young, as the symptoms are very serious. Hopefully, you can find a physicain who is familiar with chiari II, and dysautonomia. Here's a couple of websites that have listings of physicians who may be able to help. http://www.asap.org/ http://www.pressenter.com/~wacma/ BIG HUG Maxine :0)

Fortunately Dr. Grubb is right near my house, so I only trevel 1/2 mile to see him. However, I still wait just like everyone else....about a year between visits. I've been to the Cleveland Clinic several times though. Some good expereinces, and some bad. The Bad is mostly related to my spine instability, and the good is related to going to their gastroenterology dept. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Dysfunction is much more complicated then weather you faint or not. Fainting is just a small part of it, and many of us don't faint at all, but are still very disabled by our symptoms. A lot of us have many heart related symptoms also, and reach near syncope all the time. It almost seems like they have a certain agenda, and if we don't fit, then the interest isn't there unless they have something to gain by it also. they need to understand that the tilt table testing is just one of the tests that help determine ANS dysfunction. The ANS isn't an easy thing to figure out, and the follow up care is pretty sparse. I guess we're not big enough cash cows to generate the revenue the medical profession is looking for. Hmmmmmmm........ Maxine :0)

Heck, there's days I'm tired at 10:00am.................then feeling OK at 10:00pm..........no rhyme or reason is there?? Maxine :0)

I have the new word! Kajangeled! Maxine :0)

Blown fuses.............no conduction............ Just too much going on at once, and no Electrician (AKA-doctor) to fix the blown fuses. Wiring is messed up! ONE WORD----------------> Overwhelmed! Maxine :0)

Simmy, I feel for you, and wish you didn't have to file for SSDI. I just turned 51, and I just got approved for SSDI after a long 3 year battle. It was a diffiuclt decision to make, and I felt my dignity fade. However, I have it back! Having to file for SSDI should have no shame. It's just something we need to do when we are no longer able to handle the daily grind of working a regular 40 hour week. Hopefully you will be able to return back to work some day. One thing that helped me with SSDI was following through with certain forms----especially functional capacity reports. I just called my local SSDI office to make sure the reports were received, and if he didn't know, then he gave me another phone number to call, and I spoke with someone else. I was approved at the hearing level, and I had a good impartial doctor testify that it was not possible to do any type of work, and that my illness was progressive, and the prognosis was poor. It was good in the sense it helped my SSDI get approved, but sobering to hear his view on how sick I am. It's so hard to constantly prove how sick you are to doctors and SSDI, while at the same time you're in denial on the gravity of your illness, and how it has impacted your life. My POTs is secondary to EDS, and I didn't get diagnosed with the EDs until 2006. I was diagnosed with POTS first, as those were the symptoms that were the most bothersome at the time. I still feel the POTS symptoms are what puts the breaks on when I'm trying to do anything physically. Squatting is the quickest way for me to get the tachycardia relieved. I still get in even on my beta blockers. I've been on propranolol since 1990. I feel a prisoner to my beta blocker, and have tried to get off of it a couple of times without success. I suppose the poor vascular tone from the EDS is what causes the tachycardia, but I would have never guessed this even 5 years ago. I learned so much at the NIH EDS study, and it has helped me stand up to doctors more. If NIH said it's real, how can they deny that! I didn't even go to NIH until after the SSDI was approved. I'm glad yoy're not like your vidio all the time, as I couldn't imagine that. Just one day like that is enough to mess you up for a while. Wishing you all the best. Maxine :0)

It's not your fault this idiot doesn't know any better. He can't help you, so he needs to feel good about himself----thus, the "depressed" label. Sounds like He might need to see a psychologist. Perhaps he has a personality disorder--------maybe he thinks he's a psychiatrist. I'm sorry you had to deal with this, and frankly, I'm so tired of hearing the same story for the last 10 years. You have a right to be treated with dignity and grace. You have a right to confront him/her if you don't agree. You have a right to take it to a higer level if you feel treated unfairly, or if you feel he/she was abusive in any way. I had a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic tell me that I need physical therapy, then he suggested arobics----(for someone with an unstable spine and EDS!). This is considered inept bahaviour, and this should not happen from the Cleveland Clinic. Yes, many of us ARE deressed-----------------(situational depression). This is something that develops over time from dealing with dismissive doctors who can't deal with the complexities of this illness, and blows us off as being depressed or having an anxiety disorder. My mother in law was receiving poor treatment at a hospital, and it's sad that one of her grown children said , "we need to be careful what we say, or her medical care could be compromised." BULL ROAR! DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! IF YOU CAN'T, THEN HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT! Find someone to advocate for you. If you can't, do the best you can. Take a recorder with you and tape the doctor. There's good doctors out there, but it's depressing that it seems the good ones are outnumbered by the bad ones. No one should have to fear what their next appointment with a doctor is going to be like. They should go in with hope that they can be helped, or at the very least be treated with dignity. Hold your head high, and don't let anyone disrespect you. HUGS, Maxine

Congratulations! Welcome to beautiful Ben! Maxine :0)

Wow......I do love sandelwood scent. I'm a hippy at heart.....lol...

