Scan Medical Insurance

Is a full body bone scan like a gallium scan? I have low counts and copper and iron levels. Anyway i have history of osteomylitis and it showed up on gallium scan before so i was confused when my doctor ordered a bone scan?

How much does a full body bone scan cost? $NZ? Was just wondering if anyone knew how much a bone scan cost? in $NZ? Thanks

A friend is having a full body ct bone scan, to check for any cancer anywhere? What were your experiences if you had a similar one done?

Does anyone know how to read a nuclear medicine full body bone scan image? My mother broke her arm and then fell again and she hurt on her right side and back worse pain then in her arm. Also hurt in her stomach. Her dr ordered her to have a full bldy bone scan and I always get copies of the images. I won't know the results until a month from now, that's the next apt. I would like to know how to find out how to read it so I can at least get a clue as to what's going on with my mother's health. Just to note, I found out a lot on how to read a ct scan, and x-rays, but can't find out how to read a bone scan.Can anyone help?

Bone Scan results. I need to understand what the result was.? I had a cage put in my L4, L5, and s1 back in 2005 from an accident. I have had pain before and since after. Multi-epidurals to ease the pain and burn nerves in my lower back. Recently I had a full body bone scan done. The pain has also moved to my mid-back scapula area on both sides. (I picked up the results from the radiology office today. I do not have another appointment with my back doctor until Sept. 11th I was wondering if anyone else may have had simliar results and may know what the out come is. FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Increased tracer uptake is seen in L5 vertebra, Likely represent prior trauma. Degenerative changes in shoulders, hips, ankles, and feet. Physiological tracer uptake is present in bilateral kidneys, and excreted into the urinary bladder. CONCLUSIONS: 1. L5 uptake likely from prior trauma. 2. Degenerative changes as described above. Has anyone else had this dignosis. And if so what did it lead to? Any help would be much apprehated. Thank you so much.

how do i get a full body scan cat/mri/pet would i get the referal easily from the doctor? my head mri was abnormal my throat ultra sound as abnormal so now i want get a full one . they say full scan means neck to hips how is this full body then ? what about the other parts i want get every inch checked cells tissues bones organs etc . CUZ IAM VERY ILL AND THE DOCTORS DONT KNOW HOW TO DIGNOSE ME SINCE 2 YRS THEY SAY I AM ILL BUT THEY DONT KNOW WOT? MANY SYMTOMS . PLUS I WANT A FULL BLOOD TEST TOO HOW DO I GET THIS . WHEN U HAVE REGULAR BLOOD TEST THEY HAVE ONLY MAXIMUM 5 THING LIKE FOR LIVER KIDNEY FBC ETC INSTAED OF HAVING TO HAVE A BLOOD TEST FOR EACH HOW DI HAVE IT FOR EVERYTHING

What hot spots on a bone scan may mean? I went in for a bone scan for my foot to check for a stress fracture. They did a full body scan, just to be thorough. Strangely enough, they found a hot spot on one rib and one on my skull. After the bone scan results came back, the orthopedist I saw for the foot issue had some x-rays done on my rib and skull to look for any obvious signs of bone cancer. All X-rays were negative on the rib/skull, i.e. no fractures seen and no other "abnormalities". My question is what the heck may be the cause of those hot spots? I feel perfectly fine health-wise. FYI: I'm scheduling an appointment with my family doctor at the advice of the ortho. Better safe than sorry when it gets down to it. Thanks!

How do these full body scans work at the airports? The ones that suddenly come out after the Christmas bombings. According to the article, it can detect a plastic explosive in seconds even if you are walking through it. The only thing I could think about is that it measures densities of the body and any anomalous densities are reported. The only problem with that is that the body has many different densities (blood is different than bone, which is different than marrow, which is different than muscle). Also, I haven't been able to find a name of the company who makes these. Any help would be appreciated.

I have a very low oxygen saturation level. Lows around 70% to high of 88%. What are some possible causes? In the last four months, I've had a Ct scan, Hide-a-Scan, two heart studies, three halter monitors, sleep study,Sonogram, full body bone scan, endoscopy and complete blood work up. My cholesterol was slightly above normal. The sleep study showed I have sleep apnea. ( I now wear a C-Pap @ 17 psi w/ 5 lpm o2). The endoscopy showed some signs of mild damage due to aspirin and tylenol taken for the pain. The CT scan showed mild degeneration of L1 & L2 but otherwise nothing significant. (History of prostate cancer. Dr thought maybe the cancer had metastasized into the spine but bone scan showed no evidence of cancer) Moderate to severe pain in RUQ was diagnosed as costal condritis. Symptoms of this are improving. Bone chilling fatigue haunts me. I'm fairly certain that this is a direct result of the low o2 sats. Any ideas? So far, the doctors have not found out the problem. Thanks!

Can somebody recommend me the diet and treatment for osteoporosis? I am suffering from osteoporosis I am male my age 28 yrs old I would be very thankfull to you if you recommend diet and treatment for a osteoporosis patient....please help me I got my dexa scan done(full body bone density test)and it's t score was minus 3.3 please tell me weather is it a serious condition how much time it will take to get cured what medicine and diet i should take.........pls help me

CT Scan - Contrasting Materials? About 2 years ago, I had a full body CT scan and bone scan - due to being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. They made me drink a huge jug of clear awful liquid. I don't remember being injected with the burning iodine. After the CT scan was over, the stuff I drank made me really sick, diahhrea all day & night - and a burning throat from drinking the liquid that lasted 3 days. I came down with a cold because my system was so depleted from the awful drink. I need to get another CT scan. I don't want to drink the liquid again because I don't want to be that sick again. My doctor did not want to do it without any Contrast materials. She said they can't see anything without the Contrast materials. I don't mind being injected with something if need be. Are there other contrasting materials they can use? What about a CT scan without contrasting materials ? They are checking my body for tumors, so thats what they need to look for. Does the Contrast drink really make a difference?

Rib bone broken but no pain.? I started to notice a large lump on my back rib bone. It didn't hurt but it started to bother me while sleeping because it was like sleeping on a golf ball. I had it xrayed and they said it was broken. Now they have me going for Bone scan, CAT scan and blood test. But it does not hurt. It showed up on the Bone scan as a big white ball on the full body scan but on the three dimentional image of my chest it showed up as a big black ball. What is it. I have no pain threshold. I cry when a masquito bites me.

I have a back injury, but i don't know what it is or how to fix it.? Ive had it for little over 2 years and it was caused from lifting a 12ft ladder wrong by leaning back and [putting all the weight on my back. I was on workers comp for a year but was kicked off because there was no medical proof of anything being there. I've had xrays, full body bone scan, mri and blood tests. Nothing is there. Back pain improves when i do weights, as soon as i stop it gets really bad again. Any ideas what it could be if it doesn't show up on any scans? Just to clear this up. I don't mean to say i want to put weight on or lose it or anything. By doing weigths i mean i just do gym becuase i want to be healthy. My back doesn't hurt when i do gym, but when i stop it starts to hurt. P.s. I weigh 70kgs.

Cystic Lesion/Chondroma on foot & rib, now what? Since Dec last year I developed extreem fatigue, and my iron levels went to an extreem low, including my stores. In Jan. my left foot on the underside ball of the foot, began to hurt quite badly. By May I could hardly walk. In May my rib area on the right side below the breast began hurting. It hurts to the point I can't lay in certain positions, or touch the area at all. After recent xrays, both areas are showing what they have suggested to be cystic lesions or chondromas. But without a biopsy my doctor says we won't know if these are mailgnant or not. I went yesterday for a full body bone scan. I assume she wants to know if there are more then just the two in my body. I won't know the results until Tuesday or so. I should also note that I had an ultra sound of my neck which showed 2 lymph nodes to be larger then the norm. Any advice or info is appreciated. Thank You

What can I do for my back pain? I'm 23 years old and I have seen around 9 doctors!! I only get meds from my first doctor, I don't take any meds from anyone else b/c I don't want pills I want to be fixed. My back has been hurting now little over 2 years. I have always been active in my life now all I can do is lay in bed when I'm not working. I have 2 MRI 1 full body bone scan around 5 or 6 X-rays and all the docs say something different. I'm on 4 pain pills aday 2 muscles relaxers, mobic for swelling. The pain is in my lower back and to the sides also right about my crack a very sharp pain!! No matter what or how many pills I take the pain really never goes away!! Can anyone help??

For 3 months, I have had pain in my forearms & thighs, tingling and numbness in my hands, & knee joint pain? It started 3 months ago when I noticed a mark on my leg and a circle around it. I automatically thought Lymes and went to my PCP. He gave me an antibiotic (Doxycycline) and I had Lyme's blood tests completed with Negative Results. Since then I have had terrible pain in my Forearms and Thighs. Recently, I began experiencing tingling and numbness in my hands upon waking and joint pain in my knees. I have had a Full Body Bone Scan and all the bloodwork you can think of and so far I am considered Healthy as a horse. I am having an EMG (muscle test) today, but would still like to hear any opinions or suggestions people might have as the pain is unbearable at times. Thank you so much for helping me!

My Dad has severe leg pain and no treatment is working I have listed all the information below please help!? What started off several months ago as just fatigue and tiredness in his legs which would go away while sitting or sleeping, has now turned into severe pain in his legs (from his waist down to his ankles) which is constantly with him. It is bearable pain when sitting or laying down but quickly becomes unbearable when standing or walking. This major change happened approx. 10 weeks ago and the only thing that we can figure to explain this change was a missed step coming down the stairs which resulted in a loss of balance and awkward recovery that twisted the back and seemed to hurt something internal to the spine area. Have since had an X-ray and MRI which continues to show the formerly diagnosed spondylolisthesis. This diagnosis has now been discounted by Dr. Quigley (Spine specialist) as the source of the severe pain in the legs. Dr. Quigley feels that "spondy.." is not the likely source of the pain and that further testing is required to make a more accurate diagnosis. While we wait to figure out the root cause of the issue, dad's pain seems to be uncontrollable resulting in him being extremely restless. In order to control the pain have tried the following since 3/19/10: - 3 epidural shots in the back with the last one administered on 5/1/10. There was no relief at all from these shots - Oxycodone (10 - 325mg) - 1 tablet every 6 hours (Hit or Miss Relief) - Fentanyl 25mcg Pain Patch - replace every 72 hours - Prescription given on 4/1/10 to replace ineffective Oxycodone. Once again Hit or Miss relief. - Lyrica (50mg) - prescribed on 4/6/10 by Dr. Loev Overall medical history: - No history of vascular/muscular pain in the past - No history of arthritis - No history of heart disease or diabetes - No medicines taken on a regular basis Chronology of treatment (prior to onset of excruciating pain): - Primary care physician Dr. Anoma Bandara referred dad to a vascular specialist Dr. Robert Fox (Jan 2010) - Dr. Fox did a sonogram and found no vascular issues and requested MRI's of the spine (results and images on CD) and referred dad to see Dr. Quigley (Orthopedic surgeon) - completed in Feb 2010 - Meanwhile Dr. Bandara reviewed the MRI report and referred dad to see Dr. Zachary Levine a neuro surgeon from the Brain and Spine institute - Dr. Levine asked for an X-Ray to be done (results and images on CD) and recommended against any kind of surgery based on Dad's age and instead recommended physical therapy. - completed in Feb. 2010 -In order to pursue possible parallel diagnosis of the issue also saw Dr. Quigley (spine specialist) who prescribed some steroids to attack possible inflammation in the spine area and possibly relieve the pain. He diagnosed the condition as "Isthmic Spondylolisthesis". After a weeks worth of taking the medicine there was no improvement. Dr. Quigley then recommended injections directly in the spine to possibly provide relief. Since the conditions worsened: 3/19/10 to present - 3 epidural shots to the back - Medications listed above all prescribed after the onset of the intense pain - Another X-Ray and MRI of the back which still shows the spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 - Met with Dr. Quigley (spine specialist) again and he no longer feels that the pain in the legs is caused by the spondylolisthesis seen in the back based on the fact that there has been no relief from the 3 epidural shots that were administered. - Also performed the following tests - full body bone scan (showed no problems) - nerve conduction study and EMG (showed some erratic nerve issues at the L5-S1 vertebrae which confimred what was seen in the MRI) - An array of blood work (everything was fine) -Saw a different vascular surgeon and repeated the ultrasound test which showed no vascular problems -Saw a rheumatologist who also confirmed that there were no signs of arthritis -Saw a different neurosurgeon who asked us to pursue with a neurologist to determine the source of the pain. -Currently waiting to see a neurologist for follow up -Currently undergoing physical therapy to basically stretch the muscles and provide some heat -Also currently undergoing aqua therapy in a pool to help get the legs moving -Have also had 4 appointments with a licensed acupuncturist -None of the above therapies have provided any relief and the conditions with the leg pain are still the same

sciatic pain? I am in breast cancer remission for 18 months. Over the past year my back pain has increased. This year alone I have had 4 full body bone scans as i have a spot on my fourth rib they are watching, the last month i have developed pain in my buttock that goes down my leg, sometimes it seems to start in my shoulder and go the whole way down my side, someone told me that it could be sciatic pain, has anyone else experienced this sort of pain?

Near-constant joint pain in most joints. What could this be? I've been seeing doctors(regular dr. and rheumatologist) about this for a long time but they haven't figured it out. Had blood tests, x-rays, full body bone scans, and still nothing. It started as occasional pain in one knee and one shoulder, and after a few years both knees, both shoulders, and both hips. My ankles and wrists have become somewhat weak also. I have a job where I have to stay in shape, so I stay in somewhat decent shape, but the more I work out, the worse my pain is, so it's becoming increasingly hard to keep up. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I have been tested for Lupus. Not sure about Fibromyalgia, but it sounds very possible. Also, No swelling or discoloration. Thanks for the responses folks. I really appreciate it.

Can anybody recommend me the diet and treatment for osteoporosis? I am suffering from osteoporosis I am male my age 28 yrs old I would be very thankfull to you if you recommend diet and treatment for a osteoporosis patient....please help me I got my dexa scan done(full body bone density test)and it's t score was minus 3.3 please tell me weather is it a serious condition how much time it will take to get cured what medicine and diet i should take.........pls help me

Can anyone help me with tension headaches? Hi there, I have been having headaches for 14 months now.. woke up one morning and with a tight, pressure feeling across my brow bone and on my forehead.. It hurts to look at bright lights and I sometimes find my vision blurry or hazy.. I have had my eyes checked (no problems-perfect vision), CT & sinus scan, MRI, Full body muscle and bone scan, Blood tests, Been to a neurologist, chiropractor, osteopath, pysio, 3 different doctors, stopped the pill, healthy diet, 4-5 days of exercise, No type of panadol or pain killer works or even dims the pain, I find it very hard to calm down and de-stress, I constantly feel exhausted and tired... even with a perfect 8 hr sleep, I just want to wake up with a positive feeling, no pain... and energised! Right now it feels like every morning i wake up with a hangover! please help me... any ideas how to cure? I drink too much water.. and exercise alot... i love the outside and i will not take anymore pain killers! i have visited too many doctors and have no answer... about 100 people have told me to drink more water and eat healthy and sleep well... which is all i do these days... i am always in pain so i do not want to go out much... since my headaches started i also started getting bad blemishes on my chin from stress i'm guessing... but will not go away! stress is what i know best :(

secondary bone cancer, how long do you have left after initial diagnosis? one of my relatives has been diagnosed with secondary bone cancer (from the breast). She found out when her hip broke back in june this year. she then had a full body x-ray scan, which showed the cancer was widespread, shes having radiotherapy at the moment, but we are all preparing ourselves for the obvious. how long before we have to say our goodbyes? thanks for everyones answers especially those who have gone through similar things

I have had a hight white blood cell count and excessive tiredness for 18 months. Can anyone help? My problems started approximately February of 2005. At the time I was extremly tired regardless of the amount of sleep I got, bruising for no apparent reason and had pains (maybe a 3 or 4 out of 10 on the pain scale) in my right abdomen (near the ovary). The only thing that has shown abnormal is my WBC. Normal for me in an 8 and it has been bouncing between an 11 up to a 21. I have had every blood test possible (according to my hemotoligist) a bone marrow biopsey, a full body cat scan, and an ultrasound. Everything has come back normal. My exaustion is just getting worse. I sleep between 10 - 15 hours a day. Even when I am awake, I am barely awake and could go back to sleep at any time. Over the past 6 months, I have ovulated once (in January). I am using 2 seperate ovulation kits, so I am fairly sure it is accurate. I went from a normal menstrual cycle of 31-35 days down to a 15-20 day cycle. The "ovarian" pain has gotten much worse and on both sides. Please help, the DRs are baffled

Broken Hand And I Need A MRI Scan Help Please? Okay so I need a mri scan on my hand next week thursday because I broke it and they ain't sure what bone I broke, so will I need just a hand scan or will I have to go in completely like a full body one? Any additional help is welcome I've already had a X-ray and they couldn't tell.

