2 c-sections - one planned and the other one not really emergency per-se - just had to be done, or maybe that is called an emergency. I love c-sections :), at least for me. What really, really helps is to start moving gradually and as soon as you can - after the surgery. The more you lie down and the more inactive you are, the longer it will take to heal. Moving around helps. I used to walk around the hospital floor pushing dd in her crib or whatever they call it. I got up every hour and did this. Recovery was a breeze.

All I know about zinc is the following, although Jean's tips and recommendation sounds very interesting. Going to read up on that. Zinc - 25-50 mg per day DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 100 mg Use zinc gluconate lozenges or OptiZinc for best absorption L-OptiZinc is a patented form of bio-available zinc – bio-available means best absorbed Don't take it on an empty stomach or it could make you nauseous. There are quite a few brands of L-OptiZinc. I like Solaray, although I know there are others.

I plan to sit down with a huge pot of tea and read all the replies ... this is a very emotional issue for me. Meanwhile, this might be of interest. The United States spends more on medical care per person than any country, yet life expectancy is shorter than in most other developed nations and many developing ones. Lack of health insurance is a factor in life span and contributes to an estimated 45,000 deaths a year. Why the high cost? The U.S. has a fee-for-service system—paying medical providers piecemeal for appointments, surgery, and the like. That can lead to unneeded treatment that doesn’t reliably improve a patient’s health. Says Gerard Anderson, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies health insurance worldwide, “More care does not necessarily mean better care.â€