Hi--- Epinephrine was < 10 Norepinephrine was 277 Dopamine was < 30 They said one or more components was below detection limit to accurately calculate. I'll call my endocrinologist on Tuesday. Not that it will do any good, as he does very minimal testing. Maxine :0)

Thanks sue1234---- I'm not sure what low levels mean. Especially that low. the only thing I can think of is to have them checked again. I know I feel much more wiped out then usual, and my mid thoracic spine pain is bad enough to make me want to cry. MY pain tolerance is high, so this means about a level 8 on the pain scale. It's also knocking the wind out of me literally. It's the holiday weekend, so all docs were already gone at the Cleveland Clinic to discuss what to do about colonoscopy. I tried looking up information on low catecholamines levels, but I couldn't find much in the short amount of time I had. All my energy is used just taking the 15 minute drive to the nursing home my mother in law is in for rehab. Today I felt a blip of sorts with my heart----not sure what it was----skipped beats, extra beats. I found my BP was very low, so maybe that caused it. My husband said my spine just below my neck is sticking out to the left this time..... This all can go away now so I can go out and slug down a couple of margaritas and go out on the dance floor and dance the way I used to dance. I was pretty good at it once. Now I can only show my granddaughters how for about a minute. Hopefully one day I'll dance again. Next week I'll find out what the Cleveland Clinic can do about working around this, once I fax a copy of the report to them. Believe it or not, the Cleveland Clinic isn't very well versed on these kind of complications. when I voiced my concerns about the sedation drugs, they weren't at all concerned-------this is a red flag, because they should be. Maxine :0)

My ANS hasn't been stable, and I've been feeling so much worse then my usual. My catecholamines are very low----too low to get a total. I wonder if it's a mistake. They took them lying down. I'm told they are even too low for lying down anyway, but PCP doesn't think the test was done properly. I faxed a copy to the Cleveland Clinic, and they can reschedule the colonoscopy, and we won't be able to use sedation drugs, or very little sedation. My PCP said my body can't handle it, and he's also worried about perforation, but I'm not too worried about that----more so about the drugs. I got the resultes faxed to me today, and my PCP had me come into his office today. He said this was a bigger worry then getting colonoscopy done, but I think the colonoscopy is more important. He said I got a low GI with double contrast whihc is acceptable for screening, and said it shouldn't make a difference to wait a little longer. I'm just plain depressed. Why can't my body get stable? Maxine :0)

Thanks! I definately have adverse reactions, and afraid to take many medications--------even motrin/advil, and I know these may help with inflammation from the EDS. I can't take narcotic pain meds, so tylenol is it for me. I use ICE also, but it's very short term. I even had an adverse reaction to lidocaine, and it lasted for hours! Maxine :0)

Today I had cortisol levels checked again-------------hmmmmm............................. We'll see how that comes out. My catecholimines were checked also, and I'm not really sure why I asked my PCP to check these. I asked him to check my cortisol levels also, as I usually have to ask for all my testing. Do any of you find that--------------that you have to ask for your own testing? Don't they know what to do? I do like my PCP, but I think he's a bit lost with my EDS, POTS, neck instability issues. I have to give him credit, as he hasn't thrown me out of his office yet. He scratches his head why I have had such a hard time getting the cervical cranial issues to be taken seriously locally because NIH, and another orthopedic surgeon have it documented, so why aren't other neurosurgeons? Right now, as I type this it's swollen in the usual area of my neck near my clavicle, but in the last week it's swollen in the back of my neck, and just under my jaw. I have a headache along with this, and tingling finger tips, the back of my hands, and both feet. I'm talking like a drunk often, and feeling like DUH....just dumb. I'm thinking right, but not able to express it well. This is why I'm afraid of thw propofol------I'm afraid of anything that will put me out. I don't know how my brain will do, as I'm struggling more with neurological issues. I'm also having vision problems-----mainly focusing. The neuro problems are difficult to explain-----------I just feel really clumsy and out of it. There's no sense in talking to any of my docs about this, as they don't get it. My PCP is concerned about the cortisol, but he assumes the cleveland clinic will know how to handle any complications. I would assume they do, but then again their neurosurgery dept. does not have a clue how serious my instability is, and if they do they're not telling me. Another thing is that I'm a lot more wiped out then my usual, and my eyes are constantly running. I could go on, but I'm out of words for all of this. It's really been a big struggle, but I know I have to get this colonoscopy done. The cancer in our family is scary........... Maxine :0)

