Barney's Betty

I have been having some nuerological problems and my doctor thinks it may be MS. The only thing keeping her from diagnosing it is the fact that the MRI does not show scarring in the traditional MS areas. We've done at least a dozen other tests to rule out everything else out there that mimics Multiple Sclerosis. The MRI does however show scarring in other areas -- small "BB's" around the cortex areas of the brain. I have a history of really bad endometriosis. My first laparoscopy still holds the title of "worse case he's ever seen" even 10 years later.

Can endometrial lessions in the brian cause similar symptoms to MS?

I don't remember if one or all three of them roll away, get lost, then found again. Any one got an idea what book this may be?

Thanks!

Hubby went in for his annual CT scans (follow up after malignant melanoma removal 6 yrs ago) last week. Today we recieved the results, which were all-in-all good. The only "remarkable" thing was "Fairly extensive paranasal disease noted. What exactly is paranasal sinus disease? Under "IMPRESSION:" on the CT report, clinical correlation is recommended. Does this mean I need to get him into an ENT to check this out? Is this anything to be concerned about?

Thanks!

My brother has a new job in NYC and is house hunting in NJ. I wanted to make them some sort of care package/survival kit for their move to a new area (they are from So Cal). What are some useful and fun things I can include for them, especially to introduce them to the new area/lifestyle? I'd also like to make sure there is something for everyone in there, mom, dad, and the kiddo (5yo). Any ideas?

I don't have a ton of money (I'd love to get them a membership to a museum, but WOW are they costly). I was eyeballing a TONY subscription, would that be a good thing?

Thanks!

Here is the spelling list for last week:

barked

licked

backed

thanked

painted

opened

mailed

remarked

checked

finished

mistake

became

about

few

same

chipmunks

picked

sniffing

south

woods

BONUS WORDS:

square

hexagon

trigangle

trapezoid

parallelogram

Do these seem just a bit advanced for the second grade? Many of the kids are really struggling with these words and a group of parents (myself included) are wondering if they are in line with what other second graders are doing.

What do you think?

I heard a rumor (from a blackjack player) that the Flamingo Las Vegas will be closing February 2008. he said he got a flyer from Harrahs telling them they could play at other properties and transfer their play rating. Anyone else heard this?

Thanks!

My doc ran a CBC w/ Diff W/ Platelet last time I was in to make sure I was doing OK on a new blood pressure medication. He said everything looked good. But when I showed the results to my hubby he turned sheet white -- commenting they looked like some of his results when he had cancer! Here are the values:

WBC -- 10.3k/cmm (marked as high - normal range 4.3-10.0)

Segmented Neutrophils -- 87.9% (marked as high - normal range 42-71%)

Lymphocytes -- 8.8% (marked as low - normal range 24-44%)

Monocytes -- 3.1% (low-end of normal - normal range 2-12%)

Eosinophils -- .1% (low-end of normal - normal range 0.0-2%)

Basophils -- .1% (low-end of normal 0 normal range 0.0-2%)

Looking at the breakdown, most values are low with the Seg. Neutrophils way high. What can be causing this?

The past few months have been a bit tough -- chest pains, fatigue, achy knees and shoulder, dizzy spells, & lots of good old fashioned STRESS! What do you think is going on?

I had an IV last week for a CT scan and the tech managed to go through the vein and dump a fair amount of contrast into my arm. My entire upper arm and upper half of my lower arm swelled to double their size. The pain was horrible when the swelling wasn't making my arm numb. The area above the IV insertion point blistered and weeped for two days after the CT and now look like there will be scars. My arm feels bruised and tired/sore, but looks relatively normal. Is this normal? How long am I going to be sore? Is there anything I can do to help minimize the scarring (a friend said there wasn't much to do since the scarring is from the inside, from the contrast pushing through from deep in my arm)?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated...

