Cancerous Prostate

OT: Question of the day…. 03/11/07

admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time??? Jackie ~*~I got in touch with my inner child and now my imaginary friend is jealous~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I’d go willingly if they promised I never had to cook, clean, do laundry, etc… ever again…LOL! smiles, Elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time??? Jackie ~*~I got in touch with my inner child and now my imaginary friend is jealous~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I’d only go if they signed a "no anal probe" clause agreement. Otherwise, they’d have a fight on their hands. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens

No. But the little green men visit me often Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I’d only go if they signed a "no anal probe" clause agreement. Otherwise, they’d have a fight on their hands.

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" taught us they’re friendly little fellows. They just want to hold your hand. Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time???

Sure, but the Men in Black made me forget! Seriously, I wouldn’t want to be strapped to a table and probed with sharp instruments. However, I wouldn’t mind having an attractive female alien take a sample of my… body fluid by an interesting method. So long as I don’t get a paternity suit afterwards. I wonder what their court system is like? Dennis — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time??? Jackie ~*~I got in touch with my inner child and now my imaginary friend is jealous~*~ I’d only go if they signed a "no anal probe" clause agreement. Otherwise, they’d have a fight on their hands. Sally

ROFL, that was a good answer, Sally. :~) kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time??? The US immigration service detained me for two hours [in a modestly furnished waiting room, not prison]. As I am an alien to them then they must be aliens to me. I found them rather friendly, they looked normal, even human, but the picture that they took of me is total crap! Yes I did go willingly. Yes I had a great time. Thank you American aliens, will they allow me back? 101 web sites say maybe. Simon — The charter is available at:http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

yeah, but once we left the earths atmosphere, i had a huge panic attack that freaked them out. so they dropped me off. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

03/11/07: Today’s question is being brought to you by our very own Anon poster Were you ever abducted by aliens or did you go willingly and have a great time??? Jackie

I think my parents may be aliens – is that a yes? I didn’t go willingly though – WHERE IS MY REAL FAMILY?! LOL — _TJ_

Response:

The US immigration service detained me for two hours [in a modestly furnished waiting room, not prison]. As I am an alien to them then they must be aliens to me. I found them rather friendly, they looked normal, even human, but the picture that they took of me is total crap! Yes I did go willingly. Yes I had a great time. Thank you American aliens, will they allow me back? 101 web sites say maybe.

That’s hardly a foregone conclusion! Which country did you come in from? Dennis — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I’d only go if they signed a "no anal probe" clause agreement. Otherwise, they’d have a fight on their hands.

You aren’t a man, otherwise it would be routine. Especially if you’re my age.

Response:

I’d only go if they signed a "no anal probe" clause agreement. Otherwise, they’d have a fight on their hands. You aren’t a man, otherwise it would be routine. Especially if you’re my age.

At least you have a sense of humor about it! :~) kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Another Day, Another Dolor

admin — Sun, 14 May 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

there are tons of ways to give each of your days meaning. You don’t have to go out and run the rat race. Maybe use your talents to help others.

Hey Jim. I do a books site already, which uses PG files as the source. The folks over at PG encourage this sort of thing, and one of their volunteers once emailed me with some nice words. Don’t think I could take the rat race. If it was a rat tea party, that might be different. I could handle that. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

To become "unparalysed" you have to choose a direction that suits you and follow it regardless of what the rest of the mob is doing.

Amen to that brother. I am only 33 and I am burned out from doing the corporate-monkey-rat-race for the past 10 years. There is no way I can keep this up for 35 more years! I have come to realize that my path in life is going to be much less sensational. Much less "big". Much more easy going. Maybe a lot of us (including you Ian) need to find a path that suits our abilities and accept that path and be satisfied by it. One can make each day have meaning by doing even the most simple of things. Today I told my wife I love her. Today was given meaning. I didn’t go out and rock climb, or score that big corporate deal, or any other thing that societies say is "success". However, I still gave meaning to my day and it was enough for me. Ian, there are tons of ways to give each of your days meaning. You don’t have to go out and run the rat race. Maybe use your talents to help others. You love books. Join Project Gutenberg. There are many ways to volunteer: http://www.gutenberg.org/info/volunteer Helping others can be a very satisfying activity. Oh, and each day doesn’t have to have meaning. There are days where I just bum around on the net and accomplish nothing. That doesn’t me my life is not without meaning ; ) Jim — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::What someone told me the other day on here, that action comes first, ::and motivation follows, I’ve discovered is true. I’ve noticed all my ::life that the farther down in the doldrums I get, the harder it is to ::get up, and the more active I get, the easier it is to stay active. That was me that told you that I read it in the "Feeling Good" book by Burns. I believe you just bought this book? Read it over and over and over. You cannot digest this book in one shot. The hardest part when lacking motivation is getting started. I tell myself that whenever I am dragging my feet about a certain errand, project, or chore. Just get started and keep moving :: I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well ::move. At the end of a day where you moved and accomplished some ’stuff’, it feels a hell of a lot better than beating yourself up over doing ‘nothing’. I went through a bad depression in 87 while I was pregnant. I saw a social worker at the time….. and she made me make a list everyday of everything I needed to accomplish. At times it was hell, but I crossed everything off the list every single day. At the beginning, it didn`t really help my depression or anxiety…..but at least I felt a sense of accomplishment for keeping the house clean, taking care of myself, my one year old, , my husband, and my animals. Moving kept me from sinking into a deeper pit of despair, I do believe helped me to recover. Just be careful that you don`t go too far to the "other side" and become somewhat neurotic about things being orderly and clean ) ::I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told ::us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by ::life." I would have told him that there is nothing more unattractive than a "normal" man that has it all together. BORING!! :: I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and ::to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy ::bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain ::inert, but from some sort of existential shock. Wishing you motivation, energy, and peace from your suffering. (((((Ian))))) Jackie ~*~How do I love thee? Hang on a second …let me Google the ways~*~ ~~ Christine Geary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Sorry Ian I did,nt mean to cast doubt on Praying ,It is evey ones choice what they do and if it helps that is good to all im trying to say is even if it dosent seem to be helping you are still a good person and deserve better than what you are feeling now — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

don’t be so hard on yourself

Thanks, Doug, I’m trying. I do get out of the house sometimes, but dread taking walks, as there’s always someone else out there! You have to look down or look away as they approach, but then, do you look away when you pass them, or do you look them in the eyes and smile? What if you do the latter and *they* look away? So many decisions. I usually just keep my gaze averted, but then that makes me look odd, because I’m trying my hardest not to look at anyone on the sidewalk. Going out in the middle of the night is okay, as this is a safe neighborhood, but then I run the risk of the cops stopping me because I look suspicious. Argh. I’m going back to sleep. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Going between the high and low points is a journey, no? He didn’t believe there was a destination, just a wavering between happy and sad. I believe in a journey, one which involves momentum and lack of momentum.

