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Grex > Agora46 > #8: I'm Bummed, I'm Bummed, I'm really really Bummed | |
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| 25 new of 594 responses total. |
michaela
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response 438 of 594:
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Aug 18 06:25 UTC 2003 |
Sindi - you can buy some foam mattress covers that fit under a fitted sheet.
They add support and padding. Also, make sure your pillows are
extra-fluffy-feathery types (if you aren't allergic). I don't really know what
to suggest, since I have enough body fat for three people. ;-)
As for the power of attorney form -- can you get that at a hospital? I
remember talking about it with the nurses when I went in for surgery, but I
can't remember (thanks to Demerol) what they told me about the forms. If
anything, I'm sure you can get one at the city offices or a lawyer's office.
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cmcgee
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response 439 of 594:
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Aug 18 11:31 UTC 2003 |
Check the web for a "living will", "durable power of attorney" etc. Because
you and Jim are not married, you may need an attorney to double check that
your family cannot override your wishes if you are not able to make decisions
yourself, like being under the influence of strong narcotics, unconscious,
etc. A simple form may not be sufficient for your situation.
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jmsaul
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response 440 of 594:
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Aug 18 11:49 UTC 2003 |
Sindi, I'm very sorry to hear about this, but stay tough: people beat
lymphoma every day.
Here's the UM Health System page on establishing a durable power of attorney
for health care:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umlegal02.htm
It's a good starting point, but I agree with cmcgee that you should also check
with a lawyer who knows this area of law and see if they think you need
anything else because you and Jim aren't married.
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cmcgee
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response 441 of 594:
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Aug 18 11:53 UTC 2003 |
Also, consider that the most critical issue may not be "which treatment to
give" but whether or not to _withhold_ or withdraw a treatment. Families can
get downright hostile when one person decides that the doctor's recommendation
to withhold or stop a treatment be followed.
That happened recently to a friend who was suffering from cancer. His
family's grief and anger about the cancer got focused on his live-in lover,
who had been there for the 6 months of diagnosis and treatment because his
family lived too far away. When hospice decisions needed to be made, even
though he was pretty rational, his family displaced a lot of their hostility
about the decisions on the lover.
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keesan
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response 442 of 594:
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Aug 18 16:31 UTC 2003 |
My brother would be happy to have someone else make decisions. When my mother
died he went on vacation for three months and left me to empty out the house
(keeping what I wanted) and sell it and do all the paperwork. I talk to him
once a year on his birthday.
I will look at that website next time I sit up.
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tod
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response 443 of 594:
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Aug 18 19:44 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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michaela
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response 444 of 594:
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Aug 18 20:41 UTC 2003 |
My brother beat lymphoma when he was eight years old. Stay strong. :)
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senna
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response 445 of 594:
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Aug 18 22:12 UTC 2003 |
I'm sorry to hear about that, Sindi. What hospital are you attending for
treatment? Cat Scans aren't all that pleasant, but you learn to get used to
them and in the end it's not all that bad. My dad had to get them every six
weeks, and he would barely mention it if we didn't ask about it.
I know of several people who currently live normal lives following various
lymphomas. Even more serious cancers, such as what my dad had, are only
obstacles to be overcome. Good luck. If you want to read something rather
inspiring, read Lance Armstrong's book. Consider, when you read it, that he
just won his fifth consecutive Tour de France this year, tying the record.
I hope things go well.
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jaklumen
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response 446 of 594:
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Aug 19 01:16 UTC 2003 |
I overslept and missed my doctor's appointment for an initial sleep
evaluation-- how bitterly ironic is that-- and had to reschedule to a
time that now conflicts with work.
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jiffer
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response 447 of 594:
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Aug 19 02:00 UTC 2003 |
Good luck Sindi. Though I don't know much about the medical issues, if you
have insurance issues, pop me an email since I do a lot of medical billing.
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michaela
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response 448 of 594:
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Aug 19 05:14 UTC 2003 |
Re #446 - if I'd been the receptionist and you'd called me with that excuse,
it would have been very hard not to chuckle politely at the irony (and then
laugh once the phone was back on the hook). :)
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scott
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response 449 of 594:
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Aug 19 15:26 UTC 2003 |
Didn't sleep well last night, and somehow also picked up an extremely sore
neck in the process.
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polytarp
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response 450 of 594:
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Aug 19 17:10 UTC 2003 |
Take a fucking Benadryl.
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lynne
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response 451 of 594:
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Aug 19 17:51 UTC 2003 |
Dammit. Back to the can't-go-to-sleep, then can't-wake-up cycle. I was
really hoping to be through with this. Especially annoying because I'm
totally exhausted by the time I can call boy, but too tired to make sense,
but can't fall asleep if I hang up either. Bah.
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keesan
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response 452 of 594:
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Aug 19 19:38 UTC 2003 |
Thanks to all three of you with the good stories about lymphoma. That is
really encouraging. I feel better already. Tomorrow I have outpatient biopsy
to determine the details.
Re the sore shoulder - I think I would be okay if the muscle would stop
pulling as I found one position that works. I already have an inch of foam
(that cmopresses to nothing) and two down pillows.
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michaela
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response 453 of 594:
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Aug 19 20:21 UTC 2003 |
I'd tell you to cocoon in some blankets and the sleeping bag, but it's too
hot. :(
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goose
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response 454 of 594:
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Aug 19 21:07 UTC 2003 |
RE#450 that wouldn't do any fucking good.
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senna
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response 455 of 594:
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Aug 19 21:30 UTC 2003 |
I deal extensively with insurance billing myself (what do you do, exactly,
jiffer? I'm mostly registration and problem-solving), so let me know if you
have any questions. Particularly if you attend St. Joe's, Sindi, because I
can tell you who to talk to if I'm not the guy to help.
Then again, my mum could tell you all about the U of M oncology unit, so
there's more resources out there.
People talk about "losing the battle" when someone dies from a disease. I
find that to be innaccurate--everybody dies, not everybody loses. My dad won
his battle with cancer, and it wasn't something the doctors could do for
him--it's all about spirit. Keep yours up, Sindi, and it will do you a world
of good.
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happyboy
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response 456 of 594:
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Aug 19 23:15 UTC 2003 |
re452: consider spending some time on the cube with gabriel chin
(if he's still around). some of the stuff he does might ease
your muscle problems.
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jmsaul
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response 457 of 594:
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Aug 19 23:49 UTC 2003 |
He's still around.
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goose
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response 458 of 594:
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Aug 20 01:38 UTC 2003 |
IBB I learned from an article in the newspaper that a friend, and a damn nice
person, was likely murdered by her boyfriend.
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scott
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response 459 of 594:
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Aug 20 02:05 UTC 2003 |
Yikes.
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tod
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response 460 of 594:
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Aug 20 03:28 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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jaklumen
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response 461 of 594:
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Aug 20 06:57 UTC 2003 |
resp:448 maybe. But at a sleep clinic? No, although it would
normally seem funny, this is actually very, very serious. I'm
starting to get very scared. I hate waking up after a full night's
sleep dead tired or even sleep some nights waking up 3, 4 times a
night. I just about freaked hardcore because missing an appointment
with a referral counts as two no-shows with my primary care physician
and I get dropped. We frantically rescheduled the appointment.
Laugh if you feel like it. I'm actually hurt.
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michaela
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response 462 of 594:
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Aug 20 07:59 UTC 2003 |
I know it is serious, but the irony did not escape me. I'm not actually
laughing AT you or your problem.
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