Rave: Randall Cunningham (a former USN Top Gun) got 8 years and a $1.8M fine.

Rant: He deserved the full 10 year term.

Rant: Government is filled with similar folks.

M

OWJ,
I suspect the unfortunate woman has the familial BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, so bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is not unreasonable.

In the face of all this very bad medical news, I hope everyone was able to access the BEIR VII report.

I cannot count how many times I was criticized for refusing to radiate children and young(er) adults for unneccessary diagnostic CT exams (mostly, additional exposure sequences after the std dx exam).

The professional radiology community has always been skeptical of "screening CT exams" as part of executive physical exams, but typically, the financial incentives ruled. One of the earliest and most frequent users was an internationally known clinic in the DFW area - Primum non Nocere? -only God knows how much harm "they" and other money-driven individuals/groups may have done.

Unfortunately, the "long knives" in the Medical Litigation community are being sharpened as I write and the outcomes will affect everyone: many for the worse.

Paz y amor esta fin de semana, mis amigos.

M

Gosh, I couldn't sleep this morning! This HAS been such a rough week for so many.

GoT, I cannot stop thinking about you and your DH.

Bennnie, I'm so sorry for your loss as well. Regarding the school thing, listen to your heart -- even after they are gone, our parents (and those who have influenced our lives) have a way of tinkering with it. Or so I believe.

OWJ, my prayers are with your friend (and you). BTW, how is you MIL doing lately?

Caph, my friend, hugs, hugs, hugs to you! Just know that when things get difficult, we will be here for you!! My continued prayers for the good health of your husband!

I agree with your rave about nurses who are so supportive. They are gems and a rare breed of people.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures of your son (although, if he is like mine, he will say 1 is enought, lol).

Saraho, thanks so much for your post. It's wonderful to hear from people who've "been there" and come out the other side. It helps me to keep a positive attitude. And to remember that good things do come out of bad situations. I'm so glad that everything turned out well for you.

OWJ, I'm so sorry I didn't mention you in my post. I meant to tell you how sorry I am to hear your cancer news. As you said, thank goodness they caught your friend's early. I was very happy to see a commercial the other day that told how wonderful the cure rate is when breast cancer is caught early. 90 some percent, I believe.

And I also apologize for not responding to your e-mail yet. I think I have cards around here from some of the states you're missing. Just haven't had a chance to look for them. If I do, I'll try to get them in the mail this coming week.

And thanks for your good thoughts!

STW, I bought a disposable camera for my son to take along. What do you suppose the odds are that he'll use it? They're going to the girl's house first for pictures. I'm going to be very upset if he doesn't ask her mom to take at least one picture for me!

STW, I also meant to comment on what you said about deceased loved ones tinkering with our lives. I know I shouldn't admit this in print, but I'm reading the book written by Allison Dubois. She's the woman on whom the tv show "Medium" is based. I really like the show and I wanted to know just how much the show is like her own life.

I'm still somewhat of a skeptic. I truly believe that she believes, that she's not any kind of a scam artist. But I have some trouble reconciling her beliefs with those of, say, Hindus or others who believe in reincarnation.

However, as I said about finding Fodor's when I did, I think there's some fate involved in my happening to read her book at this particular point in my life. I'm finding it very comforting to think my parents might be right here with me right now. And I'm also finding a lot of comfort in her spiritualism, her deep faith in a higher power that isn't tied into any one particular religion. Or at least she hasn't mentioned a particular religion.

So I'm inclined to agree with STW, Bennnie. Your dad and mother-in-law are still with you, helping you.

Mikemo, I've been fighting all the scans for years and years here, as well. And I refuse to get the constant bone and dental jaw bone scans that they want me to get to "register progress". And sometimes or someday if it backbites me, so be it.

PM, after menopause the lack of some hormones also makes the cholesterol counts change a great deal regardless of what you are eating. They have about half of the adults in the USA who see a doctor at all and are over 55, taking statins. Some geographic areas the count is up to 70 or 75%. Does it do some good? Probably does. Does it make a lot of money for some entities? You bet. Are some people taking it for absolutely no real reasons. YES, YES, YES. Are some people walking around stiff and sore as if they had terrible athritis from the muscle soreness from the statins. Yes. My guy has been taking it for a couple of years and he has NO high cholesterol, they just want his to be "slippier".