Maybe a better way to look at it is like an exploration of unknown territory. It is a journey but the destination is completely unknown and you can stop and "smell the roses" as you feel like. — Ron P If it doesn’t hurt today, it probably will tomorrow. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I can agree with this. Maybe it would help if you committed yourself to something (a hobby, charity work?) to make yourself feel useful? Do you exercise aerobically regularly? It’s a good habit and helps you to feel better about yourself. Maybe you could take a 30-minute regular walk around your neighborhood (if it’s not too crime-ridden) every day. Getting out of the house is also a good thing. I’m just making some suggestions, I’m not trying to be critical. Anyway, don’t be so hard on yourself Ian. — Doug

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What someone told me the other day on here, that action comes first, and motivation follows, I’ve discovered is true. I’ve noticed all my life that the farther down in the doldrums I get, the harder it is to get up, and the more active I get, the easier it is to stay active. My old dad once told me he thought that life was not a journey, but a series of high and low points … this is lack of hope. Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long. I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock. But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me. I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations. When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.) If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife. When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless. So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert, and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly. The therapists at CMH are social workers, not psychologists, and are more concerned with filling in the database form for my "person-centered treatment plan" than focusing on the person who’s being treated. One never knows, though. There might be hope. Just some thoughts as I ponder sleep, and realize I won’t be able to nod off for another few hours. Hope all in ASAPM-land are doing well. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

The med student who graduates last in his/her class is still called a doctor.

Yes, it’s a fact of life. There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to free medical care. Well, the lunch is free, but it’s at the soup kitchen. I hope you find a better therapist, and I hope your last one finds a more suitable line of work.

She probably doesn’t have much choice. My mom was assigned to her once, and only lasted twenty minutes with her before leaving the room and requesting a new therapist. I think my mom got reassigned so quickly because she filed a complaint, and I can’t do that because I don’t remember what happened in the sessions. I was blocking out her ideas, because it was obvious that she didn’t know what she was doing, and listening to her would do more harm than good. CMH around here has had its share of really bad therapists. I was stuck in group therapy once after being discharged from the inpatient unit, and the main therapist would never tell us what his degree was in, or even if he had a degree. I don’t think he did. Some guy told him, "I think I’m losing my mind," and the therapist told him, "You can’t lose your mind. Where do you think it went? Is it behind the chair?" No help whatsoever. That was a dark time. The guy who felt he was losing his mind really did lose his mind, and drank himself to death about a couple years later. I feel I’ve told this story on here before. The amount of damage that CMH does, and all in the name of providing nominal services for the disabled. Why shouldn’t the people who need the best help get the best help? Why should the best therapists be "life coaches"? I just mean, the people you run into at CMH are in some serious despair, and really really messed up, and they don’t need bad therapy and five-minute sessions with the pdoc. All the talent, it seems, is wasted on questions like, "What do I do now that I’m rich and I’m still unhappy?" or "Why do I get drunk every time we have company over at the summer house?" The talent should be focused on questions like, "Why do I cut and burn myself, and why am I hearing voices?" I know. It’s simple economics. You get what you pay for. It’s just that, in the case of mental illness, the bigger the burden, the harder it is to pay for help. Oh well. It’s the same with medical doctors. Robert de Niro discovered his prostate cancer when it was stil just a few cells, and for all I know I might have a big lump right now, aside from the cat of course, who is a big lump I care very much for. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I figure that with my experiences of the last few months, with the old body going down hill on a greased chute, I might just as well chime in here too. What someone told me the other day on here, that action comes first, and motivation follows, I’ve discovered is true. I’ve noticed all my life that the farther down in the doldrums I get, the harder it is to get up, and the more active I get, the easier it is to stay active. My old dad once told me he thought that life was not a journey, but a series of high and low points … this is lack of hope. Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long. I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move. I need to have that last sentence surgically implanted. I just wish there weren’t two ways to end that sentence: 1. one might as well move 2. one might as well go back to bed

What you are describing here is inertia. Bodies at rest tend to stay at rest and those bodies in motion tend to stay in motion…..to a point. Moving without some kind of motivation seems pointless as we don’t maintain the motion and soon become motionless again because there was no fuel "motivation" to keep going. Motion in itself is not self-sustaining. The quality of life depends on which one we do. It’s always easier to surrender than to keep fighting, and there are some good rationales for doing so — Fritz Perls’ "don’t push the river, it flows by itself" comes to mind. Depression has me living on the edge of paralysis probably 80% of the time but it finally does come down to this question: Am I sick because I’m not fighting, or am I not fighting because I am sick?

Surrender becomes easy when your preception of what you are defending isn’t worth the effort of defense. Depression is like being a cork floating on that river that has become trapped in an eddy or snag and can’t get loose. The cork can’t change the course of the river but only wants to flow along with it. I hate dilemmas more than I hate beets, and I really really hate beets. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair.

Being paralyzed by life may simply be the standing in one of the many intersections of life seeing people scurrying past in all directions seemingly without purpose or direction, accomplishing nothing and not wanting to be part of a directionless mob in order to be "normal." – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some,if not most, people just don’t get it. I try not to get close to them. Trying to change their minds is like trying to teach a pig to sing: it wastes your time and annoys the pig. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock.

To become "unparalysed" you have to choose a direction that suits you and follow it regardless of what the rest of the mob is doing. I have never figured out if there was one moment that stopped me wanting to develop my tidying-up skills. I have talked to Mom about it, and she said I’ve just always been loath to pick up my room. She always had to push push push me to do it. I’m 53 now and I still can’t do it. I’m always waiting for this elusive thing called "the right time" — when there’s a confluence of positive attitude, physical well-being, and no external pressures. There are probably other ingredients, but that doesn’t matter to me at this moment. My point includes this — room cleaning is only ONE of the areas of my life that is dysfunctional in exactly this way. To move or not to move.

I have found that tidying up serves little purpose. My shop is a prime example. When everything is put away and all is neat and tidy, it looks nice but there is nothing going on there. It is sterile, nice looking, seemingly functional with all sorts of equipment but totally lacking in motivation, feeling and usefulness. On the other hand, when there is sawdust on the floor and projects in various states of completion the old shop looks like there is life there and serves a purpose. The mess makes it look and feel "lived in." – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me. I think we’re onto something here, and I think it’s yet another dilemma. I’ll try to delineate it. There are some effective ways of surviving shock, relieving suffering, etc, and we study them and trade them like recipes. I don’t know if this applies to you or not, but I’m taking a gamble that it does: it doesn’t matter how many fine tools we have if we feel the work isn’t worth the effort. And that, I do believe, is the fault of the illness of depression itself. That’s the…… oh what’s the term….. Catch-22 of depression. We feel awful, we want to feel better, but working to feel better is so f*cking hard and there’s no guarantee it’ll work and I might as well go back to bed. With a box of doughnuts, or whatever palliative you prefer. Depressed if you do, depressed if you don’t.

