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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Just wondering how mnay of you have discussed Psycho Babble with you pdocs? I really want to, and really want to say what I read here etc, but I'm worried he'll feel undermined... Like I don't trust him and stuff.. I don't like th eidea of making him feel that way.
it's a week till I see him, but who thinks I should say "hey, the guys on this web site I go on suggest....". Well, hopefully I'm seeing him next week.. thats only if I get the time off work... I have to go into hospital on Tuesday for a needle biopsy after my PAP smear has shown up early sign of cancer... Ho hum, what an exciting little life I lead!
Nikki
ps - I'm not worried about the biopsy / cancer... I have a very very blase attitude to cancer, and *know* that I will have it one day, so why not now!!!
Posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 7:58:34
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Nikki,
I've discussed my activity with PB many times with my doc and he is very supportive of any forum that can help me deal with my problems. The only thing he has said about it is that I discuss any changes to my routine with him first so we can make the decisions together. I feel this is a reasonable and intelligent request. A good doc won't feel threatened by your need to talk to others who share your life experiences.
I hope and pray that everything goes well with the tests on Tuesday (today?). I have been an active volunteer with Cancer patients in the past, many of whom have survived it. Please remember that it is not necessarily a death sentence. Put your faith in God (or whatever you believe to be your higher power), and know that all of us will be praying for you. Man, I sound like a preacher, and believe me, I'm no choir boy!
My thoughts are with you, Nikki. Please keep us up to date on what's going on.
Hugs,
Greg> Just wondering how mnay of you have discussed Psycho Babble with you pdocs? I really want to, and really want to say what I read here etc, but I'm worried he'll feel undermined... Like I don't trust him and stuff.. I don't like th eidea of making him feel that way.
>
> it's a week till I see him, but who thinks I should say "hey, the guys on this web site I go on suggest....". Well, hopefully I'm seeing him next week.. thats only if I get the time off work... I have to go into hospital on Tuesday for a needle biopsy after my PAP smear has shown up early sign of cancer... Ho hum, what an exciting little life I lead!
>
> Nikki
>
> ps - I'm not worried about the biopsy / cancer... I have a very very blase attitude to cancer, and *know* that I will have it one day, so why not now!!!
Posted by ChrisK on June 6, 2000, at 8:06:39
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Nikki,
First of all best wishes for a treatable solution to your current health problems. Please don't take a blase attitude toward cancer. My father was near death with throat cancer about 6 years ago and he was able to survive it. It is a threat than can be treated these days. Even through depression or other mental health problems our bodies can fight through physical problems.
Please, please, please, don't give up on yourself. Even if it's just for the people here who have learned to care about you. Definitely for your family though. There are many people who would be very disappointed if you gave up on yourself.
As far as doctors and Babbleland, I have printed out things to back up what I wanted to try. Some of them have been from the "tips" section and some of them have been from the posts here. He doesn't find it offensive at all. He appreciates that I am concerned enough about my own health that I am willing to research possible solutions.
Don't take any of your current problems lightly. There is a lot here on the web that can help get you thru.
Please stay with us and don't give up any hope.
Chris
Posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 9:02:08
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
My blase attitude does stem from all the experiences I've had regarding cancer... It just doesn't scare me for some strange reason...
Breif History...
Eldest brother severe skin cancer 20 years ago, only just survived really, and has a couple of reccurances.
Mum has breast cancer which had spread to lymph glands... caught and she has been clear for 2 years now.
But then, theres the list of people I've lost through cancer...
My dad...
4 of my dads brothers
both my dads parents...This has been spread out throughout my life, and I think I always knew my Dad would die of cancer for some reason. It has just given me a wierd outlook on it I guess.. but then, I always make sure I have regular PAP smears, check my breasts every month, check my moles regularly, and am always preaching to friends that don't do these things.
Oh, and as a quick aside, my husband had 4 growths removed from his testicles 3 weeks ago.. we get the results on those next tuesday also!!Hmmm... Am I radioactive do you reckon???
Posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 9:31:15
In reply to My blase attitude..., posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 9:02:08
> My blase attitude does stem from all the experiences I've had regarding cancer... It just doesn't scare me for some strange reason...
>
> Breif History...
>
> Eldest brother severe skin cancer 20 years ago, only just survived really, and has a couple of reccurances.
>
> Mum has breast cancer which had spread to lymph glands... caught and she has been clear for 2 years now.
>
> But then, theres the list of people I've lost through cancer...
>
> My dad...
> 4 of my dads brothers
> both my dads parents...
