Hi Everyone - Been away for a spell

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:36 am

Hi All:

I've been off the board for a bit. Things have been hectic so I didn't feel I could give this any quality time.

I just saw that Katy is doing better and I am pleased to see this. Katy, you have been through a lot. But I think your days to shine are clearly ahead of you.

Was also interested in the discussion by Gloria about RV's. Joe, I'm surprised you don't have a fuel cell in your Explorer (LOL)? I live just an hour south of what used to be (and perhaps still is) the RV capital of the world. You may recall that Obama visited Elkhart county during his campaign, where the unemployment rate as almost 20%. Fortunately, things are a little better up there and we have a governor that knows how to keep our budget balanced. Mitch Daniels for president!!! BTW, I am also in need of a new or newer truck. It's gonna be a Ford or a Dodge? Anyone have an '11 F150 with the new Ecoboost V6? Curious as to your real world mileage.

As usual, I've been hopping around the country. Was in Portland, OR last week and am going to Allentown, PA and Seaside Park, NJ next week. One is a fatality and the other is just property damage.

From an MC standpoint, I am doing pretty well (or perhaps as good as can be expected). I am getting better about having realistic expectations regarding MC. I have been taking Asacol HD for about a month and to be frank, it seems to sit better with me than Entocort (go figure... I know that is not the norm). I still have not made it to my PT appointments for PFD due to my work schedule, but I feel i am in a manageable state right now. I have an appt with IU medical school in March to go over a lot of things. I hope that visit will be illuminating but I am not holding my breath.

Gabes, that reminds me, I had a lymph massage a few years ago (and lymph drainage) and that was one of the most comforting therapies I have ever had. It helped, for a while, to relieve the pain in my LLQ. Seemed hokey to me at first but I did feel better afterwards. So I am glad you found similar relief.

Kari, I'm still waiting for me return visit to CO. Will let you know.

Marliss, how is your father doing with his treatments?

Tex, we just got hired on a $500M loss in Grand Prairie. How close is that to you? Because that loss is large enough that I may be there for quite a while - perhaps I will relocate :). Too early to tell however.

Will be good to hear from all of you.

Regards,

Rich

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:45 am

Hello Rich, I am glad that things are manageable now with your current meds and diet. I did want to pick your brains regarding travel with MC. I am going back to Brisbane in April for a couple of weeks on personal business and wanted to find out what tips and tricks you have used for carrying your own foods.

I did pretty good last August but would like to learn form the other members experiences as well. I think you tend to travel more than most here. I am assuming like last time that the airline foods and airport foods are verboten.

Also Rich I am thinking of getting one of the newer Nikon bodies that's a bit lighter than my venerable D-300 any recommendations? I will probably stay with Nikon for the lens compatibility. I was thinking of D-90 or a similar Nikon DSLR. I like that size and weight.

--Joe

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:50 am

Rich:

Joe, I'm surprised you don't have a fuel cell in your Explorer (LOL)?

Rich I have designed a variable reactance circuit and hydroxy fuel cell that works on the principle of resonance based on the resonant frequency of hydrogen (10.229 MHz) and it is installed in the explorer. It adds about 6 MPG

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:00 am

Awww Rich you made me cry lots!

Well ok you didn't, but anyway.... Welcome back to the thread, missed seeing you around as much (although I haven't been around myself as often anyway)

Glad to hear that you are well.

Katy.

x

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:11 am

Hey Joe,

Always good to hear from you!

Ok. Traveling tips. Here we ago. And Brisbane, huh? That's a long haul as you know. Sounds like fun. You going to see Gabes too?

Here is how I presently survive (not necessarily thrive) on the road.

1) I avoid early flights whenever possible as mornings are the worst times for my GI. If I must fly early, I begrudgingly take a little imodium. And generally, I am asleep before the wheels leave the runway.
2) I don't usually eat on planes anymore. Unless they have a banana or the like. And that is a real bummer because I normally fly front cabin so I get to smell all the food around me and watch everyone clicking their wine glasses (sigh). Now Delta does serve some salads with chicken strips on them that seem to do me no harm. But I leave the toppings off of it. They like to serve these yummy breadsticks with everything... yikes. Can't do those anymore. I am also able to handle the eggs on Delta so that covers breakfast unless they run out and then I am stuck with the cereal and milk option which is a no go of course. So there are some choices. I have spoken with Delta and they cannot guarantee, of course, GF, DF, SF, etc. but my experiments have demonstrated some safe foods. I can go a long, long time w/o eating when I fly. Another alternative. I know that is not a good idea but it is a way for me to cope and then binge when I land.
3) I pack in my carryon bag the following
a) Dehydrated rice soups (a variety - can't recall the brand) - these are great for when I don't want to eat out or cook, and every hotel has a way to boil water. I can pack a lot of these.
b) A variety of GF, SF cookie and snacks. I grab these when I know I can't trust the proven food servings from the airline.
c) Trail mixes with a variety of nuts - very filling.
4) I carry lomotil, valium, Asacol, and Bentyl (use as needed).

