Hi All,
    I have just been reading the digests as I had to sort through my
daughter's things to be ready for the movers who arrive today. Now that
the greatest pressure is off me - I finally got the rest of the family
to get involved - we finished in less than an hour. Proof that there can
be great things done with help!
    I am so glad that Marie is doiing better. I also understand the
problem of dealing with anyone - HCP or not - who does not understand
that inside your body you feel different and sick, while on the outside,
there 'appears' to be no problem. I have been fighting chronic illness
for almost 4 years now, and in the beginning I gathered that the feeling
that some thought I was just hormonal, a hypocondriac, depressed because
I was going to go through menopause and lose my period (I would like a
man to menstruate once and then make that statement!), and so on.  I
just kept going back and back and finally armed with some medical
literature and my husband, things got moving. I am still not back to
where I was, sometimes feel that I never will be, but I am able to
continue with all my activities. My heart now aches for all those people
who are not believed or heard when they say something is wrong, even
hypocondriacs have a problem that needs treatment.
    Linda's (Coach) comments were right on  the mark. I do not have a
problem with a doctor who admits that they don't have the knowledge of
an area (in fact I admire them). But to 'make up answers' or go with
some 'bit of what I heard' simply to give information, without knowing
if it is true or false and/or helpful or damaging, is simply not a good
medical practice. I feel that breastfeeding is one of the only areas
that this is allowed to exist and continue. Just MHO.
    Pam needs to put the comment from 32 years ago 'that the madness
would go through the milk to the baby' into her book of SAYINGS!

Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY
"Knowledge that is not used is abused." Cree proverb