Life is like the Bumper Car ride at the fair. You pay your money and get into one of those cars and when the power comes on you drive around in circles bumping into everything in sight and being bumped by all kinds of vehicles that you didn’t see. This continues until the power is turned off. Was anything accomplished by all this "fine driving" being banged to and fro while going around in a circle? If something was accomplished by this activity it escapes me. I think that life is the same. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations. When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.) I packed away the pictures, but internet searches are just as available and ubiquitous as a wallet photo. I read about him, I curse his name, I long for him. The good times were exactly what I wanted, and the ending was horrible and I’m still angry, 8 years later. If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife. I stopped believing in the power of prayer a long time ago. Droves of people prayed for my father; in spite of thousands of man-hours of supplications to some kind of Almighty, his health, both physical and mental, degenerated in an agonizing slowness. He had the brain tumor operation in 1957, and he died in 1981. Prayer didn’t do jackshit for him. I, too, fantasize about the easy death. A nice afterlife would be a pleasant surprise, but I’m not counting on it. There is one factor that will play the leading role in my life after Mom is gone, and it’s the answer to this question: Will I be able to change my life into something I want it to be *without* her, and if I’m unable how long will it take me to cash in my chips?

While I was being carted off to the hospital in an ambulance a couple of weeks ago with a suspected heart attack, there was no worrying about whether or not I was going to "make it." The only things that I remember was that is was pretty darned cold under that blanket and that the driver must have found the roughest road in the county to drive on. Was that weird or what? (Just a caveat to all reading this — I am no where near suicidal at this time. I’m just being realistic about the possibilities in my future.) When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless.

I have had these feelings several times. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert, and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly. Me neither. I think it’s the little moves, not the big ones, that keep me alive. I have been praising myself for throwing trash into a wastebasket rather than onto the floor for the past month. It seems

Response:

if sanity, self acceptance and peace isn’t worth working for, I do not know what is

You’re right, Sally, and I have ordered the book. The cheapest used copies were a penny, but I splurged and spent seventy-five times that to get a nice copy. I think my case manager is working on getting me a therapist at CMH. It’s all I can afford at the moment (i.e., free). This is really where bad therapists trickle down to, but there are some who are out there to make a difference, and hopefully I’ll find one like that. The last one was horrible. She was so argumentative, nothing I said was valid. Her vocal chords were shot, and I suspect it was from screaming at her husband when she went home. I guess everyone who goes through the schooling gets a job somewhere. :-/ Hope you’re well, Sally, Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – if sanity, self acceptance and peace isn’t worth working for, I do not know what is You’re right, Sally, and I have ordered the book. The cheapest used copies were a penny, but I splurged and spent seventy-five times that to get a nice copy. I think my case manager is working on getting me a therapist at CMH. It’s all I can afford at the moment (i.e., free). This is really where bad therapists trickle down to, but there are some who are out there to make a difference, and hopefully I’ll find one like that. The last one was horrible. She was so argumentative, nothing I said was valid. Her vocal chords were shot, and I suspect it was from screaming at her husband when she went home. I guess everyone who goes through the schooling gets a job somewhere. :-/ Hope you’re well, Sally, Ian

The med student who graduates last in his/her class is still called a doctor. I hope you find a better therapist, and I hope your last one finds a more suitable line of work. Deirdre — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Going between the high and low points is a journey, no?

He didn’t believe there was a destination, just a wavering between happy and sad. I believe in a journey, one which involves momentum and lack of momentum. She is/was an idiot! Most quotes like this come from people who have never had a real challenge in their life and certainly never had a disability.

Yes, the old "if I can do it, so can they". That doesn’t seem to apply to much of anything. Some people just can’t function. People with disabilities need to focus o their strengths and exploit those strengths.

I need to remind myself of that, as does probably anyone with a disability. It’s all a question of getting free of the trap of inertia. Mental illness gives me a lot of reasons not to move, but I do have some reasons, aside from just plain survival. Those are the things to focus on. Hope you’re well, Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What someone told me the other day on here, that action comes first, and motivation follows, I’ve discovered is true. I’ve noticed all my life that the farther down in the doldrums I get, the harder it is to get up, and the more active I get, the easier it is to stay active. My old dad once told me he thought that life was not a journey, but a series of high and low points … this is lack of hope. Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long. I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock. But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me. I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations. When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.) If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife. When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless. So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert, and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly. The therapists at CMH are social workers, not psychologists, and are more concerned with filling in the database form for my "person-centered treatment plan" than focusing on the person who’s being treated. One never knows, though. There might be hope. Just some thoughts as I ponder sleep, and realize I won’t be able to nod off for another few hours. Hope all in ASAPM-land are doing well. Ian — http://sundry.ws/

Ian, I understand the paralyzed feeling. I had it for years. I still struggle with it to some extent, but it is not as bad as it once was. I lived with my mother, and I got away with being paralyzed for that time. But when she passed, I was so frightened, and didn’t know how I would cope. At that time, I handled it by just staying drunk. Afraid of life. Afraid of doing even little tiny things. It got very bad. I found out I was going to be a grandmother, and I could not STAND the thought of me being a drunken grandmother. That does not fit my concept of grandmother. My grandmothers were wonderful. I got into AA, and I knew deep inside of me that I would have to learn how to face life. I would have to learn how not to hate myself, and I would have to learn how not to be so afraid I was paralyzed. I had to face reality, because I was forced by circumstances to do so. Not only was I to be a grandmother, but the circumstances were that I had to sell the house I lived in, and I would have to work. I do not get enough money on disability to even live on. I used some principles from AA. I worked on my self esteem, doing affirmations and changing the stuck record in my head that continually played negative self talk.. and most of all, I studied CBT. I mean I STUDIED it. I got Burns "Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy" and I read some everyday, and I IMPLEMENTED it. It’s not good enough to just read. You have to practice, and it takes persistence. I do have a therapist, and she is acquainted with the principles of Burns, Beck and Ellis. She’s not a CBT specialist, but I am comfortable with her, and she has given me tips to help me work on myself. She’s seen the progress I have made – for the majority – on my own, and she has recommended the Burns book to another patient. I think I converted her. Ian.. you need therapy and in addition to that, you need to take the responsibility of changing your thought patterns on your own. And you are very bright. CBT isn’t rocket science. I bet you wouldn’t have a whole lot of problems WITH rocket science.. if you don’t have that Burns book, you get it Amazon has it today for 2 cents.. you must apply yourself. Like I said, it’s work, but it is sooooo worth it. It’s totally ludicrous for anyone to think that a therapist can "fix" whatever ails them in one hour a week or less. Not when your brain is working 24 hours day, 7 days a week and it’s your THOUGHT PROCESSES that are innacurate. You have to change the thought processes. It takes practice.. but it WORKS, and if sanity, self acceptance and peace isn’t worth working for, I do not know what is. My best to you, Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being

Your professor never had panic disorder. Carl — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I just wish there weren’t two ways to end that sentence: 1. one might as well move 2. one might as well go back to bed

Yeah, I’ve gone back to bed twice today already. :-/ Am I sick because I’m not fighting, or am I not fighting because I am sick?

