Hi everyone - update..........

[Mars]

HI everyone!
It's terrible that I stay gone so long without posting but life seems to get in the way sometimes. I'm reading all the time but don't seem to post......... sigh

Things are still very much up in the air around here. I am still struggling with kidney stones, especially on my left side. I was at the hospital last week after struggling for a week with pain and spasms. My GP is located at a hospital so he was able to administer a shot of toradol to help with the immediate pain. I had a CAT scan and it showed "gravel and calcium deposits" down near the bladder. I went to the urologist yesterday and was issued Vicodin to take when OTC meds don't work; a low grade antibiotic (Nitrofurantoin - generic for Macrodantin) to assure that the on-going issues didn't cause an infection and, Flexeril to help with the spasms. This has been going on for months now - the first stones in the spring of 2008 I think.

I haven't found employment yet but have been looking. I retained an attorney last week to fight my unemployment which has been denied twice now. I have to appeal again and then it will be set for a hearing. Jeez - attorney's are sooooooo expensive!!!

I am still working on retaliatory firing and other issues as well. This whole thing has been awful for our personal life and my mental health!

Larry is doing well and working, thank God! He is still working through the pain in his back and taking so many meds to help with that and his breathing.

Nichole and Jordan are well. Trisha and her family are doing pretty good too. The baby (Jake) is healthy and I want to see him soooooooooooo bad. My SIL is having serious BP issues and is being treated by the Army docs (which I have a bad opinion of).

My general health has been so-so. No problems with the MC luckily but other issues have kept me down. The kidney problems are really making life rough right now. The urologist says that he is positive that he isn't missing cancer or a serious issue with them but keeping me without symptoms has been a trial. I have a scope into my bladder in February to make sure that I don't have any stones in the bladder. I am having problems with my BP also but guess it could be related to the on-going stress.

I have everyone in my prayers on the board. It seems that so many people are suffering in one way or another. I miss you all!

I'll try to be "on" more often and keep in touch again. It might help keep my mind off of my own problems!

Love and hugs to you all!

Mars

[Rosie]

Mars, I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with health and employment problems. Life can get so complicated sometimes....... But at least you are doing what you can, and hopefully your issues will resolve.

Take care,

Rosie

[tex]

Hi Mars,

Wow! Fate is sure mistreating you these days, and I'm so sorry to hear of all the problems. It seems that sometimes when one thing goes wrong, all the other bad things notice it, and take the opportunity to jump on us, and kick us while we're down. I'm glad to see that you're hanging tough, and fighting back.

I hope that your urologist can get the kidney stone problems under control pretty soon. That would certainly make it a lot easier to deal with the other issues. As you're well aware, it's hard to concentrate enough to get anything at all done, when you're hurtin' all the time. I don't understand why that's taking so long - I thought that's what urologists were for.

It's good to see you posting again, though. I sincerely hope that things start falling into place, so that you can get all this stuff behind you, ASAP.



Love,
Tex

[Gloria]

Maggie,

I can't believe you've been dealing with kidney stones for two years. I've heard that they are very painful. You've had many issues and to deal with this past year.

I hope that the unemployment situation gets resolved soon. Employers will sometimes get away with whatever they can. Hopefully retaining a lawyer will make them more responsive.

Gloria

[Polly]

MARS BAR!

Good to hear from you. I hope things start looking up soon. It is amazing how upbeat you always sound - you seem to be such a positive person! Kidney stone pain is the pits, isn't it? So is dealing with lawyers (hope I don't offend anyone here). BTW, did the eye problem finally resolve?

Love,

Polly Wolly

[starfire]

Mars,
It's always so good to see a post from you.

I an another that can't understand why they can't do something about the stones. I'm sure you have suffered long enough with that problem.

Are your eyes A-OK now?

Good luck with the unemployment. I do believe you deserve at least that much.

Love, Shirley

[Mars]

Hi POLLY WOLLY -Shirley - Gloria - Wayne!
Yep, eyes have been doing ok - they seem to get that crusty discharge more often than what I think is normal but hey............no more infections like before. I find I have to use eyedrops to keep them moist but that is better than before! Thanks for asking!


The unemployment issue really has me Pi$$ed off (sorry if I offend anyone) but it really has me in that mood!!!!!!!! I worked for this agency for almost 13 years and I think I at least deserve unemployment!!! We shall see. I have to appeal it again and then they will schedule a hearing that is generally done via conference call. Another hourly rate paid to the attorney to sit with me during the appeal process - oh could I just on that!!!

Hugs to all,
Mars