I've had a swollen right foot for over a year. What could it be? In June 08, I came out of the shower and noticed my foot felt 'funny'. When I looked down my right foot was swollen. I immediatly went to the doctor and they asked if I had injured it and asked me to rest it for a week or so. At the time, there was no pain and I had no recent injury. Last known injury was I rolled my ankle back in April. A few weeks later I went back to the doctor because my foot was still swollen. Here is a list of symptoms Swollon Foot and Toes (only the top of the foot) Foot is usually cold Foot swells up during warm showers (when under hot water) During showers, if I keep the foot out of water and elevated the veins appear 'wide' and the foot appears purple-ish. After standing for a bit (5-10mins) foot starts to turn red No Pain when walking or running Pitting occurs when pressure is applied to the swollon part When leg is elevated the swelling goes down (slightly) but not completely and I can feel cool fluid moving up my leg (toes are the only things that can lose swelling completely) When I push on the top part of my foot just above the toes it feels 'solid' or a bit 'hard' Currently I wear a prescriped compressive stalking. It keeps the swelling down ( a bit ) and the redness away but does not completely remove the selling. Doctors have run the following tests; Blood Test - Healthy no reason why it would cause swelling X-Ray of the foot and ankly - No issues Ultra Sound of my ankle, legs all the way up to my pelvic bone - No issues MRI - Injected die in my arm and did a full body scan - nothing found Sent to a vacular specialist - examine me for all of 2 minutes and said I had primary lymphedema. Concluded there is no 100% test but thats what I most likely have. I'm a 23 year old male. 5'11 135 LBS. Primary lymphedema seems quite unlickely because I spoke with a few people who have the condition and have seen me. The doctors seem clueless and my leg is still swollen (Will be exactly 1 year this June). I wear a stalking everyday but its extremely frustrating to have one normal foot and one balloon looking one. Swelling can be mild or extremely noticeable. Can anyone help shed light on what else I might have which the doctors probably should check? I keep balanced meals but they tend to be on the lighter side. I haven't run since it started swelling in fear I might do more damage, but I'll be picking up Jogging and soccer when the weather gets better. I also drink plenty of water. I'm a non-smoker who drinks (probably an average of once-twice a week, no more than 4 drinks total)

Does a TBI last forever? I guess the proper word would be diagnosed... so I got diagnosed with a TBI, traumatic brain injry on October 21st, 2006. (horribe car wreck) I've had many doctors, bone doctors, neurologists, everything. I've had TB scans, (which I don't know what that is) full body scans, everything. My doctors have all told me the same thing, that I have a traumatic brain injury. But they never told me if it lasts forever! They said I'd feel the effects of it for a really long time, but it's been almost two years, and I'm still feeling the problems from it very greatly! I really don't want to travel back to my doctors, so I'm asking here. They told me I would have sleep problems (which I sleep durring the day and awake at night a lot of the times, and I sleep for 10 - 11 hours a day / night) They said I'd have memory problems, which most of the time I can't remember if I ate or not, so I have to write a lot of stuff down on paper. I just want to know if I'll ever be the same I was before my wreck.

Major back pain... any doctors out there? I'm 17, and a gymnast. I have been in gymnastics since I was really young. So, when my back started killing me about two months ago, I wasn't surprised. But I got it checked out by my family doctor. Just by feeling it, he thought it might be fractured. So I got an x-ray, and there were no signs of a fracture, but there was a spot on my back they couldn't ID. So he suggested I go to an orthopaedic surgeon. I did, and he said he thought it might be a fracture or pre-fracture. So he sent me to get a C-Scan I did, and the results were there was no fracture, but the spot was still there. So, I was sent to the hospital to get a full-body scan. The results? no fracture. And, my doctor said the source of my pain was that my bones are just shaped funny, and said it would be ok to go back to gymnastics. It seemed weird that my whole life my bones have been shaped the same and it's just now givng me troubles. But, I've been back in gymnastics and I can barely do anything! It kills everytime I attempt to practice anything. One practice, my back started having spasms and my coaches made me stop practicing. It still has spasms when I try to do anything more than swing on the bars. I think there's something definitly wrong with my back that the doctors overlooked. Could someone please offer their best advice based off my situation? Thank you so much! and if there's any treatment I could do on my own, it would help a lot. Like stretches i can do or something. Thanks! Just so you know, it's mostly my lower back that hurts, and they're really sharp pains that completely stop my movement i meant CT-Scan, not C-Scan sry

Cancer Help? Please don't pity me, i get it enough. I was just wondering, my mother is a 4th time cancer fighter, shes still miraculously alive and fighting caner in her bones and marrow and such, shes had her breast removed, had her sternum vivisected, and countless cancer treatments from classic to experimental, its just not working. Men can have breast cancer as well. Her mother had breast cancer and died of it. All things end, i know this, but my worries lie in mine and my brother fate, him age of 20, myself age 18. Neither of us is unhealthy, we are both athletic and fit. I was wondering the likely hood of myself or him, contracting some form of cancer and if we are much more likely to contract it then an average male or female due to our mothers inherited disease. Should i get a full body scan and MRI at some point in my life to make sure i don't have any possible issues creeping up on me? Should i get checked soon or wait a little?

Every Joint In My Body Cracks Loudly After Being Still For Any Length of Time,Is There A Name For This? And when I say every joint I mean EVERY JOINT ! From my toes to my neck and shoulders. You can actually hear and feel the grinding and popping of cartilage every time I get up to walk. We,er not talking about 1or 2 pops ,when I move it sounds like I'm walking on bubble wrap! Yes it is VERY pain full to get moving,at first until the joints get lubed. Some joints like mt wrists,ankles, shoulders crack constantly no matter how long I,ve been moving around, my knuckles crack every time I make a fist. I have "degenerative" disc disease in 4 levels of my lumbar and 3 levels in neck. I have had a Bone scan of my entire skeleton but the Ortho. Dr. can,t see a reason for the popping. Anyone have this or know what it is? Im 43 and its been going on for as long as I can remember.

what could be wrong with my mum? (medical)? sorry this is so long! Since a young girl, my mums had agonizing pain in her lower right side of her pelvis. Throughout her life this has come & gone. Lasting a max of a wk at a time. 1 dr said appendix. Another said a deep rooted growth. No action was taken. Mum has, for many yrs had probs with eating. She bloats & feels full quickly, feels sick, & has her heart race or make excess saliva on certain foods. She suffers a lot of excess gas and indigestion.She had anorexia yrs ago. But her current eating probs r physical. As a result mums quite boney & can only eat limited things. This is getting worse recently, & shes now mainly living on toast. Even this upsets her sometimes! A few months ago she developed an unbearable pain in the centre of her back. She found it v hard 2 breathe due 2 this & saw a dr. It subsided within a wk Over the following wks however, she complained she felt weak & all over her body her bones felt like they ached. She often complained of a pain in her neck & thought she must b sleeping wrong. She was diagnosed with tennis elbow in her right arm during this period also. 2 months ago, we went for a fairly long walk (maybe half a mile). She had walked it loads of times in the past, but this time by the next day she was in agony. The left hand side of her lower back kept giving way & felt like it was grinding. Her right side, low in her pelvic area was killing her. Both these things have stayed that way since then. Her back pain comes and goes, but her pelvic pain is persistant. She had ct scan & ultrasound. Ct showed a fibroid. Slightly bigger than a regular one, but nothing unusual. No sign of problems with appendix & no deep rooted growth. She now has to go back for internal ultrasound. That they can tell, her ovaries r ok. She is going 4 a smear test, as shes never had 1! She had a blood test 2 months ago- clear. An x-ray on her lower back highlighted some slight bone thinning. So shes due a bone scan. However, recently shes developed a strange movement in her right shoulder. It feels like someone massaging her shoulder heavily, & can b v painful. Shes also recently been waking up with a numb right arm & a numb, strange feeling in right side of face. It can sometimes be v painful, or just numb/limp. Went 2 drs and he referred her 2 neurologist & gave her aspirin. But aspirin makes her ill & her vision go strange. So she cant take it. Last night while awake, she had an 'attack' of some kind that was v scary. The movement in her shoulder started, then masses of pain in the back of her neck. A sort of agonizing burning. Then a massive prolonged pain in the top of her head that kept getting worse & worse. Her right hand side of her face went weird & tingly. Then her whole face was odd & tingly, & her jaw locked so she couldnt clean her teeth. As this attack was wearing off she began to shake violently & uncontrollably. She stayed conscious throughout & could understand me. & i could understand her. She remained upright & alert. An ambulance came, did some function tests, got her to say & do things, & did a heart, blood pressure & blood sugar test. Her blood sugar was slightly high. But all else normal! He recommended we went 2 dr 2day & get a blood test. Which we did. But dr said no need! mum still feeling v weak & still has strange movement in her shoulder. This movement can get worse depending on if shes bending or stretching or what activity shes doing. Or sometimes what position shes in. Some history on my mum- Shes 59. White. She had a heart attack in 1985, probably linked to her anorexia. She does not drink and has not smoked in many yrs. During her anorexia in 77-79, she weighed 5st and lived on carnation tinned milk. In 1997, during a period of a lot of emotional upset she had what may have been 2 mini strokes within a week. But it was never diagnosed. Her face went limp on that occasion & she dribbled & slurred speech. Her right arm & face were numb, but she was not left with lasting effects. In 2003, she had a wk where she lost a lot of very heavy blood. This was not a period as she had stopped the yr before, and it was far more painful. Again, i'm sorry this is so long. And thank you for reading. Any help or ideas r welcome. x

what causes abnormal bone growth? on a ct scan of the head it showed that one side of my sinus cavity didnt grow-but was solid bone instead. my father just had a ct scan and it showed the same thing. i have several siblings and half siblings-all biologically from my father and they all have abnormal bone growth in different areas too. heres what we know so far: me (27) and dad (62)- extra bone in sinus cavity me and full brother(25)- extra bone in skull me and half sister (36)- one leg longer than other ( 1") half brother (15)and half sister (36)- extra bone at base of spine half brother (15) and full brother 25)-scoliosis seems that each abnormality runs in different pairs of us. theres 7 kids and 4 have symptoms that made us discover this. the others havent had reason to check. ive read that agent orange did stuff with bones but is severe-ours is mild. what could cause this trait and mostly -what could make it affect each kid in a DIFFERENT AREA of the body?

Do nuclear medicine procedures affect ct scans? I am about to have a full body nuclear medicine examination with Technetium injection for examination for bone tumor metastasis. My doctor ordered at the same day a ct scan for upper and lower abdomen . The thing is that he had them programmed it in such a way that i will do the ct scan after the technetium injection and before the measurement with the γ camera. On top of that they will give me gastrografin in the ct scan. From what i have read i see a conflict in the 2 examinations. Does anybody know which is the case?

my husband has been feeling sick for awhile now.? we have been seeing a doctor, he found a lump in his testicles, and the doctor did a prostate exam. and an ultra sound. he didnt give us the results yet. then he ordered blood test. and a bone scan. and i think he did a test to check the thyroid, cant remember. the doctor didnt wait for our appoinment. he called us, but we werent home. so he left a message, and said he cant give us the full results on a message and for my husband to call him back on tuesday, but he did say that he is going to refer my husband to an oncologist. Isnt an oncologist a doctor for cancer patients ? could my husband have caner ? what do you think the doctor was looking for with all thos test ? my husband is 29 years old. And he has been feeling ill for over 6 months. that i know of. and now he is hurting alot. like all over his body, he said it feels like the pain is in his bones. he has had blood work done before but the doctor that did it then was worthless. he said that my husbands platelet count was low 3 times in a row. and his protein levels were high. but didnt do anything else. what could be wrong im so worried. and no more worried since he has to see an oncologist also they did a catscan at first dont know what they were looking for and it showed that his lymph nodes in his pelvic and groin area were all swollen. and by the doctor feeling he felt the ones in his neck were swollen and other places too.

Syndrome? Disease? Cancer? Aneurysm? Please help me help myself with my medical mystery!? I feel as though my "ordeal" should be featured on the television show Mystery Diagnosis (hah). Over two years ago I started having tolerable pain around/above my left scapula. The pain progressed to intolerable and has never went away. The pain is persistent and doesn't feel better with heat, ice, tylenol, ibuprofen, massages or posture. It's a deep, tight pain. In the last year and a half the knot of pain has spread into my left arm. My arm isn't really in pain, but I have uncomfortable warm tingling and weakness that goes throughout my arm and into my fingers (especially the pinkie and ring finger). I went to an Orthopedic doctor and ended up getting four x-rays. When he viewed them he found bilateral "extra bone growth" on my cervical spine (point c7, to be exact). In medical terms that means I have congenital small ribs in my lower neck that aren't supposed to be there. Also, he found that I have minor scoliosis of the upper back that bends to the left. For some reason he ordered for me to get a Bone Scan. It came back healthy and there was nothing "wrong." Months after that I started having bluish fingernails and toe nails and stiff joints. I went to a regular doctor (who completely dismissed the pain above my left scapula and discomfort in my arm, by the way) and he ordered a complete blood panel, a test for autoimmune diseases, and a lyme disease test. He thought maybe I have lupus or something. Everything that was tested came back normal and healthy. The only thing that was a little off was that my white blood cell count was a tad higher than normal. Fierce general disappointment and anger -- also from him ignoring the pain in my back and weirdness in my arm. Exactly the spot where I have constant pain (above/on left scapula) there is thing that moves around if you massage it (although it is not a superficial lump), which my right side does not have so I know this isn't normal. The lump, like, snaps and clicks. And when I move my left arm in full circles that area clicks and sounds like it it grinding against something, whereas my right side is normal. Also, I've been to the ER twice from the pain and the doctors and nurses just scoff at me. One time a nurse took my blood pressure and it was 154/110. She just said, "Oh, that can't be right," and didn't even bother to take it again -- just walked away. That certainly shouldn't be right, indeed! I'm a 24-year-old female of average weight and I'm a vegetarian! Anyway, they gave me an x-ray and some majorly condescending doctor just said, "Your x-ray just shows some arthritis in your shoulder. Don't worry, you'll live." First of all, it's not even my shoulder that hurts. What. So, what's going on with me? Does anyone have any ideas, since the doctors I've been to are lazy and/or uncaring? Here's the symptom list: *Mainly and most important*: .Never-ending pain above my left scapula (for 2+ years) .Warm tinging and weakness in my left arm and fingers .Bluish nails .Fatigue .Muscular aches all over .On-and-off joint stiffness (with minor discoloration and swelling) .Periods of mysterious bruising on my upper thighs .Left thigh pain/tightness .Increased intraocular pressure in left eye (rare for my age says the Eye M.D.) .Periods of extreme vertigo, where everything in my sight seems to tilt to one side for one second. Then I become disorientated for 10 minutes afterward. Scary when it happened while I was driving. .Hair began falling out much more than usual. My hair got thinner. Note: A lot of my "oddities" are on the left side of my body -- left eye, left scapula, left arm, left thigh, minor scoliosis bending to the left. Hmm.. All and any help appreciated! I'm desperate for opinions and/or answers! Thanks.

