pat o'connor
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pat o'connor
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About Me
My name is Pat O'Connor
Heritage is Tsalagi (Cherokee), Irish, English and Norwegian.
Am old enough to understand the difference between the Bay of Pigs - and roasting a pig at a epicurian feast. Been thru the hippy, yippie and yuppie years - always remaining who I am.
Very much believe in "Sing your own song - weave your own tapestry"
Am young enough to still know the thrill of new discoveries, the beauty of the evening, to celebrate the joy of another tommorow.
Survived these many decades with a severe medical problem. Sorting out the maze of now having two lymphomas and all their nasty little companions, but I continue.
Besides, being a simple iconoclastic eclectic, have been called many things. An incurable romanticist - with a strong touch of reality. Thinker, intellectual (God, how I hate that term) - been told I am a lion with the heart of the poet.
Know how to wage war and conquer my foes - but would rather be known as one who brings hope and life. To bring hope into anothers life is the ultimate of joys.
Life should be about bringing hope, peace, vision... a sense of purpose beyond yourself.
"The needs of the many.... outweigh the needs of the one."
Where are the gentle people? Where are those who seek truth, instead of just regurgitating their own ignorance? Where are those who question... even themselves?
Were I rich, I would be called eccentric.... but as a middle class person... I am just off the wall.
If I havent scared you off - respond - share your thoughts.
10/21/2005 - Friday - 6:36 a.m.
It's Friday and I'm taking the day off. Ironically, it was originally to be a day of "Autumn work" - but since I had a biopsy done yesterday...I must be good :-)
So far during this past summer, everyday taken off has been for medical stuff...LOL...wonder what it would be like to actually use a vacation day for vacation?
Oh well....at least I can play somemore on my PC.
Originally, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, I moved to Oregon in 1967 and lived in Portland until 1989. I attended Portland Community College, where I served a year as president of the Associated Student Body. Subsequently, I also attended Portland State University, where I served two terms/years as student body president as well and graduated with degrees in history and social sciences.
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My Online Life
My website Lymphedema People now sponsors 34 online support groups and sites for lymphedema and other lymphatic conditions and now 7 flower blogs plus prose, inspirational sites and I am a member of and take part in about a dozen others.
Doing geneology resarch as well.
If you have struggled with lymphedema and/or lymphoma, I extend a hearts welcome to contact me.
Together there is strength.
It is now January 2007 and despite the lymphedema and lymphoma, I am still moving on, working and maintaining all my sites.
2006 was also very special with the birth of my first grandchild Connor Ryan.
My Last Few Months With Lymphedema
Thought maybe it's time for me to share a little bit about what has been going on in the last few months withmy own situation and my personal battle with lymphedema.
Earlier in 2006, I started gaining fluid in the abdomen, chest and even my arms started ballooning on me.
It got to the point where I was almost incapacitated...very much unable to do even simple things like dress and put on my shoes without a massive and painful effort.
By the time I went to the NLN convention in late October/early November I was able to barely walk with a cane. God bles Joan White and Cheri Hoskins as they got me a wheelchair and wheled me around everywhere so I could get to and participate in the seminars and groups.
Another therapist Carmelita Rifkin was beyond wonderful and would wrap my legs morning and night. I would have never made it for a moment without these three "lymph angels."
The week after the convention was the turning point. It finally got to the point where I could not even breathe without standing up. Sleep was impossible as was just sitting in a chair.
I went to the ER at Gwinnett Medical on November12th, 2006 and was immediately admitted into the hospital. I stay there until December 8th. The hospital crew was great and the doctors were so helpful. It kinda resored a little bit of faith in medical doctors to see these guys try so hard to help.
It was an extreme crises situation. While I was there, they removed some 60 lbs of fluid right off my ab/chest area. From my right lung they drained almost 3 liters of chylous fluid. The procedure is called a Thoracentesis.
I was transported by ambulance yo Healthsouth Rehab hospital where Dr. Paula Stewart maintains her pracice for lymphedema patients. I was there for a couple weeks.
Finally, I returned home on December 22nd...thinking all was going to quiet down.
Not.. ..on Decembr 27, I experienced a pnueothorax and was readmitted to Gwinnett for another week. That passed and I returned to work. While there they again drained some 2 liters of fluid from my right lung.
