Rants

RIDICULOUS RANTS AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR LOCAL PAPER

We all read the rants and Raves from the paper. As much as I would like to deny that I read the weekly spewing of anonymous venom, I can't. Occasionally a little tid-bit of positive commentary is thrown in. Just to ease our conscience. But we all read the rants..that's why we read it. I don't have access to all the Rants, The Franklin Press gets, but I'll bet there are some dooseies. Every week there is one, so out there, so idiotic, that if I had put it in. I would want to be anonymous too. I would not want anyone to know. This weeks choice was:

If the U.S. postal Service would stop spending so much on Food Network and sporting events, maybe it would be fine financially.

What????

According to 2008 financial disclosure the USPS LOST 2.2 Million dollars. Which is more than 50% less than what they lost in 2007. It was over 5 million.

The question is do they spend 2.5 million on sporting events and the Food Network. OK... I can go along with sporting events. Its not cheap to advertise there. BUT, the Food Network...really how much can you spend on the Food Network. And what kinda person watches the Food Network to see the USPS Ads??? It boggles my mind. I can see why they would want to be anonymous .So would I.

Does The Postmaster General read the Franklin Press. Would he read the rants.

Why waste your energy on a rant when you could call the Postmaster General's Office, or email them. Or better yet..Send them a LETTER

Duke Power wants to raise its rates. To build a coal fired plant. Building a Coal Fired Plant doesn't bother me. Coal is required to be cleaner in the US than anywhere in the world. We have plenty of it. Everybody knows we need the jobs.( Except for the crazies out in Hollywood..But I am not going to go there.) But why raise our rates to do it instead of taking it out of the CEO'S pockets. My bottom line is in the red..how about yours Duke(like they read my blog!). My solution ...If everybody only paid half their bill for just one month, Duke might sit up and take notice.!! Of course, we would all be sitting in the dark. Boy, that would show them...yeah right.

BIGGEST MORONS IN MACON

Teens Throwing Explosives at the Wayah Tower.

These idiots not only used explosives at one of the most beautiful views in our county they video taped it and put it on YOUTUBE!!!

Apparently these moronic young men do not work or go to school. I would give them a choice. Army or jail. If they slack off in the Military they could always go back to jail. I have no sympathy for these morons.

LORD, I pray that I have raised my son not to do these things.

Prayers to all our neighbors who are struggling with the rain.

Instead of complaining, whining and just being petty..do something constructive. Don't hide behind a rant to spew your venom like a snake. Talk to your neighbor..find the people in charge talk to them . As I tell my son...God is video taping everything you do.

AngelCove.us (AngelCove) on Twitter

AngelCove.us (AngelCove) on Twitter

Home - Modest Needs®

Home - Modest Needs®

It's amazing how as you get older some of the things you learned as a child, and believed change. Mostly that's okay. When I learned that Noah's animals came on the ark not just in a pair. Only the unclean animals came on in twos and the clean animals came on in sevens. This didn't shock me. Actually it made a lot more sense. I always wondered how everybody was fed. Now I know. But did you know that Cinderella's stepsisters cut off their toes to try to fit into the glass slipper.?! And that the little mermaid doesn't get the prince but ends up dying. I much prefer the way Walt Disney rewrites literature. His is a much better world.

This is the last page on PBC from my earliest pamphlet. I hope it helped someone out there.

PBC

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

Liver transplantation is now an accepted form of treatment for chronic, severe liver disease.

Advances in surgical techniques and the use of new drugs to suppress rejection have improved the success rate of transplantation. Because of the disease,s slow progress, it is possible to plan elective transplant surgery. Survival rates at transplant centers are well over 90%, with a good quality of life after recover

SUMMARY

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a slow, progressive disease. Once diagnosed, treatment is directed at managing symptoms and slowing down the liver damage. A great deal of research is underway aimed at discovering the cause, preventing damage to the bile ducts and liver., improving symptoms, and prolonging life. Transplantation is now a standard form of treatment for advanced disease. By working closely with the physician, there is a good reason to expect a favorable long-term outlook.

I was fortunate that I had good drs and a great hospital. I did not get the itching as intensely as other PBCers have. I had to have 2 liver transplants within a month. I am so blessed to be here. Thanks to all the prayers and my wonderful friends and family.

We have the sweetest little dog. At least we think we do. This is what Jordan did to our little dogs picture. They fight like siblings. If Jordan and I are sitting next to each other, Ceazar will jump up between us, and try to push Jordan out of the way so he can get all the attention.

PBC DIAGNOSIS

PBC diagnosis is based on pieces of information. Itching and fatigue alert the physician that bile ducts may be damaged. As previously mentioned, high levels of certain liver enzymes in the blood are important clues. Probably the most important laboratory test is one for mitochondrial antibodies. Mitochondria are the energy sources within cells. For unknown reasons a protein antibody develops against them in 95% of PBC cases. The physician must look at the whole picture to make the diagnosis of PBC. Often the physician x-rays the bile ducts to rule out other causes of obstruction. This x-ray, called an ERCP, is performed under light sedation. A lighted, flexible endoscope is inserted through the mouth, stomach, and then into the small intestine. A thin tube is placed through the scope into the bile ducts on the x-ray. As the disease progresses, a liver biopsy is needed to determine how much damage hoccuas rred. Under local anesthesia, a slender needle is inserted through the right lower chest to extract a small piece of liver for microscopic analysis.

