AutoCAD is by far the most commonly used design program for professional building design (architects and engineers) and is owned by the American company Autodesk. It only runs under MS Windows. It's file formats, DXF & DWG, have become the de facto standards for file transfer between competing CAD programs. ArchiCAD is a far more sophisticated BIM (Building Information Modeling) program that creates a virtual building and is owned by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. It is used mostly by larger architectural firms and runs under MS Windows and Macintosh OSX. The program can import and export DXF & DWG files if they haven't been corrupted. Both programs began in the early 80's and were the first of their kind. Autodesk purchased a BIM program in '02 called Revit in order to competes with ArchiCAD. Each of these programs costs a small fortune and each provides a "viewer" program so others can open and look at the files on their computer. Since all you want is a set of plain paper design documents to give to a builder and get permits, I don't see why the choice of the CAD program would matter. Make sure the drafter isn't using a "STUDENT" version of either program and that you have a way to print the files later from a USB flash memory stick, etc.

First DH was put on warfarin(by cardiologist) after two femoral artery (leg) bypasses due to clots. He was on it for 4-5 years. And had blood work every 2 weeks, and they always phoned and adjusted the dosage up or down, maybe only 1/2 pill. When he was diagnosed with AAA (Abdominal aneurysm) and needed surgery, Vascular surgeon wanted him to see cardiologist that he worked with before doing surgery. This cardiologist told him that Warfarin was overkill, and too difficult to manage...and took him off Warfarin and put him on Plavix. Of course, a few days before surgery he had to go off the Plavix. After surgery, cardio told him to stay on the Plavix. Bloodwork never showed any problems after that. He didn't have any problem going off the Warfarin....and actually felt better with the Plavix.

scottymam, kathi and donna loomis..... I believe the very worst place to get this stuff is on your head, near your eyes. That has to be the most painful of all, and to chance losing your sight. I hope you scottymam and kathi and donna.. your family members,are doing well now. hayjud... the doc said today that stress can trigger it. It is a virus that lies dormant in your body. also a weakened or compromised immune system can cause it to erupt. I have a disease called toxoplasomosis that was congenital, my mother had it apparently when she was expecting me, of course way back then they had no idea. It caused the blindness in one eye. but I was very fortunate and blessed even back then for that because it could have caused very severe mental retardation or other problems for me when i was born. Which means I probably wouldn't have made it. But I did. So my compromised immune system has to have been a part of this now. Alisande... I too am a fan of Dr Weil. I think I will look up his thoughts on it. Thank you for mentioning him. The doctor said today that I am still a candidate for the vaccine, but I cannot take it for a year. He said this virus can come back. I think my husband is going to get it after this skin cancer surgery issue is taken care of. He already has diabetes, heart disease, etc, so I don't want to seem him get this. I went to my family doc early today. Took my DH so he could get the full gist of what this really is. I think he thought I have been overreacting about the pain. His mouth dropped open when the doctor told me that I should have wished for the heart attack that the doctors at the ER thought I was having. That would have been easier on me. He told us that Shingles is debilitating, and very very painful. and that I would have a long course of treatment. He actually tripled the dosage of the nerve pain meds the ER gave me, gave me another one for nausea ( I woke up at 3 am with nausea and chills), gave me another prescription for pain. I am not one to take a lot of meds, just my cholesterol pill.... but I did not turn these down. I have been a little DOPEY (well okay, a LOT) all day trying to get these meds into my system. So I may not be making a great deal of sense right now. For the ones of you that have stayed with me and read this far, thank you all again for the concern and the helpful information. This is a wonderful group of caring people and I am so glad I found you all. Every take care, June

My Dane was not showing signs either we had been fighting a sore on his back leg that would not heal, well it would heal go away then come back. It was during this process that I noticed one of his lymph nodes in his rear thigh was about the size of an egg, he had had that happen before and gave us a scare several years earlier but upon biopsy it was not lymphoma and it reduced on it's own. Once I found the one this time I took him to the vet and she did a full body lymph node inspection and all of them were very enlarged, she took biopsies immediately and sent them to Texas A&M oncology, we got the answer back in just a few days it was positive and it was already in stage 4, they gave him 3 to 4 months. He did not act sick, he had a great appetite, but he began to not be able to get up and down and then would lose control of bladder and bowel, which embarrassed him so much he was such a good dog. When his face began to bloat up and he could not get up we decided it was time. Our wonderful vet and her entire staff came to our home to do it so he would be at home and surrounded by love. It was very peaceful and he is now buried under the big oak tree out back. It was hard on us for a while but knowing it was the right thing to do made it a bit easier. That picture I posted is shortly before we had to put him down he had lymph nodes at that time about the size of oranges all over his body. but he was still playing with little Mia. I know this will be a devastating time for your family, you at least have some of her still with her offspring that is so fortunate. Remember all those great times you shared! I feel your pain and am shedding tears with you.