People who think I can pick myself up by my own bootstraps would pick the first one. I pick the second one. Either way, it seems that fighting despite being sick is the solution to the dilemma. I wish that weren’t true! I hate dilemmas more than I hate beets, and I really really hate beets.

I made beet juice once and drank a big horkin’ glass of it. I’ve never had beets since. I’m always waiting for this elusive thing called "the right time"

Boy, so am I. I got a little bit done yesterday, which prompted the post, but today doesn’t feel like the right time. it doesn’t matter how many fine tools we have if we feel the work isn’t worth the effort. And that, I do believe, is the fault of the illness of depression itself.

Well said. There’s a distinct lack of drive in me, sort of covered up by lots of aching and tiredness. Droves of people prayed for my father; in spite of thousands of man-hours of supplications to some kind of Almighty, his health, both physical and mental, degenerated in an agonizing slowness. He had the brain tumor operation in 1957, and he died in 1981. Prayer didn’t do jackshit for him.

Prayer can’t keep us from dying, that’s for sure. Dying is a natural process that can’t be interrupted. I’m sorry it was so hard on your dad for so long. I have been praising myself for throwing trash into a wastebasket rather than onto the floor for the past month. It seems like such a small accomplishment, but it’s an accomplishment all the same.

It sure is an accomplishment! I find it helps to have little trash cans at various strategic places, with those small garbage bags in them. Trash can be very demoralizing. "I understand and I wish I had the Big Answer for you."

Thanks, Deirdre. If I find the Big Answer, I’ll pass it along. I hope it doesn’t involve eating beets. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I sit back at times and realize what I’ve missed in my life due to anxiety and more so my phobia of driving.

That’s how I feel, too. I think my life could have been much different had I not been so worn out by illness. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Your professor never had panic disorder.

That’s the truth. Now I have to find a Wayback Machine and go back to that class and raise my hand. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hey brother, My old dad once told me he thought that life was not a journey, but a series of high and low points … this is lack of hope. Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long. I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move.

Well why can’t life be both a journey and a series of high and low points? Going between the high and low points is a journey, no? I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life."

She is/was an idiot! Most quotes like this come from people who have never had a real challenge in their life and certainly never had a disability. I personally consider what I have to be a disability. It puts me at a disadvantage compared to others. I can be depressed over limitations or I can be happy about what I can accomplish. If your legs were paralyzed would you want to be constantly depressed over what you cannot do? Or would you rather find satisfaction with the things you can do? I think you have good artistic abilities. The stuff on your website is nice and well done. I also think you have a good ability to put your thoughts into words, something I deeply lack Focus your attentions on the things you are good at. Get into writing. Start a blog. Get involved in some Open Source project and do some coding again. People with disabilities need to focus o their strengths and exploit those strengths. Jim — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Ian, Wow, some of this is deep and a lot of it I can relate to very strongly myself. ""There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." I guess I would have wondered if this prof had a taste of panic disorder or even someone he cared for. Yes, I feels he’s right but then as you say, "it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human." – I sit back at times and realize what I’ve missed in my life due to anxiety and more so my phobia of driving. I feel cheated. I hope you can find some good therapy and are able to move forward in your life… smiles, Elise

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Ian I can only guess at what scares your early years left you,but I can say that life is what you make it .Some people dont leave theit home town all their life and look back and see achivment others travel searching for who knows what and die wishing they had done that other thing they missed.I think the media gives so many false realities. Things that happened in your past when you were young have a huge impact on your life but you can change your direction ,if you want ,you may find it terrifying at first but you can do it .Yiu may not think so as you read this but you deserve to be here as much as any one else .Prehaps your first step tomorrow should be to find a good therepist .Shop around if you have to .The first and only phsyciatristI went and saw was an ashole and it took a couple of extra trys to find someone I was comfortable with. Drug therapy is only a small part of getting on to you need good advice ,and someone who can take you back to your childhood and find the damage and help you repair the damage. I have been where you are and know there is light at the end of that long loneley tunnel,if there is a god he resides in your mind so you are just praying to your self ,prehaps you should listen to this bloke who is preying and take a step forward.Life was not ment to be easy but it was not ment to be shit either regards dennis — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I have been where you are and know there is light at the end of that long loneley tunnel

That’s what I’m banking on. The more I delve into this, the clearer it becomes. if there is a god he resides in your mind so you are just praying to your self

Well, luckily I don’t subscribe to that theory. What a cheering way to wake up! Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I need to have that last sentence surgically implanted. I just wish there weren’t two ways to end that sentence: 1. one might as well move 2. one might as well go back to bed The quality of life depends on which one we do. It’s always easier to surrender than to keep fighting, and there are some good rationales for doing so — Fritz Perls’ "don’t push the river, it flows by itself" comes to mind. Depression has me living on the edge of paralysis probably 80% of the time but it finally does come down to this question: Am I sick because I’m not fighting, or am I not fighting because I am sick? I hate dilemmas more than I hate beets, and I really really hate beets. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair.

Some,if not most, people just don’t get it. I try not to get close to them. Trying to change their minds is like trying to teach a pig to sing: it wastes your time and annoys the pig. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock.

I have never figured out if there was one moment that stopped me wanting to develop my tidying-up skills. I have talked to Mom about it, and she said I’ve just always been loath to pick up my room. She always had to push push push me to do it. I’m 53 now and I still can’t do it. I’m always waiting for this elusive thing called "the right time" — when there’s a confluence of positive attitude, physical well-being, and no external pressures. There are probably other ingredients, but that doesn’t matter to me at this moment. My point includes this — room cleaning is only ONE of the areas of my life that is dysfunctional in exactly this way. To move or not to move. But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me.