If your GOOD cholesterol is about say a 42 or 46, I wouldn't take anything. I am not a doctor, but I know medical research journals. The HDL is the prime factor. I have horrible total cholesterol counts, but my good HDL is 64. I no longer take statins regardless of what my totals are. If you have a count of HDL that is under 40- take them regardless of your weight.

If you don't want to take a statin, ask your DR. about Zetia- it doesn't dwell in the entire body, just the gut.

Don't forget that you are your body's "boss" and that if your doctor insists you take something, you better have a real good explanation from him/her about exactly why- with your counts in every category laid out in front of both of you. I always refuse some tests and decline medicines that I "have" to take. Doctors are not pharmacists for one thing.

Read all the literature too. People may ask, why go to the doctor if you don't listen to them. Well, it's a two way street, and they have to listen to YOU too. You find one who does the partnership and not the paternal.

I've saved myself from endless medicine side effects this way. I have a genetic bone/blood problem, know since I was 15, and if I didn't have this attitude, I would have been toast by now from substances that I would have imbibed. Most probably would not have had kids either.

Do you remember all, when the doctors dictated you drink cream etc. for ulcers? Well that was one of the very worst things you could have done. Or when then insisted that you lay the baby on their stomaches (my oldest two he was a tyrant about this.) Well, when you know better, you do better- but that doesn't mean that doctors have all the definitive answers. Most of the time that is why it is called a "practice".

Sorry to soapbox. But it just drives me crazy seeing the end stages of life as I do too and girls making themselves constantly sick over food issues. We do have to die of something.
Maybe I'm getting to be too far the other way, I know- but I'm starting to understand the old Viking or Roman philosophy a bit more deeply as I age.

For people like GoTravel's family that is SO HARD at the other extreme.

GoT, when I lost someone young and very before his time, I always got some comfort later on in reading the poem by A.E.Houseman- To An Athlete Dying Young. Not now, but later. Now there is no answer to a reason why.

Never got back to FFR&R after posting during the week from hell last week but many thanks to all who sent me kind thoughts.

To Go Travel, my deepest sympathy and condolences on the loss of your stepson. It's awful anytime we lose someone close to us but particularly tragic when it's your child; young or not.

Sending sympathy also to PM, bennie, rncheryl and ed on your loved ones' passing.

Thinking of all (ethel, JJ5, divingaggie, STW, OWJ, CAPH) who have family and friends struggling with illness.

To all going through trials and tribulations, remember we haven't been promised days without pain, sun without rain or laughter without sorrow. Rather, we are promised strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

Kenm, sorry to hear about you getting squeezed out of a job and hope you find another/better one without missing a beat.

Happy 30th Otto:)

To Statia and Tiff for making lemonade out of lemons and always seeing the glass half full.

Mikemo, thanks for the BEIR VII link. Hope our son who is a radiology resident can guide us through our healthcare issues.

Hi Caph, I have to run out, but I just wanted to say that the ratio between the HDL and the LDL is key. In fact, I just received my lipid panel profile in the mail.

Diet is important! I know that I will have to die of something one day (and I understand what you are saying JJ5), but I don't want it to be of something that I have some control over. I see what my father has to live with - he made bad choices.

I have lots to say on this issue, but want to choose my words carefully. In fact, I wish there was a way that I could privately email you.

I'll get back to you. Did your son have to rent a tux for this dance? :)

PM, hugs to you. I keep forgetting to tell you that. Hang on to your delightful sense of humor. :)

okieinkauai, If you can, please let us know on Tuesday or Wednesday how the funeral you told us about went. I hope it goes well.

GoT, I am sending many, many warm hugs to you. I am so sorry for your loss, and my heart is with you. @};-

CAPH52, I continue to keep your husband in my thoughts and prayers, and I send a big hug to you as well. I think of you often, and all that you are both dealing with. @};- I hope your son will have a wonderful dance, and that he will remember to get Mom's pictures! :-)

Eerie follow-up to my post of yesterday.

When my wife didn't get any response at the farm she called around in the upper mid-west to various relatives and finally got the cell phone number of one of her nieces.

She called and got her just a few minutes after my wife's BIL died.@};-

ed, I'm sorry for your wife's loss. She and your family are in my thoughts.