The doctors talked about a procedure called a pleurodesis wherein the fluid is removed from the pleural cavity and it is sealed off to prevent further fluid accumlation. In only three weeks another 2 1/2 liters have accumulated in the right lung and we still had 1 1/2liters in the left one.
That meant another week in the hospital. The operation went well and I resumed work the following week.
In the midst of all this, they also found my blood protein level had dropped to a castastrophic level. So I have had to be on this super protein diet.
We have not idea what actually started all this "lymphatic failure" but at least now the fluid is removed and we are doing whatever possible to prevenet it from occuring again.
All in all, I spent about 50 days in the hospital....LOL....but got out for good behavior on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I am doing much better now...but pacing myself, watching what I do an doing all I can to help the situation.
The very big plus was that I got to conduct little seminar classes for the student nurses on lymhpedema, what it is, how to recognize it and how it is treated. And I got to share an encylopedia of information with the doctors, most of which of course knw nothing about lymphedema. I give them much credit as they all showed a keen interest to learn and to gain as much knowledge as they could.
Pat O'Connor
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My Interests
Music, history of any type, quantum physics, gardening, creative brooding.
My other AOL Hometown sites:
Lymphedemaville
Support and Information AOL Hometown
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/Lymphedemaville/
Disorders of the Lymph System
Information and support on all lymph disorders AOL Hometown
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/DisordersoftheLymphSystem/
Creative Brooding
http://creativebrooding.blogspot.com
Some of my other groups and sites:
The Life and Times of Pat O'Connor
http://360.yahoo.com/cpo22000
Christian Renaissance
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/ChristianRenaissance
Developmental Disorders of the Lymphatics
http://lymphsystemdisorders.blogspot.com
Edema and Related Medical Conditions
http://edemainformation.blogspot.com/
Developmental Disorders of the Lymphatics
http://lymphsystemdisorders.blogspot.com
Bacterial Infections
http://bacteriainfections.blogspot.com
Antibiotics
http://antibioticinformation.blogspot.com/
Fungus Infections
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/FungusInfections
Cellulitis
http://cellulitisinfections.blogspot.com/
Trisomy Disorders
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/TrisomyDisorders/
Lipedema
http://www.xanga.com/lipedema
Lymphangiectasia/Xanga
http://www.xanga.com/lymphangiectasia
Lymphangiectasia
http://lymphangiectasia.blogspot.com/
Lymphedema
http://www.xanga.com/lymphedema
Lymphedema
http://lymphedemahome.livejournal.com/
***My Family of On Line Support Groups***
Advocates for Lymphedema
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AdvocatesforLymphedema/
Children with Lymphedema
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/childrenwithlymphedema/
Men with Lymphedema
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/menwithlymphedema/
Teens with Lymphedema
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Teens_with_Lymphedema/
All About Lymphangiectasia
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/allaboutlymphangiectasia/
Lipedema, Lipodema, Lipoedema
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/lipedema_lipodema_lipoedema/
Lymphatic Disorders Support Group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/lymphaticdisorders/
Lymphedema Friends
http://groups.aol.com/lymphedemafriend
All About Lymphedema
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/All-About-Lymphedema
Lymphedema Research
http://groups.google.com/group/lymphedemaresearch
All About Lymphoedema - Australia
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/All_About_Lymphoedema/
Let's Talk ! Lymphedema patients Group - A very close sister site where you can find information and enjoy the pleasure of live chat room visits with other lymphedema people. Founded and managed by Silkie in the UK
http://groups.msn.com/LetsTalkLymphedemapatientsGroup/_whatsnew.msnw
***My Personal Blogs***
Creative brooding
http://creativebrooding.blogspot.com/
The Life and Times of Pat O'Connor
http://360.yahoo.com/cpo22000
Iconoclastic Eclectic
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/Iconoclasticeclectic
Pat O'Connor - A Home Page
http://hometown.aol.com/patoco2/myhomepage/index.html
Pat O'Connor - A Home Page 2
http://www.geocities.com/cpo22000/countryside2.html
Christian Renaissance
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/ChristianRenaissance
***Flower Blogs ***
Zany for Zinnias
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/zany-for-zinnias
Marigolds
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/marigolds
Cosmos Flowers
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/cosmos-flowers/
Sunflowers
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/sunflowers/
Snapdragons
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/snapdragons/
Impatiens
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/impatiens/
Nasturtiums
http://journals.aol.com/patoco2/nasturtiums/
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