Support for LateToSchool

Parent Cafe
2101

<p>

</p>

<p>I agree with the last two posts.</p>

<p>–I think that you’re accurately interpreting what Dr. Buchholz is saying, insofar as he is indicating that there is a risk of dementia-like symptoms. He does not say anything in his response - and there may or may not be anything reliable to be said on these points - re either (1) the likelihood of such a result, or (2) whether there is anything that might be done in connection with the treatment to minimize that risk.</p>

<p>–Dr. Buchholz certainly seems to recognize the undesirability of such a result - if it were to occur. (If you look around his website a bit, you’ll see just how acutely sensitive he seems to be to “quality of life” issues.) On the other hand, he also seems to suggest (if only implicitly) that some risks may be well worth taking if the alternative to taking them seems even worse.</p>

2102

<p>LTS-
That is what I thought- that WBR is really your only option at this point. Certainly the potential consequences of NOT doing the WBR outweigh the potential cognitive side effects of the treatment. Good luck today.</p>

2103

<p>I, like many others, will be stopping whatever I am doing at 11:00 this morning to send a prayer and “hold your hand” through the treatment.</p>

<p>(I just set the alarm on my Outlook)</p>

2104

<p>Epistrophy, thank you. I appreciate what you did because it at least removed the remaining doubts I had, even though I had already scheduled this treatment. I firmly believe treatment is far more effective when one believes strongly it is the correct choice; I also believe treatment can be impaired if the patient has doubts about the choice, regardless of how small. So, thank you again for your efforts - I seriously cannot say enough how greatly I appreciate this. </p>

<p>I did also go to his website just long enough to read his CV and look around briefly - yes, he is very focused on QoL. And yes, the gamble is worth it when the alternative is to die from brain mets in a matter of weeks. </p>

<p>Mafool - thank you. ADad, yes, you captured what eluded me…thank you! NYMomof2, thanks, I printed out your PM and will take it with me to read…</p>

2105

<p>Adding my voice to those standing by with prayers.</p>

2106

<p>LTS:</p>

<p>I tried to send you a PM but your box is full! I’ve been away and have only caught up with your news. Your whole life has been a story of grit and willingness to take risks. I hope these qualities will serve you well here, and that you will come out on the other side stronger than ever.</p>

<p>Catching up on your news has brought tears to my eyes. I am in awe of the CC community–the depth and breadth of knowledge and the wonderful sense of support. I think Robert Putnam has it wrong: we’re not all bowling alone. He does not believe in cyber-communities. He should read this thread.</p>

2107

<p>Also, standing by here…</p>

2108

<p>11 o’clock and the Rosary Ladies of St. James Church will be praying for you!</p>

2109

<p>LTS:</p>

<p>This might seem like an odd way to put it, but I think that the decision whether to take certain “risks” is actually made a lot easier when the alternative is very bleak. </p>

<p>In my own practice, for instance, on those occasions where I have been representing an individual who had previously been sentenced to death, I have felt much freer to take some “risks” - putting my client on the stand at an evidentiary hearing, for instance - that I might well not have taken under other circumstances.</p>

<p>One way of looking at this whole situation (not the only way, but one), it seems to me, is this: Do you really have any other choice?</p>

<p>If not, well, go forward, as I’m sure you will, with the same confidence and strength that you’ve been demonstrating all along.</p>

2110

<p>LTS seems to be a model for the “knowledge is power” approach to life. It is an extremely healthy, empowering approach. It seems pretty clear that at this point the best and only treatment is WBR, and that you are continuing to gather information to be prepared for any of a number of possible outcomes following your treatment.</p>

<p>The posts I have received on my neuropsych listserv this far have some older references than what are probably in the book calmom cited above. I am sure they’ve had many positive technological changes/improvements in the irradiation procedure, so the findings in the older literature might be a bit outdated. </p>

<p>Again, please know we are all there with you today. Be well.</p>

2111

<p>I am in the process of pulling the data out of the book Calmom linked, and harvesting the rest of the information posted here in the last 24 hours. </p>