Past & Present Mirena users.. or doctors.? I've read many reports of people GAINING weight once getting on Mirena... but has anyone had a problem with constantly losing weight? I am 5'3 and pre pregnancy I was around 108 lbs. At full term I was about 130 lbs. Around a month post partum I went back to my normal weight & size. About 4 - 5 months after having my son I got the Mirena. For the last 16 months I have been battling my weight, except I can't seem to GAIN a single pound! I am now down to 97 lbs and have gone to my doctor MANY times, I've done so many tests (body scans, ultrasounds, blood work) and I've even seen a nutritionist and gone on a "diet" to gain weight. Nothing has worked for me. I am wondering if this may have something to do with my Mirena. I am so tempted to get my mirena taken out and go on a birth control that makes you gain weight. I am tired of being a sack of bones! I look disgusting!! Has anyone out there had this problem? What can I do to get some meat on my bones? I eat a good amount of fast/fatty food, and I do eat a lot of food too. If you are rude don't bother replying, as I do not need any rude comments. This is a serious problem and I can hardly find the energy to do anything anymore. Every doctor I've ever seen has brushed it off like nothing is wrong. One doctor spent like 5 mins with me and then diagnosed me with "depression"! I am not depressed... and the 'paxil' pills did nothing either. Does anyone have any POSITIVE advice? Has anyone been in this situation, or knows anyone in this situation? Has Mirena made you lose weight instead of gain? Blood work tested for thyroid problems. There was nothing abnormal in the results

Could you help please. I dont understand how to do this.? ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN WORDS PLEASE THANK YOU!! 1. Name and define the three main types of joints. (5 points each ) 2. Name a specific joint as an example from the human body of each of the six types of synovial joints. To get full credit, you must name the type of synovial joint and the joint from the body. (5 points each) 3. Why is it unnecessary for a fibrous (synarthrodial) joint to have a synovial membrane? (5 points) 4. At his 94th birthday party, James was complimented on how good he looked and was asked about his health. He replied, "I feel good most of the time, but some of my joints ache and are stiff, especially my knees, hips and lower back, and especially in the morning when I wake up." A series of X-rays and an MRI scan taken a few weeks earlier had revealed that the articular cartilages of these joints was rough and flaking off, and that bone spurs (overgrowths of bone) were present at the ends of some of James' bones. What is James' probable condition? (5 points) 5. Compare and contrast the images produced by X-ray and MRI. (5 points) 6. Sylvia went to her doctor because she had pain in her wrist, along with swelling and redness in the area, fever and nausea. Her doctor ran some tests, including blood tests and an MRI. After giving Sylvia her diagnosis, he sent her to the pharmacy with a prescription for antibiotics. What is Sylvia's probable condition? (5 points) 7. Although Sylvia's condition is acute right now, there is a chance that it could become chronic. What is the difference between acute and chronic? (5 points) 8. 1In fruit flies, red eyes are dominant over white eyes. Draw a Punnett square to show the results of a cross between a hybrid red-eyed fruit fly and a (pure) white eyed fruit fly. You don't have to send me your Punnett square. Just use it to answer these questions: a. What percentage of the offspring would exhibit the dominant trait? (2 points) b. What percentage of the offspring would be pure for red eyes? (2 points) I don't have a text book or else i would look in it.. And if i had a text book i wouldn't be on here asking duhh.

What should I sell My 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4 for? Its a heavily modded 05 SRT-4 with 55000 miles. Its in really good condition. I maintain it very well. Ive invested over $12000 in it over the years, and thats beyond the purchase price. I know I wont get it back, but what should I sell it for. Ive seen them go for 14000-16000 with light mods. Let me know what you think. Some of the mods are: Electronic Metering and Programming: -Apexi SAFC II Neo Fuel Controller -Aeroforce Technology Interceptor Scan Gauge -AUTOMETER Digital WIDEBAND AIR FUEL RATIO GAUGE -Autometer ProComp Ultra-Lite 30lb/30hg Boost Gauge -GReddy Full Auto Turbo Timer Drivetrain: -Mopar Performance Short Throw Shifter -Dana Race CV Axles -ACT 4-Puck Street/Strip clutch -Lightweight Flywheel -AGP Solid Transmission Mount Engine: -Forged Internals -AGP BIG 50 Trim Turbo: Specs: - AGP Cast T04E housing 3" inlet 2" outlet - AGP 50 trim compressor wheel 50lb/min - T31 4 bolt outlet turbine housing .63 A/F Ratios -AGP T3 Log-Style Exhaust Manifold -AGP Big Turbo SS O2 Housing -AGP SS Dump Tube -AGP RACE Front Mount Intercooler -AGP Cool Side piping -Turbonetics Evolution Wastegate -Turbonetics Manual Boost Controller -HKS SSQ blow off valve -AGP ‘Dog Bone’ Motor Mounts -AGP 3-Bar Map Sensor -Ported Intake Manifold -Iceman 70MM Throttle Body -Walboro 255lph Fuel Pump -750cc FIC Fuel Injector Clinic Injectors -s3 high flow fuel rail -s3 fuel pressure regulator -THERMAL R&D 3" Turbo Back Exhaust w/ Hi-Flow Cat. & no Res. -Injen Performance Intake -MPX Underdrive Pulley -Aluminum Oil Catch Can -Mopar 10mm Plug Wires -MSD Ignition -NGK Iridium Spark Plugs Misc.: -8000K PHILIPS ULTRA SLIM ULTINON Bi-Xenon HID headlights (lowbeams and highbeams) -10000K PHILIPS ULTRA SLIM ULTINON HID foglights -Dodge Viper Front Seats -Ceramic brake pads and drilled/slotted rotors -S-Style Eyelid overlays professionally painted black -Windows professionally tinted 5% I recently paid it off. What should I sell it for? How much should I expect to get out of it? The car has been adult driven always and never beat on. Please be specific and list reasons for your answers. Thanks! Oh and it also has a new Clarion 7 inch touch screen multimedia center (Single Din). Nav, ipod, cd, mp3, dvd, dvdr, ect...

Need help re outcome of blood test? I had a full blood count & other various blood tests ordered recently by mr Dr due to her suspecting a TIA. Thrombo & others came back normal & only one that raised any concern was my ESR was 28 having come down from 120, 130 & 130 on various dates during April last year which was due to me contracting Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in my caesarean wound whilst in hospital. But the Dr is concerned as to why it's 28 almost one year after me having Pseudomonas. She asked me a series of questions over the phone tonight when giving me the blood results which were mainly toward bone or arthritic conditions. I don't have any problems there. I'm female, almost 40, period overdue, wisdom tooth impacted but not infected, have swollen calf which swells then goes away from time to time, dvt/thrombotic conditions ruled out, specialist who ultrasounded it says its fluid/haemotoma from bruising it once, I can't think of anything else. Has anyone got any suggestions/ideas on having an ESR of 28 whether that is really high, could it mean cancer somewhere in my body? My Dr wants to repeat it in 3 weeks as I have a CT scan Monday to check for problems after suspected TIA. Thanks.

ok i am scared!!!! ius this real? One night, a baby-sitter was watching the neighbor’s kids, as she often did, but this time for money. She was given specific instruction to get the kids in bed by 9:00 PM. She did so, and afterwards went back downstairs to watch some television. She flipped through the stations when something struck her fancy. It was one of those x-files type shows, all about haunted houses and graveyard encounters. She watched and became mystified at some of the “actual footage” shot at a local graveyard. As she sat there, she decided that for the full effect, she would turn off the light, and continue watching the program in the dark, curled up underneath a warm blanket on the sofa. The program seemed to last forever, until finally they wrapped up with a spooky ending, claiming that all that have seen or heard of the graveyard ghost have either died by fire, or were traumatized to death. When the show was over, Donna was too frightened to get out from under her protective blanket to turn the lights on or check the children, for by now it was nearly 11:30 PM. It was dead silent, and Donna had developed a mild sweat from being curled so tight underneath the blanket. She decided that on the count of three, she would get up, run to the light switch and turn it on, and all would be well. One. . . two. . . three! BAM!!! Donna tripped and knocked the phone off the hook. What surprised her the most however, was that she did not hear a dial tone. Maybe she accidentally ripped the phone out of the wall socket. No. She could hear something. . .She grabbed the phone and put it up to her ear. She could hear breathing. What she heard next was something she would never forget. An ear piercing scream penetrated her head, and flowed all through her body, chilling her to the bone. She jumped up and turned on the light, scared out of her mind. She decided to turn the TV back on and find a show that could calm her senses. She clicked on the TV, and started flipping through channels of static, finding nothing would come in clear. This did not amuse her. She went behind the TV to see if she could fix anything, when the phone rang. “Hello?” All Donna could hear was the familiar sound of heavy breathing. Not waiting to hear that scream again, she immediately hung the phone up. What happened next frightened and surprised her. That piercing scream again. But wait, she hung up the phone. The scream came from upstairs. In her mind, she felt she should go upstairs to check on the kids. The sensible part of her said that the kids were in trouble, but it would be foolish to put herself in the same situation. She crept to the kitchen, and found a knife. No, not the butter knife, she looked for another one, a steak knife. Yes, this was what she wanted. She walked to the foot of the stairs, and looked up. Total darkness. Should she turn on a light, or should she creep up in the dark, so as to be un-noticed? She decided that if it was dark, whoever or whatever was up there had the same sight disadvantage as she, and she would have a better chance of sneaking up on it. She walked up the stairs slowly, skipping the third step, because she remembered that that one was the one that creaked. She made her way, knife in hand, to the top step, where she scanned the hallway for any shadows. She then went to the first door. She waited outside, clutching the knife in her sweaty fist, she listened for any sound. Nothing. Slowly and silently, she opened the door. She could see nothing. Donna walked to the center of the room and felt around for the chain that turned on the light. She pulled on it, and shrieked in horror. The children were all hanging from the ceiling by their necks, their guts spilling on the floor. She turned to run out, when she was blocked by a presence in the door. She felt her stomach get pieced by the razor sharp edge of her own knife. It slid easily through her abdomen, up to her rib cage. She dropped to her knees, and screamed. The scream she heard from her own mouth, was the exact same scream that she heard on the phone. She realized that what she heard on the phone was herself. At that moment, all was black. Pass this on to at least 10 other people, or you may find yourself in the same situation. If you don’t believe it, just take your chances. . . It’s worth the investment of a couple of minutes

Excerpt. I need opinions, advice, and critique. ? This is a short excerpt from my (crossing fingers in hope) soon to be novel/trilogy. Read it, and give your opinions and advice, please. The school bell rang out with the usual annoying three dings, signaling the last class of the day. The one that I looked forward to the least, Athletics. I was never a good with physical exercise, seeing as it always ended up with people looking at me funny like I was on steroids or something. Usually, the very thought of it gave me the creeps, but this time, I felt that there was something else. I felt it to my bones, that stupid gut feeling. Maybe Jake was home sick today? Aw, my poor baby. I pushed through the student filled hallway making my way to my locker following my daily routine of rush, rush get it all done. When I finally arrived in 'C' hall I was greeted with the most beautiful sight on the planet, Jake Walker, my boyfriend of two perfect months, and the sinking knowledge that my gut feeling still lingered. Every time I see him butterflies still invade my stomach, how I hooked him, I still don't know. I waved to him, but he didn’t notice me. I guess he couldn't see me over the crowd of tall rambunctious senior boys. An unusual shiver ran down my spine. Serenity, I don’t see what you’re so worked up about, your fine. I reassured myself. My mind kept wandering while trying to busy it as I was making my way to him, Ugh, it’s the same everywhere! High Schools are full of hundred immature guys, they come from every crevice as if they had the ability to reproduce themselves… kind of like cockroaches. When I finally shoved passed the immature boys I scanned the hallway full of anticipation, but there was no sign of him. Where did he go? I kept scanning to find Jake with his back toward me and leaning against a locker. I hurried to him, hoping to catch him before the bell rang. I glanced at the wall clock on the way to greet him. What is he doing? It’s a minute before the bell, why hasn’t he gone to class yet? I glanced around the hallway, It was almost empty, even most of the seniors had gone to class, As I got closer I grew unusually suspicious, I picked up speed as if my feet were connected to my racing thoughts. He acts as if he’s totally forgotten me. I then noticed something that hurt me like a dozen daggers slashing open my body, No, no, no. This couldn‘t be happening! He was kissing her, he was kissing Ashley! My best friend since the first day that I arrived at K.M.S. High, and now, the reason for my tremendous pain and agony. I fell against the lockers all of a sudden light headed, my heart was racing, drops of cold sweat were beading up on my forehead. I closed my eyes at a loss of what to do, frozen in despair. A hand fell onto my shoulder, I ducked my head so the owner didn’t see my angry tear-filled eyes and probable flushed cheeks. “Are you ok baby?” It was Jake, the bastard who just broke me into a thousand pieces and the blonde hair, blue-eyed boy that I once was head over heels for, “No, I’m not ok!” He shook his head in denial. “It wasn’t my fault, she came onto me!” “Oh yeah, and you just had to kiss her back.” I looked down at the floor and with the strength and anger that I had never known I reached up and clocked him in the mouth. He fell to the floor clutching his jaw. “You fucking bitch!” I stared at him wriggling on the floor in pain with my hand cupped over my mouth in shock and partial remorse. Oh my gosh! What did I just do? Oh Geez….I’m going to be in so much trouble! When I finally arrived in Speech, Mr. Gregg was waiting for me with the principle, Mrs. Kelly. I already had a pretty good idea what Mrs. Kelly was there for, “Serenity Harlan, come with me please.” I stared to the floor, letting my long brunette bangs fall in front of my face in an attempt to hide from the snickering of classmates coming from behind me as I exited the room. We walked silently through the maze of echoing hallways until we finally reached her office. She opened the big door that I had never been on the other side of, not in any of my schools, and beckoned me in. I walked into the unwelcoming cold room . “Sit.” I obeyed as she rounded her desk, “I saw what you did earlier on the surveillance camera.” I nodded knowing that I was in deep this time. “You are not a bad student, Serenity, especially when you look at your history. You have been shipped from foster home to foster home since you were three years old and have never had an office visit or even a bad mark. That makes me want to ask, what set you off?” I cringed thinking about the answer to that question as tears once again filled my eyes, “I thought you saw the tape, He cheated on me.” “You broke his jaw.” She replied calmly I stared at the floor feeling guilty, I hate violence and I hate, hate, but this seemed like it could be excused for justice. I mean, come on, that jerk cheated on me, right? “Serenity, I’m going to have to suspend you. I really don’t want th this one stunt to dirty your clean slate, but I have to, no matter how much he might or might not have deserved it. We called your foster parents, you need to go get your stuff. Clear your head, and come back next week with a smile.” I nodded with a teary eyed frown. How could she do this, after what he did to me? “Oh, and Serenity, don’t EVER do that again, next time I won’t be this forgiving. Do you understand me?” I nodded once again, making my exit.

