[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hi Leslie! Paul had pain from hip to testicle at first for a wk. We saw an orthopedist, did MRI, thinking referred pain. Then, went to internist. Still no rash for 1 wk. Once we saw this flaming red from navel down and around to spine and down, we called and got a FAMVIR script called in. A COMEDY OF ERRORS, which isn't funny when it's happening to you. Love the doc, hate his office. Can't get a response. Even if in dire pain and in critical condition!! Finally, after calling my dghtr, saying, I'm not thinking clearly, what can I do? She told me to "prompt" the "if you are a doctor or a hospital" button! BIG LESSON. But, I can't do that. I'm not a doctor or a hospital. Rule follower, me. You've called 5 times and no one has called you back, this is an emergency -- you can call. So I got "permission" and though generally so proactive hesitated until I got the message from Ali. I prompted the special # and got through to a person and begged.

The "funny" part is that when my husband wound up in the hosp the 1st time they were trying to give him that med 3X a day. He insisted he's only supposed to get it once a day, as the bottle at home said. Was it the doc who wrote it funny (looked clear to me when I checked at subsequent office visit)? Was it the Janice person who called it in wrong? Was it the pharmacy that insists that was what Janice said, 500 mg once a day -- 21 pills (as in for 3 wks). So, Paul should have been getting triple the dosage, which would have lessened the severity of the pain, which would have lessened the need for the nerve pain med that caused him to become dizzy, disoriented, etc and fall and break his foot!!!

I had Shingles w/2nd rd of chemo (Taxotere) about 5 wks in. Caught it instantly as a big bug bite on my belly. Felt sick, fluish, nauseous. light-headed and thought it was from the chemo. Went for visit (checking out possible stem cell transplant w/3 specialists) and asked WHAT'S THIS? Herpes Zostra. Went for chemo 3 days later, as the rash spread all around front and back ON ONE SIDE and onc said NO CHEMO. Not when you have Shingles. Can't get chemo. I knew I would die if I didn't get the chemo. So I made up my mind I would cure it fast. Was on Valtres ('98 drug of choice). Added supplements from my Prescription For Nutritional Healing bible, meditated, prayed, envisioned, sent healing messages to my body in no uncertain terms. 10 days later I returned to onc. How are you doing?, he asked. I'm cured, I said. He smiled, laughed a little, and said, Let me see. Walked all around me. Wow. You're right. Very nice. Good for you. You can have chemo! YEAH! I was taking pain killers ev 4 hrs. Thought I would die from the pain alone. Calamaine ev hr. But insisted to healing fast if I wanted to live, and I did, and do.

I recommended to Paul that he get rid of the Shingles in 10 days, like me. We know people who had it for 8 mnths, a yr. You don't want to follow in their footsteps. I put him on the supplements, which he took begrudgingly. Moaning and in pain. I said, If you want to help yourself, boost your immune system! I left the page of the book (above) open, highlighted in bright pink, with the bottles and permanent marker indicating X1 or X2 or empty stomach. He took "some".

A friend of ours, Michael, told me I should have put a note on top saying, DO NOT READ! We must keep laughing...

Sending much love. Still trying to catch up w/old mail. I have a lot to say to you Leslie. You've been in my thoughts. I adore your posts. Your quotes. So much to say. Patience, please. Almost time to go to followup visit w/urologist for Paul.

I decided, I swear, it's easier to be the patient than the caregiver. Paul is an excellent caregiver!! And a really lousy, cranky patient. Poor baby.

ANDI