My 6 yo loved the movie and really wants one for Christmas. She actually wrote Santa saying that was the only thing she wanted! I didn't see the movie myself so I'm not sure what it looks like, but she keeps talking about a girl and a pink snowman.

Any ideas out there? Thanks!

Where would I go to look for one? I am searching for Kanada/Alaska by Petra Jackle. It is in german with amazing photographs. It was originally published in 1993 and has had a few printings.

Thanks!

Can I substitute honey for the sugar in a jam recipe? Is there any other additions I need to make to make it work (like baking soda with maple syrup)?

Thanks!

Our quince tree is the only one to bear fruit this year. Is there anything else I can make with the fruit besides jelly/paste? I tried substituting it for apples in a crisp recipe with mediocre results. Is there a trick to cooking with quince?

Thanks!

I'm thinking of getting a pre-paid cell phone -- which plans are the best? I've heard mixed reviews of TracFone and Virgin. Any suggestions? The type of phone isn't really important -- it will be for emergencies only.

We have two beautiful little girls with no plans for any more. I miscarried in May and he said that was for the best since he wants no more kids. But the weenie won't go and get himself fixed! I have endometriosis and my doc strongly recommends against tying my tubes (too much scar tissue) and I don't want to go under the knife again (2 laps and 2 c-sections). His mom told him he should do it. His dad told him he should do it. My dad told him he should do it. He feels that he shouldn't have to be the one to "get fixed" since he isn't actually the one who could get pregnant. Withholding sex hasn't worked either -- he can "take care of himself".

HELP!

Has anyone used these? I'm thinking of using two in our girls' room -- my 6yo isn't using all of her twin right now and my 2yo is in a toddler bed. I'm hoping it will help me give them a little more room until they have their own rooms (who knows when that will be, if ever!). The extendable mattresses look a bit odd, and I'm concerned about the sections separating while the kids are on the bed.

Thanks for any advise or tips!

I posted a few weeks back about my doctor and that I might have emphysema. I went to supposedly the best pulmonologist in town for a second opinion -- he thinks I have a bleb in my lung. He has ordered a CT scan (friday) and says that should let us know just what the spot on my chest x-ray is. Anyone know about these blebs? He did comment that I was lucky my lung didn't collapse, which scared me. What questions should I now be asking? HELP!

Was there a certain room patients didn't want to end up in in the movie COMA (1978)? We were talking about this over dinner tonight (we were talking about ON TV, if anyone else remebers it) and how scary a movie this was for us as youngsters. I thought it was a certain operating room, my husband thought it was a patient room. Anyone know?

Hi all. This is my husbands first summer driving a delivery truck. I pack his lunch for him everyday, but we've run into some problems. The food is going bad before he can eat it! Not a good thing. The fact that his truck has no A/C doesn't help (it's over 100 most days here in Vegas).

I pack his lunch in a 16-can sized insulated soft cooler. Lunch usually consists of assorted plastic containers filled with cut up fruit, a salad with no dressing, trail mix (to snack on), and an entree or two (baked potatoe, pasta, grain pilaff, etc). He eats no dairy, so I don't include it in anything in the box. We are having the most difficulty with the fruits and salads. In the luchbox there is also 3-4 .5L bottles filled with fresh juices and/or chilled water. I also put in 4 or more frozen .5L bottles of water to keep things cool (as space allows).

Any suggestions on what to do? Would a hard-sided cooler make a difference? Anyone out there been in a similar situation?

My skin is on the oily side, so when I do wear make up (not very often), it tends to melt away and disappear within a short time of applying it. I'm going to a wedding and would like to look nice. I'll be going from the dry climate here in Vegas to humid So Cal; which usually makes matters worse.

It's my brother-in-law's wedding, so I'll be in some of the pictures. Any tips?

My brother-in-law is getting married in the backyard of his new house. Just a small wedding (75 people), on the casual side. Can I get away with a nice black skirt and sweater set, dressed up with a scarf? Or a fancier mid-calf length black number? What should I wear?