Whats my story like? Be ruthless!? I’m warm. I'm sleepy. There’s a noise; rhythmic and steady but it’s really annoying....Beep beep beep. I should open my eyes and try and stop that infuriating sound, but I can’t be bothered. I'm nice and cosy, I’d be even cosier on my side – hang on I can’t lie on my side! My eyes shoot open and the annoying beeping sound quickens its pace slightly. My eyes focus on a boring white ceiling, it looks like that’s all I'm gonna see; my neck won’t cooperate with me. A sweaty hand brushes the hair out of my eyes, thank god, then smoothes my cheek gently. So, I can feel that. As I open my mouth I realise I can move my face and feel a breeze coming from some unseen source, “What’s happened?” oh god, I sound like a frog! “Frankie, its OK honey. We’re in hospital. Thank heavens you’re awake!” It’s my Mum. Hospital? What’s going on? “Mum, what happened?” “The bridge…do you remember?” My mind’s blank. I struggle to remember. It comes back to me in vivid images. The bridge, Lucy and Emmy shaking their heads at me, their faces twisted with fear. Will Mullins swimming below me, beaming up at me, gesturing for me to jump. “Don’t do it!” Lucy had shouted frantically. “Please Frank, it’s stupid!” I hadn’t listened to them, I remember taking my jacket and trainers off and shakily climbing onto the wall of the bridge. The adrenaline had kicked in then; I waved my arms wildly in the air and then did a little wiggle. Big mistake. I think my sock slipped on some of that slimy moss stuff that grows in the cracks of walls. I remember screaming as I fell, and then a loud cracking sound where I hit the rocks at the bank of the river. I can’t remember anything else; I wonder how long I’ve been here? A door opens, there are footsteps coming towards me, squeaking on the polished floor of the ward. “Miss Reynolds, I’m glad you’re awake. My name is Doctor Lewis,” he’s crouched down beside me, his forehead is creased (uh oh) I sort through the all questions popping up in my head and pick the one that I’m dreading to here the answer of, “How bad is it?” my voice is still, “I’m afraid it doesn’t look like its going to be good news. The MRI scan has revealed that you’ve badly broken three bones in the higher part of your cervical spine.” “Does that mean I’m paralysed?” my voice is barely a whisper, it’s layered with fear. “It’s a little too early to see the full extent of your injuries as everything is swollen. We have injected steroids so the swelling won’t last much longer than four weeks but I’m sorry to say that unless we can operate…we’re pretty certain you won’t be able to walk again.” I nod numbly, barely taking it in. His voice sounds solemn and concerned for me. I guess I'm in real trouble. Why did I have to get cocky on the bridge? I bet if I’d just jumped off – over the rocks – I wouldn’t be here right now. He’s still talking to me in a monotone that he’s obviously perfected for times like this: when he has to deliver bad news. I’m not listening anymore, my heads woken up and it’s alive with questions. What if I am paralysed? What will I do? This can’t be happening. It isn’t! “I can’t believe it…I will walk. I’m fine.” My voice couldn’t be shaking more if I was sat in a freezer. “I understand how you are feeling Frankie, at the moment you are going through the first stages of accepting paralysis; shock and denial.” He smiles a sad, kind smile at me and Mum, then turns and leaves us. I try in vain to stop the tears that are threatening but they well up just the same. When I realise I can’t wipe them away they stream harder. Nothing can stop the tears now, they’re in full flow. Rolling down my face, then as they reach the middle of my neck, I can’t feel them anymore. It’s bizarre. Mum’s in shock too though she’s trying to reassure me that she still loves me, and that I'm still me. I was determined to move after Doctor Lewis left, but It was useless. No part of my body wanted to do what I wanted it to, apart from my eyes and mouth. I tried a small movement, a twitch of my fingers, a curl of my toes. But its like they’re not there, it’s as of my head is resting on a pillow, attached to nothing. A lump the size of a small apple is now permanently lodged in my throat and I feel as worse than I did when I got off the ‘spinning whizball’ at Alton Towers. Mum senses my fear; “Everything is going to be okay, being scared is the least that is expected of you,” I nod glumly, and close my eyes and think. If I end up in a wheelchair I don’t know what I’d do. So many things in my life I wouldn’t be able to do. Why me? *** It’s been four weeks since I first met Doctor Lewis and life’s been rough. A couple of weeks ago they stabilised my neck using halo traction. It was horrible; they drilled four titanium screws through my skin, into my skull. They attached about eight kilograms of weight, to the head end of my bed. They said it was to stretch my neck and give my neck space to heal. The good thing is that it mea

Why are some people so STUPID at parades???? A women was seriously injured because someone thought it was FUNNY to shoot a horse in the parade with a BB gun. This poor woman could have been killed!! Please tell me what in the sweet name of Jesus, would posses a person to do such a hatefull thing???? Here is the story: Tragedy Strikes At Greenville Parade By Bob Evans VION&HR Everything was going great at the 22nd Annual Country Christmas Parade. The kids both young and older were having a great time and enjoying all the activities. The streets were lined with spectators and the city park was full of vendors and Country Christmas participants. Then towards the end of the parade, something went all wrong. Tragedy hit hard on one of the riders on horseback. One of the horses spooked and threw its rider onto the pavement. Leila Lindsey of High Springs, Florida was thrown from her horse “Blessing” with the horse ending up stepping on her chest and left hand. EMS medical personnel responded while Lindsey's husband Ellis Lindsey tended to his fallen wife. Leila Lindsey was carried by ambulance to an area where Life flight could transfer her to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to have her injuries cared for. She suffered cuts to her head, bruises on several parts of her body and some broken bones in her left hand. She was put on life support and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. After several tests and CT scans, it was determined by TMH specialists that she suffered no permanent life threatening injuries and she was kept overnight at the hospital for observation and other tests run the next morning. Sunday afternoon December 9th, Lindsey was discharged from the hospital to go home. Members of the Madison County Sheriff's Posse rounded up the loose horse and took it back to the starting point of the parade so it could be loaded on a horse trailer and taken to Emerald Acres Paso Fino Ranch north of Greenville. There relatives of the Lindsey family came up to the ranch Saturday evening and transported all of their horses back home to High Springs, Florida. A special bank account has been set up at Capital City Bank 660 Northeast Santa Fe, High Springs, Florida 32643 to help the family with medical expenses incurred from the accident. If you would like to donate anything to help the family make your checks out to Leila Lindsey and mail them to the bank at the above address. No one really knows what happened, but it is believed that someone fired a BB gun and struck the horse in the neck. No one has been identified as being responsible, but the Madison County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. At present no charges have been filed against anyone and the Sheriff's Department is asking everyone who was in the area where the incident took place that if they have any information to call the Sheriff's Department. What makes this story so unusual is Lindsey was riding a breed of horse that is known worldwide as a people friendly horse. It's reputation as being the “Rolls Royce” or the “Cadillac” of the horse world and the smoothest riding horse in the world with hardly any bad traits, adds to the theory that someone deliberately spooked the horse. Lindsey was competing in an annual event in the Country Christmas Parade called “Pasos On Parade”. For the past 2 years she and her horse “Blessing” have won the title as being the “Best of the Best” in the competition at Greenville. This proves that both her and the horse and rider were experienced in participating in parades. Both Lindsey and “Blessing” have competed for the past 5 years in the event at Greenville and she has ridden the horse in dozens more parades across the State of Florida without having any problems what-so-ever with the horse. If you would like to send get well cards or letters to Leila Lindsey or her family you can just address and mail them to (Leila Lindsey – P. O. Box 1761 - High Springs, Florida 32655.) Lisa M., the horse reared, she fell off & the horse fell on her. The injuries were unkown at the time. Brooke F., PLEASE tell me you just didn't say horses are stupid animals???? That is really FAR from the truth!! Lisa, I not debating, just trying to tell you what I have been told. It seemed odd to me as well. But, maybe they had taken all precautions. I don't exactly know what her condtion was at the time of the accident. I personally know just falling off would take the breath out of me. This is a very nice lady, who would do anything to help anyone. That is why I am so devestated of the ignorace of the shooter. The police are looking for this person & they are hopefully going to charge him with a felony. Really, this would be considered an Assult with intent to harm, Endangerment & Assult with a deadly weapon. What a Pud!!! Aoifa, there was a witness. As for the rest I don't know. Maybe because of the previous years of a safe parade.

I am going to ask the same question here. Why do people do STUPID things at a parade??? A women was seriously injured because someone thought it was FUNNY to shoot a horse in the parade with a BB gun. This poor woman could have been killed!! Please tell me what in the sweet name of Jesus, would posses a person to do such a hatefull thing???? Here is the story: Tragedy Strikes At Greenville Parade By Bob Evans VION&HR Everything was going great at the 22nd Annual Country Christmas Parade. The kids both young and older were having a great time and enjoying all the activities. The streets were lined with spectators and the city park was full of vendors and Country Christmas participants. Then towards the end of the parade, something went all wrong. Tragedy hit hard on one of the riders on horseback. One of the horses spooked and threw its rider onto the pavement. Leila Lindsey of High Springs, Florida was thrown from her horse “Blessing” with the horse ending up stepping on her chest and left hand. EMS medical personnel responded while Lindsey's husband Ellis Lindsey tended to his fallen wife. Leila Lindsey was carried by ambulance to an area where Life flight could transfer her to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to have her injuries cared for. She suffered cuts to her head, bruises on several parts of her body and some broken bones in her left hand. She was put on life support and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. After several tests and CT scans, it was determined by TMH specialists that she suffered no permanent life threatening injuries and she was kept overnight at the hospital for observation and other tests run the next morning. Sunday afternoon December 9th, Lindsey was discharged from the hospital to go home. Members of the Madison County Sheriff's Posse rounded up the loose horse and took it back to the starting point of the parade so it could be loaded on a horse trailer and taken to Emerald Acres Paso Fino Ranch north of Greenville. There relatives of the Lindsey family came up to the ranch Saturday evening and transported all of their horses back home to High Springs, Florida. A special bank account has been set up at Capital City Bank 660 Northeast Santa Fe, High Springs, Florida 32643 to help the family with medical expenses incurred from the accident. If you would like to donate anything to help the family make your checks out to Leila Lindsey and mail them to the bank at the above address. No one really knows what happened, but it is believed that someone fired a BB gun and struck the horse in the neck. No one has been identified as being responsible, but the Madison County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. At present no charges have been filed against anyone and the Sheriff's Department is asking everyone who was in the area where the incident took place that if they have any information to call the Sheriff's Department. What makes this story so unusual is Lindsey was riding a breed of horse that is known worldwide as a people friendly horse. It's reputation as being the “Rolls Royce” or the “Cadillac” of the horse world and the smoothest riding horse in the world with hardly any bad traits, adds to the theory that someone deliberately spooked the horse. Lindsey was competing in an annual event in the Country Christmas Parade called “Pasos On Parade”. For the past 2 years she and her horse “Blessing” have won the title as being the “Best of the Best” in the competition at Greenville. This proves that both her and the horse and rider were experienced in participating in parades. Both Lindsey and “Blessing” have competed for the past 5 years in the event at Greenville and she has ridden the horse in dozens more parades across the State of Florida without having any problems what-so-ever with the horse. If you would like to send get well cards or letters to Leila Lindsey or her family you can just address and mail them to (Leila Lindsey – P. O. Box 1761 - High Springs, Florida 32655.)

What do you think of my chapter of my book, Unexpected? Unexpected: I felt something hit the back of my head. Slowly turning around, I looked down and bent to grab the well-made paper air plane that was lying at the back of my seat. I made sure to keep it in my lap and away from Ms. Boles eyes as I unfolded it. Dwight’s handwriting made the words hard to make out, but I eventually deciphered the message. My family is driving me crazy!! I must escape!! Can I come over later?! I turned around discretely and caught Dwight’s blue eyes. I gave him a nod, and he smiled at me, followed with a flirty glance. I rolled my eyes, and then turned back around in my seat. I endured the rest of the class, and finally the bell rang. As I walked with Dwight to the lunchroom, Ashley and Kenna motioned to us with their hands. “What’s up?” I asked when we got to her. Kenna was wearing tight black jeans and her brother's motorcycle jacket. Her trim small body looked more fragile than last month. And I saw that her face had grown ravishingly pretty. It was small and feminine, framed with long, pitch black hair, and marred only by a extreme expression. Ashley on the other hand was slim, with that dirty blonde hair almost as long as Kenna's and a pretty pixieish face. “What?! Have you not even noticed that there’s a new guy in school?” Ashley asked with a sparkle in her eye. I shrugged then shook my head. She looked at me with chastising eyes, and shook her head at my ignorance. “How couldn’t you? He’s in, like, four of your classes.” I smiled apologetically. “I’ve been thinking all day. I’ve been trying to remember these lines....” Ashley rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t you always? Anyways, back to the new guy. He doesn’t really talk to anybody, so I don’t know a lot about him other than he’s a total hottie.” It was my turn to roll my eyes at her. “Don’t you always think so? What’s his name?” I asked. "Erik Forrester" Kenna, looked away, scanning the crowd, and suddenly smiled when she found who she was looking for.She pointed across the cafeteria and I looked to where she was pointing. I was kind of taken aback when he looked straight at me, and looked as if he found who he had been looking for. I hastily looked away as a severe shiver went down my spine, sending out a warning of danger. Not being able to help myself, I looked again. His eyes glowed with the depth of universal mystery, casting off stardust as a diamond cast fire and they smolder embers a fire in a desert night; glancing upwards they reflect the heavens above. His eyelashes touched his dark green eyes in a way that made them look evil yet luring. His complexion was rich and mysterious, making it seem to glow in the shadow. His shaggy eyebrows and wavy jet-black hair practically finished thee look covering most of his forehead. His lips were full and his face stiff, he was beautiful in an indescribable way something about him was not as it seems. * * * I hovered for a second before taking my seat next to Dwight, watching the gang talk easily and happily together, and I almost wished I wasn't gifted with extraordinary acting skills. I sat down and straighten my spine, peering over at Erik. He was staring at me , his handsome face had gone all tense and eerie. I felt a wild-hot desire for him and started getting lost in thought. "So Katherine, Ashley tell you Erik's off limits?" Hannah asked, as she sat in front of me, getting a good view of Erik. I looked up at her. Her blond hair was straighten out so that it reached her shoulders. Her big brown eyes glazed at me mockingly, like she was waiting for what she wanted to hear. She had a full face of make-up on, making her angled eyebrows stand out. "Why do you even sit here, doughe?" Dwight asked, his blue eyes darkening. Dwight's a tall, really cute guy with excellent bone structure, whose blue eyes are usually warm and expressive, but were, at this moment, a little more than cold and harsh. I think I could see a flash of red in his eye. "Bite me, poindexter," Hannah said, flipping her hair back. "Wash yourself and I might," Dwight said, between clenched teeth. Hannah opened her mouth to say another insult, but got interrupted by Kenna. "Erik's staring at us," She said, leaning forward. "More like Katherine," Dwight said, while punching my shoulder and laughing. I slightly turned my body and looked up. Dwight was right. He was staring at me. I turned back around, biting my lip to stop from smiling. Suddenly a arm went around me. "Don't worry he can't have you" "That's because you think she's yours," Ashley said. I bit my bottom lip to stop from laughing. Looking up at Dwight, I could see that his cheek got bright red. He took his arm from around me and started playing with his scrawny fingers. "She will be.." He mumbled. "You just keep making out with your stuff animals" Kenna joked. It got silent at my table. All we could hear was the oth

Car accident, please help instant weight gain? HELP.? i was involved in a pretty serious crash 5 days ago on wednesday, they did all the cat scans and x-rays, no broken bones or anything to worry about. the day of the accident however , for some reason i felt extremely hungry and probably ate 1000 more calories that day then usual, since i know i cant exercise ive been eating even a tad bit less a day if not close to before, however its been 5 days and ive already gained roughly 5-7 pounds. what the heck... every day it seems i weigh my self im gainging roughly a pound, i know its not possible to be gainging a pound of fat or 3500 cal unless the immense amount of stress is causing it and something else major is happening to me, please help i dont know what to do... water weight, can be stored everywhere in body correct? not just in my stomache because i dont feel full of water any more than usual. thanks

Rib bone broken but no pain.? Try this again. I started to notice a large lump on my back rib bone. It didn't hurt but it started to bother me while sleeping because it was like sleeping on a golf ball. I had it xrayed and they said it was broken. Now they have me going for Bone scan, CAT scan and blood test. But it does not hurt. It showed up on the Bone scan as a big white ball on the full body scan but on the three dimentional image of my chest it showed up as a big black ball. What is it.