Now I have tried the hotels with the kitchens, and if I am gone for an extended period of time, I do that and cook for myself (as I know you do). But that just isn't very practical for me. So I frequent Outback, Lonestar, Olive Garden, Carrabas, and even Bob Evans. Not sure what Brisbane has to offer that are similar. The Bob Evans has been a real savior to me. I used to hate that place. But I can eat breakfast there any time of the day (eggs not cooked in butter, bacon, and potatoes) and I do fine.

Regarding lighter Nikons. I would probably go with the D90 too because I have tried the D3000-5000 series and they are too cheap and their image quality suffers compared to the D300. Their LCD displays are poorer resolution too. And as you probably know, the D90 shares pretty much the same sensor, Expeed processor, etc. as the D300. The D300 is such a good machine that I think you would be disappointed with anything less. I have been watching the rumor mills about the D400. Will be interesting to see what it brings to the table. I would like a better autofocus algorithm, especially when dealing with low contrast images (as I normally shoot). Perhaps the 300s took care of that. It just wasn't a big enough change from the 300 for me to go that route.

I love, love, love my little Canon G11 (they now have a G12 out). You should check the reviews on it. You would miss your long lens with it but the image quality is excellent and the portability is great. Plus, it has a hot shoe if you need to add a flash (which I do on occasion). I continue to try to find ways to "lighten my load" and the G11 fits the bill well. But it does have some compromises vs a full DSLR setup with interchangeable lenses.

Hope this helps. You've made that trek before if I recall so you should do fine. And if you can sleep well on a plane, I would sleep as much as possible. On the international hauls, I take Ambien.

Regards,

Rich

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:13 am

Hey Rich,

It's good to see you back posting, again.

Rich wrote:Tex, we just got hired on a $500M loss in Grand Prairie. How close is that to you?

About 3 hours, more or less, depending on traffic. The timing is not good, though, because I've just agreed to take on a work project that will demand virtually all of my time for the next couple of months. Since I haven't done much for most of the past year, it's going to have to be "nose to the grindstone", while the opportunity exists. We'll see what happens, though, and play it by ear.

Welcome back,
Tex

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:14 am

Joe,

Love the fuel cell comment. I am absorbing what you described as most of it went right over my head, my friend.

Wouldn't that be a great day to be driving electric vehicles, with all that linear torque, driven via a fuel cell (as I look at getting a new pickup that gets 15mpg).

Rich

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:16 am

Hi Tex,

Your project sounds massive. I sure hope my Grand Prairie loss doesn't scale into something like that. Play it by ear (or GI) as always...

Good to hear from you. Hope you are doing well.

Rich

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:52 am

Thanks Rich for your tips & tricks:

I will be heading Brisbane for the 3 & 4th week of April and like you carry Ambien and Imodium. I also carry my Imuran, Questran and steroids (only if really needed, just a precaution). I take the Ambien about 4 or 5 hours into the 19 hour non-stop leg of the flight from Los Angels to Sydney. That way I wake up about 3 - 4 hours out of Sydney and have time for some coffee and something to eat.

I am glad you are able to tolerate some of the airline foods. As I found out this week salads are well and truly - completely and utterly off my list (bad week after a small salad).

I was thinking of just packing foods like last trip and augmenting the snack foods with safe sandwiches (chicken, turkey ham...) and then the bananas and the snack bars (Lara are pretty good). Usually drinks are not a problem as I carry my own tea bags and there is always water. I have been re-reading the notes from Gloria, Gabes and others about their experiences as well, and will be combing those elements that I tolerate for this trip. The total trip time is about 32 hours.

My agenda has me busy for a handful of days in Brisbane at Queensland University and then I should have some time to say hello to Gabes and of course I will be setting up an appointment with Shauno acupuncturist extraordinaire.