I never had to have a biopsy until after my transplant. I had a picture of my liver. When I had my hysterectomy my doctor took a picture of my liver and gave it to me. I was a really sick little puppy, more so than anybody thought. How many people can say that. If it is weird, It will happen to me.

Do you remember The Dancing bear from Captain Kangaroo?? I loved that show as a child. Looking back..you know Mr Green Jeans was kinda scary. They tried to remake it, but it was a flop. We were more innocent then. I think there is a Bucky Covington song there somewhere...

PBC SYMPTOMS

PBC occurs in both men and women, but women get the disease 10 times more often than men. It usually begins between the ages of 30 and 60. Early in the disease, many patients have no symptoms. The only findings may be abnormal blood laboratory results. For example, a high level of the liver enzyme called alkaline phosphatase may be found in the blood. Itching fatigue are common symptoms later in the disease. Itching is caused by bile entering the bloodstream.

As PBC progresses, other symptoms occur. there may be jaundice(yellowing of skin and eyes from excess bile in the blood), cholesterol deposits in the skin, fluid accumulation or edema, and darkening of the skin. Other immune related problems may be present. For example. the tear and salivary glands may not function properly, causing dry eyes and mouth. Arthritis and thyroid problems may be present, and osteoporosis can develop in later stages. The bones become soft and fragile, leading to increased risk of fractures. The development of cirrhosis is the end result of PBC.

I used spell check on this one..sorry about the typos on the last post..hope they were not distracting...

Causes of PBC

I did not have any liver problems in my family history. I only suffered from allergies once in a great while and I do not have lupus or RA. However, I had surgery on my legs as a child and I have used Tylenol since it came on the market. I don't give my son Tylenol.

Causes

The exact cause if PBC is unknown. Scientist believe there could be more than one contributing factor. While it does not have the traits of an inherited disease, it dows appear more often in some families. People with PBC sometimes have a history of allergies or autoimmune disturbances--that is when the body's immune system recognizes a partof the body as foreign and injuries or goes to war against it. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are examples of autoimmune disorders.

PBC:
So many people don't understand this disease. If you know what you are dealing with its easier than dealing with the unknown. I was lucky because I found good Drs and live in the state of NC which has the research triangle. I tried to scan and download some of the information I have but I am technology challenged so here is some of it. If this helps one person then it is always worth it.
PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS is a disease of the bile ducts inside the liver. It progresses slowly so patients may lead active, productive lives for many years. In PBC, the bile ducts in the liver become inflamed. The inflammation is chronic(constant over a long period of time),and causes scaring that eventually blocks and destroys the bile ducts.
This condition interferes with the proper drainage of bile, so the bile backs up into the liver and into the bloodstream, causing various symptoms.
Eventually the liver itself becomes badly damaged and scarred.
This is known as cirrhosis.

A Trip to the Doctors

So we headed to Chapel hill on Sunday. Tim had just worked a 12 hour shift @ Jackson Paper and Jordan and I got to pack the car and pick him up. I forgot pillows and blankets. We picked him up at 6:15 and headed out on the4- 5 hour drive. His idea of Sunday dinner was a drive through at a McDonalds. I don't eat there, and just had an Apple Pie. Nothing for me after midnight....I have tests tomorrow. We pull up at the Holiday Inn where we always stay and I go in and realize that I made reservations at the Holiday Inn Express. Its 5 miles up the road and my guys (Tim and Jordan) act as though I have just committed a crime. They are tired and hungry. Hello I was in the car too..I am tired too..I apologize profusely for the mistake and they do not cut me a break...until it makes me mad.. Then all is forgiven. The new place has a fridge, flat screen TV and microwave. Plus they gave us goody bags..Thank goodness. I ate them at 12:05 but don't tell my radiology people. And they had free breakfast. So I thought it turned out OK. Wake up call @6:00am, out the door at 7:00, In ultrasound by 8:15. Blood work at 9..and I head to Dr. Jama Darling's for my 10:40 appointment. I realize that I do not have my bag of medicine. I freak out...I cant miss my medicine..One missed dose can send me into rejection. I have everybody in UNC looking for my bag including security. It cant be found..finally I call Tim, They are at the Barnes and Nobles.Just got there...I ask him to bring my extra Neoral (IMMUNE), I lost 5 bottles of medicine. Which includes the one that keeps me from freaking out. I am freaking out!. Tim calls me back..my bag of meds are in the car. Oh! MY! Dr. Darling is late I wait for a 10 minute talk with her until 12:15. I got lost 3 times in the hospital..trying to find everyone and looking for my meds. I head to the transplant clinic. Hoping for new tummy tuck and getting to see my favorite Dr. Dr. Kozlousky. (siiigghhhh..my hero) I look up and its the British guy..yuck. ..our hermit crab has a better bedside manner. He isn't going to do anything.Oh well..the good news: I'm doing great...I don't have to go back until April.(barring disasters) I'm grateful...
I think I'm going back to being a redhead or a brunette...I think this blonde hair is getting to my head. No offense to my wonderful and very smart blonde friends..whom I love very, very much.. But I just gotta ask ...How do you live like this.?!