Lukkychrm42

I actually got an Intra Uterine Device 2 years ago. It's hormonal, good for 5 years, and approved for women who haven't had kids (if they wanted them). So basically I haven't had a period since December of 2003. My insurance paid for it, I have a yearly checkup, so it's a lot cheaper than pills, too. I still get cramps, but they're fine with advil... so I don't have any complaints.

I had the same problem, and my insurance (Cigna at the time) said they would cover it if my doctor filled out a form saying that I needed it. (I don't even ask questions anymore... you'd think the prescription itself meant that, but apparently not!)

Depending if you mean that you salivate large amounts or actually drool, acid reflux can cause water brash, so if I'm having it then my mouth will suddenly fill saliva. Actual drooling is different.. I do this only on occasion, and it seems like it could be related to dysaut.. I dunno?

Oh my goodness! what a $*#@! I would have kicked him! That's insane!

Thanks, I actually find that pretty helpful. Take care!

Name: Megan Birthplace: Bartlesville, Oklahoma Kids: not that I'm aware of Pets: 2 cats, Tigger and Kanga Favorite color: green, pink, black, and orange Favorite flower: tulips Kitchen theme: umm- my mom's (used to be strawberries, now it doesn't really have one) Favorite drink: water or lemonade (I get massive cravings for it in warm weather!) Last TV show you watched: Judging Amy Last movies you rented: Million Dollar Baby, Thirteen, and Bread and Tulips Favorite food: vegetable soup, wheat thins Favorite TV shows: Golden Girls, House, Gilmore Girls, the L Word, League of Gentlemen, Sex and the City, and Wife Swap (I admit it! It's hilarious!) Red or Pink: hot pink Favorite ice cream: It's soy delicious purely decadent cookie avelanche Favorite crayon color: grass green Ever bungee jumped? Nope- i think that's out now! Eye color: blue Hair color: naturally- medium blonde. Right now- reddish brown Farthest you have ever been: Sousse, Tunisia Siblings: 25 yo sister, 21 yo brother Last time you cried: probably a couple of days ago- anything on tv either sad or really happy sets me off Favorite game: Commander Keen Black or White? Black Rollingstones or The Beatles: Rolling Stones Last food you ate: Chili bean macaroni (basically macaroni, onions, peppers, corn, kidney beans, and spices) Diamonds or sapphires: Diamonds Beach or the mountains: Mountains!!!!! Sweats or jeans: sweats. I hate jeans. Ever went skinny dipping: Nope Married more than once: Not even once! What book are you reading now: Sons and Lovers (DH Lawrence) Hobbies: Reading, snowboarding and cycling(once upon a time) Favorite actor: Ewan MacGregor Favorite actress: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Maggie Smith Favorite candy bar: dark chocolate Ever toilet papered someones house: when I was younger- with the church youth group Gatorade: doesn't really make a difference Favorite Fruit: apples and mangoes.. peaches if they're in season and good! Men with facial hair? Yuck I have very sensitive skin! :oP Steak or lobster: No thanks Gold or silver: Gold Favorite vehicle: Someday I will own a smartcar Favorite song at the moment: Words by the Doves Most common phrase: "Whatever you say"

While I get it in both my hands and feet, it bothers me more in my feet. I always wear slippersocks to bed and often around the house, if not actual slippers. Other than that, I use a heating pad a lot.

I'm the same way after eating, and I ALWAYS have to take propranolol right before bed or my HR will be too variable for me to fall asleep. If I wake up in the early AM I might have to take another... then also upon waking. I don't know why it does this, but it's really annoying!

My doctor wanted me on all my meds for my first tilt, since I was still having symptoms. It was positive for POTS even with the beta blockers. So if you're on anything, including cold/flu meds, steroids, caffeine, ginseng, propolis, guarana, anything that could affect your BP or heart rate, make sure to check with the doctor to see if he/she wants you off everything or not. I have my second tilt coming up in a week, and I have to stop everything 2 days before, because he'll be testing my blood flow/circulation during it. Good luck!!

I had a test last year when I had a horrible cough before they realized I had GERD.. I wasn't on Florinef at the time, but the test was fine- no problems getting it or with the results.

haha I'm with you on the shaving thing- next week, though. I hope your appointment goes well! Good luck! Maybe take a pillow with you to punch if you need to? But I hope you don't have to.

Aww that's great news! And I think that's pretty cool of the boss to notice and appreciate her hard work!

aww I hope Jeronimo's OK.. and you too!

Absolutely agree with the wheelchair bit! If you've got connections to make, too, the last thing you need is to end up lying on the floor somewhere and miss your flight. I also always wear the compression hose when flying. And also- if you can get a bulkhead seat, that gives you more leg room to stretch out, which is good to do. Sometimes I feel silly requesting one because I'm short, but especially if you're already ordering a wheelchair, they'll try to accommodate your requests.

