kathjo

Thanks Eric, That website was really encouraging!

Has anyone known anyone with Waldenstrom's Disease? My girlfriend just got diagnosed with it, and I know what it is, but wondered if anyone has any experience with it. It seems like a disease she can live with for a long time, but some literature is confusing. Thanks for your help.

What a shame nursing takes so long to change. People over the years have put nurses down for going out on strike, but the fact of the matter is, that if we didn't, conditions would never change. I remember working in 1973 in a major hospital in San Francisco on the 3-11 shift on a GYN floor. Everyone called in sick, and it was just me & the nurse's aid. I had to take care of 30 patients and only had 1 nurses aid to help me with vitals. I quit about 1 month later & transferred to dialysis, where it was better staffed. I knew if I had stayed there, it would be a safety hazard in a matter of time. I mean, we're human. We can only do so much, and if we by chance make a mistake, our license is at risk. Once that's gone, you won't have a choice. Things have improved over the years, but it's taking a long time, and things are still not perfect. Tell your fiancee to get out of there as soon as she can. There are many other places who will appreciate her.

Hi, this is my first posting. I've been a nurse for over 30 years-worked in a hospital setting for 15 and in medical sales for 15. I can relate to all of your stories about ADD/ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADD (not the hyperactive ADHD) when I had my son tested (he was about 7 years old). The psychiatrist said he didn't have it but I did! He also diagnosed me with chronic depression. I felt fine, and thought the doctor was out of his mind & didn't know what he was talking about. However, all the symptoms fit, even all the way back to grammar school. I figured what the heck & tried a few antidepressants for only 3 weeks. What happened after that was terrible: I developed severe tick syndrome. I had these ticks for almost 2 years after, even after not being on the meds! Over time the ticks became weaker & weaker, and now it's been about 10 years since I tried these drugs. I still get little twitches whenever I exercise. Needless to say, medication was definitely not for me. I noticed most of the ADD medication has a warning for tick syndrome, so I can't take any ADD meds. I've just learned to live with it like most of us do. I try to think positive about the disorder; most of us with ADD are very creative and very intelligent people and other people wouldn't know what to do without us. We have the patience of a saint and can fix just about anything; most people don't have our talents.