What is safest anesthesia to give an 11 yr old child with autism. He needs to undergo a full body bone scan.? My son needs to have a full body bone scan with contrast as he has a condition called multiple enchondroma and the treating dr. wants to see if he has any anywhere else besides his finger. I am very concerned to get through the scan and not traumatize him. We tried 4MG valium for the MRI and he had to sit still for 30 minutes. It was extremely difficult to get through. 4MG of Valium did not put him to sleep. This could be an hour and a half long. Can someone advise the safest alternative. My sister in law who is a nurse suggested Oral Versed to relax him and then a Propafol drip. I want to see what others say. I will of course check with his Dr. and Psychiatrist but wanted to become educated on all the options out there so i can make a good choice. Thanks

JRT Sporadic Severe Weight Loss. Please can ANYONE explain? Very long... sorry? I've asked about this before, but never really got an answer other than "who knows?" I should mention that this question was written while Saucy was very underweight, and that she has since gained weight and returned to her normal size, but I'm just waiting for it to happen all over again. My 4 year old Jack Russell b**** is currently weighing in at less than 4lb. Her normal weight is 6.5lb. She looks very thin, obviously... I can see her spine, hip bones, and every rib. She also seems slightly dehydrated, despite adequate fluids. She is eating, drinking, and behaving entirely as normal. Nothing in her environment or routine has changed. She has been regularly wormed and treated for all parasites since I got her three years ago. She has naturally had all shots and boosters, and is spayed. She is a very high energy dog, even for the breed. She started losing weight around 3 weeks ago, and it came off fast. This isn't the first time this has happened... the fourth in fact... around about once a year this happens, and just seems to resolve itself. My vet is at a complete loss, as is another vet who I took her to when I was staying with my parents last year. She has had general bloods done, bloods to check liver function, bloods to check thyroid function, bloods to check white blood cell count (the final one from THIS episode came back today). All came back normal. The vet says that she is happy and healthy and not to worry about it, as the other times, she has put the weight back on (usually the whole thing lasts for around 8 weeks). But I'm worried about the effects on her, particularly her heart. Does anyone have any idea at all what this could be? I'm considering full body ultrasound scan... what do you think? Thank you

please do constructive criticism for my story. Please!? This is a prologue of my story. I'm young so please be easy on me. Prologue Romaniz pounced up and down through the thick and humid forest of Conscia. The undergrowth was wet and sunlight was infrequent, peeking through the smallest gaps between the canopies of leaves. His upper torso was wet with his own blood and his deep wound was done by his own thin blade. He was starting to pant but the cave was near, not far ahead. His crimson blood was dripping second after second leaving a trail behind. He was afraid that someone might follow him so he started running on his four legs a little faster jumping and crawling through the vegetation. There it was, the damp and dark cave he has been taking refuge in for quite a period. “Just a little more,” Romaniz thought in his mind as his vision was blurring due to the immense amount of blood that he lost. His pace started to slow down and in a blink of an eye light flashed around him and when it was all gone, there stood a young man kneeling on the floor, no more a white furred wolf. Blood was still dripping from underneath his shirt and flowed through to change his shirt from a light yellow to a dark red which was spreading all over rapidly. Half the blood from his body was already lost and much more was still flowing out in thick drops. He dropped his blue battle coat which was emblazoned with the crest of a phoenix on the breast pocket onto the ground along with his swords. He dragged his body deeper into the cave as blood smeared onto the ground and all of a sudden he collapsed. He was sprawled on the ground, covered in his own blood. Blood was still flowing from his deep wound caused by his own blade which lay beside him, wet with crimson liquid. “The Guardians of Kronov rumoured to be found in the 12th century by a young man named Ashcroft Arwan, was only an idea to uphold peace between certain human kingdoms and empires that were creating chaos and war. Although they had already discovered our kind then, the young man was never foolish enough to dwell upon the idea of using his army to oppose the Ancient Family. Soon, they used artificial magic to train fighters as they thought more power was necessary. After issues were settled among humans and peace was achieved, they soon became our biggest problem. They were an army full of well trained fighters with a lot of power and nothing to fight. Those in black usually came past our kingdom to speak with the king in the 15th century, King Kannabis. Unfortunately one meeting changed the fate of two lands, Kronov and ours. We still not know the cause of the tussle but we know the Guardians initiated it at first and King Kannabis realized we ought to fight back. Thus the battle between the Guardians of Kronov and the Zealots of the Ancient Family began.” -Paragraph III, Page 588 of The Ancient Family philosophy book The golden-haired youngster started fiddling with his father’s sword, thinking if being a Guardian of Kronov was the right choice or not. He was sitting on his bed with his silver armoured suit on and he kept gazing into the reflection of his face on the silvery surface of the broadsword. Whether or not his fate was sealed to die as a Guardian he had to become one. He slid the sword into the wide scabbard and walked out his wooden decorated room and faced nothing but the future. He was willing to risk his life and even leave his family, relatives, friends and his past. Everyone gave goodbyes but he didn’t seem to listen and stared at something distant as he waved away of what had made him that day. On his seventeenth birthday. “The Holy War happened in the year before this article was written. The war was the greatest clash between the Zealots and the Guardians of Kronov up to date. Many of ours died but theirs have been decreasing immensely from two hundred to fifty in number only. As elite fighters battle it out we realized, we were on the same level, no more, no less. As a writer I never thought of a cause that would end the rivalries, the bloodshed or the immense violence until now. Nothing but rage fueled their thirst for violence and defeat of the other party. The Guardians though like the Zealots were not much different. Both helped the innocent, had loved ones, both were only heartless to each other. I know not much of the Guardians of Kronov but what rumour I heard of their weaponry caught my attention. For the Zealots, they train with magic, are born with magic and are magic. The Guardians of Kronov use an amulet or pendant which they wear around their necks. These pendants contain the soul of creatures, whether from this world or not, we do not know. We have never seen them transform into these beings before but that is what these pendants are for. Enough said. I shall sign off.” -Article 56, the Holy War and the Guardians of Kronov by Alexise Quartet “The gift to draw negative energy is very rare and it can happen to anyone and usually randomly. The gifted will absorb the melancholy, hatred and anger of worlds and use it as power. The feeling was great; a burst of energy and power within you but the gifted will feel the pain, sorrow and hatred of the ones he absorbed from whether plant, animal or human. Once the gifted absorbs enough base power, he or she needs no more as he or she recycles the power that he or she gives out. The flowing emotions power him or her on and on. Only an abstract material can stop these beings. The answer is yet to be found. So far in the past centuries, no ‘Fallen’ have been discovered. Only one case ever happened but luckily that ‘Fallen’ had drifted off with another piece of earth into space and has never been seen again. We not know of what gives them the power to do so but with no specimen to study directly it is not possible to go further. The creatures that had their negative power drawn have lost the feeling of sadness, anger, hatred or death. Very strange, indeed. Wonder if there is an opposite? That would be dangerous.” -Biogic Human Times, July 10th, Page 28 by Barthemeus Torche He awoke in a white plain room with an IV on the side of his bed and multiple blankets over his body. His torso was wrapped in bloodied bandages and it stung so much when he made use of the muscles there. He felt paralyzed and confined in the hospital gown and his range of vision was restricted and he couldn’t turn his neck properly. He was looking around the room for her. “I’m here.” He glanced downwards and saw the only person he could ever trust. His pride, his love and his life was still living and breathing at the foot of his bed. “Oh good, you’re ok.” “Yes, but not you. I was worried and Arwan sent a team after you.” She said silently, averting her gaze from his fallen state to the window. “But I’m fine if you are.” He laid there acting as though the two holes in his stomach weren’t real and proceeded to get some sleep while he could. “They barely got you in time. You nearly died. Do you care how I feel? I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t cry because a Guardian can never cry even in private. If there was no code I would have drained these eyes because of you. You never cared how I feel. Selfish. As long as I was yours. That was all that mattered.” Her tone did not change and was still monotonous but her feelings reached through her words and pierced right through him. He struggled himself to get up and apologize to her but it hurt so much, it pinned him to the bed. She stood up from the chair and left silently and effortlessly with her thick broadsword over her shoulder. “Sleep. I want your wounds to heal and tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving to clean up the mess of what’s left of your mission. I decided to cancel my presence to take care of you but seeing that my help is not welcome or appreciated and that the servants can do a better job I’ll leave at dawn.” “No! You’ll die if you want to fight that beast. Even my team couldn’t make a cut on it’s body. Please. You know I love you and was sorry that I worried you a lot. Please don’t.” He was pleading as his face could only see the ceiling. He struggled to get up but he couldn’t. “But Arwan doesn’t know that I cannot defeat it. Sleep well. I love you too.” She shed a tear as she walked out of the room and left it to flow down her cheek. She let it flow from her face proudly. It was evidence of her love. “No. Get me out of this thing! Someone. I demand you to get me out of the bed. Carry me. I don’t care.” He shouted out orders but it was no use. No one was there to hear except for her as she retired to her room. Blocking out his pleads which made her feel worse. She laid her broadsword on her bed and sat there with crossed hands, ready to meet death the next day. “I haven’t made love to you in a long time. I’m sorry. Come, here.” He gestured her to come closer. “We never made love before, Romaniz.” She answered with a confused look. “Haha. Not that type of making love. I meant cuddling you, kissing you and all that you know?” He laughed triumphantly seeing her face from a confused one to a one lit with understanding. “Oh yes. You haven’t done so in a long time and I’m angry that you didn’t. Hmph.” She turned her gaze away with eyes closed and lips curled downwards. “I’m sorry. I’m busy. Come, here.” He dragged her forcefully and lovingly by the waist across the bed and laid his chin on her shoulder, arms around her waist. He then started nibbling on her neck then the cheek. Stopping once or twice to look her in those glassy eyes and smile. They finally kissed on the lips softly after he nibbled on her for quite a while. “Your lips have never lost their touch, huh?” “Nope.” He answered, silencing her by kissing her again and again. They stopped and held hands and directed their gaze towards the full moon. She let go of his and walked to the window by her bed that was wide open to let the moonlight in. She gazed for a moment until Romaniz wrapped his arms around her waist and arms and laid his chin on her head from behind. He was about to proceed and nibble on her neck but stopped and sniffed lightly. He closed his eyes as she lay her hands over his and watched the scenery upon them. “Hazel, I love you a lot.” “ Me too.” She snapped out of her dream and smiled a little. She was dreaming of a memory she held so dear to herself. She glanced to her window and noticed the dark sky. An abyss without the moon. It was completely dark and it felt like their relationship was like the sky. It was falling apart and there was nothing bright in it anymore. She knew there was still three hours or more till dawn and decided she needed as much sleep for the mission. He cried all his tears out the night before blatantly as his eyes were sore and so pink to the flesh. There were also dark lines which outlined the depression under his eyes. He couldn’t cry anymore, and for the first time, his articulation of words were disastrous. He stuttered and choked. He could only hold her gloved hand after giving up with speaking to her. He was begging, pleading while she was upright and strong and despite the ache in her heart, she could do so with ease. She brought his figure up and kissed him softly and proudly on the lips with her eyes closed. Like it was their wedding and they had finished their vows. He kept his eyes open, not in shock but too register this moment as a photograph, so he could remember her serene face while she kissed him. When their lips were apart, he hugged her to his chest and sniffed her hair and hand clutched to her head. She forced herself apart and told him, “I need to go.” He only nodded in acknowledgement and looked on, his chocolate eyes were pathetic and his hands reacted to reach out for her. But he retracted them as he knew that she burned bridges already. There was no coming back. She received her broadsword from a servant and slid it into her scabbard which hung over her shoulder. An audience looked on as they kissed and parted, nobody with the courage to stop them. She proceeded to hop on her transport, taking a last look at her other half for what might be the last time. She was ready to leave and command her comrades to depart but she looked around her and tried her best to memorize the place. But someone else didn’t want her to stay long as it seemed. Multiple arrows whizzed by but the Guardians were prepared with armour which deflected the weak projectiles off. Much more arrows pelted and rained onto them. She easily repelled the arrows off with her broadsword but something was not right. What was their purpose, she jumped off the saddle on her transport and headed back towards the castle’s entrance with her weapon ready but what she saw made her dizzy, angry, sad and shocked. He stood there like a warrior he is, wielding his swords gallantly. But two arrows were sticking through his chest and his healing wounds reopened to form a large patch of blood around his waist. His swords were thin and he was vulnerable without his armour. She was so shocked and paralyzed, she didn’t notice enemies passing her and confronting him. He finally fell after a jab from one enemy to the abdomen. He was helpless. She carried him up but decided he was better off lying on the floor. His eyes were starting to turn gray and he muttered his last words, “Don’t go.” Sweat was running down her face and she was freezing to the bone. It didn’t take long for her to realize what the dream tried to interpret to her about him. She had to stay with him or he would die. It was chilly despite the fact her windows were closed. It must be her thin clothes. She washed her face with cold water and combed her hair, out of her face. She decided to check up on him. Hoping he was sleeping well. She stopped at the door of the ward and saw him asleep but his face was a little crumpled in pain. Physical or mentally she couldn’t tell. She stood by his bed and ran the back of her hand along his cheeks and face. He was sweating profusely. His pillow was drenched and his hands were clutched tight to the blankets. He was on fire. It didn’t help that she just see him like that. She took a pail of water and a white towel from the bathroom opposite the ward. She dipped the towel and dabbed on his forehead continuously. After twenty minutes or so he stopped hyperventilating and the creases on his face eased down a little. “Hazel?” He opened his eyes in a weak manner. The pain got to him already. “Yes, I’m here Romaniz. Go back to sleep. You’re in pain.” He clenched his teeth in pain as he tried to sit up but Hazel pinned him down with her elbow and hissed, “No. Please don’t be stubborn. You need to heal.” He gave up and eased. “I want to see you leave.” He winced as he said those words but she couldn’t tell if it was in the physical pain or emotional pain. “You don’t have to. I’m staying. I foresaw an ambush and…” His face lit up despite the pain and he felt cured but he realized she didn’t finish her sentence. “What is it?” He now held her hand which was icy and stiff. “You… died.” He gave a hard laugh, in disbelief of course. “You must be kidding. Ok. What kind of ambush? Anyway I should have been dead for what made this.” He meant the wounds he currently had. “Arrows rained on us. While I was leaving.” She looked down. Her voice was cracking. Then she regained her composure and continued, “So, I’m falling behind the others to take care of you. I’m afraid that’s why.” He kissed the back of her hand another time and started to embrace it. She still hung her head in depression to avoid his gaze. She was embarrassed to cry but she let her tears drip to her t-shirt hoping that the darkness would cover that up. “Come here. Lie on top of me.” She glanced towards him for a quick moment and then averted from his gaze again. “You’re hurt. I might make it worse. I’ll go and let you rest.” She stood up and laid the wet cloth gently on his head. She took a step forward but his hand was still grabbing hold onto her arm. This time it was vice-like. She looked back and gave up. His arms were still strong despite his ‘lie on bed everyday prescription’ for a month or two. “I’m warning you. I might hurt you.” He laughed, thinking how could she hurt him at all. She carefully climbed onto the bed and laid her chest over his but looked away from his eyes. Her cheeks were still wet. She could only hear Romaniz trying to regain his breath because she wasn’t that much light but after a second or two he sounded fine. “Hazel, please don’t cry. I’m here.” He didn’t want to see her weak and vulnerable. He wrapped his arms around her and lovingly, he licked her closed eyes to get rid of the tears and he was careful to be gentle. She felt a little better as Romaniz started to lick her cheek and closed eyes. It has been a long time since he has done something loving and it was very strange but loving as he licked her cheeks from tears. She couldn’t help let out small sobs into his shirt and grab his shirt with her hands. He only kept silent and held her as she released her feelings. It was better if she let it out now than later. “Better?” He asked after a minute or so and she looked up and nodded. He chuckled. It was her adorable face and the way she nodded. She was very cute when she was crying. He kissed her hair and hugged her closer. She sniffled and hugged him back. Hints of sunlight colored the purple skyline as dawn broke through the dark sky with the young sun peeking over the horizon slightly. Romaniz and Hazel were in slumber by then, clasping each other closely and breathing heavily into each other’s slightly agape mouth. They were both visibly exhausted and slightly injured in different ways. For the moment, their problems were set aside. A young female servant, not older than sixteen who brought breakfast for patients such as Romaniz in the early morning. She nudged Hazel lightly on the shoulder with her index finger. Hazel awoke, opening her eyes and sitting up, careful not to stir Romaniz awake. She glanced at the servant and gave a warm smile. “I’m sorry. I should not disturb your work.” Hazel gave a quick peck on Romaniz’s left cheek and was about to get off the bed when the servant spoke and put her left palm to stop her from leaving. “No. It’s okay. You can help me if that is alright?” She nodded and smiled and waited for instructions. “Mr. Alexander here is very stubborn to take his pills or eat breakfast since the first day he was hospitalized. So I hoped you could help?” She chuckled and glared at Romaniz’s face for a while before agreeing with the servant. She laid the breakfast on the bedside table and woke Romaniz up. “Hey. Stubborn get up.’ she said menacingly partially angry with him. He opened his eyes wide and suddenly shouted, “Hazel? You there?” He only calmed down after realizing that she was there and she stroked his hair gently. He must have thought that she lied to make him better. She then whispered soothingly, “I’m here silly. It’s alright.” He closed his eyes in relief and joy as she let her warm palm to wonder over his cheeks and chin. After a long moment, Hazel realized that the servant was still there, witnessing their embrace between each other. She turned and saw that the servant was staring at them and both of them flushed. “I’m sorry.” “No, it’s ok. Should we give him the pills now ma’am?” She asked as her face returned to a normal colour. She nodded and turned to Romaniz whose eyes were wide in shock as he saw the pills carried on Hazel’s palm. “No. They taste very bad. I would lose my appetite. Please no.” She gave him a stern look full of authority and Romaniz cowered a little. “You’ll eat first then take the pills? Promise me?” He nodded and frowned. She took the small plate that held his breakfast and passed it to him. He only held it and observed it. “Need me to feed you? Are your arms hurt or something?” He shook his head and openly grimaced. “Come on, eat. Or else… I might change my mind about leaving.” He then quickly stuffed a handful of his breakfast into his mouth and chewed unwillingly. She giggled along with the servant at his reaction. He only continued eating till he finished. After he gobbled it down, she gave him the glass of milk and he drank, this time willingly. He then handed Hazel back the glass and asked, “So leaving?” She shook her head and gave a radiant smile. Romaniz then kissed her on the cheek and left a milk stain on her cheek. “Ugh. Look at your mouth. Come on clean up and then your pills.” He looked a little disheartened but obeyed. After finishing everything, Hazel returned the plates and glass to the young servant. She bowed in acknowledgement before leaving. He then looked at her and said, “Now can we do things in private?” She gave a puzzled look and was kissed by Romaniz before saying anything. He pushed her on the bed and was on top of her with his hands pinning her arms to the side as he smothered her. He stopped to let her breathe. She tried to wiggle herself out carefully not to hurt him in anyway but she was trapped. He chuckled darkly and then let his lips move over throat and neck. Then to her collarbone. He started to lead his prey into his trap with his lips. Hazel moaned occasionally but tried her best to keep silent. He then stopped at her forehead and kissed it. He released his prey and smiled. She was hyperventilating subconsciously and stared back at him. “Next time, if you want to seduce me like that, please warn me. I nearly wanted to kick you in the abdomen for that.” He continued laughing. “Sorry. I will. Was I really seducing you? Oops.” She nodded and maneuvered her self from his cage-like stance. She was startled by the time and realized she had to get dressed. She strode out of the room but his hand held onto her forearm with the same vice-like grip last night. He didn’t want to seduce her again but more afraid of her leaving. “Don’t worry. I’m just going to see my comrades off. It would be very rude for me not to do so.” He nodded and spoke. “Can I follow?” She was uncertain about that and asked, “Can you walk? Are you ok?” He smiled and answered, “Of course. Don’t worry. Go get dressed. Meet me in ten minutes here?” “Sure. Be quick okay?” She strode off quickly to her room after he released her arm. He ogled as she approached him. She was dressed in her elegant battle suit which was white and dark blue. Made of expensive silk and had ribbons on certain places. The biggest was slightly below her neck which enhanced her beauty. “What?” She noticed the way he looked at her. Never did he do that in a long time. She was just wearing the same dress yesterday. “You’re gorgeous. I’m sorry I never noticed that. Give me your hand.” She held her hand out which was soft and warm. They both then walked to the clearing. “You look handsome too. Sorry the word is kind of an understatement is it?” He chuckled and looked at her. “Oh come on. It’s the suit. None of me.” The Guardians of the 67th Faction were all saddled on their transport. A giant bat, varying in different colours. Discovered by Ashcroft Arwan and other members of the 1st Faction in another dimension and are very useful, especially in the night. The common transport for Guardians who are assigned to long distanced missions. Hazel’s hand was released from Romaniz’s clasp so that she could exchange last few words with her members and wished them luck. They all nodded and understood and respected her decision to stay behind. After a round of exchange of words, she regained her position beside Romaniz and he held her hand instantly. There were not many people present there. Only loved ones of the members and a few Black Suits. Romaniz caught the emotion of the Black Suits from their faces and Ashcroft wasn’t there. He sensed something was amiss. He was distracted for a second until he looked back to Hazel and smiled. She smiled in return and continued to see her friends ready to drift into the skyline. All of a sudden, Anterios Belacquar, a member of the 67th faction, shouted in a panicked tone. “Ambush!” Romaniz’s head quickly cocked to her direction and gave her an unreadable expression. She was still safe and he was partially surprised her foreseeing was correct for the first time. Arrows dropped ten feet from Romaniz and were coming closer gradually. Everyone was prepared and the Black Suits who could use their weapons for long distances retaliated. There were no evident enemies in the sky as far as Romaniz could see. No one was hurt yet. He was about to run to the Black Suits for orders but Hazel suddenly blurted over the pandemonium. “I should get our weapons. It would be better.” He was hesitant but he nodded and let her leave. It was in the building, so it was safe enough. He ran as the 67th Faction held the projectiles away well but they were afraid it might not end. Sara Coverfold, another member of the 67th Faction took her transport to scan the skies for any sign of the enemy. Romaniz spoke to one of the Black Suits named Aleister Crowley for orders and added opinions. “Sir, what action do we take?” He glanced at Romaniz and answered, his hands tight around his weapon, an axe. “Standby the clearing and hold till Sara gives us a report. We can do nothing more, this is merely a trick. Look at the arrows. They can’t even scratch our armour yet they’re shooting it at us.” Romaniz stood shocked. If it was a trick then they might have ambushed the building instead of the clearing. He thought of Hazel. Aleister sensed his distress and added, “Don’t worry. There are more Guardians in there than here.” Romaniz eased up and felt relieved. He was true. More than out here. Safer in there. Soon the arrows stopped pelting on the clearing and it was a sign that it was safe to move around. Romaniz straightaway rushed back to the building. He wondered why she didn’t come to the clearing with the weapons. Maybe they were too heavy for her he thought. As he rushed to her room, a crowd of nurses and Guardians clustered around something he couldn’t see. They were whispering and fussing over something unseen to him. He was frustrated that they would gather at this moment while there were enemies attacking. But as he came closer, he realized that something laid on the floor as some of them bent down over the thing. He then gasped in shock. The air was knocked out of him as he saw that Hazel laid on the floor bleeding profusely. The blood stained the dress especially over her chest. He bent down in shock and shoved everyone aside. He then held her bloodied hand and kissed it despite the blood. She was attacked with arrows blatantly because there were two arrows by her side. The ends wet with crimson. She was a little dazed but called his name upon seeing him. “Romaniz. Please don’t cry. I’m alright. I can’t even feel the pain.” She smiled wholeheartedly despite the mess around her. He laid his free hand over her chest and applied pressure. Tears slid down his cheek and onto her dress they fell. Hazel then stroked his hair and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll always be there. No matter what.” She then indicated his heart with her index finger as she held it up weakly. He then stared into her eyes and spoke with slight anger. “Don’t you say that Hazel Chane. Don’t you say that.” He used her surname meaning he really meant it. Tears were flowing endlessly but his face remained normal and held its composure. They then looked at each other thoughtfully like the first time they confessed to each other as lovers. She smiled, like she always did, before him. “Kiss me. This might be the last. I love you. More than I ever did in this life.” He smiled, and let another tear flow onto her face this time. “Rubbish. You could never love more than I do.” He accepted that she could only live a few more minutes and the kissed her. Passionately and lovingly. He kissed like if the more passionate it was, the more time she was given. For another two minutes or so, their lips never parted. He pulled back and saw her eyes open. She smiled for the umpteenth time today and finally cried a tear. “Smile ok?” Then she took her last breath before her eyes turned gray and the life faded. He buried his face into her neck and finally let his guard down.