I think we’re onto something here, and I think it’s yet another dilemma. I’ll try to delineate it. There are some effective ways of surviving shock, relieving suffering, etc, and we study them and trade them like recipes. I don’t know if this applies to you or not, but I’m taking a gamble that it does: it doesn’t matter how many fine tools we have if we feel the work isn’t worth the effort. And that, I do believe, is the fault of the illness of depression itself. That’s the…… oh what’s the term….. Catch-22 of depression. We feel awful, we want to feel better, but working to feel better is so f*cking hard and there’s no guarantee it’ll work and I might as well go back to bed. With a box of doughnuts, or whatever palliative you prefer. Depressed if you do, depressed if you don’t. I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations. When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.)

I packed away the pictures, but internet searches are just as available and ubiquitous as a wallet photo. I read about him, I curse his name, I long for him. The good times were exactly what I wanted, and the ending was horrible and I’m still angry, 8 years later. If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife.

I stopped believing in the power of prayer a long time ago. Droves of people prayed for my father; in spite of thousands of man-hours of supplications to some kind of Almighty, his health, both physical and mental, degenerated in an agonizing slowness. He had the brain tumor operation in 1957, and he died in 1981. Prayer didn’t do jackshit for him. I, too, fantasize about the easy death. A nice afterlife would be a pleasant surprise, but I’m not counting on it. There is one factor that will play the leading role in my life after Mom is gone, and it’s the answer to this question: Will I be able to change my life into something I want it to be *without* her, and if I’m unable how long will it take me to cash in my chips? (Just a caveat to all reading this — I am no where near suicidal at this time. I’m just being realistic about the possibilities in my future.) When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless. So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert, and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly.

Me neither. I think it’s the little moves, not the big ones, that keep me alive. I have been praising myself for throwing trash into a wastebasket rather than onto the floor for the past month. It seems like such a small accomplishment, but it’s an accomplishment all the same. Sometimes I find I’m sort of obsessing about "getting it 100% right" instead of "doing the first step and being happy with that." That’s a little muddy, but I’m running out of clarity – I need a nap. The therapists at CMH are social workers, not psychologists, and are more concerned with filling in the database form for my "person-centered treatment plan" than focusing on the person who’s being treated. One never knows, though. There might be hope.

There can always be hope. Just keep the expectations out of it — that helps a lot, IME. Just some thoughts as I ponder sleep, and realize I won’t be able to nod off for another few hours. Hope all in ASAPM-land are doing well. Ian

I hope you can turn the corner with this soon, Ian. I’ve said it before — you sound so much like me, so replying to your post is talking to myself as well as to you. So, all of this is my way of saying "I understand and I wish I had the Big Answer for you." Hugs if you want them, Deirdre — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

stay away form contextual, abstract philosophical horseshit

Thanks, margrove. I will update my filters accordingly. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

What someone told me the other day on here, that action comes first, and motivation follows, I’ve discovered is true. I’ve noticed all my life that the farther down in the doldrums I get, the harder it is to get up, and the more active I get, the easier it is to stay active. My old dad once told me he thought that life was not a journey, but a series of high and low points … this is lack of hope. Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long. I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock. But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me. I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations. When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.) If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife. When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless. So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert, and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly. The therapists at CMH are social workers, not psychologists, and are more concerned with filling in the database form for my "person-centered treatment plan" than focusing on the person who’s being treated. One never knows, though. There might be hope. Just some thoughts as I ponder sleep, and realize I won’t be able to nod off for another few hours. Hope all in ASAPM-land are doing well. Ian — http://sundry.ws/ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

both ideas are not mutaully exclusive Life, to me, aside from mystical concerns, is about momentum, and my anxiety and depression have kept me in stasis for too long.

homeostasis means balance -I think you mean static I guess if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, one might as well move. I had a prof once in college, in a class on modern poetry, who told us, "There’s nothing more unattractive than a man who is paralyzed by life." Already having arrived at that point, I thought she was being extremely unfair. How does one become unparalyzed, or avoid it in the first place?

according to whom? Paralysis of what kind and by what? She didn’t know how terrifying my early years were, or why college was a blur of time moving too fast for me to keep up. About fifteen years later, I’m still paralyzed, in fact even more so. I think about cleaning up this mess of an apt., and I’m brought back to a single scene from my young life. My dad had torn up the living room and overturned the furniture, and it was up to myself, my mom, and my sister to clean it up. My sister had no problem helping out, and my mom of course did the brunt of the work, but I just stood there helpless, feeling that there was no way I could get the living room back to normal. That was my first moment of paralysis, sometime around the age of five or six.

a six year old is hardly empowered or empowering, finding this epiphany of your 6th year a momentus moment is hardly worth your introspection. You were 6. I think my mom told me I was being lazy, and to this day (not that they’re necessarily related) I feel like a lazy bum, even though it’s not from simple lack of interest that I remain inert, but from some sort of existential shock.

what does a lazy bum feel like? Define it. Define your terms to see how you are perpetuating a sense of ontological angst and hoplessness But anyway, if it hurts to not move, and it hurts to move, it only makes sense to move … but the fear builds up very quickly as soon as I undertake any task. Life is not supposed to be about surviving through shock, it’s supposed to be about participating in the experience of being human. So far this eludes me.

again these things are not mutually exclusive-you see things black and white all or nothing and discount any other possibility. besides-Life should be nothing other then what it is you cannot demand, whithout emotinal consequences of frustration, what life should do or be-it is what it is and you do the rest. I participate in the experience of evading the moment, in the same way that if you hold a flame to your hand for too long, you can’t physically hold it there any longer. It pulls away reflexively. I can’t seem to force myself to experience life any more, and only kill time between obligations.

you experience life whether you want to or not-you choose to try and believe you are not When I did experience life, it was only for about a six month period, and while it was wonderful, it was also pretty shattering. (I carry her picture in my wallet now, even though that was the late 80s.) If the answer lies in prayer, so far prayer has only made the next world seem very appealing, and helped ease my fear of death to the point where I fantasize about an easy death and a nice afterlife. When I take my meds, I often vet the idea (just for a second) that I might just take them all. It always gets rejected, but the thought arises nonetheless. So it’s been too long that I’ve sat inert,

rather suffering at the hands of your own inertia you are hardly inert and I hope to be able to break out of some of this soon. I don’t know how, exactly. The therapists at CMH are social workers, not psychologists, and are more concerned with filling in the database form for my "person-centered treatment plan" than focusing on the person who’s being treated. One never knows, though. There might be hope. Just some thoughts as I ponder sleep, and realize I won’t be able to nod off for another few hours. Hope all in ASAPM-land are doing well. Ian — http://sundry.ws/