I have not yet had time to read all the replies. Much of this may be a repeat of what others have said. It may not even be useful or relevant to your situation. :confused: I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. :grouphug: Here's some info I have. All of us get depressed at times, such as when a good friend moves away or dies, or during the holidays when we’re alone. We may also get depressed from lack of sunlight during dark winter months or when we listen to the news. Inactivity (watching TV, reading escape novels) and sugar (chocolate) are sure-fire ways of turning temporary blahs into chronic depression. These 5 steps will help. If 5 steps are too many, just do the first one. It will help you move on to the rest. Put a copy of these 5 steps on your fridge. Then you’ll know where to look when you’re down and can’t get up. STEP ONE: KEEP MOVING Regular exercise improves your mood as much as medication. The last thing most of us want to do when we’re depressed is exercise. But it’s the most important step you can take. Force yourself to move. Within 20-30 minutes, you’ll have more energy and feel better emotionally. Force yourself to get out and walk. If it’s still daylight, get up right now and walk just for 20 minutes. You need to exercise 4-5 times a week to beat off depression. Daily is even better. STEP TWO: DON’T ISOLATE YOURSELF When you’re depressed, it’s difficult to reach out to others. But that’s just what you need to do. Stop making excuses. Your friends love you even when you’re feeling down. They want to help you as much as you want to help them when they’re in need. Pick up the phone and make a date with a friend to get together. Have them over for a cup of coffee or tea if you can’t get out. Look for activities that will distract you and take your mind off your problems. Arrange to go for a walk and exercise with a friend. Reach out, even if you don’t feel like it. If no one you know is available to get together, volunteer your services somewhere. Offer to help out one time for just a few hours. If you like it, do it regularly. You’ll meet new people and feel better being around others. STEP THREE: EAT HEALTHY FOODS Some foods will add to your depression. Others have the opposite effect. For instance, it’s important to get enough protein – as much as 15-20 grams with each meal. You need protein to help make mood-regulating chemicals. Protein also keeps your blood sugar from dropping. Low blood sugar can cause fatigue and temporary depression. Avoid any foods that trigger a low-blood-sugar response, such as sugar (honey, pure cane sugar juice, etc.), alcohol, fruit juices, and high quantities of refined carbohydrates (bread, crackers, white rice). Get junk foods out of the house today. When you want something sweet, eat a piece of fruit. Eat small amounts of unrefined carbohydrates such as beans, fresh fruit, and brown rice. They help your brain release serotonin. Half a cup of a starch, such as brown rice or one piece of fruit, is a reasonably small amount. Make eating good foods easy by planning in advance. Buy healthy frozen meals, especially those that are organic. Get pre-washed, pre-cut salad greens and vegetables to either eat raw or to sauté with your entrée. Have some bean dip on hand to eat for a meal or as a snack with carrots and celery. Buy healthy prepared soups, either dried, frozen, or in boxes. STEP FOUR: USE SUPPLEMENTS St. John’s Wort is the most popular and well-studied herb for minor and moderate depression. It has been tested head-to-head with Prozac. It often works just as well as Prozac with fewer side effects. One reason it works so well is because of its side effect. It causes photosensitivity. Bright light therapy helps reduce depression. By increasing your sensitivity to light, St. John’s Wort magnifies the effects of normal light. It acts just like you’re being exposed to continuous light therapy. The daily dosage varies from 300-1000 mg a day. Try it for at least a month. One warning: St. John’s Wort can reduce the effectiveness of some medications. If you take any drugs at all, consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this herb. Raises serotonin levels Helps relieve chronic insomnia Helps relieve mild depression – especially if you’re healthy and not taking other medications. May help relieve panic attacks – when taken 2-3 times a day Because this herb can sensitize the skin to sunlight, take it in the evening after the sun has set. 5-HTP Helps with: • Sleep problems – quality and duration • Emotional eating and evening cravings – helps suppress appetite • Anxiety and depression as it increases serotonin levels • Melatonin production • Serotonin production Best if taken sublingually - opening the capsule and pouring the contents on your tongue. Try to avoid eating or drinking anything for 20 minutes before and after taking it. No more than about 3 capsules a day – can safely take up to 400 mg per day – although most need less. Loses its efficacy if taken every single day – best if you take breaks – sometimes alternating days – and sometimes take a break for an entire month or so It may take 1-2 weeks to notice any effects and up to 6 weeks to notice the full benefits. Be cautious about taking this if you’re on anti-depressants STEP FIVE: USE AROMATHERAPY TO HEAL Essential oils are never used topically. Never take them internally unless you are under the care of health care practitioner skilled in using them. However, you can safely rub a few drops on your wrist, put them in your bath, or add them to oil and give your hands and feet an aromatherapy massage. Use only pure essential oils. Synthetic ones won’t work as well. Lavender is known for its ability to lift depression. It relaxes, stimulates, calms, and invigorates. Ravensera is energizing and uplifting. It helps relieve chronic depression and promotes energy and mental clarity. Bitter Orange helps lift anxiety, depression, nervousness, and insomnia. Patchouli calms the nerves, improves concentration, and lifts depression. REMEMBER THAT: Everything changes. Today’s depression will turn into tomorrow’s peacefulness and joy if you’ll allow it. Concentrate on everything you have rather than what you don’t have. Appreciate each little blessing. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Praying right now and I will pray throughout the day. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I'm pretty sure you're talking about Ayurveda. I still have MUCH to learn about it. But what I am reading is absolutely fascinating. Here are some threads that may have the info you're looking for. If not, let me know and I'll try to post some other links. Peela and DevotionalSoul are much more knowledgeable about this. I wish I had more time to read up on this, as well as to fully implement it. I'm a huge believer so far. Love it and it makes so much sense. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254708&highlight=ayurveda http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263661&highlight=ayurveda Here are some books that I would love to get: http://www.amazon.com/Ayurveda-Secrets-Healing-Bri-Tiwari/dp/0914955152/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2F7G6199BDND1&colid=2Z1D7M6OR6DLD http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Health-Complete-Revised-Updated/dp/0609806947/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1Y4WUVKHRYYJP&colid=2Z1D7M6OR6DLD http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Power-Heal-Through-Medicine/dp/0979327903/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IXQU4RXD0Y0RN&colid=2Z1D7M6OR6DLD There are some sites also that you will hopefully find in the previous threads linked above.

I've never needed it, but have recommended it to others. They love it. I love doctors and dentists like yours. :)

Okay, wow. I had no idea. Thanks for sharing that. Here I thought that I was doing a good thing ... :confused: Thank you. Yes, he has them just in case. Well, that's a nice, positive way of looking at it. :D Thank you. But no, he's not really in pain at all yet. Just discomfort. He only went to the doctor last week. He was meant to go in for a CT Scan yesterday. Decided against it because he is concerned (rightfully so, I believe) about possible unnecessary radiation. But after much thinking and talking w/his urologist again, decided to most probably get one today. He's had enough tests in his life, so we're always concerned about radiation. Nonetheless, the doctor said that he can't be 100% sure that it even is a stone. It could be something else. Hopefully not. But we're all pretty sure that it is a stone. He is able to function quite normally. No pain yet. We're just worried that it might get worse, particularly on vacation - in different countries. So, if the doctor finds that it IS a stone, then, if the size is right, etc. - if he thinks it best - then yes, the procedure (whatever it's called) will be done. Thank you. Thank you for this link and for the info.