My first chapter( completed version)? Chapter One: Predetermined Notions Nicholas I was stalking down the cereal produce aisle of some unknown convenience store that my mind had derived from somewhere deep in my subconscious. The place was completely desolate of any living thing, with the exclusive exception of myself. In reality, I suppose the bleakness of the place would have disturbed or even frightened me, but, here and now, I wasn’t perturbed by this nuance whatsoever. The only thing that I felt now was the mad, strange desire that utterly consumed me, the desire that repeatedly told me I had to find it now. Right now. If I couldn’t find it than my trip here had been nothing but an absolute waste of time. But I couldn’t fail. That much I knew was fact. My eyes flickered hopefully among the shelves that contained innumerable amounts of generic cereal boxes. As I walked down the aisle, my hope plummeted further and further with every step my feet took that led to the end. The end of the aisle. The end of all hope. I was penultimately close to it and when my hope tried to submerge more, it found that there was nowhere else to spiral downwards to now that it had hit rock bottom. Which was were I had indisputably found myself at now that I had reached the close. I turned around with the false precedent engraved inside of me that I had simply looked over the biased treasure that I desired so much, only to find empty shelves that had been full to bursting just moments ago. This was pandemonium in it most subtle form which only made it worse than it would have been if all Hell’s demons had been let loose before me. I was filled with dread and foreboding almost immediately. I had been led here under fraudulent pretenses, which could only resolve to one thing: I had stumbled into what conclusively had to be a trap. Then it sprang, as if my mind had strayed upon the single thought that could set it off. And I was devoured whole with inexplicable pain beyond anything of which I had ever felt before. Pain that sneaked into the bowels of my chest and crawled gradually toward my heart that beat fewer upon every fraction of space enclosed between them. With every short breath I took I was positive that it would be my last as the florescent lights above flickered off, leaving me in unquenchable darkness. My knees wobbled and gave way. I braced myself for the collision between bone and the concrete floor beneath only to find myself precariously sinking through the darkness below. My body unwillingly turned over so that I was falling headfirst to whatever lay beyond, writhing from the ceaseless pain in the nothingness that surrounded me. Death could be the only resolution to this, and I would willingly embrace that if in turn I was spared from the state of being I found myself in now. Finally, I had reached the long awaited bottom: The carpeted floor of my room. There was a searing stitch of real pain in my chest as if I had just ran a marathon and to compliment this my hair was matted from the sweat that trickled down my face and into my shirt. My bed sheets lay loosely at my feet alongside my naked pillow; its case was nowhere to be found. I breathed in heavily, regretting the action instantly as the stitch in my chest seethed. Slowly, I rose to my feet that were unusually weak. The digital alarm clock upon the nightstand beside my bed read 7:40 A.M. Perfect. My internal clock had wakened me up five minutes before the blaring rendition of my external one. If all went according to how previous school mornings had gone Mom would be knocking on my door to awake me in place of the alarm clock that seldom failed to in about five minutes. I kicked my pillow and bed sheets away from my feet as I stumbled over to sit down upon the bed I had fallen out of. I set my elbows onto my knees and bent over to cup my face into the sweaty palms of my hands, pondering as time permitted, the reason behind the now subsiding pain embraced within me. Had it been a dream that had caused me to thrash in my bed and inevitably fall out of it? I tried to recall the probable nightmare that had caused me to do so, but my mind formed upon no concrete solution. Only the taste of corn flake cereal Mom always preferred to buy came to me. This was in no way associated with what I was perplexed with now, so I set it aside as my stomach obtrusively informing me of its hunger. I customarily never remembered what my dreams retained for me, so it came to be as no big surprise that my despondent attempt had failed. Even if it had been a dream, that would in no way provide a satisfactory answer as to what had spawned the alien pain manifested inside of me. It was still gradually evaporating and had almost completely abated, which left me wondering if the initial pain had ever been there to begin with. I was no stranger to physical pain, having gotten into numerous fights back in middle school, but that didn’t seem to be the source of the dilemma brewing within. This was not something tangible, nowhere near my range of comprehension. I lifted my head out of my hands and let them freely caress the area of my chest above my steadily thumping heart, which is where the core of the pain had been rooted. I had expected to find some lump there but only found it to be as normal and smooth as it had been the day before. The pain had now ceased to exist. Instead of being overwhelmed with a wave of relief that I had expected to surge throughout me, I was engulfed with remorse and longing for what had illegitimately left me. And at this, I was utterly baffled. A loud, rasping noise verberated upon my room’s door, causing me to jump from shock as I was grudgingly wrenched out of my profound stupor. “Nicholas! Nich—“ called Mom’s voice from the other side of my locked door. “I’m up, I’m up!” I interrupted, the springs of my mattress creaking as I got off it. I was inwardly appreciative of the pieces of mettle embedded in my door that barricaded me in and warded her from seeing the mess on the other side. “Well hurry and get up to take a shower. I want you to eat a good breakfast today as well, gets your mind prepared for the first day of a new semester at school.” I heard the close sound of her footsteps begin and slowly disperse, which announced she had walked away from my room door and hopefully to her own. My eyes darted towards the digital clock that had gone off with the blaring beeping noise that I detested so much; it now read 7:45 A.M. With a heavy, painless sigh, I bent over to pick up the tussled pillow and sheets below. I went downstairs to eat my nourishing breakfast after taking care of the morning’s usual: brushing my teeth, taking a shower, washing my hair, and changing into the clothes that I would wear at school today. The previous events of earlier this morning were no longer plaguing my mind as persistently as before. One of the few things I prided myself on: If a memory were too painful or confusing to bear I would simply blockade it from entering any vestige of my thoughts, which in turn numbed any sense of disquiet wrought by it. I stepped into the vividly decorated kitchen under the impression that I was the only one occupying it. I had walked past one of the white and blue chairs of the table when a slightly vibrating something brushed against my leg. The kitchen wasn’t as vacant as I had thought it was; my mom’s pet cat Sylvester would be spontaneously joining me for breakfast this morning. He purred contently as he pranced over to his food bowl in the corner, his black tail was erect in the air at apparent ease with the world. How lucky for him that life came at such easy strides, I thought to myself as I opened one of the kitchen’s cabinets that contained nothing but breakfasting foods. My eyes scanned over the multiple choices of variety that it offered. Contrary to the lust for the generic corn flakes that I had desired in my room earlier, I felt a peculiar sense of aversion to it now. I chose a box of strawberry Pop-Tarts instead, ignoring the bright yellow box that pleaded me to be opened. After I had ripped open the Pop-Tart’s wrapping and hastily stuffed the pastries into my mouth, I dashed back upstairs to fetch my car keys and nearly empty book bag. I gave my a room a final swift look to ensure myself that I left it in decent order just in case Mom decided to unlock it with the spare key I’d given her and pilfer through it after she came back from work. Everything seemed to look all right, or as close to all right as I had time to allow it to; the clock now read 8:30 A.M. I didn’t live very far away from the school so it usually only took me three minutes at most to get there by car, but the bustling ambush that was sure to ensue from the likewise latecomers trying to cut in line to get their schedule’s first was very likely to delay me a couple of minutes. I wouldn’t put it pass some of the teachers to count me tardy if I was late, regardless of if it was the first day of school or not. So I rushed out of my room, pointlessly locking the door behind me before shutting it. I paced myself at a rate that was almost a run as I headed down the stairs and through the front door. Mom’s burgundy SUV was no longer in the driveway even though I hadn’t heard her leave. She must have left while I was taking a shower, which would definitely explain the relatively undisturbed breakfast I had had. I unlocked the door to my silver Honda Accent and swung myself inside of its stuffy interior. Without bothering to buckle my seatbelt, I jammed the key into its ignition and pulled out of the driveway without taking a glance into the rear view mirror for passing cars. The speedometer dial pointed to 60 as I drove past a speed sign that had 45 MPH written upon it in bold, black script. I only slowed down after taking a difficult turn around a street corner and almost having a head-on collision with a yellow Lamborghini that honked its horn resentfully at me. I let it drive in front and was forced to creep along at a snail’s pace of 25 now that we had passed the flashing orange and yellow lights that indicated the entry of a school zone. The clock above the car’s radio dial read 8:35 A.M. I now only had ten minutes to find a parking space, go to the Gym to get my schedule, and make a nearly fatal attempt at finding a class that could possibly located all the way at the end of the school building. I followed behind the Lamborghini into the school’s almost full parking lot. Pressing my foot hard on the acceleration, I swerved around it and gracefully parked into the free space that I was sure they had had their eyes set on. I yanked my car keys out of their ignition and made a motion to unlock my seatbelt until I remembered that I hadn’t bothered to take the trouble of putting it on in the first place. I stepped out the car and saw the Lamborghini crawling along at a ridiculously slow pace behind my car. As I peered through the slightly tinted window to get a glimpse of who would be driving a vehicle infamous for its top-notch speed at such a distressing manner, my eyes fell upon a singularly raised middle finger that propagated itself from a hand belonging to the horribly familiar face of Tony Brink. Not horrible because of his physical features but because of the memories spawned by them. On the contrary he was anything but unattractive, even that I had to admit. Dangerously blue eyes and blonde hair; beautiful facial features accompanied by an epically sculptured body and set of dazzling teeth. A distantly familiar beast growled inside of me. I chose to ignore the evident provocation of retaliation and stooped back in my car to grab my book bag. After scooping it off the car floor and slinging it over my shoulder, I grabbed the car keys off my seat and shut then locked the door. Turning my back on the mounting hostility prickling behind me, I mechanically walked onward to the entrance of my eight-hour jail cell. The sound of a roaring engine and the squeak of rubber tires upon the gravel announced it was safe to relax a little and hasten my pace a lot. I was still racing and dismally losing against the ticking clock. The fierce blowing winds sent cold ripples of nostalgia down my spine, causing me to shiver. I shoved open one of the black double doors that led into a small area to traverse through before entering the actual school. In front of me was another series of black doors, these though led to the commons area. To my left was a small group of people cramming to get through the entrance that led into the gym. I sighed and set off in that direction, carefully maneuvering around the babbling people of the crowd. Entering the gym, I saw large white signs that read Juniors and Seniors dangling from strings transfixed upon the rafters above. I walked to the table on the right half of the gym under the sign Juniors; the crowd behind me went forward to the open doors that led into the second room, which contained the papers for Freshmen and Sophomores. I sulked my way over to join the small queue of three people impatiently waiting for their schedule. After the first two people had been cleared off, the sound of opening doors echoed throughout the gym, perpetuating the hushed silence. Out of vain curiosity I turned my head to see who had entered only to see a radiant demon walking to the queue of Seniors. Tony. All traces of my previous restraint were now extinct, utterly nonexistent. An undulating wave of old hatred began to cascade inside of me, making my calm exterior falter. Neither Tony nor I could afford to gave my temper be let loose from its internal cage, especially not for something as trivial as him simply being here. I tried my best to dam the flooding waters inside, but traces of it kept slipping through the cracks. I was about to implode, sending forth the burning, turbulent liquids onto my unassuming victim. “Would you please stop lolly-gagging and come over here, sir.” A voice beckoned from a feint distance, pulling me out of my subliminal surreality and back into the issuing present. My head slowly turned back to the old, gray haired lady behind the table that had containers of schedules stacked on top of it. Here stern gaze contorted into something unrecognizable, something that made the pestilent monster harbored inside of me growl hungrily. Contemplating the variety of different ways that I could kill her, I began to saunter towards her without a firm plan of what I was doing engraved in my mind. Then I recognized what was so plainly etched there. Fear. Fear of the boy in front of her that had an implanted look that suggested potential murder was about to supervene. I closed my eyes tightly and concentrated upon the absolute darkness encompassing my sight. I waited until the brewing hatred ebbed away so completely that it was nothing more than a permanent scar upon the echoing past and then hesitantly opened my eyes. The lady was still standing there, all fear now foregone from her face, with her old stern look mixed with anxiety for her own safety. She obviously thought I was crazy. “Oh, decided to come back to Earth now haven’t ya?” Now that the monster was no longer overshadowing my initiate human characteristics, I heard she had a poorly disguised Irish accent. Her face wasn’t familiar whatsoever to the small portion of my brain that contained the faces of people I’d passed in the hallway. A new teacher. She’d be ripped to shreds by second period. “The place is already empty,” she continued on. I looked around to see that this was an undeniable fact; I must have been out of it longer then I thought. The only person that remained was the other teacher at the Senior table whom was flipping through the papers for the few that had failed to turn up. Part of me was infuriated that Tony hadn’t stayed longer; I had been denied a savory snack. “Well, I suppose you’ll be wanting your schedule, eh?” She said recollecting the disseminated pieces of my attention to become focused upon her once again. “Name?” “Nicholas. Nicholas James,” I recited slowly. She pulled a container labeled J-N from the middle of the stack. Her fumbling hands opened the blue lids to reveal a solitary packet within. “Here ya go,” she said taking it out and handing it to me. “Thank you.” My eyes darted toward the silver watch wrapped around her outstretched wrist. The big hand was pointed in between a Roman numeral nine; the small hand directly on the nine. 8:45 A.M. Damn. “Are-are teachers still counting tardies today, it being the first day of school and everything?” I asked, fearful of her answer. It could contain the very destruction of my perfect attendance record for the year before it had even been given the time to flourish. A smirk played across her face. “No, sadly not. They’re being rather lenient this week, so nothing of that sort is being accounted for. Why would you care anyways,” she snorted, “coming to school this late?” I let my sarcastic retort die upon the tip of my tongue as I had been doing for the previous two years of attending this school, two years of perfect attendance and a referral free record that would hopefully be succeeded by a third. I turned my back to and set off, without a word, back to the doors that served as the gym’s entrance and exit. “Don’t you forget to put your I.D on!” she called behind me, her voice strangely ruminating in the dissonance of the gym I shoved upon the metal handle of the door, eager to escape to the back of my first period class. Heeding her unneeded advice, I opened the flap of the plastic covering containing my I.D clipped onto a green lanyard and a single yellow sheet of paper. I glanced at one side of it to see the familiar overview map of the school, and on the other side found what I had been languishing away to behold. 1ST Period Wind Symphony Band 2nd Period AP English III 3rd Period AP Pre-Calculus 4th Period AP Music Theory II Lunch B 5th Period French III 6th Period AP Physics 7th Period AP European History Relief replaced anxiety. I had been given all the classes I’d signed up for last year. Fear took a grappling hold of relief. I had been on the brink of losing my rational control; the monster inside had been only mere seconds from taking over. I’d only lost control because of Tony only once before, during the final weeks of school last semester. I had heard from the gossipers mongering in the hallway that he was determined to beat up my close friend Jared after school for not allowing him to copy off of his Chemistry Final Exam. Petty gossip that ordinarily would have fallen upon my ignorant, deaf ears had the victim been a different target. I didn’t need to ask where this horrific scene would take place. Tony would choose the most crowded part of the school where no teachers were on duty at: The commons area. I rushed down the stairs from my locker and allowed myself to be carried by the tempestuous crowd toward the already ensuing fight. Blow by blow Tony placed on Jared’s bloody, maimed face. He tried to defend himself but his awkward, thin arms were no competition against the muscular, bulky ones of his pursuer. I stood among the jostling crowd, staring helplessly as my friend writhed in pain on the cold, blood-splattered floor. I knew that there was absolutely nothing I could do to save him from his grievous pain and humiliation, save suffer at his side, which left me at the despairing impasse of being a powerless spectator. Hate had burned inside of me. Not quite as strong as it had been today, but still, it had been strong enough. I wanted to inflict pain on Tony. Pain ten-times surmount to anything he was putting my friend through. To suffer and to suffer at my hands, only than could I be fully sedated. My dream became reality. Tony, who had been about to kick Jared while he lay agonizing on the floor, abruptly fell where he stood. At the time I couldn’t see what he was doing down there, but screams and yells issued from the front of the crowd as people hurried forward to him. I, however, ran to Jared who the crowd had simply stepped over, but through the minute cracks in between people I glimpsed the figure of Tony twitching like made on the floor. I didn’t think much of it at the time, my only concern was for Jared. In the end, Jared and Tony had to go to the hospital for a few days, and no one had been stupid enough to blab on the latter. I suppose they found that his haphazard seizure had been torture enough. Also, even if they did report him anonymously, word would soon get out it had been them who told and they would soon find themselves cornered in an empty hallway by a congregation of Tony’s friends. Two of the many harsh realities of high school: People are completely conceited and that nothing was ever kept a secret for long. This scene had carried more emotional baggage then I thought it would. I couldn’t help but think my thoughts had been what spawned Tony’s abrupt seizure. Of course I knew that just thoughts alone could not spur such an action, but I felt filthy and contaminated all the same. A feeling that was proportionately magnified a week later when Tony returned to school and brushed past me in the hallway. I was at once consumed with a famished hunger that could only be fed by seeing Tony tortured by me and no other. I had expected to hate him for what he had done to Jared, but the longing to see him go through explicit pain, I hadn’t. This feeling returned every time he came in close proximity of me, but I found that through determined perseverance that it could be stifled. A little. The brief spell of two months from Tony had undoubtedly weakened my built up endurance. A short beep came from above me as the intercom turned on, interrupting the overflow of reminiscent thought. I trudged on to my first period class, band, still lost in a reverie. The stagnate taste of corn flakes materialized in my mouth. The taste of change. I'm only fourteen years old :)

