gail323

Latest Activity

1. I miss my armpits

   gail323 replied to JBudd's topic in General Nursing

   I am 11 years out from a double mastectomy. The first few months, I spent a lot of time in the recliner because I was able to get myself positioned more comfortably. I agree with the others - find some small pillows and make yourself comfortable. ...

2. What do you think of fibromyalgia?

   gail323 replied to Emergent's topic in Stress 101

   Well, I'm coming at this from two separate ends of the spectrum. I am a nurse, retired now because of the cancer treatment that I received, but worked for years with fibromyalgia. Because I am retired, I do not usually end up putting my body into t...

3. What's Your Best Nursing Ghost Story?

   gail323 replied to steffck's topic in General Nursing

   Thanks, Leoduola, for the information you provided on the sanitarium in Kentucky. My Mom and several members of her family were diagnosed with tuberculosis around 1940 and Mom spent a couple of years in a sanitarium in Minnesota. She rarely talked ...

4. Depression after a miscarriage.

   gail323 replied to MsGreenBeauty's topic in General Nursing

   I am another one that had a miscarriage - between the births of my two sons. Even though it happened 32 years ago, I often think of that baby and wonder what it's life would have added to our family. I remember walking into church the Sunday after...

5. Doll Therapy

   gail323 replied to NurseWillow's topic in General Nursing

   My mother-in-law was a resident of the nursing home where I worked at the time - she had Alzheimers. She told me that she had never had a doll of her own as a child, so that was what I bought for her. It brought her great comfort and I often found ...

6. Question for nurses with cancer

   gail323 replied to midcom's topic in General Nursing

   In March, I'm celebrating my 5th year since diagnosis of breast cancer. I worked in a clinic at the time and they tried to work with me. I did my chemo on Monday because my church family is also one of my biggest support groups and I hated to miss...

7. Incubator Fire Badly Burns Minn. Newborn

   gail323 replied to dawngloves's topic in NICU

   Read article in its entirety: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/14024831.html

8. Hypertension

   gail323 posted a topic in General Nursing

   First of all, I know that you cannot give me medical advice and I'm not expecting it. Just trying to come up with some ideas. My 83 year old father is having a hard time - doctors keep changing and increasing his medication and his blood pressure is...

9. Working while taking chemo/radiation

   gail323 replied to AlsgalRN's topic in General Nursing

   Four years ago in March, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a bilateral mastectomy (my choice), underwent 8 chemo treatments - 4 Adriamycin/Cytoxin and 4 Taxol - every 3 weeks. I would have my chemo on Monday and it would be the next week befor...

10. Spontaneous Pneumo in Teen

    gail323 replied to Jolie's topic in Emergency

    Happened to my long and lanky son about 4 years ago - after he had symptoms a second time, they did some testing for Marfans. It was negative. I was told then that it wasn't all that unusual among the tall and skinny.

11. Neurontin

    gail323 replied to ER-RN2's topic in Pain

    I was started on Neurontin for problems with chemo induced neuropathy (from Taxol) and I only take 100 mg at bedtime. Yes, it does help and surprisingly, has helped with the hot flashes from the Tamoxifen too. I still deal with some neuropathy - bu...

12. Funny quotes from patients

    gail323 replied to RNtoJD's topic in Humor

    I was making rounds with one of our surgeons and we had stopped to see a 90 something female patient - she'd had her surgery and was starting to feel better... I stayed in the room after the surgeon left - did I mention that he was very good looking...

13. How often do you replace your Drug Guide Handbook?

    gail323 replied to EvelynRN-BSN's topic in General Nursing

    i agree - i've got epocrates on my palm and would not do without it.

14. Medical Leave

    gail323 replied to gail323's topic in Oncology

    It's been a while since I posted so thought I would let you know how things are going. I have completed 5 of 8 chemo treatments - 4 Adriamycin/Cytoxin and the first Taxol. Will have my 2nd Taxol on Monday. Up until August 4th, I continued to be em...

15. Medical Leave

    gail323 replied to gail323's topic in Oncology

    Tried to do a few things this weekend - nothing huge, just attend church and run into a store for a couple of things. Sure found out that I'm not back to normal yet - just plain exhausted. So far, the head CT and bone scan returned clear and I'm sc...