Like you I travel to hotels with a kitchen and cook some safe foods there. That worked out well last time in Brisbane. It was pretty easy to find safe foods at the local supermarkets. Brisbane has some pretty good safe restaurants and overall you will find that food intolerances are dealt with at just about any restaurant there. There is actually an Outback restaurant in Brisbane and while it seems sacrilegious to go there while in Australia, I have to just to say I did LOL

I tend to agree the D90 really looks like the best alternative to the D300 its about 35% lighter and just about 25% smaller. I love my D300 but that was a handful to cart around when seeing the sites. I played with a G12 and a Nikon P-100 and they just wont work due to the lenses. Picture quality was pretty good for the small sensor size, but low light sensitivity was a challenge (ISO 1600+)

It's good to hear that you are doing pretty well

--Joe

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:00 pm

Rich the best way to think of the fuel cell description is it just using resonance to break the molecular bonds of water to separate the hydrogen and oxygen and then burn them both adding to the MPG. As far as resonance, think of it like a opera singer being able to strike just the right note to make the glass shatter.

Every molecule (or atom) or assembly of molecules has a resonant frequency, which is the point at which the most energy an be imparted to the molecule and eventually with the right intensity break it apart into its constituent elements.

--Joe

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:14 pm

Fantastic to hear from you......
and I am really pleased that you have figured out a balance of work and MC management that is working for you ! well done.
i found once i was in my 'routine' of MC foods, dealing with work and going away for meetings was way easier and it sounds like you have done the same.

I will definitely be continuing the lymphatic massage treatments, i am working on the theory that if i cant eat the ingredient that can help or take the supplement that may help i have to use alternatives to get my digestion happy...

Joes trip in April - yes there are plans to catch up, the time that he is here there it is a 5 day weekend in Australia, some friends that live nearby to me their place is next to one of the state forest that used to have gold mines, we plan on doing a bit of exploring and gold panning. That time of year is one of my favourites, sunny days no humidity with cool nights.
these are the friends that i stayed with over xmas when i was first diagnosed with MC, they are a two bathroom house and totally understand the unpredictability of MC. They have seen me pre MC reasonably well eating most things and drinking alcohol, when I first diagnosed using the toilet 5 - 10 times a day and now with my confined eating plan and my determination to be well.
They totally get my 'minor' obsession about using my own cookware and handling of food to protect it from contamination.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:29 pm

Rich,

Glad to see you posting again. I figured you were on the road again. It sounds like you are managing fairly well, or in MC terms, as well as can be expected.

We didn't look at trucks at the auto show, but we checked out many SUVs. One had an extra battery built in. I was pretty excited when I saw it, but the roof was too low for DH. I liked the mini vans best, but DH later admitted wouldn't be caught dead driving a mini van. He likes the Ford Explorer - the guys were hovering around it like flies. Won't get any deals there.

Gloria

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:40 pm

Really great to see you posting again, Rich. You've been missed.

Love, Shirley

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:57 pm

Hey, Rich! Good to see you back! My father just got done with his latest Retuxan treatment. He is not going to talk to his oncologist about the radio-labeled. You can take a horse to water... My brother told him that I am planning to be there for his July treatment (to give my brother a break) but he told my brother that he is not in favor of it because I am "too bossy." He's got it in his head that I am a great deal like his "dominating, domineering"" mother.

So he prefers my brother, who is very ill being 10 years into congestive heart failure, to leave his dear wife for a month in the midst of her dealing with her very demanding and ill mother who lives in a house on their property.

I am sure you were very busy when you were in Portland, but it's too bad I didn't know. Maybe we could have done lunch. Portland is just across the river (a couple of miles) from me.

Good to touch bases with you--next year we'll have to remember we share a birthday and do something fun, even if it's only cyber-based.

ant · Post by **ant** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:21 am

Dear Rich,

I too have not been on the board as much as I would like. Seems like you have worked out a way to balance your work with this disease which is good.

Dear Joe,

Good luck for your trip. I take flights within Asia (sometimes up the front). I find the airline food useless (a diabetic options; a GF option, but not both.....and, even if there where, it would be "salad"

I pack rice biscuits and nuts and try and find ham or smoked salmon at the airport "Sushi Bar" or equivalent. For long distance I have smuggled into the cabin pre-cooked chicken and rice and asked the staff to heat it up. If they do not I can eat it cold. As you know Australia will not let you take any meat into the country so you have to eat it before you land.