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: This topic is way, way too emotional for me. :leaving:

Sea vegetables (agar, arame, hijiki, kombu, nori, sea palms, and wakame) have some of the highest mineral content of any plants—especially calcium, iron, and iodine (the latter of which supports thyroid health)—all vital for women). Sea veggies are well known to protect against environmental pollutants; McGill researchers find that the alginic acid they contain reduces the amount of radioactive materials absorbed through the intestinal wall. If you haven’t yet developed a taste for these superfoods, a dash of Seaweed Gomasio (a seasoning combining them with sea salt) on other foods will do just fine. Use iodine-rich Seaweed Gomasio to season your food. Instead of using seaweed to boost your iodine levels, you might consider taking an iodine supplement. Iodoral is a very good one. When we take 50 mg of iodine/iodide a day, it acts as an adaptogen, regulating various body functions. This is the amount that most of us need. Not just any iodine will do. Kelp and iodized salt just won’t give you even close to the 50 mg required amount. Neither will seaweed nor fish, unless you eat enough of them every single day. The Japanese have adequate iodine, but we can’t get enough from our diet unless we eat high-iodine seaweed every single day. We’re extremely deficient. We’ve been on a low-iodine diet all our lives and they haven’t. And it’s rare for most to eat seaweed daily. Some forms of iodine are harmful. Iodoral is not. All of us need a combination of iodine and iodide, the two forms of iodine used throughout our bodies. Iodoral and Lugol are the only supplements containing these two nutrients. Lugol, however, tastes foul. You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C. Studies show that women who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day for normal breast function. If you’re heavier, you will likely need more. Start off slowly over a 4 week period. Take 1 pill for 30 days Then 2 pills for 30 days Then maybe 3 for 30 days Then maybe 4 for 30 days Then back down to 3, 2, and 1 - gradually – see how much your body needs to maintain Your body will know....listen to it... One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet. Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine.

CORRECTING AN IODINE DEFICIENCY: Dr. Nan Fuchs wrote: “I've had women come into my office who look like the poster child for underactive thyroid. They're overweight, they're losing their hair and eyebrows, their skin is dry, and they tell me they feel cold all the time. Yet when their doctor gave them a thyroid test, it came back normal! When I put these women on iodine supplementation, their conditions improve dramatically. Their skin improves, they stop losing their hair, and they finally lose that excess weight — and keep it off.†The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent breast cancer or its precurser fibrocystic breast disease or other serious diseases and symptoms listed above. Breast tissue and other reproductive organs require much more iodine than the thyroid gland. Many researchers now believe that you may need 100 to 400 times the RDI. The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus). The Japanese consume 89 times more iodine than Americans due to their daily consumption of sea vegetables, and they have reduced rates of many chronic diseases, including the lowest rates of cancer in the world. There is a large body of evidence suggesting that low cancer rates in Japan are a result of their substantially higher iodine levels. Iodine has documented antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties. A strong case can be made that your iodine RDA should be closer to what the Japanese consume daily, if breast cancer rates are any indication. Low iodine can lead to fibrocystic breast disease in women (density, lumps and bumps), hyperplasia, and atypical mammary tissue. Such fibrocystic changes in breast tissue have been shown to reverse in the presence of iodine supplementation after 3-4 months. Increase your intake with mineral-rich sea vegetables (agar, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame) at least twice a week. You can eat as much seaweed as you want. Brown seaweeds are highest in iodine. They include all forms of kelp. Fucus, also known as Bladderwrack, is considered to be the best for underactive thyroids. Hijiki and Sargassum are two other forms of brown seaweeds. Red seaweeds include dulse, nori, Irish moss, and Gracillaria. Since toasting doesn’t affect seaweed’s iodine content, you can eat it dried or dried and toasted. Toast some in the oven or in a dry frying pan to see if you prefer that taste. You can also powdered seaweed to your food or add larger pieces of seaweed to soups, grains, or vegetables. Seaweed should be an enjoyable addition to your diet, not an unpleasant experience. If you simply don’t like its taste, you can get it in capsules. Use 5-10 grams of mixed brown and red seaweed for thyroid problems. This is about 1 ½ teaspoons per day. If you’ve been told that your thyroid is borderline-low, eating seaweed makes sense. But remember, you need to eat seaweed every day or take iodine in a different form. Not all seaweeds are safe to eat. Some come from polluted waters. Be more cautious and talk to a naturopath if you’re on thyroid meds and want to try seaweed.

