Thanks for the prayers and support as I made my trip today. I very much appreciate them and all of you.

Thankfully, I didn't have to get on any expressways in Dallas, as the entrance ramps are so short they scare
me. There is no time to merge as we're supposed to do. The rental car company even gave me an upgrade from
a Dodge Neon to a 6 cylinder Dodge Stratus. The Stratus is a neat car -- drives well, great radio/CD combination,
wonderful AC, and wonderful gas mileage. I put in $3.00 worth of gas before i took it back. When I start looking for a
new car in the spring, perhaps I'll investigate them more. There are several models out there that appeal to me, though.

My doctor's appointment went well. Since I saw him in August I've lost about 15 pounds. YEA!!!!!! Of course, my next appointment would be December 27, I guess I'll be eating carrots and celery for Christmas dinner?

Anyway, we talked at length about the headaches. I described in detail to him three different kinds of headaches that I get.
And when I got to the one that has been associated with the pituitary and lesions all along, he decided we'd try an "experiment"
that he used with a pastor in north Texas several years who had come to him in desparation, much like me. He started this
pastor on a daily course of prednisone and the headaches went away. The "diagnosis" which can't be proven without surgery
was indeed an enlarged, inflamed pituitary gland that was wreaking havoc on the rest of the pastor's body. So, I'm on a daily course of prednisone. He also gave me another prescription for Darvocet, just in case. He told me that we may have to find a neurosurgeon and "go in there," but he'd like to see me teach this spring. (So would I.) When I go back after Christmas I'm to have another MRI, and take in a record of all these fevers I keep having. While he didn't go into it, and I didn't press it, the fevers and the lesions may be connected.

It was a good day for the most part. I do like this doctor. We could talk for hours about music, sports, playing golf, school, church, family. He's a wonderful person. I'm sure thankful that God placed him before me when He did. I was getting so frustrated and down several months ago.

PEACE!
Nancy

Glad things went so well with the doctor. Sounds like you two are kindred spirits. Yes the power of prayer is great and not to be set aside as many seem to want us to do in this day and age. Glad you enjoyed the car rental. We have two Sturns and love them. I just wish the newer models got the mileage of the SL serise which they no longer make we get up to 42 mpg on the SL-1 and only about 36 mpg on the ION. Oh well so much for that.
Hang in there and do not forget to take the medications. I am also glad that your music and teaching programs are moving ahead and will give you great pleasure in being able to help others to improve their lives. Oh by the way. Keep those Fridays free for relaxation (nude times). God bless, Wally

Sounds as though you don't have too much problem taking meds. My wife and mom both have lots of trouble with new meds.

Hopefully, this will work. Sounds similar to taking Proscar for the prostate: shrinks the bugger to make life more livable. Hopefully, this will quiet your gland.

I helped a German gal find a car. We found a Saturn for her. It was one of the few American cars that drove like a European car (good). Now, a lot of them do. One exception is Buicks. They still wallow around like a typical American car.

Think they designed those entrances and exits because of the lack of land in Texas? One begins to wonder this in Texas and Oklahoma where they build subdivisions where each could reach out their side windows and touch hands.

Ralph

Nancy,

I did in deed pray for you that all would go well, so I am glad to hear things worked out. I am glad to how the Lord blessed you, too. When mentioned your car upgrade, I thought about the one time I flew to Washington state for business. About six or so of us flew out together, and on the return flight, I somehow ended up in First Class. This was my first (and only) trip there ever, but the others make the trip there all the time. They sat in Coach, and they later told me that they had never ever gone First Class (unless they paid the difference). Naturally, they were amazed (I was too, as well as blessed) and they teased me about it for a while. My point here is, this is how the Lord works in our lives, even as a witness to others of His goodness, and again, I am so glad to hear how the Lord blessed you. Keep it up, Lord!

Greg C

Moving right along Nancy! Any good doctor will try anything before "going in".

I know it must be frustrating to have to keep going back again and again. But sounds like you have found the right one, and a pastor seems to trust him as well.

Boyd

Hey Nancy, I'm glad you seem to like this doc.!

Prednisone is a wonder drug, but I hope you don't need to stay on it very long! I was diagnosed with something called "Still's disease" a little over a year ago, and my doc. put me on 60 mg pred. a day, and it did a great job of masking the symptoms, but it also brings along its own baggage! I wasn't myself during that time, and I was real cranky, with a real short fuse. It also thins your skin, so you will bruise real easy, along with making your bones real brittle. It basiclly shuts down your adrenal gland, making it a slow withdrawl to pull you off it. It does however work, and it works real fast! I hope that you don't need to stay on it for any long extended periods.

I ended up being on it for 3 months, and was also put on vioxx for a total of 14 days before it was pulled off the shelves! God's timing is increadable! I was on the vioxx long enough to really make it help, but not long enough to do any damage!

I got sick in April of 2004 with my first flair, and my second in August of '04, that included 2 trips to the hospital over a 6 day period. It was during my second trip to the hospital when I was given the prednisone. We were trying to reduce my dosage twice a week, and my doc. was in contact with me 2 to 3 times each week to see how I was doing.

I was pulled off the pred. in early December of '04, and declaired in remission in mid January of this year! I have to say that I feel the drugs and care had little to do with my recovery, but rather it was all GOD'S DOING!

As a sidebar to my story, I have thanked God for still's many times over the last year! As a result of my "Disease" I have grown closer to God!

Rob

Nancy, I didn't mean to sound so negitive in my first post, just wanted you to know just what you're dealing with in Prednisone, from someone that took it for a while. Also my Dad's been on it for almost 2 years now. Even with its nasty side effects he's doing better then he would be without it. For a while there we were trying to see who would be off it faster, and I ended up winning that race!

Rob

Rob,
Unfortunately, I've dealt with prednisone quite a lot. I'm asthmatic, and as a consequence end up with a least two or three bouts of bronchitis each year, meaning normally a shot of steroids and several days of either a dose pack or an extended amount of time on 10 or 20 mg of it. We talked about it on Friday, and unfortunately this is the BEST way to go right now. Surgery would mean that I couldn't teach this spring and could result in other complications, including cutting a facial nerve. If we can find something to help with the swelling of the enlarged pituitary gland and buy myself some time, we can look at alternatives to surgery for the lesions. I promise you, I'm aware of all the side effects, and I'm trying to take precautions against those. How long I'll be on it remains to be seen.

Thanks for your concern. It is very much appreciated.

PEACE!
Nancy