>
> This has been spread out throughout my life, and I think I always knew my Dad would die of cancer for some reason. It has just given me a wierd outlook on it I guess.. but then, I always make sure I have regular PAP smears, check my breasts every month, check my moles regularly, and am always preaching to friends that don't do these things.
> Oh, and as a quick aside, my husband had 4 growths removed from his testicles 3 weeks ago.. we get the results on those next tuesday also!!
>
> Hmmm... Am I radioactive do you reckon???
Nikki, I wonder sometimes if I'm radioactive too (had five mammograms in the past few years). Hope your needle biopsy goes well and that you get an all-clear from your doctor! I had a breast needle biopsy a couple of months ago and I was scared to death. You are very brave! I'll be thinking about you today and hoping things go OK for you!
Also, in response to your question about sharing Babbleland, I frequently print out excerpts and take them to my pdoc.--Cindy W
Posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 11:50:55
In reply to Re: My blase attitude..., posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 9:31:15
I've had 24 x-rays, 6 MRIs, and 3 cat scans (and a partridge in a pear tree) in the last 2 1/2 years and so far I don't glow in the dark. I never get bitten by bugs though.... hmmm
Posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 12:29:39
In reply to Re: Radioactive..., posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 11:50:55
I ahve only ever had 1 x-ray, and a few little dental ones...
Didn't mean to say that something had caused me to be radioactive, just that everyone around me seems to get cancer....
Posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 12:45:54
In reply to Re: Radioactive..., posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 12:29:39
That was just a feeble attempt on my part to get you to laugh. Thought you could use one. Sorry about that.
Greg
Posted by tina on June 6, 2000, at 16:28:49
In reply to Re: Radioactive..., posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 12:45:54
My thoughts and prayers were with you today eventhough I wasn't on babble, just reading. I was at a loss as to what to say to you, Too many emotions welled up when I read your first post. I hope to heaven that your biopsy is negative, my fingers have been crossed to contortionist levels. Love you much, be well ok!!
> That was just a feeble attempt on my part to get you to laugh. Thought you could use one. Sorry about that.
>
> Greg
Posted by Tina1 on June 6, 2000, at 19:44:31
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Everyone remember that psychopharmacolgist I saw a few weeks back? Well, I was sitting in his office giving him a history and he asked if I was in formal therapy. I told him no but I have this great group of people on the net that give me a kind of gruop therapy and he popped out with "Dr Bob right?" He said he was one of Dr Bob's buddies. Weird huh? Just my little anecdote for the evening.
> Just wondering how mnay of you have discussed Psycho Babble with you pdocs? I really want to, and really want to say what I read here etc, but I'm worried he'll feel undermined... Like I don't trust him and stuff.. I don't like th eidea of making him feel that way.
>
> it's a week till I see him, but who thinks I should say "hey, the guys on this web site I go on suggest....". Well, hopefully I'm seeing him next week.. thats only if I get the time off work... I have to go into hospital on Tuesday for a needle biopsy after my PAP smear has shown up early sign of cancer... Ho hum, what an exciting little life I lead!
>
> Nikki
>
> ps - I'm not worried about the biopsy / cancer... I have a very very blase attitude to cancer, and *know* that I will have it one day, so why not now!!!
Posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 21:05:23
In reply to Nikki--How'd it go???, posted by tina on June 6, 2000, at 16:28:49
> My thoughts and prayers were with you today eventhough I wasn't on babble, just reading. I was at a loss as to what to say to you, Too many emotions welled up when I read your first post. I hope to heaven that your biopsy is negative, my fingers have been crossed to contortionist levels. Love you much, be well ok!!
>
> > That was just a feeble attempt on my part to get you to laugh. Thought you could use one. Sorry about that.
> >
> > GregNikki, I too hope your biopsy went OK and that it is negative. We're thinking about you!!!--Cindy W
Posted by Kim on June 7, 2000, at 0:56:30
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Nikki, I hope your tests are negative.
I mention PBabble to my therapist almost every week, but I always refer to it as "my Internet group" or something similar, not as Psycho-Babble.
It's not that I keep secrets from him, but I just would feel funny about him looking over my shoulder. It would be weird to have him know things about me that I hadn't told him.
On the other hand, if he read what I wrote then I would be getting "free" therapy time. ;-) If he were a Pdoc, I'm sure he would figure out a way to bill me for reading my posts. But he's a psychologist and nice guy.
Posted by JohnL on June 7, 2000, at 4:19:31
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
> Just wondering how mnay of you have discussed Psycho Babble with you pdocs? I really want to, and really want to say what I read here etc, but I'm worried he'll feel undermined... Like I don't trust him and stuff.. I don't like th eidea of making him feel that way.