STW, I certainly have no problem with your emailing me. But I'm a little nervous about posting my address as I only have the one (no extra accounts on hotmail, yahoo, etc.). It's probably pretty easy to figure out though anyway! Otherwise, you have any suggestions for getting the address to you?

No, no tux for this one. The girls wear formals but the guys mostly just wear a shirt and tie. No suit or even sports coat.

As for the ratio thing, last year my bad had come down significantly and my good had gone up a fair bit. Am hoping for the same this year but suspect that won't be the case unless I get the weight down again too.

Although I think exercise is just as important as the weight itself. I've read several places that, in terms of cleaning fats out of the blood, short bursts of activity throughout the day seem to be more beneficial than one long period of exercise. And, based on last year's blood work results, I'm inclined to feel that was the case for me.

I walk to and from school for both lunch and crossing guard. It's only a quarter of a mile each way. But I try to go the long way around, adding another quarter mile, as often as I can. On a really good day, that brings me up to two miles total for the day. Plus making sure that I always park at the back of the parking lot when I'm running errands!

And I had gotten firmly in the habit of climbing our stairs, basement to 2nd floor, for two minutes at a time, twice a day. Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time getting back into that routine. But I have to as I have a feeling it really helps. I know when I'm in the routine I can feel a real increase in my lung capacity, endurance, etc. I had read about it in Prevention Magazine. The article was about a study in which people who got no other exercise did the stair climbing thing three times a day. I figure since I'm also walking, twice a day is probably sufficient. And, believe me, my legs couldn't take it three times a day!

Bonnie, thanks so much for your good wishes. I hope he has a good time too. I suspect he's a bit nervous!

CAPH dear, you and your husband and family have been in my mind..and you certainly will be Monday morning.

It is nice your husband feels up to visiting his mother and can imagine how glad she will be to see him, sure this has all been hard on her also. And maybe some quiet time will do you good.

Your son's first dance, how special. They grow up to fast don't they. Imagine he was quite pleased to be invited..that is a good ego booster for a young man.

Take good care of yourself, and yes, climbing stairs is very good exercise as is walking of course. It helps with stress also.

Big cyber hugs to you CAPH.

Re: Serum Cholesterol.
The evidence is now overwhelming that bad LDL levels should be below 100mg/dl, and below 70 in symptomatic (known heart and vascular disease)patients and diabetics.
Good HDL levels should be >60 mg/dl.
After watching my LDL increase about 5% every two years for a couple decades, I agreed to take 10mg of Lipitor daily. My LDL is now +/- 100 and my HDL which had been in the low 90's was 132 most recently (I have some protective genetic "defect").
I buy 90 Lipitor 20mg at www.Canadadrugsonline.com for $145. US (+$10. S&H) and cut 'em in half.
Still less expensive than MX.
M

Caph--thank you for your words, and I pray for you and your family. It is amazing how much stronger we are than we had originally thought. I, too, had bookmarked this site for years before I had the "guts" to start actually joining in. I'm so glad that I did.

My mom passed away this afternoon, but it was peaceful, and she was surrounded by family and friends. Thank you to all of your prayers. I pray for strength for everyone who is suffering or has loved ones who are suffering. And I pray for peace and acceptance for those of you who have lost a loved one.

divingaggie~ you have my deepest sympathy. Hope you find peace, also.

ed & divingaggie - my sympathies to both of you and your families.

Ed and DivingAggie, may comfort be with you and your families.

Haven't posted for awhile, been busy.

CAPH and OWJ-@};-

GoT-So sorry for your loss.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

Mikemo-Just curious if you have any problems taking Lipitor. My Mother had to stop taking it because of muscle weakness.

amosu-I have a coupla boxes of Samoas you can have! O:)

Rants-A local woman who was arrested multiple times for drunk driving crashed head on into a tree killing her 6 year old. According to the emt's on the scene she didn't even know the child was in the car with her. Sad, very sad...

Rave-Dd's second grade class did a presentation of their favorite "fairy tale." They were all so cute!

Have a great weekend everyone! Hugs to those in need...

Ed and Divingaggie: I'm so sorry for your loss.

Caph: I think and pray for your family often. I hope your son had a great time at the dance!