<p>Marite, you are so right. What struck me this morning - and what I didn’t post - is that while I have wonderful support in real life, and I am very, very grateful for that support, there is no Epistrophy magic coming out of it; there is no Calmom or NYMomof2 or anyone else; I am not getting this sort of support. My real life support is wonderful - I get fed, driven places, reminded to work out, exercise, help with tasks etc., and the physical presence of other persons who care about me - people are arranging their lives to ensure that I am never, ever left alone or unassisted. That’s all terrific - but what I need MOST of all is information, and help translating that information. (I have asked my real life support for this, and they do try, but, they are either too emotionally close to the situation, or, Epistrophy & company are simply far, far better at it…bottom line, I am not getting this in real life)…I also need survival stories; I am a sort of black and white kind of person, and I need empirical data to remind me, in my darkest hours, that this is a battle that CAN be won. Here, I get survival stories; in real life, no one can really find any, or, they are sickened by the information they encounter on the internet (specific to lung cancer, it’s all scary/bad - it’s very hard to drill through to find the golden nuggets of inspiring, uplifting information). </p>

<p>Anyone who does not believe in cyber-communities is sadly mistaken.</p>

<p>Cherry blossom walk? I’m up for it, but, I have an early dinner commitment Saturday, and then I have a 4:00 a.m. conference call Monday, and I need more rest than normal…can we either do Sunday mid-day or morning, or, what about next weekend, which is wide open for me at this point (???). </p>

<p>Many thanks for all of the prayers. I am certain this is in God’s hands now.</p>

2112

<p>God bless, LTS.</p>

2113

<p>Sending support and strength virtually from the left coast this morning at 11 (8 our time) and on your cherry blossom walk over the weekend. If you announce a time, I’ll have my avatar go walk around your cherry blossom garden in Second Life at that time and think of you all walking beneath the real ones.</p>

2114

<p>Praying…</p>

2115

<p>Praying…</p>

2116

<p>The omegabrite website has abstracts of pertinent publications. Here is one:</p>

<hr>

<p>Consumption of Fish and n-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease”
Authors: Martha Clare Morris, ScD; Denis A. Evans, MD; Julia L. Bienias, ScD; Christine C. Tangney, PhD; David A. Bennett, MD; Robert S. Wilson, PhD; Neelum Aggarwal, MD; Julie Schneider, MD </p>

<p>Source: Arch Neurol. 2003;60:940-946. </p>

<p>Background: Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improve brain functioning in animal studies, but there is limited study of whether this type of fat protects against Alzheimer disease. </p>

<p>Objective: To examine whether fish consumption and intake of different types of n-3 fatty acids protect against Alzheimer disease. </p>

<p>Design: Prospective study conducted from 1993 through 2000, of a stratified random sample from a geographically defined community. Participants were followed up for an average of 3.9 years for the development of Alzheimer disease. </p>

<p>Patients: A total of 815 residents, aged 65 to 94 years, who were initially unaffected by Alzheimer disease and completed a dietary questionnaire on average 2.3 years before clinical evaluation of incident disease. </p>

<p>Main Outcome Measure: Incident Alzheimer disease diagnosed in a structured neurologic examination by means of standardized criteria. </p>

<p>Results: A total of 131 sample participants developed Alzheimer disease. Participants who consumed fish once per week or more had 60% less risk of Alzheimer disease compared with those who rarely or never ate fish (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9) in a model adjusted for age and other risk factors. Total intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer disease, as was intake of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) was not associated with Alzheimer disease. The associations remained unchanged with additional adjustment for intakes of other dietary fats and of vitamin E and for cardiovascular conditions. </p>

<p>Conclusion: Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and weekly consumption of fish may reduce the risk of incident Alzheimer disease. </p>

<hr>

2117

<p>More prayers for you, LTS…</p>

2118

<p>Looking at the clock and praying.</p>

2119

<p>LTS, I haven’t posted in this thread before but have been following it since it first became a thread of its own. You’re in my prayers.</p>

2120

<p>Thoughts & prayers.</p>