I have never mentioned this site to my pdoc. However, he is aware I do a lot of research on the net. He is aware that one of my sources is the University of Chicago, though the specific destination was never mentioned. He also is aware that I 'know' a lot of other people with mental illnesses and that I talk with them a lot, getting ideas and stuff. But I've never mentioned that these people I talk to are members of an online forum. I'm just a little hesitant about that "net buddies" stigma clouding the picture. As far as he's concerned, I actually talk with everyone here personally. He doesn't need to know we're on the net. It serves no purpose except maybe to undermine the credibility of the information I bring him. That's certainly not to say that what we talk about here isn't credible, it just doesn't "seem" credible when the word "internet" is associated. That is, from the perspective of an outsider who has never been here. I'm just afraid my doc, family, and friends will think I'm online with a bunch of kooks. The few times I have mentioned psychobabble I did run into that negative reaction/negative stigma thing, so now I avoid disclosing my exact source of information.
Psychobabble is my own personal panel of experts. But nobody needs to know where I get my information, just that they know I'm well-informed. If they want specifics, I tell them I do a lot of research at university related websites and I read a lot of books. Though the information I have is no different, it just gives the appearance of being more credible when an outsider doesn't know the information came from an internet chat forum.
Posted by NikkiT on June 7, 2000, at 7:36:31
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
Sorry about all the wibbling yesterday.
Well, it wasn't too bad.. the gyneacologist says there does seem to be something there, but that the procedure would be very simple anyway, so it's not much to worry about.
Think I've also realised I need to do something about my atttude toward cancer...
You were all wonderful for listening and reassuring yesterday.. thanks tons and tons.
And, I thionk I'm gonna bite the bullet and tell my pdic about this place - like someone said, it's my therapy!! If he doesn't like it, tough, cos this place has really kept me going and stopped me drowing in my feeling sover the past few months.
I feel quite good today, and just wanted to make sure I take this opportunity to say that big THANKYOU!
Posted by Tina1 on June 7, 2000, at 9:25:04
In reply to Re: Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 7, 2000, at 7:36:31
Hey Hun, you're always there for us so we're just returning the favour. I'm so glad your appt went well and I'm sure you'll be fine. Your attitude is positive in that you aren't afraid of the future so power to ya. Keep in touch, we love you. tina
> Sorry about all the wibbling yesterday.
>
> Well, it wasn't too bad.. the gyneacologist says there does seem to be something there, but that the procedure would be very simple anyway, so it's not much to worry about.
>
> Think I've also realised I need to do something about my atttude toward cancer...
>
> You were all wonderful for listening and reassuring yesterday.. thanks tons and tons.
>
> And, I thionk I'm gonna bite the bullet and tell my pdic about this place - like someone said, it's my therapy!! If he doesn't like it, tough, cos this place has really kept me going and stopped me drowing in my feeling sover the past few months.
>
> I feel quite good today, and just wanted to make sure I take this opportunity to say that big THANKYOU!
Posted by shar on June 7, 2000, at 11:20:58
In reply to Re: Do your pdocs know about babble land?? » NikkiT, posted by Tina1 on June 7, 2000, at 9:25:04
Nikki,
I don't talk specifically about babble to my doc, but I do talk about getting information from web sites, communicating with people about meds, and doing research on the web.
So glad that your health concern sounds manageable!
I have a sort of blase attitude toward cancer, lost my dad to it. I've had two breast biopsies, everytime I get a mammogram I get a call back. Last time they found another lump and did a second mammogramm (where they try to pressssssss the lump flat--big ouch) and then a sonogram. Decided it was probably ok, and come back in six months.
About every other pap smear I have is "bad." My dr. can never answer the question "if cells are cells, and my cells are bad, why isn't my pap smear bad every time?" I've had a culposcopy and on another occasion a very thorough sonogram (it was no fun at all). All of my mother's sisters and my mother had hysterectomies before age 40.
There is a ton of heart disease in my mom's side of the family.
So, I sort of feel like I'm just waiting around for the inevitable pronouncement. I am 48 so other than the surgery/recovery part, a hysterectomy would not bring an emotional upheaval about having children. I would not want to have breast cancer, though.
I've even wondered if I would get treatment if I had cancer. Especially if it's bad--spending my last days sick as a dog doesn't appeal to me. I would probably go the hospice route and just want a dr. who won't worry about my getting "addicted" to pain meds if I am going to die anyway.