You'll be in my prayer's also. How did the surgery go-------are your recovering nicely? I'm sorry they found endometriosis, as I know how complicated that can get by what my cousin has dealt with. I hope they can help you with that and prevent any complications. Take care of yourself, and keep us updated. Maxine :0)

Thanks for the information. Spaceorca-----wow, that's a lot for your son to deal with. When I went to the NIH EDS study the geneticist thought I had inflammatory bowel disease because I have so much diverticuli, but I told her I didn't think I had it because I never get the diarrhea that comes with it=======she said my finger tips were clubbing, and I said this was the regular shape of my finger nails. My only symptoms are chronic constipation and a LOT of bloating discomfort, and I also get full easily. In fact my cousin thought I could possible have mild cystic fibrosis. Cf affects digestion, and her son has this worse then the lung issues----although his lung isses ARE very serious. CF is more complicated then the general public is aware of. When you have a family member who has this, you find out much more about CF. One of the big digestion problems with CF is a lot of bloat and constipation......they lack enzymes to digest food. If I did have this, it would be VERY mild, as this young man goes though a LOT.... I don't think I have this..but I do also have some interstitial markings on my lungs that they are watching. I'm wondering if my digestion problems are more related to the excessive diverticuli and the EDS....I'm told it could be FROM the EDS. In fact the gastroenterologist from the CC thought the diverticuli could be from the EDS also. That makes about 3 or 4 docs thinks EDS is related to the bowel problems. I had versed in Feb 2001, and I also had a bad reaction. Initially I went home groggy, and I though I got through the procedure OK, but when I got up later that evening after lying down most of the day my heart stounding pounding hard and fast. When I went to the ER it was only 108bpm. I thought this was low compared to how it felt in my chest. My adrenaline felt like it was pumping hard. this is how it had been on and off for 2 months prior to that, but not as intense. At the ER that night they wanted to give me an anti-nausea medication, and I told them NO, that I was already reacting to the drugs they used in the morning. I was a mess, but the guy said it would relax me. IT DID THE OPPOSITE! I felt like I wanted to climb out of my skin...and when they did an abdominal x-ray, I refused to move out of the bed, as I was afraid this would make me feel even crazier. I kept telling my Dad how lucky everyone who walked by the ER exam room was because they weren't crazy like me. It took all night long for the drugs to wear off, and I can't believe Iwent to work that monday. This was on a friday night...after the endoscope in the morning. I even remember the date--------Feb. 5th, and the temperature went from an unseasonably warm 65 degrees to 10 degrees in a matter of hours. The weather was a crazy as I felt. Anyway, I wanted to do the colonoscopy without sedation, or something very mild. My brain stem symptoms have been more intense, and my cortisol levels are low, and that concerns me. I'm going to go on the 1st no matter what. I'll just have to express all this when I get there. I did on thursday when I went to the CC, but he seemed rushed and tired. He took me seriously, but I forget to discuss the cortisol levels. He discussed doing a virtual colonoscopy, but we both agreed the regular colonoscopy was better. He did say it was more risky for me due to the EDS, but said they use a pediatric scope. he said to wear my cervical spine collar to protect my neck. He didn't feel I would need to be intubated---but if I didi, they would do it awake---- . He wants me sedated because he said if I did end up with a pain syndrome, the anesthesiologist wouldn't like trying to pull my out of a pain situation mid procedure. Anyway...........I'm also afraid of what they'll find due to family history......then I tell them to keep giving me propofol if they find something sinister....I won't want them to wake me up................ MOSTLY PRAYING THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING BAD-----and also praying for a safe procedure, and no POTS crash after, or a stroke from the bad vascular anatomy in the back of my neck/cranial area. Thanks again form your support, encouragement, and understanding-------it means the world to me. Maxine :0)

We went to the Cleveland Clinic, and They went through all of my medications, and we discussed sedation. I told them I don't want anything, or something very light. They want to use propofol, but I'm not comfortable with that as my ANS has been really acting up-----dizzy, low BP, lower then usual heart rate. Ugggg---just a mess lately. I also have really bad thoracic back pain, but fortunately it wasn't that bad today, and I hope this continues. That's some scary stuff....I never had thoracic spine pain this bad. It's bothered me a long time, but never like this. Anyway, I'm going for the colonoscopy on June 1st-----------------it will be done one way or the other. I'll discuss it more when I get there on the 1st. I was wondering how those of you who had propofol have done AFTER the procedure------------and also during. Does anyone here have symptoms simular to mine. I have upper brain stem compression, and some neurological problems associated with this. I've had a lot of weakness, and my cortisol levels have been low recently. MY PCP was concerned about this since I was getting the colonoscopy done. I figure the Cleveland Clinic should be able to deal with these complications. Thanks---- Maxine :0)

