[--------------------------------------------------------------------------] ooooo ooooo .oooooo. oooooooooooo HOE E'ZINE RELEASE #735 `888' `888' d8P' `Y8b `888' `8 888 888 888 888 888 "Oh, Sweet Love and Pain" 888ooooo888 888 888 888oooo8 888 888 888 888 888 " by Laja Ajna 888 888 `88b d88' 888 o 7/16/99 o888o o888o `Y8bood8P' o888ooooood8 [--------------------------------------------------------------------------] I have a love and her name is Costochondritis*. Her very name sends shivers down my spine, and squeezes my heart. She tiptoed into my room, late in the evening, and our souls became one. Her short, shallow breaths are now mine; the fierce tension of her love aches deep in my breast. To be with her, is to be on the brink of death. She has taken me over. As a measure to exorcise her evil spirit, I was given drugs; Lodine XL (an anti-inflammatory), Skelaxin (a muscle relaxant), and Vicodin. But, she is a passionate beast and will not give in so easily! She fought hard, using my body as the sweatdrenched battle ground! For 24 long aching hours, every bit of food and drink I used to comfort her was thrown back out of me as a sacrifice to the porceline gods. Soon, dehydrated and weary and full of pain, I fled to the emergency room, where she started to weaken. She lost battles against the IV's of Anti-nauseadrugs and morphine.. Now, the cards are more in my favor; I have weapons of Percoset and stronger anti-inflammatories. Her will is beginning to crumple and die, and soon, very soon, will I defeat her and reclaim the soul which is rightfully mine. [-----] * costochondritis (as from http://www.rxmed.com/illnesses/costochondritis.html) What is It? * Painful inflammation (swelling) of the cartilage of the ribs (attaching ribs to sternum). * Commonly affects the 3rd or 4th ribs. * May mimic cardiac pain. Signs and Symptoms 1. Pain in the chest wall, usually sharp in nature, especially on pressure. 2. Pain may occur in more than one location and may radiate into the arm. 3. Pain worsens with movement. 4. Tightness in chest. 5. Affected area is sensitive to the touch. Medication * Mild pain medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help relieve discomfort. * Stronger pain medicines and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories may be prescribed.. * Steroid injections may be prescribed for some patients. [--------------------------------------------------------------------------] [ (c) !LA HOE REVOLUCION PRESS! HOE #735 - WRITTEN BY: LAJA AJNA - 7/16/99 ]