I spent my whole pregnancy being very nauseated and barfing, even getting up in the night to do it. So nausea from drugs to treat cancer...nah.
I felt initial relief that someone felt blase besides me, then you decided a change in your attitude toward disease would be a good thing--so I wish you the very best on all counts!s
Posted by NikkiT on June 7, 2000, at 11:37:53
In reply to Attitudes and Pdocs (way too long!) NikkiT, posted by shar on June 7, 2000, at 11:20:58
I ahve yet to have a mammogram.. they strat at 26 for me as mums breast cancer was hereditory... And I'm still only 25.
Doc says I will probably have something call wire loop diathermy to sort the cervical stuff out... doesn't sound TOO bad... not nice, but not too bad.
As for our attitude - I'm not sure I want to change it as such, just come to terms with the fcat that I won't actually lose everyone around me to it!
It was intertesting you mentioned the treatment... It's something I've thought alot about recently, and I think it would depend one hell of alot on the cancer and stage. With Mum, she had to have quite a radical mastectomy, and the radiotherapy made her feel rough for about 6 weeks.. But that was it...
With Dad though, we'd been told how advanced the cancer was, and we weighed ALL options up (he had 3-6 months, maybe 6 - 8 months with Chemo), and decided that, as it was terminal anyway, that he wouldn't get treatment. he was in a hospice for a shiort time, and they were great... No worries about getting addicted (they were dying so what the hell!) and they even had an alcohol trolly come round 3 times a day! I think we certainly made the right choice in this instance, as his last 3 months (that was all we had in the end) were livable, and we made the most of it all. The end was very hard of course, especially as me and mum cared for him at home, but I do believe if he had had chemo, it would have been alot worse.Tina - ((hugs)) You're a *
Posted by Greg on June 7, 2000, at 12:13:03
In reply to Re: Attitudes and Pdocs (way too long!) » shar, posted by NikkiT on June 7, 2000, at 11:37:53
Nikki,
It was great to hear that you got some good news about your biopsy, I'm so very happy for you, and us. Babble is a better place because of your presense here and we want you to be with us for a long, long time!
I'm not scared of dying either, but being in a lot of pain for a time before it happens frightens me a lot. My family has a history of heart disease and everyone who passed away because of it has gone thru suffering first. I think I'd rather get hit by a bus. Like most men, I don't tolerate pain well. Sorry Guys, but the truth is the truth....
Anyway, I'm grateful for your good news. Maybe those prayers I say every night really do work.
And you're right, Tina is pretty special, but I'm kind of biased when it comes to her.
Greg
Posted by ChrisK on June 8, 2000, at 5:49:33
In reply to Re: Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 7, 2000, at 7:36:31
Keep going and stay strong. Glad things aren't as bad as you might have thought.
We'll all still be here for you.
Posted by NikkiT on June 8, 2000, at 6:37:49
In reply to Do your pdocs know about babble land??, posted by NikkiT on June 6, 2000, at 6:51:16
(I should ahve started a new thread, but, I can't add another to the bottom now...)
Just to let you know, i saw my GP this monring, who agreed I could well have polycystic ovaries. She has taken half an arm of bloods, for all thyroid and hormone work outs, and is reffering me for an ultra sound.
She said, if my thyroid is just low, (not just below their guidelines) she'll still get me seen by a specialist... Oh,a nd my BP was 100/70.. she said this was low but not dangerous... (even though this was taken after 1/2 an hour sitting in the waiting room at drug addict prescription pick up time, so was pretty stressed out).Anyway. I don't think any of feel like posting more than just facts today. Thought I'd let you know, but, it kinda aint so important now is it?
Posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 6:56:14
In reply to GP Update, posted by NikkiT on June 8, 2000, at 6:37:49
> (I should ahve started a new thread, but, I can't add another to the bottom now...)
>
> Just to let you know, i saw my GP this monring, who agreed I could well have polycystic ovaries. She has taken half an arm of bloods, for all thyroid and hormone work outs, and is reffering me for an ultra sound.
> She said, if my thyroid is just low, (not just below their guidelines) she'll still get me seen by a specialist... Oh,a nd my BP was 100/70.. she said this was low but not dangerous... (even though this was taken after 1/2 an hour sitting in the waiting room at drug addict prescription pick up time, so was pretty stressed out).
>
> Anyway. I don't think any of feel like posting more than just facts today. Thought I'd let you know, but, it kinda aint so important now is it?Of course it's important, YOU'RE important. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date. Take care and I hope you have a peaceful day. Love ya--Tina (ps--my blood pressure is 90/60. low but it's never given me trouble)
This is the end of the thread.
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