My Introduction

[Guest guest]

I am a single, post menopausal 54 year old woman

living in southeastern Pennsylvania in an area often

called " the I-95 corridor " or " The Delaware Valley " .

I have a long history of medical problems that have

intensified with age. I have been taking thyroid

replacement since just after my son was born.

I was a fat child with fat parents and have had

varicose veins since I was about twelve. I have always

had very high arches and hammer toes, and have always

pretty much walked on the outsides of my feet.

I have had the sort of body type typically associated

with high cortisol.Expanded rib cage, big belly, and

relatively thin arms and legs. I had my cortisol

tested several years ago..and it was found to be

" within a normal range " .

Since going through menopause, I have developed a lot

of trouble with pitting edema, numbness and purple

blotches all around my ankles.

I cannot find a good doctor here. They are all CEOs of

large clinic type operations who are terrible

diagnosticians and driven only by profit-grabbing

arrangements with pharmeceutial companies.

Although I do have high cholesteral, I have resisted

further treatment with statins since one week on

lipitor resulted in very high liver enzymes and a

" spontaneous " frozen shoulder which was the most

painful and debilitating malady I have suffered so

far. It took more than a year and a surgery to recover

from...I am not going to repeat it.(The doctor tried

to convince that me it was JUST a coincidance)

After giving up on greedy physicians who want you to

make weekly apointments to sit in their waiting rooms

for 2 hours so a nurse-practicioner can take your

blood pressure and bill your insurance company $150

for the pleasure, I started researching my symptoms on

the internet, and that brought me here.

So here I am folks, sick, miserable, alone and

clearly bitter.

Who wants to be first to welcome me?

Meryl