Very interesting stuff, too bad we know more then the docs we see about this, and too bad that SOME docs can't get past thier EGO to help us. They're afraid of us----------------if they try to help us and make a mistake it may ruin their reputation...... The cervical cranial region is an area that many surgeons won't deal with because of it being a high risk area. This only tells me that it's even more important that we get the help we need for this reason-------it's a high risk walking around with instability near the brain stem, vertebral arteries, and upper spine. Surgeons would rather tell us something isn't wrong at all, even with the obvious medical proof looking at them in the face. I know one ANS doc that dared to help us, and many of his peers don't respect him. It's sickening! It's not about helping patients, it's about what we can do for their careers and EGOS. Those that do try to help us get disrespected by those that work beside them. Although I know this isn't always true, it's certainly very difficult to find a doctor who wants to help us, and is also RESPECTED by the medical community. When my mother in law went into the ER a few weeks ago after a fall that injured her lower back she was dismissed because nothing showed up on an x-ray. They didn't do a CT, and sent her home saying she would be fine and driving in two days. A week later she was admitted to the hospital, and a CT was done showing two fractures in the transverse sacram. HORRIBLE PAIN. What those doctors didn't know was they were about to be tag teamed by my two sister in laws who love their mother, and wouldn't let her be dismissed as she sat there with no proper control of her pain. The orthopedic surgeon didn't even come to see her-------------WHY?............The fracture was supposedly a "stable fracture". She wasn't a surgical candidate, so she was dismissed again, and seen by one of the residents. They ER sent an 82 year old woman home with this fracture. She had been in the hospital for two weeks, and their rehab for another two weeks. Her pain levels are better, but she is now in another rehab outside of this hospital for more rehab, and we are praying they get her bladder and bowels to work again. If cussing was allowed in this site, you would see a lot of F Bombs dropped............I'm sick of seeing docs get away with NOT doing their job! I don't mean to trail off the subject a bit, but it's important we advocate for ourselves, and if we aren't able, then find someone who will advocate for us. Instability in this area should be taken seriously, as ANS dysfunction isn't the only thing this can cause--------------it's just another one of the red flags. Maxine :0)

My nails seem average, but both thub nails split from the bottom up and look very unhealthy. No explanation for this from anyone other the the geneticist at NIH saying they looked clubbed and she thinks I have inflammatory bowel disease. We'll find out when I get my colonoscopy on June 1st. I go for pre testing Thursday. Maxine :0)

Plenty going on with my neck.............thoracic spine............and lumbar/sacral spine. Read signature line. I had Horrible time with thoracic spine in the last several months...... I can't figure it out. Possibly tempur-pedic bed crushing ribs into spine due to the EDS----it was really way too firm. We have another bed for half the price, and it is better then the tempur----pedic. I still have very bad pain in thoracic spine, but not as crippling. I think the tempur-pedic caused more permanant damage, or something else happened. Diagnosed with EDS hypermobile type III originally, then at the NIH EDS study it was changed to Classical EDS with hypermobility and vascular involvement. Currently my neck has been proved to have instability at the c1-c2 area at the cranial junction. 7 1/2mm off on the left, and 7.9mm (axial/rotational instability) on the right which is huge.....................not good................ Lots of insult to the brain stem area already with pannus growth on odontoid bone, small posterior fossa, and pinched off left vertebral artery showing it missing on brain MRAs in both UTMC, and NIH. Dr. Grubb thinks my spine issues cause my dysautonomia. Actually, I think "POTS" is the wrong diagnosis, but what the heck do I know. I think it's just ANS dysfunction caused by upper spine and brain stem compression combined with additional ANS insult from the poor vascular tone.................all caused by the EDS. This is what EDs can do..... Of course where in the heck will I find a doctor LOCALLY that GETS this..........Cleveland Clinc doesn't even "get it"! It's my body, and it all seems logical to me. Here's a real coward in action----------just look at a neurosurgeon who doesn't want his tenure messed up, and he dismisses the obvious, because it's complicated, and in an area near the brain stem-----so they let a time bomb walk out of their office. There's too many red flags, and too many MRI, CT scans, and xrays showing abnormal results. IF NIH isn't good enough to make them understand how serious this is, then I don't know who is. I'm probably never going to get the help I need. There's things I know that you don't want to know----let's just say I have the inside scoop, and leave it at that. Maxine :0)