Work in Progress, Needs Advice? Please could you read through my story, I understand if you don't have time, I'd just like advice, it's an opening chapter, and definately not the final draft, the ending is somewhat rushed, but it gives the gist of it, but could do with a bit more describing and coversation with the wife. Spelling is unimportant, I have spell checked once about half way through, and I'm bound to have missed things or used wrong tenses, sorry I will fix these, I just wanted to get the words down. I understand also the whole, Mr. landon, Mr. brown can get boring, this will be worked on, first names will be brought in to make reading and typing easier. It's just a bit of fun, nothing serious, something I've worked on for a few months, adding to whenever I get the chance around college. Also the the words when copied in from notebook, got a put out of alignment sorry about this. Thanks for any advice in advance! ---------- 'Thud'...........'Thud'...........'Thud' "Every time I walked several metres down the street, a loud thud echoed from behind me and rang through my ears. I calmly carried on, attempting to not pay attention to the noise. However the only other noise around was the sound of my steps which when compared to the noise following me was like listening for a pin drop on a missile test zone. The noise filled my head like an explosion in a cave, screaming for several moments after entry, bouncing of the sides of my skull, until finally flooding out to carry on down the street. The noise was unbearable, it brought me back to my days at University, trying to revise when everyone else wanted to party. I became an expert at finding quiet places, unlucky for me that skill was of no use to me in this situation. I quickened my pace so I didn't spend more than a couple of seconds out of the light from the street lamps, which where the only thing allowing me to continue, otherwise I would be in complete darkness. Although the noise was unnerving, it wasn't close yet, which meant I had time to examine my surroundings. Probably not the best thing to do, maybe I should have been running away, or even confronting it. I mean, come on I'm thirty two and running away from a noise, it could have been a bunch of kids playing a trick on me." "My eyes swayed from left to right in a similar fashion to a pendulum, I was sure I could have hypnotised someone with them had I met anyone. Walking down the street I found my self drawn to glancing in through the windows of what I thought where shops, houses and restaurants, but the only thing that gave me that impression was the fact it said it above the windows and doors, not from looking through the windows, as I couldn't see anything through them. The windows where painted black from the inside. After trying to find any gap in the paint in the second chemist on the street, I decided I'd have a better chance on the other side of the road. Pushing my self away from the building, I quickly spun around and shot off for the other buildings. Before I knew it I'd lost my footing and got tangled up in bin bags, then I was lying face flat against the concrete. Had I been alone I would have sympathised with my self and laughed it off, But as I said 'had I been alone'. Now don't forget this noise was still following me, it's not like I'd forgotten and was checking out the shops for offers, or the restaurants so I could find a cheap meal deal for my upcoming anniversary." "Oh wait scrap that from your report, just encase my wife finds out I've said it, you'll think she won't but she knows everything about me, even stuff I wouldn't dream of telling her." A tall man was sat in a small room, he had shoulder length brown scraggy hair, his eyes a deep shade of brown looked like they were trying to escape from the sockets. His general look wasn't that appealing. Opposite him was another man, dressed entirely in black from his Sunglasses, to his suit down to his shoes. He sat holding a small burgundy notebook and frantically wrote things down, hoping not to miss a word a Dictaphone lay on the table as well. "You Know what I bet somehow she knew about this, don't ask me how, it's just a feeling." "Mr Landon, I couldn't care less if your wife knew the secrets of eternal youth, or the meaning of life at the moment, I'm sat here listening to some loon, describe a dream he had, about the time he walked down a never ending road, being followed by a noise which I heard you described as being louder than thousands of foghorns going off altogether, in your last interview." Mr. Brown proclaimed. Mr Landon stood hoping to intimidate Mr. Brown by standing over him, unluckily Mr Landon was a short stubby man, and rather than scare him, he seemed to strike his funny bone. "Alan, If I may use your first name" "Yes you may" Mr Landon spat back at him. "I don't mean to insult you, however I have a deadline and I'd like you to get to the point of your tale before we both die of old age. I mean have you actually read all your interviews you've done. Take for example The one you did for the local paper, it was ten pages of utter nonsense, you take anyone's comments on your story as an insult, and the papers turn it round on you and make you look like some escaped mental patient. I suggest after our meeting you just give people the basic facts, people aren't interested in your story and won't sit there reading ten pages." "Hey" Mr Landon carried on the conversation as though Mr. Browns speech hadn't even occurred. "What right have you got to come into my house and say it was a dream or even query me." "I'm going to be frank with you Mr Landon, if it was true I doubt you'd be able to answer any of my questions, because unfortunately I don't know sign language, and a noise that loud surely would have deafened you" At this point Mr. Brown slammed his cup of tea onto the table smashing his saucer, the tea splashed out and landed on his wrist. Though the tea was fresh and still boiling hot he did not flinch at all. "I've had enough of this Alan, your just another one of those people that think they can get money from making up these stupid stories about alien attacks. You do know there's been around 800 in the past month, the past month, for christ sake, all have been found out to be fake, the police, prime minster, general Gundore have all said so. So why should yours be different, You'll be found out soon enough... I'm sure of it" "You haven't even heard all of what happened maybe I could change your mind, now sit back down and allow me to continue. Mr. Brown slunk back into his seat and although he'd rather not listen, out of courtesy he did. "Like I said The reason I was looking through the windows of the buildings was because They where my only way out" Mr. Brown, looked confused. His eyebrows raised and his mouth opened but before he could ask a question, Mr Landon had carried on. "The road looked like it went on for miles. If I carried on walking I'd end up well past my house and probably up in Scotland by time I got to the end. If there was one." "The entire street looked as though it had been deserted many years ago. Rubbish lined the streets waiting for the bin men to come round in the morning, although it did look like they had never been and rubbish piles just ended up getting bigger and bigger. The street carried on for what felt like forever, I came across no other street leading off it, no alleyway, all the houses and shops where packed so close together, the only thing I could do was carry on going forward or turn round to face the noise." "Suddenly I stopped dead in my tracks, up ahead was a body lying in the light of one of the street lights. I ran towards it hoping the person was okay, well actually I was hoping they'd know away off the street. From a distance they looked injured all curled up as though protecting them self. I had to make sure they was OK. As I charged towards the body the noise from behind quickened, as though it knew I had began to run and wasn't risking me getting away. I stopped next to the person and bent down to examine him. I then realised the noise had stopped and I could finally concentrate on him, rather than worry what had happened to it." "The man looked as though he was barely into his mid twenty's, I brushed my hand across the side of his face to see if it would wake him, it felt like I was touching sandpaper, had he ever heard of a razor, you know get the hairs you'd miss with an electric shaver as it just can't get as close. He wouldn't have stubble then. Actually now I think of it maybe it was just part of some fashion trend, he could have been trying to look older as he did have a sort of babyish face. Not that there's anything wrong with trying to look older though I'd prefer looking younger." "Once again Mr Landon you are going off topic, I don't need to know any fashion tips, especially from you, you of all people really don't have any right to judge based on looks and come up with someone's life story just from there appearance, unless you know the man's reason for stubble I couldn't care less." "Now as you can see, I seem to have an empty cup, could you get that wife of yours to fetch another in." "Pass it here, I'll get you a refill, rather than disturb her." "NO! Sorry, it's, just I noticed a bit of dirt on the cup, a new one will do fine." "Suit your self, I'll be back in a moment." Mr Landon stood up and made his way to the kitchen. Mr. Brown then sat back slouched on the sofa, staring into the corner of the room, he nodded once and clamped his teeth together, he repeated this action for the other three corners of the room, and then sat back upright. Mr Landon then came back into the room carrying a tray with a fresh cup of tea on, oblivious to the peculiar activity which had just occurred. "Now I'll carry on, just drink your tea, slow, were getting to the good part." "Instantly the man lying on the floor huddled up grabbed out at my hand and jerked up right, his dark brown eyes fixated on my own. It was like looking into a mirror, they where so clear, I saw myself. I looked confused, my hair was all over the place. As I ran towards the man my hair must have been blown out of place by the wind. I looked confused and I was, I mean it's not everyday I helped a strange person lying injured in the street, being followed by a strange noise on a road that seems to never end." Mr Landon stopped started into his cup of tea as though hoping it would reveal what happened next to him. "I remember thinking, have I gone crazy, was it something I ate or is all this just in my head, maybe it's a dream. I could have fallen over and knocked my head on something and be lying in some hospital bed, but I wasn't. " There was a few moments of silence, still staring at his tea, it was as though Mr Landon had a brainwave and remembered every little detail that happened, and once again he carried on. "My arm started to burn where the man was holding me, a strange sensation like something was coming out from the man's hand and was trying to push me away, even though he was the one holding me." "Get Down!" He shouted. "What do you mean get down." I replied. "Just get out of the way." The man said with a hint of anger in his voice. "Hey I'm only helping you don't worry I'm not going to hurt you." "Yeah well in a minute you'll be getting hurt by something if you don't move." "Is that a thre- "At that moment his other arm slammed into my side, I was sent to the floor and grazed my arm along the concrete. The man looked angry with me, his eyes shot from me and the darkness several times. I had no idea what his problem was but I thought it best I got away. I dragged my self along the street,trying not to draw attention to myself, slowly I got up and with out glancing back I carried on as I would have, if the man hadn't been there." "I was stopped in my track as a screeching pierced through my head, I dropped back to my knees, covering my ears, shaking, I tried to gather my strength and turn around. The noise had stopped, everything was silent, until," 'Thud'....'Thud'....'Thud' "The pace of the noise had quickened, I had no idea why, I glanced back at the man to see he was still there staring down the street. Further in front of him, the street lights began to go off. The night was far from over and the sun was hours away from rising. Either there was something wrong with the lights or it was the noise destroying them." "Now I know the 'noise' wasn't destroying, at the time I didn't know what the noise was, so I referred to the noise as though it was a living thing. I shouted for the man to run, but he paid no attention so I made my way for him. Up ahead the lights where going out faster and faster. It was a race for the man I had helped moments before. I arrived first and attempted to drag him away he wouldn't budge like he was stuck on the spot. There was one street light left until the noise would be on us. The ground was shaking and the thud had been joined by a gentle groaning that felt rather pleasant compared to all the other noises I'd heard that night." "From out of the shadows a large figure strode out and stopped in the light in all it's glory. It was a giant muscular figure with hands and feet at least four times bigger than my own. It's skin was almost flurecant in the light, it had a thin layer of fur growing on it's arms, legs and all over it's back. It had a greeny brown tinge to it's skin accompanied by a pale yellow chest. It's claws where like curved blades able to slice through metal. It's face was still clouded in darkness as it was taller than the lamppost." "The man gazed at it in disgust like it was the most vile thing he'd ever seen but, I felt as though there was something else another reason why he looked at it the way he did. He raised his hand so it was pointed at the creatures face, and let out an almighty scream." "Light shot from his hand and struck the monster square in the face pushing it back with immense strength. It struggled to push it self back and force itself forward. With a flick of the hand to the left the creature was sent into the front of a building, causing bricks and glass to fall to the floor around the creature. I gasped at what I just saw, one man just threw a creature into a building and not flinch at all. It must have been a regular occurrence to the man as he'd already began to stroll towards the creature by time I got myself back to normal. He pulled out a small dagger from his right pocket and took it out of it's protective sleeve. He raised it high above the creature but stopped dead in his tracks, as a second screech bellowed from above the building." "I looked up to see what it was, but I already knew what to expect based on what I just saw. I always tell myself to not think that everything will happen the way I expect it too. Expect the unexpected. Unfortunately at times like this you don't have time to think about anything and that's why I ended up getting thrown through a shop window. As I lay there watching this giant, muscular creature casually walk over to where I lay, I could do nothing. I couldn't move my arms or legs, Fear had me pinned down, because this was the first time I had seen it's face. The creature lowered it's head from out of the darkness and it's grotesque form took shape in front of me. Eyes the size of a clenched fist targeted on me from behind scraggy hair that flopped in front of the creatures face, and being blown about by the gust of air shooting out of it's nostrils. Fangs curved out of it's mouth like tusks, but where as sharp as knifes, except the left one which had broken off half way down. It's mouth opened and closed as though it was simulating eating me." "As it craned it's neck through the window, it's breath awakened my senses and I found myself able to move again, but before I could run, the creatures hand was already around my waist and pulling me from the debris of the smashed up window. Back in the street, suspended upside-down five metres from the ground I took my chance to look around for the stranger I'd helped and in turn had saved my own life, but he was no where to be seen, the only thing I could make out in the distance was the other creature still knocked out at the side of road. Was this the end for me, or will my luck change. With in a split second that question was answered." "From out of the darkness a flash of red slammed into the side of the creature sending it sliding down the street. As I stared closer at the flash of red, my eyes widened in surprise as just down the street was a red double decker bus. The creature was now stumbling back up, it looked at the bus with complete confusion, obviously it hadn't seen one before other wise it would have known they are hardly dangerous." "It seemed to be thinking over whether or not to attack me, or the bus, as though it had learnt from this. I was shocked at my own thoughts and prejudices, just because it wasn't human I believed it wasn't as intelligent but this proved me wrong, this creature wasn't stupid and it was now finding another way to get me. The creature called out as though it was preparing to make it's move. When the whole street was lit up flames engulfing the creature from behind. The creature began to run around fiercly trying to put out the fire but there was no way for it to be put out in the street." "The buildings had caught a blaze, windows where shattering up and down the street. Rubbish that lay piled up at the side of the road was quickly disappearing engulfed by the flames and smoke which was pouring out of the buildings and ontothe street. The bus had slowly began to melt, no one came off and before I knew it all that was left was a large puddle of red liquid in the middle of the street. Had no one been driving or had they perished inside and now where nothing more than a puddle of remains mixed in with those of the bus." "Looking around me I realized I was surrounded by the flames, theyre was no way out, this time I felt for sure help would not arrive, no more buses would come bursting through the flames to pick me up and drive me to safety, no strange men with glowing palms would fly down and away again with me in theyre arms. The idea of this being a dream once again crossed my mind, before a blinding light in front of me emerged from the fire, as it got close the light split into two, on either side of the lights two more pairs appeared, heading straight towards me. Help had arrived, in what form I had no idea, but fear struck me, these lights where not slowing down and if they kept going would hit me, I ran" "Towards the flames was the only way, as far to the side as I could go, I was still in line with the lights furthest to the right, terrified I curled up, placing my head on my knees, tears running down my face. This nightmare was going to be over, the price I'd have to pay though, was my life. I closed my eyes and covered my ears, I didnt want to see or hear the lights approach ready to kill me. However my efforts to drown out any sound where crushed when the sound of tyre's screeching filled my ears. I jumped up onto my feet, and quickly scanned my surroundings. The buildings had disappeared, the road had been replaced with the M25, the lights where those of car headlights, driving down the lanes towards me. I dashed to the side of the motorway just escaping the path of an oncoming lorry." "I kept thinknig to my self, how had I survived again, I should have died at least three times that night, but there I was perfectly safe at the side of the M25, and just a few miles from my house." "Thats where I will have to interupt you Mr. Landon, you are correct, you should have died that night, and theyre where numerous attempts on your life, all failing, I am yet to find out who aided you that night, but where I do, they will suffer the sam consequence for escaping, as you shall." Stone faced, gazing at Mr. Landon a smirk crept across Mr. Browns face. Mr. Brown lept at Mr. Landon, over the coffee table pushing him into his chair. Grabbing him by the throat, Mr. Brown attempted to strangle him. Mr. Landon Pulled off a succesful kick to the unprotected crotch of Mr. Brown. Falling to the ground in pain, Mr. Landon took this time to strike back and protect himself in his own house. Grabbing a conveniently placed lamp from the small table next to the chair he had almost lost his life in, he strook down hard, after the previous events that had happened to him Mr. Landon was not taking any chances and strook Mr. brown on the head a further three times. A blood spattered Mr. Landon stood over the body motionless. His wife came rushing through the kitchen after hearing the fight going on. Dropping her book she had been attempting to read in the bedroom, she dashed for the phone, without asking her husband about the incident, she called for the police. She had feared for the past few days her husband would do something drastic after telling him she thought he's been out all night drinking, rather than fight9ing for his life, and he had punched her for it. the bruise was theyre but her tangerine cxomplexion from cheap beauty products had covered it enough to not cause any suspicions among family and friends. The minutes leadin up to Mr. Landon's arrest, went slowly, his wife sat cradling her husband in her arms, as he wept in disgust of his own actions. Rage had filled him the moment he struck Mr. Brown, he tried to persuade his wife, he hadn't actually done it, something had taken over him and he had no recollection of the event. He tried to explain how he had wanted to kill his wife and he was only protecting her. She knew what had happened and that he was trying to hide the truth from her, the thing is she had started to believe his tale about his mysterious night, after all every time she heard him talk about it, she saw how terrified he was about losing his life, how confused he was about the events and how all he had wanted to do was get home and be with her. She now began to regret ringing for the police, thinking about what to do, would she actually hand over her husband to be sent down for murder, although it was self defense, the courts could find his mental state unnerving and lock him up for his own good. Her concentration was lost when a loud knock from the door echoed through the room followed by. "Open the door, we know your in there" A deep, rough male voice shouted. "Just a moment" She shrieked back. Getting to her feet she pulled up her husband looking him the eye and told him to run. The backdoor was the only way out, either that or through a window. Mr. Landon dashed into the kitchen almost slipping on the freshly mopped floor. He burst through the door, without looking to see if he was being chased, he climbed over the garden fence, and sped off into the woods. Mrs. Landon, got her act together, and confronted the police, in her calmest voice, as not to arouse suspicion, she explained how they had just missed him, and he had ran down the street, knowing full well he had infact gone in the opposite direction. She then gave a fake description of her husband, but only the basic information, giving the excuse she was still in shock and details of what had happened where blurry, so blurry that giving a description of the man she loved was hard to do. The Medics pushed past after spotting Mr. Brown lying in a pool of blood, frantic shouting from both police and medics, filled the house, everything was happening so quickly, Mrs. Landon could not focus on one thing for long before being asked another question by both groups of people. She panicked, and slummped onto her knees, leaning against the front door, tears streaming down her face, she sobbed, saying nothing,she just watched.