your thoughts are riddled with depression, your ability to truly test the boundaries of what you feel and think are like trying to look through the grey film of a dirty windsheild-you are a bright person, capable of moving beyond the internal pain you dwell in-you need to seek some better treatment courses and read, study and dwell in the tomes of others who have worked with, been through or helped others with these issues-stay away form contextual, abstract philosophical horseshit, it will only confirm your misery-read anyhting written by behavioral or cognitive therapists, patients or students-start with mans search for meaning by viktor frankl although it is not anywhere basd on cbt ideology, it is a book that illustrates how we give ourselves meaning-not our symptoms — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Side effects of chemo therapy

admin — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I know that this news group deals with prostate cancer. I have looked for a similar page for bladder cancer – but with no result. I also looked for a page for chemotherapy – but with no result. 4 years ago I had a radical prostatectomy – and had good PSA’s for almost a year. Then suddenly first stages towards bladder cancer were discovered. I had Calmette vaccine into my bladder for 6 weeks – the first stages were removed – but they then found a tumour in my bladder. They tried a urostomy operation – but the operation was stopped due to residives in the area. Then chemo therapy for almost 5 months. The first steps of bladder cancer were stopped – and both PSA and cystoscopies into the bladder showed fine results. Almost 9 months elapsed – and then again with another cystoscopy they once more found first stages towards bladder cancer. Another round of Calmette vaccine into my bladder. And theI had good results during my tests. Bravo. However, since I stopped with my chemo therapy (Gemcitabin and Cisplatin) I have – and have – severe problems with my right leg. Sleeping toes in both feet (which is considered normal after chemo – and which probably will remain that way). But then pain in different parts of my right leg – which normally makes it rather painful to walk. Going by a bicycle is ok. A month ago I had a talk with a doctor in the Oncological Department at the hospital. They refused to accept that the chemo might be the cause for my problems. And now last week I had a MR-scan which showed no metastases or other problems with my back (they did not test my leg). Can anyone help me? What are the experience from others going through the same process or similar? I am convinced that the chemo is the cause to my leg problems – but ..!!!! Peter

Response:

Cisplatin may cause nerve damage. Read Bill’s Cancer Cure.

Response:

Cisplatin may cause nerve damage. Read Bill’s Cancer Cure.

There is no evidence for this. See rxlist.com. Regards, Steve J

Response:

Peter, There are some groups for bladder cancer on the Yahoo groups servers. To find them, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/ Enter "bladder cancer" in the search box. You’ll see a list of hits. The one listed under number 5 looks like the most active, but some of the others seem to be active too. I hope you will be able to find others there that can advise you about their experience. Best of luck. Alan

Response:

Steve, Who do you work for "Cisplatin Inc.?"

Response:

TURP problems

admin — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I know this news group is for prostate cancer but wonder if anyone could help me. Five weeks ago I had a TURP. It has been five weeks of leakage. I am using the pads but that is not the answer for me. My question has anyone else had leakage after a TURP ? If so how long and what did you do to stop it.And did you find out what caused it?

Ron I’m currently undergoing negotiations with my Uro for a TURP in the next few mths. It’s "hard yards" since HDRB, July 2005, with partial obstruction and hourly nocturia for an egg-cup full, but he wants to wait almost a full 12 mths before doing the procedure. He still admits a possibility of it not going entirely right. He prefers a TURP over the Laser PVP methods as he feels there’s mot control over the amount of tissue removed and lessens the possibility of destroying the bladder sphincter. Having said all that, you’ll probably get some more specific opinions in the Usenet group, sci.med.prostate.bph — Reader to complete… — Please reply to this ng as my email adress is fake: — Regards — CC

Response:

st. paddy's day humor……

admin — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Paddy’s prayer Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn’t find a parking place.

OT Humor – We all know someone

admin — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

On March 17, dan wrote, referring to a series of PSA tests with results of <0.1: Even though our local lab doesn’t do the ultrasensitive assay, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this qualifies for the 12 months of undetectable that Strum references.

I’m truly sorry to say so, but it does *not* qualify. Strum is quite clear on this point in his book and, I recall, on the PCRI website: "Undetectable" is <0.05 ng/ml. Just March 15, he wrote this to a patient on P2P: "PSA of 0.1 is NOT undetectable. Using ultra-sensitive PSA assays we have documentation that PSA values greater than 0.01 are of concern in the setting post RP." The "local lab" is practicing third-world medicine, or maybe Dan’s medic is. I have to say that I am incredulous that such a thing is tolerated. Regards, Steve J

Response:

Just March 15, he wrote this to a patient on P2P: "PSA of 0.1 is NOT undetectable. Using ultra-sensitive PSA assays we have documentation that PSA values greater than 0.01 are of concern in the setting post RP." The "local lab" is practicing third-world medicine, or maybe Dan’s medic is. I have to say that I am incredulous that such a thing is tolerated.

I am curious as to the benefit. For instance, my ultra-sensitive tests came back bouncing around between .05 and .08 and I fretted each rise and became overly confident at each fall. Yet, it meant nothing until my 0.132 reared its ugly head and that really won’t mean much until it happens twice more. Each of which would have registered on a 3rd world assay. — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum

Response:

Regarding ultrasensitive PSA tests, Steve Kramer replied to me on March 18: I am curious as to the benefit. For instance, my ultra-sensitive tests came back bouncing around between .05 and .08 and I fretted each rise and became overly confident at each fall. Yet, it meant nothing until my 0.132 reared its ugly head and that really won’t mean much until it happens twice more. Each of which would have registered on a 3rd world assay.

The best resource for an answer would be the PCRI website search function at: http://www.prostate-cancer.org/index.html And I too have fretted over meaningless "twitches" in test results. I get over it. Basically, it is my understanding is that use of US testing permits the patient and his medic to detect changes in his PSA that would not appear on standard assays, which do not report results that are <0.1 ng/ml. Frex, a rise from 0.01 to 0.09 would not be reported by the standard assay. I think I’d want to know about something like that. Regards, Steve J

Response:

Frex, a rise from 0.01 to 0.09 would not be reported by the standard assay. I think I’d want to know about something like that.

Oops. In that scenario, the standard assay would report 0.1. My misnake. Regards, Steve J

Response:

Yes, that is my point. Well, no… it’s the argument to my point. I agree with you that ultrasensitive testing seems to have proven itself reliable at the sub-decinanogram (is that a word?) level. However, aside from "knowing", what good is it? I don’t think any doc subscribes to acting on it at that level. — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 Non Illegitimi Carborundum

Response:

On March 18, Steve Kramer, responding to me, wrote in pertinent part: I agree with you that ultrasensitive testing seems to have proven itself reliable at the sub-decinanogram (is that a word?) level. However, aside from "knowing", what good is it? I don’t think any doc subscribes to acting on it at that level.

