The problem with this thinking... which to me used to be fine, till I noticed, that all is fine and dandy till something goes wrong....then people scream... For example, you may want to take any drug you want, then your cousin dies of an ephedra problem.... then all of a sudden your thinking is changed. Personally, I generally agree. I think that the stupids who mess with something they don't understand.... just weeds out their genes from the gene pool. But apparently, others don't see it this way. I see this in almost all aspects of American life... ANOTHER example... You all want a freemarket system... till you pay $3 a gallon for gas... then you scream. People seem to want what they want with no concern for the consequences... I just do it... and unlike Cacye, I LISTEN when someone says there is a danger... some don't... that's why they try to beat trains in train crossings.... ANOTHER way to weed certain genes from the gene pool.

Feverfew is not the be all and end all. In fact for many people (like myself) it will make it worse and send you to the hospital. As someone else mentioned if you migraines can be relieved normally by heat then give feverfew a try if you use cold DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE FEVERFEW!! if you are not sure try using a ice pack or heating pad first. For those of us that can't take feverfew here are a few other herbs that may help: Ginger as a tea, candy etc. (I am currently testing this out) vitamin B2 (riboflavin) not only does this vitamin help with nausea it helps with sensitivity to light. Lavender, drop real lavender oil on a bandana and wrap around your forehead, and/ or massage into your temples. This also helps with headaches from crying and other pressures. I am not a doctor, these are things that have worked for me and may not work for you, please do your research and talk to a professional.

I am reading a lot of similarities to what I have been dealing with my mother for the past 1-1/2 yrs. I wish you luck - as it can be soooo trying! 1. I received plenary guardianship of my 65 yr old mother just over a year ago. Here in FL, I'd say it was a fairly time consuming and expensive route (excess of $5K). I was pushed into seeking this formal route (vs power of attorney) because everyone was concerned my mother would have tried to revoke the POW. Now I see that wouldn't have been an issue --- she believes everything I tell her regarding legal issues and isn't motivated enough to find out otherwise - so I feel that I should have stayed with POW and avoided the aggrivation (annual Guardianship plans, annual Accounting, petitioning for various fees, guardianship accounts, etc). It's costing about $3500 per year now. I have an appt with a separate Elderly lawyer - family friend - to get advice on medicaid planning and to see how long I really need to retain this "guardianship attorney". 2. Whenever I need to do something that I believe mom is going to be upset about, I just tell her that it is "court appointed". She doesn't recall the hearing - but I assure her it is true. 3. She too was a heavy smoker and drinker (the actual cause of her dementia - alcohol persistent dementia). But, somehow she completely FORGOT that she did either. Now she says she smoked "years ago" and that she used to "have a drink or two of wine - socially". Ha. But, her doctor did specify (in a letter) that the ALF not allow her to have alcohol - that it would interfer with her blood pressure and diabetes management. Shock. 4. I sought out a memory care ALF due to recommendations from the court (via the 3 person, court appointed Examinining Committee). I toured several ALF's with memory-care units and they each assured me that their entire staff had special training to deal with dementia patients. Right. They call me every time that they cannot get my mom to wash her hair, that she puts the garbage in the wrong place, she leaves windows open, she eats the wrong things, etc. For cripes-sake - why can't they take care of these things if they're so well trained? I'm glad your mom (MIL ?) is taking fairly good to her placement and is actually taking part in some of the activities. My mom was so isolated - and will have nothing to do with the "old folks" and their "stupid crafts and games" in her ALF. Too bad. Again - good luck to you. What a duty, huh?

My father smoked.....heavy all of his life. He died at 64 from heart aneurysm....his father died of the same at 72. I was daddy's little girl...with him as much as possible. I would lay with him on the couch when he would take his 'noon nap', ride in the tractors with him..smoking, we would take Sunday drives..he was smoking in the closed up car. I started smoking at 12...lightly, was smoking regularly at 16. When I was 19, my lung collapsed completely. Dr. told me that I needed to stop smoking....I was smarter than the Dr.! HA The 2nd time it collapsed Dr. told me that I HAD to quit, I cut back dramatically. The 3rd time, Dr. told me I had 2 choices....quit smoking and walk out of the hospital, or continue smoking and they could just leave all the tubes and oxygen on me and stay in the hospital. Well...I quit at that point. I had the corrective surgery on my lung when I was 21. At that point, the specialist asked about family smoking. He said that there was a thought that it was a lung defect, and if you had it, it would generally show up at 19 when the lung was done growing. I was a small baby, and dad was a heavy smoker. Dr. said those were the 2 biggest against my lungs. Of course, I never told my dad this...it would have broke his heart to think that he might have been a cause to all the pain I went through...and still have.