Substances that interfere with iodine Chlorine – present in most city water supplies – unless you de-chlorinate your water, you are being exposed to thyroid-lowering gases whenever you bathe, shower, or have a drink of water. Fluorine Bromide or Bromine – If you are exposed to a lot of bromine, your body will not hold on to the iodine that it needs. And iodine affects every tissue in your body -- not just your thyroid. Found in: • Some pesticides (particularly strawberries) – try to eat organic whenever possible • Medications such as Atrovent Inhaler, Atrovent Nasal Spray, Pro-Banthine (for ulcers), and anesthesia agents • Many baked goods – including the ingredient “potassium bromate†- You probably are not aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours. Pepperidge Farm and other successful companies manage to use only unbromated flour • Mountain Dew (one of the worst beverages you can find), Fresca, Squirt, all citrus flavored sodas, and orange Gatorade all contain bromide in the form of brominated vegetable oils (BVOs). Drinking beverages with bromide causes low thyroid function in some people. • Plastics – like those used to make computers • Fire retardants (common one is polybromo diphenyl ethers or PBDEs) used in fabrics, carpets, upholstery, and mattresses • Bromine-based hot tub and swimming pool treatments • Potassium bromate is also found in some toothpastes and mouthwashes, where it's added as an antiseptic and astringent. It has been found to cause bleeding and inflammation of gums in people using these products. Since bromide competes for the same receptors in the body as iodine—a critical mineral that supports normal thyroid function—it’s no wonder that low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) is so prevalent! Bromide toxicity is another consequence - when you ingest or absorb bromine, it displaces iodine, and this iodine deficiency leads to an increased risk for cancer of the breast, thyroid gland, ovary and prostate -- cancers that we see at alarmingly high rates today. Iodine levels have significantly dropped due to bromine exposure; declining consumption of iodized salt, eggs, fish, and sea vegetables; and soil depletion. Trying to avoid bromine is like trying to avoid air pollution -- all you can do is minimize your exposure. That said, here are a few things you can do to minimize your risk: 1. Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly. This will minimize your pesticide exposure. 2. Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels. 3. Look for organic whole-grain breads and flour. Grind you own grain, if possible. Look for the "no bromine" or "bromine-free" label on commercial baked goods. 4. Avoid sodas. Drink natural, filtered water instead. 5. If you own a hot tub, look into an ozone purification system. Such systems make it possible to keep the water clean with minimal chemical treatments. 6. Look for personal care products that are as chemical-free as possible. Remember -- anything going on you, goes in you. 7. When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation. Utilize fans to circulate the air. Chemical pollutants are much higher inside buildings (and cars) than outside. If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body. Aspirin, blood thinner meds, and steroids can result in iodine deficiency thyroid problems. If you’re taking these, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function. Copper overload—from birth control pills and copper IUDs, copper pipes and cookware, dental fillings and crowns, and foods (cocoa and chocolate, yeast, soy, and even tea)—can also suppress thyroid function. Elevated tissue levels of copper are frequently linked to a sluggish thyroid. So be sure to get enough zinc—from eggs, grass-fed meats, poultry, seafood, and pumpkin seeds—to keep copper in balance.

HELPS REMOVE CERTAIN TOXINS FROM BODY Iodine protects us from two toxic elements – fluoride and bromide. These toxins are in our water, hot tubs, non-organic foods, and some soft drinks. Bromide is even used in some asthma drugs. If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body. HELPS FIBROMYALGIA Fibromyalgia patients often have high levels of bromide. Iodine removes bromide out of the body, improving fibromyalgia. STRESS Acts as an adaptogen, a substance that helps your body adapt to stress Adaptogens are substances that help normalize various bodily functions. Iodine supports your adrenals and helps reduce stress – your adrenal glands need sufficient iodine to function properly and respond to life’s many stresses. MAY HELP SHED EXCESS WEIGHT When you correct your iodine deficiency, you may find that you shed the pounds easily — without strict deprivation diets or punishing exercise regimens. That's because you'll be working with your body instead of against it. You'll be getting down to your natural weight ... the weight God intended you to be. FIGHTS FATIGUE and gives greater energy NORMALIZES SEVERAL HORMONES – Without enough iodine, your hormones won’t work at their best. If you and your doctor can’t explain why the hormones you’re taking aren’t working the way they should, insufficient iodine may be the reason. HELPS PROTECT AGAINST BOTH TYPES OF DIABETES IMPROVES IMMUNITY Iodine protects us from two toxic elements – fluoride and bromide, by competing with them for their place in our tissues. These toxins are in our water, hot tubs, non-organic foods, and some soft drinks and baked goods. Bromide is even used in some asthma drugs. If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body.

Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency Adrenal Fatigue Cardiac arrhythmia Diabetes (both types) Fibrocystic breast disease Fibromyalgia Graves’ disease Hormone resistance syndromes Hypertension Obesity PCOS Sleep apnea Thyroid Disorders – sub-clinical hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis BENEFITS OF CORRECTING AN IODINE DEFICIENCY THYROID Interestingly, over the past 30 years, Americans’ iodine intake has declined 50% while thyroid disorders have significantly increased during that period. Iodine plays a significant role in preventing hormonal imbalances and regulating the thyroid Your thyroid gland needs iodine whether it’s working normally, is underactive (hypothyroid), overactive (hyperthyroid), or enlarged (goiter). Enough iodine normalizes all these conditions. PROTECTS BREASTS – Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Breast Cancer (as well as endometrial and ovarian cancers) What most people don’t realize is that next to the thyroid, iodine is concentrated in breast tissue. It can protect against fibrocystic breast disease and even breast cancer. Iodine helps to normalize the impact of estrogens on the breast. It decreases or turns off the estrogen receptor sites in the breast. Iodine is critical for breast tissue function and has been shown to be lower in cancerous breast tissue. Research has found strong evidence that women who are deficient in iodine are more prone to breast cancer. Back in the ’70s, scientists noted geographic differences in the rates of breast cancer (as well as endometrial and ovarian cancer), depending upon dietary iodine intake. Where iodine intake was lower, the incidence of these cancers was higher. Diets low in iodine can lead to more circulating estrogen levels in the body. Recent research has shown that iodine treatment improves fibrocystic disease in 70 percent of the women tested. As our intake of iodine has declined, breast cancer has increased. When bromide gets into the tissues, it displaces iodine, which, again, is essential for breast health. Some women with fibrocystic breast disease find their cysts and tenderness disappear after iodine supplementation. DIGESTION Iodine helps your digestion - Promotes HCL (hydrochloric acid) for digestion of protein, iron, and calcium Low HCL production is frequently caused by iodine insufficiency. We need iodine to pump chloride into stomach cells. Without enough HCL, we can’t digest protein or utilize calcium, magnesium, or iron efficiently. As we age, our bodies make less and less HCL. By increasing iodine, you may also be able to increase your body’s natural production of HCL.

Isabella, I'm so happy to see this thread. Peela mentioned this a while back and I've been meaning to read more about it. You've reminded me to do so. Not sure when we'll implement this. Peela always has fabulous advice. :) One word, Iodoral - avaiable from amazon. Read the reviews. Do a search here. Lots of threads. I take anywhere from 1-4 daily. I spent a loooong time researching this. No thyroid issues myself that I am aware of, but I always have my suspicions. Thyroid issues do run in my family. This book, which I have not read, but at least one person here has, is said to be very good. Here's the author's site. I have lots and lots of info on this ... here's just some of it: More than 90% of us are low in iodine. Whole body iodine insufficiency is contributing to numerous health problems from hypothyroidism to breast cancer and fibromyalgia. Today's environment makes it almost impossible to get the amount of iodine you need. 1. There's very little iodine in the soil. So unless you're eating a ton of iodine-rich foods like kelp, seaweed and shellfish, you're not going to get much iodine from your diet. 2. Many salt companies have stopped adding iodine to table salt. While commercial table salt usually contains iodine, this is not the best way to boost iodine intake. In fact, “salt iodination, which is performed routinely in many countries, may increase the incidence of overt hypothyroidism,†a new Greek study concludes. Kelp and other sea vegetables are excellent sources of natural iodine. Use Seaweed Gomasio to season your food, rather than iodized salt. 3. Food manufacturers have stopped using iodine in baked goods and are using bromine instead. Bromine (a halogen) competes with iodine to get into your cells. So the more bromine you consume, the less iodine you get. Unfortunately, many foods today (primarily baked goods) are loaded with bromine. 4. Our water supply contains chlorine and fluoride, both of which are halogens. Again, halogens compete with iodine to get into your cells. And you can't avoid chlorine and fluoride simply by drinking filtered water. That's because you get a hefty dose any time you bathe, shower, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a swimming pool. 5. Most conventional doctors never test for iodine deficiency. They figure there's no need to test iodine levels when they can just test your thyroid function instead. The problem with this is that the most widely used thyroid test, the TSH, is wildly inaccurate. Reason: While the TSH measures thyroid hormone, it can't tell the difference between active thyroid hormone with iodine and de-activated thyroid hormone with bromine or chlorine or fluorine. So the test shows you have plenty of thyroid hormone. But most of the thyroid hormone isn't doing its job!