I want to *know* what’s going on. Knowledge, as I keep saying (maybe too often) is Life. Get the facts rather than exist in ignorance. *Then* decide what, if anything, to do. But if one does not know the facts, one cannot make a rational decision. *That* is the utility of "knowing." Regards, Steve J "What are the facts? Again and again and again — what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget ‘what the stars foretell,’ avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable ‘verdict of history’ — what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!" –Lazarus Long

Response:

On March 18, Steve Kramer wrote aside from "knowing", what good is it? I don’t think any doc subscribes to acting on it at that level. I want to *know* what’s going on. Knowledge, as I keep saying (maybe too often) is Life. Get the facts rather than exist in ignorance. *Then* decide what, if anything, to do. But if one does not know the facts, one cannot make a rational decision. *That* is the utility of "knowing."

Ultrasensitive PSA is not "knowing" anything, because adding decimal places does not necessarily add accuracy. But … BUT … if those extra decimal places ARE valid information, and we chose to pay some attention to them real time, we’re ahead of the game. For example, I’m paying more attention to SRT threads and factoids than I would be if my PSA hadn’t crept — twice in a progressive row — from the third decimal point to the second decimal point. That extra attention has, rather effortlessly, led me to two quite useful factoids IF those changes continue: SRT may be useless for me due to my SVI, and if I did choose to accept it, the timing could be great; what the heck ELSE am I gonna do when winter sets in in in the gray Pacific NW US? I.P.

Response:

On March 17, dan wrote, referring to a series of PSA tests with results of <0.1:

(snip) The "local lab" is practicing third-world medicine, or maybe Dan’s medic is. I have to say that I am incredulous that such a thing is tolerated. Regards, Steve J

Been away for a few days, just now playing catch up. All I have to say is *ouch*. Dude, take it easy, I prefer to think that I live in a rural community, not a third world country. It’s my choice to have the testing done here at our local Quest lab (Bayer assay), rather than driving 30 to 40 minutes to have it done in the "big city" next to us. And after following this ng for over a year now, I’m not sure the ultrasensitive assays do much other than raising the anxiety levels of pts. Gotta go, it’s time to take the lizard’s tongue and frog eyes prescribed by my third world medic. Just kidding Steve, I appreciate all the knowledge that you’ve contributed to this group. God bless and take care to all, Dan — PSA = 2.2 , 03/05/2003 Biopsy, 11/10/2004, G9(5+4) (multiple cores) (6 of 8 cores positive), T1C Casodex (daily), begin. 11/16/2004 Zoladex, 12/23/2004, 03/10/2005, 06/14/2005, 09/14/2005, 12/14/2005, 03/14/06 PSA, 0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1

Response:

On March 21, Dan replied, in pertinent part, to my post dated March 17: It’s my choice to have the testing done here at our local Quest lab (Bayer assay), rather than driving 30 to 40 minutes to have it done in the "big city" next to us. And after following this ng for over a year now, I’m not sure the ultrasensitive assays do much other than raising the anxiety levels of pts.

Anxiety levels can be dealt with, as I know from experience. As I’ve said elsethread, I want to know the facts so that I can make a rational decision as to what, if anything, to do. Here’s an abstract of a clinical study that is on point, and supports use of the ultrasensitive test: From J Urol. 1997 Apr;157(4):1335-6. PMID: 9120931 "Sensitive prostate specific antigen measurements identify men with long disease-free intervals and differentiate aggressive from indolent cancer recurrences within 2 years after radical prostatectomy. Witherspoon LR, Lapeyrolerie T. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. PURPOSE: Commonly available prostate specific antigen (PSA) assays have detection limits of greater than 0.05 ng/ml., limiting their ability to identify residual or recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy or to provide prognostic information within the first several years after surgery. We investigated the ability of a sensitive PSA assay to identify residual prostate cancer and men at risk for early recurrence after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured PSA in 1,037 serum samples obtained serially from 127 men after radical prostatectomy using the IMMULITE third generation PSA assay. RESULTS: The IMMULITE PSA assay has an analytical sensitivity of less than 0.002 ng./ml. and a clinically useful decision threshold of 0.01 ng./ml. With this assay our patients were classified into 3 groups: 1) 50 with a postoperative baseline PSA of less than 0.01 ng./ml. that did not change during an average of 36 months postoperatively, 2) 66 with increasing PSA that exceeded 0.01 ng./ml. in all cases by 30 months postoperatively (20 with clinical cancer recurrences) and 3) 11 with slowly increasing PSA of greater than 0.01 but less than 0.02 ng./ml. at an average of 36 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The IMMULITE PSA assay provides clinically useful information not previously available from PSA assays with conventional sensitivity, which is highly predictive of cancer activity in patients within 2 years after radical prostatectomy." Regards, Steve J

Response:

assays do much other than raising the anxiety levels of pts. Gotta go, it’s time to take the lizard’s tongue and frog eyes prescribed by my third world medic.

Remember the Ginger!!!! Dan, don’t forget the ginger!

Response:

Nice try in sneaking by us your good news, Dan. Congratulations on your last PSA(s)!!! — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132

Response:

ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS. Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife./BIG SNIP

Tom I loved it. But please stop being mysterious. What are these ‘testicle’ things you guys keep talking about finding? Kind regards MikeHi or whatever I am today

Response:

Thanks Steve, Even though our local lab doesn’t do the ultrasensitive assay, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this qualifies for the 12 months of undetectable that Strum references. Even after a year of this, I still sweat bullets, sitting alone in the exam room awaiting the results. Take care, and God Bless all of you providing support to this group. Dan, — PSA = 2.2 , 03/05/2003 Biopsy, 11/10/2004, G9(5+4) (multiple cores) (6 of 8 cores positive), T1C Casodex (daily), begin. 11/16/2004 Zoladex, 12/23/2004, 03/10/2005, 06/14/2005, 09/14/2005, 12/14/2005, 03/14/06 PSA, 0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Tom, Laughed so hard, I’ve still got tears in my eyes. F”’ng hilarious. Thanks so much for sharing. Dan, PS. I too would offer a reward if anyone knows the wherabouts of my testicles. — PSA = 2.2 , 03/05/2003 Biopsy, 11/10/2004, G9(5+4) (multiple cores) (6 of 8 cores positive), T1C Casodex (daily), begin. 11/16/2004 Zoladex, 12/23/2004, 03/10/2005, 06/14/2005, 09/14/2005, 12/14/2005, 03/14/06 PSA, 0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1 Nice try in sneaking by us your good news, Dan. Congratulations on your last PSA(s)!!! — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132

