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teresag

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Everything posted by teresag

  1. FDA alerted healthcare professionals of reports of patient deaths associated with the use of radio frequency (RF) ablation devices during lung tumor ablation. Patient selection, subsequent treatment, and technical use of the RF device, including placement and operation, may have contributed to the fatalities. While RF ablation devices have been cleared for general indications- ablation of soft tissue by thermal coagulation necrosis- the devices have not been cleared specifically for lung tumor ablation. Healthcare professionals should use caution when operating RF ablation devices, adhering strictly to information contained in the labeled operating instructions, Operators Manual, the Manufacturer's Instructions for Use and any training provided. Additionally, if healthcare professionals plan to use RF ablation devices to treat patients with lung tumors, they should consider enrolling patients in an approved clinical study, where training is available. Read the complete MedWatch 2007 Safety Summary including a link to the FDA Public Health Notification regarding this issue at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007 ... .htm#Radio
  2. Amen, Rich! Looking forward to reading your ten-year message right here. You are one remarkable person - you know that, right? With best regards, Teresa
  3. I am so sorry, Randy. Having just lost my Crystal cat, I have some idea how sad you must feel. Daisy with your wife in heaven is a lovely picture to contemplate; I hope it gives you some solace. - teresa
  4. "the uni-boob issue", Snowflake!
  5. Flowergirlie, I am so sorry that your beloved husband is gone. Peace to you and your family, Teresa
  6. Oh Barb, I am glad you are somewhat better now. Please do not let it get this bad again before calling your doc. With prayers (always) for improvement, Teresa
  7. Admitting that things are not right, and seeking help for yourself are acts of courage! Everyone here knows that; do not let anyone say otherwise. I bet your Mom would be proud of you now. With wishes for better days soon, Teresa
  8. I've seen these before (except of course Welthy's orginal contribution!), but every time they crack me up. Thanks for a laugh, Ann. Your're so good at finding these funnies! - Teresa
  9. Just saw this one today: I am deeply sorry for the pain you must be experiencing. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you now, I can only tell you that I'm wishing you peace, Teresa
  10. The Columbia River Gorge national scenic area. Driving the scenic highway you pass countless waterfalls, tiny to huge. The highest is Multnomah Falls, 500 feet high. You can see the dramatic change in topography and climate as you pass over the Cascade range into central Oregon high desert. Spectacular!
  11. Missy, I love dachsunds! Two of my sisters have had them. How beautiful that your Mom's is there to share the journey. Thank you, Don. I know this pales in comparison to the troubles usually voiced on this board, but our pets are indeed family. She was much loved. Flowergirlie, thank you. This morning is the first one in 10 years that I have awakened to a world without Crystal. And, yes, the world's the same - but a little bit diminished. Beth, I think pets show us what our relationships can be if we remove all guile, all pride. You are so right - it has much broader meaning than our love for an animal. Teri, I have no doubt that your cat waited for you. How wonderful that she was able to sit on your lap, the most comfortable place in the world for her, when she died. Kasey, how wonderful that your pet "showed you the way" through chemo. He sounds like a wonderful dog. Katie, LOL about your falling in love with the kittens! Did you know that usually people are allergic to their saliva, not dander? Bathing helps; but you have to start now while they are young or they will not let you do it as they grow up. Susan, such a wise sentiment: she did teach us. And your perspective on the days that remain with your Mom is beautiful. Nick, thak you. Eclipse is a great name for a skunk! (Black and white.) Wiesia, I can't say if she was really depressed. Only on her last day did her tail stop gently wagging when I spoke her name. I think she just had no energy left. In fact, they had trouble at the vet getting an IV because her BP was so low; she was badly dehydrated. I am remembering, and telling my husband, all the things I know about end-of-life, e.g., buildup of carbon dioxide, endorphin release, and so on - and I think she was very, very weak but relatively comfortable. I hope this knowledge gave my husband a bit of comfort; he was hurt more deeply than I, I think. Thank you again, everybody, for your kind and wise responses to my sadness. I have learned something else from Crystal: how warm and comforting it is to be on the "receving" side on this board. Fondly, Teresa
  12. Just thought you all might wish to know: today our little Crystal girl was gently put to sleep, while my husband and I held her and whispered to her that we love her. She took a turn for the worse Saturday. Last night, I took out the sleeping bag & slept beside her on the floor, so we had one last night close together. My husband returned from his business trip this afternoon & immediately we headed to the vet. She did not deserve a second day in that condition. We will miss her terribly, but we know that our grief comes directly from the love she brought us. Just a few random personal remarks - (I want to reply to every one of you individually but I don't have time right now): 1. Randy, I hope your dog continues 2 B B9! 2. Snowflake, what a terrible year; I hope you & your family never endure anything like it again. 3. Jackie, Crystal has left her (paw)prints on our lives, and we will cherish them forever! Her soft little paw pads were a mottled grey and pink. Thank you for that lovely message. 4. Tammy, so well said! Crystal did show us what we could be, if only we were more patient, more humble, and more giving. I asked my Dad to show Crystal around heaven, so she will have a guide - I imagine he has already shown her to the canned kitty food aisle. Thanks, Dad! (Miss you both.) Many thanks for your kindness, everyone. - Teresa
  13. 44% (Yankee). Barely into the Yankee category. A lot of my responses were "Great Lakes" region. Which is right, since I grew up in Ohio.