I had the DAXOR test back in August. They also measured aldosterone (and others) in my posture study, and supine was 1.6, upright was 6.8- I don't know what it means exactly, but that was the only reference to it that I've seen so far. It seemed to go along with the other hormones and stuff being tested. My doctor told me today doing a standing echo that he could tell by looking at the screen that there was no blood for my heart to pump when I stood up, so that sent the adrenal glands into a craze (esp. based on my NE jumping over 300% standing and things like that), so I think it's a helpful test to have.

My hands do that as well, and it's aggravated when I use them more, so it's part of the reason I had to stop massage school. I have no idea why- I had thought it was because of arthritis, but I'm not sure!

Hi, I'm a junior in college and I'm considering applying to law school in the fall. I've been doing lots of research and such, but I was wondering if any of you have experience in law school, particularly while being sick. Right now I'm not sure if I would go full or part-time, because if I were going part-time I would be working a full-time job... Given that I'm currently taking a semester off entirely, I'm not sure how I would do with that... but if I pay for it, full-time without a full-time job would be quite expensive!! I'm wondering how the system works for people with disabilities. I've looked into disability services for the various schools, but I also don't see myself being able to work 60 hours per week the way that I am now, so I don't know how many part-time lawyers there are. I'm really just starting to think about it, so there's so much to consider, but if anyone has any experience with this, I'd really appreciate your story! Thanks so much! Megan

According to recent government regulations, organic foods (ones that have the USDA certified organic labels) have a majority of ingredients (don't remember the percentage.. 75% or more?) grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. That being said, among companies selling organic foods, there tends to be a draw toward more natural ingredients, whole foods (unprocessed, close to original form), and fewer or no additives, preservatives, etc. Health food stores tend to carry a wide variety of foods, particularly specialty products and ethnic food ingredients. I love hummus, veggie booty, alternative baking company cookies, tofurkey slices, veganaise, rudi's og bakery breads, silk soy yogurt, bearitos refried black beans, crunchy sprouts, amy's no chicken noodle soup, etc. Lots of these can also be found in larger grocery stores, too. It's trendy to a lot of people, but there's also something to be said for eating more whole grains, veg, fruits, beans, etc. Plus if you're buying organic eggs, cheese, and meats and stuff like that, there's an idea of being more 'humane' and being free of things like growth hormones and antibiotics.

Regarding the DDAVP, I was looking it and procrit on the web, and the drug info I found said there could be interactions between them... it didn't say what kind, I just assumed that that meant the combo was out... maybe not?? Good that there's more science involved that I don't know about... I plan to talk about this with Dr. Abdallah, I was just trying to get other opinions/experience from you all since I don't see him for another week. Thanks though!

I don't understand the whys of it happening, unless it's compensatory, but supposedly it's common among hyperadrenergic patients to experience postural hypERtension. I'm one of them. I have low BV and when I stand my BP goes from low to high. I, too, was wondering why Dr. Grubb recommended salt loading EXCEPT in hyperadrenergic patients. My doctors who recognized the hyperadrenergic state said I should have a high salt diet. Now i don't know if that's for the BV, and doesn't matter if my BP doesn't fall on standing...

well i'd guess that protocol for giving it to chemo patients differs from others, and my doctor was the one who brought it up, not me. I'm obviously no doctor, but the clotting would depend not on total volume but on the hematocrit, so the plasma keeps the blood thin enough not to clot when there is as much plasma as cell mass or more. So if a person is dehydrated and has a low plasma volume, maybe that would mean he's more likely to have problems with clotting... unless like us he's got low plasma volume AND low cell mass volume. Does that make any sense?

So like many of you I have low blood volume and have been discussing the use of procrit with my dr. for a long time. I have low cell mass and low plasma, but my hematocrit is 40, so the cell mass is just slightly lower. If I start on the procrit, i can theoretically keep using it as long as my hematocrit doesn't go above 50. But since I have low plasma volume, will building up my cell mass through procrit cause the plasma to increase by association, or how else do you raise plasma volume, too? Sodium and water hasn't done it so far, and you can't take DDAVP/desmopressin along with procrit. Since both are low, even when my hematocrit reaches 50, I'll still be hypovolemic. Maybe I'm just having too much brain fog, but do you know what I mean? Thanks!

According to what I found, the beta adrenoreceptor hypersensitivity causes POTS in allowing blood pooling through veins with decreased response to vasoconstriction. Whether yours would be secondary from the JHS or the Partial Dysautonomic form, I wouldn't be able to say.

I"m going to see Dr. Abdallah next week- he's on the DYNA board and was recommended to me. If you want to stick with your doc, he can always refer you to JH for the test (if they perform it there). I didn't ask myself, but is it worth e-mailing Bonnie (since she's better at responding!!) and asking her if she knows or if she can find out what the results mean? I know how frustrating it can be, so I hope you find someone willing to help you!

Yeah I get that too. Sometimes I have to remind myself that my head isn't tilted! Sorry you're having troubles.. no fun at all. I hope the doctor can help!