Kym H.

I just went back to see your first post. I am so sorry for your loss and all the concerns you are having with your dad and all. Sounds like a really sucky day. How about we all go for the group hug? Dina ----who understands all about bad days...

Include me in the hug!!! (((((HUG)))) Bethany Da Riddler 7 more days till NewPouch

Hugging is my specialty!!! Count me in!!! Carrie

I'm in, too. I did the same thing and went back and apologized for my sternness. BUT -- I also noticed that she's having a Greenfield filter installed tomorrow. I was gonna post a Prayer Request, but this'll serve the purpose... We all need to pray that it goes smoothly for her tomorrow. Just the thought of those filters creeps me out, and I don't creep-out easily. Kick up the prayers a notch everyone, will ya? Kimmer Stomach Of Iron 'Cept With Those Filters Zero-minus-14 and 8 workdays to go!

I saw that, but I wasn't sure what it was. I will keep her in my prayers for that too though... Dina

I guess I'm showing my stupidity here but what is a "green filter"? Oh yeah KYM here's your hug {{{{{{HUG}}}}}}} Va

Va... It's like a mini-mesh filter thingey inserted into an artery to catch any blood clots that may happen to float past it. My Angel Kathy can 'splain it more to ya...she had one (like a teeny badminton birdie) inserted into her carotid (I think) pre-surg, and when her surgery was cancelled, they just left it in. My Angel is one STRONG woman to be walkin' around with THAT in her, IMHO. I used to WATCH surgeries, was gonna be a D.O., so I have a really strong stomach, not much bothers me. I dunno why, but the thought of these things just give me the creeps. I guess I wouldn't do good with a stent, either. Kimmer Dry Heaving Thinkin' Bout It Zero-minus-14 and 8 workdays to go!

{{{{HUG}}}} definitely not a stupid question... i had no idea either. there's a bunch of different kind of filters. "greenfield", i think, is the most common. the vascular surgeon that my surgeon sent me to said that they all basically do the same thing. he said it's like calling "puffs" "kleenex" - just a brand name. i've got a habit of calling them all "greenfield filters" because that's what i originally learned about. but, i'm actually having the trapease filter put in tomorrow. it's permanent, so i'll always have it. they're going to go in through my jugular vein in my neck and thread a flexible, tube like catheter thing down through my heart and place the filter in my vena cava wall - it attaches itself with little "hooks". i'm not real happy about it, but both of my parents have had problems with blood clots, so it's just a precaution. i just wish that they could take it out afterwards... but, oh well. anyway, here's a link to some information about all sorts of filters. they're kind of scary looking... http://www.evtoday.com/03_archive/0103/061.html

Kym - All due respect, I think I'll look at it later. I haven't had dinner yet. The up side to this is that this precaution is something that some folks will never get that could save them a lot of heartache down the road, so you've got something that can help way past this surgery. Update us when you get out - I want to hear how you are feeling! Dina

Big ((((((HUG))))))) Kym!!!!!!!!!!! We're here for you!!!!! Whitney