  14. I'm sorry that you are going through such pain, Loretta. You deserve your time to grieve. So cry for a while, curl up & sob if you need to, and then you will have more strength for the work that lies ahead. I do not know how it is, because I've never been in your position, but nonetheless you have my sympathy. With best wishes for you on your difficult journey, Teresa
  15. Good heavens! Your beautiful messages are making me cry right here at work! I believe it's true: they can teach us so very much; they can show us the way through our troubles. So nice to know that others feel so strongly about their precious pets, too. God bless you all for your kindness!
  16. Forwarding that one to my mental health nurse colleagues!
  17. I know that this is nothing like caregiving for your loved one with lung cancer, but my sweet little girl cat Crystal has end-stage cancer, and it has given me a little bit of insight. If you would indulge me, I'd like to share what has happened and what I have observed. First, let me say that our 3 cats are our "children." Yep, I'm one of those weirdos who collects felines - so far I've had the self-control to stop at 3. Crystal was adopted in 1997 from the shelter weighing just 6 1/2 pounds; thin & frail. My husband's mother loved her at first sight, so we took her home. She had just had 6 kittens. Gray with a white chest and boots and a pink nose, and the sweetest tiny meow. Her gentleness has always delighted us, and even now, as she is dying, that remains constant. Last fall she got a lump on her leg. Vet took one look and said, "It's malignant." An x-ray showed pulmonary mets (Already! From such a tiny lump! Unfair!!) We chose comfort care. Now, she can hardly walk. The tiny lump has taken over her now-useless leg. She has bad days and good days. Yesterday, she retreated under a table and didn't come out. Today, she greeted me when I woke up, ready for breakfast. She is in pain, but has never cried, squealed, whined, or done anything but purr when she is petted, just like always. Her younger "brother" tries to steal her food, just like always, and she lets him. She was never one to fight. Crystal's acceptance is a thing of beauty! I pray that I can be more like her (which I know sounds a bit loopy, but it is true.) The dignity of Crystal seems boundless. And I am thankful for having this example of forebearance in my life to follow. God bless you, Crystal! Thanks for reading this. Again, I know it's nowhere close to what you are experiencing, but I needed to vent to someone who would understand. So thank you.
  18. So eloquently put, Missy. Your first paragraph, "this has a way of sneaking past those barriers" sounds so familiar to me. I burst out bawling after the 1997 World Series, when Dad's team lost, because my Dad wouldn't see another Series, and dammit they were supposed to win for him! Sneaked up on me like a burglar in the night. ((hug)) You are fortunate to have such a loving mother, and she is fortunate to have you. God bless you and her. - Teresa
  19. Lucie, I know you enjoyed your first birthday in heaven. Thanks for bringing your family together so your dear husband would not be alone on that day. - Teresa
  20. If her family truly did not want a eulogy, well that is one thing. But the funeral home not allowing it: that is WRONG! I agree w/ you; a eulogy is for sharing loving memories of the person you all will miss. Everyone at a funeral wants to remember their loved one - and in my experience they enjoy hearing others' stories about the person. Maybe a tastefully written, but very clear, letter to the funeral home about their advising against a eulogy is in order. Sorry for your loss, Teresa
  21. What beautiful names you chose for your little ones! Best of luck to you and yours, Teresa
  22. Yogurt with live cultures (Lactobacillus acidophilus) may help, too. Read the label on the yogurt to be sure it contains the right type of active cultures. Good luck. - Teresa
  23. Wow! That is fabulous news, Mark! With wishes for many, many more milestones passed, Teresa
  24. I miss her very much. On one of my very first posts here, she scolded me for citing research saying that withholding food and water is not uncomfortable. She said something akin to "How do you know?" which of course is true. We cannot know. The way she responded when I explained my point further is what sealed her in my heart. She never held a grudge, she just outright said she disagreed with you. What a fine lady she was.
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