Thanks again, everyone. So far, he's experienced discomfort. Had some pain yesterday. So he stocked up on pain meds just in case he needs them. Goes in for a CAT scan today. We'll see. I hope and wish that it will pass before we leave. He's loading up on water, herbal teas, etc. Meanwhile, I'm doing all the research I can. If anyone knows me, that's not necessarily a good thing :lol: ;). Thanks, Wendy. I hope your dh doesn't get any more stones. Hope the same for everyone here. :grouphug: If anyone has more tips or experiences to share, please do so. Thank you.

Me too. :) Robin, I've been meaning to thank you for starting this thread every week. Love it and look so forward to it. Thank you for being so consistent and thoughtful. :grouphug: :)

Still reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and really enjoying it. Flavia is a blast. :D

Thank you all so much. :grouphug: I hope and pray that all of you who have suffered from them, or have family members with them ... no longer get them. It's not for me. It's for dh who is not in excruciating pain, but we worry that it may get worse. He's had discomfort for a while. It's 4 mm. Do they get bigger? Or do they generally stay the same size? We are traveling in less than a month. We really, really hope that it passes before we leave. I know what caused it in dh's case. Frustrating to say the least. :mad: Dh does not have heart problems, but he looked up the med he's been prescribed and he's scared of the side effect - major heart problems. Anyone know what meds are the best, what worked, etc.? Thanks again. Does doing this help with pain OR with speeding up the passage of the stone? Wow, your family has been through so much with this. Oh my. :grouphug: Yes, dh has had an ultrasound. They couldn't see it clearly enough, so a CAT scan tomorrow. Good info to know. Thank you so much. I really, really hope that this will be our experience also. I just hope and pray that dh's stone passes BEFORE we leave. Thanks again, everyone.

We loved the first one. Had a feeling that the 2nd wouldn't be as good. 2nd movies usually aren't anyway.

You have a very good point. I have printed out one of the Louvre's many "Thematic Tours" from their site. They tell you where to go and how long it takes depending on what you want to see - Venus de Milo, etc. So we will try to see more. I just happen to know that we'll love the Orsay much more. My plan is for us to go to the Louvre about 2 hours before closing on a Wednesday. Apparently, less crowded then and open late. If there are few people there, or, should I say, fewer than normal, is the closest still 20 feet from the painting? We have a refrigerator magnet of Mona Lisa. Sounds like the magnet will give us a better view. :lol: Yes, I saw this on the Rick Steves show. Looked really nice. I think it's one that we'll be seeing on the Thematic Trail or whatever it's called. Sounds good. May do that also. Thank you. :) Yes, we saw that on the Rick Steves show. Ds is the only one (he's at that age) protesting. His funny comments are cracking us up already. :lol: Nope, we don't have a problem with it. But thank you, anyway. Thank you so much for that. Helps a lot and is good to know.

We loved these. We read quite a few in the series, but liked the first one the most. The only thing I did not like and really cannot stand when doing read-alouds are very long chapters.

Thanks so much, Kathy. :)

I have not read any of the replies, but lately, this is all I have been feeling. :crying:

If you or someone you know has had one, can you please share anything? What worked - obviously lots and lots of water - anything else? What can speed the whole process up? Did you have to go on meds or did it go away by itself? Thank you. ETA: How long did it take for it to pass and go away? Stupid, stupid stone! Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more. Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.