Response:

tom – that one is a "keeper" :)) oh, does the phrase, "hey, gang, watch this" mean anything in a case like this? ~ curtis knowledge is power – growing old is mandatory – growing wise is optional "Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so." http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

Response:

Sure does, right along with, "Hold my beer, I’m gonna try somethin." Tom

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – tom – that one is a "keeper" :)) oh, does the phrase, "hey, gang, watch this" mean anything in a case like this? ~ curtis knowledge is power – growing old is mandatory – growing wise is optional "Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so." http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

Response:

Tom, Laughed so hard, I’ve still got tears in my eyes. F”’ng hilarious. Thanks so much for sharing. Dan, PS. I too would offer a reward if anyone knows the wherabouts of my testicles. — PSA = 2.2 , 03/05/2003 Biopsy, 11/10/2004, G9(5+4) (multiple cores) (6 of 8 cores positive), T1C Casodex (daily), begin. 11/16/2004 Zoladex, 12/23/2004, 03/10/2005, 06/14/2005, 09/14/2005, 12/14/2005, 03/14/06 PSA, 0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1, <0.1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sure we all know someone who could have written this as a personal account. Tom ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS. Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. Last weekend I saw something at Larry’s Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety…. WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-a batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I’d get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn’t be all that bad with only two triple-a batteries,… right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong? So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I’m looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!" What happened next is almost beyond description, but I’ll do my best….. I’m sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don’t do it master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn’t hurt all that bad…. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!" Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-…. that hurt like hell!!! A minute or so later (I can’t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up, and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I’m still looking for my testicles? I’m offering a significant reward for their safe return. Still in shock, John

Response:

I’m sure we all know someone who could have written this as a personal account. Tom ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS. Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. Last weekend I saw something at Larry’s Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety…. WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-a batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I’d get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn’t be all that bad with only two triple-a batteries,… right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong? So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I’m looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!" What happened next is almost beyond description, but I’ll do my best….. I’m sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don’t do it master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn’t hurt all that bad…. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!" Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-…. that hurt like hell!!! A minute or so later (I can’t be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up, and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I’m still looking for my testicles? I’m offering a significant reward for their safe return. Still in shock, John

Response:

Hi Ho I'm for HIFU

admin — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Response:

that’s nice – after you have it done, then post the results…… ~ curtis knowledge is power – growing old is mandatory – growing wise is optional "Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so." http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

Response:

Go for it, Mike! Do you wnat to give us some more details?

Response:

Hi Ho I'm for HIFU + content!

admin — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Such an inspiring, illuminating, infectiously pioneering post Mike…and a perspective so upbeat I could even plump for HIFU myself! The surgeon I met with was interested but – because of lack of mature data – neutral.. he offered up the idea to me none the less – as you say they etch the faces of the die and then invite us to throw. Apparently here in W.Sussex, we get a team of Frenchmen (!) who come over and do HIFU for us. My own window of opportunity for RP is diminishing apparently so it’s possible that I’ll go for surgery before too long…but not yet sure. I do hope this is an unqualified success for you and of course, like everyone else, will be keenly interested in any feedback you might post up…

Response:

NOTE please: I’ve transmuted (hopefully) to HIFUMike in reply to Steve Kramer’s point -too many ‘Mikes’. (Steve, one previous post as MikeG.) Having lurked around for a time – - I am not entirely surprised at the wonderfully supportive posts sent in reply to my own. Even so, I am most grateful and deeply touched. Thank you. Must be the best bunch of medical malcontents anywhere on the planet! In acknowledgement and reply: Hi C Palmer: Many thanks. I think everybody here will understand when I say I’ve now rather got used to taking it up the arse, so I don’t mind a bit if somebody wants to give it on the chin! I truly welcome your frankness – knowledge in this game is the difference between a blind gambler, and a player. You are right, it will be interesting – not least for me! – because of my numbers. I think I mentioned I will be the first ever at this stage to have the pleasure of surround-sound audio up the rear as a possible cure – at least here. It’s all about the team, CP. To stay in the image groove, some awful administrators at the hospital need a kick up the posterior. But the guys at the sharp end, the HIFU team, I am quite sure are among the best. I think I may have an unfair advantage over you in being this positive. The results of their trials have yet to be published. From debriefings with members of the team after TRUSs and talking to my specialists I get a distinct impression of quietly bubbling confidence in their process and abilities. I think they may be using the Sonablate in a different way, and much superior to Ablatherm. In other words CP this may be an early arrival of your prediction, one of the multiple variations of HIFU< you forecast. Here I’m going to blind

gamble on my sensors: I get the feeling their results when published may be exceptional – with very high percentages of low or negligible subsequent PSA readings – i.e. only rare recurrences of tumours. I’ll go for it – even if they’re only the second best ever! Your comment on factoring in the low testosterone levels of old geezers is very interesting. I really will ask about it. Might it mean I could come off the Casodex, please? (And get rid of those painful nipples!). As to the possibility that they "

Chillis 'shrink tumours and kill cancer cells'

admin — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

I.P. Smoke-Free

This may be your best.

Response:

It certainly did not work for me. — Peter Headland

Response:

New Mexico "Mexican food" is uniquely based on fresh local chili peppers. I know residents who refuse to eat Mexican food outside its borders because everything else is just bland Tex-Mex. When I lived there I ate jalapenos almost like popcorn and ate "hot" restaurant salsa literally like a bowl of tomato soup, a pint with a meal if it was good. But I once tasted concentrated habanero pepper juice at Albuquerque’s Fiery Foods Fiesta as instructed by the bottler: dip a toothpick into it, shake any visible juice off the pick, and lightly touch your tongue to the toothpick. I had trouble breathing for several minutes, and almost had my wife call for help. The Fiesta officials shut down that booth after the paramedics had to treat several locals and hospitalize one. No, thanks. Give me prostate cancer with ADT any day. It’s FAR less debilitating. And for GOD’S sake keep habanero sauce away from my peepee. I.P. Smoke-Free

Response:

Wednesday, 15th March 2006 Science & Technology Wed 15 Mar 2006 Chillis ’shrink tumours and kill cancer cells’ IAN JOHNSTON SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT THE hottest peppers in the world can kill prostate cancer cells and dramatically reduce the size of tumours, according to new research. Scientists in the United States found capsaicin – the substance that makes hot peppers burn the tongues of chilli fans – had a "profound effect" on human prostate cancer cells grown in the laboratory and on the same cells grown in mice. The mice were fed a dose of pepper extract equivalent to up to eight haba

PSA .01 after 2+ years

admin — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Question:

Thank you for the reassurance. Shorty

Response:

After having undetectable readings for over 2 years since the RP it has come up as .01. Doctor has ordered a retest.