Car accident causing execissive weight gain. please help need answers? i was involved in a pretty serious crash 5 days ago on wednesday, they did all the cat scans and x-rays, no broken bones or anything to worry about. the day of the accident however , for some reason i felt extremely hungry and probably ate 1000 more calories that day then usual, since i know i cant exercise ive been eating even a tad bit less a day if not close to before, however its been 5 days and ive already gained roughly 5-7 pounds. what the heck... every day it seems i weigh my self im gainging roughly a pound, i know its not possible to be gainging a pound of fat or 3500 cal unless the immense amount of stress is causing it and something else major is happening to me, please help i dont know what to do... water weight, can be stored everywhere in body correct? not just in my stomache because i dont feel full of water any more than usual. already asked this twice but need more answers and thank you.

Swollen right foot for a year now? In June 08, I came out of the shower and noticed my foot felt 'funny'. When I looked down my right foot was swollen. I immediatly went to the doctor and they asked if I had injured it and asked me to rest it for a week or so. At the time, there was no pain and I had no recent injury. Last known injury was I rolled my ankle back in April. A few weeks later I went back to the doctor because my foot was still swollen. Here is a list of symptoms Swollon Foot and Toes (only the top of the foot) Foot is usually cold Foot swells up during warm showers (when under hot water) During showers, if I keep the foot out of water and elevated the veins appear 'wide' and the foot appears purple-ish. After standing for a bit (5-10mins) foot starts to turn red No Pain when walking or running Pitting occurs when pressure is applied to the swollon part When leg is elevated the swelling goes down (slightly) but not completely and I can feel cool fluid moving up my leg (toes are the only things that can lose swelling completely) When I push on the top part of my foot just above the toes it feels 'solid' or a bit 'hard' Currently I wear a prescriped compressive stalking. It keeps the swelling down ( a bit ) and the redness away but does not completely remove the selling. Doctors have run the following tests; Blood Test - Healthy no reason why it would cause swelling X-Ray of the foot and ankly - No issues Ultra Sound of my ankle, legs all the way up to my pelvic bone - No issues MRI - Injected die in my arm and did a full body scan - nothing found Sent to a vacular specialist - examine me for all of 2 minutes and said I had primary lymphedema. Concluded there is no 100% test but thats what I most likely have. I'm a 23 year old male. 5'11 135 LBS. Primary lymphedema seems quite unlickely because I spoke with a few people who have the condition and have seen me. The doctors seem clueless and my leg is still swollen (Will be exactly 1 year this June). I wear a stalking everyday but its extremely frustrating to have one normal foot and one balloon looking one. Swelling can be mild or extremely noticeable. Can anyone help shed light on what else I might have which the doctors probably should check? I keep balanced meals but they tend to be on the lighter side. I haven't run since it started swelling in fear I might do more damage, but I'll be picking up Jogging and soccer when the weather gets better. I also drink plenty of water. I'm a non-smoker who drinks (probably an average of once-twice a week, no more than 4 drinks total)

I've had a swollen right foot for over a year. What could it be? In June 08, I came out of the shower and noticed my foot felt 'funny'. When I looked down my right foot was swollen. I immediatly went to the doctor and they asked if I had injured it and asked me to rest it for a week or so. At the time, there was no pain and I had no recent injury. Last known injury was I rolled my ankle back in April. A few weeks later I went back to the doctor because my foot was still swollen. Here is a list of symptoms Swollon Foot and Toes (only the top of the foot) Foot is usually cold Foot swells up during warm showers (when under hot water) During showers, if I keep the foot out of water and elevated the veins appear 'wide' and the foot appears purple-ish. After standing for a bit (5-10mins) foot starts to turn red No Pain when walking or running Pitting occurs when pressure is applied to the swollon part When leg is elevated the swelling goes down (slightly) but not completely and I can feel cool fluid moving up my leg (toes are the only things that can lose swelling completely) When I push on the top part of my foot just above the toes it feels 'solid' or a bit 'hard' Currently I wear a prescriped compressive stalking. It keeps the swelling down ( a bit ) and the redness away but does not completely remove the selling. Doctors have run the following tests; Blood Test - Healthy no reason why it would cause swelling X-Ray of the foot and ankly - No issues Ultra Sound of my ankle, legs all the way up to my pelvic bone - No issues MRI - Injected die in my arm and did a full body scan - nothing found Sent to a vacular specialist - examine me for all of 2 minutes and said I had primary lymphedema. Concluded there is no 100% test but thats what I most likely have. I'm a 23 year old male. 5'11 135 LBS. Primary lymphedema seems quite unlickely because I spoke with a few people who have the condition and have seen me. The doctors seem clueless and my leg is still swollen (Will be exactly 1 year this June). I wear a stalking everyday but its extremely frustrating to have one normal foot and one balloon looking one. Swelling can be mild or extremely noticeable. Can anyone help shed light on what else I might have which the doctors probably should check? I keep balanced meals but they tend to be on the lighter side. I haven't run since it started swelling in fear I might do more damage, but I'll be picking up Jogging and soccer when the weather gets better. I also drink plenty of water. I'm a non-smoker who drinks (probably an average of once-twice a week, no more than 4 drinks total)